Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 295 - 197: A Trip Home

Chapter 295: Chapter 197: A Trip Home

Keng!

Qiang——

The sound was prolonged; the soft sword bent under the skillful force, and the tip attacked from an almost eerie angle towards the back of the head, forcing the tall woman to exert strength to pull her longsword.

The sound of metal friction was irresistibly chilling, but she dodged the move with her exceptional experience, and the other girl, who appeared petite, had an extraordinarily serious expression, although the gap in cultivation between the two was significant, but...

"Brother Jiang, is it Brother Jiang returning?"

Her serious expression vanished immediately, she sheathed her sword without a word, and ran over with cheerful steps.

The tall woman paused slightly, but also immediately slung her sword behind her back, looked towards the incoming figure in the distance, nodded lightly, then called out "Brother Jiang". In Purple Cloud Palace, the status of a Direct Disciple was above all ordinary disciples, even above Inner Sect Disciples.

Even some Inner Sect Stewards or protectors would give way to a Direct Disciple, for they were almost equivalent to the prospective heirs of the Peak Master. Even if they did not succeed smoothly to the position, they still held real power in their hands.

Even the future Sect Master was selected from among these Direct Disciples. But her gaze suddenly became fixed when she realized... Jiang Feng’s cultivation realm had actually...

"Brother Jiang has reached Core Formation already?"

"Fortunate luck, my foundation is hardly stable, I expect to be stuck for a few more years."

He smiled humbly, but Bai Yu didn’t believe a word from her brother; with Spiritual Energy flowing subtly and abundantly deep and resonant like a bell, if this was considered an unstable foundation, then what was she?

When they first met, Jiang Feng had just achieved Foundation Establishment, and unexpectedly, in just over a year, he had reached Core Formation; she was only in the mid-stage of Core Formation herself, and in another year, he would likely catch up to her.

Originally, Liu Jianxian said that her junior brother had only rested for less than a year, she thought it might be an exaggeration, but it turns out it was rather conservative after all. However, Jiang Feng didn’t linger too much on this topic, but instead gave a cupped fist salute towards Bai Yu.

"Ah, Sister Bai, there’s no need for such formality, and there’s no need to mention the title ’brother’. Lately, you have had the tedium of accompanying my sister for her sword cultivation every day."

"Brother Jiang, what are you saying? Miss Lin is extremely talented and has made rapid progress. It’s my wish to practice swordsmanship with her. Besides, exchanging sword skills, where does the tedium come in?"

Just like usual, Jiang Feng generally called women older than him ’sister’. He did it mainly because he was younger by seven or eight years, so he wouldn’t really feel comfortable shamelessly referring to them as ’junior sister’.

Thus, it evolved into this form, each addressed each other as they pleased, but fortunately, Liu Tangxi didn’t care too much about titles and seniority, and couldn’t be bothered with such trifles.

Seeing Lin Jiangxian running towards him, Jiang Feng broke into a grin, not expecting that leaving would mean more than half a year would pass. He smiled as he extended his arms, and since there weren’t many reservations between the two, he directly hugged the young girl and spun her around a few times.

But looking at Jiang Feng’s expression, it didn’t seem like it was the joy of a small reunion, but more like a father, long absent on a trip, returning home to see his daughter.

"Alright, such a grown person."

He set the young girl down and fondly ruffled her hair, scrutinizing her from head to toe, comparing her to the year before, she obviously grew taller, and her figure was also significantly fuller than before, she was still slender, but when hugged, she should weigh about eighty-five or eighty-six pounds?

"Who asked Brother Jiang to leave for half a year..."

Her voice was low, but she still let go, her pretty face slightly flushed, leaving only Lu Luo hiding in the distance, snickering to herself. However, Lu Luo was the same as always, she hadn’t stepped into the gate of Swordmaster Peak, staying further away.

"I bought quite a few things for you during this trip. Later, Brother will cook something delicious for you. Speaking of which, your cultivation speed is much faster than your brother’s. Half a year ago, you had just started Foundation Establishment, and now you’re back and it’s mid-grade Foundation Establishment. Give you another two years, this junior sister, I’m afraid you’ll surpass your brother."

Wearing an expression of delight, her cultivation speed was not slow at all. The first time they met, she was only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, and in just over a year, she was already at mid-grade Foundation Establishment. Her cultivation speed might not be as exaggerated as his, but it was still top-notch.

Especially since he knew that his little junior sister’s biggest strength was her Cultivation Technique.

"Not at all, Sister said that Brother is ranked among the top three people in Swordmaster Peak for cultivation speed."

"Oh?"

He straightened his back.

Although his cultivation speed was fast, he still had self-awareness that there were many talents in the sect stronger than himself; Swordmaster Peak was especially rich in talents, but... top three? Nevertheless, Jiang Feng didn’t dwell on it and continued to ask.

"By the way, is Sister at home today? I need to consult her about some matters."

"Of course, Sister has been feeling a little unwell these past few days, resting in her chamber. Brother can just go straight there."

For some reason, as Lin mentioned "feeling a little unwell", her expression reddened even more, and Jiang Feng immediately understood the implication, letting out a wry smile and shaking his head.

This was the reason why Swordmaster Peak was occupied mostly by women.

Typically speaking, when a Peak Master takes disciples, especially a female cultivator taking disciples, they would recruit those of the same gender. Times have changed from this younger generation; thinking and various other aspects are not so liberated, and certain inconvenient matters can indeed be embarrassing.

Like in Swordmaster Peak, Liu Tangxi being a woman, when she was feeling unwell or needing someone to tend to her, how could she, an unmarried girl, possibly allow a male disciple to look after her?

Conversely, on Chi Xiao Peak where all the rough men are hammering metal or practicing Alchemy, placing female cultivators amidst those men, stripping their clothes and working shirtless every day, it wouldn’t be proper either.