Chapter 85: Conflict Rekindled

After some time apart, Huo Siyen remained much the same as before. Qin Feng paid special attention to the subtleties; though the two stood side by side, Huo Siyen deliberately kept a certain distance between herself and Li Haoran. This suited Huo Siyen’s reserved nature.

Yet Qin Feng found himself uneasy—deeply uneasy. True, Huo Siyen was ruthless, ambitious, and opportunistic. But in the world of cultivation, where the strong prey upon the weak, it was understandable that a woman would seek a powerful man as her protector. Anyone could see the sense in that.

But the trouble was, Qin Feng had slept with this woman. That fact stirred a fierce possessiveness within him, a knot in a man’s heart that had nothing to do with love or affection.

Thus, when Qin Feng glanced at Li Haoran, his gaze was icy and hostile.

Clearly, the group had just happened upon this place, drawn by curiosity and the prospect of excitement. Even Huo Siyen hadn't expected to see Qin Feng here. Qin Feng himself was surprised to find these two together. Upon reflection, it was obvious—Huo Siyen had once again climbed the “high branch,” though in this case, Li Haoran was merely gilded outside and rotten within.

If Huo Siyen knew Li Haoran had been present that night, and that he was the one who drugged her, intending to indulge in debauchery with Ye Wuyin, who could say how she’d react...

But Qin Feng wasn’t overly concerned. Given Huo Siyen’s cunning and depth, after suffering once, it would take considerable effort for anyone to touch her again.

Qin Feng halted his ascent, his gaze fixed on Huo Siyen, his thoughts in turmoil. This woman was truly the bane of his fate—though they’d severed ties, circumstances had entangled them once more. Now, on the Sword Mountain of Shu, they crossed paths again; there was a certain fate to it.

In Qin Feng’s heart, this woman had planted a seed since his previous life—something special, neither love nor sentiment, something ineffable.

Yet the beauty of the past was not the Huo Siyen of this life. The woman before him always calculated for her own advantage.

So Qin Feng said nothing, silently watching her, waiting to hear what explanation she might give.

Though Huo Siyen kept her head lowered, Qin Feng sensed her eyelashes trembling.

“Before entering the Sword Mountain of Shu, the Qin and Huo families had already dissolved the engagement.”

With her face pale, she spurred her blue-glowing flying sword and sped away.

Those gathered exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.

Li Haoran’s face grew increasingly smug.

“So they really were engaged? Qin Feng can’t even manage sword flight, yet he hoped to marry Huo Siyen—what a toad lusting after a swan!”

“Yes, yes. With Huo Siyen’s exceptional talent, only Senior Brother Li Haoran is worthy. Qin Feng isn’t fit to even carry Li Haoran’s shoes. If their engagement hadn’t been dissolved, I’d have taught Qin Feng a lesson today.”

The crowd murmured, their opinions swirling.

Qin Feng sneered inwardly. These people were blind; were it not for the Sword Mountain of Shu, they'd have long since fallen under his sword.

As for Huo Siyen, when she departed, she unconsciously cast a glance at Qin Feng, and the trace of disappointment on her face was caught by his keen eyes. Clearly, she was dissatisfied with his inability to fly by sword.

He wondered if Huo Siyen knew that he was the one behind the misdeeds of that night. Even if she suspected, she must have been thoroughly disappointed in him now. With her calculating heart, she would surely have cast him aside, and Li Haoran was her new chosen target.

Thinking this, Qin Feng looked at Li Haoran, who was staring back at him. Between them, sparks of rivalry flew—the collision of two men.

At the same time, Qin Feng noticed something odd about Li Haoran. Something was off. The last time they met in Luoyang Town, Li Haoran was only at the third stage of the Human Martial Realm, but now—he was at the fifth!

Even with his mutated Thunder Spirit Root, Li Haoran shouldn’t have jumped two stages in such a short time. Qin Feng knew he’d injured Li Haoran’s soul that day, and soul wounds don’t heal in a year or two.

Even if his soul had recovered quickly, leaping two stages was impossible! Had Li Haoran encountered some fortuitous event? Or had he consumed a miraculous pill that healed his soul and boosted his cultivation?

Apparently, Sword Mountain of Shu did have ways to heal soul wounds. That meant Fang Xinyi’s soul injury could likely be cured as well.

Perhaps it was this rapid progress that restored Li Haoran’s confidence. He knew Qin Feng’s background—when they fought, Qin Feng had only been at the first stage of the Martial Realm, and now, after half a year, at most the second stage. There remained a gap of three stages between them. Having suffered once, Li Haoran was much more cautious, aware that Qin Feng’s abilities were extraordinary.

Realm alone did not determine strength; supernatural techniques had a huge impact.

But this time, Li Haoran clearly had some advantage, and on his home turf, he was all the more brazen. Confronting Qin Feng, he was no longer fearful, but instead inclined to provoke.

He didn’t believe Qin Feng would dare make a move on the Sword Mountain of Shu.

Moreover...

Li Haoran glanced around the empty space, a mysterious smile on his lips.

After Huo Siyen left, most lost interest in the scene. With a contemptuous smile at Qin Feng, they spurred their flying swords and quickly departed.

Before long, only Qin Feng and a few others, including Li Haoran, remained.

Li Haoran rode his flying sword to a distance of about ten feet from Qin Feng—a carefully calculated space. Should Qin Feng attack, Li Haoran would have time to respond; he’d been badly beaten before.

Qin Feng sneered, ignoring Li Haoran and continuing his ascent as if no one else existed.

Li Haoran, unwilling to let the matter drop, called after him, his silver brows raised in a demonic arc, “You little bastard, you got lucky that night, didn’t you? Felt good, I bet. But I let slip a few hints, and now Huo Siyen thinks I was the one who slept with her. Ha—so tell me, since things are as they are, wouldn’t it be easy for me to bed her again?”

Qin Feng stopped climbing.

He turned to face Li Haoran, drew the heavy Wu sword from his back, and pointed it single-handedly at Li Haoran’s nose.

Qin Feng’s gaze was icy, the killing intent emanating from his very bones. Li Haoran remembered well the power of Qin Feng’s punch that night, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Li Haoran’s voice trembled, “Qin Feng, what do you want?”

Qin Feng replied coldly, “Li Haoran, I warn you—if you ever involve Huo Siyen in your filthy schemes, I will make you die.”

The final word was spoken with force.

The oppressive aura was so intense that Li Haoran nearly shuddered in fear.

Li Haoran regretted provoking Qin Feng. He’d experienced Qin Feng’s abnormal strength firsthand. But as the sect leader’s son, on his own turf, he had more confidence. After a moment, he recovered, his handsome yet sinister face twisting in anger. To be threatened by Qin Feng in public—if word got out, where would his dignity as the chief’s son be?

But this was not the place for a fight. With people coming and going, any conflict would draw the elders’ attention.

Sword Mountain of Shu strictly forbade disciples from brawling, and the penalties were severe. If his father found out, Li Haoran would not escape punishment.

His eyes burned with murderous intent as he sneered, “Qin Feng, just wait. One day, I will tear you to pieces and feed you to the dogs!”

Qin Feng laughed aloud, his gaze flickering briefly to a certain spot in the space before returning coldly to Li Haoran. “I’ll be waiting.”

With a single finger, he traced a throat-slitting gesture, provoking Li Haoran to tremble with rage.

Without another word, Qin Feng resumed his climb up the suspended ladder toward the main peak, Sword Origin Peak.

His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he was shaken.

Huo Siyen was, after all, his first woman. Even if he no longer cared for her, it was not for Li Haoran to toy with her. Qin Feng was not a gentle soul, nor did he care for rules. If pushed too far, he would kill and flee without hesitation. Just now, with Li Haoran only ten feet away, Qin Feng was more than eighty percent confident he could strike him down with a single blow. But he refrained.

Because—

His powerful spiritual sense had detected, within a radius of thirty feet around Li Haoran, a hidden, invisible creature, constantly guarding him...