Feng Ling quickly wiped the tears from her face, stubbornly saying, "Who...who says I'm crying? I'm not crying."
Wen Yu Xi smiled, "You still say you're not crying? Your makeup is all smudged, you look like a little kitten."
What? Feng Ling hurried to find something to look at her face, searching for a long time. She went to the center of the lake in the courtyard and saw her reflection in the water. Her face wasn't smudged at all.
Feng Ling turned around and saw Wen Yu Xi looking at her with a smile. Only then did she realize he was teasing her. "You..."
"Feeling any better?" Wen Yu Xi asked.
Feng Ling turned her face away, no longer looking at him.
Wen Yu Xi smiled and walked closer, saying, "Crying can't solve everything, and some things can't be solved by crying."
"Of course I know that," Feng Ling bit her lower lip.
"If you can't solve it, why not talk about it? I can help you..."
"No need, thank you..." It involved the secrets of the Feng Yin clan, and Feng Ling had no intention of telling outsiders.
Wen Yu Xi didn't press further. "If you're unhappy again, you can come find me at the Yan residence."
"Thank you." Feng Ling was very grateful. She had only met this Young Master Yan twice, yet he treated her this way. It was impossible not to be moved.
"You see, even you can't get past this hurdle."
Feng Ling was startled. She turned and saw Feng Xian behind her, her gaze sinking. "It's you."
"You're unhappy to see me?" Feng Xian asked.
Feng Ling shook her head, "No."
Perhaps the feeling from before was gone.
Feng Xian seemed to sense her distance and smiled, "I will be leaving here in a few days."
Feng Ling was taken aback and asked, "Where are you going?"
Feng Xian looked at her for a long time before saying, "Back to the Feng Yin clan."
"Why?" Hadn't they only just arrived a few days ago?
"There are some matters that need to be handled," Feng Xian said vaguely.
Feng Ling frowned. She felt that things were definitely not that simple. She walked forward and asked, "Feng Xian, are you hiding something from me?"
"Feng Ling, you're thinking too much. How could I hide anything from you?"
"Really?"
"Really," Feng Xian said.
"Does the Great Elder know?"
Feng Xian nodded, "He knows."
"Alright, I understand. Have a safe journey." Feng Ling turned to leave.
"Feng Ling."
Feng Ling turned back to look at Feng Xian. Feng Xian's eyes flickered, and after a long pause, she said, "It's nothing."
Feng Ling left.
Feng Xian clenched her fist. "Ling'er, don't blame me. After all, if one doesn't look out for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy them."
Feng Ling went directly to the Great Elder. The Great Elder looked at her and sighed, "I knew you would come."
"Since that's the case, I assume the Great Elder also knows why I'm here?"
The Great Elder nodded, "You must know that Feng Xian is about to return to the Feng Yin clan."
"Yes, it seems the Great Elder heard it from Feng Xian."
The Great Elder shook his head, "I agreed to it."
Feng Ling trembled, "Great Elder, you..."
"I know you find it unbelievable, but it's the truth. It was indeed I who agreed."
"Why? Why would the Great Elder agree? You also believe the King of Beijiang is not a suitable match for Feng Xian, so why are you letting Feng Xian take the King of Beijiang back?"
She couldn't understand, truly couldn't understand.
"Feng Ling, Feng Xian is not wrong about one thing."
"What is it?" Feng Ling asked.
The Great Elder looked into the distance and slowly said after a long while, "It's enough that I spent my life beneath the desert, but after a hundred years, the Feng Yin clan has lived beneath the desert for generations. Must we continue to live beneath the desert for another hundred, or two hundred years?"
"Great Elder, this was the condition the Feng Yin clan agreed to with the royal family. It was because of this that the Feng Yin clan was not exterminated. How can we forget this matter due to the passage of time, or even want to break the agreement?"
"But a hundred years have passed. For these hundred years, our Feng Yin clan has been diligent and has abided by our duties by staying beneath the desert. But what about the royal family? After they obtained the Feng Guards, they began to kill each other, and even expand their territories. They had already violated the agreement."
Feng Ling could hardly believe these words were coming from the Great Elder.
"Great Elder, even so, this is no reason for the Feng Yin clan to break the agreement. The most important thing for a person is integrity. If we lose that, what difference is there between us and beasts?"
"Feng Ling..." The Great Elder's expression was somewhat displeased. Anyone being told this would likely be angry.
Feng Ling did not back down, saying, "Even if the Great Elder is angry, I must say this. I absolutely will not agree to Feng Xian taking the King of Beijiang back to the Feng Yin clan."
"I have already agreed," the Great Elder said coldly.
"Great Elder, you are only an elder of the Feng Yin clan, but I am the clan leader of the Feng Yin clan. All commands must have my approval," Feng Ling said, not yielding.
The Great Elder frowned and looked at her coldly, "Feng Ling, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, on some matters, one cannot compromise their stance," Feng Ling said word by word.
"Since that is the case, let's settle it according to the rules of the Feng Yin clan!" the Great Elder said slowly.
"Alright," Feng Ling nodded.
When opinions disagree, both parties will resolve it through martial combat. The winner has the final say.
In the center of the courtyard, Feng Ling and the Great Elder stood on opposite sides. After a moment of command, they began their attack.
Feng Ling knew that the Great Elder's skills must be superior to hers, but even so, she did not want to admit defeat.
When Feng Xian heard that Feng Ling was going to spar with the Great Elder, she was, to be honest, somewhat worried. Although the Great Elder's skills were definitely superior to Feng Ling's, Feng Ling had the advantage of youth and stamina, so it was hard to say who would win or lose.
"Xian'er, if you are in a hurry, why not help the Great Elder?" Feng Xian looked up at the King of Beijiang and said, "I cannot help. This is the rule of my Feng Yin clan."
"Xian'er, people are alive, rules are dead."
Feng Xian was stunned and bit her lower lip before walking out.
Seeing Feng Xian leave, the King of Beijiang called for his confidant, "Help the Great Elder win the match later."
When Feng Xian arrived at the courtyard, the two were already exhausted from fighting. Just as she had predicted, the Great Elder's energy was limited, while Feng Ling, though outmatched, had abundant stamina.
"If the Great Elder loses, the Feng Yin clan will continue to live beneath the desert. Xian'er, can you bear it? Will your clansmen resent you then?"
Feng Xian was stunned, "Shouldn't they resent Feng Ling?"
"You are wrong. You live outside the desert. Do you think the clansmen of the Feng Yin clan will not resent you?"
Feng Xian fell silent. The King of Beijiang pressed his advantage, "They have the right to choose where they live."