The Martial Emperor

Chapter 15 - Homecoming

Several days of travel felt incredibly exhausting, yet the magnificent gate of the Scholar Hall finally appeared on the horizon. The tall buildings with ancient-style roofs seemed to welcome the return of the Cloud Sword Sect disciples with serene dignity.

As soon as Gu Yanfeng's group passed through the gate, a noisy atmosphere immediately greeted them. Several disciples who were training or simply relaxing turned their heads.

"Look! Senior Gu's team has returned!" exclaimed a young disciple with a bright face.

The crowd of disciples quickly approached, giving warm greetings to Gu Yanfeng. They offered praise or asked how he was doing. However, a different scene occurred when their gazes fell upon Lin Feng, who was walking at the very back.

"Tch, look at that one-eyed cripple. He's still alive?" whispered one disciple to his friend.

"He probably just hid behind Senior Gu's back throughout the entire mission. How lucky for trash like him to join an inner disciple mission," added another with a mocking tone.

A close friend of Gu Yanfeng, a man named Shang Hui, stepped forward with a contemptuous smile. He patted Gu Yanfeng's shoulder.

"Welcome back, Yanfeng! How was the mission? It must have been quite troublesome, especially having to drag such a heavy burden along the entire way?" Shang Hui glanced at Lin Feng with a disgusted look.

Lin Feng simply remained silent, his face flat as if he heard nothing. To him, such insults had become daily fare for the past five years.

However, before Gu Yanfeng could answer, a loud roar thundered across the area.

"Shut your mouth, Shang Hui!"

Everyone was startled. Yan Huo, the man known as the most arrogant and the one who most frequently insulted Lin Feng, stepped forward with a face flushed red with anger.

"Eh, Yan Huo? What's wrong with you?" Shang Hui was confused. "I was just joking about that trash."

"Trash?!" Yan Huo grabbed Shang Hui's collar. "If it weren't for Lin Feng, we would all be rotting corpses in Chenglai Village by now! If you dare insult him again, I'll be the one to tear your mouth apart!"

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. The disciples who had been busy whispering now gaped with wide eyes. They couldn't believe what they had just heard. Yan Huo, who usually led the bullying against Lin Feng, was now defending the young man?

Gu Yanfeng also spoke up, his voice calm but full of authority. "Shang Hui, what Yan Huo said is true. Lin Feng is the hero of this mission. Without him, no team would have returned today. Remember that."

Shang Hui released Yan Huo's hand with trembling. "Y-you... have you all gone mad? Why are you defending this trash?"

"He is not trash!" Han Jian shouted in response. "He is our comrade!"

Without paying attention to the other disciples who remained frozen like statues, Gu Yanfeng signaled to his team. "Come, let's report to Ye Jingshi. This matter is more important than entertaining people who know nothing."

They walked through the crowd that now parted, giving way with questioning gazes toward Lin Feng.

***

Inside a quiet room scented with sandalwood, Ye Jingshi was sitting alone examining several rune scrolls. As soon as the door opened and Gu Yanfeng entered with his team, the old man put down his brush.

"You have returned? Thank goodness," Ye Jingshi said with a friendly raspy voice. "I heard there was chaos in Chenglai. How is the report?"

Gu Yanfeng stepped forward and bowed. "Reporting, Master Ye. We successfully completed the mission. However, the situation on the ground was far more dangerous than initially estimated."

Ye Jingshi furrowed his brow. "Explain in more detail."

"Chenglai Village was attacked by a large number of demonic beasts. However, after we investigated, the beasts were not rampaging naturally. They were being controlled," Gu Yanfeng reported seriously. "We fought against people from the Ghost Crow Sect."

Ye Jingshi immediately stood up from his chair. "Ghost Crow? Are you certain?"

"Certain, Master. They wore distinctive robes and used terrifying dark red Qi techniques. I strongly suspect that all cases of demonic beast attacks in the border region have been their doing," Gu Yanfeng explained.

Master Ye nodded slowly, his face looking deeply concerned. "Ghost Crow Sect... they have begun to act too boldly. Very well, this is very valuable information. You have all worked hard. Go rest, I will handle this report to the sect elders."

The other disciples bowed and began to step out, including Lin Feng. However, Ye Jingshi noticed Gu Yanfeng remained standing in place with a hesitant expression.

"What is it, Yanfeng? Is there something else you wish to convey?" Ye Jingshi asked curiously.

Gu Yanfeng glanced toward the door to ensure his companions were far enough away, then he looked back at Ye Jingshi with a very serious gaze.

"Master... this is about Lin Feng."

Ye Jingshi raised his eyebrows. "What about that boy? Is he injured?"

"Not injured, Master. He... he unleashed power that made no sense," Gu Yanfeng whispered. "When we were cornered by three ninth level Marrow Refinement experts, Lin Feng managed to form a rune. A seventh level rune."

Ye Jingshi's eyes widened immediately, then he laughed shortly as if hearing a joke. "Seventh level? Gu Yanfeng, are you joking? Lin Feng is only at level two. To make even a fourth level rune, his soul could burn, let alone seventh level. Do not boast in front of me."

"I am not boasting, Master! I and all team members were eyewitnesses!" Gu Yanfeng exclaimed convincingly. "Even the power of that rune... it was no ordinary seventh level. The two fire koi he released were capable of slaughtering two ninth level experts instantly! I have told my friends to keep quiet, because I feel Lin Feng is not as simple as he appears."

Ye Jingshi fell silent. He saw the sincerity in Gu Yanfeng's eyes. He knew his senior disciple was not someone who liked to exaggerate stories. If Gu Yanfeng went so far as to say such things, then something extraordinary must have indeed occurred.

"Seventh level rune... Twin Koi..." Ye Jingshi muttered to himself, his heart filled with a storm of confusion. "How is this possible..."

"Master, I feel Lin Feng is hiding a great secret. His spiritual power does feel low, but what he unleashed yesterday defied logic," he added.

Ye Jingshi finally nodded slowly. "Very well. I understand. If what you say is true, then Lin Feng is someone we must pay attention to. I will watch that boy more closely going forward. You remain silent, do not let this news spread to other elders' ears until I confirm it myself."

"Understood, Master."

***

Lin Feng had just exited the main building of the Scholar Hall. He took a deep breath, letting the fresh sect air fill his lungs. Rather than immediately returning to his quarters to sleep, he felt the restlessness in his heart had not yet subsided.

"This place is too crowded," Lin Feng muttered while watching the disciples coming and going. "I need a quiet place to understand what happened to my body."

He began walking away from the center of the bustle, following a rarely used footpath. His mind was still drifting to the incident in the forest. Twin Koi Rune... the complex pattern he had drawn in the air was now completely gone from his memory.

"Why did that memory appear then disappear just like that?" Lin Feng held his own head, feeling frustrated. "It feels like someone lent me their hand, then left taking the key with them."

He continued mumbling to himself, his footsteps carrying him deeper toward the back forest area of the sect.

"That mysterious woman... I'm sure she is the culprit. If I can meet her again, I will surely get my answers," Lin Feng hissed. Throughout the journey home, the face of that beautiful woman in white robes had never left his mind.

Unconsciously, Lin Feng had walked far enough that the noisy sounds of the sect completely disappeared, replaced by the rumbling sound of water falling from a height.

Lin Feng snapped out of his daze. However, it was not the waterfall that made him stop, but a sudden burst of soul energy that struck his senses. The pressure was so pure that his chest felt trembling violently.

"Such powerful soul energy... Who is here?"

Lin Feng moved closer slowly through the bushes. When he arrived at the edge of a tall waterfall, he was stunned.

In the middle of the rapidly flowing river, there was a large flat stone that remained calm. On top of that stone sat a beautiful woman with her eyes tightly closed. Her white robes fluttered in the wind, and a very bright light blue aura appeared to surround her body like small dancing dragons.

Lin Feng's eyes widened. He recognized that figure. "Cen Linxi?"

Lin Feng had no idea that Cen Linxi's soul power had already grown this strong.

"This pressure... this is not Earth Soul. She has reached the Heaven Soul realm level two?" Lin Feng held his breath.

A disciple of Cen Linxi's age who had already reached Heaven Soul was something impossible in the eyes of ordinary disciples. Lin Feng felt as if fate was playing with him by bringing him together with extraordinary people one after another.