Chapter 429: Chapter 428: The Still Dominant Duanmu Fourth Master
Facing Wang Lei’s inquiry, Qi Hongshao’s eyes suddenly reddened, but she remained strong and didn’t shed any tears. She said, "Five years ago, after the Qi Family was annihilated, very few of us survived. My sister and I were among them, but she was taken away. Later, I found out that the person who took her was Duanmu Cheng."
Wang Lei frowned and said, "So, the annihilation of the Qi Family might also involve Duanmu Cheng?
Qi Hongshao clenched her silver teeth and said, "They wouldn’t leave any evidence behind in such matters."
Unable to help himself, Wang Lei asked, "Why was the Qi Family annihilated? They must have had a reason, right?"
Qi Hongshao slowly shook her head and said, "I don’t know. Everything in the Qi Family was thoroughly looted and afterward, the ancestral home was even burned down by fire. Nobody knows what they were after."
Yang Fei couldn’t help saying, "The disputes in the Martial Arts World are nothing but revenge or greed, coveting family fortunes, or plotting for secret manuals and cultivation resources. Didn’t the Qi Family have something before they were destroyed that would make others envious?"
Qi Hongshao shook her head, "I don’t know, I’m just a woman from the family and even one who was abandoned by her fiancé. I had no right to know some important family matters."
"Haven’t you found even a trace of a clue these past years?" Wang Lei asked.
Qi Hongshao opened her mouth but ultimately just slowly shook her head.
Wang Lei frowned again, seeing that Qi Hongshao seemed to be hiding something from him, not being completely honest.
Perhaps it was because Yang Fei and Xu Jian were present, or perhaps it was because she still had her guards up against him.
Although they were engaged, and he had helped her twice recently, she was still not very familiar with him from before, and considering the great changes in her family and her years struggling alone in the Martial Arts World, it was natural for her to be cautious.
Yang Fei said, "So, you risked offending Giant Sword Manor by stealing this secret manual, only to make Duanmu Cheng return your sister to you?"
Qi Hongshao nodded and said, "Yes."
"Have you seen your sister?" asked Wang Lei.
Qi Hongshao shook her head but took out half of a jade pendant from her chest and said, "Duanmu Cheng had this half of the jade pendant sent to me. This item has been with my sister ever since she was little; it can’t be mistaken."
"Don’t worry, as long as your sister is still alive, I’ll definitely help you rescue her," Wang Lei assured her, feeling a sense of guilt towards Qi Hongshao.
Yang Fei also nodded, "Brother Lei’s concerns are my concerns, sister-in-law, rest assured. As long as Duanmu Cheng comes to the meeting tomorrow, we will definitely help you find out about your younger sister’s whereabouts."
After discussing for a while, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.
Yang Fei lay on the stiff wooden bed, but his mind was thinking about the content of the Tao Longevity Scripture he had read earlier.
According to the realm divisions inside, what would his current state be considered?
Foundation Establishment Early Stage?
If he was just at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, wouldn’t all other martial artists in the world be only in the Qi Refinement Realm?
"If a cultivation civilization truly exists, then this must be the most desolate period of that cultivation civilization," Yang Fei muttered to himself, putting the thought aside.
He was still young, and wasn’t very concerned about true immortality, and even his pursuit of Martial Arts Realms wasn’t particularly fervent.
The only thing he wanted now was to make a name for himself in the Hidden Sect World, letting people here know that he was not an easy target to provoke, thus protecting the people he cared about.
Ever since he returned to the country months ago and got engaged to Qin Yanyang, Yang Fei realized that all he truly desired was to live an ordinary life with the person he liked.
Once this matter was settled, he planned to leave the Hidden Sect. As long as the people of the Hidden Sect didn’t bother him again, he could live a good life with Qin Yanyang.
The only thing he found troubling was Tong Yunshu.
Tong Yunshu was his first woman, and so far, the only woman he truly had. He couldn’t ignore the affection this woman had for him.
But Qin Yanyang was an extremely confident and independent woman; she would never accept Tong Yunshu.
For a moment, Yang Fei found himself tossing and turning over this issue.
Thinking about it, a strong murderous intent flashed in his eyes, and he grew thoroughly hateful of the people in the Hidden Sect.
If it weren’t for them stirring up trouble and killing my uncle, I would be marrying Qin Yanyang by now.
Once she was pregnant, I could gradually let her know about Tong Yunshu. Even if she wouldn’t forgive me then, at least there would be a binding tie, giving me some leeway. By trying harder and being shameless, clinging to her, I wouldn’t truly lose her.
Yes, after this trip, I need to accelerate the pace and marry her. Once Qin Yanyang truly becomes my woman, she won’t be able to escape.
Lost in his wild thoughts, Yang Fei suddenly sat up.
He heard the sound of the door opening next door.
Although Wang Lei was very light on his feet, he still couldn’t evade Yang Fei’s keen senses.
A moment later, Yang Fei’s mouth curled into a smile, and he lay back down.
Brother Lei has seen the light!
Early the next morning, when Yang Fei went out the door, he happened to meet Wang Lei also coming out of his room. Yang Fei gave him a wink and chuckled.
Wang Lei was startled but feigned composure, pretending not to notice.
Yang Fei chuckled inwardly and purposefully asked, "Did Brother Lei sleep well last night?"
Wang Lei nodded and said, "Pretty well."
"I didn’t sleep well last night. I had a dream where Brother Lei and Qiaoqiao slipped away, leaving me alone in this unfamiliar place," said Yang Fei.
Wang Lei’s mouth twitched, and he replied speechlessly, "You really are bored."
"Of course I’m bored, not like someone who can fall in love even when returning to their hometown, tsk tsk, truly fateful," Yang Fei said with a laugh.
Wang Lei’s face flushed red: "Don’t talk nonsense, don’t ruin a young lady’s reputation."
Just as Yang Fei was about to tease further, he saw the door of the room next door flung open, and Qi Hongshao emerged.
Xu Jian also pushed open his room door and came out.
Yang Fei dropped the subject, and after exchanging looks with the others, Xu Jian said, "Let’s go have breakfast, then get to work."
At noon, outside Muyun City in the Southwest at Ten Miles Pavilion.
When Qi Hongshao and Xu Jian arrived, Duanmu Cheng was sitting alone inside Ten Miles Pavilion, brewing tea and sitting quietly.
His demeanor was as commanding as ever, he had regained the domineering composure of Duanmu Fourth Master, who could dictate the life and death of others with a single word.
Upon seeing Qi Hongshao, Duanmu Cheng did not stand up but remained seated gracefully in the pavilion. He smiled at Qi Hongshao and gestured with his hand, "Miss Qi is indeed punctual, please have a seat."
Qi Hongshao stood outside the pavilion ten meters away, her eyes scanning the surroundings once before finally settling on Duanmu Cheng’s face, and asked, "Where is my sister?"
Duanmu Cheng lifted a cup of tea to his lips, blew on it gently, savored a sip, then slowly set the cup down before looking up at Qi Hongshao, "I thought you didn’t care whether she lived or died."
Qi Hongshao angrily said, "I knew you wouldn’t let me off so easily, but you should think carefully, if this gets out, at worst I die, but you, you will have to die along with me. Is it worth it?"
Duanmu Cheng laughed heartily, "Indeed, it is not worth it."
As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and from the dense forest a hundred meters behind him, a very beautiful woman who resembled Qi Hongshao was pushed out by someone.
Despite not having seen her for five years, Qi Hongshao instantly recognized her sister, her eyes reddening as she said, "Hong Lei, is that you?"
"Sister... it is... it’s me, you... you go quickly, don’t worry about me, my life is over, I can’t drag you down anymore, just go."
The woman being held shouted excitedly.
With tears in her eyes, Qi Hongshao drew her sword and pointed it at Duanmu Cheng, angrily saying, "You bastard, release my sister."
Duanmu Cheng smiled slightly and shook his head, "Where is the thing I want? Also, with your realm, it’s impossible for you to kill so many people like Sun Donglai and Liu Yao. Who else is backing you? Don’t hesitate to call them all out, let me see who dares to oppose the Duanmu family."