Chapter Twenty-Two: The Despicable One!

After Tang Fei returned home, he immediately shut the heavy courtyard gate behind him. He hurried to the room where Phoenix was hiding and knocked on the door, but there was no response.

He pushed the door open and entered, only to find a sharp dagger pressed against his throat.

“Sis, it’s me,” he said hastily.

“Hmph, who’s your ‘sis’?” Phoenix withdrew her dagger.

Tang Fei rubbed his neck and asked, “Where did you hide just now? Those gray-robed men came looking for someone, but they didn’t find a thing.”

Phoenix looked at him with disdain. “They thought they could find me? I was right above their heads, and that idiot didn’t even see me.”

Tang Fei gave a wry smile. “Those gray-robes are just ordinary people, at best they know a few tricks, good for bullying honest folk. But when it comes to true cultivators, they’re woefully lacking... and you’re a master of the Air Channeling Realm. How could they possibly find you?”

If Phoenix hadn’t had those skills, Tang Fei would have dealt with all of them in the courtyard himself.

Phoenix glanced at Tang Fei, thoughtful. “They said they were looking for an Air Channeling Realm master, that he’d killed a group of predators before… But I wasn’t the one who killed those predators. Why would they say it was an Air Channeling Realm master who did it?”

Clearly, she’d overheard the gray-robes’ conversation from her hiding spot.

Tang Fei’s face remained calm and composed as he explained, “Maybe it’s because Air Channeling Realm masters are just too eye-catching. Think about it—cultivators are rare on Old Earth, and those who reach the Air Channeling Realm are one in a million… Now, suddenly, a master shows up in the Hengshan settlement. Of course the Flame Shrine is on edge.”

“Even though you didn’t kill the predators, you did take care of most of the other gray-robes. You lashed out, one after another… so naturally, all eyes are on you. Now, you’re the Air Channeling Realm master they’re after.”

Phoenix found his explanation reasonable. “So you just sent them away?”

Tang Fei looked pained. “‘Just sent them away’? You make it sound so easy. I had to sacrifice half a rabbit and a pheasant to fill those bastards’ bellies before they left.”

“And they wanted to recruit you as their underling?” Phoenix looked at Tang Fei with a half-smile, thinking that perhaps only someone this shameless could thrive in a place like this.

If that Brother Long knew that the Air Channeling Realm master they were searching for was right under his nose, that the murderer of the Flame Shrine’s black-robes was grilling meat skewers for him, and that he’d even pasted a Flame Shrine talisman on the door for his protection as he left…

Wouldn’t he clutch his pillow and wail into the night?

So much trust, wasted!

“It was a generous offer—if not for their terrible reputation, I’d have joined them already. They’ve got numbers, after all. If anyone bullies me, I’d just call in my big brothers.”

Tang Fei grinned. “Refusing them is dangerous business. They can say no, but you can’t not show up. Besides, with this Flame Talisman, the Shrine won’t come knocking again. You can wait here safely until your people arrive.”

Phoenix looked at Tang Fei and asked, “What if my people never come?”

Tang Fei’s eyes widened. “Impossible! Did you do something so terrible your own parents would abandon you?”

“You’re the one who got abandoned by your parents,” Phoenix retorted irritably. “The escape pod can’t send coordinates, and I can’t contact people on Nova. How will they ever find me? What if they never do?”

“That’s not possible,” Tang Fei shook his head. “I don’t really understand all that high-tech stuff, but you flew here from so far away—there must be a flight path… your family will find you.”

Phoenix sighed softly. “I hope so.”

“Still hungry?” Tang Fei asked, “There’s more roasted rabbit and pheasant—their leftovers. Want some?”

“Yes,” Phoenix nodded. “I’ve never tried roasted rabbit or chicken from Old Earth before. I heard that when Blue Star was at its prime, Zibo’s barbecue was famous.”

“Of course!” Tang Fei replied with conviction. “Back then… everything was good.”

“Indeed, everything was good,” Phoenix agreed. “If only Blue Star could return to those days.”

“It’s impossible now,” Tang Fei shook his head. “By the time humanity is wiped out on Blue Star and all usable resources are stripped bare by the people of Nova… maybe this place will just become a garbage planet, a dumping ground for Nova.”

Tang Fei reheated the leftover skewers, and Phoenix began her second meal. The little chubby boy and the old man, who hadn’t gotten any meat earlier, joined in hungrily.

Tang Fei ate and grilled, feeling that life was sweet.

Just then, there was another knock at the courtyard gate.

The small yard instantly fell silent. Everyone exchanged nervous glances—had the Flame Shrine doubled back after sensing something was amiss?

Tang Fei went to the gate and listened closely.

“Who is it?” he called out.

Suddenly, he felt his nerves tighten, and his hair stood on end.

He turned around to find two figures in black, each wearing a demon mask, standing silently in the courtyard.

Eastern demons—one black, one red—their masks gleaming eerily in the darkness.

The ghostly eyes on the black mask fixed on Tang Fei. “Is there any left? I’d like to try some too.”

“So would I,” said the red mask.

“Who are you?” Tang Fei asked in a low voice.

Clearly, these were not friendly visitors.

To appear in his courtyard without a sound was proof of their considerable skill.

Worse, why had they come here?

He was just the unremarkable top hunter of Hengshan, the barbecue master of the settlement, the most handsome man in Lingyang District… Oh, that last bit of shameless self-praise he’d learned from the old man.

He was the Blue Star ambassador for the Imperial Twin Walls, after all—compared to him, Tang Fei was still too shy and reserved.

Surely they hadn’t just followed the scent here for a simple barbecue?

“I am Shadowless,” the black mask said.

“I am Windless,” said the red mask.

When they announced their names, Phoenix’s expression grew grave, the old man looked thoughtful, and the little chubby boy…

The little chubby boy choked on his skewer, frantically searching for water.

He felt this was the worst night of his short life, which ought to have been the happiest.

Big brother had roasted field mice, rabbits, and pheasant—so many delicious skewers, everyone could eat their fill. Phoenix was here too, their new friend…

Children love having guests at home, the more the merrier.

But his lovely evening was interrupted again and again: first the Flame Shrine came and took his roasted field mouse. After much trouble, they finally left, only for two demon masks to appear, demanding barbecue…

When would he finally get his fill?

As everyone knows, if you don’t want someone to steal your candy, you’d better pop it in your mouth first.

The little chubby boy, worried that his big brother would snatch his skewer away to please these other big brothers, ate a bit too quickly and ended up choking, eyes rolling back.

“Water…” he croaked.

The old man called him a glutton but still handed over the large enamel mug at hand.

The boy gulped desperately, finally swallowing the chunk of meat stuck in his throat.

Tang Fei was highly dissatisfied with the red mask’s name. “Why are you called Windless?”

“What should I be called, then?”

“You should be called Traceless. Shadowless and Traceless—a perfect pairing.”

“Names are just codenames,” Windless replied.

“Really? Then why not call yourself Dog Shit?”

“…” Windless found conversation with Tang Fei impossible.

Shadowless looked at Tang Fei. “We only wanted a bite to eat. Why the hostility?”

“You’ll leave after eating?” Tang Fei asked.

“We’ll leave after eating,” Shadowless replied.

“And take someone with us,” Windless added.

“What’s the old man ever done to offend you? Why take him?” Tang Fei was indignant. “Look at him—at his age, he can’t lift or carry, plus he’s riddled with syphilis. Aren’t you afraid of catching something?”

“Y