Chapter Six: Never Take in a Stray Cat Lightly!

"This isn't about money." Tang Fei waved his hand, his expression grave.

When someone who loves money says it's not about money, it means they want more...

Fenghuang said nothing, her gaze lingering on Tang Fei with an amused glint, waiting for him to voice his refusal.

"We can't take the risk." Tang Fei spoke earnestly. "If it were just me, I'd gamble with you. What's that saying? Fortune favors the bold. In times like these, what doesn't require risk?"

"But you can see, I have an old man and a little chubby at home... One is aged, one is young, both utterly helpless..."

Fenghuang's eyes shifted to the chubby face beside them. That morning, she had witnessed the little chubby split a massive boulder weighing hundreds of pounds in two with a single strike—the dividing line straighter and longer than her own leg... Such a little monster, and he claims he's helpless?

What kind of chicken does he wish to overpower?

Fenghuang?

Ridiculous...

"I've told you, you came here to escape from those who wish to kill you. If they find you, what then? We're just pitiable people with no means to defend ourselves—how can we contend with fully armed experts? Yes, we want money, we want supplies, but more than anything, we want to keep ourselves alive..."

"I don't just want to protect myself. I want to safeguard the old man and the little chubby, even the neighbors around us—they'll be implicated too. I know how powerful your weapons on Novastar are..."

"I can't let my kindness harm other kind people... Such kindness is false virtue..."

Fenghuang nodded, acknowledging Tang Fei's words.

Then, her delicate brows arched, a captivating smile curling at her lips as she glanced sideways at Tang Fei and asked, "So, Mr. Tang Fei, what do you intend to do?"

"What do I intend to do?" Tang Fei stared at Fenghuang, bewildered. How did this become his problem?

I've told you my difficulties—shouldn't it be your turn to convince me now?

Give me weapons, give me supplies, give me everything I need... Tempt me with riches, lure me with beauty.

How did you kick the ball back to me?

"Indeed." Fenghuang nodded demurely. "You saved me, you're my benefactor, and the first person I met on this planet..."

"Just because I can't leave immediately in an escape pod, can't contact my family on Novastar, do you intend to abandon me, let me perish here?"

"You know I'm a stranger here... And I know well how insane and terrifying people on the wasteland can be. I think you're more qualified to speak on that... If you turn your backs on me, all that awaits me is certain death..."

"We must help!" The little chubby echoed earnestly from the side.

Though this woman couldn't help him smash rocks, she was beautiful, her voice pleasant, and on the way here she had told him that wielding such a large hammer at his age must have been difficult, reminding him to take care of his body and teaching him the proper way to exert force so as not to strain his waist...

What waist? He only had a belly.

She had asked his name, and he said, "I'm Little Chubby," but she insisted, "No, I mean your real name..."

Little Chubby was deeply moved. No one had ever asked his real name before, nor had any girl so lovely treated him with such gentle care.

He felt they were already friends.

He couldn’t bear to watch Tang Fei abandon her, nor could he stand to see her fall into the hands of predators or the Flame Society...

Heaven knows what monstrous acts they might commit.

Tang Fei glared fiercely at Little Chubby, surprised at how quickly a traitor had emerged in their ranks.

He studied Fenghuang thoughtfully, raising his brows. "What do you mean? You’re not trying to mooch off me, are you?"

"There’s a saying on Novastar: Never take in a stray cat."

"What does it mean?"

"It means you’ll easily grow attached to it," Fenghuang replied, her expression sly.

"..."

"Of course, I know it puts you in a difficult position. My presence increases your living costs, may even put your lives at risk..." Fenghuang spoke solemnly to Tang Fei and Little Chubby. "But I promise you won't suffer for it."

"Though my escape pod is broken and I can't contact Novastar, if I don’t check in with my family for an extended time, they’ll immediately come to Novastar to search for me... Last night, I missed the scheduled time to let them know I was safe. If I’m right, they should be on their way already..."

"When my family arrives, I’m willing to give you double the supplies—on top of our previous agreement, I’ll give you twice as much to thank you for everything you’ve done for me."

"As for those who want me dead, if they arrive too late and I’ve already been taken by my family, you can simply deny knowing me—they won’t trouble innocent... indigenous people, as that would only expose themselves."

"If they arrive early..." A fierce murderous intent flashed in Fenghuang’s eyes. She spoke coldly, "Then let them come and never leave. Rest assured, my wounds are almost healed, I’m not helpless anymore... As long as we handle it right, they won’t gain any advantage over us."

Tang Fei stared at Fenghuang. "Are you a cultivator?"

Fenghuang nodded. "Yes."

"What level are you now?" Tang Fei asked.

"Realm?" Fenghuang looked at Tang Fei. "On Novastar, we call the divisions of power 'realms'... I’ve heard the term originated from the wasteland..."

Worried that the word "wasteland" might hurt the youth’s pride, Fenghuang gave Tang Fei an apologetic glance. "Sorry, I didn’t mean—"

"It’s fine." Tang Fei shrugged nonchalantly. "Look around, isn’t this a wasteland? People living like neither man nor ghost... even the plants and animals have mutated..."

"The first rule of survival on the wasteland: nothing matters more than staying alive. As long as no one steals your food, I don’t mind if they spit in my face."

Fenghuang was startled. "Has anyone spit at you?"

"They have."

"And... what happened then?"

"He died." Tang Fei grinned, revealing that unsettling, signature smile. "He spat at me and tried to steal my prey... So I killed him."

"..."

After a long pause, Fenghuang finally looked at Tang Fei and explained, "The realm division rules on Novastar originate from the Old Land: Tempering Body, Controlling Qi, Spirit Passage, Wish Fulfillment, Grandmaster—the first five realms, collectively called the 'Mortal Realm'..."

Tang Fei nodded; this matched what the old man had told him exactly.

"Of course, the Grandmaster realm is divided into Minor Grandmaster and Major Grandmaster. Though it's just a difference in words, the power they represent and the might they contain are worlds apart... A Minor Grandmaster can guard a region; a Major Grandmaster can guard a nation. Major Grandmasters stand at the pinnacle of martial arts... Every Grandmaster is sought after by every country..."

"Beyond that, there are the Burning Star, Immortal Journey, and Domain realms, called the 'Divine Realm'... But those are legendary. I’ve never seen one... I doubt any human could reach them..."

Tang Fei’s heart surged, his gaze burning.

If one day he could step into the Grandmaster realm, be admired by the masses, revered by the world—what a glorious thing that would be!

But he also knew how slim the chances were. If it were so easy to become a Grandmaster, the world would be crawling with Minor Grandmasters and Major Grandmasters.

If that were the case, what would be special about the Grandmaster realm?

Noticing the look in Tang Fei’s eyes, Fenghuang curiously asked, "Do you cultivate?"

"No." Tang Fei shook his head. "What would we cultivate? We have no techniques, no supplements, every day worrying about how to stay alive... Just for a bite to eat, we scour the mountains... Where’s the time for cultivation?"

"That’s cultivation too," Fenghuang declared with conviction.

Tang Fei stared at her face for a long while. Fenghuang grew uncomfortable under his gaze and spoke up, "Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"You’re really beautiful," Tang Fei said earnestly. "More than me."

"..."

"But a bit of a literary bent," Tang Fei withdrew his aggressive gaze. "I’ve heard people who read too much get that way... Every step is an experience, every place a scene, every hardship is cultivation, life should be full of uncertainty..."

"Only those with full bellies talk like that. If every hunt meant life or death, every draw of the blade could be your last... Let’s see how tranquil your years would be then..."

"People like me and Little Chubby... we just want to lie quietly at home... No need to hunt, no need to face off with anyone..."

Little Chubby nodded eagerly, his face full of expectation. "And eat meat every day."

"..." Fenghuang was speechless.

These two weren’t very friendly.

But she could endure that.

To survive, anything could be endured.

"After all this talk, you haven’t said what realm you’re in," Tang Fei asked.

"Controlling Qi," Fenghuang replied. "I just entered the Controlling Qi realm."