Chapter 97 I Am One Guest Away from Becoming a Demonic Cultivator

"The Dark Sword Empress."

The moment the title left Li Yuhua’s lips, the room seemed to grow colder.

Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably as memories long buried surged to the surface.

"I saw her with my own eyes," she continued, her voice unsteady.

"Years before you were even born, a traitor of our Li clan was captured. He was dragged back in chains and displayed outside the clan gates... not executed, not spared, but made an example."

Her breathing grew shallow.

"For three long years, Yan’er. Three years he suffered. Every single day, he was subjected to torment beyond imagination... his body broken, his spirit crushed, his screams echoing through the entire city. It was slow. Deliberate. Merciless. His agony was not just punishment... it was a warning. A message carved into flesh and blood for everyone to see."

Li Yuhua’s eyes glistened, her voice barely holding together.

"That is the woman who commands our clan. In the Li clan, the matriarch’s words are absolute. There is no appeal. No negotiation. No mercy. To defy her is to invite ruin... not only upon oneself, but upon one’s entire bloodline."

She reached out, gripping Li Zhiyan’s hands tightly, as if afraid her daughter might slip away.

"Yan’er... this is no longer a matter of pride or personal will. This is survival. Once the Dark Sword Empress has spoken, there is no escape."

Li Zhiyan swallowed hard, her throat tightening as she felt the full weight of her mother’s fear and worry settle into her own heart.

For the first time since receiving the mission from the clan, the situation no longer felt distant or abstract... it was real, pressing, and inescapable.

"You’ve given me a great deal to think about, Mother," she said softly after a moment of silence.

"Let’s postpone the visit for tonight. Acting rashly will only worsen things. I’ll gather every piece of information I can about Lin Feng before making any move. His background, his temperament, his habits... everything. Within this week, I’ll do what is expected of me. Surely the matriarch will grant me at least that much time."

Her voice was steady, but inside, she felt the helplessness clawing at her chest.

Even if she found a way to escape this situation, she knew she could not simply leave.

She could not abandon her mother here to face the clan’s wrath alone, not when the consequences could be devastating.

Escape, in that sense, was not truly freedom... it was merely a different form of cowardice.

Li Yuhua nodded slowly, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief, sorrow, and fragile hope.

"We can only hope, Yan’er," she murmured. "I’ll help you gather whatever information you need. Every detail, every rumor, every hidden truth... I’ll leave nothing untouched. Be strong, my daughter. You’ve always been stronger than you realize. I’m proud of you."

She stepped forward, cupping Li Zhiyan’s face in her hands for a brief moment, then leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter’s forehead.

It was a small gesture, yet it carried years of love, fear, and unspoken regret.

A cultivation clan often demanded its greatest sacrifices from its most gifted children.

Without another word, Li Yuhua turned and quietly left the room, leaving Li Zhiyan standing alone in the silence, surrounded by shadows and the heavy burden of a fate she could no longer avoid.

***

While the mother and daughter were scrambling to gather more concrete information about Lin Feng, Lin Feng himself had already changed out of his azure teacher’s uniform and into a set of simple white robes.

The fabric was plain, unadorned, and practical... fitting for someone who cared little for outward appearances.

As he stepped back into his courtyard, he was mildly surprised to find that Teacher Ye Jian was still there, standing casually as if she belonged.

"You’re still here," Lin Feng said, stating the obvious.

Ye Jian turned toward him with a playful smile, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Why? Am I the first woman to enter your residence, Teacher Lin Feng?" she teased lightly. "And don’t worry... I didn’t peek while you were changing."

She took a slow look around the courtyard, her gaze sweeping across the bare walls, the untouched furnishings, and the neatly arranged yet completely impersonal layout.

All teachers were assigned identical courtyards by the academy, but over time, most would decorate, rearrange, or customize their space to reflect their tastes.

Some filled their homes with spiritual artifacts, rare plants, or luxurious furniture. Lin Feng, however, had left everything exactly as it was when he first moved in... cold, clean, and untouched.

"...It wouldn’t even matter if you had," Lin Feng replied flatly, shaking his head.

In truth, he wanted Ye Jian to leave.

He could feel the subtle pressure she brought with her, the playful danger wrapped in charm and humor.

It would have been better if she were miles away, the farther the better.

Yet since she had chosen to stay, Lin Feng found himself with no choice but to play the role of the courteous host, despite every instinct telling him to be wary.

Lin Feng retrieved several items from his soul space and immediately got to work.

His movements were calm and deliberate, revealing the habits of someone long accustomed to quiet rituals.

He set the teapot in place, carefully rinsed the tea leaves to awaken their fragrance, then poured in hot water, letting the steam rise gently into the air.

A subtle aroma soon spread through the courtyard, warm and soothing, softening the otherwise cold and barren atmosphere of his residence.

Once everything was prepared, he arranged the cups and pot neatly on the small table before settling down on the floor.

He glanced toward Ye Jian, who had remained unusually silent ever since he began preparing the tea.

With a slight tilt of his head and a casual motion of his hand, Lin Feng beckoned her to come and sit across from him.

"Lest you call me a poor host," he said calmly, "this tea should be more than enough to entertain you as my guest."