“This isn't about money,” Tang Fei waved his hand, speaking with a serious expression.
When someone who loves money says it’s not about money, it means they want more money.
The Phoenix also remained silent, merely gazing at Tang Fei with amusement in her eyes, waiting for him to state the reason for refusing her.
“We can’t take the risk,” Tang Fei said earnestly, speaking aloud. “If it were just me, I would gamble with you. What’s that saying? Fortune favors the bold. In times like these, what endeavor doesn't require risk?”
“But you’ve seen, I still have an Old Man and Little Fatty at home. They are old, and he is young; they are both helpless.”
The Phoenix’s gaze shifted to Little Fatty beside him. When she woke up this morning, she clearly saw Little Fatty bring down his hammer, splitting a massive stone weighing several hundred jin perfectly in half, the dividing line straighter and longer than her own calf. Such a little monster was described as helpless by him?
What chicken was he trying to restrain?
The Phoenix?
Pah, pah.
“I said, you fled here to escape being hunted. What if those people who want to kill you track you down? We are pitiful people with no ability to protect ourselves. How can we contend with those fully armed Experts? We do want money, we want supplies, but more than that, we want to keep our little lives.”
“I not only need to protect my own life, but also the lives of the Old Man and Little Fatty. Even our neighbors nearby could be implicated. I know how powerful the weapons on your New Star are.”
“I cannot harm other kind people because of my own kindness. That kind of kindness is hypocrisy.”
The Phoenix nodded, acknowledging Tang Fei’s words.
Then, her delicate eyebrows lifted, a captivating curve appearing at the corner of her mouth, and she glanced sideways at Tang Fei, asking, “Then, Mr. Tang Fei, what do you plan to do?”
“What do I plan to do?” Tang Fei’s eyes widened as he looked towards the Phoenix. How did this become his problem?
I stated my difficulties; shouldn't it be your turn to persuade me now?
Give me weapons, give me supplies, give me everything I need... Tempt me with wealth, seduce me with beauty.
Why kick the ball over to my side?
“Yes,” the Phoenix nodded obediently, saying, “I was rescued by you. You are my Savior, and you are the first person I met on this Star.”
“Just because I can’t immediately leave in an Escape Pod, and can’t contact my family on the New Star, you’ve decided to abandon me to fend for myself?”
“You also know that I am unfamiliar with this place. Moreover, I know the insane and terrifying things those people in the Wasteland are capable of. I think you have more say in this than I do. If you don't take care of me, the only thing waiting for me is a dead end.”
“We have to take care of her!” Little Fatty chimed in supportively from the side.
Although this woman couldn't help him smash stones, she was good-looking, her voice was pleasant, and on the way over here to find Tang Fei, she had said that swinging such a large hammer to smash stones at such a young age must have meant she suffered a lot in childhood, urging him to take care of his body, and even teaching him the correct way to exert force so he wouldn't strain his waist.
I don't have a waist; I only have a belly.
She also asked Little Fatty’s name. Little Fatty said, "My name is Little Fatty." She said, "No, I mean your real name."
Little Fatty was very moved. No one had ever asked for his real name before, nor had such a beautiful girl treated him so gently and sweetly.
He felt they were already friends.
He couldn't stand by and watch her be abandoned by Tang Fei, and he certainly didn't want her to fall into the hands of those Predators or the Flame Society.
Heaven knows what utterly mad and frenzied things they would do.
Tang Fei glared fiercely at Little Fatty, surprised that a Traitor had already appeared in the group so quickly.
He sized up the Phoenix thoughtfully, his eyebrows lifting slightly, and said, “What do you mean? You’re not trying to extort me, are you?”
“There’s a saying on the New Star: Don't easily take in a stray cat.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you easily develop feelings for it,” the Phoenix said slyly.
“…”
“Of course, I also know that my presence will make things difficult for you, increasing your living costs, and possibly even putting your lives in danger,” the Phoenix said seriously, looking at Tang Fei and Little Fatty. “But I absolutely will not let you suffer a loss.”
“Although the Escape Pod is broken and I can’t contact the New Star, if I don’t report my safety to my family for a long time, my family will immediately come to Blue Star to search for me. I failed to report my safety to them at the scheduled time last night. If I’m not mistaken, they should be on their way now.”
“When my family finds me, I am willing to give you double the supplies—on top of the deal we reached before—I am willing to give you double the supplies to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“As for those who want to kill me, if they arrive late, I will have already been picked up by my family, and you can completely shift the blame, saying you never knew me. I don't think they would want to trouble some innocent, blind... natives, as that would only expose their tracks.”
“If they arrive early…” A strong killing intent flashed in the Phoenix’s eyes, and she said fiercely, “Then we’ll make sure they never return. Don't worry, my injuries are almost healed, and I’m not completely without the ability to protect myself now. As long as we handle things properly, we definitely won't let them gain any advantage.”
Tang Fei stared at the Phoenix and asked, “Are you a Cultivator?”
The Phoenix did not deny it and nodded, saying, “Yes.”
“What level are you now?” Tang Fei asked.
“Realm?” The Phoenix looked at Tang Fei and said, “On the New Star, the division of strength is called realms. I heard this term originated from the Wasteland…”
Fearing the word 'Wasteland' might hurt the young man’s pride, the Phoenix gave Tang Fei an apologetic look and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s fine,” Tang Fei shrugged nonchalantly, saying, “Look around you; isn't this just a ruin? Everyone here looks less like a person and more like a ghost. Even the plants and animals have undergone mutation.”
“The first rule of survival in the Wasteland is that nothing is more important than being alive. As long as others don't steal my food, they can spit in my face, and I won't care.”
The Phoenix was greatly surprised and asked, “Someone spat at you?”
“They did.”
“And then what?”
“He died,” Tang Fei said with a smile, revealing that chilling, signature grin again. “He spat at me and tried to steal my Prey, so I killed him.”
“…”
After a long pause, the Phoenix looked at Tang Fei and explained, “The realm division rules on the New Star originate from Old Earth, divided into Body Tempering, Qi Manipulation, Through the Nether, Ruyi, and Grandmaster—the first five realms are collectively called the ‘Mortal Realm’.”
Tang Fei nodded; this was exactly what the Old Man had told him.
“Of course, the Grandmaster Realm is further subdivided into Minor Grandmaster and Grandmaster. Although it’s just the difference between ‘Minor’ and ‘Grand,’ the strength they represent and the immense power they contain are Worlds Apart. A Minor Grandmaster can guard one region; a Grandmaster can guard a nation. A Grandmaster is already the pinnacle of human Martial Arts. Every Grandmaster is a figure eagerly sought after by various countries.”
“Following that are the Star Incineration, Immortal Roaming, and Domain realms. These three realms are collectively called the ‘God Realm.’ However, these are legendary realms that I have never seen—and perhaps no human has ever reached them.”
Tang Fei’s chest swelled with emotion, his eyes burning with fervor.
If he could one day step into the Grandmaster Realm, commanding the attention of the masses and earning the reverence of the world—how glorious would that be?
Of course, he also knew the possibility of such a thing was minuscule. If it were that easy to reach the Grandmaster Realm, wouldn't this world be full of Minor Grandmasters like dogs and Grandmasters everywhere?
In that case, what would be so special about the Grandmaster Realm?
Noticing Tang Fei’s gaze, the Phoenix asked curiously, “You cultivate too?”
“No,” Tang Fei shook his head and said, “What Cultivation do we practice? We have no Cultivation Method, no tonics. Every day we think about how to survive. We have to run across an entire mountain just for a bite to eat—where would we find the Time to Cultivate?”
“That is also Cultivation,” the Phoenix stated with conviction.
Tang Fei stared at the Phoenix’s face for a long time. Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, the Phoenix took the initiative and asked, “Why have you stopped talking?”
“You are very beautiful,” Tang Fei said seriously. “More beautiful than me.”
“…”
“But you have a bit of a literary inclination,” Tang Fei withdrew his intensely scrutinizing gaze and said. “I hear people who read too much get this ailment: every step is an experience, every scene is a landscape, every calamity is Cultivation, and life should be full of uncertainty.”
“Only people who are well-fed and have nothing better to do like saying things like that. If every hunt determined life or death, and every time you drew your blade it could be the last time... see how you manage to have peace and tranquility then.”
“Like Little Fatty and me, we just want to lie quietly at home, not having to go out hunting, not having to draw our blades against others.”
Little Fatty nodded repeatedly, saying with expectation, “And we want meat to eat every day.”
“…” The Phoenix was left speechless.
These two people were not very friendly.
But she could endure it.
For the sake of living, anything could be endured.
“We’ve talked so much, but you still haven’t said what your realm is,” Tang Fei asked.
“Qi Control Realm,” the Phoenix replied. “I just entered the Qi Control Realm.”