47 A discovery

"Oh! An increase in Mental prowess!"

[Indeed… If you did not challenge yourself in your mindscape. Only use me to your advantage. You, would not have benefited from the situation]

"Wait… Mindscape? Am I not in my mindspace or something?"

[Yes, you are. However,  that mindspace of yours is now your Mindscape. Not a space, but a world of its own. Your own reality, your own universe, your own dimension]

"So… This reality of mine is its own separate reality where things can actually exist…? Wait! Did I bring that old man's actual body here?!" Xin Feng panicked, as he was worried that he actually killed the old man.

[No, you are too weak for such]

*Phew…* "Thank you for reminding me how insignificant I am."

'If I actually killed that old man…. That would've been messed up, since I wouldn't have an explanation. Nobody knows what I truly am, after all. It was me who had killed him and not his son.'

'That damned irresponsible geezer who would've killed his own son if it wasn't for my capabilities. He deserves to be death already for such carelessness!'

*Sigh* 'I'm not someone who would kill recklessly though… That's why I only took out my frustration on him in some type of simulation.'

"So, Balance… Basically, the more I fight other minds in my mindscape, the more my mental strength increase? And if things go south, I can just get assistance from you? Wait wait wait. So, basically, like leveling up but better since I'll never fall in danger thanks to you?"

[Yes]

"Alrighty!"

Xin Feng had a wide smile because of his new discovery. "Okay, you can take me back" He requested, when he had finished processing what he'd been told.

*Fwoosh*

Xin Feng returned to the same spot before he used the technique. The old man was still covered in flames, but within a second, he fell unconscious and his flames died down. To make sure the old man wouldn't get injured, Xin Feng flew towards him and prevented him from falling at the ground.

"Is he okay?" Hua Mei asked as she flew closer to Xin Feng.

"He's breathing, I guess. He just used too much Qi when he fought against me. He should be all right after some soup."

"You sure know how to joke around, huh?"

"We don't want to make a sad situation sadder, do we?"

"We should head back to let him rest." Xin Feng suggested, before they flew next to each other in the direction of the village. When they arrived, the five outer disciples were already outside, waiting for the two to get down. The outer disciples were surprised to see that Xin Feng had brought back a sect master, and got glad that they were able to get back a strong ally. A quick order to take care of the sect master was given by Hua Mei, before she headed with Xin Feng to a different building to rest.

*Ha* She let out a breath, before she proceeded to complain to Xin Feng how exhausted she was from getting chased continuously. Xin Feng let out his exhaustion as well, telling her how he had almost died from the raging old man. After they've taken in enough air to feel at ease, the two of them sat crossed legged, practicing cultivation until they had fully recovered their spiritual energy.

"Psst, want to have some fun, my dear comrade~" Xin Feng whispered to Hua Mei's ear when he felt that enough time had passed for her to have restored enough Qi.

"Sure. What do you want to do?"

"Mindscape… Expansion~" He muttered the name of the technique, which cultivators rarely do. With the mental cultivation technique, Hua Mei was brought to his mindscape. The moment she gained the knowledge of where she was, Xin Feng was holding her between his arm already with one of the most uncomfortable smiles she had ever seen on him.

"I think you're going to love this." He whispered to her once again. "Fight me!"

"What…?" Hua Mei asked in confusion, but she still took a fighting stance.

"Let me tell you a little secret I discovered… Fighting against someone here, is a battle of mental power and imagination. By doing a difficult task, and repeating it, you'll improve in that task, right?"

"Uhuh…"

"Now, what do you think wi-"

"Wait! Wait! … Ha… Hahahaha! Why didn't I realize this as well! Yes, yes, yes! Who thought you could train your mental power like this, instead of simply increasing your cultivation level!"

She closed in to Xin Feng, and embraced him as he did before while yelling instead of whispering, "This is why I love you! Someone who can keep up and even surpass my mindset! Brilliant!"

"Ouch-ouch… Not so romantic yelling in my ears, you know…"

"It is to me~ hehe…" Hua Mei released her grip, before she gave Xin Feng a slap to the back of his head. "Alright, let's begin."

The two took their stance, ready to fight. "Mystifying wings of Ulswright!" Hua Mei was the first one to get on offense. "Oh! You're going to practice that technique on me too, huh?" Xin Feng teased while he ran around Hua Mei to avoid the sharp wings.

"Mystifying wings of Ulswright!" He yelled as well when he was far enough from the sharp wings.

The same type of attacks came flying towards each other, and in the end, Xin Feng's attack got destroyed while the one from Hua Mei scattered into particles after doing its job. "Mystifying wings of Ulswright!" Hua Mei yelled again, which Xin Feng responded by yelling the name of the same technique. The two kept throwing the same attacks, until both their Qi were almost drained. Both of them used a similar amount of Qi for the technique, but the difference was that the strenght of Hua Mei's technique was at the Nascent level. She could lower the power of her technique and prolong the number of times that she can use it, but because she wanted to improve and not have fun, she made her efforts.

The two switched from cultivation techniques to martial techniques, before they began fighting aggressively in close combat.

"Hey there, handsome." Xin Feng grinned as he appeared close to her face. He then placed his arms around her neck, before sending a kick with his knee at her abdomen. The moment Xin Feng released her, she coughed so hard that some of her saliva ended up on Xin Feng's face.

"Ugh… Is that the way you kiss your husband?" Xin Feng uttered with disgust as he wiped her saliva from his face. As he said the few words, Hua Mei managed to accurately spit inside his mouth.

"You like that, don't you?"

*Gulp* "What kind of disgusting weirdo do you think I am?" He continued by pretending while wiping the saliva off his face. The second he had finished his sentence, he launched a sudden sneak attack by locking his arms around her waist to throw her behind him. Hua Mei knew his scheming tricks though. Thanks to the spars they had before, she was able to learn some of his techniques, which was why she was able to counter his attack. In a quick motion, she locked her arms around his chest, lifted him, and threw him behind her.

…

"Ouch… Good job on the counter attack." Xin Feng struggled to tal, as his back was aching from the force that she used to slam him on the ground.

"You're quite heavy for a profound cultivator…!" She huffed in exhaustion, as her arm was lying below Xin Feng. After she had gasped enough air, she pushed him away from her shoulder, before she continued to say "It took all of my strength to counter you!"

"You think I'll make it easy for you to lift me?"

"Tch! You, cheater."

"Hey! I would never cheat on my lovely wife, kay~" Xin Feng teased about the subject of them being married again, as he would often do between some of their conversation. 

It was because Hua Mei had confirmed their true comradeship with marriage, which was why Xin Feng couldn't help his flirting. Hua Mei didn't mind of course, and would always tease him as well whenever she had the opportunity to. His teasing had put her at ease from her worries that she used to have, due to the method that she had used to confirm if he was her destined true comrade that she felt she was missing. It made her glad knowing that he was okay with her being married to him, which was why she teased him as well, since she didn't mind building a relationship with him. They had a lot in common and were true comrades that could trust each other after all.

"Sure thing, hubby" She went on with his teasing, as she stroked his hair that had grown a bit longer already. "You know… If you don't mind, of course. But, how do you have the ability to control wind as well?"

"Hehe, of course I don't mind." Xin Feng muttered. "How can I say this… Talent? A gift from the higher celestials? Yes… I guess that's it. A blessing and a gift from a powerful being."

"You must be lucky… Makes me kind of jealous, honestly."

"Hey… That's why I'm here for you. To cover for the things that you don't have. Also, I think you'll do pretty well with your training addiction."

"Hey!" She pouted.

"…"

"Thank you…"