As dusk settled, Nie Kong emerged from the Ice Flame Cave, feeling invigorated in both body and spirit.
The memory of Nie Qing'an’s stunned expression upon hearing of his latest cultivation breakthrough brought an irrepressible smile to Nie Kong’s lips. He was currently at "Spirit Channeling Fifth Grade," yet externally, he could only announce "Spirit Channeling Third Grade." Unluckily for him, Nie Qing'an served as the messenger between Nie Kong and everyone else.
Nie Kong paid little mind to the two-grade discrepancy between his publicized and actual cultivation. In the grander realms, advancement slowed considerably, and he estimated it would only take two or three months to level the gap, at which point he wouldn't have to worry about his facade crumbling.
Returning to the courtyard, Nie Kong’s heart lurched. It was late, yet not a single light shone from the building within.
Had something happened to Hua Mei?
Nie Kong’s heart felt as if it had been violently squeezed. Utilizing the "Flying Flower Shadow Stream" footwork, he dashed into Hua Mei’s bedchamber in an instant. A single sweep of his gaze spotted her figure slumped over the desk by the window. Relief washed over him, and he quickly lit the candles in the room.
The candlelight glittered, illuminating the room brightly. Nie Kong approached the desk and saw Hua Mei asleep, her head resting on her arm. A lovely flush of crimson bloomed across her fair cheek, and her elegant eyelashes occasionally fluttered slightly. In this still repose, she radiated a breathtaking beauty.
“This little girl!”
A spontaneous wave of tenderness arose in Nie Kong’s heart. Fortunately, the heater in the room was still emitting warmth; otherwise, sleeping like this, she would surely fall ill from the cold. However, remembering how he had just addressed Hua Mei, Nie Kong couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. In this world, he was now nineteen, and Hua Mei was twenty. If she heard him call her a "little girl," her eyes would surely bulge wide with shock.
Picturing Hua Mei’s wide-eyed surprise, Nie Kong could not suppress his amusement. He raised a hand, gently patted Hua Mei’s shoulder, and whispered softly, “Sister-in-law, sister-in-law…”
Her eyelashes trembled, and Hua Mei awoke. She straightened her delicate frame, rubbing her eyes with a dazed expression.
“Ah!”
Upon seeing Nie Kong’s face, Hua Mei’s consciousness instantly sharpened. She glanced around quickly, cried out in surprise, and stood up. “Uncle, it’s already dark?” As she spoke, the strange dream she had just been having surfaced in her mind. In the dream, she had bizarrely transformed into a flower—a stunning flower whose petals were as translucent as red jade, and the bloom itself resembled a butterfly with wings unfurled in flight.
Strangely, recalling that flower gave Hua Mei a profound sense of familiarity, which puzzled her and caused her thoughts to drift into a trance.
Seeing Hua Mei lost in thought, Nie Kong couldn't help but speak, “Sister-in-law, what is wrong?”
Hua Mei’s attention was yanked back to reality by Nie Kong. Feeling the concern in his gaze, her delicate features warmed slightly, and she quickly explained, “Uncle, I’m fine. I just had a very strange dream, and I’m still a bit hazy, but it’s alright. I’ll be better in a moment.”
“Are you really fine?” Nie Kong was relieved. He could see that what Hua Mei had just said was likely the truth, and she was hiding nothing from him.
“It’s truly nothing. Uncle, I’ll go prepare dinner now.”
“…”
…
Deep in the night, north of Jiyang City, at the Cheng Family Estate.
Cheng Feiliu and Cheng Feihong sat quietly in the main hall. Outside, security was tight; figures of Spirit Master guards were visible everywhere.
As for that "Fire Tree Silver Flower," Cheng Feiliu had already transferred it to the secret chamber beneath the hall, guarded by the brothers Cheng Zixuan and Cheng Zirong.
“Who goes there?”
Suddenly, a guard’s sharp shout echoed from outside the hall.
Immediately following, sounds of spiritual energy colliding—pili-pala—and groans of heavy bodies hitting the ground erupted, punctuated by the angry shouts of the guards.
Inside the hall, Cheng Feiliu and Cheng Feihong remained seated and motionless, as if they had not heard the fierce commotion outside, which could wake even a dead pig.
“Ohohohoho…”
After a minute or two, a strange cackle suddenly reverberated, seemingly moving east, then west, then south, then north, elusive and hard to pinpoint.
“Trying to lure the tiger away from its mountain? Such trivial tricks, daring to come and make a fool of yourself!” Cheng Feihong opened his eyes, a cold smile touching his thin face.
“Indeed, you have eyes like a torch and see through everything. I am truly impressed! Deeply impressed!” The laughter vanished, replaced by a low, deferential compliment, the voice deliberately muffled. Then, another wave of intense fighting sounded, suggesting the shadowy intruder had finally been located by the guards.
“Hmph!”
Cheng Feihong closed his eyes once more.
The sound persisted for a while before finally fading. Judging by the noises outside, one could vaguely surmise that the intruder had managed to retreat intact, having left the estate.
“Heh!”
It was unclear how much time passed before a sinister cold laugh sounded outside the hall.
Cheng Feiliu’s eyelids flicked open, and two strange, faint red wisps of light shot from his eyes. He then clutched at the air with both hands, and two fire dragons, several meters long, materialized. Instantly, the great hall felt transformed into a massive furnace, its scorching aura rapidly spreading.
“Roar! Roar!”
As if two high-pitched dragon cries shot forth between heaven and earth, the two fire dragons intertwined and lunged straight toward the hall’s ceiling. With a loud crash, the beams shattered, tiles flew off, and the entire roof of the hall was lifted away. The fire dragons exploded in a brilliant crimson light, bathing the entire estate as brightly as day.
“Heh!”
Amidst an unprepared yelp, a black shadow plummeted from above the roof into the courtyard outside the hall—a wizened, short, and thin old man.
“Skillful technique; this old man has seen it,” the old man sneered, ignoring the guards who were rapidly closing in. With a subtle ripple in the air, his entire body instantly melted into it and vanished.
“This person is also a Void Spirit Master. If we had engaged him head-on, the outcome would have been unpredictable,” Cheng Feiliu stated solemnly. “Our Imperial Family keeps records of all experts above the Spirit Tamer level in the Great Success Empire. This person is unfamiliar; he must be from another nation.”
Cheng Feihong nodded slightly, then let out a cold sneer. “Since he has come, he will not retreat easily. Tonight looks like it will be quite lively!”
“…”
“Tonight has indeed been lively!”
Inside the Nie Family’s Concealed Edge Courtyard, the lights shone brightly. After reading the intelligence reports sent back by his clansmen, Nie Qingsong looked across at the Ninth Elder, Nie Xingdong, and smiled, stroking his beard. In just half the night, the Cheng Family had already endured five attacks. Although none had succeeded, Cheng Feiliu and Cheng Feihong must have been hard-pressed.
Nie Xingdong laughed heartily. “Let them make their noise. As long as they don’t involve the innocent families around, our Nie Family doesn't need to intervene.”
Nie Qingsong nodded. “The true masters from the Imperial Family will take at least the day after tomorrow to reach Jiyang City, and that assumes no unexpected delays on the journey. If they are held up for too long, Cheng Feiliu and Cheng Feihong will struggle to hold on and will certainly seek aid from our Nie Family.”
“The fact that they haven't asked for our help today means they fear we might seize the opportunity to strike at the ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower.’ If they come asking tomorrow or the day after, then the price will have to be negotiated carefully. After all, as time passes, more entities will covet the ‘Fire Tree Silver Flower,’ making it more difficult for our Nie Family to manage.”
“…”