When Feng Yuqin met the hopeful gazes around her, she could only sigh. “It can be handled,” she said, “but we have to deal with the demon kin first — and we can’t alert any of the other demon factions.”
“Master Feng, you really can handle it?” the Fourth Elder asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
He had been about to ask how she intended to do it, but at the mention of first taking care of the demon kin he swallowed the question.
The Sixth Elder cut in. “Master Feng, do you have a plan?”
None of them had seen the full extent of Feng Yuqin’s powers, but the Phoenix Clan’s true bloodline had always commanded their reverence. The authentic lineage had never let them down. With the clan elders’ recognition of Feng Yuqin, they already treated her as their cornerstone. Now every pair of eyes turned to her.
Feng Yuqin didn’t answer. Behind her, Mu Feiyang stepped forward and produced the written plans she had prepared earlier. The room went quiet.
“Isn’t that Mu Feiyang?” the Second Elder asked.
“Indeed,” Mu Feiyang replied calmly.
“You went with Seventh Elder’s group to study the demon techniques, didn’t you?” the Sixth Elder frowned. He glanced at Feng Yuqin and the elders, confusion flickering across his face.
The Fourth Elder sensed something amiss in Mu Feiyang. He surged forward and, before Mu Feiyang could react, seized his wrist and took his pulse.
“His flow is suppressed,” the Fourth Elder said in astonishment, looking from Mu Feiyang to Feng Yuqin. “Did you do this?”
“Yes,” Feng Yuqin answered. “Once the demons are dealt with, I’ll lift his forbidden techniques.”
The Fourth Elder trembled with excitement. This was their future clan leader — and she was extraordinary. Problems he himself could not resolve were being solved by her. His admiration deepened.
The others took the documents from Mu Feiyang’s hands and, as they read, their faces froze again.
“Master Feng — you wrote all of this?” Elder Huangri asked.
A neighboring elder puffed with pride. “Of course she did. And she did it in less than half an hour. Tell me she’s not incredible.”
Feng Yuqin was speechless.
“Incredible,” the elders echoed, approving these plans. They had no objections. Feng Yuqin turned to the elders and said, “These assignments should follow each person’s strengths. I’ll leave the details to you.”
“We can handle the arrangements ourselves,” the Second Elder replied.
That was the general tone. Within ten breaths they efficiently delegated tasks.
But one elder suddenly realized something. “What about the demon who’s been in long-term seclusion?” He’d been assigned to control Mu Wenbin and his wife and realized he wasn’t being tasked against the secluded demon at all.
“I’ll deal with him,” Feng Yuqin said.
“Impossible — far too dangerous,” the elder frowned.
“No, it’s too dangerous. I’ll go,” said the Second Elder.
“I’ll go,” the Fourth Elder, the Sixth Elder and two Grand Elders said in unison.
Feng Yuqin hadn’t expected them to volunteer so readily. Though she carried the true bloodline, she hadn’t built close ties with all of them. Yet when it came to confronting the most fearsome demon, they all stepped forward to take her place.
She regarded them and said, “My strength surpasses yours; I’m better suited to this.”
Aside from the acting elder and Mu Feiyang, the room went silent. None of them had imagined Feng Yuqin could be stronger than they were. She was only twenty — and her talent outshone even the previous clan leader.
She added, “I also have help. Before we move, Elder, please open the clan’s protective array so we aren’t detected.”
The elder frowned, then asked, “Your help… you mean your husband?”
“Mm.” Feng Yuqin didn’t deny it.
“Is he strong?” the elder probed.
“He’s far stronger than I am,” Feng Yuqin said with a hint of pride. Her man was, of course, the best.
The elder’s expression collapsed into a mock mournful scowl. “You didn’t happen to marry an old man, did you?”
Feng Yuqin’s face darkened. What kind of nonsense was that?
Xiaoying and Xiaojin — small spirit companions — had been watching from within her inner space. The elder’s remark paused them for a beat and then they burst into hysterical laughter. Even the transparent spirit Hunbing giggled, imagining Mo Xuanye’s likely reaction; she danced and bobbed through the air in mirth.
Feng Yuqin, used to her spirits’ antics, could only manage a helpless smile, then told the elder, “He’s not old — only three years older than me.”
To preempt any more absurd comments she added, “He’s extremely handsome, immensely powerful, gifted beyond measure, and very intelligent…”
One compliment after another left the elders blinking. It’s true, they thought: a great leader would naturally find a great partner. The thought gave them hope for the Phoenix Clan’s future.
The acting elder asked the Fourth Elder to remain while the others prepared. Feng Yuqin, the acting elder and the Fourth Elder moved out to the outskirts. No sooner had they stepped outside than the communication stone in her space began to chirp frantically.
Feng Yuqin probed with her spiritual energy. Mo Xuanye’s voice flooded the connection: “Yuqin, how are you at the Phoenix Clan?”
“Yuqin, are you all right?”
“Yuqin, answer me — are you okay?”
“Yuqin, if you don’t respond I’m going to force my way through the clan array.”
One message after another came in, each more urgent. Mo Xuanye, waiting outside the protective barrier, had been pacing. He had intended to break through if he didn’t hear from her in two hours.
Feng Yuqin connected the link at once. “Mo Xuanye, I’m fine.”
“Yuqin—” His tone softened at once.
“I’m fine,” she repeated. “I’ve contacted the clan elders. They’ll open the protective array and let you in soon.”
Mo Xuanye heard enough to know she’d already worked out a plan and was about to put it into motion. When the elders opened the formation, the Fourth Elder would be the one to step out first. If anyone leaving the Phoenix Clan wouldn’t raise suspicion, it would be the Fourth Elder.