You Are Fated with My Teacher

You Are Fated with My Teacher

Inside the Xiao Family study.

Sandalwood incense curled through the air, but Han Feng's arrival had made the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

Xiao Zhan personally served Han Feng tea, keeping his posture low. He did not even dare meet the mysterious expert's eyes. Having lived most of his life, this was the first time he had encountered someone like this.

Han Feng paid no mind to his restraint. He lifted the teacup and blew away the froth, his gaze settling on the black-clad youth beside him, who was both curious and wary.

He spoke first.

"My name is Han Feng."

Just two words, with no additional title and no declaration of his origins.

Yet those simple words seemed to carry an immense weight.

Meanwhile, beneath a corridor in the Xiao Family's rear mountain.

Xiao Xun'er stood in the shadows, her delicate brows faintly furrowed. Her lovely face was filled with a gravity far beyond her age.

Before her, a black phantom knelt on one knee. It was Ling Ying.

"Miss, the clan's reply has arrived." Ling Ying's voice carried a trace of shock and dryness.

"Read it." Xiao Xun'er's tone was cool and decisive.

"Yes."

Ling Ying took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm his agitated emotions. Then, in a tone like one recounting a dream, he slowly repeated the information sent from the distant Central Plains through the Ancient Clan's highest-level intelligence network.

"Han Feng. Male, forty-eight years old. His public identity is the Young Pavilion Master of the Falling Star Pavilion in the Central Plains, and the chief disciple of Yao Chen, the Medicine Venerable. His hidden identity is the sole ruler of the Black-Corner Region and the Lord of Sacred City."

At this, Xiao Xun'er's pupils abruptly contracted.

The Falling Star Pavilion! The Medicine Venerable!

She was no stranger to those two names. The former was a first-rate force in the Central Plains, while the latter had once been the greatest alchemist on the continent.

But the ruler of the Black-Corner Region... what was that supposed to mean? That chaotic land, which even ancient clans could not be bothered to touch, had actually been unified by someone?

"Continue." She suppressed the surprise in her heart.

Ling Ying's Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke the most crucial, most terrifying part of the report.

"His strength... is suspected to be that of a Half-Saint."

"Miss, the report ended with a note from the clan elders. Five years ago, the Falling Star Pavilion publicly announced that Han Feng had entered the Saint Realm. However, no one in the clan believed it. They believed that with a mere mortal body, no Dou Emperor bloodline, and not even fifty years of age, it was absolutely impossible for him to break into sainthood. This was likely false information deliberately released by the Falling Star Pavilion to deter petty foes."

"Even... even if he truly entered sainthood, he could at most be a newly advanced Half-Saint. But even so..."

Ling Ying's tone now carried unconcealable horror.

"The elders unanimously believe that this man's talent surpasses all his peers in the Central Plains. He can be called an unparalleled monster of the ages. If he is not an enemy, he must never be provoked."

Silence.

Dead silence.

Xiao Xun'er said nothing after hearing this.

She merely stood there quietly, her autumn-water eyes gazing toward the study. Her look was profound, and no one knew what she was thinking.

A Half-Saint... the Medicine Venerable's disciple... the master of the Black-Corner Region...

What exactly did this man want to do to Brother Xiao Yan?

Inside the study.

Han Feng set down his teacup. As if he had not noticed the confusion in Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan's eyes, he continued his introduction.

"I come from the Central Plains, from the Falling Star Pavilion."

Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan exchanged a glance, both utterly bewildered. The Central Plains was far too distant for them.

"I am also the one currently in charge of the Black-Corner Region."

The moment those words left his mouth, Xiao Zhan's breathing stopped!

He knew nothing of the Falling Star Pavilion in the Central Plains, but as someone from the Northwest Continent, how could he not know what the words Black-Corner Region represented?

It was a lawless land of chaos and slaughter, a terrifying quagmire that not even the Jia Ma Empire's imperial family dared provoke lightly!

And this young man before him was actually the one in charge of that land?

The weight behind those words made Xiao Zhan's scalp tingle. The reverence in his gaze toward Han Feng had already turned into pure fear.

"While traveling through this area, I heard that your Xiao Family had a genius, so I came to take a look. If he is suitable, I can accept him as my teacher's disciple and take him to the Black-Corner Region to cultivate," Han Feng stated his purpose directly.

"Huh?" Xiao Yan froze.

But without a moment's thought, Xiao Zhan immediately bowed and replied, "For my son to receive Senior's guidance is his good fortune! This junior... this junior naturally agrees!"

Was this a joke? A figure like this wanted to take his son away. Did he dare say no? He had no doubt that if he so much as shook his head, the entire Xiao Family might vanish from Wu Tan City in the next instant.

Xiao Yan looked at his father, then at the mysterious "senior brother" before him, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.

Han Feng seemed to see through his thoughts and said to Xiao Zhan, "Patriarch Xiao, may I speak with Xiao Yan alone?"

"Of course! Of course!" Xiao Zhan felt as though he had been granted a reprieve. He hurriedly bowed and withdrew from the study, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

After he left, Han Feng casually waved his hand.

Buzz—

An invisible ripple spread outward. The space throughout the study seemed to be completely sealed by an unseen membrane, cutting it off from the outside world.

"Good. No third person will hear our conversation now." Han Feng sat back down and looked at Xiao Yan. "If you have anything you want to ask, you may ask it now."

Xiao Yan looked into the other's deep eyes and gathered his courage.

"May I ask, Senior... why are you not taking me as your disciple yourself, but instead... accepting me on behalf of your teacher?"

This was his greatest doubt. With the other's strength, he was more than qualified to be anyone's master.

"Because you are fated with my teacher." Han Feng's answer was simple and direct.

Fated?

Xiao Yan was clearly not satisfied with that answer. He bit his lip, as though he had made some decision, and finally voiced the question that had been tormenting him.

"Senior, this junior dares to ask... I... there seems to be something wrong with my body."

His throat was somewhat dry.

"I can feel the Dou Qi I worked so hard to cultivate constantly regressing and disappearing. If this continues..."

He did not continue, but his unwillingness and despair were plain to see.

Yet when Han Feng heard this, a smile appeared on his face.

"This is precisely the fate with my teacher that I mentioned."

"Huh?" Xiao Yan was completely dumbfounded.

My Dou Qi is disappearing, and that means I'm fated with your teacher? What kind of logic is that?

Han Feng's gaze fell upon the ancient black ring on Xiao Yan's left hand.

"Give it to me, and you will understand."

Xiao Yan instinctively clenched his fist. This ring was the only keepsake his mother had left him, and he had never taken it off.

He hesitated.

He looked at Han Feng. The other's eyes were calm and still, without the slightest greed or pressure. Han Feng merely watched him quietly, as though waiting for him to make his own decision.

After a moment, Xiao Yan took a deep breath and slowly unclenched his fist. He removed the ring from his finger and handed it over.

He chose to trust this mysterious senior brother.

Han Feng took the ring without saying anything more. From his storage ring, he took out a warm jade bottle and opened its stopper. A drop of emerald-green liquid containing vast soul energy floated out from its mouth.

He wrapped the medicinal liquid in Dou Qi and slowly let it seep into the black ring.

After finishing this, he said to Xiao Yan, "Now sit down and try cultivating Dou Qi. See what is different."

Xiao Yan was doubtful, but he still sat cross-legged as instructed and closed his eyes.

He began circulating his cultivation method.

In the next instant, he suddenly opened his eyes, his face filled with unbelievable ecstasy!

He could feel the energy of heaven and earth pouring into his body. The Dou Qi vortex in his dantian was slowly yet steadily growing stronger!

That strange suction force, like a parasite clinging to his bones and constantly devouring his Dou Qi, had vanished without a trace!

"My Dou Qi... my Dou Qi isn't disappearing anymore!" He excitedly rose to his feet, his words becoming incoherent.

He was about to say something to Han Feng, but before the words could leave his mouth, his gaze suddenly froze.

Before him, the black ring resting in Han Feng's palm was emitting a faint glow.

An aged, illusory, translucent figure was slowly floating out of the ring.