Chapter 86: The Marquis of Valor

With a subtle ruse, Qi Fei managed to distract Chu Yanran, causing her to falter in surprise. Seizing the moment, Qi Fei quickly activated the Blood Shadow Evasion Technique, his figure darting through the city like a wraith, plunging the entire city of Huaiyang into chaos.

Now that Qi Fei had attained the Pure Yang Realm of the Daoist Sect, in his urgency, he neglected to conceal the ruthless aura of this demonic technique with the Lingxi Art. Unexpectedly, the innate vital energy infused with Pure Yang now concealed the deadly chill of the Blood Shadow Evasion itself.

Not far behind, Chu Yanran’s terrifying, supreme pressure followed him relentlessly. Qi Fei knew well that his earlier tricks had merely evaded her imminent killing strike; to truly escape from this martial grandmaster, a peerless expert, would not be so easy.

Though Chu Yanran’s martial cultivation far surpassed his, and her grandmaster abilities allowed her to traverse the void at will, Qi Fei’s Blood Shadow Evasion was inscrutable. No matter how fiercely she pursued him, she could not catch this fox-like trickster.

Chu Yanran hesitated; if she unleashed her innate energy to intercept Qi Fei, she risked harming innocent townsfolk.

As the chase unfolded, a patrol of soldiers, seeing the uproar, hastily surrounded them.
“Who dares run amok in Huaiyang City?”
The leader, a middle-aged officer, gripped his longbow. An arrow whistled through the air, streaking toward Qi Fei.

Seeing the soldiers of the Marquess of Martial Valor’s household, Qi Fei nimbly dodged the arrow’s force, raised his token, and shouted, “I am under the Young Marquess’s command, here on urgent business!”

Taking advantage of Qi Fei’s distraction, Chu Yanran’s Starshatter Sword flared, sending a mightily oppressive sword aura cleaving toward the impudent scoundrel who dared toy with her.

Qi Fei invoked the Blood Shadow Evasion again, narrowly dodging her killing strike. The middle-aged officer and soldiers, caught in the path, could not avoid it—terror flashed across their faces.

Seeing disaster imminent, Chu Yanran redirected her sword aura aside. With a deafening crash, the overwhelming energy shattered the eaves of a building into dust.

“My lady?”
Though Chu Yanran had long kept to herself within the Marquess’s manor, the officers recognized her icy visage as the eldest daughter of the Chu family.
“Quickly, seize him!” The officer pointed after Qi Fei’s retreating figure, issuing the order.

Chu Yanran’s expression did not change; she darted after Qi Fei.

Locked onto by a martial grandmaster, Qi Fei found nowhere to hide in Huaiyang City. As his vital energy ebbed, he suddenly noticed he was near the solemn and imposing Marquess’s residence.

His master had said that if the Marquess had returned home, this was his only chance for survival. Gritting his teeth, Qi Fei dashed into the residence. Instantly, he sensed several formidable auras erupting from within.

He raised his token and cried, “I am one of our own! I must see the Young Marquess!”

No sooner had he spoken than several of the household’s experts and guards surrounded him. A middle-aged scholar stepped forward, took Qi Fei’s token, examined it, and frowned. “This is indeed the Young Marquess’s token. But why did you barge in without announcement?”

“I know this man! On Qingyang Peak, he erupted with martial power and slew the Daoist prodigy from Xuanzhen Monastery. Qi Fei, have you come to join the Young Marquess?” One of the household’s experts, who had accompanied Chu Qingyun to Qingyang Peak, immediately recognized him.

While all were still in shock, Chu Yanran entered the courtyard as well.

“Yanran!” The scholar’s eyes lit with joy, and he hurried to greet her.

Chu Yanran frowned slightly, ignored his overtures, and stared coldly at Qi Fei. “Qi Fei, do you think hiding in the Marquess’s residence will save your life?”

The scholar and the household’s experts were bewildered. This youth, who had made his name at Qingyang Peak and whom even the Marquess wished to recruit, now found himself at odds with Chu Yanran.

Suspicion flickered in the scholar’s eyes. “Yanran, Brother Qi is one of us. Why trouble him so?”

Qi Fei, now having cultivated his Nascent Spirit, could sense the depth of the Daoist expert before him—this man, who called Chu Yanran by name, was likely no less powerful than Zhuo Jiner.

“Liu Yanzhen, when did you and I become so familiar?” Chu Yanran’s face betrayed a trace of anger.

Liu Yanzhen sighed wryly. “Have you not seen my intentions? If not for you, why would I linger in this manor?”

Chu Yanran laughed coldly. “What is that to me? This man must die today.”

Forced into a corner, Qi Fei refused to go down quietly. He retorted, “Miss Chu, we have no enmity. Why does possession of this token drive you to kill me?”

The household’s experts exchanged glances, all aware of the long-standing grievances between Chu Yanran and the Marquess, but did not expect her to turn on Qi Fei for this.

Remembering Qi Fei’s earlier mockery, Chu Yanran sneered, “I only agreed to Sima’s challenge, not to take your life. But now, you seek to ride Qingyun’s coattails and meddle in the Chu family’s internal strife. I cannot let you live.”

At that moment, a stern voice called from beyond the courtyard, “Sima Yan’s methods were formidable indeed. That Daoist of Azure Pine did not die in vain.”

All present turned pale—even Chu Yanran’s face betrayed panic. Qi Fei looked over and saw a solemn middle-aged man in a five-clawed golden robe entering the yard.

“My lord!” The household’s experts and guards bowed deeply.

The Marquess of Martial Valor, Chu Huaiyuan? Qi Fei’s heart skipped a beat. Upon closer inspection, this man’s martial cultivation seemed to even surpass Chu Yanran’s.

“You are Qi Fei?” The Marquess regarded him appreciatively.

Qi Fei bowed respectfully. “I am Qi Fei, greetings to your lordship.”

“Have you come today at Qingyun’s invitation?”

“I have,” Qi Fei replied, glancing at Chu Yanran. “Yet I do not understand why Miss Chu, upon seeing my token, wished to kill me.”

“What trick did Sima Yan use to move you to Moonwatch Peak and have you serve the Seven Absolutes Sect? Today you trouble Qi Fei—do you mean to make an enemy of my family?” Chu Huaiyuan sighed, resignation in his eyes.

For all his noble status, Chu Yanran showed him no courtesy, replying coldly, “Sima Yan and I used each other—that hardly means I serve the Seven Absolutes. Now that Sima Yan has met his end in Cangyun Mountain, if you seek to blame him, you are already too late.”

“Sima Yan is dead?” Chu Huaiyuan stiffened, shock flickering through his eyes.

Chu Yanran said icily, “That’s right. Sima Yan died to a demonic technique, and I doubt this little thief is innocent. If he joins Qingyun, are you not afraid the Chu family will be thrown into chaos?”

Chu Huaiyuan glanced at the calm Qi Fei and shook his head slowly. “The struggle between Qingyun and Qingchen is no secret to me. The title of Marquess and the Chu family’s leadership will go to those most worthy in the end. But troubling Qingyun’s protégé like this is unwise. Besides, even if Sima Yan’s death involves Qi Fei, I will judge the matter myself. I will not have you cause a scene in my house.”

A mocking light flashed in Chu Yanran’s eyes. “Chu Huaiyuan, spare me your posturing. You and I both know the truth. Do you dare let me recount the past with Qingyun and Qingchen?”

At these words, Chu Huaiyuan’s anger flared. “I know you still hold a grudge against what happened. But it was for the Chu family’s sake that I made that decision. In the end, you were not harmed by the Yin-Yang True Lord—why dwell on it?”

“If not for my uncle’s sacrifice, I would have become a vessel for that demon’s cultivation. Fearing the future threat of the Yin-Yang Sect, you plotted and schemed. I do not want Qingyun to die in vain—I cannot let this matter rest,” Chu Yanran’s voice trembled with emotion, hatred flashing in her eyes.

“Fine! Now that your cultivation is complete, you no longer see your brother as worthy. But affairs within this manor are still not yours to decide,” Chu Huaiyuan thundered, his gaze fierce.

Qi Fei and Liu Yanzhen were utterly lost, realizing the conversation alluded to old family grievances. As all hesitated, Chu Qingyun arrived, drawn by the commotion.