The Opponent Is Far Too Weak

Little Mumu took a step forward, raised his chin, and looked at Beichen Yi with disdain, who was still in shock. “Those who deceive my mother, punish them! Those who use my mother, punish them harshly! Those who treat my mother like a fool, beat and punish them mercilessly!”

Beichen Yi’s expression shifted at these words, and he looked pitifully at Yun Feiyue. “Sister Yue, I didn’t… Please believe me. The Gongsun family and the Yun family have been friends for generations.”

Yun Feiyue took her time sipping her tea, not even feeling the urge to get angry at such a person. After swallowing the tea, she looked at Gongsun Zifu with a smile, a streak of fiery red flaring in her hand as she lashed out at Beichen Yi.

A crisp slap resounded, so swift that Gongsun Zifu had no chance to counter. Such an opponent was far too weak.

She glanced indifferently at the blood trickling from Gongsun Zifu’s lips and said, “It’s precisely because of our families’ history that I’m sparing your life. Consider our past ties severed; today, I let you go. I don’t wish for there to be a second time. Know your place. If one day your Gongsun family harms those I wish to protect, you’ll pay with your lives…”

As she spoke, Yun Feiyue pulled Little Mumu close. Anyone who stood in her way, no matter who they were, would meet only one end—death.

Gongsun Zifu sneered coldly, wiping the blood from his lips. No matter the outcome, someone’s mind had been unsettled for him to seek out Yun Feiyue.

Sure enough, as Gongsun Zifu left with hatred in his heart, a summons from Beichen Yi soon arrived.

In the Longhua Hall of the royal palace, Beichen Yi sat upon the throne, his eyes brooding. The soft sunlight cast faint shadows from his sparse lashes across his face.

He lifted his head slightly, watching Yun Feiyue enter the hall. His dark, piercing gaze was sharp as a blade, as if he meant to dissect her with his eyes. After a long moment, he finally asked, “Sister Yue, were you well yesterday? I heard the Lord of Divine Hidden took you away.”

Yun Feiyue smiled faintly. Beichen Yi truly kept himself well-informed.

“Yes, my illness acted up yesterday. He merely sought to cure me.”

“Oh?” His tone was drawn out, hiding a subtle menace. Anyone who tried to take Sister Yue from him would not be spared—no matter who it was.

“The Lord of Divine Hidden has always avoided worldly affairs. Who would have thought he would go to such lengths to heal your illness, Sister Yue?”

This question… Even Yun Feiyue herself could not comprehend it.

Beichen Yi studied Yun Feiyue for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile. “Never mind. Perhaps the Lord of Divine Hidden is simply in good spirits lately. After all, the Tianwu Rankings tournament is about to begin. I’ve heard his main reason for coming to Chu is to find someone who might seize the top spot. Has he found that person, I wonder?”

Yun Feiyue did not reply, simply choosing a seat and sitting down as though listening to idle chatter. Whatever Beichen Yi said, she paid it no mind.

Beichen Yi muttered to himself for a long time—complaining that his garden had burned down yesterday, expressing his heartbreak, complaining about Mo Twelve’s requests for a kiss, and, finally, returning to his dissatisfaction with Mo Feiyuan.

Though he never stated it outright, his words dripped with deep-seated resentment.

After a long while, Yun Feiyue finally yawned and asked, “Your Majesty, what is the real reason you summoned me today?” Get to the point!

Only then did Beichen Yi address the true matter. “The Tianwu Rankings tournament begins next month. I wish to ask Sister Yue to represent Chu. Yun Feng alone is not enough. Though Chu has many talented individuals, few can compare to you, Sister. If you could earn a place among the top ten, no one would dare underestimate our nation.”

On the continent of Golden Spear, the struggles between nations could be brutal—many small countries changed rulers overnight. Although Chu was a major power, it had produced few remarkable figures in recent years, lagging behind Jing, Qing, and even Nan.

Yun Feiyue, once hailed as a prodigy, had carried the nation’s hopes until her sudden disappearance plunged the people of Chu into grief for a time.

Now that she had returned, it would not be in keeping with the will of the people for her to shun the Tianwu Rankings tournament.

Of course, Yun Feiyue herself was even more interested in entering the Phoenix Sky Forest of the Mo family, rumored to be another world altogether, filled with rare treasures.

Little Mumu’s physique was still far too frail. Without better materials for his cultivation, his progress had slowed considerably. According to her master, what Little Mumu needed was the baptism of phoenix blood to truly lay a solid foundation. As his adoptive mother, Yun Feiyue felt she must do something for her son, or he would be at the mercy of others, given his unique constitution.

“Yes, I’ll go!” she agreed without hesitation.

Beichen Yi had known Yun Feiyue would accept. But with her gone from the capital for a time, he would have ample opportunity to handle many things—those obstacles in his path would be quietly removed.

In front of Yun Feiyue, he was still willing to play the obedient younger brother.

“I visited Consort Yun today to pay my respects, and from her I heard Sister Yue’s skills have grown yet again. It’s been so long since you’ve instructed me in martial arts—why not give me some guidance today?” As he spoke, Beichen Yi leapt down from the throne and approached Yun Feiyue, a brilliant, genuine smile lighting his pale lips.

“Very well!” She, too, was curious to see how far Beichen Yi’s martial arts had come.

He had once been a prodigy himself, but at thirteen his health had collapsed, leaving him sickly. Only the support of the great families had allowed him to claim the throne. In recent years, few spoke of Beichen Yi’s martial prowess, but stories of his childhood friendship with Yun Feiyue lingered as a popular tale.

“Let’s try, then!” Without hesitation, Yun Feiyue summoned a true flame, which swiftly transformed into a dancing whip, lighting up the Longhua Hall with a blaze.

Beichen Yi spread his arms, toes tapping lightly as he retreated to where the flames could not reach. He smiled, “Sister Yue, don’t be hasty! How about we make a wager first?”

Yun Feiyue drew back her whip, a cold smile flickering in her heart. After all that chatter, this was Beichen Yi’s real reason for summoning her.

“What’s the wager? Name it.”