The sound registered as vaguely familiar to Chen Feng, but it wasn't until he saw Jilisha that he immediately recognized her.

While it’s true that a girl changes significantly over the years, the fundamental outline of her appearance remains, so when their eyes met, Chen Feng recognized her instantly.

Angelisha had known Chen Feng was on Fist King Island, but meeting him under these circumstances made her face flush crimson like a tablecloth, and she dared not look up.

Chen Feng was only startled, not thinking much of it; this girl was merely a former teammate, and there were no deeper emotions involved, unlike Judy, who was entangled with a thread of hatred.

However, Chen Feng couldn't help but feel a touch of melancholy: both of his teammates from the Locke Empire had become disciples of the Fist King—what a twist of fate!

Thinking of this, Chen Feng restrained himself and asked, "Xiao Qiang, exactly how many senior and junior apprentices do you have?"

"Just the three of us! What’s wrong?" Long Xiaoqiang knew why he was asking.

"Nothing!"

It was no wonder Chen Feng asked; he had initially thought he didn't know the Fist King, but upon meeting him, the man turned out to be Senior Yanlong’s artificial god. He then assumed he wouldn't know the Fist King's disciples, only to find that everyone was somehow connected to him...

Yet, there was one thing Chen Feng still couldn't grasp: if the Fist King was Senior Yanlong’s artificial god, why didn't he protect the Dragon Domain? And why did the people of the Dragon Domain currently know nothing about the relationship between the Fist King and their Dragon God?

"Yagami..." Angelisha saw Chen Feng glance at her before turning to speak with Long Xiaoqiang, ignoring her completely. Her face paled, and she whispered the name, her voice steeped in bitterness.

"Junior Sister, what is it you need so late?" Long Xiaoqiang asked.

"It’s like this..." Before she could finish speaking, a voice called from outside.

"Sister Angelisha, Sister Jilisha..."

The voice struck like chimes of metal and stone, clear and lovely, sounding like that of a little girl.

"It's... Jin Ling!" Angelisha quickly explained.

"Jin Ling?" Long Xiaoqiang frowned.

"Well, I couldn't sleep tonight... I went out for a walk, and I ran into Jin Ling, a girl from the Tiger Domain. She was being clingy, and I had no choice but to run here to seek refuge with you!" Angelisha explained.

"You call this refuge? You're bringing trouble to me!" Long Xiaoqiang shook his head and said, "In the middle of the night, who knows if Master has slept. If she wakes Master by shouting out here, that would be bad. Ask her to come in!"

Angelisha responded and called out, "Jin Ling, come in, I’m here!"

Chen Feng felt a slight reserve upon hearing it was someone from the Tiger Domain. He was merely a guest and didn't find it appropriate to say much.

As soon as Angelisha finished speaking, a girl strode into the room. Chen Feng glanced sideways and saw she was the spitting image of the girl who had been captured in the Dragon Domain. The Tiger Domain had truly put in great effort to find someone to impersonate the little princess back then.

Jin Ling appeared rather slight, with large, bright eyes, possessing a very delicate and charming appearance.

She rushed directly to Angelisha upon entering the room: "Sister, you still haven't told me who you were thinking about! Could it be..."

As Jin Ling said this, she looked mischievously at Chen Feng and Long Xiaoqiang sitting at the table, blinking her eyes.

She placed the index finger of her right hand near her mouth, tilted her head, and observed the two men for a long moment, projecting the image of a little girl. With a turn of her eye, she pointed at Long Xiaoqiang: "Could it be him?"

Angelisha quickly said, "Don't talk nonsense, he is my Senior Brother!"

"Hehe, I get it. Since he's your Senior Brother, then the other one must be the one!" Jin Ling looked towards Chen Feng, only to see his expression unchanged. Feeling bored, she remarked, "You wouldn't be thinking of him? He looks like someone owes him hundreds of dollars. How could you possibly like him?"

Angelisha's face turned as red as blood, and for a moment, she couldn't utter a word.

Long Xiaoqiang, aware of his junior sister's situation, saw her embarrassment and quickly pretended to cough a couple of times, asking Jin Ling, "You are Jin Xuanhu's daughter, Miss Jin Ling from the Tiger Domain?"

"Of course, it's me! Who else could be this adorable?" Jin Ling replied with a playful air.

Long Xiaoqiang had heard that the Tiger Domain's little princess was spoiled and willful, forever acting like a child, causing chaos in the Tiger Domain. Now, it seemed the rumors were indeed "well-deserved"!

"Why aren't you welcoming me?" Jin Ling asked, annoyed when he asked a question and then fell silent.

"No, of course not! How could we not welcome Princess Jin Ling of the Tiger Domain? I meant... um... since you are here, it is fate. Why don't we all sit down and have a meal!"

"Great!" Jin Ling was so excited she nearly jumped up. She immediately sat on the opposite side of the table and pulled Angelisha along: "Sister, let's eat too. I only ate this afternoon, and then I had a fight with you again. Now I’m starving!"

Angelisha had no choice but to sit down, and her seat happened to be close to Chen Feng. She secretly glanced at him, only to see his expression hadn't changed, seemingly unconcerned with her presence, which made her feel inexplicably sad.

Jin Ling was naturally familiar with people and paid no attention to the two men on either side, digging into her food heartily, her movements completely lacking any ladylike grace.

Chen Feng looked at her curiously. Seeing that she didn't recognize him, he suddenly remembered that in the entire day he had been here, he hadn't actually seen this girl before; the one captured previously was merely a stand-in!

However, recalling that she was Jin Xuanhu's daughter made him slightly uncomfortable. He said to Long Xiaoqiang, "It's getting late today. Let's meet another day. I have to participate in the Five-Total Assembly tomorrow, so I'll head back now!" With that, he stood up.

"Then... alright!" Long Xiaoqiang shook his head helplessly. He had hoped to chat with Chen Feng for a while longer, but this little girl had spoiled things.

Jin Ling glanced over and saw Angelisha biting her lip, a shadow of gloom in her bright eyes. Although Jin Ling was carefree and childish, she wasn't foolish. Seeing the situation, she immediately understood something. She wiped the grease from her mouth and strode forward in two steps, blocking Chen Feng's path.

"Hey, don't rush off!"

"What is it?" Chen Feng's face showed displeasure.

Jin Ling puffed out her chest and tilted her chin up: "It’s nothing. You’re leaving right after I arrive. Are you not giving me face?"

It was somewhat amusing for a little girl to talk about 'face.'

"Nonsense!" Chen Feng stepped around her to leave.

"No!" Jin Ling stepped up again.

Angelisha knew Jin Ling’s nature and stood up, grabbing her arm: "Alright, Jin Ling, stop fooling around..."

"Sister Angelisha, you are just too soft-hearted. If you keep being like this, how will anyone ever like you? Watch me!" Jin Ling finished and turned to Chen Feng, saying, "Do you like my sister?"

Chen Feng realized this was why she was blocking him. He glanced at Angelisha, seeing that although she was ashamed, there was a flicker of expectation in her eyes. He said, "I must leave now, please allow me to pass!"

He felt a slight displeasure in his heart. He still held a deep impression of Jilisha; the various methods her grandfather, the Imperial War God, had used to test him years ago were still like a fish bone stuck in his psyche. What was this girl up to? First, she lets his grandfather test him, and now she sends an immature little girl to ask if he likes her... He truly didn't understand what she was thinking!

"Hmm? Senior Sister Angelisha is such a good girl, yet you still say you want to leave? Does that mean you don't like her?" Jin Ling stared at Chen Feng and asked.

"Unreasonable!" Chen Feng sighed. He activated a Teleportation Spell and instantly moved outside the side hall.

He didn't want to create any issues with the two girls. Although Jin Xuanhu had nearly killed him, he was still Jin Ling's father, so there was no need to lose his temper over a girl—that would be showing too little magnanimity.

"What? Trying to run away?" Jin Ling shrieked, and her body instantly transformed into a streak of light, shooting outward.

The Four Divine Beasts’ Jin Xuanhu was most skilled in speed, and Jin Ling, inheriting her father's bloodline, was naturally fast. In an instant, she appeared before Chen Feng again, blocking his path.

"Angelisha, what exactly is going on?" Long Xiaoqiang watched the clownish Jin Ling and couldn't help but ask her curiously, "How do you know this girl?"

"I..." Angelisha paused, suddenly unable to speak.

Like Judy, she had gone out at night because she couldn't sleep, missing someone. She was then bumped into by Jin Ling, who teased her and even got into a fight with her. Unexpectedly, the fight led to familiarity, and Jin Ling admired her immensely, clinging to her and insisting on knowing who she was thinking about...

How could she possibly bring herself to say it? But Jin Ling was relentless, leaving her no choice but to flee to her Senior Brother, hoping he could make her leave...

These matters were simple, but how could Angelisha articulate them? So when Long Xiaoqiang asked, she was instantly silenced.

..................................................

"I heard you are participating in the Five-Total Assembly tomorrow. I want to see what you're capable of! How about we make a bet? If you win, I'll let you leave smoothly. If you lose, you must stay here and accompany my Senior Sister Angelisha, and apologize to her into the bargain!"

Chen Feng intended to ignore her and turn to leave, but as his eyes darted forward, Jin Ling reappeared: "What? Scared? I thought the person Senior Sister Angelisha likes would be amazing, but it turns out he’s just a coward!"

"Are you ever going to stop? I only know Angelisha; we aren't even friends!" Chen Feng couldn't help but clarify.

But as soon as he said this, he heard a soft moan from not far away. Turning around, he saw Angelisha, her face paper-white, flying nearby, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

"Unbelievable!" Chen Feng thought with a sense of indignation.

It was understandable if Judy liked him, given the long time they spent together and the entanglement of many shared experiences. But with Angelisha, he had barely spent any time with her—only practicing coordination a few times before the competition, and he had even disciplined the girl a few times. Did disciplining her cause her to like him too?

It was no wonder Chen Feng felt aggrieved. In reality, Angelisha did like him. As the granddaughter of the Imperial War God, who among ordinary people dared to look down on her? Chen Feng had thrown a hidden hook at her right away, which had certainly planted a seed in her heart. Then came her grandfather's tests, which gradually brought the young man closer to her, until the seed took root and blossomed.

As someone in a movie from Chen Feng's previous life might have said: Does liking someone need a reason?

In the season of youthful infatuation, meeting a cold yet powerful boy naturally stirs up peculiar thoughts. Later, Chen Feng's loud arguments with her grandfather in the palace... This growing worry slowly transformed into an inexplicable emotion.

"Sister Angelisha, are you okay?" Jin Ling quickly flew to her side, then turned back to Chen Feng, furiously shouting, "I can't believe you, a man, are so lacking in responsibility! I was betting with you, afraid you'd lose too badly and planned to go easy on you, but you’re ungrateful! Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of Senior Sister Angelisha! I'll make sure you lose convincingly. How about it? Do you dare?"

Chen Feng was about to ignore her, but he suddenly remembered what the Fist King had told him: to achieve victory in the competition with a high profile. Though Jin Ling was young, as a descendant of Jin Xuanhu who had reached the Saint Domain, a match against her wouldn't be considered bullying. Thus, he calmly stated, "Fine, I accept your bet!"

"Great!" Hearing him agree, Jin Ling’s eyes lit up. "Let's bet on... let's bet on who is faster?"

"A speed contest? Jin, you are a descendant of Jin Xuanhu, whose specialty is speed..." Although Angelisha’s face was pale, she tried to explain for Chen Feng.

But before she could finish, Chen Feng’s agreement was heard from nearby: "Agreed!"

"Huh?" Jin Ling had only suggested it casually, surprised that Chen Feng agreed so readily. Her large eyes blinked: "You want to compete with me in speed? Do you know who I am?" Saying this, she puffed out her chest proudly: "I am Jin Xuanhu's daughter, and speed is what I excel at, hehe. How about it? Do you regret it now?"

Jin Ling looked exceedingly pleased, smiling as she continued, "But... now that you've agreed, don't go back on your word! I'll let you see what true speed is!" She then said to Angelisha, "Sister Angelisha, watch this! I’ll make this guy lose so thoroughly he’ll admit defeat, and then he’ll apologize to you!"

"Apologize... what good is that?" Angelisha murmured vaguely, as if talking to herself. Her voice was too low for Jin Ling or the others to hear.

"How do we compete?" Chen Feng asked, wanting to dispense with the preamble.

"Hmm..." Jin Ling placed her index finger on her lips, thinking for a moment, then pointed ahead: "How about this: there’s a small island about a hundred miles ahead. We both start flying at the same time, and whoever reaches that island first wins, what do you say?"

"Fine!"

"Hehe, before we start, we need to be clear. If you lose, you must not only stay here and accompany my Senior Sister Angelisha and apologize to her, but also..." Jin Ling hesitated: "...also... I haven't decided yet. Once I figure it out, I'll tell you! Anyway, there's one more condition!"

Her approach to betting was terribly amateurish—who sets the stakes only after agreeing to the terms?

"Fine!" Chen Feng didn't care what condition she would set; he agreed immediately.

"Since you agree, let's start!" Jin Ling shouted. "Hey... Senior Brother of Senior Sister Angelisha, come over and be the referee!"

Long Xiaoqiang glanced at Chen Feng. Seeing him nod in agreement, he stepped forward and said, "Alright, I will count to three, and when I finish, you both start flying simultaneously!"

"Good!" Jin Ling responded loudly, her aura surging as she prepared herself.

"One... Two... Three!"

As soon as Long Xiaoqiang finished counting, a massive sonic boom erupted behind Jin Ling, and she had already shot forward like lightning towards the front.

A Saint Domain expert can control the elemental energy within a thousand-meter radius and can teleport freely within that range. However, teleportation takes time; first, their mental perception must reach the destination, and then they must move. This process of mental positioning requires a moment. In that time, Jin Ling, relying on her sheer speed, could probably have flown two thousand meters already, making teleportation less efficient than her flight speed for her.

As she took off, she streaked across the sky like lightning, leaving a long shadow, and vanished from sight in an instant.

"So fast!" Long Xiaoqiang couldn't help but sigh as he witnessed her speed. "As expected of Jin Xuanhu's descendant. Chen Feng might be in trouble this time! Wait, Chen Feng, why haven't you left yet..." He turned towards Chen Feng's position, and his expression instantly changed: "When did he leave? I... I didn't even notice?"

Jin Ling finished counting three and flew away. Chen Feng was still standing in place. Long Xiaoqiang turned his head immediately after, a span of less than a second. The Chen Feng who had been standing there was already gone!

..................................................

"Hmph, fool. Trying to compete in speed with me? That’s suicide," Jin Ling sneered, turning to look behind her. In the pitch-black sky, she couldn't see even a ghost of a shadow, filling her with smug satisfaction. "I haven't even seen his shadow yet, so he probably won't catch up for a while. Hehe, I'll push myself harder and fly straight to the island to wait for him, making sure he admits defeat willingly! Then I can think about what condition I want!" Jin Ling grinned, a little dimple appearing on her cheek.

"There’s a huge rock up ahead; I’ll wait for him there... Hmm, what condition should I demand? I should demand..." As Jin Ling approached the rock, still contemplating the condition she would impose upon her inevitable victory, she saw a faint human silhouette standing on top of it.

"With speed like yours, you dare challenge me? I’ve been waiting here for a while!" the silhouette said coldly, his voice carrying far over the crashing waves!

PS:: Luckily, the power didn't go out, but... there was an earthquake. Ugh. Here is the news from the Earthquake Monitoring Station: "At 13:15 (Beijing Time) on the 21st, a 5.2 (Mw) earthquake occurred in Delingha City, Qinghai Province:

Whew... Why am I so unlucky? Cold, power outage, and now an earthquake. Are they trying to kill me? Given how miserable I am, please cast two monthly tickets or recommendation votes to comfort me... (To be continued. For future developments, please log in to www**m for more chapters, supporting the author and genuine reading!)