Wind, Cloud

After handling everything, Qin Shuang walked slowly towards home. Suspended from duty, he had no official business to attend to and felt unaccustomed to his sudden lack of purpose.

As he neared Yongxing Fang, he sensed the sounds of fighting from his courtyard from a distance. Glancing at the sun still high in the sky, he knew it wasn't yet time for his mother, Qin Hongmian, to return home.

With a sense of doubt, Qin Shuang used his movement technique to quickly head home. Arriving outside the courtyard, he didn't use the main entrance but leaped directly onto the wall.

He saw two youths, one using palm techniques and the other leg techniques, sparring in his courtyard.

Focusing his gaze, he realized they were his junior brothers, Old Man of Three Absolutes' other two direct disciples, Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng!

Bu Jingyun's deep-set eyes were like cold stars twinkling in the night sky, devoid of warmth and emotion.

His face was resolute and stern, his features distinct like a sculpture, each line as clear as if carved by a knife. His face seemed to hold a thousand years of ice and snow, exuding a detached coolness and arrogance.

Bu Jingyun's hands were long and slender, his palm techniques elusive, employing one of the Old Man of Three Absolutes' signature skills, the Cloud-Dispelling Palm, which was unpredictable yet immensely powerful.

Nie Feng had sharp, handsome brows and an elegant demeanor. His dark hair cascaded down, soft and natural, like ink splashed in a landscape painting – casual yet incredibly dynamic.

Strangely, while most young men with disheveled hair carried an air of unruliness, Nie Feng instead exuded an extreme sense of refinement.

Nie Feng's leg techniques were as swift as shooting stars, his movements as fierce as a gale, embodying another of the Old Man of Three Absolutes' unique skills, the Wind God's Leg, which Qin Shuang had mentioned to Yang Yuncong not long ago.

The Cloud-Dispelling Palm was ethereal and traceless, capable of overwhelming mountains and seas, while the Wind God's Leg possessed sustained power and wind-like offensive momentum. Both martial arts had their distinct characteristics and excelled in their own ways. Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng had deeply grasped their essence, fighting to a standstill.

Qin Shuang did not disturb them, watching with great interest from atop the wall.

The Heavenly Frost Fist, Cloud-Dispelling Palm, and Wind God's Leg shared a common origin. Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng each had their unique insights and understandings. Qin Shuang cross-referenced the three, finding inspiration and benefiting greatly from their interactions.

After about half an incense stick's worth of time, Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng's fight grew more intense. Their internal energy surged, their moves became wilder, even affecting the surrounding qi.

Seeing the commotion growing, Qin Shuang knew that if they continued, they might attract the attention of the Imperial Guards. He stopped concealing his presence, used the Frost Steps on Thin Ice movement technique, and in a few steps, entered between them. He struck out with both fists, using a move called Dew-Piercing Frost to parry Bu Jingyun's palm and Nie Feng's leg simultaneously.

"Senior Brother Shuang!" Bu Jingyun, his expression unreadable and his face stern, said.

"Eldest Senior Brother!" Unlike Bu Jingyun's calm demeanor, Nie Feng, with his gentle and tranquil personality, spoke with evident joy.

"What a coincidence! I was just talking about you two not long ago, and here you are! Where is Master?" Qin Shuang shook his head, marveling at the unpredictability of fate, while also feeling immense joy.

"Master didn't come with us; only Senior Brother Yun and I came," Nie Feng, being the more outgoing one, replied.

"Have you two graduated?"

"Yes, Master said our martial arts are perfected and it's time for us to gain experience in the jianghu," Nie Feng replied with a proud smile.

"That's wonderful! You two are even more outstanding than your senior brother. I happen to be short-handed here. Why don't you two stay in Chaoge City and join the Dragon Guard to help me?" Qin Shuang asked, full of pleasant surprise.

"Eldest Senior Brother, you are too humble. You are already in the Innate Realm, while we are merely at the Postnatal Peak. However, I'm truly sorry, but we must decline your kind offer. The reason we left the sect this time is that our Uncle is facing difficulties in developing the Tianxia Association he founded in Liaozhou, and he wrote to Master asking for our help."

"Uncle? Is it Uncle Xiong Ba?" Qin Shuang was slightly taken aback, then quickly realized.

"Yes."

"Alas, since you were invited by Uncle, I naturally cannot stop you. However, you must stay in Chaoge City for a few more days so I can fulfill my duties as a host!" Although Qin Shuang felt regret, he wasn't overly dejected.

"Then we won't be polite. However, we can't stay long; Uncle is in a hurry. Senior Brother Yun will head directly north to Liaozhou, while I need to go south to Chuanzhou first."

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

"Actually, Senior Brother, I was about to tell you. We came to Chaoge City this time partly on Master's behalf to visit you, and partly out of personal reasons, hoping you could help me with something," Nie Feng said, cupping his fists in a respectful bow.

"Is it about the matter in Chuanzhou? Junior Brother Feng, there's no need to be formal with me. Please, speak freely," Qin Shuang gestured for Nie Feng to relax and continue.

Nie Feng paused slightly before continuing, "My father, Nie Renwang, was competing in a martial arts match at Lingyun Mountain in Leshan Commandery, Chuanzhou, and later disappeared in Lingyun Cave. I was young then and was fortunate to be saved by Master, otherwise, I would have been left to wander the jianghu. Now that my martial arts have achieved some success, I wish to explore Lingyun Cave to uncover the truth behind my father's disappearance. However, I fear my abilities may not be sufficient, so I've come to ask for your assistance, Eldest Senior Brother."

"No problem. You've come at the right time. I've been suspended recently, so I have nothing else to do. I'll accompany you on this trip," Qin Shuang readily agreed. If his junior brother needed help, he would naturally do everything he could.

"Suspended? Did Eldest Senior Brother encounter some trouble? Do you need us to do anything?" Nie Feng, being perceptive, recalled Qin Shuang's earlier invitation for them to join the Dragon Guard. He immediately suspected that Qin Shuang might be facing difficulties in his official capacity.

In the sect, Qin Shuang had taken great care of Bu Jingyun, who was orphaned and had no relatives. To Bu Jingyun, Qin Shuang was not only a senior brother in the sect but also like an elder brother in life. Although he was usually taciturn, his eyes now blazed with intensity, and his muscles tensed instantly. If Nie Feng's guess was correct, he was determined to stand up for his senior brother, no matter the danger.

"No, it's just a normal suspension for rest. You don't need to worry," Qin Shuang quickly explained, feeling deeply touched by their reaction.

Seeing Qin Shuang dismiss it so casually, Bu Jingyun naturally believed him and nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother. With you accompanying me, I feel much more at ease!" Nie Feng, with his pure heart, didn't overthink it.

"Come, let's go inside and rest for a bit. Later, I'll treat you to a meal and drinks at the best restaurant in Chaoge City and introduce you to some good brothers I have here," Qin Shuang said enthusiastically, taking their hands and leading them into the house.

"Eldest Senior Brother, I see Chaoge City is as prosperous as a blooming flower. My Senior Brother Yun and I will shamelessly impose on you for a few days to broaden our horizons!"

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