Wind and Fire Merged: Bifeng Yin Fire

The Zhu Nantian Yin Fire floated silently beside the Heavenly Gang Bifeng Pool. How captivating was the ultimate beauty of heaven and earth's creation.

The flame, dark as night, was no larger than a fist, yet it seemed capable of devouring all light and heat. Within it, a dark-colored luan bird was faintly taking shape.

Heavenly fire was yang, earthly fire was yin, and human fire was thought. All were supreme treasures of the fire element.

The Zhu Nantian Yin Fire ignited the void without a sound. Wherever its flames reached, fine black cracks constantly appeared in the surrounding space, freezing and solidifying in the extreme cold. This fire of utmost yin could burn the soul.

Ye Jinyu took out a Mystic Yin Jade Purification Bottle he had prepared long ago. Refined from ten-thousand-year mystic ice jade essence, the bottle bore three hundred and sixty sealing formation patterns inside and was made expressly to collect rare treasures like this Yin Fire.

He formed a Method Formula with his hands, and the jade bottle rose into the air, its mouth aimed at the Yin Fire.

"Collect!"

The Yin Fire trembled, resisting as though it possessed a spirit.

Seeing this, Ye Jinyu hurriedly made an exchange in the system.

The cultivation secrets of the Zhu Yin Heavenly Fire Manual were imprinted in Ye Jinyu's Divine Sense, circulating and giving off a dim light.

At the same time, the Law Power of the Bifeng Dao Calamity Scripture was already flowing through his body. Both Cultivation Methods gave off a dark, mysterious presence from the same source.

The Yin Fire immediately grew somewhat docile, turning into a streak of black light that entered the bottle.

"Clang-"

The jade bottle closed, and densely packed sealing patterns appeared across its surface. Its temperature plummeted, and a layer of frost flowers formed on it.

Xie Qingying watched quietly from the side, the azure bird on her shoulder brushing gently against her hair.

Only after Ye Jinyu put the jade bottle away did she speak. "Since Young Master Ye has obtained it, it's time to honor our agreement."

Ye Jinyu nodded and drew a wisp of the Yin Fire's origin from the bottle, sealing it in an ice-jade box with spiritual power.

He took out another jade bottle containing three portions of Bifeng Qi, its blue-gray current coiling like a dragon inside.

"One wisp of Yin Fire origin, three portions of Bifeng." He handed the two items over.

"Fairy Xie, would you care to check them?"

Xie Qingying accepted them and swept them with her Divine Sense, her beautiful eyes brightening slightly.

She looked up at Ye Jinyu, a trace of curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Young Master Ye is generous indeed. You really gave me such valuable things."

"Trust is essential to cooperation. I have always kept my word and honored my promises."

Ye Jinyu smiled warmly.

"Without Fairy Xie's Mystic Origin Heavy Water and your help this time, I would have had to spend several times the effort to collect the Yin Fire. This is only proper, and it is also an unspoken understanding between us... an unspoken understanding."

"Young Master Ye keeps his word. With these two things, my Heavenly Luan Spirit Physique should be able to advance another step. Perhaps I can even form the true-blood Heavenly Luan manifestation ahead of time."

"With the Mystic Origin Heavy Water to help refine the Yin Fire, my marsh attribute leans toward gentle water. Water is soft enough to hold all things. One day, water and fire will not encroach upon each other; clouds and mist, wind arising and water concealed..."

She paused, then suddenly broke into a smile, one with a rare touch of radiance and curiosity.

"Young Master Ye, you are rather different. With such sincerity, I find myself at a loss for how to thank you, and it makes me all the more curious and moved."

Xie Qingying moved with light, graceful steps, suddenly leaning close to Ye Jinyu.

The distance between them shrank in an instant to less than a foot.

At this distance, Ye Jinyu needed only to lower his head slightly to see Xie Qingying's exquisitely beautiful face smiling up at him, her eyes seemingly filled with light.

If he looked lower, he could even glimpse the soft whiteness beneath the front of her robes.

"Young Master Ye, our hearts really do understand each other." She lowered her voice and bit her lip, adding a subtle touch of allure.

Seeing the fleeting astonishment in Ye Jinyu's eyes, and even the faint blush at the roots of his ears, she could not help laughing.

"I never expected Young Master Ye to be such a bashful young man..."

This woman dares to tease me again and again! If she does it once more, she can't blame this young master for turning the act into reality.

A little displeased, Ye Jinyu's face darkened, and he pushed Xie Qingying away.

"Miss Qingying, is there anything else you need to tell me? If not, this young master is going into seclusion."

Seeing Ye Jinyu turn serious, Xie Qingying finally restrained her smile.

Her fingertips brushed lightly over the water-blue jade pendant at her waist. The two characters for Qingying were carved on it, a token of her identity as a legitimate daughter of the Xie Clan.

"I give this pendant to you, Young Master Ye. If you ever need anything, you may use it to find me. If Qingying sees it, I will do my utmost to help, wherever you may be..."

As she spoke, she removed the pendant and offered it to him with fingers as lustrous as jade.

Ye Jinyu looked at the jade pendant, which still held the warmth of her body. After a moment's hesitation, he accepted it. "Miss Xie, your kindness is too great to refuse."

The instant their fingertips touched, Xie Qingying suddenly turned her hand and gave his a gentle squeeze.

It was light and quick, their hands parting as soon as they touched.

But Ye Jinyu distinctly felt her fingertip trace a word on his palm with great speed.

"Sima."

Ye Jinyu's pupils narrowed slightly, and he looked up at Xie Qingying.

Xie Qingying was now a few steps away, having been pushed back, and had resumed the air of a cool, aloof fairy.

It was as though the intimacy and hint from a moment ago had been illusions, leaving only a faint, deeply meaningful smile at the corner of her lips.

"Sorry for the trouble, Young Master Ye." She dipped into a slight curtsy.

"I still have clan matters to attend to, so I must take my leave.

"But Fellow Daoist Ye should also be careful.

"Sima Ruiming may appear warm and gentle as jade, but he repays the slightest grudge. For what happened between us this time, he will surely repay us a hundredfold."

"It's nothing. My family was already at odds with his Sima Clan. When the debts pile up, one more is nothing to worry about."

Ye Jinyu chuckled and spoke casually.

"Besides, I was the one who came out ahead in this matter, wasn't I?"

At that, Xie Qingying nodded, turned into a streak of water-blue light, and vanished from the place.

Ye Jinyu stood where he was, rubbing the jade pendant that still retained its warmth, his gaze deep.

"Anlan, Qingxi, Jinming."

"Young master."

The three bowed as they answered.

"Settle matters with the Azure Luan Clan. Use both favor and authority, and be clear about rewards and punishments. Also..." He paused.

"Among those Rogue Cultivators recruited outside, spread some word that Xie Qingying and I cooperated, had a pleasant conversation, and were close in our behavior."

"Remember, make it natural, as though it slipped out of those Rogue Cultivators' mouths by accident."

Ye Anlan froze, his eyes brightening and a smile spreading across his face. "Heh heh heh, young master, did you really do something with her? Then... Sima Ruiming is going to be furious."

Ye Jinyu merely gave Ye Anlan an indifferent glance, and Ye Anlan immediately shut his mouth.

His tone betrayed neither joy nor anger.

"Her? That she dared defy her clan's will was unexpected."

"Everyone in this world is trapped behind fences. How could fate be so easy to break free of? She is using me to maneuver and to fend him off. But that suits me; I intended to contend with this generation of the Sima Clan anyway."

"Besides, I'm not losing out either... Hmph."

"Let's return. This young master will enter seclusion today, break through to Foundation Establishment, and cultivate the Bifeng Yin Fire Dao foundation."

"The day this young master succeeds will also be the day the real show begins."

The water-blue streak of light flew on for a long time, until it was far from the Azure Luan Clan's territory.

Amid lakes and marshes rich in Spiritual Qi, a fine drizzle fell hazily beneath a formation. Xie Qingying stood quietly above a lake for a long time.

The azure bird on her shoulder manifested and affectionately rubbed against her cheek.

"Qing'er, tell me..." Xie Qingying murmured.

"Was what I did right or wrong?"

The azure bird tilted its head, not understanding.

Xie Qingying shook her head and smiled in self-mockery.

She recalled her father's seemingly meaningful words before she left: "Qingying, your engagement to Sima Ruiming concerns the Xie Clan's fortunes for the next hundred years. You must not be willful."

She must not be willful.

But she wanted to be willful just this once.

As a woman, could she only become a bargaining chip in a marriage alliance, caught in a tangle of interests between her own clan and her husband's family, struggling to survive?

She, Xie Qingying, had the heart to seek the Dao and lacked neither intelligence nor schemes. She was determined to make the people of her age bow their heads and heroes lower their eyes.

She also wanted to rely on her talent and cultivation to seek immortality and attain the Dao, rather than let her beauty turn her into a collectible coveted by the world.

"Ye Jinyu... Jinyu means fine jade, but he is also someone graceful on the outside and black-bellied within..."

Xie Qingying softly repeated his name and smiled.

"Hehe... I hope you won't disappoint me, and that you can hold that annoying fellow off for a few more days."

Then a jade bottle and a jade box appeared in her hands.

"In the end, I must rely on myself for everything. Once I have succeeded with my Dao foundation and bloodline, who among Cangxuan's generation can contend with me? By then, even Father won't force me to do things I dislike..."