Chapter 67: You Are the Bit-Part Boy

Chu Tianfeng thought the other party was just an ordinary tourist, perhaps merely passing by the Sending Immortal Bridge, so he paid them no mind. He slipped behind a large boulder, quietly cultivating while waiting for them to leave.

Before long, the sound of laughter and conversation drew nearer until they reached the side of the Sending Immortal Bridge. Chu Tianfeng swept them with his divine sense and, upon identifying the arrivals, couldn't help but frown inwardly.

There were three of them, two of whom were old acquaintances—people he had been deliberately avoiding. Guo Xiancheng and his junior brother from the Mount Huang Sect.

The third man appeared to be around thirty, with a square face, thick brows, and large eyes. Of medium build, his cultivation was the highest among the trio, at the peak of Dark Force.

Chu Tianfeng calmed his mind, silently hoping the three would pass quickly.

Sometimes fate enjoys playing tricks on people—what you wish for never comes, and what you dread falls from the sky.

When the three reached the bridge, not only did they not leave, but they also dropped their packs to the ground with a thud.

Chu Tianfeng rolled his eyes. In this pitch-darkness, what scene are you planning to act out?

“Junior Brother Guo, are you sure it’s here?” the square-faced young man asked, stretching.

“No mistake,” Guo Xiancheng replied, pointing to the boulder where Chu Tianfeng hid. “I saw several photos—firefighters came up from behind that very rock.”

Chu Tianfeng now regretted hiding. If he'd known, he might have walked past openly—Guo Xiancheng would never recognize him in his current female disguise.

“If it really is the Heartless Plum, we’ll strike it rich this time,” the square-faced youth licked his lips, pulling a steel cable from his pack, identical in thickness to the one Chu Tianfeng had used in his own act.

“I guarantee it’s the Heartless Plum. Think about it, Senior Brother Zhang—what could tempt the Special Operations Group, and make Du Sancai’s granddaughter come in person?” Guo Xiancheng also took out a steel cable. “Besides, according to the firefighter, the fruit is red and round, exactly like the legendary Heartless Plum.”

Chu Tianfeng suddenly understood—the trio was here to pick the Flame Dragon Fruit, which must be called the Heartless Plum on Earth.

He had descended the cliff quickly, noticing only the platform and missing the fruit tree. Meanwhile, the firefighter, descending slowly by rope, would have observed the surroundings carefully, so discovering the tree made sense.

He had to admire Guo Xiancheng’s deduction—judging the fruit’s name just from the firefighter’s description was truly impressive.

As for Du Sancai’s granddaughter, Chu Tianfeng guessed it was probably Du Jingjing, though he’d never heard the name Du Sancai before, so he didn’t dwell on it.

“To think the Special Operations Group actually came to Mount Huangchong to gather herbs—we should really report this to the sect leader,” the other disciple said angrily.

“In this world, nowhere is not their territory; to the Special Operations Group, all of Huaxia is their domain,” Guo Xiancheng replied, quickly uncoiling his steel cable. “Besides, I asked the firefighter—they haven’t succeeded yet.”

“Senior Brother Guo, your wounds have only just healed. Why not let me go down?” the other disciple suggested.

“No need. Your cultivation is too low. Stay up here and keep watch. Senior Brother Zhang and I will go down,” Guo Xiancheng shook his head.

To pick the Heartless Plum would bring great merit—he couldn’t bear to let anyone else take the credit. If Senior Brother Zhang hadn’t been present when asking about it, Guo Xiancheng wouldn’t even have brought him along.

“Very well, but be careful,” the disciple replied. He understood Guo Xiancheng’s intentions, but as a latecomer with less cultivation, he dared not object.

“By the way, was it really Chu Tianfeng who injured you?” Senior Brother Zhang, the square-faced youth, asked while coiling his steel cable.

“Who else could it be?” Guo Xiancheng replied through gritted teeth.

“But you said he was at mid-stage Dark Force then, while everyone else claims Chu Tianfeng is only at the initial stage of Transforming Force. That’s a big difference,” Senior Brother Zhang said skeptically, slinging the cable over his shoulder and walking toward the boulder where Chu Tianfeng was hidden.

Chu Tianfeng had no choice but to step out from behind the rock.

“Huh?” Senior Brother Zhang was startled at first, but seeing only a young woman, he quickly changed to a delighted expression.

“Who are you?” Guo Xiancheng also noticed Chu Tianfeng and barked out a stern question.

“I’m a tourist, here to enjoy the scenery at Sending Immortal Bridge,” Chu Tianfeng replied calmly.

Though the three men were all at Dark Force cultivation, he paid them no mind. Still, he had no desire to clash with the Mount Huang Sect—so long as they didn’t trouble him, he had no intention of making trouble for them.

“Enjoying the scenery?” Senior Brother Zhang glanced up at the night sky, clearly doubting Chu Tianfeng’s story.

“Yes,” Chu Tianfeng replied, intending to leave.

“Hold it,” Guo Xiancheng stepped forward to block his path. “You’ve been hiding behind the rock the whole time?”

“I was sitting there,” Chu Tianfeng replied, though he was tempted to add a curse.

“So you heard everything we said?” Guo Xiancheng’s face darkened.

It was a pointless question—the platform was so small, barely twenty square meters. Even if Chu Tianfeng denied it, Guo Xiancheng wouldn’t believe him.

The other two exchanged glances, then flanked Chu Tianfeng on either side, boxing him in. The Heartless Plum was a massive secret—no one could be allowed to leak it.

“What do you mean by this?” Chu Tianfeng frowned. Their intention was all too clear, though he truly didn’t want to fight.

“It’s nothing,” Guo Xiancheng said coldly. “You’re just unlucky, hearing things you shouldn’t.”

“What are you planning?” Chu Tianfeng’s eyes narrowed.

“Planning? Since you like the scenery here so much, we’ll oblige you—let you stay here forever,” Guo Xiancheng replied, glancing around.

“Haha!” Senior Brother Zhang dropped the steel cable from his shoulder. “Relax, before you die, this lord will let you have some fun for free.”

Guo Xiancheng and his companion laughed along.

“I’ll give you one last chance—leave,” Chu Tianfeng said, barely restraining his fury.

“Hahaha!” Senior Brother Zhang laughed so hard he nearly bent double. “Are you scared silly? Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you in a moment.”

To him, Chu Tianfeng was just a woman. Even with some skills, she was no match for disciples from a prestigious sect like them.

“Courting death!” Chu Tianfeng could endure no longer. In a flash, he lunged at Senior Brother Zhang.

They were so close that Senior Brother Zhang didn’t even have time to react; Chu Tianfeng’s hand closed tightly around his throat.

“Who are you?” Guo Xiancheng exclaimed in shock. He recognized that movement all too well!

Since returning from Chidiao Lake, he’d had countless nightmares of that very technique—its shadow haunted him like a ghost every night.

Now, the nightmare had returned.

“Guo Xiancheng,” Chu Tianfeng reverted to his true voice. “How forgetful you are, not recognizing an old friend?”

“You... you’re the extra? Chu Tianfeng?” Guo Xiancheng stammered.

“Congratulations, you guessed right!” With a squeeze of his right hand, Chu Tianfeng crushed Senior Brother Zhang’s throat with a crack.

He hadn’t intended to kill, but they wouldn’t let him go.

Letting go, Chu Tianfeng imitated Guo Xiancheng’s tone, “You’re just unlucky, hearing things you shouldn’t.”

Senior Brother Zhang toppled at Chu Tianfeng’s feet, eyes wide with terror.

“You...!” Guo Xiancheng pointed at Chu Tianfeng, his face twisted in horror. The other disciple’s legs trembled as his eyes darted frantically, looking for a chance to escape.

Chu Tianfeng’s divine sense watched both men closely, tracking their every move.

Since he’d started, he couldn’t let any of them escape—otherwise, his fate would be grim.

With a flash, Chu Tianfeng lunged at the disciple.

Guo Xiancheng thought he was the target and instinctively dodged away, panic-stricken.

But Chu Tianfeng charged the disciple, his right fist whistling out.

The disciple barely managed to twist aside before Chu Tianfeng’s punch landed squarely on his shoulder.

Thud!

A scream.

The disciple shrieked in pain, sent hurtling like a cannonball.

He crashed down on the platform, rolling over and over until he finally lay motionless at the edge of the cliff.

One strike!

Guo Xiancheng was dumbfounded. He clearly remembered that two months ago, Chu Tianfeng hadn’t been nearly this fast; it had taken two moves to defeat that very disciple.

This meant that in just two months, Chu Tianfeng’s cultivation had made a tremendous leap!

When he first met Chu Tianfeng, the latter had been at late-stage Dark Force; a couple of weeks later, rumors said he’d reached the initial stage of Transforming Force.

He hadn’t believed it then, thinking it was just exaggeration to cover up his own incompetence.

But now, from the ferocity of Chu Tianfeng’s strike, he realized Chu Tianfeng’s cultivation was far beyond initial Transforming Force.

The truth was undeniable.

Guo Xiancheng took a deep breath.

Now, at last, he felt regret. He realized he should never have provoked Chu Tianfeng—this young man was a freak, his progress monstrous. Given time, even the Mount Huang Sect might not be able to keep up with him.

“I was wrong,” Guo Xiancheng’s eyes flashed with remorse.

He knew now he hadn’t just made a mistake, but a colossal one.

Chu Tianfeng was not someone he could afford to cross; his momentary greed had not only ruined himself but might even implicate the entire sect.

“Isn’t it a little late to say that now?” Chu Tianfeng’s lips curled in mockery.

Guo Xiancheng didn’t reply. He gazed longingly at the Sending Immortal Bridge and the surrounding scenery, even though the darkness rendered everything vague and indistinct.

He looked carefully, memorizing every detail.

Because he knew, this might be his last glimpse of the world.

With a flash, Chu Tianfeng struck again.

This time, Guo Xiancheng didn’t dodge. Instead, he closed his eyes, bracing himself for the coming agony.

Suddenly, he felt a wave of intense heat and opened his eyes in alarm.

What was this? Before him was a blaze of fire!

The fist he had expected never came—instead, a fireball.

“Damn you!” Even the best self-restraint couldn’t keep Guo Xiancheng from cursing. If he had to die, at least don’t humiliate him like this!

He had never imagined he’d be burned to death. If he’d known, he would have fought back—at least then he’d have died with dignity.

He made no effort to dodge; combined with the fireball’s speed, it struck him almost instantly.

With a boom, the fireball exploded, engulfing Guo Xiancheng in flames.

His screams were long and echoing, reverberating through the mountains.

Chu Tianfeng then incinerated the bodies of the other two as well, reducing all three to ashes with his fireball technique, and, using his true energy, cast their remains off the edge of the cliff.