Chapter 1061: Chapter 690: What Cards Do You Still Hold?
Brocade City. City Lord Mansion.
Gravity Training Room.
Under the pressure of 200 times gravity, Tang Fei practiced the "Dragon Elephant Demon Suppressing Skill" three times.
After finishing, he was drenched in sweat, but didn’t feel exhausted.
Ever since he came to the New Star, he never stopped honing his body.
Little Fatty smashed rocks in the yard, splashed water at Black Dragon Pond, while he practiced punches and swordsmanship inside the Gravity Room.
Secretly working hard where no one could see, and then killing all enemies.
Shen Xinglan was too dazzling, excellent from inside out since childhood, making everyone aware of his prowess, which made facing such an opponent require extreme caution and full exertion.
This was also the reason he repeatedly lost to Tang Fei.
He played his cards openly, whereas Tang Fei’s cards needed repeated verification...
Each time there would be surprises.
Of course, for Shen Xinglan, it was more like shocks.
From disdain to recognition, from treating equally to psychological shadows...
Shen Xinglan’s life summed in one sentence: Encountering Tang Fei was a lifelong misstep.
When he pushed the door open, Phoenix was already waiting at the entrance of the Gravity Room.
Holding a clean towel in her hand, she stepped forward to wipe the sweat from Tang Fei’s forehead.
"Let me do it," Tang Fei said with a smile: "I don’t smell good."
"Still being polite with me?" Phoenix refused, saying: "At Henshan, it was much dirtier than now."
"That was because conditions didn’t allow it. We had to save water." Tang Fei’s smile was gentle, eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgic sparkle: "Little Fatty used our bath water, didn’t he also clean himself till he was fair and tender?"
Henshan was tough, yet it also had many joyful moments.
It was dangerous there, but it bore his homeland and childhood.
It was of extraordinary significance to Tang Fei, and even in Phoenix’s heart, due to Tang Fei’s presence, it became a crucial landmark in her life as well.
Phoenix’s words reminded him of their first encounter, hunting tigers and sheep, scrambling for water, dodging rain, and all the bits and pieces they shared in that stone house.
Compared to the endless battles now, life back then seemed so peaceful and warm.
How could Mutant Beasts, no matter how fierce, be more poisonous than the human heart?
"I’m not repulsed by you." After wiping him down, Phoenix gently leaned her head against Tang Fei’s drenched chest, and softly said: "This is the scent I’m familiar with, and the scent I love. This is the scent of my man."
Tang Fei felt Phoenix’s worry and attachment, lightly tapping her head with his chin, softly asked: "What’s wrong? You reluctant?"
"Mm." Phoenix nodded, saying: "I still think it’s too risky."
"I can’t wait any longer, just as they are unwilling to wait either." Tang Fei explained: "You know about Master’s health... but Shen Wuxiang will only grow stronger."
"He won’t give me the time to grow, so... when his Dao Heart is damaged, it’s our best chance."
"I understand, I comprehend, I know all of that, just... I’m scared."
"Last time, when Shen Xinglan came for us, didn’t I tell you I would come back?"
"Mm."
"This time, I’ll come back too."
"For sure?"
"For sure."
"I trust you." Phoenix nodded seriously, saying: "No matter what, we are together."
If you come back, I will wait for you.
If you don’t come back, I will die with you.
Tang Fei used both hands forcefully, embracing Phoenix’s soft body tightly in his arms.
He understood the meaning of ’no matter what, we are together’, living under the same roof, dying in the same grave...
This is the most heartfelt confession, and also the most helpless choice.
Because they both knew, if Tang Fei lost, it would be difficult for Phoenix to survive, perhaps even worse than death...
The two embraced, tightly, for a long time.
No words spoken, and no need to speak.
------
Liyu Port. Guan Chao Courtyard.
Tang Fei and Xuanyuan Mingjing sat in the courtyard drinking tea, before them was the boundless expanse of a deep blue sea.
The tea was the Partridge Tea favored by local fishermen, wild big leaves, bound into ping pong-sized tea balls, durable for boiling and brewing.
The broth was clear, with a unique herbal aroma, mildly bitter at the entrance then sweet aftertaste.
This tea had the function of clearing heat and relieving summer-heat, aiding digestion and removing greasiness, promoting bile and nurturing the stomach, something fishermen kept handy while at sea, known as the ’Ganoderma of teas’.
Xuanyuan Mingjing’s body was injured by the Spear of Doom’s fire poison, needing the Partridge Tea to dispel heat and detoxify.
After drinking numerous cups of tea, having changed the leaves three times, Tang Fei asked: "Master, will he come?"
Xuanyuan Mingjing, holding the teacup, said with gentle eyes and assured voice: "He is already here."
"Then why hasn’t he appeared?"
"He is waiting."
"What are we waiting for?"
"Waiting for us to show a flaw."
"Do we need to? We are full of flaws."
"That’s also why he hasn’t made a move yet." Xuanyuan Mingjing said.
Tang Fei’s expression froze, instantly understanding the deeper meaning in his words.
Shen Wuxiang is suspicious by nature and prefers to act after careful planning.
The "relaxed" demeanor displayed by Tang Fei and Xuanyuan Mingjing appears to him as a hidden ambush and lure everywhere.
What seems normal is often abnormal.
What seems abnormal, perhaps, is normal...
If he and his master were sitting solemn and anxious, it might be seen by Shen Wuxiang...as another form of bait.
This damn "doubt everything."
Woosh!
A gentle breeze brushed by, causing a momentary shift in the light and shadows before his eyes.
Then, an additional black silhouette appeared in front of the white wooden table.
It was none other than Shen Wuxiang whom they had been waiting for.
"Waited long?" Shen Wuxiang asked with a smile.
"You’ve waited long too, haven’t you?" Xuanyuan Mingjing calmly countered, showing no emotional fluctuation due to Shen Wuxiang’s arrival.
Even though the other is a Great Grandmaster and the most formidable opponent in the world.
"Indeed."
Shen Wuxiang did not deny it, picked up the prepared teacup on the table, and poured himself a cup of partridge tea from the large teapot.
After sipping a bit, he smacked his lips and said, "I haven’t tasted such bad tea in years."
"Wild tea drunk by fishermen naturally won’t suit the taste of a Military Minister." Tang Fei chuckled as he spoke.
"Hey, back in the Undying Army, I drank purified urine... What kind of look is that? I’m talking about the purified stuff."
"Oh, oh. I thought it was straight. Tang Fei nodded repeatedly, saying, "I figured anyone who reaches high positions must endure what others can’t and do what others can’t."
"It’s not that severe; just a bit more ruthless, a bit heavier-handed, decisive in actions, eliminating threats thoroughly without giving enemies a chance. Dead men are the safest."
"I must thank the Military Minister for showing mercy then." Tang Fei understood what Shen Wuxiang was implying, and said with a smile.
"I really regret it." Shen Wuxiang felt a surge of anger, poured himself another cup of tea, drank it in one go, and said, "When you first arrived at the New Star, I should have killed you."
"I think...my father probably had many chances to kill you back then, but he didn’t. He must regret it too, right?"
"Tang Li?" Shen Wuxiang shook his head, saying, "He was too upright; if he were in your situation, he would have died a thousand times over by now. Even if I didn’t kill him, someone else would have."
"Thank you for the compliment to my father."
"That’s not a compliment to Tang Li." Shen Wuxiang looked seriously at Tang Fei and said, "I’m complimenting you, really. You’re the same kind of person as me. If it were another opponent, they’d be dead by my hand long ago. They wouldn’t have made it this far, wouldn’t have stirred up such a big movement."
"The Military Minister overpraises, a firefly’s light cannot compete with the bright moon. I am far inferior to you."
"Do you think I don’t know what kind of goods you are?" Shen Wuxiang sneered, "You’re ruthless, shameless, will do anything to achieve your goals..."
He pointed at Xuanyuan Mingjing, sitting and drinking tea, and mocked, "You put him out here, aren’t you afraid I’ll kill him with one strike?"
He was accusing Tang Fei of putting out the heavily injured and defenseless Xuanyuan Mingjing to lure him out.
This kid can even use his own master—what else wouldn’t he do?
"A broken body, on the verge of death...if it can cost the Military Minister a strike, it’s worth this trip." Xuanyuan Mingjing replied indifferently.
"Hehe..." Shen Wuxiang laughed twice, looked at Xuanyuan Mingjing, and said, "Just as you disdain killing Shen Boyu, I too have no interest in killing you."
"Then I must hold the Military Minister in higher regard."
"No need." Shen Wuxiang pointed at Tang Fei and said, "I only need to kill this kid, and everything will be resolved. The others are not worth fearing."
Xuanyuan Mingjing was silent; those words were indeed true.
If Tang Fei dies and the Rebel Army Group collapses, it won’t be able to resist the Qishan Army led by Shen Wuxiang.
It’s not just the Qishan Army, but the entire Phoenix Empire...
When the world is commanded by a single voice, the combat ability and mobilization capacity could become terrifyingly powerful.
That’s why he risked his life to protect Tang Fei.
Shen Wuxiang’s gaze fell on Tang Fei, observing the subtle changes in his facial expressions, "Shen Xinglan is dead, right?"
"How could that be? He’s still alive, I’ve locked him up." Tang Fei said seriously.
At this point, he still hadn’t forgotten to dig a pit for Shen Wuxiang, bait him, and set him a mental trap.
At critical moments, it might just keep him alive.
"No, he is dead." Shen Wuxiang said resolutely, "If he were alive, you would have brought him out... No matter how small the bait, it can catch big fish."
"That’s true." Tang Fei smiled bitterly, indeed deceiving Shen Wuxiang is a challenging task, "Shen Xinglan is dead."
"Oh."
The sorrow in Shen Wuxiang’s eyes flickered away briefly.
After all, it was his own grandson, the most valued junior in this world, his chosen successor, and bearer of hope.
Unfortunately, he was dead.
"Shen Xinglan is dead, Xuanyuan Mingjing is injured..." Shen Wuxiang stared at Tang Fei with doubtful eyes, "What other chips do you have?"
