The two men, their faces looking grim, quickly turned back to find Yi Feng.
Although others were climbing quickly, there were still quite a few latecomers. If other sects saw that the Hundred Refinements Sect, which had sent representatives to compete in the Grand Tournament, couldn't even climb the sect's entrance steps, how embarrassing would that be?
Even if Yi Feng could bear such humiliation, they, as his attendants, certainly couldn't afford to lose face like this.
The two hurried down the steps, hoping to catch a glimpse of Yi Feng.
However, they reached the 4,000th step without spotting him.
They descended further.
3,000 steps.
Still no sign.
2,000 steps...
1,000 steps...
Yet, they saw nothing but emptiness.
The brothers' faces turned as dark as coal.
Heavens, couldn't even climb 1,000 steps? Just how much of a useless wretch is he?
The two continued to trudge down, their hearts growing colder with each step.
800 steps...600 steps...400 steps...300 steps...still no trace of Yi Feng.
Finally, after descending further, they found Yi Feng at around the 200th step.
Yi Feng was sitting slumped on the ground, gasping for breath.
By his side, Su Bai was fanning him with a palm leaf fan.
"Ah, Bai, you youngsters are truly blessed," Yi Feng said, feeling much better thanks to the cool breeze from Su Bai's fanning, and couldn't help but praise him with a sigh.
"Hehe, you're joking with me, Master," Su Bai chuckled, rubbing his forehead, his mind fully focused on fanning Yi Feng without a care in the world.
"Look, did you see that bird?"
Leaning against the step, Yi Feng pointed at a large bird flying across the distant clouds, shouting, "That must be a real wild delicacy living in the mountains. It would surely taste amazing if we could catch it."
"What's wrong, Master? Do you want to eat it?"
Su Bai looked at the bird in the distance and asked.
"Let's finish this so-called Grand Tournament first," Yi Feng chuckled, "After all, it might not be easy for you to catch it."
Su Bai glanced at the bird.
Indeed, it didn't look easy.
That bird seemed to be a sacred beast of the Heavenly Tyrant Sect, far beyond the reach of the Hundred Refinements Sect.
His strength might not be enough.
"But don't worry," Yi Feng said with a smile, "If we really want to eat it later, I'll equip you with some gear. Believe me, you'll be able to shoot it down in no time."
Su Bai was shocked at the words.
He had no idea what terrifying method Yi Feng was about to teach him next.
However, as the two were deep in conversation, they suddenly felt four eyes glaring down at them from above.
"Oh? Why are you two coming down again?" Yi Feng turned around and asked.
"What else could we do?"
Jiang Zuo's face was as dark as storm clouds, his voice dripping with suppressed anger as he spoke through gritted teeth, "I was about to ask you the same—why did you stop at just over 200 steps?"
"Hey, what do you mean by that?"
Yi Feng picked up on Jiang Zuo's bad tone and immediately darkened his expression, firing back, "What's wrong with stopping at 200 steps? Do you not think that's enough?"
"Don't you think about how high each step is!"
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"Ten steps equal one floor."
"I've climbed over 200 steps, which is like climbing more than 20 floors."
"Isn't that enough?"
Yi Feng shot back.
"You... you..."
Jiang Zuo's face turned red with rage, and he was on the verge of slapping Yi Feng.
But no matter what, Yi Feng was the man of Shi Qingwu, a figure of higher standing, and Jiang Zuo didn't dare to offend him.
Yet, his anger was boiling.
Everyone else had already climbed to the top in one go, but Yi Feng had taken over two hours to climb just 200 steps, not only showing no shame but even taking pride in it. Where's the sense of shame?
And here he was, chatting with a lowly servant about birds.
There weren't even any cicadas here, let alone birds, in this misty formation.
"Fine, can you at least climb the steps?"
Jiang Zuo tried to suppress his anger and asked.
"What kind of attitude is that? I'm the Sect Master's man, show me some respect," Yi Feng shot him a glare and retorted, "You’ve been either scowling or muttering all along. You’re so annoying, do you know that? Keep this up, and don’t blame me for giving you a hard time later."
Jiang Zuo’s face twitched.
He didn't know the inner workings of their scheme, nor could he tell that Yi Feng was impersonating Shi Qingwu's lover.
So hearing Yi Feng’s words, he was indeed somewhat wary.
After all, Yi Feng was still Shi Qingwu's man, and his attitude as a subordinate was indeed inappropriate.
"Then, may I ask, Master, can you continue climbing the steps?"
Jiang Zuo forced himself to lower his head and asked.
But deep down, he was still seething.
Why?
Why did a woman of such extraordinary talents as Shi Qingwu choose such a man!
"Yes,"
"Now that I've rested, I can manage,"
Yi Feng slowly pulled himself up and continued climbing.
This time, Jiang Zuo and Jiang You didn't rush ahead but stayed behind Yi Feng, fearing that he might stop again after just a hundred steps or so.
Sure enough, their worries were justified. Even before reaching a hundred steps, Yi Feng stopped at just over 80, waving his hand and gasping for breath.
"Ah, I can't, I can't go on. I need to rest!"
Yi Feng propped himself up with one hand, heaving heavily.
Just then, a few representatives from other sects were also climbing the steps and turned their eyes toward them.
Jiang Zuo and Jiang You felt their scalps tingle from the glance.
So embarrassing.
Too embarrassing.
Fortunately, these sects had no direct ties with the Hundred Refinements Sect, so the two didn't hesitate and, with one on each side, hoisted Yi Feng up and continued climbing.
If Yi Feng continued climbing like this, they’d probably finish the Grand Tournament long before he reached the top.
Throughout the climb, the two dared not stop for a moment, wanting nothing more than to reach the summit as soon as possible.
Not long after, the quartet finally reached the top.
"I'm exhausted, I'm exhausted. I shouldn’t have come," Yi Feng leaned against a tree, panting.
Seeing Yi Feng like this, the two were speechless.
An appearance like this for the Grand Tournament?
However, what surprised the two even more was that Su Bai had actually followed them all the way to the top.
This was just a lowly servant!
"This servant... he's got something special, maybe he's got some talent," Jiang You commented, "Being able to climb the steps alone like this, he could probably become an outer disciple of the Heavenly Tyrant Sect."
"He’s quite young, indeed a promising talent,"
Jiang Zuo agreed.
Thinking about it, Jiang Zuo walked over to Su Bai.
"I remember, you're called Su Bai, right?" Jiang Zuo asked.
"Yes,"
Su Bai nodded.
"I see you managed to climb all the way up with us all in one go, you're quite the promising talent. After we return to the Hundred Refinements Sect, would you like to come work for me?" Jiang Zuo extended an offer, "If you perform well, I might even take you as my disciple."
Su Bai was stunned.
He glanced at them briefly, then ignored them completely.
Instead, he ran to Yi Feng and eagerly started fanning him again.
Jiang Zuo and Jiang You were instantly stunned.
???
What was that look from the servant?
Did he just... look down on them?