Chapter 14: Feng Xizhi

A Solitary Hotpot

The world was vast, snow falling endlessly.

Gu Chi woke to unrelenting snow outside.

Heavy flakes piled nearly to his calves.

The courtyard’s winter plum tree was snow-laden, its pink-red blooms vivid against white.

In the past, on such snowy days, Gu Chi set up a hotpot in the pavilion.

He’d use a secret clear broth, slice three plates of lamb, three of beef.

He’d fetch beef balls he’d made, gather mountain greens.

With Pei Ningxue, they’d sit by the steaming pot, eating, chatting, sipping autumn-brewed osmanthus wine.

Now, alone in the courtyard, he fetched spring water.

He set up the pot by himself.

Pei Ningxue loved spicy red broth; he preferred clear broth for lamb.

That infuriating woman would cook lamb in the spicy pot, then rinse it in his clear broth, complaining it was too hot.

Gu Chi always wanted to tap her head with chopsticks.

Now, the pot steamed.

He sliced leftover beef thinly, added stored vegetables—winter melon, mushrooms, tender lettuce.

Seated at the table, he prepared two broths: spicy and clear.

He tasted both—flavors fine.

Sweat beaded on his forehead from the heat.

He ate all the ingredients.

Normally, Pei Ningxue washed dishes.

She’d dodge with coquetry, rubbing her soft feet on his waist, eyes pleading sweetly.

He’d relent, unable to resist.

Now, he washed the pot slowly, stored it in his ring, and returned to pack.

Pei Ningxue’s Departure

“Been a while since such heavy snow.”

Pei Ningxue leaned on the spirit boat’s deck, gazing at the white expanse.

The black-robed woman stood behind, calm.

“Eastern Domain sees snow often; Southern Domain, rarely.”

“I prefer Eastern Domain.”

Pei Ningxue turned to her.

“When your plans are done, I want to return.”

“What’s wrong with staying in Southern Domain?”

“It’s fine, but my husband’s not there.”

“You’re not bound, yet call him husband?”

“We’ve shared intimacy—how’s that not a husband?”

The woman paused.

“You shouldn’t have.”

“It’s my choice.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You’re parting, maybe for decades, even a century.”

“Why give up your purity?”

“I want him to live.”

Pei Ningxue looked up.

“You don’t know him—he cares little for life or death.”

“But with a reason, he might live longer.”

“I want to be his reason.”

She sat, resting on the table, watching drifting snow.

“Besides, his charm attracts too many.”

“If I didn’t bind him with my body, what if another woman steals him?”

Her lips curved into a smile.

Journey to the Secret Realm

On his flying sword, Gu Chi headed to Eastern Domain’s southwest corner.

He’d packed his belongings.

A secret realm there would open soon—ten spirit stones for three days’ exploration.

At Lingyun Pavilion, he’d used their network to leave a message for Fire Phoenix Sect’s holy daughter.

They’d meet in the realm; she’d pay the remaining five hundred high-grade spirit stones owed.

His sword was plain iron—good ones too costly.

Suppressing his Demon Dragon Gu drained his stones.

Instead of a fine sword, he practiced stolen air-sword techniques.

Air swords, formed of spiritual energy, consumed much.

Luckily, his reserves surpassed most Core Formation cultivators.

Snow cloaked the mountains below.

Bored, he opened Pei Ningxue’s play script.

Packing, he’d overthought, but now clarity came.

Her sadness faded.

Her move to Southern Domain meant better cultivation, a half-step ninth-realm protector.

A good thing.

No need to worry for her—he’d care for himself.

Her three years of companionship were a gift in his bleak life.

He wasn’t sure if this was heartlessness.

Years of the gu gnawing his heart in grief or anger taught him to expect nothing.

No expectations, no disappointments—his heart grew cold as iron.

Three hours into flight, he rested at a mountain’s base.

He absorbed spirit stones to replenish energy, then did his system’s daily draw.

Summoning the system panel, he froze.

Before, it showed only when called—a small screen with a draw button, prizes sent to his system inventory.

Now, a new interface appeared.

[Pei Ningxue Background: Southern Domain Pei royal princess Age: Twenty Cultivation: Late Core Formation Overall Rating: S Progress: Complete]

Reward: Pei royal bloodline, supreme wood spirit root. Sent to system inventory, please check.

He stared, motionless, for seconds.

It took time to process.

For twenty years, his strange system lay dormant.

Without the daily draw’s real rewards, he’d think it a delusion from crossing over.

Now, it activated inexplicably.

No matter how he tried, it wouldn’t respond.

But the supreme wood spirit root and Pei royal bloodline were real in his inventory.

He retrieved them—not physical roots or blood, but two glowing orbs, nearly identical, with descriptions.

[Supreme Wood Spirit Root: Grants supreme wood spirit root upon use. Crush to activate, irreversible.] [Pei Royal Bloodline: Grants Pei royal bloodline. Post-seventh realm, unlocks Pei’s Void-Treading Divine Art. Irreversible.]

If he recalled, Pei Ningxue had an innate supreme wood spirit root.

Stunned, he crushed the wood spirit root orb.

It dissolved into sparkling lights, merging into him.

His spirit root shifted subtly.

Three breaths later, he introspected.

His once water-blue root now wove azure and blue.

So easy, he doubted it real.

Raising his hands, he summoned two cyclones—one azure, one blue.

Then, he crushed the bloodline orb.

A breath later, his blood gained flecks of gold.

He recalled Pei Ningxue’s golden eyes when activating her royal blood.

Grabbing a mirror, he tried the same.

His eyes glowed brilliant gold.

Did he now share her blood?

The thought struck him.

He studied the system panel, but found no way to interact.

Just Pei Ningxue’s profile card.

The only change: their night of passion.

This system seemed less than proper.

But quite nice.

With that, he completed the daily draw—a qi-gathering pill, mere candy.

Hiding the panel, he felt little joy.

Her departure dulled his sorrow; this surprise sparked no thrill.

He ate some jerky, drank water, waited for his energy to restore, then resumed flying.

Arrival at Fallen Phoenix Valley

Three days later.

Eastern Domain, southwest, Fallen Phoenix Valley.

The valley belonged to Heavenly Action Sect.

Its secret realm, Heavenly Action Secret Realm, opened yearly for exploration.

The sect controlled it, charging entry.

Gu Chi paid, verified he wasn’t a listed demonic cultivator, and gained entry.

The realm’s teleportation tunnel, in a barren mountain, would open in three hours.

He chose a tree, sat beneath, and waited.

Dozens of rogue cultivators and over a hundred sect disciples waited too.

The realm suited those below early fourth realm—neither vast nor highly dangerous.

Soon, a dazzling red light flashed.

A luxurious spirit boat, encased in warm red jade, landed.

Stunningly beautiful.

Gu Chi glanced, knowing who arrived.

Fire Phoenix Sect’s holy daughter, Feng Xizhi’s exclusive boat.

She stored it in a specialized ring.

A petite girl in a red phoenix-tail skirt appeared on the grass.

Petite was an understatement.

Feng Xizhi, nineteen, hadn’t grown since thirteen.

Whether from cultivation mishap or accident, her body remained a young girl’s.

Fire Phoenix Sect carried ancient phoenix blood.

Her rose-red eyes were striking.

Black hair fell over her shoulders.

Her layered skirt, like rose petals, was custom-made.

No standard adult dress would fit her childlike frame.

Barely over four feet, she wore gold, open-toe high heels, nearly eight centimeters.

Impractical for sword fights—she’d be at a disadvantage.

Yet, they made her fair calves more slender, alluring.

Landing, her vivid red eyes scanned everyone.

She’d arranged to meet Qingmian here.

To this day, she’d never seen Qingmian’s face beneath the mask.