Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Academic Year Tournament

That night, Feng Qingcheng escorted Mingyue back to the academy once more. On the way back, as he flew through the night on his sword, Mingyue took the initiative and held on to his sleeve. The starry sky was especially beautiful. With one arm around her slender waist, Feng Qingcheng guided the flying sword across mountain peaks and cascading waterfalls. Mingyue could not help feeling as though she had grown wings and was soaring through the heavens.

Looking up at the countless stars, she cried out mischievously, “I want to fly higher! Higher! Higher!”

Feng Qingcheng glanced back and smiled, guiding the flying sword upward with a sharp whoosh. The night breeze lifted their robes, making them look like immortals flying through the sky.

Mingyue sighed. “So this is how wonderful it feels to fly.”

Feng Qingcheng smiled faintly, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. “Yes. Work hard at your cultivation. Once you reach the High Immortal realm, you’ll be able to fly on a sword as well.”

Mingyue nodded firmly.

Deep within her heart, she said to herself, “Mingyue, you must learn to fly on a sword. Then you’ll be able to stand beside him and fly with him.”

The two landed on the hill before the academy. Feng Qingcheng recalled his immortal sword, and they said goodbye at the academy gates.

Thinking of the dinner they had shared that day, Mingyue could not help smiling sweetly at him. “Thank you for dinner, Senior Brother Feng. Goodbye.”

Feng Qingcheng nodded. “All right.”

Mingyue turned and walked toward the dormitory. After she had gone some distance, she looked back and saw Feng Qingcheng still standing at the entrance of Shu Mountain Cultivation Academy, quietly watching her. Mingyue waved at him before turning around and disappearing into the night.

What they did not know was that Nalan Meidai and Jiang Yiyi happened to be passing by in the distance and had witnessed Feng Qingcheng and Mingyue’s farewell. Nalan Meidai’s face turned livid with rage. She glared hatefully at Mingyue’s departing figure, wishing she could tear her limb from limb.

Mingyue, meanwhile, was practically bursting with joy as she walked along. She felt light-headed and dreamlike, as though she had swallowed some miraculous divine elixir.

That day, she had actually shared a meal at his private residence with the legendary cultivation genius, Senior Brother Feng, and he had even taken her flying on his sword. An indescribable happiness surged through her heart.

Of course, she was not conceited enough to think that Senior Brother Feng had taken an interest in her. She felt that he had merely happened to encounter her and had taken her along for dinner as a matter of convenience.

It had been only one meal, yet it had left her extraordinarily content and happy. This was a little secret between her and Senior Brother Feng, and she decided not to tell anyone.

By the time Mingyue returned to the dormitory, it was already the hour of the Dog. The moment she entered, she saw Nangong Yurou, Dou Ruhua, and Mo Yao sitting in the common room. All three looked up at her in unison, only to find her cheeks flushed with happiness and a foolish grin on her face. They were instantly shocked.

“What happened to you?” Nangong Yurou rushed over and touched her forehead, her face full of confusion. “You haven’t been possessed, have you?”

Mo Yao took a bite of her candied hawthorn skewer. “The library closes at the hour of the Rooster. Now tell us honestly—where did you go, and with whom?”

Mingyue snatched the candied hawthorn from Mo Yao and took a bite to cover her embarrassment. “Nothing happened. I just went climbing in the rear mountains for a while. I’m a little tired.”

“Are you trying to cultivate some peerless divine art and save all humanity?” Nangong Yurou teased, handing her a bag of osmanthus cakes. “You little glutton, you must be starving. Hurry and eat.”

Mingyue accepted the heavy bag and was deeply touched. “Thank you, all you beautiful immortal sisters. You’re tired too, and we still have class tomorrow, so go to bed early.”

Mingyue darted back into her room. The others looked at one another in bewilderment.

What was going on? Had studying made her lose her mind?

Mingyue tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep properly. Her mind was filled with images of sharing dinner and flying on a sword with Feng Qingcheng.

She felt as though she had experienced a sweet daydream. In that dream, she had chatted and dined with the legendary cultivation prodigy of the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect, a figure of godlike stature, and had even flown together with him on a sword. Who would believe her if she told them? She might even be mocked for being a toad yearning to devour a swan.

Mingyue touched her cheeks, which had nearly stiffened from smiling, and said sternly to herself, “Stop letting your imagination run wild. Cultivation is the only proper path. Keep going.”

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, several more months had gone by, and the academy was about to begin its second year of cultivation courses.

Over those months, Mingyue saw Feng Qingcheng only once. Since the swordsmanship instructor had been replaced by Qiao Chuya, a disciple of the Sword Sect, all four girls in Mingyue’s dormitory became especially enthusiastic about practicing swordsmanship.

Nangong Yurou was the most diligent of them all. She practiced every day with extraordinary seriousness and asked an astonishing number of questions. In front of Qiao Chuya, she was practically a devoted little admirer. Qiao, of course, was a gentle and mild-tempered instructor. He answered every one of Nangong Yurou’s questions with great patience and guided her swordsmanship just as patiently.

The Cultivation Academy conducted a comprehensive assessment of its disciples. Among them, five had already reached the Immortal Ruins realm of the Void-Transcending stage. They were growing ever closer to the High Immortal realm.

Those five were Mu Xiaotian, Han Ruge, Mo Yao, Mingyue, and Nalan Meidai.

This was the day of the end-of-year tournament following the disciples’ first year at the academy. All the instructors and teachers, the academy dean, the elders of the various sects, and the master of the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect had arrived to observe the disciples’ progress during their first year of cultivation.

Within the limits of their immortal power, the disciples could choose suitable opponents for matches, or they could draw lots. The five disciples who had reached the Immortal Ruins realm could likewise choose their opponents or compete by lot. They would compete separately from the other disciples.

Mingyue noticed that Feng Qingcheng had also come to the tournament. She had not seen him for several months, and she could not help thinking of him from time to time. Amid the crowd, his white robes made him especially striking. She had heard that during this period he had either been in secluded cultivation or refining pills, and had been extremely busy. For some reason, seeing him today filled her heart with delight.

Just as Qiao Chuya stepped forward to announce the results of the draw, Nalan Meidai came forward.

“Senior Brother Qiao, I would like to compete with Mingyue in swordsmanship.”

Qiao Chuya looked at her in surprise, but still nodded. “Very well. Those who have chosen their opponents will compete first; the drawn matches will follow.”

Since Nalan Meidai had chosen her, Mingyue was slightly surprised, but she still stepped onto the platform with her.

Everyone turned their attention to the two young women on the platform. One was pure and lovely, charming and lively; the other was tall, fiery, and breathtakingly beautiful. Standing together, they immediately drew every eye below.

The academy’s rules stipulated that disciples must show restraint during their matches. They could inflict minor injuries on their opponents, but they were forbidden to kill. This was intended to prevent personal grudges from resulting in the deaths of academy disciples.

Seeing two such pleasingly beautiful women standing on the platform, the disciples below became highly enthusiastic and began shouting:

“Beauties, do your best! Do your best! Do your best!”

Nalan Meidai looked at Mingyue with contempt. There was even a trace of hatred in her beautiful eyes. Mingyue had no idea where that hatred came from, but she immediately grew wary.

The moment they summoned their treasured swords, Nalan Meidai swung hers and thrust at Mingyue. Mingyue turned aside and parried, then thrust back from the flank, forcing Nalan Meidai to retreat again and again.

Nalan Meidai gave a cold laugh and thrust her sword straight at Mingyue. The move appeared ordinary, but then the blade suddenly turned and slashed viciously toward Mingyue’s heart. Wind shrieked around the sword. Mingyue ducked beneath it, but several strands of her hair were severed and scattered on the breeze.

“Wow!”

The disciples below erupted in astonishment.

Even Feng Qingcheng frowned as he watched the match, his expression turning grave.

Hua Qiandu patted Feng Qingcheng on the shoulder and teased, “Fox Feng, which of these two beauties do you think will win? Don’t you think Nalan Meidai is being a little too ruthless?”

Feng Qingcheng’s eyes followed the paths of their swords. His thin lips were pressed tightly together, and he said nothing.

Murong Yiwen commented, “Their immortal power is evenly matched, but there is still a certain difference between them in swordsmanship.”

He did not say which of the two held the advantage.

Mingyue and Nalan Meidai exchanged blow after blow on the platform. After more than a hundred clashes, the match had reached its fiercest point.

Mingyue was increasingly certain that Nalan Meidai hated her. Every one of Nalan Meidai’s attacks was a deadly sword technique. Yet their immortal power was evenly matched, while Mingyue’s swordsmanship was superior.

No matter what sword technique Nalan Meidai used, Mingyue could dispel it with ease. She would even counterattack, forcing Nalan Meidai to dodge in panic. Nalan Meidai was growing visibly exhausted and was on the verge of defeat.

At that moment, Mingyue easily forced her to the edge of the platform. Nalan Meidai was about to fall.

A strange smile appeared on Nalan Meidai’s face. She quietly touched something hidden against her chest, then slowly struck out with one palm.

Mingyue suddenly felt a dazzling light strike her body. A force of tremendous magnitude seemed to surge toward her like mountains and seas collapsing upon her. She was violently thrown backward and tumbled from the platform.

“Ah!”

The disciples below cried out in alarm, and everyone in the audience turned to look.

Mingyue felt a sharp pain in her chest. A sweetness rose in her throat, but she forcibly swallowed the blood back down.

Recalling Nalan Meidai’s strange smile, she knew that she had fallen victim to a concealed attack. Nalan Meidai had struck while her back was turned to the audience, and no one had seen her use an unknown object to ambush Mingyue. Everyone had seen only the palm strike.

Mingyue had no way to explain what had happened and could only silently accept the result of her defeat. Nangong Yurou and Mo Yao came running over. Mingyue leaned on their arms and staggered to her feet, her face frighteningly pale.

Standing on the platform, Nalan Meidai looked contemptuously at Mingyue’s disheveled state. Her eyes held the smug delight of a victor and the satisfaction of a scheme successfully carried out.

“Wow! Nalan Meidai is truly amazing. She must be the most outstanding disciple among our entire group,” one male disciple shouted.

“The way Nalan Meidai wields a sword is simply mesmerizing,” another male disciple said with an infatuated expression.

Nalan Meidai ignored all the disciples’ praise. Instead, she turned and looked expectantly toward Feng Qingcheng in the audience, her face filled with bashful triumph.

Feng Qingcheng frowned. His long, narrow phoenix eyes were dark and solemn, but he did not look at her. His concerned gaze remained fixed on Mingyue below the platform.

Her face was unnaturally pale, and one hand pressed against her chest. She appeared to have suffered a serious internal injury. Feng Qingcheng’s thin lips tightened as a thoughtful expression settled over his handsome face.

The matches that followed never reached the intensity of Mingyue and Nalan Meidai’s battle. In the tournament marking the end of the first year, Nalan Meidai had undeniably stolen the limelight.

The next day, Feng Qingcheng took the initiative to seek out Nalan Meidai. He sent someone to tell her to meet him that evening at the place where they had met before.

Nalan Meidai was overwhelmed with joy. She thought Feng Qingcheng had finally decided to accept her and was willing to go on a date with her.

After dressing with great care, she happily made her way to the place where they had last met, her heart filled with delight and shy anticipation.

When she saw Feng Qingcheng standing quietly beside the lake in his white robes, she was both thrilled and bashful. Nalan Meidai hurried forward and called sweetly, “Cousin.”

Feng Qingcheng turned around. His face was cold and grim, and his phoenix eyes fixed on her with piercing severity. Nalan Meidai was startled and hesitated to a stop.

Thinking that he was simply in a bad mood, she asked cautiously, “Cousin, you don’t seem very happy today. Has something happened?”

Only after a long silence did Feng Qingcheng speak.

“What weapon did you use to ambush Mingyue during your match that day?”

Nalan Meidai’s heart jolted. She had thought her actions flawless and had never expected Feng Qingcheng to notice anything amiss. Yet since no one had exposed her at the time, she would never admit it.

She adopted an aggrieved and bewildered expression. “Cousin, what weapon? I don’t understand what you mean.”

Feng Qingcheng gave a cold laugh. “That day, Mingyue was struck by a tremendous force and sent flying from the platform. Could one of your palm strikes really have possessed such power?”

Nalan Meidai giggled coquettishly. “Cousin, you should be happy that your younger cousin’s immortal power has improved.”

Feng Qingcheng snorted coldly and warned her, “If you do not want others to know, do not do it in the first place. Do not assume everyone else is a fool just because you have a little scheme of your own. Do not repeat this mistake. Conduct yourself accordingly.”

With that, Feng Qingcheng turned and left.

Nalan Meidai watched his retreating figure. She had come joyfully, expecting a romantic meeting, only to be reprimanded instead. She was so furious that her entire body trembled.

After suffering internal injuries during that tournament, Mingyue needed a full half-month before her body gradually recovered. From then on, whenever Nalan Meidai encountered her, she looked at her with intense hatred and mocked her with cutting sarcasm.

Mingyue had suffered a silent defeat in their previous match and now understood what a calculating person Nalan Meidai was. The two of them could never become friends. Mingyue devoted herself wholeheartedly to cultivation and sword practice, keeping as far away from her as possible.

Recently, she had been so busy cultivating that she had no time to concern herself with anything else.