Chapter Seventy-Eight: Such a Scheme

Wang Yuanfeng was able to discern the situation inside because he was quite skilled in the art of observing qi. Though this technique was a minor one, simple and easy to learn—even ordinary people with no cultivation could grasp the basics after a month or two of practice—mastery required considerable effort and dedication. Wang Yuanfeng had never deliberately cultivated this skill; instead, he collected a strand of purple qi from the east each day with his eyes, meditated facing the morning sun, and, through years of persistence, it naturally became an innate ability. After all, the cultivation of observing qi begins with gazing at this eastern purple qi.

He had just inadvertently glanced at the aura of this place. The house occupied some of the earth’s veins, but they weren’t solidified—likely newly built, without any established wards around. If not for the three currents of fortune swirling above, Wang Yuanfeng would not have sensed any traces of cultivators. Overhead, two ethereal streams of qi stood in the air, exuding a hint of demonic energy, seemingly restrained yet still leaking out. Most conspicuous was a towering, mountain-like mass of qi, forming a canopy above, a shape familiar to him: it belonged to An Youyu of Yin Hua County, but now it was significantly larger than when he first saw it, its aura connected to the Blade and Axe Mountain.

He thought to himself that this was clearly a sign of someone occupying the dragon vein of Blade and Axe Mountain—there was no other explanation.

The group watched the small cottage in the distance, but likely couldn’t glean much.

“My concealment skills are a bit better. I’ll go look around, and collect some items from the roe spirit. You two keep an eye on the surroundings,” Wang Yuanfeng said, realizing that waiting wasn’t a solution.

“Isn’t it dangerous?” Erqing, though aware that waiting was fruitless, didn’t want Wang Yuanfeng to risk himself.

“See if you can detect my presence,” Wang Yuanfeng replied. He circulated his vital energy, withdrew all traces of his aura, entered the fetal breath, and his mind became clear and empty.

Erqing and Xiaoqing tried to sense him, but could not perceive Wang Yuanfeng’s existence at all. When they opened their eyes, they felt something strange: he was indeed standing there, yet they instinctively overlooked him, as if he were a natural part of the mountain stone.

Both were amazed by Wang Yuanfeng, who ignored their surprise and, in this state, slowly approached the straw cottage.

When the pair came to their senses, they exchanged astonished glances, deeply impressed by Wang Yuanfeng’s command over himself.

Cultivators all know how to conceal their aura—it’s a matter of self-control. If one can fully control every strand of qi, only those who have reached the golden core and become earth immortals can truly unite their essence without any leakage.

Though Wang Yuanfeng had suppressed all his aura, he remained aware of his surroundings, and the expressions of the two behind him were imprinted clearly in his mind.

He understood the reason: they were astonished by his self-mastery.

Cultivation is simple yet difficult; ultimately, it is about wresting control of one’s body from heaven itself.

Nature creates and destroys; such is the principle of the Dao.

Heaven and earth give birth to and extinguish all things. Many matters are dictated by fate, not by human will. Cultivators strive, from consciousness to body, for complete mastery over themselves, evolving their life so that their destiny is their own, not heaven’s.

Yet this defies the natural laws of creation and destruction, hence the saying “acting against heaven.”

But it’s not enough to shout about defying heaven or lament fate’s injustice. Anyone who achieves something starts with self-improvement and self-perfection.

Wang Yuanfeng had no shortcut on this path, but this time, his aura concealment was somewhat a cheat: he channeled all his energy through his sword into the celestial sphere.

The celestial sphere could monitor and guide aura, so Wang Yuanfeng used it to facilitate internal circulation. As a miniature replica of the cosmos, it could easily control a person’s qi.

He crept near the small courtyard, suddenly catching a whiff of musk, but this scent carried a transcendent quality, instantly calming his mind.

“Supreme musk!” He recognized the aroma from ancient records—it was a rarity, encountered once in a century. Incense made from this musk could not only steady the spirit but also prevent deviation during cultivation; yet unrefined, it was a bewitching fragrance, causing anyone who inhaled it to lose their wits.

He wisely stopped advancing, found a hidden spot, and secretly observed with his spiritual sense.

“As expected, the roe spirit intends to sacrifice his daughter,” Wang Yuanfeng thought as he watched.

Inside the cottage, An Youyu, who had been rescued by Flower Girl and Aunt Zhang, had awakened.

Flower Girl blushed as she cleaned An Youyu’s wounds, while he gazed at her with amorous eyes, frequently sniffing the air.

“What is this scent? It’s so pleasant—where did you get it?” From the moment Flower Girl approached, An Youyu was enveloped in a fragrance so soothing it made him feel liberated and at ease.

Flower Girl watched An Youyu, who seemed almost ready to devour her, and felt uneasy. If her father hadn’t told her An Youyu was his savior, she wouldn’t bother with him. But remembering her father’s words—that his arch-enemy was a blue serpent in the mountain—she suppressed her thoughts and said, “Young master, this is my own body’s fragrance.”

Upon hearing this, An Youyu felt his heart melt; his gaze toward Flower Girl changed.

He grabbed her hand and said, “May I ask if you are betrothed?”

“I am not yet promised to anyone. Please, young master, respect yourself,” she replied, withdrawing her hand.

An Youyu sat up and said, “Then I could send someone to propose.”

“I too care for you, but my mother’s great vengeance is unavenged. My father is still searching for justice. I wish to wait until the debt is settled before we can be together,” Flower Girl said sadly.

“Who wronged you? I could help,” said An Youyu, his brow feverish, his mind fixed on marrying her, as if bewitched.

Flower Girl, hearing this, knew he was entranced. Though it felt inappropriate, for her mother’s sake, she had to endure, and said, “It was the blue serpent spirit in the cave. If you help us avenge this, I will give myself to you.”

“Does the serpent have any weaknesses?” An Youyu cared little for its nature, intent only on marrying her soon.

“Young master, your fortune is unrivaled. If you stand at the cave entrance, the serpent’s power will wane, and even ordinary swords can wound it,” Flower Girl repeated what her father had told her.

An Youyu, not doubting, said, “Very well, I will return home to prepare. Wait for me.”

While Flower Girl and An Youyu were deepening their bond inside, Aunt Zhang, spying from outside, nodded with a smile, took a thumb-sized short tube from the door crack, and went to another room.

“Bewitching incense?” Wang Yuanfeng recognized its shape; it was the kind used by flower thieves, revealing the roe spirit’s intentions.

Yet An Youyu was a wealthy young master, accustomed to women—shouldn’t he have better composure?

Large families often train their heirs’ willpower by exposing them to many women, so they develop resistance to beauty and don’t lose their heads or squander their fortunes for women.

Many assume that resisting temptation means not being moved, but the real reason is familiarity; those who haven’t grasped its meaning bind themselves with shackles, appearing upright but ultimately dulling their emotional intelligence, to their detriment.

It seemed An Youyu was one such moralist. He could have maintained his decorum, but after inhaling the supreme musk and relaxing his mind, his true nature surfaced.

Initially puzzled, Wang Yuanfeng realized the issue after seeing Aunt Zhang’s short tube.

“So Flower Girl isn’t completely unaware, but she’s been bought by her father; her aunt knows too, but An Youyu has been drawn in, likely because they covet his fortune,” Wang Yuanfeng mused.

Flower Girl used magic on An Youyu, Aunt Zhang used bewitching incense on Flower Girl; none of this was possible without Zhang Xiangzi’s manipulation behind the scenes.

This also showed Zhang Xiangzi understood Flower Girl well—her kindness would never cause harm without reason.

But even the kindest person, given the right motive, would kill if necessary.

Before long, An Youyu left in haste, likely to prepare.

Watching all this, Wang Yuanfeng felt that when someone reached extremes, anything was possible. While Flower Girl and Aunt Zhang discussed matters inside, he quietly slipped in, found several items bearing Zhang Xiangzi’s aura, and then departed just as stealthily.

“How did it go?” Xiaoqing asked as Wang Yuanfeng returned. He’d been gone a long while, with no sign, and had ventured into the roe spirit’s lair, causing her some anxiety.

“Any news?” Erqing, though steady in temperament, had been ready to rescue Wang Yuanfeng at any moment, her hands still tinged with residual magical energy.

Wang Yuanfeng saw their genuine concern, though unspoken, and was moved.

Both were upright and loyal; he was certain that working with them would be right.

“As we guessed, they’ve already drawn An Youyu in; they’ll act soon,” he summarized for them, “An Youyu is the one occupying the dragon vein of Blade and Axe Mountain. If he acts, he’ll naturally suppress all demon folk born of the mountain.”

“What should we do? We can avoid it, but we can’t let the serpent cave be harmed,” Xiaoqing worried. Fortunately, they now knew the roe spirit’s plot and could avoid disaster, but the cave was home to her and her siblings.