Chapter Thirty-Seven: Taking a Bullet!

Clop! Clop! Clop!

The iron hooves of the black steed struck the ground lightly, neither hurried nor slow, producing a crisp, rhythmic sound.

White robe, black horse—every eye was drawn to the old man who walked slowly from the center of the village.

Bian Feng, clad in the white robe of the Flame Shrine, was one of the most powerful men in the Lingyang District.

The black horse halted at the rear of the Flame Army’s formation. Bian Feng gazed at Tang Fei, who was surrounded by a crowd with hundreds of gun barrels aimed at him, and spoke: “Are you Tang Fei?”

“Yes.” Tang Fei replied with a cheerful smile.

“Who here is the master of the Qi Dominion?” Bian Feng’s gaze settled on Phoenix’s face. Clearly, he recognized that this girl’s appearance and bearing were not something that could have grown from the old earth.

Perhaps before the Great Cataclysm, it was possible. But after, the old earth could never give birth to a girl so ethereal, so outstanding in temperament.

On the old earth, everyone did their utmost to survive, inevitably cultivating a certain restlessness and severity.

“It’s her.” Tang Fei followed Bian Feng’s gaze and answered, still with that cheerful smile.

“…” Phoenix.

Did this man have any sense of loyalty? He always sold out his teammates like this.

What now? Does he want me to draw their fire again?

As expected, Bian Feng’s gaze rested on Phoenix. He scrutinized her, then asked, “You killed Bian Zhenxin?”

“Who’s Bian Zhenxin?” Phoenix replied.

Since falling to the old earth, she had killed many people.

But she never bothered to remember any of their names.

“Bian Zhenxin was a Black Robe of our Flame Shrine, and also my son,” Bian Feng said.

“Oh, so he was that lecher…” Phoenix nodded. “Yes, I killed him.”

“…”

Bian Feng did not appreciate those words. Though his son was dead, he was still his son.

From the first moment he saw Phoenix, he had roughly guessed why his son had been killed.

He was no stranger to such affairs, but he hadn’t expected his son to finally kick the iron plate—to provoke a woman who was a master of the Qi Dominion.

“I don’t care why you killed him. I only need to confirm that it was you,” Bian Feng said.

“So you’re saying he could murder and burn, commit every evil, but if someone resists… or kills him, they must bear all the consequences?” Phoenix looked at Bian Feng with a mocking smile. “Is this the doctrine of the Flame Shrine? What a filthy organization.”

Bian Feng’s eyes grew sinister, though his voice remained calm. “You may be angry, lose your temper… But these are the laws of survival on the old earth. The strong devour the weak. It is the natural order.”

“Of all people, why did you kill my son? So you, and your friends… must die. I will offer your heads as sacrifice to Bian Zhenxin…”

“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.” Phoenix sneered. “If you miss him so much, I can send you to see him.”

Bian Feng looked at Phoenix in puzzlement. “At this point, do you think you have a chance to escape?”

He found it odd—this woman showed no fear whatsoever.

Though she was a Qi Dominion master, they had the Flame Army, the Predators, and cultivators dispatched from Lingyang District…

In truth, nearly all the martial might of the Hate Mountain human settlement and half of Lingyang was gathered here.

Did she think a single Qi Dominion master could break through? Utter folly.

“You never know until you try.”

“Sir, that lad is a master as well…” Bloodhand pointed at Tang Fei. “He’s also Qi Dominion…”

He had seen Tang Fei and Phoenix fight their way out earlier.

Tang Fei wielded his blade with Qi, killing swiftly and decisively—it left a deep impression.

Bloodhand was an assassin, and assassins are ruthless.

Yet watching Tang Fei kill had made his scalp tingle.

This young man was remarkable!

More ruthless than himself.

“Is that so?” Bian Feng looked at Tang Fei with interest. “As far as I know, you’re a native of the old earth?”

“That’s right. I’m from this Hate Mountain settlement,” Tang Fei replied.

There was nothing to hide. With the Flame Shrine’s power, they could easily uncover his background.

“When did the old earth produce such people?” Bian Feng asked.

“The day I was born, I suppose.”

“That must have been a good day,” Bian Feng said, calculating the strength of both sides.

Unexpectedly, they had two Qi Dominion masters. That he had not anticipated.

The woman came from the new star, which was understandable.

But where had this young man crawled out from? And why was he with her?

Most puzzling was how, on this barren, perilous land, he managed to cultivate to the Qi Dominion.

Bian Zhenxin had failed to report such crucial information to Lingyang District—a grave dereliction of duty.

“Today is a good day as well,” Tang Fei replied with a cheerful smile.

“Yes, today is a good day,” Bian Feng nodded.

A fine day to commemorate his son.

Bian Feng’s gaze was sinister, while Tang Fei’s smile was gentle.

No more words passed between them—the battle was about to erupt.

Just then, an aged voice called out, “Sir… Divine Envoy…”

“It’s the teacher,” Tang Fei said.

“Teacher?” Phoenix asked, not knowing who he was.

“Teacher is the most learned man in our village. He has many books. The ‘Reverse Scale’ I read was borrowed from him,” Tang Fei explained.

Teacher loved books, and loved telling stories from them.

Anyone who visited him would be regaled with tales from his library.

In these times, culture and knowledge are worthless, not survival skills or ways to keep one’s life.

So, though Teacher read much, told good stories, and wrote well, his family still went hungry.

Tang Fei happened to be a skilled hunter. Whenever he went up the mountain, he returned with bounty. Thus, he often borrowed books, listened to stories, or practiced calligraphy with Teacher, leaving a wild chicken or a pair of rabbit legs as thanks.

Teacher, grateful for Tang Fei’s kindness, taught him with even greater dedication. Neither ever said it, but their bond resembled the teacher-student relationship of the days before the Great Cataclysm.

A thin, elderly man in a thick robe walked over, heading straight for Bian Feng, only to be stopped by the Flame Army.

The old man handed over his wine gourd and smiled, “Divine Envoy, you have come from afar. Our villagers failed in courtesy, did not greet you properly… This gourd holds fruit wine I brewed in my leisure. I offer it to you as an apology. Please accept it.”

Bian Feng looked at the teacher, pondered a moment, then said, “I’ll take the wine. You may go.”

But the teacher did not leave. Instead, he looked around as if searching for something, then said, “I wonder, Divine Envoy, what matter has brought such a grand force here today?”

“Old man, get lost. Don’t force us to make you,” someone shouted.

“Teacher, go back,” Tang Fei called out.

He guessed what Teacher intended—a dangerous thing.

Teacher smiled at Tang Fei, then looked up at Bian Feng. “Divine Envoy, as far as I know, the Flame Shrine worships the great Flame God. Its doctrine is to ignite fire, seek light… to help the poor and helpless find hope.”

“But what I don’t understand is, today this army presses at our gates… Why against these children? Which of the Shrine’s laws or doctrines have they violated, to deserve such harsh punishment?”

“He killed a Black Robe of the Flame Shrine,” Bian Feng replied.

“And I must ask, why did they kill the Black Robe? If the Shrine acts as Heaven’s agent, should it not persuade people, win their hearts?” the teacher pressed.

“…”

Bian Feng could neither answer nor wished to.

“Old man, get lost, or I’ll cut your head off,” someone threatened.

“Take him away.”

“Tired of living, are you? Careful, or I’ll slaughter your whole family.”

-----

The Grey Robes cursed and drove him off. They knew why Tang Fei had killed the Black Robe, but pretended otherwise.

They even sought to help Bian Feng out of his predicament.

Someone like him, how could you dare to kill?

Teacher laughed and said, “You may cut off my head, shoot me, it matters little. But is there nowhere left in the light of God for reason? If word of this spreads, would it not tarnish the Divine Envoy’s name?”

“Such things…” Bian Feng looked at Teacher—these people were so naive. “Will not spread.”

“Indeed. They won’t. Once everyone is dead, where can the story go?” Teacher sighed. “Such is the world, such is the old earth. No one speaks reason, no one listens…”

“But I happened to read a few books, understand a few principles… To hide behind a door, to watch the Flame Shrine butcher innocent children— I cannot do it, and will not. I feel I must step forward and say a few words…”

“Teacher, come back… We won’t be all right…” Tang Fei called urgently.

He understood Teacher’s meaning, knew his heart.

The teacher believed Tang Fei was just a simple hunter, powerless to resist the Shrine.

So he stepped forward.

He stepped forward to reason with the Shrine…

But reason was not something they would heed.

Teacher did not turn to Tang Fei, but stood before the gun barrels of the Flame Army, his frail body resolutely blocking their aim. “I’m old, can’t do much, but I can shield you from a few bullets.”

If I block one more, there will be one less aimed at you.

“Teacher…”

“I’ll block a bullet too,” a young voice said.

It was Teacher’s younger son, who often read and wrote with Tang Fei. He was quiet but honest.

“I’ll block a bullet too.”

This time, it was Teacher’s elder son, limping as he walked.

He’d broken his leg hunting, which was why Teacher’s family often went hungry.

“And me…”

This time it was Blacksmith Zhao, whose son had been kidnapped by the Predators, forcing his family to supply weapons. By chance, Tang Fei and Fatty helped rescue his son. From then on, Tang Fei’s dagger and Fatty’s hammer were custom-made by Zhao.

“Count me in…”

This time it was Granny Hua, so old she seemed a gust of wind could topple her.

Tang Fei and Fatty loved meat, so the old man gave away his cassava and sweet potatoes to others.

One by one, family by family.

Countless tightly shut gates opened, and people, young and old, came out.

They walked to Teacher’s side, stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

We can’t do much, but we can help block a bullet.