Wind, Cloud

After settling everything, Qin Shuang slowly made his way home. Suspended from duty and with no official business to attend to, he suddenly found himself without a goal and felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

As soon as he neared Yongxing Ward, he could hear the sounds of fighting from the small courtyard at home. Glancing at the sun still hanging high in the sky, he realized it was clearly not yet time for his mother, Qin Hongmian, to return home.

Carrying his doubts with him, Qin Shuang swiftly rushed home using his movement technique. When he reached the courtyard wall, he did not use the front gate but leaped directly over the wall.

He saw two youths sparring in his own courtyard, one using palms and the other using kicks.

Taking a closer look, he realized they were his junior brothers—the other two disciples personally taught by Old Man of Three Absolutes, Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng!

Bu Jingyun's deep eyes resembled cold stars glittering in the night sky. They held no warmth and no emotion.

His face was resolute and severe, his features sharply defined like a sculpture. Every line was as clear as if cut by a blade, and his face seemed to hold a thousand years of accumulated ice and snow, carrying an aloof coldness and arrogance that set him apart from the world.

Bu Jingyun's hands were long and slender, his palm technique elusive and unpredictable. He was using one of Old Man of Three Absolutes' Three Absolutes, the Cloud-Dispelling Palm, which was difficult to fathom yet possessed tremendous power.

Nie Feng had handsome, heroic brows and an elegant, dashing appearance. His long, jet-black hair cascaded down in a soft, natural flow, like ink splashed across a landscape painting—free-spirited yet lively.

What was even stranger was that when ordinary young men let their hair hang loose, they inevitably carried a hint of wild abandon. Nie Feng, however, gave off an exceptionally refined and graceful air.

Nie Feng's leg technique was as swift as a shooting star, its force as fierce as a raging gale. It was another of Old Man of Three Absolutes' Three Absolutes—the Wind God's Leg, which Qin Shuang had mentioned to Yang Yuncong not long ago.

The Cloud-Dispelling Palm was ethereal and elusive, capable of overturning mountains and churning seas. The Wind God's Leg possessed enduring force, its attacks sweeping in like the wind. Each martial art had its own characteristics and strengths. Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng had both grasped their essences deeply, and their fight was evenly matched.

Qin Shuang did not disturb them. He watched from the wall with great interest.

The Heavenly Frost Fist, Cloud-Dispelling Palm, and Wind God's Leg came from the same source. Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng each had their own unique insights and understanding, and Qin Shuang constantly compared and verified the three techniques against one another. Drawing parallels between them, he benefited greatly as well.

After roughly the time it took to burn half an incense stick, Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng fought with increasing intensity. Their internal force surged and ebbed, their techniques grew unrestrained, and they actually stirred changes in the energy of the surrounding area.

Seeing the disturbance grow, Qin Shuang knew that if they continued, they might attract the attention of the Imperial Guards. He no longer concealed his aura. Using the steps of Frost Steps on Thin Ice, he shifted several times and entered the space between them. Throwing out both fists, he used a single move of Dew-Piercing Frost to block Bu Jingyun's palm on one side and Nie Feng's leg on the other.

"Senior Brother Shuang!" Bu Jingyun kept his joy and anger hidden, his face cold and stern.

"Senior Brother!" Unlike Bu Jingyun's calmness as still water in an ancient well, Nie Feng was gentle and tranquil, and his voice was filled with delight.

"What a coincidence. I was just talking about you two with someone not long ago, and then you really showed up! Where's Master?" Qin Shuang shook his head and sighed at how unpredictable the world was, even as he was filled with delight.

"Master didn't come with us. It was just Senior Brother Yun and me." Naturally, it was the more outgoing Nie Feng who answered.

"Have you two left the sect?"

"Yes. Master said that our martial arts had matured and that it was time for us to travel the jianghu and gain experience." Nie Feng smiled proudly.

"That's wonderful. You two are even more outstanding than your senior brother. I happen to be short-handed here, so why don't you stay in Chaoge City and join the Dragon Guard to help me?" Qin Shuang was overjoyed.

"Senior Brother, you're too modest. You've already reached the Innate Realm, while we're still only at the Postnatal Peak. But I'm truly sorry—we'll have to decline your kindness. The reason we left the sect this time is that our martial uncle has run into difficulties developing the Tianxia Association he founded in Liaozhou. He wrote to Master, hoping that we could go and assist him."

"Martial uncle? You mean Martial Uncle Xiongba?" Qin Shuang was slightly stunned, but immediately understood.

"Yes."

"Since Martial Uncle invited you, I naturally can't stop you. But you must stay in Chaoge City for a few more days and let me play host!" Qin Shuang felt regretful, but he was not overly dejected.

"Then we won't stand on ceremony. We just can't stay long—Martial Uncle is urging us quite urgently. Senior Brother Yun will head north to Liaozhou directly, while I need to go south to Chuanzhou first."

"Chuanzhou? Is something wrong?" Qin Shuang asked with concern.

"Actually, I was about to tell you even if you hadn't asked, Senior Brother. One reason I came to Chaoge City was to visit you at Master's request. The other was personal—I hoped you could help me with something." Nie Feng cupped his fists and bowed.

"Is it about Chuanzhou? Junior Brother Feng, you don't need to stand on ceremony with me. Just tell me what's going on." Qin Shuang raised a hand, signaling that Nie Feng need not be so polite and should continue.

Nie Feng paused briefly before continuing. "My father, Nie Renwang, once fought someone in Lingyun Mountain, Leshan Commandery, Chuanzhou. He later disappeared inside Lingyun Cave. I was still young at the time, and fortunately Master saved me, so I did not end up wandering the jianghu. Now that I've achieved some minor success in martial arts, I want to explore Lingyun Cave and uncover the truth behind my father's disappearance. But I'm afraid my abilities may be insufficient, so I came especially to ask you to lend me a hand, Senior Brother."

"No problem. You came at just the right time. I've been suspended from duty recently, so I have nothing else to do. I'll accompany you on the trip." Qin Shuang readily agreed. His junior brother had come to ask for his help, so he naturally could not refuse.

"Suspended from duty? Did you run into some trouble, Senior Brother? Is there anything we can do?" Nie Feng was perceptive. Recalling how Qin Shuang had invited the two of them to join the Dragon Guard and help him, he immediately wondered whether Qin Shuang had encountered trouble in official circles.

Within the sect, Qin Shuang had always taken especially good care of Bu Jingyun, who had lost both parents and had no relatives in the world. To Bu Jingyun, Qin Shuang was his senior brother in the sect and, even more so, his elder brother in life. Though he was usually taciturn, his eyes now flashed sharply and every muscle in his body tensed in an instant. If Nie Feng's guess was true, he would have to stand up for his senior brother. No matter whether it was a mountain of blades or a sea of flames, he would brave it.

"No. It's just a normal suspension and rest. Don't worry." Seeing their reactions, Qin Shuang was deeply comforted and hurriedly explained.

Seeing how lightly Qin Shuang spoke of it, Bu Jingyun naturally had no reason to doubt him and gave a slight nod.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. With you accompanying me, I feel much more at ease!" Nie Feng was pure-hearted and did not think too deeply about it.

"Come, let's go inside and rest for a while. Later, I'll take you to the finest restaurant in Chaoge City for food and wine. I'll also introduce you to some good brothers I've made here." Qin Shuang warmly took their hands and led them toward the house.

"Senior Brother, Chaoge City is so prosperous. Junior Brother Yun and I will shamelessly impose on you for a few days and broaden our horizons!"

"Haha, I told you not to be so polite. Just follow me these next few days."