0005 Seventh Ring

Jiang Feng knew this person.

He was the second son of the Jiang family’s second branch, the younger son of Jiang Tengqing, named Jiang Huaixiao. He had just turned sixteen not long ago, and at his coming-of-age ceremony, he obtained a two-ring Heartbright Seed. Though not a high level, it was already considered quite good in the Jiang family nowadays.

He had always been dissatisfied with the special treatment the young lady received in the Jiang family, and had tried to provoke her before. But the young lady was always cautious and well-spoken, never giving him a chance. This was the first time Jiang Huaixiao had come straight to her door like this.

Jiang Feng stood up, blocking the young lady, his expression darkening: “Second Young Master, mind your words!”

Jiang Huaixiao’s cold gaze swept over the two of them. “You dare to act, and I can’t even speak? An unmarried man and woman hiding together in a room every day—who knows what disgraceful things you’re doing…”

Before he finished, a streak of yellow light shot out like lightning. Caught off guard, Jiang Huaixiao jerked back, leaping out of the doorway.

Yet the yellow light seemed to anticipate his reaction, adjusted its path midair, and still aimed straight at him—shooting right into his mouth!

“Ugh! Pah! Pah!”

It was a writing brush made of yellow peach wood, its tip soaked in ink, and it jammed right into Jiang Huaixiao’s mouth. His lips were black with ink, his tongue stung from the brush’s bristles, and the pain was so intense tears welled in his eyes.

The young lady gently pushed past Jiang Feng, stepping forward and speaking slowly, “Second Young Master, mind your words.”

Jiang Huaixiao looked at the two standing side by side, a flash of envy and hatred in his eyes. He spat out indistinct curses, “...Shameless pair, take this!”

With that, he strode forward, yellow light flickering faintly on his arm, and threw a heavy punch at Jiang Feng’s chest.

Even before the fist reached him, Jiang Feng could feel the heat. The yellow light flowed down Jiang Huaixiao’s arm like water, gathering at his fist and transforming into a cloud of red mist—the source of the heat.

This was one of the Jiang family’s secret martial arts: the Blazing Flame Fist. Only direct descendants could learn it, and it revealed its true power only after fusing with a Heartbright Seed.

Jiang Feng showed no fear. He reached out, grabbed a chair resting against the wall, and smashed it towards Jiang Huaixiao’s fist.

The instant the chair met Jiang Huaixiao’s fist, it shattered into pieces, splinters flying everywhere. In the downpour of wood chips, Jiang Feng surged forward without hesitation, his fist meeting Jiang Huaixiao’s head-on.

After a year of practice, Jiang Feng’s control over his body was exceptional. His muscles bulged and shifted along his arm, channeling tremendous force outward with a thunderous boom.

With a loud “bang,” the two were both driven back. Jiang Huaixiao stumbled several steps before barely regaining his footing. Jiang Feng, with the wall behind him, bounced off with his shoulder and steadied himself. A flowerpot atop the wall toppled and smashed to the ground.

Jiang Huaixiao had already fused with a Heartbright Seed and could wield Heartforce. His Blazing Flame Fist was not only blazing hot, but also possessed staggering power.

But Jiang Feng was prepared. He used the chair to absorb the first impact, and when he met the punch directly, the wooden board between them blocked most of the Blazing Flame Fist’s heat.

All the chairs in the young lady’s study were top quality, made of dense, hard wood. Jiang Huaixiao suffered two blows in quick succession, and after the second, countless splinters pierced his fist, causing excruciating pain.

He had never endured such agony and immediately clutched his hand, wailing. His two attendants rushed up to support him, asking anxiously, “Second Young Master, are you all right?”

Jiang Huaixiao shoved them away and glared at Jiang Feng, teeth clenched. “How dare you injure me?”

Jiang Feng stared back coldly. “You started it.”

“Jiang Feng, stand aside.”

The young lady’s gentle voice sounded, and Jiang Feng immediately stepped aside, though he remained on guard.

She nodded at him, ignored Jiang Huaixiao, and called out in a clear voice, “Granny Yang!”

Her old attendant appeared at once and bowed, “Young Mistress.”

“Go and ask the clan leader if my residence has become a marketplace, where anyone can come and go as they please!”

The old woman agreed and left immediately.

Jiang Huaixiao’s expression changed. Outwardly, Jiang Tengqing always placed the young mistress on a pedestal; if this matter reached him, Jiang Huaixiao would never come out unscathed.

He shouted, “Stop!” His face turned green, then red, and after a long inner struggle, he finally gritted his teeth, turned on his heel, and snapped, “We’re leaving!”

As he reached the courtyard gate, he spat out a final threat: “You’d better take care!”

Silence returned to the courtyard. Jiang Feng asked, “What was that brat here for, anyway?”

The young lady frowned at his hand. “Let me see your hand.”

Jiang Feng waved it off carelessly. “It’s nothing, no need to worry.”

Her voice turned uncharacteristically stern. “Let me see.”

Jiang Feng rolled his eyes—something he only did before her, like a lively fifteen-year-old boy—and held out his fist.

Though there’d been a board between their fists, the damage was mutual. Splinters pierced Jiang Huaixiao’s hand, but Jiang Feng had suffered the same. He’d shown no sign of pain, his expression unchanged.

His fist was red and swollen, the skin broken, and the splinters embedded deep—visibly alarming. Worse, his self-healing ability, instead of expelling the splinters, was pushing them deeper, sealing them within.

The young lady said, “Just as I thought—this is the most troublesome part of your self-healing… Come here, I’ll pick them out.”

Jiang Feng’s face flushed bright red. After a long moment, he scratched his cheek and muttered assent.

…

The young lady’s movements were quick and precise. With a flash of the silver needle, each splinter was deftly removed.

The prickling pain was nothing compared to the sensation of her warm breath brushing his fist, making his heart race wildly.

Her eyelashes were so long… Her skin so fine, not a pore visible. He wondered what it might feel like to touch…

A jumble of thoughts flooded Jiang Feng’s mind. After a moment, he forced himself to look away.

“Hey?” he exclaimed softly. “The little rabbit’s awake!”

The rabbit had been unconscious all this time, for reasons even the young lady couldn’t discern. She’d made it a nest and left it nearby. Thankfully, though its condition hadn’t improved, it hadn’t worsened either, and its life didn’t seem in danger.

Now, though, its long ears twitched, and it slowly raised its head and opened its eyes, which were as red as rubies, gazing around in confusion before curling in on itself.

Jiang Feng watched, noticing it seemed to be protecting something in its arms.

Surprised, the young lady said, “It’s awake? Wonderful! I’d suspected its soul might be injured—since its body was unhurt yet it wouldn’t wake. Now that it’s awake, it should recover in time.”

Jiang Feng let out a breath. “That’s great!”

The young lady worked skillfully, and soon every splinter was removed from Jiang Feng’s hand. With a gentle sweep, a white light flashed over his skin, and even the remaining wounds vanished.

Jiang Feng flexed his fist and scoffed, “Jiang Huaixiao fused with a Heartbright Seed—I thought he’d be impressive, but it turns out he’s nothing special.”

The young lady’s face grew stern and she scolded, “Jiang Feng, you must not think that way! Jiang Huaixiao’s Heartbright Seed is only two rings, and in such a short time he may not have even opened a single meridian. His strength is the weakest among martial cultivators. There’s nothing to be proud of in defeating such a weakling.”

“The true power of a Heartbright martial artist is beyond your imagination. With your current strength, you haven’t even taken the first step!”

She had never spoken so sharply before; Jiang Feng was thoroughly chastened and promised repeatedly that he would never become arrogant.

…

The days seemed to pass in peaceful routine, and soon a month had gone by. On the day of the young lady’s sixteenth birthday, she left the small courtyard early in the morning.

Her coming-of-age ceremony was to be held at the family estate, where the clan leader would personally lead her to undergo the Heartbright Tree trial.

As a member of the southern Jiang branch, Jiang Feng had no right to attend. He arrived early at the courtyard, sitting on a stone bench beneath the tree, waiting for her return.

The little rabbit was lively again, lying on the stone table, its white fur grown in, looking like a ball of snow.

Jiang Feng was anxious but forced himself to stay calm. He teased the rabbit, “What are you hiding in your arms? Let me see, will you?”

Though the rabbit was awake, it stayed curled up as if protecting something. The young lady, always gentle even with a rabbit, hadn’t forced it to yield what it guarded.

Jiang Feng usually obeyed the young lady, but now, to ease his nerves, he poked the rabbit’s ears. “I just want a peek, I won’t take it! Look, if it weren’t for me, you might’ve died out there. Show me, as repayment for saving your life?”

The rabbit twitched its ears and looked at him with its red eyes.

Jiang Feng was surprised, “You understand me?”

The rabbit paused, as if pondering, then curled up even tighter, as if protecting whatever it held was instinctive.

Jiang Feng’s delight faded. He pinched the rabbit’s ear, grumbling, “Little rascal, toying with me! Maybe one night when I’m hungry, I’ll make you a midnight snack! Oh, right, the young lady said you’re a Nightfall Rabbit? I’ll just call you Snack.”

He rambled on, teasing the rabbit, when he suddenly heard a sound behind him. He jumped up and spun around.

The courtyard gate opened and the young lady entered.

She seemed unchanged, yet somehow different. The gentleness she once exuded now carried a sharpness, and her smile was brighter, more spirited.

“Young lady, you…”

She looked at Jiang Feng and nodded, “Yes, I passed the trial and fused with a Heartbright Seed!”

Jiang Feng was overjoyed. He jumped up and asked, “That’s wonderful! How many rings?”

Her brows lifted, her expression radiant for once. “Seven rings!”

Jiang Feng was stunned; after a moment, he cried out in delight.

A seven-ring Heartbright Seed—genuine, high-grade! To fuse with such a seed was to embark on the true path of martial cultivation, almost certainly destined to become a powerful martial artist!

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Many thanks to Zhesha for the reward~~ kisses!