Chapter 110: The Innocent Man is Guilty Only Because of His Treasure!

Qin Jianyi has left.

The Seven Stars of March, General Skywolf Qin Jianyi, has left.

Before the Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony had even officially begun, he took his younger brother and departed from the banquet.

He had originally intended to vent frustration on behalf of the bruised and battered Qin Yuyang and to reclaim the face the Qin family had lost on the ground; instead of reclaiming it, he lost even more. No one could have expected that he would be defeated by a boy from the Old Earth, an event that ignited the first wave of public opinion bombs at the banquet.

"Have you heard? Qin Jianyi challenged Tang Fei and lost... Who is Tang Fei? It seems you haven't been paying much attention to current events lately."

"How could Qin Jianyi lose? He is one of the Seven Stars, the most promising talent of the younger generation in the Qin family... His future looks bleak now."

"Was Qin Jianyi throwing the fight? I watched that match just now. When Qin Jianyi swung his sword, I felt breathless just standing nearby... But that Tang Fei stood there without moving, and then Qin Jianyi said he had lost."

"Could he have been pressured by the Princess? After all, I heard that Tang Fei and the Princess are..."

"Shh, hush! You might want to die, but we don't..."

Tang Fei knew that after this battle, he would inevitably become the focus of everyone’s attention and discussion. However, with the arrow nocked, he had no choice but to let it fly. Many times, his choices were made out of sheer necessity. Others could retreat, but he could not. For others, taking a step back meant a vast expanse of sea and sky; for him, a step back meant the rot of body and soul. Others might act for profit or some hidden agenda, but he acted only to survive.

However, the effect of that one sword strike far exceeded Tang Fei’s expectations.

When Qin Jianyi swung his sword, the aura was far more formidable than that of Shen Qingping, who had just entered the Tongyou Realm. Tang Fei secretly guessed that Qin Jianyi’s strength was somewhere between the middle and upper grades of the Tongyou Realm. At that moment, he felt his body locked down, his entire vital energy suppressed, making it difficult to mobilize the Yin and Yang energy. If not for the enhancement of the "First Sword," he would have had no choice but to drop his sword and concede.

But by a stroke of luck, he had deciphered the "Nether Scroll," and his focus during this period had been entirely on practicing that first sword. He persisted with ten thousand strikes every day, pushing himself until he collapsed from exhaustion, only to be carried out of the training room by Little Fatty.

Hard work paid off. In the moment of crisis, he used this first sword to dissolve the pressure and danger brought by Qin Jianyi. Things belonging to the "Fierce God" were indeed fierce. Furthermore, Tang Fei no longer felt the Fierce God was fierce at all; in fact, he even thought the guy was a bit cute. Remembering how he had pulled off the black cloak, leaving a legendary Fierce God sitting cross-legged on a boulder, exposed and bare, filled Tang Fei with guilt. If he had known, he would have thrown him one of Little Fatty’s outfits; under no circumstances should his beloved Fierce God master have been left bare-bottomed.

Yes, Tang Fei decided to add a master to his life. Strictly speaking, the Old Man was his first master, but the Old Man refused to let him call him "Master," saying he had nothing left to teach him. The Teacher was Tang Fei’s master of letters; he had read many books and written many characters under him. As for the Fierce God... although their first meeting was unpleasant, the guy had later treated Tang Fei with complete sincerity. Not only did he gift the Skull Hammer—one of the ten great divine weapons of the world—to Little Fatty, but he also gave Tang Fei a cloak and a scroll of sword techniques. Such selfless dedication and such noble character were rare, even among one's own parents.

The ancients spoke of a "master of a single character"; since Tang Fei had learned a sword from the Fierce God, he certainly had to be his master. Besides, if he was this powerful after learning just one sword, enough to cut down one of the Seven Stars of March, wouldn't he be able to cut down this entire planet once he finished all nine swords? Thinking of this, Tang Fei felt full of hope for the future.

Tang Fei didn't care what others were discussing; it was enough that he was the final winner. Little Fatty walked over and asked with concern, "Brother, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Tang Fei said with a smile.

Little Fatty looked at Tang Fei with admiration and said, "Brother, you are truly amazing. There’s no opponent you can't beat... Even someone as powerful as Qin Jianyi was taken down by your single sword."

Tang Fei shook his head and said, "I wouldn't call it 'taken down.' If we hadn't made the 'one-sword' agreement, I would have certainly lost if we kept fighting... But with the agreement, he didn't want to die with me, so he had to save himself by conceding."

"Oh." Little Fatty nodded. He didn't care about these details; he only saw that his big brother had won once again. And he had beaten the arrogant, overbearing Qin Jianyi at that. "Brother, what are we going to do now?" Little Fatty asked.

Phoenix hadn't appeared yet, and the coming-of-age ceremony hadn't started, so Tang Fei and Little Fatty couldn't leave immediately. Tang Fei looked at Little Fatty and asked, "Are you full?"

"No." Little Fatty shook his head. He had only been half-full when he was interrupted, which was why he had been so angry earlier.

"Then let's keep eating," Tang Fei said. "We'll eat until you are full. Being a person, the most important thing is to be happy. Don't let irrelevant people affect your mood, and certainly don't let them affect your appetite."

"Brother..." Little Fatty pointed to the crowd gathering around and said, "People are watching us..."

"Let them watch if they want to," Tang Fei said nonchalantly. "Who hasn't had a meal before?"

With that, he took Little Fatty to the dining table to pick up food. Carrying a large platter of pastries in his left hand and a glass of juice in his right, he returned to the octagonal pavilion. They placed the food on the bench and squatted on the ground to eat again.

"Brother, try this chocolate cake, it’s delicious..."

"You try my strawberry pie, the strawberries are especially fresh..."

"Brother, do you want more drinks? Should I get you some?"

"No need, if I drink too much, I won't have room for food..."

"Oh, then I won't drink any either..."

They were unbothered by those around them, laughing and chatting, sharing their food and the taste of every pastry, as if this were the home they were most familiar with—their own home field where they could let down their guard. Countless guests watched from the sidelines, but no one dared to make a mocking sound again. These two fellows... were indeed different from the youths of the New Star.

***

Phoenix Palace. Phoenix Cottage.

Phoenix sat before a massive white-and-gold vanity, two court stylists standing behind her to arrange her hair. Another person was applying her makeup, carefully drawing her brows and eyes, applying powder and rouge with meticulous care. Several assistants scurried around, handing items to the makeup artists and stylists, creating a scene of busy activity.

Today was Phoenix’s coming-of-age ceremony, one of the most important days in a woman’s life, and she would be the most dazzling figure of the entire gathering. More than that, countless people in the Phoenix Empire were watching this grand event, waiting to admire the photos that would emerge, anticipating the various scandals and gossip that might arise, and interpreting every political metaphor conveyed by the party. Therefore, even with Phoenix’s dislike for trouble and heavy makeup, she had to follow the court protocol officer’s requirements for her makeup, hair, and attire.

"Qin Jianyi challenged Tang Fei?"

Phoenix’s body tensed involuntarily. Worried that the maids, servants, and the supervising protocol officer might notice something, she immediately relaxed and asked, "Why would Qin Jianyi challenge Tang Fei out of the blue? They don't have any grievances... Tang Fei just moved to the New Star, and Qin Jianyi has been serving in the Bathing Fire Army; they shouldn't have met yet, right?"

"The whole thing was sparked by Qin Jianyi’s idiot brother, Qin Yuyang." Sheng Xinhuai held a slender cigarette between her fingers, ignoring the protocol officer’s cold glare, and puffed away leisurely. Only she had the right to smoke in the Princess’s bedroom; even the most rigorous and harsh court protocol officers could do nothing about her. As the Princess’s best friend, Sheng Xinhuai was also dressed to the nines today. Her black evening gown gave her an air of mystery—lazy, cold, and gorgeous, as eye-catching as a dark rose in the night.

"The version I heard is this: after Tang Fei and his little fatty brother arrived..."

"His name is Gongshu Lei, not 'little fatty'..." Phoenix corrected.

"I learned the nickname 'Little Fatty' from you... What? You can call him that, but we can't? Are you saying only the Princess can light fires, but we can't even light lamps?" Sheng Xinhuai rolled her eyes at Phoenix, looking quite dissatisfied. *You aren't even married yet, look at how protective you are.*

Phoenix knew she wouldn't hear anything good from Sheng Xinhuai, and if she pushed her too far, who knows what secrets might be exposed, so she quickly changed the subject. "Did Qin Yuyang bully Tang Fei and Little Fatty?"

"I wouldn't call it bullying. It's just that after Tang Fei and Little Fatty arrived, they got a plate of pastries and went into the garden to eat. Qin Yuyang thought their table manners were ridiculous, so he filmed a video and played it for everyone using multi-dimensional imaging technology..."

"Tang Fei felt his behavior was very rude and went up to ask him to delete the video. Qin Yuyang refused, and then the two started arguing..."

Phoenix’s eyes sharpened. "Qin Yuyang may not have a reputation for talent, but he shouldn't be such a blockhead... Was he incited by someone, or does he have other motives?"

"How would I know that?" Sheng Xinhuai gave Phoenix a charming, sidelong glance and said coquettishly, "I’m just a common school teacher."

Phoenix knew she was still holding a grudge about the "Little Fatty" comment and pleaded, "Sister Xinhuai, please help me analyze this... You are the famous 'Female Zhuge' of Phoenix City; you always see things with pinpoint accuracy."

Sheng Xinhuai shook her head and said, "I really can't tell. I just have a feeling they are playing a very large game..."

"Who do you mean by 'they'?"

"The Shen family, the Qin family, and your Royal family..."

Phoenix’s eyelids twitched. *This woman, why drag the Royal family into this? Heaven knows how many people Chen Fenglei has planted among them—aren't you afraid of inviting trouble?*

Phoenix stopped asking her to analyze the situation and focused on the details. "So, Tang Fei beat up Qin Yuyang?"

"It was Little Fatty who did the beating." Sheng Xinhuai laughed. "I heard that with every slap, he shouted, 'Shang Xiulin is my master!' Tell me, isn't that hilarious? How did Shang Xiulin end up with such an idiot disciple?"

"Little Fatty isn't an idiot, he’s just..." Phoenix couldn't help but speak up for the fat and kind-hearted Little Fatty.

"Just what?" Sheng Xinhuai blinked.

"Just not very quick-witted." Phoenix said, "Little Fatty must have been incited by his brother..."

"Even a fool knows that," Sheng Xinhuai said. "Otherwise, how could Little Fatty have done such a thing? The most unlucky one is Shang Xiulin—sitting at home, only for trouble to come from the sky... Tell me, will the Qin family go after Shang Xiulin?"

"No," Phoenix shook her head. "And Shang Xiulin wouldn't be afraid."

"True. Our Dean Shang is known by the students as [a man of iron], yet this little fatty turned him into a comedy bit with his 'Shang Xiulin is my master' slaps... Now, whenever I see him giving us meetings with that straight face, I’m afraid I’ll burst out laughing..."

"I hope Shang Xiulin doesn't get so angry that he kicks Little Fatty out," Phoenix said worriedly.

"You’re over-worrying. Shang Xiulin hasn't taken a disciple in so many years—he even rejected the children of the Nine Great Families—yet he chose this little fatty... That proves this kid must have something going for him. How could he kick him out over such a small matter?"

"Besides, don't you think Little Fatty shouting like that..." Thinking of the scene, Sheng Xinhuai couldn't help but laugh. "Don't you think it's cute? Silly, looks like a genuinely good person... Shang Xiulin is a weirdo who can't tolerate any sand in his eyes, maybe he just likes Little Fatty’s style..."

"That’s true," Phoenix nodded. "I heard Shang Xiulin and his wife treat Little Fatty very well and often have him over for dinner."

"It’s strange, though. Tang Fei’s talent and strength are clearly better than Little Fatty’s, so why didn't Shang Xiulin pick him?" Sheng Xinhuai asked curiously.

Phoenix shook her head. "How can we guess the actions of people like them? Maybe Little Fatty just caught his eye more?"

"Or maybe he thinks Tang Fei is too slick, which clearly doesn't fit the taste of an old antique like Shang Xiulin... But Tang Fei actually defeating Qin Jianyi is something no one expected. If news of Qin Jianyi’s defeat gets out, it will probably be the biggest news in Phoenix City, right? Will Tang Fei’s ranking on the Starry Sky List skyrocket?"

"I don't understand it either..." Phoenix shook her head. "Qin Jianyi has been famous for a long time. He entered the Tongyou Realm at eighteen—a top-tier genius of Phoenix City... Later, he was sent by the Qin family to serve in the Bathing Fire Army. I heard he made many contributions and performed outstandingly in the military..."

"Because his mechanical beast mount is a black wolf, he is called General Skywolf and is highly valued by the high command of the Bathing Fire Army. Based on their cultivation levels, Tang Fei should have been no match for him at all..."

Phoenix didn't know why Tang Fei was able to beat Qin Jianyi, but she knew in her heart that he had been trying his best to improve his cultivation during this time. Thinking of the dense marks of blades and swords on the new training room floor made her heart ache. She had brought Tang Fei to the New Star, originally hoping to change his life. But she hadn't expected this to be even more exhausting than his life on the Old Earth, encountering such dangerous things again and again...

Whether it was Shen Qingping of the Shen family or Qin Jianyi of the Qin family, they came because of her. *An innocent man is guilty only because he carries a treasure.* She was that treasure in Tang Fei’s arms...

Must she truly grow distant from him so that he can enjoy a stable and peaceful life? But can she really do it? Or, can he?

"Zhongyu Xiuxue..."

"Ah?" Phoenix snapped back to reality. "What did you just say?"

"I’ve been talking to you for ages, and you didn't hear a word. Where did your mind wander off to?" Sheng Xinhuai said impatiently.

"Miss Sheng, please mind your manners... do not call the Princess by her full name..." the protocol officer couldn't help but remind her from the side.

Sheng Xinhuai blew a smoke ring and said, "None of your business."

"Are you all done?" Phoenix asked the protocol officer.

"Yes. We just need to change into the evening gown and the Princess’s crown before the entrance," the protocol officer said.

"Fine, you all go out. Let me rest for a while. I’m exhausted," Phoenix said.

"Yes, Your Highness." The protocol officer wanted to stay and supervise; she was afraid the Princess would ruin the makeup and hair they had worked so hard on. However, she didn't dare defy the Princess’s order. Plus, the lawless Sheng Xinhuai was standing right there—this woman would say anything and do anything.

Once the protocol officer and the beauticians left, the room was left with only Phoenix and Sheng Xinhuai, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed.

"That old witch, staring all day long, 'don't do this,' 'that's not right.' Aren't you annoyed? If she were in my house, I would have tossed her out the window long ago," Sheng Xinhuai said with disdain.

"I have no choice, the palace has its rules... I’m annoyed too. But if I don't do as she says, she’ll go complain to my father, and then he’ll want to have a 'heart-to-heart' talk with me."

"Just endure it. You’ve been used to this life since you were a child," Sheng Xinhuai laughed. "How does that saying go? 'To wear the crown, one must bear its weight'... Not everyone gets to enjoy the status and treatment of a Princess... You are already the happiest woman in the world."

"Happy?" Phoenix looked at Sheng Xinhuai. "I think you are much happier than me."

"Is that so? I’m the type who has no shame; the people I want to scold, I scold, and the people I want to sleep with, I sleep with..."

Phoenix felt helpless. *Here she goes again.*

"Qin Jianyi left without even eating a piece of birthday cake... Does that count as lightening your burden?"

Phoenix shook her head. "Whether he eats the cake or not, I don't care..." Suddenly remembering something, she looked at Sheng Xinhuai and said, "Tang Fei and Little Fatty just arrived on the New Star and aren't familiar with palace etiquette. Why don't you go keep them company? After all, besides me, you are the only person they know here..."

***

Qin Mansion. The Qin family residence.

Qin Jianyi helped Qin Yuyang lie down on the recovery bed and channeled a stream of Yin and Yang energy into his body to help him recover his spirit and clear the blockages of blood and qi. Qin Yuyang didn't understand cultivation and couldn't feel the Yin and Yang energy. In a major clan like the Qin family, this made him an outlier, and as a result, he was not favored or valued by the elders.

Coincidentally, his older brother, Qin Jianyi, was one of the Qin family’s top cultivation geniuses. While one couldn't say the brother’s status elevated him, no one dared to slight or belittle him because of that. He was an insignificant figure in the Qin family, and people only mentioned him in passing. If he hadn't taken the initiative to provoke Tang Fei tonight, few would have even noticed his existence.

Qin Yuyang spat out a large mouthful of blood, finally feeling the suffocating pressure in his chest dissipate, and his body felt much more comfortable.

"Your blood and qi have been cleared. Just sleep in the recovery pod for a few days, and you’ll be mostly recovered," Qin Jianyi looked at Qin Yuyang and said. "I held back on that kick; I didn't break any of your bones."

"Thank you, brother," Qin Yuyang said gratefully, harboring no resentment that Qin Jianyi hadn't sought justice for him, but had instead kicked him away.

Qin Jianyi looked at Qin Yuyang and said, "Tell me, what’s going on? Out of the blue, why did you go provoke a drifter from the Old Earth? This doesn't fit your style of doing things."

Qin Yuyang struggled to sit upright, pulled a tissue from the box nearby to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and explained, "That kid is no ordinary drifter from the Old Earth. He’s a man that Zhongyu Xiuxue values quite highly..."

A mocking smile appeared on the corner of Qin Jianyi’s mouth. "What? You believe those rumors?"

"I don't really believe them either. A woman like Zhongyu Xiuxue, with her eyes higher than the heavens—what kind of young heroes hasn't she seen? How could she want to give herself to him just because she was saved once?" Qin Yuyang shook his head, denying it.

"Since that’s the case, then this wasn't about seeking justice for your brother... What was your purpose?"

"Actually, that was part of it," Qin Yuyang said. "When I saw them squatting on the ground eating, it really looked ridiculous... I thought, if I filmed their beggar-like appearance and posted it on the Star Network, and once the video spread—eventually reaching the Phoenix Palace..."

"Aren't there many rumors out there that Princess Xiuxue and Tang Fei are a couple, and that the current Sovereign has agreed to marry his daughter off to him? Tell me, what would Zhong Daolong think if he saw these videos? Would he be willing to let his daughter have an ambiguous relationship with a man like that? What would happen to the Royal family’s face? Would Zhong Daolong still have any dignity left?"

"So, you wanted to smear Tang Fei’s reputation first and drive him out of the 'finals'? If you wanted to do something like that, you could have just let someone else do it. Why take action yourself?"

"Opportunities wait for no one," Qin Yuyang said. "The chance would have flashed by, and I couldn't help but act."

"Besides, I originally intended to film secretly, leave after filming, and then find some unrelated person to post the video using an anonymous account. No one would have known, and it would have had nothing to do with our Qin family..."

"I didn't expect that Tang Fei was so alert. He discovered I was filming immediately. I was afraid he would forcibly delete the video I captured, so I started shouting to attract more attention... I played the video using multi-dimensional imaging first. That way, even if the original file I shot was deleted, the videos others recorded would be enough to go viral online..."

"Even if I was discovered, we had the numbers, and the people who came were all prominent young masters and ladies... It was just a minor dispute. What could he have done to me?"

"What I didn't expect was that Tang Fei was so bold and reckless as to allow his brother to commit assault within the palace... If the Royal family investigates this behavior, it would be a crime of great disrespect... His future would be completely ruined..."

Qin Jianyi looked at Qin Yuyang and said, "If we, the children of noble families, did such things, it would be seen as contempt for royal authority, lawlessness, lack of upbringing, and a crime of great disrespect... Perhaps our futures would be ruined. But what future does he have?"

"So..." Qin Yuyang gave a bitter laugh. "Falling into his hands this time was truly no injustice. This kid acts in a crazy, unpredictable way; it’s really hard to get a pulse on him."

Qin Jianyi looked at Qin Yuyang with deep, piercing eyes and said, "Since the main reason wasn't to snatch a woman for your brother, then what was the *real* reason?"

"To resolve the crisis facing the Qin family," Qin Yuyang said in a low voice.