Hurry Up, Before My Feces Decompose
Feng Fan followed the instructions in the letter, soon arriving at a pond dimly illuminated by the moonlight. The pond was just two kilometers from the main peak.
Across the water, he saw Huang Xue, tied to a tree.
Without hesitation, Feng Fan circled the pond, and as soon as he reached her, he didn't wait for Zhang Qi to reveal himself. Instead, he began untangling the ropes restraining her to the tree.
"I'm sorry, Huang Xue. This is all my fault," he murmured, but she was unconscious, unable to hear his words.
A voice filled with malice shattered the night's silence. "Hahaha. Feng Fan, I hope you don't mind that I took something from you, seeing as you did the same to me."
Feng Fan didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Zhang Qi stood just a few meters behind him, hands casually behind his back.
Feng Fan finished untying Huang Xue and gently placed her beside the tree. He then turned to face Zhang Qi, who stood there, unhurried and waiting.
"You don't seem scared of the consequences of attacking Huang Xue. You do realize the elders will come after your head, right?" Feng Fan said, his voice steady.
Zhang Qi's smile twisted into one of anger. "If you hadn't stolen my map, would I have had to go against the sect? But fine, after I get my map back, even if the sect knows I'm responsible, I'll be long gone." He took a step closer. "Now, where is my map, Feng Fan?"
Feng Fan's reply was calm, almost mocking. "You can look for it in the Void Forest, but hurry up, before my feces decompose."
Zhang Qi's expression darkened, fury flashing in his eyes as he moved closer to Feng Fan. "You—" He paused, controlling his anger with visible effort. "You'll regret that."
His fury slowly melted into a cold calm. "So, you've already entered the immortal's legacy, huh? I heard you fought against more than thirty 1st Qi Cultivators and emerged victorious. If whatever treasure was inside there could turn someone like you, a useless, trashy nobody, into an invincible figure in the same realm, I can only imagine what I could achieve.
Feng Fan gave a wry smile. "If I told you that if you went there yourself, an old ghost would steal your body, would you believe me?"
Zhang Qi's thoughts seethed with anger. 'This Feng Fan must think I'm an idiot. I'll fucking torture him slowly.'
Feng Fan smirked inwardly. 'Indeed, he didn't believe me.'
Zhang Qi's voice dripped with malice. "Don't worry, you don't need to say anything. After I kill you, I'll search your body. Everything you took from me will be returned."
Feng Fan faced Zhang Qi calmly. He knew escape was not an option.
Even if he were alone, outrunning Zhang Qi would be nearly impossible. With the unconscious Huang Xue added to the equation, the idea of escaping was nothing more than a pipe dream.
As Zhang Qi and Feng Fan exchanged words, Huang Xue's eyelids fluttered open.
Her vision blurred at first, but as clarity returned, she saw Feng Fan standing in front of her, shielding her from the figure before them.
Realizing he had come to save her, a warmth spread through her chest, but it was quickly replaced by worry. She knew Feng Fan couldn't handle this opponent.
Her kidnapper was a 4th Qi Gathering realm cultivator!
"Feng... Feng Fan, run!" she called out, her voice strained but urgent. "He's at the 4th Qi Gathering realm. We can't beat him!"
Feng Fan heard her plea, but he neither flinched nor turned to face her. His gaze remained fixed on Zhang Qi, steady and resolute.
"We can't escape," he replied calmly. "You should go. He's here because of me. I'm sorry for dragging you into this, Huang Xue."
Huang Xue's eyes widened in disbelief. 'He... he's willing to sacrifice himself so I can escape?'
"No! Then we'll fight together," she declared, determination burning in her voice.
Despite the aches in her body from the beating she had endured, she pushed herself up from the ground. Her wood-elemental Qi coursed through her veins and meridians, healing her bruised muscles.
'This girl... she's truly a good friend,' Feng Fan thought, a hint of warmth touching his otherwise tense expression.
Zhang Qi's sinister laughter shattered the moment. "Aren't you two the perfect pair of lovebirds," he sneered. "But who said either of you would leave here alive? Today, both of you must die!"
Before Feng Fan could respond, Zhang Qi lunged forward. He closed the gap in an instant, moving at least twice as fast as Feng Fan could.
Zhang Qi's hand morphed into claws, crackling with Qi energy that shimmered like ghostly flames in the moonlight. His strike aimed directly at Feng Fan's chest.
'Ghostly Claw aimed at his chest,' thought Zhang Qi.
"Ghostly Claw!" Zhang Qi roared
Feng Fan knew exactly where Zhang Qi was going to strike, but he was too fast.
With no time to dodge, he crossed both arms over his chest, breathing according to the Heavens Suppression Arts to muster any qi he could to defend himself.
Zhang Qi's attack struck Feng Fan's raised arms, shredding his sleeves to pieces.
Feng Fan staggered back a few steps from the impact, pain radiating through his limbs as blood dripped down his forearms. Three deep claw marks marked both arms.
Gritting his teeth, Feng Fan quickly channeled qi into his wounds, replicating the technique he used for body remodeling in a desperate attempt to accelerate healing.
The moment Huang Xue saw Zhang Qi attacking Feng Fan, she moved into action.
Her fist aimed directly at Zhang Qi's head, but he sidestepped her effortlessly, his movements fluid and fast.
Before she could adjust her stance, Zhang Qi rushed to her side and launched a devastating punch at her ribs.
"Ghostly Fist!" he bellowed, his qi-infused strike burning with malevolence.
Unable to match his speed, Huang Xue took the full brunt of the attack. She crashed to the ground, her ribs aching and her clothes scorched where the qi burned through.
"Agh!" she gasped, clutching her side in pain, her body trembling from the sheer force of the blow.
"Huang Xue!" Feng Fan roared, his voice filled with fury as his gaze locked onto her trembling on the ground.