Fang Chen smiled warmly. "With just you by my side, that is more than enough."
With that, the two of them tidied up the room.
Once everything was moved in, Meng Yao piloted the spirit boat toward the Seventh Peak of the Tianyu Divine Sect's Inner Sect.
Each of the seven peaks of the Tianyu Divine Sect's Inner Sect possessed over a dozen mountain domains! The area they covered was unimaginably vast!
Only the Seventh Peak consisted of a single, isolated mountain.
While the other peaks had long since been carved up and divided among various factions, the Seventh Peak was known as the Wasteland Peak.
Nowadays, almost everyone living on the Seventh Peak consisted of inner sect disciples discarded by the other six peaks.
These disciples were too troublesome to drive away, so they had simply been dumped on the Seventh Peak to idle away their days.
Fortunately, the part of the Seventh Peak that had ultimately been preserved was its glorious main peak.
Back in the day, the home of Fang Chen and his martial aunt had been right on this main peak.
The main peak featured only a few grand halls, which had long since fallen into ruin and disrepair from decades of neglect.
Landing before the gates of the main hall, Fang Chen looked up at the plaque reading "Seventh Peak Heavenly Hall," a complex expression in his eyes.
Qiu Mei, standing beside him, felt the same way. She never thought she would actually live to see the day she returned.
Meng Yao said, "I looked into the current situation of the Seventh Peak. Right now, there are basically no disciples here—only a peak master who has been away and has never once returned. So you could say this Seventh Peak belongs entirely to you. You can do whatever you want here."
"Sigh." Qiu Mei let out a soft sigh. "Old Wen went back to his hometown too. If he were still here, at least there would be someone to talk to."
Old Wen was an ordinary mortal who used to follow Tianyang Zi, and had stayed by Qiu Mei's side to take care of her after she arrived.
Come to think of it, he must be seventy years old by now.
Bang!
Right at that moment, a cold voice rang out from the supposedly deserted Seventh Peak Sacred Hall: "Old man, you'd better sign this right now! Otherwise, I'll make sure you die a miserable death!"
Fang Chen furrowed his brow. He found the voice very familiar—it sounded like Si Chengyue, one of Luo Ao's lackeys.
Fang Chen gently pushed open the courtyard gates and saw Si Chengyue accompanied by two other men, surrounding a frail old man and preparing to strike.
Si Chengyue was holding a piece of paper, glaring down at the elderly man lying on the ground as he threatened, "Old man, I advise you to sign this right now! Otherwise, I'll gouge out your eyes! Cripple your limbs! Hang you up in the forest, and let a myriad of ants eat you alive! I'm sure that sight will be quite a spectacle!"
"Brother Si is truly a genius! To be able to come up with such a ruthless method!"
"Exactly! As expected of Senior Brother Luo's top henchman!"
The two men beside him chimed in with flattery, puffing Si Chengyue up with even more arrogance.
When Fang Chen looked at the old man and recognized who he was, shock flashed across his face!
"Grandpa Wen!"
The person being trampled underfoot by Si Chengyue was none of other than Old Wen, whom his martial aunt had just said had returned to his hometown.
The next instant, Fang Chen's eyes turned bloodred!
Old Wen's face was deathly pale! His ragged clothes were covered in horrifying wounds that clearly showed he had been subjected to torture!
With bloodshot eyes, Fang Chen glared at Si Chengyue as a wave of killing intent surged within him!
"Old Wen!"
Seeing Old Wen in such a miserable state, Qiu Mei felt a sudden tightness in her throat, and her eyes welled up with tears.
"Young Miss! Young Master! I've finally waited for you to come back!"
When Old Wen caught sight of Fang Chen and Qiu Mei, tears instantly streamed down his already battered face.
"Bastards! How—how did you get here so fast?!"
Seeing Fang Chen, Si Chengyue's expression shifted drastically, and he was momentarily thrown into a panic.
Chapter 28: Grandpa Wen
His trip to the Seventh Peak this time was under Luo Yun's orders to seize ownership of the peak!
Once the Seventh Peak was brought under his control, Luo Yun would ensure that Fang Chen didn't even have a place to sleep!
Si Chengyue had arrived on the first day, but Old Wen had been away in the back mountains of the Seventh Peak cutting firewood and gathering provisions.
Because Old Wen was advanced in years, his routine was normally to leave on the first day and return early on the third.
That was why Si Chengyue had only managed to find Old Wen just now. He had originally thought he had plenty of time, never expecting Fang Chen and the others to arrive so early!
"You deserve to die!"
Fang Chen had no intention of wasting words with Si Chengyue. With a flash of motion, he appeared right in front of him and delivered a fierce kick!
Si Chengyue shot backward like a bolt from a crossbow, slamming heavily into the ground!
Fang Chen didn't let the other two off either, sending them flying with a pair of swift kicks!
This time, Fang Chen was truly driven by the intent to kill.
"Grandpa Wen, what on earth is going on here? Why would they hurt you like this?" Fang Chen reined in his killing intent for the moment, deciding to get the facts straight first.
Old Wen wept tears of joy, immediately answering his young master's question, "Before the previous peak master left, they had to appoint someone in charge of the Seventh Peak. But aside from this old slave, there was no one else here, so the peak master simply gave the position of person-in-charge to me. Those three wanted to force me to transfer the title over to them, and when I refused, they..."
Meng Yao explained from the side, "After the former peak master died, for some reason the Seventh Peak completely degenerated into a wasteland. Its spiritual energy became incomparably thin and utterly worthless, so no one cared about it anymore—the name of the Seventh Peak was merely retained. The current peak master only holds the title in name, so to him, handing the responsibility over to a mortal didn't matter at all, even if the Seventh Peak was completely ruined."
Fang Chen nodded, instantly understanding what Si Chengyue and his cohorts were trying to do.
"So, you suddenly wanted this title of person-in-charge so that once you got it, you could drive me off the Seventh Peak, is that it?"
"A fine scheme by Luo Yun. He really will stoop to any method imaginable."
His expression turned icy as he stared fixedly at Si Chengyue.
Seeing this, Meng Yao knew what Fang Chen was about to do.
She said, "Short of killing them, you can do whatever you like. I'll handle the aftermath on my end."
Fang Chen nodded and said, "Thank you."
Upon hearing this, Si Chengyue's face drained of color, filled with extreme terror.
"You can't touch me! I'm Luo Yun's man! If you touch me, you'll be driven out of the Tianyu Divine Sect too! No one will be able to save you!"
Facing his threat, Fang Chen's expression remained calm.
Seeing this, Si Chengyue could only resort to begging: "Brother Fang! No—Grandpa Fang! I beg you to spare me this time! I'll never dare do it again! Really, never again!"
"I was forced to come here by that bastard Luo Yun! I didn't want to do any of this!"
He kowtowed repeatedly, desperately seeking Fang Chen's forgiveness.
How could Fang Chen possibly spare someone who had harmed his family?
Old Wen had taken care of him since he was a child, treating him just like his own grandfather.
How could he forgive Si Chengyue for injuring his family?
He said coldly, "Go back and tell Luo Yun that he has less than three months left to live."
With that, he made his move!
"Ah!"
Piercing screams echoed through the air! Si Chengyue and the other two had their dantians and arms completely crippled by Fang Chen, leaving only their legs intact so they could crawl back and report.
"Get lost." Fang Chen said coldly.
Though enduring excruciating pain, Si Chengyue didn't dare linger for a second when he saw Fang Chen's icy, merciless gaze. Enduring the agony, he scrambled out of the Seventh Peak Sacred Hall.
Meanwhile, Meng Yao produced a healing pill and had Old Wen ingest it, allowing his injuries to begin slowly mending.
Seeing young miss Qiu Mei once again, Old Wen's tears welled up and spilled over uncontrollably.
"Young Miss, Young Master, you're back!" he cried.
Qiu Mei asked through her tears, "Old Wen, didn't you go back to your hometown? Why are you still in the Tianyu Divine Sect?"
Old Wen replied, "I couldn't bear to leave you behind, Young Miss, so I didn't go. And I couldn't leave even if I wanted to find you; later, after becoming the person-in-charge, I was forbidden from leaving entirely and could only wait here all this time."
"Fortunately, the heavens have eyes! I've finally waited for the Young Miss and the Young Master to return!"
Wiping away her tears, Qiu Mei asked, "Old Wen, how did you survive these past five years?"
A smile appeared on Old Wen's face as he answered, "I grew some crops in the back mountains, and there was game in the forest. Although the journey was a bit far, at least I didn't starve to death."
Looking at the frail old man, Fang Chen felt a complex mix of emotions in his heart.
He said, "Grandpa Wen, don't worry. Now that I'm back on the Seventh Peak, I will never let you suffer again."
Old Wen looked at Fang Chen and smiled fondly. "With the Young Master back, the Seventh Peak finally has a master once more."
"I believe that with the Young Master here, we will surely restore the Seventh Peak to its former peak!"
Fang Chen nodded heavily, saying with firm conviction, "Don't worry, Grandpa Wen. I will make the Seventh Peak rise again!"
The three of them chatted at length, recounting their experiences over the past five years.
Once Old Wen's injuries had improved somewhat, the group strolled together around the Seventh Peak Sacred Hall.
Ordinarily, such a vast sacred hall should have been dilapidated and covered in thick dust, but Old Wen had kept it meticulously swept and cleaned over the past five years, making it look pristine—though it still lacked a sense of warmth and human presence.
Arriving at the rear of the Seventh Peak Sacred Hall, they found a courtyard estate. This was precisely where Tianyang Zi had lived back then, and it was also Fang Chen's home.
The courtyard was even cleaner, showing that Old Wen had constantly kept it swept, solely in anticipation of their return.
Afterward, once Meng Yao had people move all their belongings inside, she prepared to take her leave.
She said to Fang Chen, "I might be in closed-door seclusion to cultivate for a while soon, so you must practice diligently! You have to win in three months, understand?"
"I've no desire to become a young widow. If you let me become a widow, I'll cuckold you!"
She pouted in a threatening display, both seductive and playful enough to make one's heart skip a beat.
Fang Chen naturally knew that Meng Yao was just worrying about him.
He smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll win."Upon hearing this, Meng Yao finally beamed with satisfaction. Suddenly, she leaned in close to Fang Chen and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
Fang Chen was stunned.
Meng Yao’s face flushed a deep red, making her look even more alluring and breathtaking. She said with a shy smile, "Consider that a small bit of encouragement. If you can defeat Luoyun, there will be even greater rewards."
With that, she cast a playful, enchanting wink at him. Before Fang Chen could even reply, she stepped onto her spirit boat and vanished into the distance.
Fang Chen stood there in a daze for a long time. When he finally came to his senses, he touched his cheek where she had kissed him, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
Meng Yao did not leave immediately. Instead, she called out, "Old Kun."
A white-haired old man appeared and bowed respectfully, "Young Miss."
Meng Yao instructed, "Remain here and protect the Seventh Peak. Pay special attention to Brother Fang and his two companions. I do not want any harm to come to them. Do you understand?"
"Understood." Old Kun nodded respectfully, then vanished in a flash.
She knew that by announcing Fang Chen as her fiancé, she would inevitably invite trouble for him. Yet, this was the best she could do for him right now. If she truly wanted to be with Fang Chen, her family would be the greatest obstacle of all.
If this were before, Meng Yao might have resigned herself to her fate, knowing she likely wouldn’t live past twenty. But Fang Chen’s appearance had given her hope for life! Seeing his unwavering determination despite his perceived weakness during the second trial had deeply moved her. She no longer wished to accept her fate; she wanted to fight it to the very end.
She glanced back at the Seventh Peak one last time, then propelled her spirit boat away into the horizon.
***
At the Second Peak, in Luoyun’s residence.
*Bang!*
Luoyun struck out with his palm, hitting Si Chengye and his two companions square in the chest. The three of them were sent flying instantly, blood pouring from them as their vitals were crushed.
"Boss… why kill us..." One of them stared with wide, terrified eyes, paralyzed by despair before his life finally faded away.
Luoyun remained in a fit of rage. "Trash! You’re all a bunch of trash! You couldn't even handle such a simple task! What use are you?"
Fang Chen’s repeated successes, combined with the death of Luo Ao, had driven Luoyun nearly to the brink of madness.
"Junior Brother Luo, who has angered you so?"
A voice drifted in just then. A tall figure stepped into the room—it was Yu Yuanwen.
"Senior Brother Yu is here." Luoyun was not surprised; he had been notified of his arrival earlier and had permitted him to enter. He waved his hand to have the three corpses of Si Chengye’s group dragged away, then invited Yu Yuanwen to take a seat.
"I wonder why Senior Brother Yu has come to see me so suddenly?" Luoyun asked, having someone pour spiritual tea.
Yu Yuanwen smiled faintly. "I heard that your cousin was slain during the Seventh Peak assessment, and that the culprit openly provoked you, setting a three-month deadline for a duel."
Mentioning Fang Chen made Luoyun’s expression darken further. "Hmph! A mere ant. Three months from now, I will surely execute him!"
Yu Yuanwen countered, "Does Junior Brother Luo really intend to fight him?"
"What do you mean?"
"Think of your status, and then think of his. Engaging in a life-and-death struggle with someone like that is beneath you."
Yu Yuanwen leaned in, his smile meaningful. "Besides, surely you’ve heard of 'cutting the knot with a sharp blade'? Luo Ao’s death will undoubtedly reach the Luo family soon. If they find out you didn't avenge him immediately but chose to wait for a three-month agreement, what will they think? Won't they wonder if you were afraid of Luo Ao surpassing you, and therefore..."
Luoyun’s brows furrowed. He had naturally considered these issues. The Luo family was far from united; although he was the heir apparent, not everyone was satisfied. The family of his second uncle, in particular, had become restless ever since Luo Ao began to display his talent. Now that Luo Ao was dead, it would be strange if they didn't suspect him of foul play—especially if he continued to delay dealing with Fang Chen.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Luoyun stared at him.
Yu Yuanwen stood up and said slowly, "I am here today to assist you, Junior Brother. I hope these items will be of some help."
He placed a jade slip and a talisman on the table, then drifted away. Luoyun picked up the jade slip and opened it. The first three characters read: *Thousand-Mile Shadow Kill*.
***
The news of Meng Yao declaring her fiancé at the Seventh Peak spread instantly, rocking the entire Tianyu Divine Sect. For the past few days, everyone had been searching for this "Fang Chen," desperate to know who could have snatched away their goddess.
The efficiency of such gossip was always high; in just three days, Fang Chen’s entire background had been laid bare. Only then did people realize there had been such a genius—and such a fool—in their midst. Some were moved, some were disdainful, but most were simply furious. They didn't care about Fang Chen’s past; all they knew was that he had stolen Senior Sister Meng! In their eyes, no matter how talented he was, he was simply unworthy of her.
When they learned Fang Chen had moved to the Seventh Peak, a massive crowd set out to confront him. Little did they know, the person they were looking for was no longer on the Seventh Peak, but had left the sect to return to Yu City.
Fang Chen had intended to cultivate until he reached the ninth level of the Spirit Gathering realm before breaking through. However, he realized that if he spent all his current resources now, he would have nothing left for cultivation once he reached the Houtian Realm. He decided to visit Yu City to sell a Luo Spirit Pill and purchase herbs to refine more, hoping to accumulate a small fortune.
"Sigh," Fang Chen lamented. "They say a penny can stump a hero; no matter who you are, it’s true."
"Fang Chen?"
Just as he was lost in thought, a familiar, melodic voice rang out. Fang Chen looked up and locked eyes with a striking figure. It was Lin Xueyan.
Today, Lin Xueyan wore a blue and white dress. Even though she was bundled up modestly, it only added to her icy, pristine beauty.
"What are you doing here? Isn't today the day you enter the inner sect?" Lin Xueyan remained as aloof as before, but her tone was softer than when they had first met. It seemed Meng Yao’s words had made her reflect, and she realized she had misunderstood Fang Chen.
Fang Chen replied, "I’ve moved to the Seventh Peak. I came here today to purchase some materials for my cultivation."
"I see." Lin Xueyan nodded. She hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, "I apologize for my behavior the other day. I treated you poorly because I thought you were... well, after looking into it, I realized you were the victim."
Fang Chen was surprised; he hadn't expected an apology. He shook his head with a small smile. "It's fine. I didn't take it to heart; I’ve already forgotten about it." Although she had been cold, she hadn't actually harmed him, so he held no grudges.
"However," Lin Xueyan’s expression turned cold once more, "I still won't accept your relationship with Meng Yao. The gap between the two of you is too great; it is impossible for you to be together."
She continued, "Meng Yao has many suitors. Now that news of you two has spread throughout the sect, people will come looking for trouble. When you finally see who her other suitors are, you will understand just how massive that gap truly is."
Fang Chen felt a sense of helplessness. *You just apologized for being harsh, and now you’re back to it?* He sighed, *Whatever, I’m used to it.* He understood she was warning him about his many rivals. But he wouldn't give up; he had seen the way Meng Yao treated him, and it was real.
"I will keep getting stronger," he said firmly. "I will defeat those rivals one by one. I won't give up."
Lin Xueyan had expected her words to make him retreat, but his increased resolve caught her off guard. She looked at him with complex eyes and, after a long silence, said, "I will be watching."
"Miss Lin, sorry to keep you waiting."
A voice called out, followed by a handsome man of about twenty who walked over with a smile. He was dressed in a white-feathered coat, looking every bit the refined young master with his sharp brows and bright eyes.
Seeing him, Lin Xueyan frowned slightly, though she eventually sighed and offered a polite nod. "Young Master Yi, it has been a long time. I didn't expect the Yi family to send you."
The man was Yi Tianyu, the eldest son of the Yi family in Luoyang City. Lin Xueyan was there under her family's orders to attend an auction held by the Wanxing Auction House alongside the Yi family. Her family was not particularly strong compared to the Yis, and with half of the Lin family’s business tied to the Yi family, they placed great importance on the relationship.
Yi Tianyu had been pursuing Lin Xueyan for a long time, refusing to let go despite her repeated, stern rejections. To avoid him, Lin Xueyan spent most of her time in the sect, rarely returning home.