The Dynasty of Cultivating Immortality

C25 – Teng Feimei’s Plan

“I suspect your father would be absolutely livid if he witnessed this!” Ni Zongzhao’s face twisted into a snarl as he forced the words through clenched teeth, his eyes brimming with scorn.

The moment his voice faded, an unsettling silence fell over the courtyard.

Ni Huibo’s eyes narrowed, his body’s spiritual energy surging to life. The Longevity Sword in his grasp glowed more fiercely, radiating an enigmatic and arcane aura.

Then, he made his move.

In a blur, Ni Huibo appeared before Ni Zongzhao. With no sign or elaborate technique, he swung the Longevity Sword with overwhelming force.

His speed was astonishing. By the time Ni Zongzhao registered the danger, the sword was already upon him. Wisps of spiritual energy spilled forth, transforming into a crushing tide that bore down on him.

Shocked and enraged, Ni Zongzhao had no time to evade. He hastily positioned his long sword above him, bracing his hands beneath its blade to withstand the incoming blow.

A subtle ripple of spiritual energy emanated from where the two weapons met, dispersing outward. Ni Zongzhao coughed up blood violently, his body hurtling away like a kite severed from its string. He collided with the young men who had arrived with him, knocking them down in a heap.

With a calm demeanor, Ni Huibo stood holding the Longevity Sword in one hand, his gaze fixed ahead.

As the young men hit the ground, they inadvertently revealed Teng Feimei standing at the doorway. Their eyes locked.

Surprise flickered across Teng Feimei’s features. She glanced from Ni Huibo to Ni Zongzhao, now prostrate on the ground. A subtle smile graced her lips, dimples punctuating her contemplation.

“Ni Huibo!”

The youths on the ground scrambled to their feet. Two of them helped Ni Zongzhao, who was clearly struggling to maintain his balance.

“Ni Huibo, you dare to injure our own kin? We’ll report this to the patriarch immediately!” they bellowed, their faces a mix of anger and fear. Witnessing Ni Zongzhao’s defeat, they were not only shocked but also eager to accuse Ni Huibo.

However, before Ni Huibo could respond, Teng Feimei approached with measured steps.

“He lacked the skill to beat Ni Huibo. Now, after his defeat, he wants to weasel out of it? I saw everything,” she said with a hint of contempt to the group of young men. She had little respect for those who, lacking in strength, resorted to framing others.

Upon hearing her words, the youths froze in place. When they turned and recognized Teng Feimei, they choked back their retorts. With Teng Feimei’s father being close to the Ni family patriarch and her being a disciple of the prime minister, she was not someone they could provoke. Besides, they were in the wrong from the start.

Reluctantly, they shrank back, not daring to talk back. They shot Ni Huibo a resentful look before awkwardly helping Ni Zongzhao away from the scene.

“These cowards, they only bully those weaker than themselves. Now that I’m here, they’re suddenly silent,” Teng Feimei remarked disdainfully as she watched them leave. Then, turning to Ni Huibo, who remained composed, she looked at him with curiosity. “Why aren’t you reacting? They were really pushing you around.”

“It was merely a contest,” Ni Huibo replied, shaking his head gently. He then took a moment to observe Teng Feimei.

Her light purple chiffon dress billowed softly, revealing her graceful figure. She stood with her long legs straight, hands clasped behind her back, and a mischievous smile on her face that made her quite endearing.

A blush crept onto Ni Huibo’s cheeks as he remembered the time Teng Feimei had slept in his bed. But he quickly composed himself and walked to the edge of the room.

Several potted plants were haphazardly scattered about, some toppled over with soil and broken pottery strewn across the floor. He bent down to pick up the Longevity Sword and leaned it against the wall before starting to tidy the disarray. The intense aura he had emitted with his earlier sword strike had vanished, and in its place was a young man of gentle demeanor, as ordinary as any other.

There were numerous shattered pieces, and he handled them with great patience, carefully picking them up one by one and setting them aside.

In the center of the courtyard stood Teng Feimei, observing Ni Huibo as he meticulously arranged the porcelain fragments. A playful smirk crossed her lips before she bounded over to him with a spring in her step. “If you’re so much more capable than those others, why not give them a proper lesson?”

​”It was merely a competition,” Ni Huibo responded with a stern face and a tone of conviction. Teng Feimei couldn’t help but chuckle at his serious demeanor, but her laughter was short-lived. As she took in his earnest profile, an impulse struck her, and she gathered her sheer skirt to squat beside him.

“You’re such a good person. Why didn’t you step in and teach Lee Yayue a lesson that day?”

“The others are right; the family competition is a more suitable venue for our match.”

Ni Huibo spoke with unwavering seriousness, perhaps out of nervousness or simply habit. Teng Feimei gave him a thoughtful look, batting her large eyes before pressing on, “But what if you don’t face her? The family competition has its own set of rules. At best, you can defeat her, but you can’t avenge me.”

“And you might not even encounter each other.”

“So, what should I do?”

Finally, Ni Huibo looked up, placing the last porcelain shard to the side. Until now, he hadn’t considered these issues; his time secluded in the small courtyard hadn’t lent itself to such strategic thoughts.

A triumphant smile played at the corners of Teng Feimei’s mouth, as if she had just won a significant victory. She glanced around before leaning in close to Ni Huibo, whispering her plan into his ear.

Her subtle scent filled the air, and a gentle lock of hair brushed against Ni Huibo’s cheek as it floated on the breeze.

Ni Huibo felt the warmth of her breath and the softness of her voice by his ear, causing his cheeks to flush once more. Fortunately for him, Teng Feimei was engrossed in detailing her “plan” and didn’t catch his reaction.

“So, what do you think?” she concluded.

With a casual toss of her head, Teng Feimei’s hair cascaded back over her shoulders, leaving a trace of her fragrance in the air.

“Alright!”

Ni Huibo was momentarily taken aback, then quickly nodded in agreement. But no sooner had he done so than he regretted it; his attention had been elsewhere, and he hadn’t listened carefully. As he was about to ask for clarification, Teng Feimei bounded out of the courtyard, leaving only her graceful silhouette behind.

“What should I do now?”

Ni Huibo’s brow furrowed in frustration.

“I was somewhat distracted earlier. I only caught her mentioning something about taking covert action,” he mused, rooted to the spot. After a long deliberation, he gritted his teeth in determination. Casting a glance at the Longevity Sword beside him, he picked it up and stepped out of the courtyard.