Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Ye Feng walked alongside Li Guanqi, his mind also occupied with thoughts of their departure from the sect. After a long silence, when they had already left the Daxia Sword Sect’s territory, Ye Feng opened his mouth, his eyes distant.

“So this means… we’ve officially left the sect? Even if just for a while?”

Li Guanqi turned to look at him and grinned. “What do you think?

Li Guanqi paused. “Oh, do you want to tell your family?”

Ye Feng shook his head before tying his golden hair into a ponytail. He muttered, “I told my father a long time ago. He cried…. Anyway, Boss, where are we going? You looked so sure of yourself when we left.”

Li Guanqi looked at the rising sun and said, “To the Eastern Territory. We’ll head toward the sun, and our ambitions will rise with it!”

“Hahaha! I didn’t know you were that poetic, Boss! Alright! We’ll head east then!”

Li Guanqi threw his arms open wide and deactivated his vital force shield, letting the wind whip across his cheeks. He felt like there was a vast world waiting for him out there.

There were treasures hidden deep in the world, political schemes brewing among cultivators, interesting lands and realms… All of it stirred his blood.

He took off his white sect robes and changed into a hemp outfit—the same kind he usually wore before joining the sect. As he looked down at the sleeve, he couldn’t help but smile.Did Grandfather predict I would wear these clothes again? They still fit perfectly.

Then, he took off his storage ring, opting to carry only a storage pouch tucked into his robes. It held about thirty low-grade spirit stones, along with some basic supplies.

As Ye Feng watched him, he frowned and asked, “Boss, what are you doing?”

Li Guanqi eyed Ye Feng’s luxurious robes and said, “Take those off.”

“Huh? Why?”

Despite his confusion, Ye Feng obediently removed his robes.

“The first rule of the outside world,” Li Guanqi said seriously, “is to never flaunt your wealth. Are you begging to be robbed?”

Ye Feng nodded solemnly and changed into the plain robes he used to wear at home. They were still a little flashy, but at least they didn’t shimmer with flowing light like the last set. Convincing a pampered young master to wear hemp clothing would take a miracle. Still, he also took off his storage ring, following Li Guanqi’s example.

When he finished, he looked at Li Guanqi like an obedient student.

Li Guanqi forced himself to nod and praised him. “Mm, not bad.”

Ye Feng grinned. “Haha! See, Boss? I learn fast, don’t I?”

“Alright, alright… Yes…”

Li Guanqi’s expression turned serious, and his mood infected Ye Feng. Ye Feng stopped joking around, listening attentively.

Li Guanqi took a deep breath. “Don’t trust anyone other than me.”

“Huh?!”

Li Guanqi’s gaze turned distant. “Humans are capable of terrible things. I was going to make this journey alone, but after everything we’ve been through, I see you as a brother. That’s why I brought you out here with me. So from this point on, you follow my lead. No exceptions!

“If you can promise me that, we’ll move forward together. If you can’t accept it, you’re on your own.”

Ye Feng quickly agreed. “I promise, I promise! Don’t chase me away, boss…”

Li Guanqi wasn’t sure whether Ye Feng’s quick reply was heartfelt or just naive. Regardless, Ye Feng was someone who genuinely listened to advice.

“Since you’ve promised, then listen well. This trip is an opportunity to train and temper ourselves. Don’t go around telling people we’re from the Daxia Sword Sect. It’ll only invite trouble. And if we do fight…”

Li Guanqi’s tone dropped, his eyes sharp. “Leave no loose ends. Kill them all. No exceptions.”

There was a distant glint in Ye Feng’s eyes. “Don’t worry, boss. I know these things.”

Li Guanqi nodded and continued, “One last thing. We’re not out here to play hero. We’re here to improve our cultivation. If we have to fight for something, we fight. Otherwise, stay out of other people’s business.”

He gazed wistfully at Ye Feng. Li Guanqi had endured too much tragedy to learn this lesson.

Ye Feng didn’t quite understand, but he sensed the weight behind Li Guanqi’s words and nodded seriously. A moment later, he shot into the sky in a flash of light.

“Let’s see who can fly faster!”

Li Guanqi smiled, and his golden core buzzed to life. Vital force surged through his body like a roaring dragon.

Boom!

A ray of purple light shot hundreds of zhang ahead of Ye Feng. Using the Swimming in the Clouds technique, Li Guanqi wove through the clouds like a fish in water.

Ye Feng grinned and also used a sprint technique to catch up.

And just like that, the two youths started their long journey.

Li Guanqi was just half a year away from his sixteenth birthday. In the Daxia Territory, sixteen marked the transition into adulthood.

***

Three days later, they had already traveled over three thousand li from the Daxia Sword Sect. Along the way, they passed rivers and mountains, saw all kinds of birds, and now, they were busy cleaning the carcass of a massive wild boar.

Li Guanqi had spent a great deal of effort peeling off its thick hide.

After cleaning the meat, Ye Feng began roasting it over an open fire. The meat, sizzling on the rack, made his mouth water.

Sizzle sizzle.

The scent was mouthwatering. The meat of demonic beasts was always exceptional, especially a tier-two black wild boar like this one. Its fat popped and hissed over the flames.

Soon, the two of them were feasting. Ye Feng took a huge bite of the meat and was almost moved to tears. They hadn’t eaten properly in days.

Strictly speaking, cultivators at the Golden Core Realm no longer needed food. But after a lifetime of eating, their bodies weren’t used to sudden abstinence.

Li Guanqi chewed contentedly, then uncorked the wine gourd at his waist and took a long swig.

Cough! Cough cough!

Ye Feng choked and pounded his chest. Li Guanqi rolled his eyes and tossed him the gourd.

But the moment he did, his ears twitched and his head snapped back.

Li Guanqi lifted his hand and snuffed out the fire with a strong vibration. Then, he scattered leaves and branches to hide the charred ground from the fire.

He glanced around. His nose twitched, and he turned pale.

Ye Feng was still confused by Li Guanqi’s behavior when loud rustling came from far away, accompanied by a female voice.

“Help!”

Li Guanqi smirked coldly, then pulled Ye Feng and ran in the opposite direction, keeping themselves hidden.