Wei Feng no longer looked like a wandering hobo.
Gone were the tattered clothes and messy hair
Now he was well-groomed, wearing sharp new robes that made him look like a real cultivator.
Not just any cultivator.
A rising star.
He found himself aboard a giant flying ship, a masterpiece of ancient craftsmanship.
The sect flying boat he was riding wasn't empty either
It was teeming with sect disciples, all chasing after fame, glory, or maybe just some quick primeval stones to fatten their wallets.
And thanks to the rumors spreading about him,
thanks to his chaotic battles and ruthless victories,
his name was starting to have weight.
Because of that, even the mission bounties became hotter, attracting more ambitious newcomers.
Wei Feng was chilling near the edge of the deck, leaning lazily against the polished wooden railing.
From there, the view was breathtaking:
The clouds below the ship cast colossal shadows over the earth,
making it look like giants were walking across the land.
He sighed in satisfaction.
Maybe things were finally starting to look up.
That's when a voice rippled into his ear, low and melodic like a blade slicing through silk:
"In the sea of clouds, where the lonely sword drifts,
Shadows dance and kings are born,
But only blood and will carve the path of the immortal."
Wei Feng barely turned his head, eyebrow twitching slightly.
A young man stood there, hand casually extended for a handshake.
He had the kind of self-assured smirk that made you want to punch or befriend him at the same time.
"So you're the rising star newbie, huh?
You can call me Zhu Zongying.
Only son of the Sword Sect Master... pretty cool, right?"
At first, Wei Feng ignored him, staring out at the clouds like he hadn't heard a damn thing.
He was trying to teach this peacock some patience, keeping the chill of his solitude intact.
But then the words "son of the Sword Sect Master" registered in his brain.
Instantly, Wei Feng switched gears, plastering a fake smile across his face and shaking the offered hand.
Zhu Zongying snorted.
"Man, your smile is so fake it hurts to look at. Sigh...
Anyway"
(he waved it off with a chuckle)
"Aren't you curious about the other sect disciples here?"
Wei Feng rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"Errr... sorry dude.
Staying locked up in a cave for a couple of years makes you a little... antisocial. Hehe."
He laughed awkwardly, scratching his neck.
Zhu Zongying grinned wider, clearly finding him amusing.
"Well, alright.
Sit tight, 'cause I'm about to give you the lowdown."
Zhu Zongying started walking casually, hands behind his head, and Wei Feng followed, hands in his pockets.
They moved toward a more luxurious part of the flying ship
where the wood was polished like a mirror and the air smelled faintly of rare incense
a place disciples with "backgrounds" naturally gravitated to.
Zhu Zongying pointed with his chin toward a particular group.
"You see that fatty over there?
That's Zeng Fu."
Wei Feng squinted.
There he was, a round, cheerful-looking guy laughing heartily, slapping the backs of the people around him like they were old war buddies.
Zeng Fu wasn't just lounging alone either
he was surrounded by a little crew:
A tall, skinny youth with a longbow strapped to his back (probably an archer),
A beautiful girl in crimson robes, clearly flirting while pretending not to,
And a brawny man who looked like he could punch through a wall without breaking a sweat.
Zhu Zongying continued:
"He ain't a silk pants. At least, not anymore.
Son of a rich merchant, yeah... but no connections when he entered the sect.
Built himself up from scratch.
Pretty social guy too wherever he goes, it's like a damn festival."
Wei Feng nodded slightly, filing the information away.
They kept walking until they reached the back end of the ship
or as Zhu Zongying called it, "the stern deck" .
There, Zhu Zongying suddenly snickered mischievously.
"Yo bro, check that out"
He pointed at a woman sitting elegantly at the edge of the ship, her legs crossed, a book lightly resting on her knees.
She had that unmistakable aura about her.
A jade beauty.
Her skin was as flawless as snow under the first morning sun,
her features delicate yet sharp like they were carved by a master artisan,
and her hair, dark as a raven's wing, cascaded down her back in silky waves.
Even the way she flipped the page of her book seemed like poetry.
Zhu Zongying grinned.
"That's Mu Qingling.
Granddaughter of your Heart Mountain Sect Master, Mu Xuelan.
Sad story though... her parents died when she was just a little girl.
Raised by the sect... but damn, bro, she's something else."
Wei Feng silently agreed, but kept a straight face.
He wasn't stupid enough to drool over a jade beauty in public.
As he glanced a little further, he caught sight of a young man standing stiffly not far away, gazing at Mu Qingling from a respectful distance.
The youth had striking white hair, almost like falling snow, and a sharp, stoic expression.
He stood like a sword planted into the earth, motionless, admiring her silently.
Wei Feng tilted his head.
"And who's that guy?"
Zhu Zongying rolled his eyes so hard it looked painful.
"Brooo... that guy is a bore, let me tell you.
Name's Lu Tianhai.
All he does is train like a robot and trail after Mu Qingling like a lovesick puppy."
He made a gagging gesture.
"But careful.
He's ranked number one among the Heart Mountain juniors.
His strength is real.
Real enough that if you piss him off, well...
Let's just say you'll be seeing a lot of stars."
Wei Feng chuckled softly to himself.
This boat was definitely more lively than he expected.
As Wei Feng was still chuckling over Zhu Zongying's commentary, he heard steady, confident footsteps behind him.
A familiar voice spoke, clear and mocking:
"Wei Feng... you sure grew a lot. Hi."
Wei Feng turned
and there they were.
Zhou Kai and Wan Ya.
Zhou Kai looked even more scholarly than before.
His presence was eerily refined, calm like a still lake hiding untold depths.
He wore immaculate white and blue robes, his dark hair neatly combed, glasses resting elegantly on his nose, giving him a distant, noble air.
He looked like a young lord from an ancient storybook
or, more accurately, a snake who had learned how to smile.
Wan Ya, on the other hand, was impossible not to notice.
Voluptuous curves that seemed to strain against her tight-fitting dress,
long flowing hair, bedroom eyes, a smirk that promised mischief
her body was practically a weapon on its own.
Wei Feng's eyes widened at first, his fists instinctively clenching.
The old anger roared in his chest
but he quickly let it go.
Acting out of emotion was for fools.
A cool-headed man made real decisions.
Wei Feng sneered lightly and said:
"Man, after years of isolation...
I finally get thrown onto another shitty mission...
and have to see your ugly mug? What a treat."
Zhou Kai, as calm and condescending as ever, tilted his head and smiled faintly:
"Wow.
I thought you'd attack me the moment you saw me.
Did I beat you down so hard you got amnesia?"
Wei Feng grinned back
but it wasn't a friendly grin.
It was the grin of a killer.
Time seemed to slow.
Wei Feng's body shifted into a perfect boxer's stance
feet grounded, shoulders loose, chin tucked
then snap
a jab so fast it blurred through the air,
stopping just a hair's breadth from Zhou Kai's nose.
The impact of the air alone made Zhou Kai flinch.
His nose tingled.
For a moment, he thought he felt blood dripping.
His head swam, nausea gnawing at him.
"What the hell" thought Zhou Kai, stunned.
But it wasn't rage that first bloomed inside him
it was amusement, cold and dangerous.
He adjusted his glasses slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touching his lips.
Still, a thread of anger pulsed deep beneath his calm exterior, like a knife sheathed in velvet.
Without rushing, he released his Qi
a controlled, deliberate act.
Not a wild explosion, but a slow, oppressive tide,
spreading like a noose tightening around everyone nearby.
His 12th meridian flared open.
The entire ship seemed to jolt.
His 12th meridian burst open
the highest tier for junior disciples.
A suffocating pressure radiated from Zhou Kai,
like standing before a prowling tiger.
Everyone noticed.
The jade beauty, Mu Qingling, calmly closed her book and turned her gaze towards them.
The white-haired Lu Tianhai narrowed his eyes, silent but sharp, taking measure.
Even Zhu Zongying, usually lazy as hell, straightened up.
He stepped forward with a casual air
then released his own 12th meridian Qi like drawing a sword.
Their auras clashed invisibly.
The air became thick, the deck groaning under the spiritual tension.
Zhou Kai's opressive aura flared briefly,
but then, like a curtain falling,
he composed himself back into the scholarly young master.
He adjusted his sleeves and said smoothly:
"Well, well, well...
If it isn't the number one genius of Sword Mountain...
Zhu Zongying."