5 The Eve before the Tournament

"What?!"

Hu Zheng was not happy that Hu Feng chose Yi Zhihao to go with him to Cloudspring city. He along with all of the elders knew that Yi Zhihao was a well-known trash orphan who was lurking around the city doing especially nothing since he was born.

"Why him? He is a trash, you know well how we only can bring one outsider to participate in the tournament. I already picked Lin Xiao to go along with you, he is at Body Strengthening stage five realm. He has a chance to get in the other quota, don't mess it up by bringing that trash." Hu Zheng was furious.

"Dad how did I achieve Body Strengthening stage eight by myself, just believe me. He is hiding his strength, in actuality, he is in the same realm as me." Hu Feng didn't hide the truth. He felt that it is the only option to bring Yi Zhihao along.

"Really?! Then that is good, very good. To think that I've thought of him as a trash all along. Good thing I didn't meet him before else I would have definitely shown him my bad side. It seems like I need to show my good feeling later. Alright, you can take him with you. With this, the two quotas are confirmed for us. But are you sure that fellow will stay by the Hu family? If not, it's better to finish him off from the root." Hu Zheng still didn't completely trust Yi Zhihao. After all, how can such a guy who roamed around Firelash city have good intentions towards the Hu family? They were known for bullying people around the city.

"Don't worry Dad, he is one of us. We have a very good relationship, even if he wants to betray me he can't. So I can vouch for his credibility, I trust him more than any other talents in our family." Hu Feng convinced Hu Zheng.

"Well alright then, after all, you are the pillar of our family in the future, be careful in who you pick to walk by your side, as they can walk behind you as well."

Firelash City Gate.

The crowd was bustling inside the city. The merchants could be seen shouting out the prices of their goods.

"Did you pack everything necessary?" Hu Feng asked the Yi Zhihao who was roaming around near the city gates as if looking for something.

"Ah, you have come Brother Feng. I just realized that I didn't know Cloudspring city at all as I was looking for a map from the vendors here. Ah, the greedy bastards, the prices are too high, do you happen to have a map of Cloudspring city?"

"Why would I not have a map of Cloudspring city, let us start early. Even though we are Body Strengthening stage nine experts, expect nothing within our expectations. Many unfortunate things happen to those who live within their expectations. It is better to cross the forest before the evening, bandits are also lurking around, though that is of no problem to us." Hu Feng explained.

"Brother Feng is intelligent, you are right. We better reach the Cloudspring city before night time. Worry not, we are fellow reincarnated, why should we fear trivial things as bandits. Let's go!" Yi Zhihao was eager to set off on a horse carriage.

******************************************

"Help!!"

A pretty woman with long hair could be seen running frantically along a river stream by the forest. Blood was visible on her messed-up clothing. Evidently, she sprained her legs as her running posture was awkward. A top naked bald man with a knife in his hands could be seen chasing her.

"Stop you bitch! Do you see ghosts? Who are you asking for help, I want to see just how far you can run with those legs." The bald man shouted as he chased her.

Inside a nearby carriage which was slowly trodding forwards the forest path.

"What do we do Brother Feng, we can't just sit and do nothing, that bald man seems to be only near Body Strengthening stage six." Yi Zhihao asked Hu Feng who was nonchalantly laying down.

"Do whatever you want!"

*WHOOSH*

"Huh?!" Yu Meng was startled as a shadow appeared in front of her.

"Worry not my young lady, do you see that carriage over there? Run as fast as your legs can carry. We've come for your safety." It was obvious Yi Zhihao tried to act cool as he went forward to face the bandit.

"Who are the f*ck are you? Move out of the way you damn prick, don't pretend to be a damn hero for f*cks sake!" The bald man was visibly furious and prepared for a duel.

"How do you think I reached here so fast, don't you think I am a bit above your league?" Yi Zhihao watched as the lady entered the carriage, "Anyway I don't have the time to fight around and mess up my hair, don't chase me, see ya!"

"...."

'Why didn't this fool deal with the bandit, he's obviously stronger than him,' Hu Feng thought as he saw Yi Zhihao running towards the carriage with the bandit dumbfounded behind him.

"H-Hi, I am called Yu Meng, as I was chased by a bandit a brave young man stopped him and asked me to come here. C-Can I enter?" Yu Meng was surprised seeing a striking young man laying down inside. She thought that the carriage would be empty.

"You can do whatever you want, " replied Hu Feng not even sparing a glance.

As soon as Yu Meng got inside, she felt another presence coming in.

*WHOOSH*

"Leave out all the pleasantries and superfluous feeling, start the carriage, " Hu Feng didn't like long conversations as the carriage started to move forward unhindered again through the gloomy dense forest.

"You look injured, lay down as we reach the Cloudspring city, you can find medications there." Yi Zhihao said. Yu Meng nodded and laid down. Soon enough, she went to sleep. Hu Feng and Yi Zhihao went in front of the carriage seats.

"She is a fraud, you know it right?" Hu Feng whispered.

"Huh?"

"It seems like I'm right, you truly don't know anything apart from cultivation. Where did you actually reincarnate from, I am really interested now. Actually, I do not know anything about you apart from the fact that you reincarnated." Hu Feng questioned.

"Actually, I don't know anything about you as well, you start first, " replied Yi Zhihao.

"I was not a human. As you sensed my energy earlier, I'm from another race. It is a rather complicated situation; as such, I'm afraid I can't go too deep into my backstory." Hu Feng didn't want to reveal himself yet.

"I am from a civilization where we don't have things such as Qi and cultivation. But we were rather advanced in scientific technologies, I don't dare say we are the best as I'm not sure about the advancement in other realms now that I know it exists." Yi Zhihao revealed.

"Huh? That's not possible. All the beings of a world would have a connection to their World Qi, and some would be able to cultivate even without anything and start to develop cultivation manual, unless..." Hu Feng pondered.

"Unless what?"

"I can't say for sure, even if I said it, you won't understand now, I will explain later." Hu Feng said.

"It's alright if you say so. What do we do with the girl, I thought she was innocent," asked Yi Zhihao hesitantly.

"I've lived for countless years, I know what I see. Even if I was a cripple, I would know many things. About this girl, let her do what she wants for now. I'd have finished her off for good if you were not here." Hu Feng didn't have any interest in this topic.

***************************

*RUMBLE*

Soon the carriage entered the flourishing Cloudspring city. The city had a very yellow vibe as it was evening. Firelash city almost looked like a village compared to this. Not long after the carriage stopped near a local inn.

"Are there any rooms available?" Hu Feng asked the plump middle-aged man standing at the counter.

"Well well, if it isn't Young Master Feng." A loud voice interrupted as the middle-aged man was about to reply.

Hu Feng looked back and saw that it was a familiar face as his memories resurfaced.

"How can I forget Brother Chen?" Hu Feng let out a smile as he greeted Hu Chen, the only son of the head of Hu Family in the Cloudspring city. He was touted by everyone in the Hu clan in the region to get one quota without any difficulties this year as he had already reached Body Strengthening stage six.

"Rest early, Brother Feng, I'm sure you won't disappoint me later tomorrow in the competition. After all, you traveled a long way. I won't delay your rest anymore. Su Wen, let us go back and train for a bit, " Hu Chen said to one of the tall youth near him as they left together.

"He really does lack manners, doesn't he? He didn't even glance at us. I'm sure his parents are really honorable." Yu Meng was furious that Hu Chen ignored Yi Zhihao and her.

'If this is what you call lack of manners, then you are just a lost cause,' Yi Zhihao thought as he thought of numerous books he read in his previous life. Soon the trio booked their rooms and went to their respective rooms to sleep.

1 AM, Guesthouse Inn, Cloudspring City.

*WHOOSH*

A black shadow could be seen rushing out of one of the Inn's windows in the dark night.

*WHOOSH*

Another shadow was seen immediately as if chasing the other shadow.

"What do you want?" Hu Feng asked Yi Zhihao following him.

"The question is, what are you doing? It is 1 AM, don't tell me you are out to murder someone? Who could have possibly offended you in the short time we came here?" Yi Zhihao was puzzled.

"Follow me, but don't utter a word."

Hu Clan Manor, Cloudspring city.

"Why did you come here?" Yi Zhihao was surprised that they came to the place hosting the tournament.

"I'm here to do some tricks for our duel tomorrow." Hu Feng said.

"Are you going to do questionable things?" Yi Zhihao questioned.

"There is a reason why I was not human in my previous life."

*WHOOSH*

"The f*ck this guy up to? Aren't we already Body Strengthening peak experts. Why the f*ck does he need to come here to do these cheap tricks." Yi Zhihao muttered.