Chapter Ten: The Silver Whip of Light

Swift as thunder, quick as lightning.

Everything was accomplished in the blink of an eye.

From the moment Phoenix slowly lured Bian Zhenxin away, distancing him from the encirclement of the gray-robed apostles, guiding him to the tree where Tang Fei lay in wait, to her sudden knee strike directly at Bian Zhenxin’s vital center—his body crippled by pain, his mind stalled, unable to dodge or cry out for help—Tang Fei leapt down.

Seizing the moment, he drove the blade of his machete downwards, ruthlessly stabbing it into the crown of Bian Zhenxin’s skull.

Not a word was exchanged, not even a glance, yet their cooperation was flawless, beyond compare.

Phoenix understood exactly what Tang Fei wanted, so she did everything he wished for, and even performed beyond expectations.

It was as if an actress auditioned for a role, the director expecting a modest seventy points, but the girl aimed straight for the Oscar.

Tang Fei did not disappoint Phoenix either; the moment she struck, he launched himself forward, swiftly finishing off Bian Zhenxin, the formidable boss.

Not just anyone could become one of the black robes...

Only then did Tang Fei’s body land lightly on the ground.

Crunch!

His boots, made of animal hide, pressed into the soft grass, producing a sound like fine sand. Tang Fei blinked at Phoenix, then flashed a dazzling smile, turning to look at Bian Zhenxin, who was kneeling, head bowed, the dagger still embedded in his skull.

“Doesn’t he look ridiculous?”

Phoenix drew a sharp breath inward, once again sensing the terrifying nature of this young man.

He had just stabbed someone through the skull, the machete still lodged in the man’s head, yet he had already begun his mocking assault...

Was he dissatisfied with the slowness of death, or worried the man wasn’t dead enough?

Phoenix could pat her broad chest and guarantee that neither possibility existed.

Bian Zhenxin’s eyes were wide, his pupils dilated, blood streaming from his features.

The remnants of his consciousness allowed him to hear Tang Fei’s words, but he could not respond.

“Who is he?”

“How did he get here?”

“I’m dying…”

-------

Bian Zhenxin’s mind swirled with questions and bitterness.

Oh, and a dagger...

Since he had his back to Tang Fei, he could not turn around. The voice felt familiar, but he could not discern Tang Fei’s true appearance, filling him with regret and fury.

He died with eyes wide open.

“Kick him!” Tang Fei suggested kindly.

“Hm?” Phoenix was puzzled.

The man was about to die—what was the point of kicking him?

“Kick him!” Tang Fei urged. “Quickly, there’s no time...”

Phoenix, uncertain, followed Tang Fei’s instructions and kicked Bian Zhenxin square in the chest.

Bang!

Bian Zhenxin’s body collapsed flat onto the ground, face up to the sky.

Tang Fei brought his smiling face close, waved at Bian Zhenxin, and greeted him, “Lord Apostle, we meet again.”

Blood spurted from Bian Zhenxin’s mouth, spraying everywhere.

Blood, and more blood...

-----

Bian Zhenxin coughed blood endlessly.

Tang Fei pointed at him and said to Phoenix, “See? Old friends are always happy to meet again.”

Phoenix nodded stiffly, feeling a chill creep through her heart.

This devil!

Only now did the gray-robed apostles realize their leader had been slain, and in a humiliating fashion.

They could not understand how anyone dared challenge their Flame Shrine in the Hate Mountain settlement.

Even more confusing—how could anyone dare to lay hands on a black robe? Did they not understand what that meant?

The shock was so sudden, so overwhelming, that for a moment, they did not know how to react.

“Kill! Kill them!” One of the gray-robed men finally shouted.

“Kill them, avenge our leader!”

“Brothers, finish them off... it’s either them or us...”

------

A group of men drew swords, spears, axes—some wielded massive blades—and charged at Tang Fei and Phoenix, roaring.

Thunderous noise erupted.

A mass of pale, plump flesh...

Oh, that was a person.

Little Fatty ran forward, clutching a tree trunk as thick as a thigh and several meters long. He swung it with force, sweeping the gray robes off their feet, shattering their momentum in an instant.

He did not stop, lifting the tree to slam it down on the head of a gray-robed man struggling to rise, shouting angrily, “How dare you hit my brother... how dare you hit my brother...”

He could take a beating—his skin was tough—but no one could touch Tang Fei, his kin, his big brother.

He bore grudges and would avenge them.

Crunch!

The gray-robed man’s bones shattered completely.

Bang!

The tree trunk crashed into the chest of another gray-robed man holding a spear. Little Fatty bellowed, “You hit my brother’s face—I remember it all...”

The black-robed man’s body was sent flying by the impact.

Tang Fei felt a bit embarrassed by Little Fatty’s shouts, and explained to Phoenix, “Actually, he didn’t really hit me... just brushed me a little...”

Being slapped in the face was humiliating, but shouting about it made it even worse.

“I know,” Phoenix nodded in agreement.

She trusted Tang Fei unconditionally, even if he claimed the sky was blue, water was sweet, and the earth wasn’t round...

Even if she doubted, she forced herself to believe. She could not change Tang Fei, but she could change herself.

Survival! There was nothing more important than staying alive!

Tang Fei pulled his machete from Bian Zhenxin’s skull, slashed the throat of a charging gray-robed apostle, and called out, “Let’s begin.”

Phoenix claimed to be at the Qi Commanding Realm; Tang Fei was skeptical.

Strength is revealed in battle.

If she was lying, he’d charge extra.

If she was telling the truth—wasn’t she a perfect partner for fighting and killing?

Even free rat poison had a sweet tang, let alone a free enforcer.

Perhaps on that distant planet, the Qi Commanding Realm wasn’t considered powerful, but on this collapsed wasteland, it was exceedingly rare, one of the few true experts left on Blue Star.

Phoenix tugged at her belt, pulling out a black, phoenix-shaped beast-head weapon.

“What is that?” Tang Fei glanced sideways, curled his lip in disdain.

Could that thing kill?

Was she planning to bludgeon someone with a beast-head?

Whoosh!

Phoenix pressed a button on the phoenix-shaped handle, and a silver beam shot from its beak.

A silver whip of light!

Swish!

She lashed out, silver brilliance blazing, and the charging gray-robed apostle was sliced clean in half.

No blood—there was not even time for it to flow.

At the same moment, another gray-robed man rushed at her.

Everyone knew the long whip was a weapon for distance. If the enemy came close, one was in trouble.

Phoenix remained calm, even elegant and unhurried.

Her silver whip swiftly contracted, shrinking to a third of its length and transforming into a short spear, which she plunged into the gray-robed man’s chest.

Silent as death, a round hole appeared in his chest.

“Damn...” Tang Fei’s eyes widened.

Phoenix’s silver whip dazzled, striking or stabbing, long or short, switching from spear to whip, ever-changing.

What man wouldn’t want such a marvelous treasure?