C19 A Roadblock

After the competition, there was a noticeable shift within the sect. Disciples would show Han Zong the same level of respect as they would the sect master. As for Han Fei, they were visibly intimidated, avoiding eye contact and quickly steering clear of his presence—not out of disdain, but out of sheer fear.

Han Fei had become the talk of the sect. His strength was the subject of much speculation, as the sect master himself had refrained from confronting him on the day of the competition. This suggested that Han Fei's influence had grown to a level where even the sect master was cautious about engaging with him.

Although Han Fei claimed to be at the ninth level of the Spiritvein, the sect master was at the second tier of the Vital Spirit state. The fact that he chose silence over challenging someone with the strength of a ninth-level Spiritvein indicated that their powers were likely evenly matched.

"Do you really intend to go? Please don't—it's far too risky. Everyone says that Senior Brother Han Fei is a homicidal maniac!" Han Zhen was unable to dissuade Han Qingyue, who had somehow caught wind of Han Fei's rumored clandestine training in a supreme divine technique.

Driven by her innate curiosity and stubbornness, Han Qingyue was determined to visit the Purple Bamboo Courtyard to see for herself.

Even after the competition, Han Fei continued his regimen of fortifying his will with Pulse Essence Powder daily. Having exhausted his supply for the month, he would not need it for some time.

He had not lingered long at the ninth level of the Spiritvein Stage before leveraging the Heart Sutra from the Emperor's Codex to advance to the Body Refining Stage. Now, with a vision of a Heavenly Palace before him, he knew he could take his time with the next steps of his journey.

"Shhh, keep it down!" Han Qingyue and Han Zhen crouched behind the bamboo, stealthily observing Han Fei's room. They saw him sitting silently on his bed, seemingly deep in meditation.

Han Fei, absorbed in his practice, was nonetheless aware of the presence outside. His heightened senses told him that the onlookers were not formidable adversaries but rather fellow disciples from the sect, specifically from the Han and Water Vein meridians—the latter also known as the Ice Vein meridian.

The aura emanating from the Ice Meridian was notably strong. Such meridians were rare within the sect, and it was likely that anyone at this level of mastery was the sect master's daughter, Han Qingyue.

One didn't need to see with their eyes to identify her presence; this was a power of perception usually reserved for those above the Vital Spirit Stage. Only a select few could achieve it during the Body Refining Stage or even at the Spiritvein Stage.

Yet, Han Fei was no ordinary individual. Blessed with the Emperor's Codex, he was capable of such feats.

"What's he doing? Practicing some kind of divine skill?" Han Qingyue asked, puzzled and furrowing her brow.

"How would I know if you don't? Besides, aren't we risking our necks by snooping around here? What if we're caught and killed to keep us quiet?" Han Zhen whispered, her concern evident as she kept a vigilant eye on Han Fei, ready to flee at the first sign of detection.

"What are you up to?" Han Zhen noticed that Han Qingyue wasn't intently spying but was instead etching something into the bamboo. "Leaving a message, in case we're silenced. If someone finds it, they can inform my father and seek vengeance for us." Han Zhen was taken aback by Han Qingyue's wild imagination. To think of such a thing at a time like this! She dismissed Han Qingyue's carvings and refocused on Han Fei through the window. But suddenly, Han Fei was nowhere to be seen. Where had he gone?

Han Zhen scanned the room and the visible area outside the window but found no trace of Han Fei. It was inconceivable that he could vanish from her sight. Even if he had left, she should have caught a glimpse of him.

"What's going on? I'm nearly finished here," Han Qingyue said without looking up, concentrating on completing the final touches on her bamboo carving before turning to face Han Zhen.

Seeing Han Zhen's stunned expression, staring at the window as if she had uncovered some unspeakable secret, Han Qingyue followed her gaze. Yet, there was no sign of Han Fei on the bed.

"Where did he go?"

"I wish I knew," Han Zhen replied, exchanging a worried glance with Han Qingyue. Both felt an ominous sense of foreboding.

In the bamboo forest, they both sensed a presence behind them. Despite the forest's shade, the slanting sunlight still cast an additional shadow—clearly, there was another person there!

"What are you two up to?" Han Fei's voice, tinged with curiosity, rang out beside them, startling them so much they nearly jumped out of their skins. "Ah!!!" They screamed in terror and bolted in opposite directions—one darted into the courtyard, and the other fled outside.

Han Fei was taken aback by their bizarre reaction, and before he could call out to them, they had vanished. Who was spying on whom?

Inside the courtyard, Han Zong heard a woman's scream and hurried to the backyard to investigate. He stumbled upon Han Qingyue, who was running about in a frenzy. As soon as she saw Han Zong, she clung to him for protection.

Han Zong was bewildered. What was Han Qingyue, the Sect Master's daughter, doing in the Purple Bamboo Courtyard? And what had caused her to scream?

"Fei, what's going on?" Han Zong inquired, looking at Han Fei who had just appeared. He glanced at Han Qingyue, who had been using him as a human shield. "Uncle, help me! Han Fei wants to kill me. He's trying to silence me."

Han Zong was taken aback by Han Qingyue's claim and turned his gaze to Han Fei.

Han Fei simply shrugged, indicating his own confusion about the situation, and then he walked away from the courtyard, advising, "If it's not important, stay out of the Purple Bamboo Courtyard and keep the noise down."

Han Zong knew his son well. Though he had bested Han Huo, Han Xinyuan, and the Chief Elder, he was no senseless murderer. Clearly, there was a misunderstanding between Han Qingyue and Han Fei.

"Qingyue, what brings you here? What's happened?" Han Zong asked, showing no bias against his niece.

Once Han Fei was out of sight, Han Qingyue cautiously peeked around before stepping out from behind Han Zong. "Where did Han Fei go?" she asked.

"He must have returned to his room by now."

"Why didn't he kill me?" Han Qingyue murmured, puzzled.

"Why would Fei want to kill you?" Han Zong asked, genuinely confused.

"No, Martial Uncle, you've got to hear this. I caught Han Fei sneaking a look at the Emperor's Codex. Then, somehow, he just zipped right behind us..."

Han Zong listened and started to piece things together. He had heard whispers around the sect; there were indeed rumors that Han Fei had mastered some divine technique.

"There's no such divine technique. I was in the room too. Fei'er was simply gathering his spirit because he had just advanced to a new level and was regulating his breath," Han Zong clarified. He reassured Han Qingyue that Han Fei wasn't using any invisibility tricks.

After hearing Han Zong's explanation, Han Qingyue remained somewhat doubtful. She made her way to the front courtyard and peeked at Han Fei from behind the door.

Han Fei, inside, was pouring himself a drink and happened to look up, "Tell me, does your dad know you're here at the Purple Bamboo Courtyard?" he asked, tilting his head back to drink and eyeing Han Qingyue.

Listening to him, Han Qingyue realized that Han Fei didn't seem as frightening up close. Maybe she had indeed misjudged the situation.

"He, he definitely doesn't know," Han Qingyue whispered back. Han Zong approached from behind and commented, "None of the sect's disciples want to come here. You've been labeled a murderous maniac; who would dare visit?"

"Would you like to come in and sit?" Han Zong offered.

"Maybe I won't be able to leave if I do?" Han Qingyue hesitated, about to step forward when Han Fei's unexpected remark stopped her in her tracks, leaving her too scared to move.

"Hey, cut it out," Han Zong chided, dismissing Han Fei's alarming comment. "Don't mind him; come in and have a seat." He reassured Han Qingyue, indicating that he'd support her and give her the confidence to enter.

Upon hearing Han Zong's words, Han Qingyue gained the confidence to stride in boldly and take her place standing behind Han Zong.