Chapter Sixteen: Rebellion (Part Two)

"Has already fallen into the demonic path."

Ye Qingyu glanced at the Lord Yan, her expression as tranquil as still water. Decades of seclusion had transformed both her cultivation and her state of mind.

Now, faced with the current situation, she showed not the slightest hesitation. She raised her sword and unleashed a cascade of dazzling sword energy.

The terrifying torrent of sword qi descended as if from the heavens, enveloping Lord Yan's figure in an instant.

"I did not expect the Palace Mistress’s cultivation to be so profound..."

Lord Yan’s expression grew intensely grave. Spiritual energy surged within him as a spirit blade flashed into his hand, cold light glinting along its edge. He poured all his energy into the blade.

The next instant, he drew the blade in defense, clashing with the waterfall of sword qi in battle against Ye Qingyu.

In Lord Yan's mind, this encounter should have been a fierce struggle. Unexpectedly, under the sword qi cascade, he found himself utterly powerless.

The terrifying saber energy he unleashed, enough to rend the heavens and shatter the stars, was swallowed whole by the sword’s waterfall in the blink of an eye.

"How could this be!"

Lord Yan was shaken by Ye Qingyu's strength, disbelief filling his eyes as he stared at the spirit sword in her hand.

"There’s something unusual about your sword!"

"Is that the legendary Celestial Exile Sword of Heaven’s Will?"

In that moment, Lord Yan seemed to face the terror of an ancient celestial exile. He watched as Ye Qingyu’s spiritual energy poured into the ancient sword; he felt as if the very laws of heaven hummed softly, with echoes of Daoist resonance surrounding her. He was but an insignificant ant confronting a range of towering, unyielding mountains.

"Sever."

Ye Qingyu, wielding the ancient sword, brought down another breathtaking arc of sword energy. The sword qi waterfall swept forward, completely enveloping Lord Yan and casting him into a remote region of the Savage Mountain Range.

In an instant, the astonishing sword energy ravaged the desolate land, cleaving mountains in twain and leaving behind a sheer, impassable chasm.

"From this day forth, this place shall be the Prison Cliff of the Xuanqing Palace, where disciples guilty of grave offenses will be confined."

Leaving these words, Ye Qingyu stepped lightly, lotus flowers blooming beneath her feet with each stride, and headed deeper into the Savage Mountain Range.

Her effortless capture of Lord Yan, witnessed by all present, filled everyone with excitement and joy.

Ye Qingyu, bearing the Celestial Exile Sword, appeared as a deity or demon towering between heaven and earth. No matter the chaos sown by those who had fallen into the demonic path, none could escape her grasp.

Uncle Iron was equally delighted, but when he saw Ye Qingyu heading for the depths of the Savage Mountains, he could not help but ask, "Palace Mistress, are you venturing into the wilds for a particular reason?"

Ye Qingyu’s long hair fluttered as she replied without hesitation, "I go to slay the beasts dwelling in the depths of the Savage Mountains."

With that, her form turned into a wisp of fresh breeze and vanished from sight.

...

This entire scene within the Box World was entirely unknown to Qin Feng.

He had watched the Box World for some time earlier, but nothing had happened—the timeline had only just reached the point where Lord Yan departed for the mundane dynasty—so he had gone to sleep.

The next morning, rising early, he returned to the study’s secret chamber.

Glancing into the Box World, he saw the once-majestic range of mountains now in utter ruin. Broken walls and shattered ground filled his vision; clearly, a fierce battle had taken place.

"Uh, it seems that having the time flow so quickly isn’t always a good thing. Unless I’m right beside the box, I have no idea what’s going on inside..."

Muttering to himself, Qin Feng reached out to touch the box’s surface. Instantly, a flood of information surged into his mind.

A mark even appeared.

After sorting through this mysterious influx, Qin Feng’s eyes widened as he realized he could control the flow of time within the Box World merely by manipulating the mark.

"Amazing. It truly is a golden cheat... I can even control time, just like a real immortal of the Heavenly Way..."

Excitement sparkled in Qin Feng’s eyes as he decisively slowed the Box World’s time flow.

He decided to leave it at that for now, planning to check back after his shift at the yamen.

Leaving the study, Qin Feng exited his residence, following the familiar road to a well-known tavern, where he settled by the window on the second floor.

"I’ll have fifteen plates of vegetable buns, three pork trotters, two drunken chickens, four meat-filled steamed breads, two bowls of rice congee, and three bowls of wontons."

Having reached the first-class martial realm, Qin Feng needed copious amounts of food every day. His appetite had grown, so he ordered a mountain of dishes, calling for the waiter.

"Right away, sir! Please wait just a moment."

The waiter bowed respectfully and hurried into the kitchen, soon bringing out all the requested food.

"Delicious!"

Qin Feng picked up his chopsticks and ate his breakfast slowly, savoring every mouthful.

Once he was full, he went to the yamen to check in, standing quietly with the other constables, keeping a low profile.

Su Yuer stood before the assembly, finished roll call, and casually assigned tasks. "Zhou Shi, Wang San, Li Kui, you three patrol East Street."

"..."

"Liu Qing, Wu Hai, Pei Qi, you three patrol South Street. Visit the residents and ask if any of their relatives have gone missing recently."

"..."

"Qin Feng, you come with me to patrol West Street."

"...."

After assigning all the tasks, only Qin Feng remained. Su Yuer motioned for him to join her as they set off to patrol West Street together.

"Understood."

Qin Feng followed Su Yuer out of the yamen and headed straight for West Street.

The Song dynasty highly valued commerce, so even county towns within its domain bustled with prosperity. Taverns and shops lined the streets in neat rows, while streams of people passed by in endless flow.

Vendors on the roadside enthusiastically hawked their goods.

Qin Feng and Su Yuer walked in silence along the street, neither saying a word.

Qin Feng simply didn’t know what to say.

As for Su Yuer, she had no desire to speak. Ever since her encounter with the Black Wind Bandit, she often pondered the identity of the mysterious savior who’d come to her rescue.

Now, as they walked, she was still speculating about that person’s identity.

After much thought, she was no closer to the answer.

"Qin Feng, let me ask you: after spending so long in the county, have you met anyone with exceptional martial skills?"

Su Yuer, her thoughts fruitless, suddenly addressed Qin Feng.

"Ah? Someone with exceptional martial skills?" Qin Feng shook his head. "I’m not sure, I haven’t met anyone like that."

As expected.

Su Yuer sighed again and fell silent, continuing the patrol without another word.

She suddenly asked about martial experts—could it be that the head constable still dwells on the time I saved her? Is she trying to discover my identity?

Qin Feng chuckled inwardly at the thought.

He had been extremely cautious when he returned after that incident, never exposing his tracks. Even if the head constable tried to investigate, it would be difficult.

"Still, I should remain vigilant. After all, the head constable is a direct member of the Su family, sent to the county to gain experience. She may have the means to investigate slowly..."

Qin Feng straightened his posture and maintained the demeanor of a humble constable, strolling leisurely down the street.

There was nothing about him that suggested the air of a master.

Watching Qin Feng’s behavior, Su Yuer felt a pang of disappointment. She had just thought that his height resembled that of her mysterious benefactor, and had even begun to suspect him.

But now, all her suspicions vanished.

There was nothing about this man that hinted at martial prowess.