Chapter 18: The Wife of Yihua

On Wudang Peak, the mist and rain hung heavy. A figure in azure robes with white hair gazed toward the north.

"Do not mock the setting sun for having nowhere to lean... the hundred flowers are cherished by the world... the Rainbow Sword unsheathes against the heavens, the setting sun mercifully gathers the lonely soul. Thus, the nine swords of the mortal realm are complete!" Bai Jingxuan whispered to himself.

"Just like you, you old goat, all flash and no substance." The voice lingered, elegant and clear, but the speaker remained unseen.

Bai Jingxuan merely offered a scholarly smile and said nothing more.

At the entrance of the Hundred Flowers Valley, as those final two words—"Setting Sun"—fell, a massive, orange-red sword aura erupted, sweeping up the falling petals and following the eight preceding sword auras of various colors, all hurtling toward the three figures opposite.

The man with the goat-beard saw Chu Linfeng unleash nine consecutive strikes in a single breath, causing the clear blue sky to instantly darken with thunderous, lightning-streaked clouds. He turned pale with fright. "Bad! This man is a master swordsman! Quickly, form the Ethereal Nether Shield!"

The Ethereal Nether Shield was the signature defensive technique of the Ethereal Peak’s direct disciples. Once deployed, it was soft on the outside but rigid within; the softness dissipated force, while the rigidity protected the body. It allowed one to challenge enemies of higher cultivation—a formation of three at the Mountain-Shaking Realm was difficult to break even for those at the Aerial Realm, and it could even withstand a blow from a Diamond Realm expert.

The three immediately pinched their fingers in a mudra, coating themselves in a pale green barrier, behind which a thick ice shield manifested.

In an instant, the nine sword auras arrived.

The first sword, Rainbow, struck like needles and rain. Upon contact, the barrier vanished like a bursting bubble. The second, Flowing Wind, intoxicating and swift, rushed the ice shield, melting its patterns instantly. The third, Rivers and Mountains, heavy as thunder, crashed down, forcing the three to leap high in desperation. The fourth, Annihilation, wiped away all existence; the ice shield shattered into dust.

With four swords spent, the Ethereal Nether Shield crumbled. The three, sent flying into the air, were paralyzed with terror, as if death itself had descended. With no time to react, acting on pure instinct, the two men behind the goat-beard pressed their palms against his back, channeling every ounce of their internal energy into him. Knowing they were fighting for their lives, the goat-beard’s veins bulged as he poured every drop of his own energy into a final, desperate strike.

The fifth sword, Peerless, struck with a cold glint. Their combined strike barely held the blow, the three forced back step by step. The sixth, Asking Heaven, layered the sword’s force; under the crushing power, blood seeped from their seven orifices. The seventh, Exorcising Ghosts, wailed with a ghostly cry; their meridians snapped under the sound. The eighth, Executing Immortals, roared like a tiger and dragon; the summoned heavenly lightning shattered their very courage.

Finally, the ninth sword, Setting Sun, descended. It caught a single petal, which sliced like a blade across the root of the goat-beard’s right thigh, severing his manhood along with it.

Silence. Even the three from Ethereal Peak made no sound.

The difference was that the three were left barely clinging to life, lying in a heap, unable to speak. The people in the valley, however, were stunned by the magnificent display of sword aura, unable to return to their senses for a long time.

Seeing that Butler Mo had been avenged, Chu Linfeng suddenly remembered something and hurried back. Tang Cai and Tang Xie were physically drained, their jade-like arms damp with sweat, swaying unsteadily. Chu Linfeng opened his arms and pulled both women into his embrace.

Compared to the time he had exhausted his energy with a single sword strike in the Capital Park, this time, having unleashed nine, the two women felt slightly better. At least they could still speak.

"Husband, your nine sword auras grew heavier with each strike, and each was sharper than the one in the park. Why did that single strike last time empty your energy sea, but this time, after nine swords, you still have energy left?"

"Last time, it was my first time using internal energy, and I was too excited. That strike had no technique, and I didn't consider your limits; I just poured all my energy into it, which caused the massive consumption. This time, I used actual sword techniques. The Great Dao is simple; aside from the first sword to open the sequence and the ninth to close it, which required some energy, the other eight did not need much," Chu Linfeng explained softly.

"I feel my meridians expanding. It seems like my cultivation is about to level up. Sister, do you feel it?" Tang Xie leaned on Chu Linfeng’s shoulder and turned to ask Tang Cai.

"Yes, I feel my meridians pulsing and a sense of fullness. It seems we are indeed about to breakthrough."

"How do you two feel? Can you still make it to the airport later?" Chu Linfeng asked with concern.

"It should be fine, we just need a moment of rest!" Tang Cai replied.

"Ahem!" Just as the three were sharing a tender moment, the onlookers finally snapped out of their daze. Hearing a familiar cough, they turned in shock to see none other than Butler Mo, who was now standing up with a look of extreme embarrassment.

"Old Mo? Old Mo! You... you’re alright?" Chu Linfeng was both shocked and overjoyed. Fearing the old man was having a final burst of energy before death, he grabbed the hands of the two women and rushed toward him.

"Old Mo, don't stand, sit down quickly!" Chu Linfeng said, heart aching as he tried to help him sit.

Butler Mo’s face turned bright red! He didn't know how to explain to Chu Linfeng, and he glanced shamefully at the three men from Ethereal Peak lying unconscious on the ground.

Seeing Mo’s shifty eyes and hesitation, Chu Linfeng realized something was wrong. "Old Mo, what’s going on? Tell me!"

Hearing this, Butler Mo plopped to his knees. Tang Cai and Tang Xie were startled; how could Butler Mo, who had just come back from the gates of hell, be kneeling? They rushed to pull him up.

***

Butler Mo ignored the women and kowtowed to Chu Linfeng. "It is this old servant's fault! I played a trick! Please punish me, Valley Master!"

Looking at the lively, articulate Butler Mo, Chu Linfeng had already guessed the truth. His face darkened. "Get up and explain exactly what happened!"

Butler Mo stood and bowed. "I have failed the kindness of the Valley Master and the two young ladies. I am deeply ashamed! That kick from Ye Chen earlier was painful, but I wasn't actually injured. I thought to myself that I couldn't take that kick for nothing, so I put on a show!"

"Mo Youqian! You!" Chu Linfeng clutched his head and began pacing in circles.

Butler Mo immediately knelt again. "Valley Master, please understand, I didn't mean to deceive my own people! I just added a little drama on the spot, thinking I could fool the three from Ethereal Peak, get the inspection seal, and send them away."

Tang Xie couldn't take it anymore and cried out, "Uncle Mo, how could you! Sister and I were heartbroken! If you were going to act, you should have given us a sign!"

"Second Young Lady, that Ye Chen isn't a fool. I had to make it look real for him to believe it! He had already signed the seal and was about to leave—I never imagined the Valley Master would..."

Chu Linfeng felt a wave of dizziness; his blood pressure was spiking! *Fine, fine! Truly, a valley full of actors. And here comes a national-treasure-level veteran performer, one better than the next. You've completely ruined me!*

"Uncle Mo, you are confused! You should have stopped Husband before he drew his sword!" Tang Cai said, tears welling up.

"Eldest Young Lady, if I had stopped him, the act would have been for nothing! I thought the gap in power was so vast that the other side was already in the wrong, so I didn't think they would do anything too drastic to the Valley Master. I never imagined the Valley Master possessed such immortal power."

Chu Linfeng felt life was meaningless. He had only wanted to avenge Butler Mo, and through a strange twist of fate, he had comprehended the final sword technique because he felt sorry for the old man. The people were taken care of in style, but how was he supposed to clean up this mess?

He looked at the three unconscious men. Ye Chen, his leg severed, was trembling, blood pouring from the wound! "Quick! Stop the bleeding! Save them!"

Everyone rushed forward—some bandaged the leg, others applied herbal ash, some performed CPR, and one old woman was even kneeling, diligently performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!

Li Gan stepped forward and said in a cold voice, "Valley Master, given the situation, our valley and Ethereal Peak are now mortal enemies. We might as well finish the job!" He made a throat-slitting gesture.

Chu Linfeng’s temple throbbed. Li Gan was truly decisive—ruthless to himself, and even more ruthless to his enemies. If he ever wrote a novel, Li Gan would likely be the protagonist.

"No! Although this Ye Chen is wicked and bullies others, his crimes have been paid for today. Whether he lives or dies is up to his own fate. As for the two accompanying him, they are not major villains. If we kill them all, how are we any different from them?" Chu Linfeng said sternly.

He closed his eyes and thought for a moment before launching an emergency plan.

"Old Mo! Once Ye Chen’s bleeding stops, carry him back inside immediately. Do not let anyone see. Once they are on the beds, wash their faces, apply some red rouge, take a photo, and send it to Ethereal Peak. Tell them the three got drunk in the valley and need to rest for a day before the inspection!"

"Understood!" Butler Mo saluted.

"Also, urge the others to come for appraisals and accept the lower prices. Get rid of everything in the valley before sunset tomorrow! After sunset, we depart tonight, regardless of whether everything is cleared out. Tell the disciples to hide their identities once they leave the valley and never call themselves people of this valley again."

With everything arranged, Chu Linfeng took Tang Xie and Tang Cai to the airport. Because of the incident with Ethereal Peak, the relocation plan had been disrupted, and he had to speed up his move to Shenzhen to find a new foothold for the group.

***

Capital Huaxia International Airport.

Since the beasts began to run rampant, all civilian airports had been converted for dual civil-military use. First, it allowed the military to quickly deploy and kill aerial beasts passing over the city. Second, it ensured the safety of aircraft during takeoff and landing under military protection.

There were roughly three types of aerial beasts. The first were ordinary birds that had absorbed spiritual energy and mutated; they were generally low-level, equivalent to the first three stages of the Human Awakening Realm, lacked intelligence, and were not a major threat to aviation.

The second were mutated species—land or water creatures that had grown wings. Some reached the fourth stage, the Mountain-Shaking Realm, and were a major threat to airports, monitored closely by radar.

The third were evolved species, like the East Sea Dragon Whale—massive, voracious, and capable of reaching high levels if they consumed enough spiritual stones or herbs. They were extremely rare. Five years ago, a Golden-Feather Heavenly Eagle had attacked a passenger plane, causing a disaster, before being surrounded and killed by several Diamond Realm experts.

Regardless of the type, their range was usually below 1,000 meters; they couldn't adapt to the thin air and energy at higher altitudes. Thus, aircraft were modified with rocket boosters to climb rapidly into the clouds.

Simultaneously, the military stationed Aerial Realm experts at every airport to guard the takeoff and landing corridor. With these precautions, air travel remained a safe and satisfactory mode of transport.

Chu Linfeng ran through the terminal, holding a woman in each hand, drawing envious stares.

"I'm sorry, ladies, your swords cannot be taken onto the plane or checked in unless you hold sect documentation."

***

"Husband, what do we do? Can we show her the Hundred Flowers Valley documentation?" Tang Cai asked anxiously, seeing that boarding was in half an hour.

"No, I told you, forget the name 'Hundred Flowers Valley' completely!" Chu Linfeng whispered.

"Should we just leave them? They aren't that precious," Tang Xie said, reluctant.

Chu Linfeng searched his pockets and found a badge in his inner pocket. He was glad he hadn't thrown it away.

"Hello, will this proof work?"

[North Capital Kunlun Academy, Grade 1, Class 3, Chu Linfeng]

The attendant looked at the medal and then at Chu Linfeng. "Yes, sir! With this medal, you can use the rapid channel for military martyrs and immortal academies. Shall I process it for you?"

"Yes! Please, hurry!" Chu Linfeng replied.

"That worked too!" The two women’s jaws dropped.

"Of course," the attendant said with a hint of envy as she processed them. "Kunlun Academy is directly managed by the military to train immortal talents; the students are all future high-level military leaders."

Chu Linfeng didn't have time to explain. After getting their boarding passes, he dragged the women toward the gate.

Soon, they were at the boarding gate, just in time for inspection. After passing through, they took a shuttle bus to the plane.

Not far away, a squad of soldiers in full gear, holding laser rifles, stood in formation, listening to a woman speak.

"Radar just showed a bird circling above. We are monitoring its level. Everyone stay vigilant and ready!"

"Understood!" the squad responded.

"Hey, Husband, look at that female general in front. She's so cool! I want to be a hero like her one day!"

Chu Linfeng looked in the direction Tang Xie pointed. A woman in a black leather jacket stood tall and heroic. She was facing away, but her figure was stunning.

"She is cool, very imposing. Her cultivation must be at the third or fourth level of the Aerial Realm. According to military standards, the first level is enough to guard an airport, so the third or fourth level makes her the commander here," Tang Cai said with admiration.

"Report, Commander! The analysis is in! It’s an evolved beast! Level currently unknown! Shall we sound the air raid siren? Please advise!" The female general’s radio crackled with tension.

The formation became slightly disorganized as the soldiers whispered, "An evolved beast? I've been stationed here for seven years and this is my first time!"

"Quiet!" The female general barked, then pressed her radio. "Sound the alarm immediately!"

"Attention all! Disperse to the waiting halls to calm the crowds! Prevent a riot!"

"Yes!" The soldiers saluted and scattered as the air raid siren wailed: "Woo—!"

"What's happening? They look so serious! Why is the alarm ringing?" The crowd in the terminal grew anxious.

"Passengers, temporary air control! Please return to the terminal by shuttle bus! We will notify you when boarding resumes!"

After dismissing the troops, the female general walked toward the crowd, speaking as she approached.

Chu Linfeng looked over. The person was none other than "Wife of the Flower-Shifting Sect," Shen Luoxi...