Jiang Qi was awakened by spit landing on her face.
Still disoriented as she came back to her senses, she lay on a couch reeking of face powder, staring blankly at the red gauze canopy above.
A dozen or so male courtesans in sheer robes were crouched against the wall like a flock of quails, trembling uncontrollably.
Jiang Qi blinked, not understanding what was happening, when a thunderous roar came from above.
“Li Yan! You stole my daughter for eighteen years, today is the day we reunite as father and daughter!”
She looked up through the collapsed roof. Against the azure sky, two figures, one in black, one in white, stood facing each other on the roof beams.
The white-robed cultivator who had just spoken was her biological father, the Immortal Sect Master Ren Chunqiu.
The man in black opposite him was her adoptive father, the Demon Cult Master Li Yan.
What was going on?
Weren’t these two supposed to have died long ago?
The one who killed them was none other than the Immortal Sect’s pride, Senior Brother Ji Changzhen, also the Demon Cult Master’s own son.
Remembering how Ji Changzhen chopped off heads like slicing watermelons, Jiang Qi felt a phantom ache in her neck. She couldn’t help but touch it.
Completely intact. Not chopped off.
Had she been reborn?
The shouting pulled Jiang Qi’s thoughts back.
“Pah! When I found the girl in that poor alley, she was as skinny as a sick kitten. If I hadn’t raised her with my own hands, she’d have died long ago!
You didn’t give a damn for over a decade, and now that she’s hale and hearty, you want to take her back? Not a chance!”
The words were fierce enough, if only they weren’t choked with sobs.
Jiang Qi’s head ached. Her adoptive father always cried when he got emotional.
Yes, a man several hundred years old, and he cried easily.
That was why, when managing his subordinates, Li Yan always wore a ferocious green-faced, fang-toothed mask to maintain his authority.
Today, clearly, things had happened so suddenly that he’d rushed over without time to grab it.
Tears fell through the carved openings of the roof beam, splattering onto the floor and washing away the face powder. Jiang Qi stepped through this curtain of rain, intending to ask the courtesans what was going on.
Seeing Jiang Qi awake, the courtesans scrambled over as if she were their savior, crawling on all fours, clinging to her legs and sobbing.
“Miss, you’re finally awake! Please say something, or the two sect masters will tear down our South Wind Pavilion!”
“Since this is your first visit, you wouldn’t know, times are hard, and we couldn’t support ourselves, so we had no choice but to come to South Wind Pavilion.”
“If South Wind Pavilion is destroyed, we’ll truly have nowhere to go… We’ll do whatever you want, as long as you make them stop.”
Jiang Qi watched the courtesans weep prettily, casting seductive glances at her, and finally realized fully: she really had been reborn.
Back to the day she was taken away to the Immortal Sect.
Except her adoptive father was crying on the roof beam above, and the pretty boys below were crying too, the noise giving her a splitting headache.
She rubbed her brow and snapped irritably, “Shut up.”
The courtesans cut off mid-sob, only their shoulders heaving up and down.
During this brief interlude, the two men on the beam had moved from trading insults to the next stage, fighting.
The Immortal father summoned his precious sword, and the Demon father called forth his magic artifact.
White light clashed with red light as their spells flashed like lightning, dazzling to behold.
Seeing this, the courtesans clung even tighter to Jiang Qi’s legs.
Several people hung from each of her legs, weighing her down terribly. She was about to yell at them to stop when she heard a ceaseless stream of commentary from the corner.
“Quick as lightning! Ren Chunqiu’s sword grazed Li Yan’s cheek, then curved around to stab at his back! Li Yan used his inner spiritual energy to form a shield, blocking the attack, then spun and sent a blast of spiritual energy straight at Ren Chunqiu’s face…”
Wait, since when did fights come with commentary?
Jiang Qi followed the sound. In the corner, a courtesan was staring up at the beam, describing the battle with great enthusiasm.
The men of South Wind Pavilion were known for their delicate beauty, but this one was built sturdy, with only a hint of allure at the corners of his eyes.
Perhaps sensing Jiang Qi’s gaze, the courtesan shot her a flirtatious look amid his commentary, with a hint of shyness: “This one did study some cultivation techniques, but unfortunately I botched it, can never be a real man now, which is why I came to South Wind Pavilion.”
“…Was your technique even legitimate?”
“It was the famous Sunflower Manual! I just couldn’t bear the pain back then, so I didn’t finish the cut…”
The courtesan looked dejected for a moment, then quickly perked up and returned his full attention to the battle above.
Jiang Qi didn’t rush to stop her two fathers from fighting.
Having just been reborn, and at the critical juncture of choosing where to go, she still didn’t know what to do.
The two exchanged move after move, their techniques were fast, but the spiritual energy contained in them wasn’t much. Even if they actually landed, it would probably feel like being tickled. She decided to think things through first.
“Whoa, truly worthy of two sect masters! It’s been ages since I’ve seen such dense spiritual energy!”
Hearing the courtesan’s narration, Jiang Qi was taken aback: “Where’s the spiritual energy dense?”
“Is that not enough?” the attendant exclaimed in admiration. “Look at this spiritual energy, it envelops both of them, forming a defensive barrier! And even with that, they can still channel spiritual energy to spar! Only with the profound spiritual reserves of two Dao Masters could this be possible!”
Jiang Qi squinted and looked. Indeed, a thin layer of spiritual energy clung to both figures, looking as flimsy as paper.
In her past life, she had been an idle good-for-nothing, finding cultivation utterly boring. After returning to the Immortal Sect, she barely reached the Qi Refining stage before giving up.
Fortunately, her father in the Immortal Sect doted on her and said nothing, merely stuffing her with pills to prolong life and stave off aging.
Now, listening to the attendant’s explanation, Jiang Qi worried her shallow cultivation might lead her astray, and hesitated: “You mean that shield as thin as paper?”
“Exactly! Don’t underestimate its thinness! How many people in this world can’t even summon a shield the size of a palm!”
What? She could already do that in her past life without even trying.
You’re saying that what I picked up casually is the pinnacle of this world?
Jiang Qi grew excited.
This changed everything, she’d return to the Immortal Sect and confront that heartless Ji Changzhen!
If he could break the formation, then so could she, Jiang Qi!
She shouted at the top of her lungs toward the sky above: “Stop fighting, you two! I’m returning to the Immortal Sect!”
Thud!
Her father from the Immortal Sect, overcome with joy, lost his footing and fell from the roof beam.
Thump!
Her father from the Demon Sect, overwhelmed with grief, slipped and rolled off the roof beam.
The two scrambled up from the ground, not bothering to straighten their clothes, and rushed straight for Jiang Qi.
The attendants who had been clinging to Jiang Qi’s legs quickly scattered to make room for the two Dao Masters.
Her foster father and her biological father each grabbed one of Jiang Qi’s arms, as if afraid she might bolt.
Li Yan’s tears hadn’t dried before new ones streamed down: “My little girl, you really want to go with him? That Immortal Sect is all mist and damp, what joy is there compared to the Demon Sect?”
“Watch your tongue! Our Immortal Sect is a land of talent and spiritual treasures, with countless elixirs and pills, far better than your barren wasteland!”
“We have plenty of handsome men here! I can summon a dozen attendants for her, can you?”
As he spoke, Li Yan shot a meaningful glance at the attendants.
The tears Jiang Qi had just scolded away burst forth all at once. They wailed and beat the ground, kneeling and muttering, howling with great effort.
Yet there was little genuine reluctance, only fear and dread that the South Wind Pavilion might collapse, along with a hint of self-pity over their own fates.
It sounded less like a plea to stay and more like a funeral lament.
The sound pierced Li Yan’s heart as well. He slapped his thigh, tears flowing even harder: “My poor wife, you died so young! Now even my little girl is leaving me, and I’m left all alone.”
“Spoken as if my wife were still alive?” Ren Chunqiu said, also moved. He pretended to wipe his eyes while quietly pulling Jiang Qi close by the shoulder.
The next instant, he shot straight through the roof with Jiang Qi in tow!
Inside the room, a flash of white light passed before everyone’s eyes. When they looked again, where were Ren Chunqiu and Jiang Qi?
Li Yan was the first to react, hopping mad: “Damn it! Those two-faced bastards of the Immortal Sect!”
The ground suddenly fell eight thousand li away, and Jiang Qi’s legs went weak, she nearly tumbled off the cloud steed.
This open scheme had moved far too fast.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
A thunderous shout came from behind. Jiang Qi turned to see her Demon Sect father in hot pursuit, fingers dancing as he chanted incantations.
Before she could even see what spell he was casting, the ground beneath her feet suddenly vanished, and she plummeted off the cloud steed.
Before her scream could escape, she was caught securely. Water dripped onto her face.
Warm. It was tears.
Jiang Qi looked up, still shaken, to see her adopted father weeping profusely, utterly heartbroken.
“Wahhh!! my little girl, are you abandoning your father?”
“The Immortal and Demon Sects are irreconcilable enemies. You’ve stayed with me in the Demon Sect for so long, those people in the Immortal Sect will never accept you.”
“That Ren Chunqiu must have fed you some enchantment to make you listen to him. Come back with your father, and I’ll find you the best physician to cure you.”
Jiang Qi subtly shifted aside, dodging Li Yan’s tears: “I’m not sick. I just… have some matters to settle. Besides, you know my temper.”
“If they dare cause trouble, I’ll snap back at one, and if two come, I’ll curse them both!”
That wasn’t an empty boast.
In her past life, relying on her status that straddled both the righteous and unrighteous paths, anyone who approached her with ill intent had been scolded right back by her, without exception.
After all, she had fathers in both the Immortal and Demon Sects backing her.
Who dared to object? They could just swallow it!
But Li Yan latched onto the wrong point.
From Jiang Qi’s words, it seemed she had some grudge with the Immortal Sect?
Veins bulged on his face instantly: “Who bullied you? Your father will go find them right now!”
Jiang Qi shook her head: “No need. I’ll handle it myself.”
Seeing the tear tracks streaked across her adopted father’s face, she thought for a moment and added: “If you miss me, you can write to me.”
Li Yan looked at the determination in Jiang Qi’s eyes and felt that his daughter seemed somehow different.
He suddenly seemed to have grown up a great deal, and matured considerably as well.
He let out a sigh, fumbled a crimson jade token from his robes, and placed it in Jiang Qi’s hands.
“Keep this jade token safe. It holds my spiritual energy and can shield you from calamity.”
Li Yan looked at his daughter, his eyes growing red-rimmed again as he choked out his instructions.
“If the immortal sect brings you no joy, come back anytime. The demonic sect will always be your home.”
Jiang Qi rubbed the jade token and nodded solemnly.
…
Ever since Li Yan relented and entrusted his daughter to him, Ren Chunqiu’s smile had not left his face.
He asked eagerly, “My dear daughter, are you cold? Shall your father take off his outer robe and drape it over you?”
It was late spring and early summer, with a warm, gentle sun. Jiang Qi shook her head.
“Is the flying speed too fast? Should I slow down a bit?” Ren Chunqiu asked again.
Jiang Qi shook her head once more.
“Then are you thirsty? Your father has prepared a water pouch.”
Tsk, so annoying.
Jiang Qi shook her head vigorously.
“Then are you hungry…” Before Ren Chunqiu could finish, Jiang Qi was already shaking her head in impatience.
“Then…” Ren Chunqiu pondered, then said cautiously, “If there’s anything you want, just tell your father. I can make it happen for you.”
Jiang Qi finally spoke: “I want you to shut up.”
Ren Chunqiu was taken aback for a moment, then broke into a smile: “Ah, fine, fine!”
The more he looked at his daughter, the more satisfied he felt.
A temperament that speaks up when there’s a need, truly wonderful.
No more words were exchanged along the way, and the two soon returned to the immortal sect at the summit of Wanling Mountain.
The auspicious cloud came to a stop at the mountain-top gate. Jiang Qi peered inside, amidst the towering peaks and ridges lay a stretch of open flatland, where clusters of halls and pavilions stood in staggered arrangement, shrouded in drifting mist. From the depths came the cries of cranes. What a tranquil and pure place.
The disciple guarding the gate saw Ren Chunqiu return and bowed respectfully: “Greetings, Sect Master.”
“Mm.” Ren Chunqiu stroked his beard and asked, “Has all been well within the sect during my absence?”
Before the gate disciple could answer, a voice suddenly rang out from behind Jiang Qi: “Master.”
Hearing it, all the blood in Jiang Qi’s body rushed to her head. That voice, she knew it all too well.
Ji Changzhen.
She turned around and indeed saw Ji Changzhen bowing in greeting, his white robes outlining a tall, slender silhouette.
Oh, wonderful. I haven’t even come to settle the score with you yet, and you’ve walked right into me!