The Martial Emperor

Chapter 18 - Qiao Mulan

  Before her, the woman in white robes gazed at him with intimidating elegance. A mysterious gentle breeze played with strands of her black hair, creating a sight so beautiful yet simultaneously holding such deep mystery.

"My name is Qiao Mulan," the woman's voice rang clear, echoing throughout every corner of Lin Feng's dream realm. "I am part of a past that even history has forgotten. For a child your age, my identity at this moment would be very difficult for you to comprehend."

Lin Feng cared nothing for such pleasantries. He stepped forward, his chest rising and falling as he held back the flood of questions that had been dammed up. "I don't care who you are for now. Just answer one thing, was it really you who gave me the memory of that rune? The Twin Koi?"

Qiao Mulan nodded slowly, a very calm movement. "Correct. Your soul at that time was on the brink of destruction, if I had not stepped in to lend that knowledge, you and your friends would have become ash in the hands of the Ghost Crow Sect."

"If that's the case, why?" Lin Feng pressed, his voice rising. "Why after that did you instead warn me not to show off my power? And why did you erase the memory of that rune from my head? I could have used it to protect myself!"

Qiao Mulan smiled thinly, a smile full of warning tones. "Precisely because I wanted to protect you, Little Ant. Using power that you are not yet capable of containing will only destroy your own vessel. If I allowed that memory to remain in your head, you would be tempted to use it again. And when that happens, you might not be as lucky as that time to come out alive."

"Is that all?" Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. "You said there are people watching from behind the clouds. Who are they?"

Qiao Mulan's expression became very serious. She pointed toward the cave ceiling in that dream realm. "The people behind the clouds... they are spies from the past who continuously guard to keep the world under their control. Your power explosion in Chenglai Village yesterday nearly tore the veil covering your existence. They are beginning to be wary, Lin Feng. They are beginning to smell the scent of betrayal against the rules they made."

"What does that have to do with me?!" Lin Feng shouted in frustration. "I'm just trash from the Cloud Sword Sect! What business do they have with me? Does this have something to do with Zhan Tianshu, that Martial Emperor?"

Qiao Mulan exhaled a long breath, giving a small nod. "Yes. Zhan Tianshu is the reason why they tremble up there. And you... you carry something they greatly fear."

"Then why haven't they taken action?" Lin Feng asked again, cold sweat beginning to soak his temples even within the dream. "Why don't they just finish me off if they are so afraid?"

"Because they don't truly know who you are yet," Qiao Mulan answered calmly. "The energy you emitted when using the Twin Koi was covered very faintly by the existence of the Yin-Yang necklace on your neck. Without that necklace, your existence would appear like a giant bonfire in the middle of the night darkness to them. But remember, that disguise will not last forever if you continue doing foolish things that attract attention."

Lin Feng clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white. A feeling of irritation enveloped his heart. All of this felt so nonsensical.

"This is insane!" Lin Feng snapped. "All of this is becoming harder to connect! I just want revenge on Dan Wuji! I just want to live with honor! Why suddenly do I have to get involved with mysterious people in the sky, ancient emperors, and a fate I don't understand? Why does it have to be me?!"

Qiao Mulan stepped closer, her eyes staring sharply into Lin Feng's eyes, as if she could penetrate to the bottom of his soul. "Because you are the chosen one, Lin Feng. You are no longer merely trash. You are the one who carries the fate of this world on your shoulders. Like it or not, your bloodline and soul have been bound to a legacy that will shake heaven and earth."

"I never asked for all this!" Lin Feng groaned.

"Fate never asks permission," Qiao Mulan whispered softly. "Now wake up. The first small storm in your life is already waiting at your door. This time I only want to give you a warning, continue training and watch your surroundings!"

In that very instant, the underground cave shattered into pieces.

"Wait!"

Lin Feng jolted awake on his bed. His breath came in gasps, his chest rising and falling rapidly while his entire body was soaked in sweat. He stared at his own palms that were still trembling. Qiao Mulan's voice still echoed clearly in his ears.

"Fate of the world... Has she gone mad?" Lin Feng muttered while wiping the sweat from his face.

The sun had just begun to peek from the eastern horizon. Lin Feng knew he would not be able to sleep again. Qiao Mulan's words about the 'small storm' made him feel uneasy. He immediately got up, cleaned himself, and prepared to head to the Scholar Hall. His mind was still filled with Qiao Mulan's face and the riddle about the enemies behind the clouds.

Upon arriving at the Scholar Hall complex, Lin Feng felt an atmosphere different from usual. There was none of the tranquility that normally enveloped the place of soul practitioners. On the contrary, noisy sounds and an aura full of aggression permeated the air.

Lin Feng quickened his pace. When he arrived at the main courtyard of the Scholar Hall, his steps halted.

There, more than a dozen disciples from the Battle Hall had gathered, their attitude clearly unfriendly. At the front of their formation stood a young man with a contemptuous gaze, Dan Wuji.

Before them, several Scholar Hall disciples appeared to be holding themselves back. Master Ye Jingshi stood in front of the hall door with a calm face but his eyes radiated flashes of displeasure.

"What is the meaning of this sudden visit, Dan Wuji?" Master Ye's voice sounded heavy. "The Battle Hall seems to have forgotten its manners by coming to my place in this manner."

Dan Wuji laughed scornfully, his eyes sweeping the crowd until finally locking onto the figure of Lin Feng who had just arrived.

"Master Ye, we mean no disrespect," Dan Wuji spoke with a very false tone while bowing respectfully. "We only wish to verify the truth of a rumor circulating. They say, your trash disciple with the crippled eye has performed a miracle in Chenglai Village. We, the disciples of the Battle Hall, feel challenged to prove whether that is truly power, or merely just luck!"

Three disciples behind Dan Wuji began cheering and mocking.

"Where is that Lin Feng? Tell him to come out and face us!"

"That's right! Trash remains trash! Don't hide behind Master Ye's great name!"

Lin Feng stood in the distance, staring at Dan Wuji with a gaze as cold as ice. His hand unconsciously touched the scar on his left eye. He wondered if this was what Qiao Mulan meant by the small storm? If that was indeed the case, Lin Feng would gladly charge into it.

Amidst the siege of Battle Hall disciples thirsty for proof, Lin Feng stepped forward calmly. The determination in his eyes was no longer just about revenge, but about defending the path that fate had chosen for him.

"A small storm, eh?" Lin Feng hissed softly. "In that case, let us see who will fall first."