Wayfarer

Chapter 52: Yu'er's Sixth Sense

In the end, the Lady Arclight didn't fly over. The battle in the distance had reached its eventual conclusion. Yu'er and Nanfeng had slain one golden crow spirit, and Ye Sanshui had successfully slain the other. As the remaining crow spirits fled in shock, the majority of them were taken down by the remaining disciples.

As the battle came to an end, everyone slumped to the ground, panting for breath and simultaneously celebrating in joy. "We've won, haha!"

Yu'er helped support a seemingly exhausted Xiao Nanfeng as they walked to the shade of a tree. She glanced at him with confusion.

"Nanfeng? Were you pretending to be in a difficult situation all this time? Why?" Yu'er whispered.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled wryly. "Please don't expose me, Senior Sister."

"But why?" Yu'er seemed perplexed—until her eyes suddenly lit up. "Ah, you're trying to hide it from the elder, aren't you?"

Xiao Nanfeng gaped. How had she guessed so quickly? Did all women have such a frightening sixth sense?

"Alright, I won't hide it from you any longer. You're right. When Ma Shan and the others were chasing me back on Taiqing Island, I accidentally barged into the Arclight Villa and saw the Lady Arclight trying to meditate on her cultivation while playing the erhu. I shouted for help, but she didn't respond, so I thought she was deaf. I said something along the lines of, 'No wonder she's playing the erhu so badly—she's deaf!'" Xiao Nanfeng explained.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't mention what else he had done, but this was sufficient to cause Yu'er to widen her eyes.

"You—did you really say that?! Don't you know that the Lady Arclight is known for being petty?" Yu'er asked, gobsmacked.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled wearily. "How was I to know? I shouldn't have run my mouth..."

"The Lady Arclight thinks highly of herself, and I doubt she's ever heard such a disparaging remark in her life. Well, I'm very interested to see what she'll do, haha!" Yu'er suddenly laughed in glee.

"You're laughing?!" Xiao Nanfeng was speechless.

"Alright, I'll help you hide it, but I'm sure she's already found you out by now," Yu'er replied, continuing to laugh heartlessly.

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

Just then, Ye Sanshui and a group of senior disciples headed over.

"Yu'er, Nanfeng, it's all thanks to you that we were able to get through this safe and sound. You deserve one of the two inner cores from the golden crow spirits." Ye Sanshui handed one core to Yu'er.

After all, it was Yu'er who had slain the golden crow spirit with that final attack.

"This is a fire-attuned inner core. Nanfeng, don't you cultivate qi of pure yang? You could benefit from this much more than I could—take it!" Yu'er handed the core to Xiao Nanfeng.

Yu'er knew very well that she had only succeeded in slaying the golden crow spirit thanks to Xiao Nanfeng, and she didn't regret giving him the core at all.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't refuse the gift. He swallowed the core immediately—after all, the core was dissipating every second it was left exposed to the environment, and consuming it even a second later would be a waste. Xiao Nanfeng began to distill the essence of the core immediately.

"Look at how nice Yu'er is to Nanfeng! She gave him the core outright!"

"Of course! They're a couple, aren't they? Look at how the Immortal Cicadas match harmoniously when held by a couple!"

"They really seem to be on good terms with one another!"

A group of senior disciples, largely male, tossed Xiao Nanfeng envious looks.

Yu'er's face flushed red. "What would you know? Don't speak nonsense. Nanfeng and I are innocent!"

The disciples looked toward Yu'er in disbelief, causing her to stomp her feet in anger.

"Alright, all of you, enough! Yu'er's rather thin-skinned, so stop badgering her! If she claims that she and Nanfeng are innocent, take her words at face value. Now, go handle the crow spirits' bodies! We'll have a sumptuous feast tonight," Ye Sanshui commanded, resolving the situation.

Everyone finally dispersed, but Yu'er only scowled at Ye Sanshui. You might as well not have explained—everything seems like it's only getting worse!

Once everyone left, Yu'er sat down by Nanfeng's side in a huff, guarding him as he absorbed the golden crow spirit's inner core.

As he swallowed the inner core, burning yang energy erupted within Xiao Nanfeng's body, rushing throughout his limbs and bones. However, this inner core was much like the one he consumed during his breakthrough last time, and was insufficient for another breakthrough. It only served to improve his cultivation to some extent. Quickly thereafter, Xiao Nanfeng woke up.

"Senior Sister, why do you look so vexed?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"It's all your fault!" Yu'er rolled her eyes at him.

Xiao Nanfeng, confused: ...

Two days later, after everyone had eaten their fill of crow spirit meat and returned to peak strength, they sat off deeper toward the mountain once more.

The Lady Arclight glanced at the disciples from a peak in the distance. With a twitch of her fingers, she lured another group of crow spirits toward the cultivators.

Just like two days ago, a vicious fight broke out.

The Lady Arclight enjoyed the show that Xiao Nanfeng put on.

"I've always broken the limbs of anyone who dares trespass in the Arclight Villa. You were the only one who's gotten off scot-free, all thanks to how quickly you ran off. Considering you're Elder Ku's disciple, I won't break your limbs—but your troubles won't end here. Look forward to what you have to face! The Lady Arclight's eyes lit up as she enjoyed the scene of Xiao Nanfeng's suffering.

Just like two days' ago, as everyone was about to run out of stamina, Yu'er again managed the feat of taking down one golden crow spirit with her sword, causing the tide of battle to turn sharply in favor of the Taiqing disciples.

After the battle, she again handed the inner core to Xiao Nanfeng, causing the other disciples to give her suggestive glances. Yu'er was so angry that she glared at them all in implicit threat.

After another three days, the disciples faced a third batch of crows that the Lady Arclight had lured over. As Xiao Nanfeng consumed the third inner core, his cultivation finally changed qualitatively as he broke through to the peak of Acquisition. His pores seemed to gush out flames. After about half an hour, with a sudden whoosh, turgid air was expelled from his body as he breathed out.

"Nanfeng, have you broken through to the peak of Acquisition?" Yu'er asked, happy for her junior.

Xiao Nanfeng slowly opened his eyes, feeling strength coursing all over his body. He nodded in satisfaction. "That's right, I'm at the peak of Acquisition now—I'm almost at Immanence! These cores are true treasures!"

"So the Lady Arclight has been helping you out by luring these crow spirits over, then?" Yu'er smiled.

Just then, the Lady Arclight flew over. She had been very happy about seeing Xiao Nanfeng suffering, but now that he had broken through, her good mood suddenly vanished. Yu'er's words were like a dagger to her heart, causing significant damage to her joie de vivre. Had all of what she had done these last few days ended up helping Xiao Nanfeng? This was infuriating beyond belief!

"We greet the elder!" The gathered Taiqing disciples immediately bowed upon seeing the Lady Arclight.

When Yu'er saw the Lady Arclight and belatedly recalled what she had said, she knew that the jig was up. She stuck out her tongue at Xiao Nanfeng, as though praying for his good fortune.

Xiao Nanfeng: ...

Indeed, the Lady Arclight glared at Xiao Nanfeng in anger and embarrassment. She huffed,

but none of the other disciples knew why.

When Xiao Nanfeng saw the Lady Arclight's expression, he immediately realized that she had guessed whom he was.

"May I ask if you have any directives, Elder?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling even as he inwardly grimaced.

"Have you recovered from your cold?" the Lady Arclight replied, keeping a lid on her anger. Despite her sharp gaze, her smile was like a blooming flower, gorgeous in the extreme.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder. I'm quite alright," Xiao Nanfeng replied somewhat awkwardly.

"Your name is Nanfeng? Do you know what mistakes you've committed?" the Lady Arclight cut straight to the chase.

Xiao Nanfeng was speechless for a moment. Wasn't she done with him yet? What was she planning now?

"Within the sect, Elder, I spoke tactlessly and offended you by accident. I apologize for the misunderstanding," Xiao Nanfeng replied, embarrassed.

There was no point in hiding matters any longer, so Xiao Nanfeng admitted to his guilt.

"A misunderstanding? I think not. You are aware of the rules of the Taiqing sect, I hope?" The Lady Arclight continued staring at Xiao Nanfeng with a cold smile on her face.

"Yes, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The rules of the Taiqing sect required that he memorize scriptures for the misdemeanor of offending an elder.

"Very good! You shall receive punishment in accordance with your deeds. I have a few Taoist scriptures within this jade token. Only when you memorize it all will you be allowed back into the sect!" The Lady Arclight tossed Xiao Nanfeng a jade token.

Xiao Nanfeng caught the token and glanced at it in surprise. The Lady Arclight instructed, "Check its contents with spiritual power."

As Xiao Nanfeng did so, the contents of the token manifested in his mindscape. Countless Taoist scriptures appeared above his stellar lake—this small jade token boasted a thousand Taoist scriptures in all!

"You must memorize all the scriptures within. I shall not relent even if Elder Ku begs for mercy on your behalf!"

The Lady Arclight smiled coldly at Xiao Nanfeng, thinking of how agonizing it must be for him to suffer by memorizing these countless scriptures. Her mood finally improved once more.

Xiao Nanfeng gave the Lady Arclight a strange look. Are you sure this is punishment, not a reward?

"Understood! I'll redeem myself as quickly as I can, Elder!" Xiao Nanfeng feigned a look of pain.

"Elder, might this be problematic? Why not wait until we return to the sect? Nanfeng's taking part in field training now, and there might not be time for him to memorize these scriptures..."

The Lady Arclight raised an eyebrow as Xiao Nanfeng pulled Yu'er behind him.

"Senior Sister, the Lady Arclight's punishment is fair and just. I made a mistake, and I've owned up to it. There's no need for you to help me plead for clemency." Xiao Nanfeng gave Yu'er a sharp look.

Only then was the Lady Arclight satisfied. "It's good that you're self-aware. We'll see whether or not you dare to speak so brazenly in the future."

"I won't, Elder! Rest assured that I'll take this lesson to heart," Xiao Nanfeng replied sincerely.

"Very good." The Lady Arclight smiled in satisfaction before heading toward Ye Sanshui.

After the Lady Arclight had gone out of hearing, Yu'er burst out, "Nanfeng, why did you hold me back? This is clearly ridiculous, and even an elder can't issue such disproportionate punishment! Let me go—I'll help you get justice!"

Xiao Nanfeng didn't know whether to laugh or to cry as he pulled Yu'er back. "Don't! You should know better than anyone that this isn't a punishment to me!"

"Ah—well, I suppose so."

"I wonder if the elder has more such jade tokens? I'm hoping she has a few more, so don't ruin my plans!" Xiao Nanfeng continued, laughing.

Yu'er: ... Are you deliberately giving in in an attempt to read more of the elder's personal collection of scriptures...?

Even Yu'er began looking at the Lady Arclight strangely, almost pitifully.