Chapter 18: Taking on Two Disciples

The leader of the approaching group was none other than Feng Luan, the very person Fang Zhiyi had been searching for all this time.

It was clear that Feng Luan was genuinely delighted to see her. She hurried forward, her phoenix-like eyes filled with countless unspeakable worries and anxieties. Grasping Fang Zhiyi’s hand, she said, “You’ve finally returned.”

Her eyes reddened as she stared unwaveringly at Fang Zhiyi. “I thought you might…”

Fang Zhiyi gently patted Feng Luan’s hand but her gaze shifted to the woman standing behind her. The woman’s garments were exquisitely made, even finer than Feng Luan’s.

Fang Zhiyi understood immediately that this woman was not from their War God Hall. Recalling what the cultivator had said, she realized this person was here to monitor them.

It seemed that their long absence had led others to believe the War God Hall was an easy target.

As if on cue, the woman, clearly disdainful and impatient, said, “Elder Feng, won’t you introduce me?”

Suspicion was etched deeply across her face.

In a way, Fang Zhiyi was far harsher than Feng Luan; her ruthlessness differed from others’. She was unbound by worldly matters, perhaps because she had been raised like a wild creature rather than nurtured by human society’s basic rules.

As the saying goes, without rules, there is no order.

Lacking a moral compass, she acted solely on her own desires, free from any ethical constraints.

Fang Zhiyi narrowed her eyes and fixed her gaze on the woman’s neck. Gradually, the woman’s hand weakened, her vision blurred, and her breathing grew rapid and shallow, each gasp leaving her face paler.

“You dare…” the woman began.

Fang Zhiyi chuckled coldly. “What wouldn’t I dare?” Pausing briefly, she continued, “You wanted to know who I am, didn’t you?”

“War God Hall, Fang Zhiyi.”

Upon hearing this, the few men who had been about to aid the woman froze in place.

The name Fang Zhiyi was no stranger to them.

She was the legendary War God Hall cultivator who had reached the Divine Transformation stage but had never shown herself. Yet, it was her very presence that had kept the War God Hall intact for so long.

None had expected that just as they were about to act, she would return.

Terror and despair surged through the woman’s heart, but she had no chance for revenge. The next moment, her neck snapped, and her eyes closed forever.

Fang Zhiyi, with a hint of disgust, released her grip. The woman’s body collapsed like tattered cloth.

“Go back and tell your master that if they dare come again, I won’t spare a single one.”

Her words sent a chill through them. They exchanged glances, then cupped their hands, “Elder Fang, rest assured, we will faithfully relay your message to our master.”

They dared not move until Fang Zhiyi gave a slight nod. Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief and depart, taking the woman’s corpse with them.

Feng Luan watched them leave before exhaling deeply. “Zhiyi, I’m so glad you’re back. I didn’t know how things would have turned out today otherwise.”

She then gestured to those behind her. “From now on, they will dare not come again. Everyone, perform your duties.”

“Yes.”

Among them were familiar faces, though all had aged considerably.

After the crowd dispersed, Feng Luan gave Fang Zhiyi a meaningful look. Fang Zhiyi turned to her and said, “Ma Liang, take them to my courtyard.”

“Yes, Master,” Wang Lin replied respectfully, swiftly leading two others away.

Feng Luan escorted Fang Zhiyi to the highest palace of the War God Hall, a place of unparalleled luxury, even grander than when they had been in the Fireburn Kingdom.

Fang Zhiyi frowned slightly. “What’s going on here? This shouldn’t be happening.”

Feng Luan sighed deeply. “When the national lockdown array was broken, fire beasts ran rampant. The Cultivation Alliance came to help. Though the fire beasts were trapped in the Fireburn Kingdom, it’s no longer a place suitable for cultivators.”

Fang Zhiyi’s brow furrowed further. “Is the current state of the War God Hall because of me?”

Feng Luan looked at her, silent for a moment before shaking her head. “Their ambitions are too great. Even if you were here, it would only be a matter of time before they acted.”

Fang Zhiyi knew Feng Luan was merely trying to comfort her.

Divine Transformation cultivators were not like the trees in a forest.

Deep down, Fang Zhiyi knew that if she were present, things would not have come to this. She understood the War God Hall was Feng Luan’s labor of love.

Grasping Feng Luan’s hand, she gently patted it. “Feng Luan, rest assured, I will defend the War God Hall.”

Her voice was filled with determination.

Feng Luan’s eyes glistened with moisture. “Thank you, Zhiyi.”

Fang Zhiyi shook her head. “The War God Hall gave me a place to belong back then. This is what I must do. Don’t think too much of it.”

Feng Luan nodded. They had known each other for many years; some things could be understood with a single glance.

…

Fang Zhiyi sat upon the high seat.

The great hall remained as it was when she left. Her heart ached with bittersweet emotion, wondering just how much pressure Feng Luan had withstood all these years to keep this place preserved for her.

Everything inside still came from the Fireburn Kingdom, packed up by Wang Lin before disaster struck.

It seemed nothing had changed, yet everything felt different.

Wang Lin stood beside her, serving tea, his demeanor that of a humble maid.

Beneath the high seat stood Li Muwan and Jiang Ziqi.

Jiang Ziqi glanced at Wang Lin’s obsequious behavior and curled his lips slightly.

Fang Zhiyi spoke slowly, “Are you willing to accept me as your master?”

Before Li Muwan and Jiang Ziqi could respond, the tea cup in Wang Lin’s hand slipped to the floor.

His gaze was dark and unfathomable as he silently crouched to gather the shattered pieces.

Fang Zhiyi said nothing further, her eyes coolly fixed on Wang Lin.

Sensing the awkwardness, Jiang Ziqi quickly spoke, “Broken pieces bring peace, broken pieces bring peace.”

Fang Zhiyi ignored Wang Lin and turned her calm gaze to Li Muwan and Jiang Ziqi.

Women were generally more perceptive than men, and Li Muwan soon grasped Fang Zhiyi’s meaning.

Her eyes moistened as she bowed her head. “Elder Fang, I am willing. Before coming here, I heard that our Luohe Sect had been swallowed by other sects. I worried I would have nowhere to go. I must thank you, Master, for giving me a place to belong.”

Fang Zhiyi’s heart stirred. She was usually not good with people; her interactions mostly involved fighting and killing, not this kind of thing.

Jiang Ziqi, fearing he might be too slow, hurriedly added, “Today, Jiang Ziqi considers it his greatest blessing to be able to apprentice under you.”