"You... how did you get here?" The shadow figure spun around abruptly, and upon seeing the teenager standing before him, his expression turned ugly. Intense fear caused him to tremble uncontrollably.
He suddenly recalled a warning from his leader before setting out: "Don't touch Chen Feng of the Dragon Domain if you can help it. And if you must, never act yourselves, as none of us is his match! Also, when dealing with Ling Feng of the Phoenix Domain, you must lure him away. Absolutely do not provoke him when he goes berserk... Back when he was only a Second-Tier Dou Shi, a fit of rage from him leveled the Imperial Palace of the Luo Qi Empire and resulted in the deaths of over three thousand guards... Now that his cultivation is higher, and with the Dragon Domain backing him, if we drive him mad, we might never know peace again..."
Because of this warning, he had wasted an enormous amount of time, devising several complex schemes to avoid any direct confrontation with Chen Feng. He had finally managed to lure him away, so how was he here already?
"Weren't you... tied up by the Enforcement Squad?" The shadow figure blurted out in his agitation.
"Get rid of that damned formation of yours!" Chen Feng ignored his question, pointing a finger at the formation trapping Ling Feng.
The shadow figure's eyes darted around. "I'll have them dismantle the formation if you spare my life?"
"You dare to negotiate terms with me?" Chen Feng frowned, conjuring a ball of flame at his fingertip and striking down towards one of the shadow figure's arms.
"Ah..." A miserable shriek followed as the right arm was severed cleanly at the shoulder.
"Spare me, and I'll have them... Ah..." Before he could finish, the left arm was also cut off at the shoulder.
"You... Ah..." The shadow figure let out another wretched cry as his right leg dropped simultaneously.
"I'll dismantle it... Ah..." Another scream of agony. The left leg followed.
"I... I agreed to everything... Why are you still..."
"I was merely reminding you. You have no standing to negotiate with me! Furthermore, I despise anyone who targets me or the people I care about!" Chen Feng stated coldly. He rummaged through the shadow figure's belongings and found a spatial accessory. He surmised that the Divine Power Crystal Beans used moments before must have come from this, so he unceremoniously pocketed it. With a casual motion, he embedded a thread of flame energy into the figure's body and tossed him behind, "Keep an eye on him!"
Di, standing not far away, observed Chen Feng (Iori Yagami) and noted that his current demeanor had not diminished from the past—still wild, ruthless, perhaps even more so. Her heart fluttered involuntarily. She couldn't help but think, If I were in danger, would he rush to save me like this, disregarding public fury? Alas... perhaps that kind of selfless devotion ended after that incident before the Rookie Selection Tournament!
Such thoughts brought a wave of melancholy.
It was no wonder she was saddened. Chen Feng had once held genuinely good feelings for her—he gifted her a Fifth-Grade Dou Core, rescued her from bandits, and agreed to team up with her for the tournament... Even after her personality stabilized, the first thing he did was give her a small red bow...
But what had she done? Nothing but deception and harm!
A sincere love had once been laid before her, and she failed to cherish it. By the time she understood, he was already gone—forever gone, never to return...
In truth, this mirrored the dynamics between men and women in reality: women often undervalued the man who first loved them, whereas the man who first loved her was often the most genuine!
Moreover, women should never try to prompt a man to say 'break up.' When a woman says it, it often isn't what she truly means, and even if it is, a man can usually coax her back with careful apologies and placating words. But once a man seriously declares a separation, even if the woman weeps like twisted rope, ten oxen pulling won't make him turn back!
Because this is the way it is: men can tolerate a woman's whims, endure her irrationality, and even forgive her infidelity. But never treat these concessions as an unending capital. One day, if he is truly heartbroken, then no matter how much you change, how much better you become, even transforming into the best woman in the world, it will be useless!
Because you deeply wounded his pride as a man. If he lacks that dignity, then he isn't worthy of being called a man!
Di knew that ever since Iori Yagami heartbrokenly burned that red bow to ashes, she had lost any hope of entering his heart again, because... she had used his gratitude to deceive him, causing him profound pain!
"Sigh!" She sighed, looking up only to see the shadow figure staring at her with wide, disbelieving eyes.
It was no wonder. The shadow figure could never have imagined that after sending someone to impersonate Chen Feng and abduct her, she would not only refrain from angering upon waking but even side with Chen Feng after letting the Fist Emperor take charge for her...
"What are you looking at!" Judy snapped, lifting her right foot and kicking towards the shadow figure's head.
"Bang!"
"Ah..."
The pathetic shadow figure saw only blackness before fainting instantly. He probably died without ever knowing why she suddenly kicked him...
………………………………………………………………
The formation formed by the five individuals continued to surround Ling Feng. Trapped inside, she couldn't see the situation outside and remained completely unaware of what had transpired.
The pressure within the formation intensified, and dark, inky power lashed against her like a hurricane. Her mind grew hazy, and she was on the verge of collapse.
"Chen Feng, goodbye!" she murmured, a sharp pain piercing her heart. Just as she prepared to yield resistance, she felt the formation shudder, as if it were about to crumble.
"What's happening?" She couldn't believe her senses. These five, bolstered by divine power, were immensely strong; they shouldn't be running out of steam. Yet, if that wasn't the case, why was the formation shaking?
She didn't have much time to ponder before a bright light flashed before her eyes, and a figure flew horizontally towards her—bones utterly shattered, clearly beyond saving. Immediately after, she saw the silhouette of a teenager striding toward her.
"Chen Feng... is that really you? Is it truly you?" Ling Feng cried out in excitement, throwing herself into his embrace before everything faded to black, and she passed out...
………………………………………………………………
Looking at the corpses strewn everywhere, all killed by a single punch that shattered their spines from Chen Feng, Di finally believed her Master's words completely.
Her own talent for cultivation was fast enough—she possessed the Rootless Water Domain, a rare field among the Five Elemental Limits—and under the Fist Emperor's guidance, her progress had been rapid. She had once thought she could keep pace with him, yet upon reunion, the gap seemed wider than ever!
"Is this Sister Ling Feng?" Judy approached, looking at Ling Feng unconscious in Chen Feng's arms.
Chen Feng glanced at her but offered no acknowledgement. He gently laid Ling Feng flat on the ground, produced a pill, and fed it to her, carefully helping her dissolve its medicinal properties.
"She is truly beautiful..." Judy exclaimed sincerely upon seeing Ling Feng on the ground. For all her self-assurance in her own beauty, she rarely found girls worthy of such praise. Only Wu Xian Ya Ni, whom she had once envied, but only for her dancing.
She had even thought to herself that if Iori Yagami missed out on her, he would never find another girl as beautiful and strong as she was... But the moment she saw Ling Feng, this conviction shattered. In Ling Feng's ethereal, otherworldly grace, Judy felt an instant sense of being a clown!
Perhaps only a woman like this is worthy of him! What am I...? In that instant, Judy’s self-confidence was utterly crushed.
Chen Feng was oblivious to the complex thoughts churning behind him in the woman nearby. After checking Ling Feng and confirming she was only exhausted and not seriously harmed, he finally relaxed.
He turned, dragged the shadow figure—now a limp rag doll—over, and kicked him sharply in a vital spot, jolting him awake.
"I ask you; tell me the truth, or I will subject you to the cruelest torment known to man!"
The shadow figure nodded. If he didn't speak now, only death awaited!
"Who are you, and why did you target Ling Feng and me?" Chen Feng demanded.
"We are..." Before he could finish, a 'Pfft' sound was heard. The shadow figure's eyes popped wide open; a hole the thickness of a finger bled profusely from the back of his already severed head.
A figure clad in a black robe turned and ascended toward the sky.
"Where do you think you're going!" Having witnessed the man killed right in front of him, Chen Feng roared, executing a Ghost Step. He shot forward like a streak of lightning that tore through time and space, seizing the black-robed figure by the neck.
"Who are you..." Chen Feng asked, but before the words were out, blood seeped from the corner of the black-robed figure's mouth; he was already dead.
This one was clearly a hard bone. After killing the shadow figure, seeing escape impossible, he chose suicide!
The lead was lost. Chen Feng returned, feeling frustrated, only to find Ling Feng awake by the time he reached her.
"Are you alright..."
"Are you alright!"
Chen Feng and Ling Feng spoke the question simultaneously.
Ling Feng wanted to ask if Chen Feng had faced any accusations from the Fist Emperor, while Chen Feng wanted to know if she felt any lingering discomfort.
Yet, asking at the same moment filled both their hearts with a strange sweetness.
It was understandable; neither was particularly eloquent. Even a simple word of concern usually felt comforting, let alone this near parting of life and death!
Di watched the two from a distance and finally understood why the cold Iori Yagami would favor this girl. They were similar souls: cold on the outside but warm within, never deceiving each other, never intending harm. If one faced peril, the other would fight through fire and water to save them!
If Iori Yagami were in danger, would I save him like this? A random thought crossed Judy's mind. Suddenly, she clenched her fists, her eyes filled with determination: "I would. I really would!"
ps: This is the third update for today, a bit late. I've been adjusting my state. Old Cliff doesn't want to owe anyone anything, especially since everyone has been tipping me. I can't just ignore my promises. It's already midnight, so I'll write one more chapter before sleeping to make up today's required twelve thousand words!!! (To be continued. For the rest of the story, please log on to www**com for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)