Chapter 2: The Bianhua Flower

Lin Feng carried his heavy body forward, step by step, toward the ice coffin. When he finally saw the familiar face lying within it, he stumbled, nearly losing his footing.

It really was his master!

The master who had saved him, raised him, and taught him everything he knew — was he truly gone like this?

He had not yet repaid his debt of gratitude. How could his master die now?

At that moment, regret surged through Lin Feng's heart. He should not have hidden things from his master. At the very least, he should have let his master feel proud of him — let him hold his head high before the entire sect.

To prove that although Su Mubai himself had been crippled, the disciple he had taken in was no waste.

Back on Earth, Lin Feng's arrogance and flamboyance had cost him his life. After his rebirth, he had always been extraordinarily careful.

Holding fast to the belief that keeping a low profile was the true path, he had always presented himself as utterly ordinary and unremarkable.

He did his best not to draw anyone's attention.

Being high-profile only invited the envy and hatred of others.

Why bother?

And yet, in truth — a scientist who had once stood at the pinnacle of Earth in his twenties, whose intellect surpassed even the great Einstein, who had developed technology thirty years ahead of humanity — how could such a person ever be mediocre?

He simply chose not to show it.

Even Su Mubai, his own master, had no idea. That alone showed how well Lin Feng had concealed himself.

Only those who have faced death truly learn to cherish life.

Thinking of how he had failed to repay his master's grace — a grace as immovable as Mount Tai — Lin Feng felt a sharp, twisting pain in his chest.

Tears fell without him even noticing.

A man does not shed tears lightly — only when his heart is truly broken.

"Senior Brother! Wuu wuu wuu…"

Su Xiyao threw herself into Lin Feng's arms and wept bitterly.

The two had grown up together since childhood, and their bond needed no words.

When Lin Feng was five or six years old, because Su Mubai was often away, he had taken on the responsibility of looking after Su Xiyao.

Had the Haoran Sword not been unsuitable for women, Su Xiyao would never have entered Morning Glow Peak.

"Junior Sister, don't cry! Master may be gone, but you still have your Senior Brother! From now on, I won't let anyone bully you." Though Lin Feng's heart ached terribly, he still spoke words of comfort.

Just as the two siblings embraced and wept together, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Alright, you two, stop crying. Senior Brother Mubai isn't dead yet!"

Lin Feng and Su Xiyao quickly turned to look. The speaker was Luo Yuntian, the Sect Master of Shenxiao Sword Sect, also the Master of the Taiyi Sword — one of the Seven Swords of Shenxiao — and Su Mubai's junior martial brother.

"Sect Master Uncle, did you just say Master isn't dead? Is that true?" Lin Feng was overcome with excitement.

"Yes! Senior Brother Mubai is not dead. However, he has been afflicted by an extraordinarily potent poison called Soul-Devouring Powder. Those who are poisoned by it will have their souls fall into a deep slumber, slowly being devoured bit by bit until they perish entirely. The time this takes depends on the victim's cultivation level. At Senior Brother Mubai's level, he can hold on for roughly half a year at most. To cure this poison, one must refine a spirit pill using the Bianhua Flower as the primary ingredient. Our Shenxiao Sect has all the supplementary materials, but the Bianhua Flower itself is far too rare — even our Shenxiao Sword Sect does not possess one." Luo Yuntian explained.

Upon hearing that Su Mubai was not dead, Lin Feng and Su Xiyao were both overjoyed.

However, Luo Yuntian's following words plunged their hearts back into despair.

The Shenxiao Sword Sect was one of the most powerful sects within the Li Continent.

A spirit herb that even the Shenxiao Sword Sect did not possess — the rarity of such a thing was plain to see. Finding it would be no easy task.

"Sect Master Uncle! Where can the Bianhua Flower be found?" Lin Feng pressed.

As long as there was a lead on the Bianhua Flower, no matter the cost, he would find it and save his master.

This was what he, as a disciple, was obligated to do.

At the same time, Su Xiyao also turned her gaze toward Luo Yuntian. Whether or not the Bianhua Flower could be found would determine whether her father Su Mubai lived or died — naturally, she cared deeply about this as well.

"The matter of the Bianhua Flower is not something you two need to concern yourselves with. Rest assured — we will find a way. Senior Brother Mubai is not only a member of the Shenxiao Sword Sect, but also our martial brother. No matter how rare the Bianhua Flower may be, we will find a way to obtain it." Luo Yuntian said.

"Sect Master Senior Brother is right! Xiyao, stop crying. We will definitely find a way to save Senior Brother Mubai." This time, the speaker was a woman dressed in a flowing red gown, her figure graceful and alluring.

She was Su Xiyao's master, Liu Hongluan — the Master of the Honglian Sword, one of the Seven Swords of Shenxiao.

Among the Seven Swords of Shenxiao, only two were suited for women: the Honglian Sword and the Bingpo Sword.

These two swords would only seek out women as their inheritors.

The remaining five swords were all wielded by men.

Such as Su Mubai's Haoran Sword.

It required a spirit of unyielding yang energy and a conviction of righteousness and integrity to draw out its full power.

Women, after all, tended toward indecision.

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, all of you, Martial Uncles and Aunts!" Su Xiyao expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you, Martial Uncles!" Lin Feng also cupped his fists in thanks.

Since Sect Master Uncle was unwilling to reveal the whereabouts of the Bianhua Flower, pressing further would be pointless.

After all, in the eyes of the Shenxiao Sword Sect's upper echelons, he was nothing more than a disciple of mediocre talent — someone not worth their attention.

He would have to look into the matter of the Bianhua Flower on his own.

Lone Existence Peak had countless texts and records — there was surely something written about it there.

Beyond saving his master, there was another matter weighing heavily on Lin Feng's mind.

Who had harmed his master?

So Lin Feng continued: "Sect Master Uncle, this disciple has one more question. I ask that you enlighten me."

"Speak." Luo Yuntian replied.

"Who is responsible for injuring my master to this extent?" Lin Feng asked through gritted teeth.

At the same time, a faint, barely perceptible cold light flickered in his eyes.

"Nephew Lin Feng, I understand that what happened to Senior Brother Mubai has been a tremendous blow to you, and I understand how you feel as his disciple. However, the reason we summoned you two today was not for any other purpose — we simply felt that, as the people closest to Senior Brother Mubai, you deserved to know his condition. As for revenge, you need not trouble yourself with that. The Shenxiao Sword Sect will not suffer such a great loss without retaliation. Otherwise, every stray cat and dog would think they could walk all over us."

Though Luo Yuntian's tone was calm, anyone could hear the fury burning beneath his words.

The Shenxiao Sword Sect was one of the most powerful forces within the Li Continent — a Sword Cultivator sect with overwhelming offensive might. There were very few forces that would dare provoke it.

This time, not only had Senior Brother Su Mubai been poisoned and rendered unconscious, but the Haoran Sword — one of the Seven Swords of Shenxiao — had also gone missing.

For the Shenxiao Sword Sect, this was both a great loss and a profound humiliation.

Regardless of what backing or support the enemy possessed, they would have to pay a price for this.

The Haoran Sword was the hallmark of the Shenxiao Sword Sect — it could not be allowed to remain lost.

Otherwise, would the Seven Swords of Shenxiao have to be renamed the Six Swords of Shenxiao?

Moreover, the combined power of all seven swords was far greater than that of six.

From every angle, the Haoran Sword had to be recovered.

"I understand. Sect Master Uncle, may I bring my master back to Lone Existence Peak?" Lin Feng asked.

"It would be better not to. Lone Existence Peak's conditions are limited right now. If something unexpected were to happen to Senior Brother Mubai, there would be no way to respond in time. It is better that he remain here, where we can monitor his condition at any moment." Luo Yuntian declined.

"Then I shall trouble you, Sect Master Uncle." Lin Feng cupped his fists and bowed in thanks once more.

He also felt that Luo Yuntian was right. If he brought his master back and something went wrong, causing his master's condition to worsen, what then?

Remaining here, where the various Martial Uncles could check on him at any time, was the best choice.

All he needed to do was find a way to obtain the Bianhua Flower.

"Nephew Lin Feng, there is no need for such formality. What happened to Senior Brother Mubai is a secret of our Shenxiao Sword Sect — you two must not speak of it outside, lest it invite unnecessary trouble. For now, your most important task is to cultivate. When Senior Brother Mubai awakens, give him a pleasant surprise."

"Yes, Sect Master Uncle!"

"Yes, Sect Master Senior Uncle!"

Lin Feng and Su Xiyao answered in unison.

"Good. If there is nothing else, you may return for now. With us here, Senior Brother Mubai will be fine."

"Thank you, Sect Master Uncle!"

"Thank you, Sect Master Senior Uncle!"

The two then departed together.

Once outside the side hall, Lin Feng could not help but say, "Junior Sister, whenever you have time, come back and visit. Lone Existence Peak is Master's life's work — and it is your home too."

"Mm! I will, Senior Brother. But right now I need to focus on my cultivation. Only when I have the strength will I be able to protect you and Father." Su Xiyao's expression was earnest.

"Junior Sister, you shouldn't have to carry so much on your shoulders." Lin Feng sighed.

"Senior Brother, Mother is gone, and now Father has been gravely injured. I don't even have the standing to know who the enemy is. Doesn't that make me useless?" Su Xiyao looked at Lin Feng through tear-filled eyes.

"That's not true! Junior Sister, you have already worked so hard. It's just that you are still young — you need to accumulate strength gradually, step by step. Which of the powerful cultivators in the Li Continent didn't take hundreds or even thousands of years to reach where they are?" Lin Feng quickly reassured her.

"But Senior Brother, I can't wait that long. That's why I have to work harder than anyone else." The young girl's expression was stubborn and resolute.

"You… haah…"

Lin Feng found himself at a loss for words, and could only let out a long sigh.

The little girl who used to follow him around all day, calling out "Senior Brother" at every turn — she had grown up.

"Senior Brother, you don't need to worry about me! I'll take good care of myself. And my master treats me very well too. I will definitely earn the recognition of the Honglian Sword."

"Junior Sister, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Your Senior Brother is here for everything!"

It was the first time Lin Feng had ever said something like that.

He felt deeply for Su Xiyao.

The young girl had endured far too much for someone her age.

Her mother had died young, and now even her father stood at the edge of life and death.

All of this had to be borne by a girl barely in her teens.

Though Su Xiyao's talent was not bad, she was still far from being able to take revenge.

Unless she gained the recognition of the Honglian Sword — one of the Seven Swords of Shenxiao — there was only the faintest sliver of hope.

Otherwise, nothing else was worth discussing.

"Mm! I understand, Senior Brother. Thank you! I'm going back to cultivate now."

"Go on."

Su Xiyao rode her sword and departed.

Lin Feng's mind stirred. The long sword on his back leapt from its sheath, rapidly expanding before him, and he too rode it away through the sky.

He needed to return to Lone Existence Peak and search through the texts there for information on the Bianhua Flower.

Although Sect Master Uncle had said the sect would handle the matter, Lin Feng did not like placing his hopes in the hands of others.

Beyond that, there was still one more thing waiting for Lin Feng to attend to.

His master had been gravely wounded and brought to the brink of death. That debt of vengeance was one that he, as a disciple, was duty-bound to repay.

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Edited by Fat Goose