Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Detestable Woman

He had been saved!

Just as Qin Feng breathed a sigh of relief, something felt off. His palm was grasping a soft, yielding object—he even squeezed it twice, marveling at the sensation.

“Can’t you behave? Take your hand away!”

A cold voice came from in front of him. Qin Feng suddenly realized his rescuer was a woman. Her silhouette was oddly familiar—and that fragrance, he knew it all too well.

“Huo Siyuan!”

Qin Feng stumbled, nearly falling off the flying sword.

Luckily, his hand was still around Huo Siyuan’s waist, or else he would have suffered a grievous fall.

Awkward, uncomfortable, speechless!

Qin Feng’s feelings were a tangled mess; for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

“Qin Feng!”

Huo Siyuan spoke first, her voice icy as ever.

Qin Feng replied with a muted grunt.

“I want to ask you something. Answer me honestly!”

Here it comes!

Qin Feng dreaded nothing more than Huo Siyuan asking about that night. But some things couldn’t be avoided. Now, she wanted answers—and of course, it had to be about him sleeping with her. There was no escape, not up here in the sky. Should he jump? He’d just retrieved his soul from the brink—no way.

He couldn’t nod or shake his head.

Qin Feng could only stay silent.

Huo Siyuan grew angry.

“I’m asking you—was it you that night? You know what I mean! If you dare lie, I’ll throw you down to your death!”

Damn! Threatening me!

Qin Feng was furious but helpless. He craned his neck to peer below—he was already thousands of feet in the air. Huo Siyuan had even raised their altitude. No one else was around, just the two of them riding one sword—a situation that could kill a man.

But Qin Feng soon lost his bravado.

He withdrew his neck.

Forget it, a man must face what he’s done. Can’t let a woman look down on him.

With that thought, Qin Feng gritted his teeth and admitted, “It was me.”

When Qin Feng spoke, he felt Huo Siyuan tremble. She’d suspected it might be him, but confirmation was something else entirely.

Those two words sent waves crashing through both their hearts.

Neither spoke for a long time. Huo Siyuan flew aimlessly through the sky with Qin Feng in tow.

After a while—

Huo Siyuan sighed, her voice soft. “What a mess. I never thought it would really be you!” Though tinged with sadness, she was remarkably calm.

At least she wasn’t chasing him with her sword.

But suddenly, she turned sharp. “Let this matter pass. All my past misdeeds—consider them repaid to you. From now on, we are strangers. If you dare breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll kill you!”

Sigh, still the same old ways!

Qin Feng sighed inwardly. Huo Siyuan’s mood swings were notorious. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen her switch from calm to furious. He was used to it.

Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder—could she really pretend not to know him?

Qin Feng asked himself honestly: he couldn’t do it.

He doubted Huo Siyuan could either. After all, he was her first man!

And in the future, her only one!

His thoughts wandered. When Huo Siyuan waited for his response and got nothing but silence, she grew furious.

“Did you hear me or not?”

“Hm? What did you say?”

Snapping back to reality, Qin Feng instinctively asked, inadvertently provoking Huo Siyuan. She twisted her waist, shook his hand off, and the flying sword beneath her feet sped up sharply. Qin Feng fell backward, tumbling off the sword.

Damn, murder of her own husband!

As Qin Feng plummeted, he managed only a brief mental curse at Huo Siyuan, then screamed as he fell. Huo Siyuan didn’t look back, speeding off in a determined direction.

So Huo Siyuan never intended to save me!

While feeling indignant towards her, Qin Feng quickly searched the surroundings for any fellow disciples who might help him.

Next time, I must learn to fly!

Not being able to fly was agony—caught between heaven and earth, nowhere to land.

Just then, a streak of crimson sword light glided leisurely from afar. Seeing Qin Feng fall again, it accelerated and caught him around the waist.

“Old Qiu, you’re a real friend!”

Qin Feng wiped the cold sweat from his brow and sighed.

“Of course! I knew that girl Huo Siyuan wouldn’t give you the time of day. Look, I was right! That’s why I’ve been tailing you from afar, worried you’d get played. Ha!”

Qiu Huzi laughed proudly.

Qin Feng: “...!”

“Huzi, I’m not exactly unattractive. Am I really that unworthy of Huo Siyuan?”

Qiu Huzi’s mustache twitched as he burst out laughing. “Give it up! You’re built like a bear. Even if you fancied me, I wouldn’t fancy you! Wishful thinking!”

Qin Feng: “...!”

Laughing and bantering, the two adjusted their course, speeding toward Qingyuan Peak.

As the sword turned, Qin Feng glanced in the direction where Huo Siyuan had vanished and smiled.

Huo Siyuan must have known Qiu Huzi was following behind the whole time. That’s why she had the heart to toss me aside, claiming to sever ties. But can she really do it?

Qiu Huzi, on the other hand, was quite a surprise.

He forced me to take a wrong turn, but in the end, his heart was kind. I truly hope he won’t be corrupted by the poisonous atmosphere of Shu Sword Mountain.

Flying on a sword was much faster. In no time, they arrived back at Qingyuan Peak, much to Qin Feng’s irritation.

He had spent three days and nights climbing from Qingyuan Peak to Jianyuan Peak. With Qiu Huzi’s flying sword, the journey took only the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

The comparison was unbearable.

This time, no matter what, I must master sword flight.

It was humiliating!

He’d been played by Huo Siyuan, mocked by Qiu Huzi.

So, upon returning to his residence, Qin Feng refused Qiu Huzi’s invitation, locked himself in his courtyard, and began diligently practicing the art of sword flight.

This time, he would not step outside until he succeeded!

…