Qing Feng recalled his father's words from their conversation behind the house yesterday. A deep confusion etched itself onto his face, a stark contrast to the vermillion hues painting the twilight sky.
"Is it true that one of the great sects will attack Tian En Village?" he wondered, his mind awash with questions. A gentle breeze carried the scent of earth and bamboo, but his thoughts were too turbulent to register it.
Driven by a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, Qing Feng resolved to seek answers from the Willow Tree.
"I'd better talk to the Willow Tree. I need to know which sect is planning to attack," he murmured. Sunlight filtering through the bamboo leaves danced across his face, as if mocking his ignorance.
With hasty steps, Qing Feng prepared to head towards the sacred tree. However, before he could move, a voice called out to him.
"Qing Feng, Qing Feng, Qing Feng," the voice was soft, calm, yet chilling to the bone. It was like the whisper of wind through the bamboo groves, but colder and more menacing.
Hearing his name, Qing Feng spun around, his face etched with panic. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His heart pounded like a trapped bird.
"No one's there? Who's calling me? Was it Mama?" he asked, bewildered. The voice felt so close, yet its source remained unseen. The surrounding reeds swayed for no apparent reason, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Finding no one behind him, Qing Feng decided to seek out his mother, hoping she might offer some explanation.
---
Behind the House
Qing Feng found his mother sitting alone behind the house. This was a common sight. She often sat there, beneath the shade of the bamboo grove, lost in her own thoughts. With a puzzled expression, Qing Feng approached her.
"Mama, did you call Qing Feng just now?" he asked, full of hope.
His mother looked up, her expression one of surprise. "Mama didn't call you, Qing Feng," she replied gently. The wrinkles on her face seemed to deepen with her confusion.
Hearing that, Qing Feng's bewilderment only grew. His mind was filled with his father's words and the mysterious voice he had just heard. He felt trapped in a maze with no exit.
"But Mama, Qing Feng heard a voice calling me. Qing Feng thought it was Mama," he said, trying to explain.
"Mama didn't call you, child. Perhaps you misheard," his mother replied, trying to soothe him. She stroked his hair affectionately, hoping to ease his worries.
Qing Feng's curiosity surged. Initially, it was just curiosity, but now he sensed something was amiss.
"Who's calling me? Mama says she didn't. Then who? Was it Father or the Willow Tree?" he wondered inwardly. He felt that only the Willow Tree could provide the answers he sought.
With unwavering resolve, Qing Feng ran towards the Willow Tree. If the tree didn't know, he would ask his father.
---
At the Willow Tree
Reaching the Willow Tree, Qing Feng was breathless. The tree turned, seeming pleased to see him. Its leaves fluttered down, as if welcoming his arrival.
"Qing Feng, why have you come?" it asked kindly. Its voice was like the soothing murmur of a flowing stream.
Qing Feng struggled to catch his breath. "Willow Tree, were you the one calling me just now?" he asked, panting.
The Willow Tree was startled by the question. Seeing the tree's expression, Qing Feng immediately knew the answer.
"Oh, so it wasn't you. Then who was it that called me?" he murmured, puzzled. He gazed up at the darkening sky, searching for answers among the stars.
The Willow Tree grew increasingly confused. It stopped Qing Feng from leaving. "Wait a moment. Why do you say I called you? Explain first," it requested.
Qing Feng looked at the Willow Tree. Although the tree had no face, Qing Feng could sense its curiosity.
"Well, just now, as I was heading to my teacher's place, suddenly a voice called me from behind. When I turned around, there was no one there. I asked Mama, but she didn't call me either," he explained casually. He kicked at small pebbles on the ground, feeling frustrated.
The Willow Tree was even more perplexed. It wasn't because of Qing Feng's words, but because of the existence of that mysterious voice. It sensed a malevolent force was watching Qing Feng.
"Then who was that voice, Qing Feng? Did you recognize it?"
Qing Feng shook his head, indicating he didn't know. The voice felt both foreign and familiar, like an echo from a forgotten past.
"Since even you don't know, Teacher, I'll ask my father. If my father doesn't know either, I won't bother looking for it anymore," he said, resigned. He felt tired and just wanted to forget about it.
Seeing his father heading home, Qing Feng ran towards him.
"Father, wait! Qing Feng has a question!" he shouted. His voice pierced the twilight stillness.
Zhang Qing Su heard his son's shout and stopped. He saw Qing Feng running towards him.
"Oh, Qing Feng. Why are you running and shouting?" he asked gently. His weary face looked concerned.
Qing Feng reached his father, breathless. His weak body tripped on a stone, causing a small cut on his knee. Red blood trickled onto the dusty ground.
"Father, when Qing Feng was at home, did Father call Qing Feng three times?" he asked, still panting.
Zhang Qing Su looked at Qing Feng, puzzled. "Father didn't call you, child. Father was in the bamboo grove. How could I have reached home?" he replied.
Qing Feng realized his mistake and scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. "I forgot, Father. Hehehe."
Zhang Qing Su, who had already stopped, asked again out of curiosity. "Did someone call you at home, then, child?"
"Yes, Father. I heard it three times like this: Qing Feng, Qing Feng, Qing Feng," he explained, imitating the voice.
"What did the voice sound like? A woman or a man?" he asked, wanting to know.
"The voice I heard was a man's. Strangely, it sounded like my own," he replied.
Zhang Qing Su, already tired from working in the bamboo grove, grew even more confused hearing Qing Feng's story. He felt something strange was happening.
"Like you? Maybe you were just hallucinating or exhausted. You did help the Willow Tree break through yesterday and slept outside with it."
Hearing his father's words, Qing Feng realized he might have been hallucinating due to fatigue.
"Maybe you're right, Father. I was hallucinating. Hehehe. Sorry, Father, for stopping you from going home," he said politely, bowing his head, feeling guilty.
Zhang Qing Su smiled and stroked Qing Feng's hair. "It's alright, if it was just a hallucination from exhaustion, ignore it. You should focus on learning with the Willow Tree, you're its student now, after all," he said.
"Yes, Father. I'll study the techniques the Willow Tree gives me. Even though I can't cultivate or talented, I'll remember all the teachings from the Willow Tree," he said with a happy face. He looked at the Willow Tree, feeling grateful to have such a teacher.
Zhang Qing Su left, waving to Qing Feng with a smile. Qing Feng returned the wave, saying, "Goodbye, Father."
"Alright, let's go learn about the techniques the Willow Tree has given me," he said, excited.
Qing Feng walked towards the Willow Tree, eager to learn with his first teacher. He didn't know that fate was awaiting him.
However, unbeknownst to Qing Feng, his village was being targeted by a malevolent force. Tian En Village, rich in resources and protected by the Willow Tree, was coveted by many. The sky grew darker, stars began to appear, as if witnessing the drama about to unfold.
---
At the Lotus Fragrance Sect
Far from Tian En Village stood the Lotus Fragrance Sect. A sect renowned for producing disciples destined to become Heavenly Emperors. Their magnificent buildings towered high, scraping the sky with arrogance.
In front of the training grounds, the disciples of the Lotus Fragrance Sect practiced diligently, preparing for a battle. Sweat drenched their bodies, but their spirits remained undeterred.
Almost all the disciples in this sect were women with captivating beauty. However, there was one thing that made them feared: they always wore masks and robes that covered their entire bodies. They concealed their identities, but they couldn't hide their burning ambition.
As the disciples practiced, suddenly a woman's voice echoed throughout the training grounds. "All disciples, gather in the Main Hall!"
The disciples immediately flew towards the Main Hall. Some looked puzzled, while others showed curiosity behind their masks.
---
At the Main Hall
In the Main Hall, the disciples of the Lotus Fragrance Sect whispered amongst themselves. The hall was filled with the scent of incense and lotus flowers, but tension filled the air. "Why did the Sect Leader summon us here?" whispered a female disciple.
"I don't know either. We better be quiet, or we'll be punished," a senior disciple replied.
The atmosphere, once filled with whispers, turned silent. All the disciples felt the intense pressure of the Sect Leader's aura as she approached.
"It's the new Sect Leader," whispered a disciple.
The Sect Leader of the Lotus Fragrance Sect entered the hall with an intimidating aura. She was known as Union, a name that concealed her true identity. Her sharp eyes radiated ambition and cruelty.
"My disciples, have you been practicing diligently?" she asked with a calm yet powerful voice.
"YES, SECT LEADER! WE HAVE BEEN PRACTICING HARD!" the disciples answered in unison. Their voices echoed throughout the hall, showing their unwavering loyalty.
"Excellent. You must be wondering why I ordered you to train so hard, aren't you?"
"YES, SECT LEADER! WE WANT TO KNOW THE REASON!"
All the disciples awaited Union's answer.
"It's because we're going to seize Tian En Village. A village rich in resources and spiritual energy," she said, raising both her hands high, displaying her ambition and power. A cynical smile graced her lips.
Hearing Union's words, the hall fell silent. Only the sound of wind blowing through the high windows could be heard.
"WOHHH! Long live the Sect Leader! Long live the Sect Leader!" the disciples shouted in unison with burning enthusiasm. They were ready to do anything to fulfill their leader's ambition.
Union smiled triumphantly. In her heart, she looked forward to the moment to conquer the Flame Sect, her greatest rival. She imagined herself standing atop the ruins of that sect, as the supreme ruler.
"Wait for me, Flame Sect. My sect will become number one in the mortal realm, and I will become the ruler of the mortal realm, the Flame Emperor. Wait!" she whispered in her heart.
The Main Hall was filled with cheers and enthusiastic shouts. Union enjoyed this moment, feeling that her ambitions would soon be realized. However, she didn't realize that her arrogance would lead to her downfall.
---
Epilogue
In Tian En Village, Qing Feng practiced diligently with the Willow Tree. He continued to study the techniques taught by his teacher. Although he was untalented, he possessed extraordinary intelligence. He looked at the Willow Tree, feeling grateful to have such a teacher.
The Willow Tree was amazed to see Qing Feng master a complex technique in just one hour.
"Why is Qing Feng so smart at learning techniques? But why can't he cultivate? If only he could cultivate, perhaps he would have reached the Cosmic Enlightenment realm," it thought inwardly, feeling sorry for its disciple. It looked at Qing Feng with a mixture of hope and worry.
However, as Qing Feng and the Willow Tree practiced, someone was watching them from afar. That figure was able to conceal their presence perfectly, so much so that even the Willow Tree remained completely unaware. The shadow lurked amongst the bamboo trees, its eyes following Qing Feng's every move with terrifying intensity.
Who was this person watching Qing Feng? Could Tian En Village survive the impending onslaught of the Lotus Fragrance Sect? And could Qing Feng defy his seemingly unfortunate destiny, or would he become nothing more than a pawn in a far grander, more dangerous game of power?
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Chapter 4 Completed