Volume II: Snow over Qinchuan Chapter 28: Visitors from Northern Yan (Part I)

As Zhou Zihan and Feng Qi fought to a standstill, the sword-offering naturally came to an end.

Yet, with the proceedings having reached this stage, there was truly no need to continue. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that, had it not been for Feng Qi, the Traceless Peak would likely have been single-handedly swept by Zhou Zihan, a feat beyond even the Second Senior Brother, Wan Jiang.

Right now, the entire Snowcloud Sect was waiting for Feng Qi and Zhou Zihan to jointly offer their swords at the Moon-Chasing Peak. The sword scion of the Moon-Chasing Peak had already drawn the radiance, and while the Huixin-realm disciples of this generation were decent, they did not reach the heights of those two.

If things went on like this, the magnificent spectacle of a single person slaughtering an entire peak might genuinely occur.

That night.

The wind blew mournfully, the snow fell desolately.

The starry river hung inverted, the bright moon shone perpetually.

Feng Qi looked at the young girl before him, a helpless expression on his face.

"Do you truly not know how to spell the word discretion?"

Though it was not pitch-black and tempestuous, a lone man and woman sharing a single room was still enough to get people talking.

Zhou Zihan did not care about this in the least. "I care neither for what others say nor how they view me."

If wind and rain do not enter the heart, they naturally cannot enter the ears.

Feng Qi thought to himself that this point was somewhat similar to his own.

Living a lifetime, how could one avoid being the subject of gossip?

Fussing over petty details would only invite needless suffering.

Compared to these matters, he cared far more about what had transpired on the sword stage that day.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Zihan spoke first, "How did you figure it out?"

Feng Qi replied, "You had no intention of hiding it to begin with, so how could I not have guessed?"

Zhou Zihan shook her head. "None of the others made any associations in that direction, which means I concealed it quite well."

This statement was not false. Anyone confirmed to have a connection with Li Xingxing would be cast into the abyss, regardless of whether they were a heaven-born Dao seed or possessed an innate formless sword physique.

A mere heart of cherishing talent could not save Zhou Zihan.

Yet, the heart of cherishing talent certainly existed.

If nothing else, at least the masters of the Snowcloud Sect's five peaks were undoubtedly aware.

They knew of every slight movement within the Snowcloud Sect; keeping it hidden from them was simply too difficult.

At this thought, Feng Qi's gaze deepened.

The world's attitude toward Li Xingxing was indeed subtle, and even the Snowcloud Sect was no exception.

Seeing that Feng Qi remained silent, Zhou Zihan uttered an affirmative sound.

A second affirmative sound.

Only then did Feng Qi react to the fact that Zhou Zihan had previously asked a question.

"There are many mind-reading techniques in this world, but the top tier only consists of two: one is the Chan Sect's Point of Clarity, and the other is the imperial family's One and All."

Zhou Zihan could not possibly belong to the imperial family.

Nor could she possibly know the Point of Clarity.

Most crucially, Feng Qi was well-versed in this very art; back when he was in the Hunyuan realm, he had occasionally been able to probe the inner thoughts of those who drew radiance.

Zhou Zihan's attainment in this aspect could not possibly surpass his.

What other reason could explain the situation at that time?

It surely could not be a coincidence; the coincidence of Feng Qi's whimsical thoughts at that moment being guessed correctly every single time simply could not exist.

Excluding mind-reading, what other technique could achieve such a feat?

It could only be divination. Zhou Zihan was still unlikely to possess such attainment in this path, but fortune-telling did not require the diviner to be physically present at the scene, which made some logical sense.

Divination was divided into two parts: divination itself and calculation.

Feng Qi was proficient in the latter, but the former had always remained beyond his threshold. According to the experience of the Ji Academy and the Carefree Pavilion, those who thoroughly read the Daoist scriptures would always draw analogies about things like the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and at the very least generate some degree of resonance, yet he had never touched upon a similar opportunity.

If it truly was divination, however... how many people in this world possessed such capability?

Zhou Zihan pondered for a moment, roughly grasping what Feng Qi intended to express, and said, "There is a Soul-Suppressing Stone within the Snowcloud Sect, so the so-called mind-reading does not work here. But based solely on this, you were able to conclude that I am connected to the Master?"

Feng Qi thought to himself that he had said nothing at all, and it was she herself letting her imagination run wild.

However, he had no intention of denying the thoughts in his mind, so he shook his head and said, "I can only deduce that there is a grandmaster proficient in divination by your side. To achieve this level, there are only two figures in the Daoist canon... For various reasons, Dou Xiaotong and his affiliates will not appear in Qinchuan, so Li Xingxing is the more likely possibility."

Pausing for a brief moment, he continued, "Moreover, your form of address for Li Xingxing is also problematic... You aren't even that respectful toward the Divine Emperor."

Commoners usually addressed Li Xingxing as Lord.

Practitioners in the cultivation world usually addressed Li Xingxing as the Fiend.

The two words "Sage Immortal" were indeed rarely spoken... especially when preceding the title of Sage Immortal by referring to the Divine Emperor as "that person from Wuyang."

This contrast naturally revealed anomalies.

Judging by Zhou Zihan's age, had she not truly interacted with Li Xingxing, it would have been utterly impossible for her to place Li Xingxing before the Divine Emperor.

Zhou Zihan fell silent for a brief moment before saying, "The Master calculated correctly; it really is as you say."

Feng Qi raised an eyebrow.

Zhou Zihan said softly, "I began learning the sword at a very young age."

Feng Qi thought that he had already learned of this matter when they crossed swords.

Zhou Zihan continued, "The Master was my first teacher, yet under the pretext that our paths differed, he always refused to accept me as a disciple, allowing me only to address him as Master."

Feng Qi thought this style somewhat matched Li Xingxing's temperament.

The Ji Academy and the Chan Sect were vastly different—one spoke of Master Confucius's teachings, while the other spoke of the Buddha's words.

Yet they shared similarities, such as their extraordinary belief in the word "destiny"—if destiny had not yet arrived, then everything came to a halt.

Feng Qi held no particular opinion on this, merely feeling puzzled.

If one truly believed in destiny, why bother struggling against the heavens so bitterly?

"On my tenth birthday, the Master called me over and told me a story."

"I suppose it was a story about an innate formless sword physique?"

"Correct."

"Then hasn't six years already passed?"

"Can you refrain from interrupting?"

"Judging by what you said earlier, I thought you were someone who enjoyed responding... Very well, do continue."

"The Master once cast a divination for me, saw through the next decade of my life, and compiled it into a story."

"I would be discovered by my master, and on the very next day after that discovery, I would be brought back to Snowcloud, and on the third day, I would be installed as the sword scion of the Thousandfold Peak."

"I would cultivate the sword on Thousandfold Peak for three years, during which Senior Brother Wu Fan would trouble me and ultimately be defeated under my sword."

"I would become Snowcloud's youngest practitioner in the upper Hunyuan realm, and break the record for the initial ascent of Snowcloud's sword path."

"I would enter seclusion within the sword path, and meet you within the sword path."

"You and I would successively head to the Sunken Sword Pool to retrieve swords, and then participate together in the Sword Discussion Conference, where you would lose."

"You and I would temper our bodies with sword intent together, break through to the Huixin realm together, and charge straight into the upper realm."

"Following that, I would engage in a second sword duel with you, and this time, you would win."

"There is much more, but explaining the details is too troublesome and I dislike it, so I have only told you the general outline. Do you have any further questions?"

Questions?

There were rather a lot of them.

Feng Qi fell silent for a long moment before his eyes suddenly lit up. "Does that mean you don't know what I'm thinking right now?"

Zhou Zihan said, "I have never known your thoughts. The reason I was able to guess what you wanted to say is because in the past future, you had already spoken thus. Unfortunately... the Master only told me part of the dialogue."

Zhou Zihan's words were somewhat convoluted, yet not difficult to understand.

To divine ten parts while speaking of one—this was what was called not leaking heavenly secrets.

Discrepancies were entirely normal.

Feng Qi suddenly asked, "Is there much of it?"

This was a question regarding the dialogue.

Zhou Zihan pondered for a moment, shook her head, and replied, "It is already quite sufficient."

This was an answer regarding the divination.

Feng Qi breathed a sigh of relief, though he still felt something was amiss.

He wore a suspicious expression. "You didn't forcefully turn what he spoke into reality just to conform to his divination, did you?"

After a brief contemplation, Feng Qi helplessly shook his head once more.

What Li Xingxing spoke could be termed a prophecy, or a plan, and many parts of it were controllable.

For instance, Zhou Zihan's life course.

With her talent, coupled with Li Xingxing's guidance, achieving those aforementioned matters was not difficult.

Yet there were inevitably aspects that could not be controlled.

For example, the exact occasions and words he would use.

As expected, it was the calculation of the heavens.

Feng Qi remarked, "The path of divination is immensely perilous; I always believed that divining me would require paying a heavy price. It seems I was arrogant after all."

Zhou Zihan insisted meticulously, "No, the Master divined me; you merely happened to appear in my future."

Feng Qi thought to himself, is there any difference?

Zhou Zihan said, "Of course there is a difference."

Feng Qi was startled. "Even these words could be divined?"

Zhou Zihan shook her head. "Not quite that. However, your expression is far too obvious; one can tell what you are thinking at a single glance."

Pausing briefly, she continued, "For now, only you know about this matter; I must ask you to keep it a secret for me."

Feng Qi murmured softly, "Keeping a secret is not difficult, nor do I particularly enjoy discussing other people's affairs, but I have one more question."

Zhou Zihan sat up straight. "Please ask."

Feng Qi found her reaction somewhat odd, though he did not dwell on it, and asked, "Why are you telling me all of this?"

Had Zhou Zihan not exposed herself intentionally, there was no way he could have discovered her connection with Li Xingxing. Just like the other disciples of Snowcloud, he would have focused solely on her breathtaking and brilliant talent.

Yet why would Zhou Zihan deliberately guide him into discovering this matter? What was her motive? And what was her ultimate purpose?

Not making Feng Qi wait too long, Zhou Zihan provided her answer.

"Because you will ultimately be my cultivation companion."

There is a saying: make your words startling enough to rouse the dead.

Even with Feng Qi's temperament, he found himself somewhat unsettled.

A prolonged silence fell within the cave dwelling.

Since he could first remember, this was the first time Feng Qi felt so at a loss.

He was well aware that this was no confession from a romantic script, even though it certainly sounded like one.

If Feng Qi's conjecture was correct, this should have been calculated by Li Xingxing.

No wonder Zhou Zihan had invited him to accompany her in sword-offering.

No wonder Zhou Zihan constantly yearned to settle the victory and defeat with him.

Viewed in this light, ever since their initial meeting on the sword path of Thousandfold Peak, Zhou Zihan's presence in his life had been far too overwhelming—even their Senior Brother could not compare.

The reason turned out to be this.

Zhou Zihan was quite satisfied with the shock Feng Qi currently displayed. "There's no rush; take your time considering it. We both still have plenty of time."

Feng Qi recovered his wits. "I do not like you."

Zhou Zihan uttered an affirmative sound.

Feng Qi spoke again, "Nor do I believe in destiny."

Zhou Zihan replied, "I know. You have constantly been fighting against destiny on behalf of your younger brother."

Feng Qi fell silent once more, before finally asking helplessly, "Is there anything you do not know?"

Zhou Zihan smiled softly and did not answer that question.

Feng Qi was about to ask further.

Someone had come to visit.

As it turned out, it was Mou Linhan.

The senior brother of the Traceless Peak wore a grave expression. "Junior Brother, some people from the outer mountain have arrived and wish to see you."

Feng Qi said, "Yet I do not wish to see them."

Mou Linhan stated, "They are the Northern Yan Prince's army."