Kapitel 12: Chapter 12: Await My Return
Lu Chengfeng watched the newly awakened Luo Suyi, whose beauty, softened by sleep, resembled a tender, blossoming flower. She was radiant, with a hint of innocence in her eyes, which somehow dissipated the weight and frustration he'd been carrying.
"Suyi, I'm going to start my morning sword practice. You can sleep a bit longer; it's still early," he said as he rose from bed.
Luo Suyi quickly replied, "Let me help you dress."
Gently taking her soft hand, Lu Chengfeng smiled. "There's no need. I'm not so pampered. Get some more rest, and we'll have breakfast together later."
Their hands brushed, sparking a hint of warmth between them. Luo Suyi, hearing his gentle reassurance, found herself unable to argue. She simply nodded with a soft "Mhm."
After letting go of her hand, Lu Chengfeng swiftly dressed, casually tying his hair. He then took his Cold Cicada sword from the wall and stepped out.
Knowing the dangers surrounding Zhao Changzhen's hidden life, Lu Chengfeng dared not be careless. Over the following three days, he devoted himself to intense sword training on Bixiao Peak. Surprisingly, the anticipated threats from Canglong Peak or other enemies never materialized. It was as if all adversaries had temporarily retreated, granting Bixiao Peak an unusual moment of peace.
In this rare calm, Lu Chengfeng worked tirelessly to absorb the sword techniques granted to him through Zhao Changzhen's memories. His own mastery of swordsmanship soon reached the twelfth level. With this level of proficiency, his sword aura had become increasingly formidable, cutting through stone with ease, and each swing of his sword radiated a chilling lethality. His internal cultivation, however, was slower due to the absence of the Blue Sea Stone, a valuable aid to internal cultivation, and remained at the seventh level.
But Lu Chengfeng knew this peace was merely an illusion, masking unseen dangers and threats. His intense training was not just to increase his strength but also to await news from the sect. Displaying tenth-level sword skills during his assessment at his age would undoubtedly draw the sect's attention.
While the sect was strict in vetting disciples for the inner sect, if he were accepted, it would serve as a protective shield, giving his enemies pause. For now, only he knew of the Soul Shattering Claw technique from Zhao Changzhen's memories, and it was likely those who had killed Zhao Changzhen believed the technique to still be hidden somewhere on Bixiao Peak.
Knowing his enemies might try to seize Bixiao Peak at any moment, Lu Chengfeng remained alert, training harder than ever.
One afternoon, after lunch, Lu Chengfeng lay back in a bamboo grove on a reclining chair. Nearby, Luo Suyi, dressed in red, brewed tea, her slender hands moving gracefully. The small red clay stove gurgled, filling the air with the aroma of freshly brewed tea.
With the beautiful Luo Suyi by his side, the scent of tea and her fragrance mingling in the air, Lu Chengfeng felt a fleeting sense of tranquility, momentarily forgetting his concerns.
But this peace was short-lived. Soon, an angry shout echoed from the foot of the mountain.
"Lu Chengfeng! Get out here! I've returned!"
Xue Dulong's gruff, threatening voice reverberated through the mountains, revealing his formidable inner strength.
Hearing Xue Dulong's voice, Luo Suyi paled, her hand trembling as she spilled hot tea.
Lu Chengfeng waved his sleeve, blocking the splashed tea, and deftly caught the teacup she nearly dropped.
"Suyi, don't worry. I'm here," he reassured her, setting the teacup back on the table. Then, gently patting her hand, he added with a lighthearted smile, "This man is no more than a mere nuisance to me. I can dispatch him with a flick of my sword."
"You stay here and wait. I'll be right back." Lu Chengfeng stood, grasped his sword, and strode out confidently.
Just as he was about to vanish from sight, Luo Suyi quickly stood up, her voice tinged with worry. "Husband, please be careful. Come back safely."
"I'll be back soon. Wait here for me, alright?"
Smiling at her, Lu Chengfeng activated his internal energy, speeding down the mountain as swiftly as a nimble ape.
In no time, he spotted Xue Dulong leading a group of disciples who had forced their way onto Bixiao Peak. Two of Bixiao Peak's sentries were struggling to hold them back.
"Xue Dulong, you slunk away in shame last time. Have you already forgotten your lesson?" Lu Chengfeng taunted.
Xue Dulong's face twisted into a cruel smile. "You think your words can faze me? Take a look at this!"
He raised a black iron token in his left hand, inscribed with two large characters: "Elder."
Lu Chengfeng narrowed his eyes. He knew that on the reverse side, the token would read "Outer Peak Elder."
After passing the elder assessment, the sect conducted a rigorous investigation into the disciple's background. Once cleared, the disciple received their elder's token. Clearly, Xue Dulong had been officially recognized as an outer peak elder.
"Lu Chengfeng, outer peak elders have the right to claim any unclaimed peak. Since Bixiao Peak currently lacks an elder, according to sect rules, this peak is now mine," Xue Dulong declared, his laughter loud and arrogant. His towering frame moved closer, stopping just inches from Lu Chengfeng, looking down at him with contempt.
"Lu Chengfeng, as a Bixiao Peak disciple, shouldn't you kneel before the peak's new elder?"
The gathered Bixiao Peak disciples turned pale at his words. Su Wanning and Li Mo's faces grew stormy.
Su Wanning, a noblewoman by birth, managed to keep her composure through years of experience. However, Li Mo, young and fiery, regarded Bixiao Peak as his home and couldn't contain his anger. With a loud clang, he drew his sword.
"Xue Dulong, you'll have to step over my dead body to take Bixiao Peak!"
"You're nothing. What gives you the right to speak to an elder like me?" Xue Dulong sneered at Lu Chengfeng, ignoring Li Mo. "Of course, there's an alternative if you'd rather not hand over the peak."
"Let that new bride of yours spend the night with me. If she serves me well, I might reconsider letting you keep this peak."
"Hahaha!"
Xue Dulong burst into a mocking laugh, and his followers jeered along with him.
"Death before dishonor! Xue Dulong, you go too far!" Even Su Wanning couldn't hold
back, her hand gripping her sword as she rebuked him with fierce indignation.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein