Volume One: Turmoil in Yan and Yun Chapter Thirty-Four: The Greatest Concealment Lies Within the World (Part Seven)
Praising Dou Xiaotong’s discerning eye was, in another sense, an acknowledgment of his judgment.
Feng Qi said, “I have a question I wish to ask the Guardian of the Winds.”
Mo Gu replied, “A question? You truly are Xue Wuhen’s disciple.”
Feng Qi wondered what this had to do with his master.
Xue Wuhen rubbed his nose and spoke somewhat sheepishly, “The first time I met him, I too asked a question.”
So that was the reason, Feng Qi thought.
Xue Wuhen glanced at him, thinking, It’s not even what you’re imagining.
Feng Qi couldn’t decipher the look in Xue Wuhen’s eyes, but even if he could, he wouldn’t have cared. So he said, “It seems the Guardian of the Winds is willing to enlighten me?”
Mo Gu replied, “I seldom answer others’ questions, but if the question is worthy, I may make an exception.”
Mo Gu, long resident in the imperial city, was rarely approached by anyone besides the other three Guardians and the Divine Emperor himself.
No, to put it more precisely, few people even caught sight of him on a normal day.
Such people were never fond of conversation, much less of asking or answering questions.
This did not surprise Feng Qi. He asked, “What would make it worthy?”
Mo Gu replied, “Someone stronger than I.”
Feng Qi paused, then gave a wry smile. “In which aspect do you mean?”
Mo Gu answered, “Any aspect. As long as you can demonstrate a strength surpassing mine, what harm is there in answering your question?”
Feng Qi pondered for a moment.
His first thought was the Dao Canon; in this field, he had a certain confidence. Yet Mo Gu had lived for so many years—his age rivaled the entire history of the Feng family. As a junior, if he were to challenge Mo Gu in the Dao Canon, he would likely gain no advantage. Mo Gu’s understanding of the Dao Canon far surpassed his own. As for the final ten volumes... Feng Qi did not believe for a moment that Mo Gu was entirely unfamiliar with them.
If not the Dao Canon, then what else?
Combat... even if Wei Sanmu were reborn, or the old emperor were to return, at their peak they would not dare claim superiority over someone at the Hunyuan pinnacle, let alone over a Harmonized cultivator.
To say nothing of victory; even a single glance from Mo Gu could kill him hundreds, thousands of times over in an instant!
What other field remained?
Music, chess, calligraphy, painting?
Feng Qi was silent for a while, then his eyes suddenly lit up.
Mo Gu smiled. “It seems you have found an area in which you may surpass me.”
Feng Qi nodded. “Indeed.”
Mo Gu was intrigued. “Is it the Dao Canon?”
Feng Qi replied, “Even if we only count the history of the Divine Dynasty, you must be at least fourteen hundred years old. Even reciting a single phrase a day, the three thousand Dao Canons would not suffice for your memory.”
Mo Gu smiled, thinking, This boy is not so clever as to be tripped by his own wit.
Thus his curiosity grew about the domain in which Feng Qi believed he could prevail.
Feng Qi said, “The Sand and Wind Festival hasn’t ended yet—the stage should still be standing?”
Xue Wuhen thought, No wonder this is the disciple I schemed so hard to acquire. As expected, clever enough.
Feng Muyun considered that if this was the challenge, Feng Qi might indeed have a chance of winning.
When Mo Gu heard mention of the Sand and Wind Festival, a contemplative look crossed his face. “You want me to face you with the strength I had at sixteen?”
Feng Qi replied, “If we compared knowledge at sixteen, that would be too harsh; but in other respects, it’s difficult for me to surpass you, so I must resort to this lesser stratagem.”
Mo Gu chuckled softly. “You are aware it’s a lesser stratagem?”
Feng Qi said, “If a lesser stratagem is the only way, I consider it the best of all.”
Hearing the insincerity in Feng Qi’s tone, Mo Gu smiled, then said, “It seems your master still hasn’t told you everything.”
His smile faded, replaced by an utterly solemn tone. “You’ve read many books, and your master has told you some things. It shouldn’t be difficult to deduce my real name.”
Feng Qi replied, “It took me some time to work it out.”
Mo Gu said, “Then you should know that, though I’ve been defeated by quite a few in my life, in my youth, there were very few peers who could catch my eye.”
Feng Qi said, “Yet you have been defeated, even in your youth—and by two people.”
Mo Gu replied, “Anyone would consider it an honor to be defeated by those two.”
He paused, then continued, “Those two, along with the one in the Palace of Eternal Night—only those three were able to best me in my youth.”
Feng Qi thought, You’ve just named the three most powerful figures in the continent’s history—what more is there to say?
Feng Qi smiled. “Are you saying all this to persuade me to give up?”
Mo Gu replied, “I merely wish you to be more cautious.”
After all, he had already stood atop the mountain’s peak.
Even if he could not use the strength of the summit, he still possessed the insight gained there.
Such vision was enough to keep him undefeated, no matter the opponent’s place on the List of the Illustrious.
“You have been defeated, but I have not,” Feng Qi said seriously. “That is what I wanted to say.”
Mo Gu was momentarily taken aback, then realized it was true.
He wanted to retort, but found he could not—for the young man before him had indeed never suffered a single defeat since his debut.
Feng Qi smiled. “In the same realm, I can be invincible in the world; among my peers, I can dazzle through the ages.”
Mo Gu considered this carefully, then finally sighed. “It seems you have reason to say such words.”
Feng Qi asked, “Then you agree?”
Mo Gu nodded. “But I do not agree to competing by age.”
Feng Qi was puzzled. Why not?
Xue Wuhen mocked from the side, “You can’t figure that out?”
Feng Qi thought, How could I, when there’s no context?
Xue Wuhen said, “Did he not already give you the answer?”
Feng Qi thought for a moment, then turned to Mo Gu. “A contest of equal realms?”
Mo Gu laughed. “My talent is not as great as yours; naturally, I must grant you some advantage.”
Feng Qi did not respond immediately.
He thought it through carefully, then nodded. “Shall we depart now?”
Mo Gu raised his brows. “Or would you rather wait until dawn, so all of Yanbei can watch the match?”
Feng Qi replied, “That would not necessarily be a bad thing. After all, I won’t be the one to lose face.”
You won’t be the one to lose face... Are you so sure of your victory?
Mo Gu thought this boy was a little like the old emperor, always able to utter infuriating words with perfect composure.
“Youth is naturally high-spirited, but this is unfair to me,” Mo Gu suddenly said.
“Oh? Guardian of the Winds, are you planning to go back on your word?”
Mo Gu shook his head. “No, what I mean is, if you win, I must answer your question. But you haven’t said what happens if you lose.”
Feng Qi considered. “What does the Guardian wish?”
Mo Gu said softly, “If I win, I hope you will return with me to Wuyang to report.”
Without waiting for Feng Qi’s reply, he added, “Of course, if you return with me, the Prince of Yanbei will remain in Yanbei.”
Feng Muyun frowned.
Xue Wuhen eyed Mo Gu askance, wondering what motive lay behind his proposal.
Feng Qi replied, “Very well. Letting my father go was never the best choice. Even now, perhaps he does not see the whole picture; it is better that I go instead.”
Feng Muyun was startled, then furious.
Yet with Xue Wuhen and Mo Gu present, he dared not let his anger show, and so began coughing violently.
Steward Fei thoughtfully brought him some tea and soothed his breath.
Mo Gu glanced at Steward Fei, sensing something odd about the stout old man, though he couldn’t place what it was.
Feng Qi said, “Since everything has been settled, let us go.”
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