Chapter 45
The first reason Zhuo Fengru didn’t kill Kongcang was Miguo Branch’s backing. The second reason was the poison that he personally witnessed Kongcang employ to effortlessly beat someone he considered tough competition.
Despite appearing emotionless on the surface, Zhuo Fengru’s stomach was in knots. He didn’t believe Ming Feizhen was an immediate concern as he couldn’t have gotten rid of the poison so soon, but Ming Feizhen didn’t resemble a victim of poison from the way he rose or poised himself. If he had time on his hands, he’d muse whether Ming Feizhen really needed him to take out Kongcang just now.
“Lord Miguo is at Shennong,” Ming Feizhen said out of the blue. “Lord Miguo is the leader of one of three branches of the Western Region’s Lotus Cult. Years ago, he decided to develop his career in the Central Plain after his failure in the Western Regions. At present, their group numbers around a thousand people, with skilled members connected even to the underworld. Lord Miguo’s signature discipline is called ‘Karma’, a discipline that empowers him to transfer internal energy he absorbs into another body. That’s how he grew so much in a matter of years and gained influence rivalling their cult’s leader.”
Hua Qing raised his hand. “The name of the discipline doesn’t sound very dangerous. Why transfer energy to someone else instead of keeping it for yourself?”
Zhuo Fengru cracked a smile. “That’s actually what makes him smart. He provokes people into fighting him, absorbs their energy, then passes the energy on. Those who receive the gift feel grateful and indebted. Those who hear about the blessing will imagine what they could do if they could receive some energy. How many people do you think, like Kongcang, are constantly looking for ways to reap benefits without labour? I’m also an example of someone who was lucky. Thanks to Lord Miguo’s strategy, he has plenty of reliable subordinates now. If you think building an army of elites is the extent of his ambition, you couldn’t be more wrong. I heard he can also retrieve the energy he passes out.”
Hua Qing: “Doesn’t that mean he can recollect those thousand people’s energy on a whim?”
“If he absorbs it all back, the clashing attributes of styles will likely lead to instant death. Besides, at his current level, he can’t house that much energy. That’s the reason he urgently needs two items, one being Xu Clan’s sarira to convert all the energies into the same attribute. The second thing he needs is the highest level of Vajra Realm to store the energy. At the moment, only Lord Wugou can endure the volume of energy. Anyone else will lose their mind. As he is supposedly the only individual in possession of it, Lord Miguo can’t leave Shennong. Should Lord Miguo succeed, you’ll be able to count on one hand the number of people who can stop him.”
Hua Qing squeezed his garments, mentally feeling the weight on his shoulders.
“You done?” Ming Feizhen asked.
“Yes,” replied Zhuo Fengru.
“Let’s start throwing hands, then.”
“Wait. We agreed to lure Kongcang. We have completed our deal. I’ve also shared everything I know about Miguo Branch. I haven’t heckled you for crossing the line and exposing my family secret, so why do you keep picking a bone with me?”
In their fight just now, Ming Feizhen used Voice Transmission to convey his plan to expose Kongcang. Had it not been for the circumstances, they would’ve resumed their fight after Zhuo Fengru feigned injury because of Ming Feizhen’s act.
Ming Feizhen smugly crossed his arms. “Why don’t you heckle me, then?”
“Now that Kongcang’s plot has been foiled, Miguo Branch won’t spare this old one. As a man with a family, this old one won’t engage in meaningless fights.”
“… There’s always been someone I wanted to beat ever since I started training; however, I lost every time. I’ve been reflecting every day. I’m confident in my strength and technique, but speed is something I’m unable to grasp. My school does have movement syllabuses, but they’re not for my personality, so I doubted I could ever get anything out of them. In comparison, your Aerial Flower Divine Seal is right up my alley.”
That was the first time Zhuo Fengru saw a genuinely happy Ming Feizhen, albeit too happy for what was acceptable.
“Unfortunately, the skills belong to Xu Clan. This old one already feels bad about learning Xu Clan’s skills, so he will not impart them to anyone besides Yupin.”
“You don’t have to teach me. I just want to have a crack.” Ming Feizhen smiled. “My shifu told me skills learnt without permission are statistically more solid. I won’t understand even if you give me a lecture on it. One proper fight, on the other hand, will shed a light on everything.”
“Thank you for being honest. This old one sh-”
“Besides, even if I don’t bring it up, you were planning to drop me when the opportunity presented itself, weren’t you?”
Nobody could keep up with Ming Feizhen and Zhuo Fengru’s pace because they never detected any insincerity on Zhuo Fengru’s part.
“You have surprised this old one again. How did you know?”
“It’s not that hard to figure out. Our truce was only temporary; we’re not friends. I’m friendly with Liu Shan Men. Your collusion with Miguo Branch is out. You’d assume I’ll try to detain you. Logically, it’d be wisest to put my lights out while the poison is still besetting me. You’ll have been long gone by the time I woke up. I knew you were targeting me from the moment you slept Kongcang, then turned to me instead of finishing him. I’m just being candid to make things easier for you.”
Zhuo Fengru let out a heaven-bound sigh. “I’ve said this sort of thing many times. If you don’t consider me a nag, allow me to repeat myself. You really are… impressive!” Punctuating his own sentence, Zhuo Fengru added the period in as he seemingly teleported up to Ming Feizhen’s face. “Don’t move forward.” His two fingers were akin to a loaded arrow sitting right in front of Ming Feizhen’s forward. “You can’t beat me in a speed contest.”
Ming Feizhen took two necessary steps back.
“You are prudent and strong. In a decade from now, you’ll surpass me as long as you keep it up. Today, nevertheless, I am a notch above you.”
Ming Feizhen, hand at his chin, mumbled, “Nah, that’s not it… Mm, it should be like this.” He stepped back to his previous spot. “I won’t accept the praise. You told me not to come forward, did you?” Ming Feizhen whipped his neck forward.
Zhuo Fengru bound back with his eyes stretched as he watched the blood pouring from his two fingers.
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