Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Chapter 75

The grand banquet hall of the Feng Clan was alive with laughter, music, and the rich scent of wine. Golden lanterns swayed from above, casting a warm glow over the polished floors and reflecting off the intricate embroidery of flowing robes. The entire estate pulsed with energy as powerful figures from the empire,nobles, cultivators, and renowned magicians, gathered beneath the banners of the Feng Clan, drinking and exchanging pleasantries.

At the center of it all, Feng Zhenhai sat at the head of the grand table, his once-diminished presence now commanding the hall. His seat signified more than just a patriarch’s position, it was the mark of his return, his claim over the Feng Clan restored.

Thinking back on what happened the moment he left the courtyard finally...

A small smile danced in Feng Jiao Xue’s lips.

Flashback~

The Feng Clan bustled with activity, its courtyards and halls alive with excitement. Even though the Clan Clash had just concluded, another grand event was already in the works. The Feng Clan spared no expense, generously preparing a lavish banquet and extending invitations to the most prominent powerhouses of the Azure Dragon Empire. Even distant clan members who had long ventured out into the world were summoned back for this momentous occasion.

At the heart of it all, Feng Zhenhai had fully reclaimed his authority. After spending time recovering and consolidating his newfound strength, he wasted no time investigating everything that had transpired in his absence.

What he discovered left him fuming.

Seated in the grand hall, surrounded by trembling elders and his own sons, his expression was thunderous. "You let things fall into disarray in my absence?" His piercing gaze landed on Feng Haotian the current clan head. "Haotian! How could you let this happen under your rule?"

The imposing presence of Feng Zhenhai made even the most seasoned elders lower their heads in shame. Feng Haotian, his eldest son, swallowed nervously and bowed deeply. "Father, I---"

Before he could finish his sentence, a cane flew through the air. CRACK! It struck Feng Haotian’s shin with startling accuracy, making the grown man nearly buckle.

"Ow-! F-Father!" Feng Haotian stumbled back, clutching his leg.

"You should be grateful I didn’t break it!" Feng Zhenhai thundered. "You let those fools manipulate you, let corruption fester, and worst of all, you let my granddaughter suffer!" His voice carried enough force to shake the rafters.

The elders flinched, knowing exactly who those ’fools’ were. They had wielded their influence freely while the patriarch was away, growing complacent under Feng Haotian’s more passive leadership. But now, with Feng Zhenhai back in power, half of them had already lost their authority in a single day.

"You think I don’t know about the attempts to stiffle her? About the pressure you placed on my granddaughter, forcing her to prove her worth?" He scoffed, his eyes cold as ice. "Despicable."

Not a single elder dared to speak. Even the most prideful among them kept their heads bowed in submission.

Feng Haoyang watched all of this from the side, his arms crossed with an amused grin. "Father, aren’t you being a little harsh on second brother?"

"Harsh?!" Feng Zhenhai turned on him next and Feng Haoyang’s grin faltered.

"You!" Feng Zhenhai’s eyes narrowed. "You, who ran off to enjoy your adventures, leaving your niece alone in this viper’s den!"

The next thing Feng Haoyang knew, he was the one being chased across the yard.

"Father! I had urgent matters! You know, life and death situation---"

"Urgent matters my foot! Get Back here you unfilial son!!!"

"You wouldn’t hit your most handsome son, would you?"

"Watch me!"

The sight of the once dignified patriarch wielding his cane in pursuit of his wayward son sent waves of laughter through the younger disciples. Even Feng Jiao Xue, still recovering from the events of the past days watched with quiet amusement.

She knew that if her grandfather really want to beat her uncle to death, he could do so in a snap. His just venting his frustration.

"Like father, like son" She muses at the familiar way Feng Haoyang and Feng Zhenhai reacts to things.

Meanwhile, Feng Haoran stood calmly to the side, hands clasped behind his back. He exuded the air of a scholar, his expression composed despite the chaos. When his father’s gaze finally landed on him, he simply bowed. "I am relieved to see Father has recovered."

Feng Zhenhai huffed but waved him off. Unlike his other two brothers, Feng Haoran had always been a steady presence in the clan. There was little need to reprimand him. He has no hope in this emotionally stunted son of his.

End of Flashback.

Servants weaved through the crowd, carrying porcelain cups filled with aged plum wine and platters of rare delicacies. The scent of roast duck glazed in honey, stir-fried spirit mushrooms, and fragrant lotus rice filled the air, drawing murmurs of appreciation from the guests.

Feng Jiao Xue glanced back where Mo Tianze sat with a cute frown as he fiddles with his robe’s buttons feelings suffocated by the neckline.

He paused when soft, dainty hands held his hands and fixed it for him. He looked up with wide startled eyes. "Sister, I can do it myself" He mumbled.

"Relax, your nervouseness is making you feel even more unfomfortable" She sighed holding his hand as a show of security while focusing back on the scene before her.

Voices buzzed in hushed conversation as she watched the crowd.

"The Feng Clan’s rise is truly something to behold..."

"I heard the Patriarch personally punished the elders who tried to overstep. The balance of power is shifting."

"Did you see Feng Xiao earlier? A genius at sixteen! I saw him talking to the crown prince..."

"Feng Mei, ah, a beauty and a magician of rank six! Truly remarkable."

"I think I saw senior brother Wang by the bush puking in anxiety just now..."

"Did you hear? I heared that the emperor will be coming"

Despite all the prestige surrounding them, another name was whispered just as often.

FengJiaoXue.

Eyes subtly flickered toward the young girl seated beside the Patriarch. A girl who should have remained in the shadows. A girl who, against all odds, had shattered expectations.

Some gazes held curiosity, others admiration, and a few, veiled disdain.

But before more could be said, the music in the hall shifted.

A group of musicians, seated on an elevated platform, began to play a melody as delicate as drifting petals. The sound of the qin and flutes wove together, soft yet enchanting, pulling all attention toward the center of the hall.

There, a lone figure stepped forward. Dressed in a gown of lavender and silver silk, Feng Mei looked aloofly at the crowed before bowing to Feng Zhen hai.

"As congratulations to grandfather, Mei’er has prepared a small gift for grandfather" Her voice carried all over the hall before she begun to sway, her every movement was a picture of refinement and grace. The sleeves of her robe billowed slightly as she stepped onto the stage, her hair adorned with dangling crystal pins that caught the lantern light.

As she raised a single, pale hand, threads of shimmering light unfurled from her fingertips, pure, dazzling magic.

The hall fell into breathless silence as she began to move.

Her dance was a vision of moonlight upon water, each motion seamless, the energy of her magic enhancing every turn. The floating lights swayed in rhythm, like fireflies drawn to her presence. Her sleeves fluttered like the wings of a celestial bird, trailing silver luminescence in the air.

She was not simply dancing. She was casting a spell upon the audience, drawing them into her world with effortless charm.

Even the Third Prince, seated among the honored guests, leaned forward, his gaze smoldering with admiration.

Murmurs filled the air.

"Exquisite."

"She’s even more talented than before..."

"As expected of a daughter of the Feng Clan."

"Beautiful"

Even a lady pinched her husband’s arm. "What are you looking at like that huh?" She hissed.

Feng Mei spun, her final movement landing with a flourish of light, a shower of shimmering petals dissolving into the air around her.

Applause erupted across the hall.

She smiled, modest, yet confident, the very image of an accomplished young lady. But even as she acknowledged the praise, her gaze flickered toward a particular figure at the banquet table. A gleam in her eyes, calculated, knowing.

She then turned toward the Patriarch, her voice carrying through the quieted hall. "Grandfather, I hope my humble performance was to your liking." She bowed gracefully before her gaze landed on Feng Jiao Xue, lips curving into a demure smile. "But I feel as though this celebration would not be complete without a dance from my dear cousin as well."

A perfectly placed pause.

Then, with the air of someone merely reminiscing, she continued, her tone light, yet precise.

"After all... third aunt was once the most breathtaking dancer in the empire. It would be a shame if her daughter did not inherit even a fraction of that grace. Which i’m sure is not the case."

The hall hushed.

Whispers stirred in the air, the weight of unspoken expectations settling upon the crowd.

Feng Jiao Xue’s mother was once a legend in both beauty and talent, a woman whose name still carried an air of nostalgia and reverence among the older generation.

Now, all eyes shifted toward Feng Jiao Xue.

The contrast was stark.

Her presence, though quiet, was undeniable.

She did not wear elaborate finery like Feng Mei, yet the deep sapphire of her robes, embroidered with silver cranes, made her appear both delicate and untouchable. The candlelight flickered across her face, accentuating the soft, youthful beauty that had begun to blossom.

And yet, she had never been known for dancing or elegance.

The intent behind Feng Mei’s words was clear to Feng Jiao Xue making her smirk meaningfully.

A challenge.

A reminder.

No matter how much Feng Jiao Xue had changed, Feng Mei wants them to realize that she was still lacking.

The silence grew heavier. Even the elders glanced at one another, sensing the underlying meaning in the exchange.

Would she accept?

Would she refuse?

Feng Jiao Xue finally set her teacup down. The soft clink was deafening in the quiet hall.

Then, she looked up.

Her twilight-blue eyes met Feng Mei’s with calm indifference.

And she spoke.

"Why should I dance for entertainment?"

A single, measured question.

The words were not spoken with anger. Not even contempt.

Just cold, unshakable truth.

Feng Mei’s smile faltered, just for a breath.

Then, a soft chuckle from above.

Feng Zhenhai.

He stroked his beard, his gaze warm as he reached for something beside him.

A small plate of sweets.

Without hesitation, he pushed them toward Feng Jiao Xue, as if coaxing a child.

"Then don’t." His deep voice was gentle yet firm. "Eat instead."

A ripple of surprise passed through the hall.

The Patriarch’s stance was clear.

Feng Jiao Xue did not need to perform.

She did not need to prove herself to anyone.

The meaning was not lost on the elders, who exchanged wary glances. The favor shown toward the girl was no longer something that could be ignored.

Feng Mei’s fingers dug slightly into her sleeve, but she quickly hid it with a composed smile.

She had made her move.

But Feng Jiao Xue had answered in a way no one had expected.

’Foolishgirl.’ Feng Jiao Xue thought to herself. ’The best way to keep yourself above, is never to meet your enemy but be beyond them’