Chapter 16: What If You Married My Son, Yang Guo?

“Smell it,” Cloud Crane ordered without turning his head.

Lin Pingzhi removed the stopper, cautiously leaning in to sniff. He found the substance colorless and odorless, showing no sign of anything amiss. Just as he was about to replace the stopper, he realized his limbs were growing weak. With a thud, Lin Pingzhi collapsed to the ground, powerless.

Cloud Crane turned to look at him, pulling out an antidote and waving it before Lin Pingzhi’s nose. An acrid stench assaulted Lin Pingzhi, making his stomach churn and nearly causing him to vomit. After a moment, strength slowly returned to his limbs. Lin Pingzhi gazed at Cloud Crane, astonished. The Sorrowful Breeze was the exclusive poison of the Xixia’s First Rank Hall—how had it come into Cloud Crane’s hands?

Cloud Crane handed both the Sorrowful Breeze and the antidote to Lin Pingzhi. “I need you to do three things for me.”

Lin Pingzhi secured the three items close to his body, bent his right knee, and cupped his hands respectfully. “Please instruct me, Master.”

“First, become a disciple of Mount Hua Sect. Second, return to your ancestral shrine and retrieve the Evil-Resisting Sword Manual. Without my permission, you are forbidden to practice any martial arts contained within it!” Cloud Crane’s gaze bore into Lin Pingzhi. “Of course, if you think that mastering the manual will free you from my control, you’re welcome to try.”

The utter lack of expression on Cloud Crane’s face chilled Lin Pingzhi to the marrow. His face went pale, cold sweat streaming down his cheeks as terror filled his eyes. He hastily expressed his loyalty. “Master, your martial prowess is unrivaled. I would never dare defy you!”

Cloud Crane let out a barely audible snort. “As for the third matter, I’ll come to you when the time is right.”

“Yes.” Lin Pingzhi bowed and retreated several steps before turning to leave.

Cloud Crane watched Lin Pingzhi’s departing figure, eyes narrowing, a mysterious smile curling at his lips. But the smile faded quickly. He had tarried too long since leaving the ancient tomb.

With this thought, Cloud Crane set out for the tomb. Just as he started moving, he heard the nearby underbrush rustle and stopped in his tracks.

He turned his head just in time to see a figure tumble out from the woods, flipping acrobatically to land before him. Looking closely, the man walked on his hands, using them in place of feet. Disheveled and filthy, he looked little better than a beggar; his graying hair marked him as an elderly man.

The old man’s gaze settled on Cloud Crane. With a few rolls in the air, he came to a stop directly in front of him. “Have you seen my son?”

Cloud Crane instantly realized who had come: the Western Venom, Ouyang Feng.

“Godfather, I’ve searched for you for so many years, and it’s been so difficult!” Cloud Crane’s eyes spun craftily, feigning joyful tears as he rushed forward to embrace Ouyang Feng.

Ouyang Feng, his mind muddled, was taken in by Cloud Crane’s act. “Are you truly my boy, Yang Guo?” He seemed half-convinced, his voice still wild and erratic, unlikely to regain clarity any time soon.

Seeing this, Cloud Crane knew he must seize the moment to make Ouyang Feng teach him the Nine Yin Manual.

“Yes, Godfather. You can’t imagine how much hardship I’ve endured alone while you were away.”

Looking at the aggrieved “Yang Guo,” Ouyang Feng’s expression darkened, his eyes filling with murderous intent. “Who? Who would dare bully my boy?” His gaze fixed on “Yang Guo,” his voice thundered, “Tell me who it is—I’ll kill them myself and avenge you!”

Cloud Crane looked back at Ouyang Feng, refusing righteously, “No, Godfather. This is a score I must settle myself!”

Ouyang Feng laughed heartily, his eyes brimming with approval. “Well said! That’s my son, worthy of being Ouyang Feng’s heir!” He clapped a heavy hand on “Yang Guo’s” shoulder. The force left half of Cloud Crane’s body numb.

“Guo’er, your martial arts are far too weak,” Ouyang Feng grumbled. His own skills were unmatched under heaven, yet his son’s weakness brought him shame.

“Come, come.” Ouyang Feng seized “Yang Guo’s” hand, boasting, “Your father has two unrivaled arts. I’ll teach you the Toad Skill first, shall I?”

Cloud Crane’s brow furrowed. He had no desire to learn the Toad Skill—it was simply too ugly, lacking any trace of flair or elegance. More importantly, he had no wish to be known as a toad among the martial world.

Such a reputation ran counter to the righteous and heroic image Cloud Crane sought to establish.

“Godfather, what I lack isn’t martial technique, but a supreme internal cultivation method. Once I’ve laid a solid foundation, even the simplest moves will hold immense power.”

He spoke carefully, watching Ouyang Feng’s expression for the slightest hint of danger. At any sign of trouble, he was ready to uncork the enhanced Sorrowful Breeze.

Ouyang Feng stroked his beard thoughtfully. After a long pause, he looked at “Yang Guo” and said softly, “Your words make sense, my boy. For any martial artist, foundation is most important.”

“Very well.” Ouyang Feng laughed heartily. “I’ll teach you my other peerless art—the Nine Yin Manual!”

Cloud Crane was overjoyed. All this effort—enduring the madman, even pretending to be his son—had been for this moment.

“Guo’er, listen carefully.”

Cloud Crane took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and focused intently on the Nine Yin Manual’s secret techniques. Ouyang Feng’s eyes gleamed with admiration as he began to recite, “The way of heaven takes excess and gives to the lacking. Thus, emptiness overcomes fullness, the insufficient triumphs over the excessive…”

His voice carried a strange, mesmerizing power, and Cloud Crane was soon lost in the profound teachings.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for acquiring a new internal skill: Nine Yin Manual.]

With the system’s notification, Cloud Crane’s mind filled with insights about the Nine Yin Manual. The skills within the scripture were his to command at will.

When the final word was spoken, Cloud Crane’s eyes snapped open, a brilliant light shining within them. He bowed to Ouyang Feng. “Thank you, Godfather.”

“Excellent, excellent! You’re truly gifted, boy.” Ouyang Feng did not stint on his praise. As a father, seeing his son so promising filled him with pride.

“Yunlang, so you’re here! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Little Dragon Maiden’s gentle, delighted voice came from behind.

Hearing her, Cloud Crane turned, a joyful smile on his face. But with Ouyang Feng beside him, his expression grew anxious. If Ouyang Feng realized he’d just been impersonated by Cloud Crane, both their lives would be forfeit.

“You little girl, there’s no such thing as this so-called Yunlang here. But I think you and my Yang Guo would make a perfect match. Why not marry my son?”

At Ouyang Feng’s words, Cloud Crane’s heart leapt into his throat.