Volume One: Chaos in Yan and Yun Chapter Twelve: The Heartless Lover

Naming Feng Ling indicates agreement for Feng Yang to participate in the Sandstorm Festival.

The problem is, since there is agreement, why specify someone from within the family?

And why Feng Ling?

How should this be explained to the Third Elder?

Perhaps seeing his concerns, Feng Muyun explained, “There are some things I want to confirm.”

Feng Yang asked, “Such as?”

Feng Muyun replied, “You two brothers are so clever, do I really need to spell it out?”

Feng Yang thought for a moment, but found he truly didn’t know the answer.

Feng Qi said, “Perhaps it’s related to the Star Iron?”

Feng Muyun said, “Just as you two returned, the Third Elder sent a gift to the Divine Forge Pavilion.”

The Divine Forge Pavilion was an enterprise run by the Divine Forge Valley in the human realm, specializing in forging weapons. The Lord of Yan Yun Pavilion, Lou Yu, was one of the three greatest artisans of the age, and most of the Yan Yun Eighteen Riders’ life-bonded weapons were personally crafted by him.

At this point in time, what would motivate the Third Elder to send a gift to the Divine Forge Pavilion?

Was it because Feng Ling wanted Star Iron?

“I don’t need Star Iron,” Feng Qi said. “Though the Immaculate Sword isn’t mine, the Snowcloud Sword Pool holds countless blades. I doubt I’d be unable to find a Heaven-tier flying sword there.”

“That’s not what I want to confirm,” Feng Muyun replied.

Feng Qi raised an eyebrow. “Do you truly suspect them?”

Feng Muyun said, “I can’t afford not to.”

Feng Qi said, “Though they’re from a collateral branch, they’re still members of our military household. This gains them nothing.”

Feng Muyun looked at him quietly.

Feng Qi was silent for a while, then said, “Even if Yang and I hadn’t returned, the direct line still has Uncle’s son. No matter how things turn, Feng Ling could never become heir. If not for that, no benefit would be worth the risk.”

Feng Muyun thought, reading is not the answer to everything; otherwise, you’d know your uncle’s child could never inherit the title.

The implications were vast, and he didn’t wish to elaborate further, so he said, “But what if he’s mastered the final two forms of the Overlord Spear?”

The final two forms—‘Invincible Without Self’ and ‘Desperate Stand’—were formidable.

At present, only a handful in the Feng family could wield these two forms flawlessly: Feng Muyun, the three Elders, Feng Qi, and the two old retainers in the ancestral hall.

Even Steward Fei had not learned ‘Invincible Without Self’ and ‘Desperate Stand’.

Why should Feng Ling have them?

Feng Muyun explained, “Within the Feng family, only the main line and the Elders may study the complete Overlord Spear. The Elders, at year’s end, may petition the family head for permission to pass the techniques to a successor. But there is another scenario.”

Feng Qi raised an eyebrow. “The heir contest?”

Feng Muyun said, “If you and Yang hadn’t returned, the main line would have had no successor. If Feng Ling could surpass Chang’er, then secretly learning the last two forms would not be an issue—the old man could claim it was for the heir contest.”

“But we have returned,” Feng Qi said.

Feng Muyun chuckled softly. “So Feng Ling’s mastery of the Overlord Spear lacks legitimacy.”

Feng Qi said, “No wonder you had Yang specify him.”

Feng Muyun explained, “If you went, losing would just be a loss. But he cannot lose to Yang.”

Feng Yang, unable to cultivate, had been mocked by Feng Ling countless times, both openly and subtly.

To lose to Yang, with Feng Ling’s pride, would be intolerable.

He would be forced to reveal all his hidden cards.

Feng Yang was not worldly, but he wasn’t a fool. At last, he sensed something amiss.

“Father, did you know beforehand the Third Elder meant to harm my brother and me?”

Feng Muyun grunted his acknowledgement. “Not exactly beforehand, but the Third Elder’s faction has been making moves these past years. At one point, they even tried to seize military power at Wanghaiguan, stirring trouble both openly and covertly... Yanbei bears the Feng name—did they really think it referred to Feng Changhong’s line?”

Feng Yang didn’t take in most of the latter part.

What he heard was the single hum of affirmation.

It left him feeling especially dispirited, a hint of grievance in his voice. “Yet you still sent us beyond the frontier? If the Third Elder colluded with the barbarians, how could Uncle Mo protect us alone?”

“Do you really think Mo Ming is the only one?”

“Who else?”

“Bai Jian and Yun Chen are with you as well.”

Among the Yan Yun Eighteen Riders, Mo Ming was the strongest, Bai Jian the steadiest, and Yun Chen the swiftest.

With these three as escorts, as long as no Void Dao experts appeared, the world was open to them.

Even among the barbarians, there were only three at the Void Dao level.

Across the entire frontier, there were unlikely to be more than ten beings at that realm.

Still, Feng Yang remained uneasy.

Filial piety was of utmost virtue; he couldn’t easily criticize his father’s decisions.

Yet that did not mean he was truly indifferent to the matter.

He resolved to do something during the Sandstorm Festival.

Just then, Feng Qi glanced at Feng Yang.

Feng Yang understood instantly, chiding himself for his earlier confusion.

The barbarians had suffered a crushing defeat in the Gobi over a decade ago; though not enough to shake the nation’s foundation, they had been badly hurt. Their spies here were all Feng family members. If this was not a Feng family plot, why would they risk exposing a Void Dao expert?

Their investigators couldn’t be weak, or they’d never detect the hidden guardians—only those at the Luminous Initiation stage or higher would do.

But send any number of Luminous Initiation experts, and they’d only meet their deaths.

Therefore, the barbarians could not be sure if something was amiss. Given the caution of the Duke of Ming among the barbarians, he would never take such a risk.

Feng Muyun easily read the struggle playing across Feng Yang’s face.

He shook his head with a smile and turned to Steward Fei. “How goes the situation with Feng Muyue?”

Steward Fei answered, “The Strange Stone Forest is under control, but Feng Muyue is very strong—she may become a variable.”

Feng Muyun asked, “Can she be spared?”

It wasn’t that he feared Feng Muyue as a variable, but he was loath to lose a top-tier fighter to internal strife.

A Luminous Initiation realm expert was invaluable in Yanbei.

Steward Fei understood, and sighed. “We may have no choice but to kill her.”

Feng Muyun considered for a moment. “Is there anyone else who can take over the Stone Forest?”

Steward Fei replied, “The Eighteen Commanders cannot be moved, the vice commanders are somewhat weaker, and though there are suitable candidates in the Wind Breath Battalion, most hold critical posts and are hard to redeploy.”

Feng Muyun asked, “What about over at Desert Assault?”

Steward Fei answered, “The Third Master does have someone who could manage the Stone Forest, but his son…”

Feng Qi suddenly said, “Though Yan Weixie and I have our differences, we’re not enemies. A match with him at this Sandstorm Festival will settle old grievances.”

He paused, then added, “If all else fails, let Xing’er marry him.”

…