Volume 3: Dragons Soaring and Phoenixes Dancing, Chapter 51: Be Careful!

Following the direction of Blood Knife’s finger, Xiao Shui indeed saw a stunningly beautiful sister who left him in awe! Of course, this beautiful sister was Ouyang Ziyi, sitting next to Chu Tianyu!
“Wow, my heart can’t take it—I’m suffocating, I really am…” Xiao Shui said exaggeratedly, holding his chest.
“Hehe, it’s not easy to catch Xiao Shui’s heart. How about I help you go up and strike up a conversation?” Blood Knife urged.
“Okay, sure!”
“Stop fooling around. We’ll get down to business tomorrow. Tonight is just for relaxation—stop causing trouble!” Wu Hen said sternly, having remained silent for a while.
Sure enough, those who were fighting and preparing to approach stopped immediately, and the atmosphere turned cold. To ease the tension, Fei Xue, who had spoken first, brought the conversation back by asking, “Wu Hen, why were you so sure that cultivator had reached Grade A?”
Wu Hen glanced at everyone, seeing that their attention had been drawn back, before slowly saying, “From Fei Xue’s description earlier, that cultivator clearly sensed our arrival. His energy was drawn to us, causing him to involuntarily release some energy, which he then forced back under control. The ability to redirect his energy for defense when faced with an enemy shows that he has reached a state of effortless control, a innate realm. His ability to hide it further proves that he can manage his power at will…”
“Even if he’s strong and has reached Grade A, there isn’t a single older person here. How do we explain that?” Xing Mang still challenged.
“Right! How do we explain this?” Blood Knife echoed.
Wu Hen didn’t answer directly but scanned the room silently before casually saying, “You’ve all had too much luck these past few years, focusing only on the surface of things. You’ll suffer big losses sooner or later. Age? Is age a problem? Think about that night six years ago…”
……
From the moment they entered and sat down to talk, Chu Tianyu had listened to everything word for word. Although the lobby was noisy and they spoke in hushed tones, it posed no obstacle to Chu Tianyu—he could hear whatever he wanted.
Chu Tianyu had long recognized who those people were—superhumans from Grandpa’s National Security Department’s Sixth Division. Especially that white-haired man; it had been his invisible energy blades that caused him quite a lot of trouble back then. Without his protective vital energy, he wouldn’t have been able to defend himself.

Thinking of her grandparents, they had gone on a six-month state visit before he even arrived in Beijing. Chutianyu hadn’t seen them yet, but his mother said they would probably be back soon, giving him a chance to visit them before the winter break.

Unexpectantly, he ran into “old acquaintances” again in this bar, especially when he overheard them discussing how cultivators were ranked nowadays. The most ridiculous part was that he himself was rated as an A-level cultivator. Though it seemed a bit excessive, Wuhen’s words really surprised Chutianyu—his analysis was spot-on, showing just how meticulous his thinking was.

Ouyang Ziyi had initially noticed Chutianyu looking restless, but now he had calmed down and even seemed lost in thought from time to time, which was puzzling.

The reason she brought Chutianyu to the bar today wasn’t to have fun or watch him embarrass himself, but to verify whether he was as pure and self-disciplined as Sister Xin said. However, given Chutianyu’s behavior, she was quite satisfied. Although she had been rebellious since childhood, there were two people she admired—of course, her father, and Sister Xin. She knew well that on the surface, she often dismissed her father and Sister Xin’s words, even opposing them or deliberately going against them, but in reality, their words had long taken root in her heart…

Her attitude toward Chutianyu stemmed from such complex contradictions. On one hand, she wasn’t optimistic about this seemingly ordinary Chutianyu and kept trying to prove that he was utterly incompetent. On the other hand, influenced by Sister Xin’s words, and through continuous contact with him, she sensed something unusual about him that she couldn’t explain, something that attracted her.

“Why does he attract me? That annoying guy!” Thinking of this, Ouyang Ziyi firmly dismissed the idea. She glanced at Chutianyu again; he still looked deep in thought, unimpressed by the crowd of men and women around them. So she said, “Chutianyu, it’s too stuffy here. Let’s go!”

Hearing her call, Chutianyu snapped out of his eavesdropping and, having heard enough, quickly got up when he saw Ouyang Ziyi wanting to leave, fearing she might change her mind. He really didn’t want to stay in this smoky place anymore. He couldn’t understand why those people spent money here to suffer.

Once outside, breathing in the fresh air and feeling the cold wind, he immediately felt much more relaxed.

“Let’s head back now!” Ouyang Ziyi said as they walked away.

“Oh…” Chu Tianyu suppressed his joy and replied in a seemingly calm tone. Thank goodness, he was finally free!
Not far ahead, they heard a sarcastic voice behind them: “Hey, you there ahead, slow down a bit. I’ve got something to say to you…”
Chu Tianyu and Ouyang Ziyi turned around simultaneously and saw five or six men following them. The leader was a bearded man. Chu Tianyu vaguely remembered that they were among the fifteen people who had tried to approach them before.
Chu Tianyu couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Frowning, he turned to Ouyang Ziyi and whispered, “What should we do? Following you always brings trouble—either hooligans or thugs!”
Seeing Chu Tianyu’s pitiful state, Ouyang Ziyi gently pushed him forward a few steps, then turned to the men with a cold smirk and said, “If you have something to say, just say it. I’m not very familiar with you, and from the look of you, you’re not good people either!”
“Damn it, you bitch! You’re pretty bold, aren’t you? Fuck!” one of them retorted.
“Heh, this time we’ve got a wild girl. Wait…”
Before the others could finish speaking, the bearded leader waved his hand to silence them. He stepped forward, sniffed, and said smoothly, “Alright, you’re pretty wild, huh? Heh, but I like that. Those who dare call me ‘Bearded Brute’ either haven’t been born yet or are already in the coffin. Fine, I won’t make things hard for you. Guys, get lost! The girl stays here to spend the night with us! If she satisfies me, then…”
Before he could finish, Ouyang Ziyi rushed forward and delivered a side kick. The bearded man was experienced enough to dodge slightly, avoiding the vital areas, though he was still hit hard on the thigh by Ouyang Ziyi’s kick.
Instead of pulling back because she hadn’t hit him properly, Ouyang Ziyi continued her momentum, leaning forward, using her waist for leverage, crossing her arms, and pushing forward with her elbow—this time hitting the bearded man squarely in the chest.
The bearded man stumbled back several steps, barely held up by his companions. Just as he was about to curse loudly, he felt a searing pain in his chest. He could only gasp for air, unable to say a word.
Only then did Ouyang Ziyi casually clap her hands and mockingly say, “Is this really ‘Bearded Brute’? You sounded pretty intimidating, but you fell so fast. Is that all?”
“Damn you, little bitch…” The men behind Bearded Brute grew angry and prepared to charge at her.

With a “bang,” a burst of sparks appeared on the ground where they were about to charge, along with a wisp of smoke. Chu Tianyu was no stranger to this scene. Sure enough, Ouyang Ziyi now had that silver pistol in her hand, and the few thugs across from them were stunned—real guns and bullets! Thinking of the skills this girl had just shown, these guys weren’t fools either; they clearly realized they had messed with the wrong people. As Ouyang Ziyi casually pointed the dark barrel of her gun at them, they all instinctively stepped back. Their boss, Changmao Biao, also realized the seriousness of the situation. In China, only police or big shots could carry guns. Though anxious, he couldn’t say anything and could only signal his men to back off. Seeing that her plan had worked, Ouyang Ziyi didn’t want any more trouble. She pulled Chu Tianyu with her, ready to leave, but to her surprise, she couldn’t move him—he still stood there, frozen in fear. Annoyed, she cursed inwardly, “What a coward!” but called out, “Hey, wake up! It’s time to go!” Chu Tianyu’s fingers trembled, but he held back. Only after Ouyang Ziyi called out again did he snap out of it and follow her back to the car. “You coward! Scared by a few thugs? It seems you were pretending to be unconscious at the restaurant last time! Hmph…” Ouyang Ziyi seemed to have found an opening to criticize him. Chu Tianyu was still thinking about what had just happened. He really couldn’t stand these scum. If it weren’t for that magnetic-like force hidden in the corner of the lobby, he would have secretly joined Ouyang Ziyi in taking action—either to kill them or at least disable that Changmao Biao. “Hey, Young Master Chu, are you even listening to me?” Ouyang Ziyi snapped impatiently as Chu Tianyu remained expressionless. “Um, well, next time you encounter something like this, it’s better if you stay behind me. Girls will be at a disadvantage in fights! It was just a few thugs this time, but if we really face real threats later, your gun won’t be of any use!” Chu Tianyu said thoughtfully. “What kind of threats?” “There are many things you can’t understand…” “What things?” Ouyang Ziyi asked, her eyes gleaming. “I can’t explain it right now. I read about them in books. Anyway, it’s better to be careful from now on…” Chu Tianyu replied evasively.

Ouyang Ziyi of course wouldn’t believe his “nonsense,” but she didn’t press further. She simply raised her eyes, smiled, and said, “Hehe, fine then! From now on, I’ll rely on my boyfriend!” After saying that, she tilted her head and acted coyly, leaning against her shoulder. There was really nothing to do with her. Chu Tianyu quickly sat up straight and kept quiet, but he couldn’t help but wonder in his mind, “Is this considered sexual harassment?” “Oh, right, my dear boyfriend, I’ve got some gossip for you. Your first lady, Qin Nianran, now has a strong suitor. His family background isn’t any worse than yours, the Chu family. And he’s also extremely handsome and charming. In terms of looks and temperament, he’s a hundred times better than you!” Ouyang Ziyi suddenly blurted out something astonishingly gossipy. Upon hearing this, Chu Tianyu felt a sudden tremor in his heart, accompanied by an uncomfortable sensation. He had no mind to listen to what Ouyang Ziyi said next, but he did catch the last sentence: “Hehe, his name is Zhan Zifeng—the young head of the Zhan family. You’d better be careful!” … “Damn it, cough, cough… What a hell of bad luck. I never expected to run into such a tough opponent today, cough…” said Changmao Biao, who had just recovered from being beaten. “Yeah, boss, she actually has a gun!” “Boss, it’s good we didn’t act rashly and kept our strength. A real man knows when to bend and when to stretch. Come on, boss, let’s find a place to have some fun and cool off…” Before the boss could respond, a low but sharp voice rang out, “You’ll get your comeuppance!” Along with the voice, two tall and one thin figure appeared. Looking at their faces, both were covered with white towels, which was extremely strange. “Damn, where did these two brats come from…” Before he could finish speaking, Changmao Biao felt a chill in his lower body, followed by a series of cracking sounds in his joints. A severe pain struck instantly, and he fainted without even making a sound. Five seconds! It was only five seconds! The thugs lay on the ground like piles of rotten meat. All that could be heard was the sound of two dark figures disappearing into the darkness after flashing by. As the two figures disappeared into the shadows, they removed their towels, and from the darkness, two men and one woman stepped out—none other than the five people who had just entered the bar. “Feixue, you can take back your ‘domain’ now…” said the white-haired Wuhen. “Big brother Wuhen, back in the bar, you deliberately prevented Sister Feixue from using her domain to block our conversation. Were you suspecting that pretty girl? Could she be the expert you said has reached Grade A?” Xiao Shui asked in confusion.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like it at all! I can’t sense any aura around her, not even when she moves. And judging from her skills, she’s barely above average in agility,” Fei Xue analyzed.
“I told you Wu Hen was overthinking things and acting all mysterious,” Xue Dao said.
“Right, where would an A-rank expert come from?” Xing Mang asked.
After everyone had shared their opinions, Wu Hen calmly said, “I’m not talking about her, but the tall boy beside her!”
Seeing everyone look surprised and skeptical but no one speak, they knew Wu Hen must have more to say. “When Fei Xue sensed something unusual, especially based on her description—once when I was on a mission with Boss Jiang, he mentioned a similar situation. I also mentioned it earlier in the bar. Some highly skilled practitioners, when faced with external stimuli or certain auras, naturally develop defensive energy and fighting spirit. Their skills have reached an instinctive level, and those who can achieve this are at least B-rank or above. Plus, Fei Xue said he quickly suppressed and retracted his aura, leaving her with no further sensation. Putting it all together, I boldly conclude that this person is at least A-rank! If my guess is correct, with such skills, in this bar, no matter how far away or how noisy it is, it would be easy for him to eavesdrop on us!”
“Oh, so that’s why you hinted for Fei Xue to withdraw her ‘domain’—so he could hear us and secretly observe if anyone else is eavesdropping!” Xue Dao realized.
“Mm, that’s why I deliberately directed the conversation toward him. I believe anyone would be interested in their own affairs!” Wu Hen summarized.
If Chu Tianyu could have heard this, he would surely be amazed by Wu Hen’s sharpness of mind and reflect on his own immaturity and lack of experience.
“And what was the result? Is it that silly-looking kid?” Xing Mang pressed.
“Oh, Brother Xing Mang is so silly! It’s not him. Otherwise, why would we stand outside in the cold all this time, getting pummeled by the wind?” Xiao Shui teased.
“You little brat! I’ll strangle you…” Xing Mang angrily charged at Xiao Shui.
“Enough! Stop fighting. Let’s end today’s relaxation here. We still have to fly tomorrow. Everyone, go back and get ready properly. This mission can’t afford any mistakes.” With that, Wu Hen led the way to the parking lot.

“Tch, acting all deep again. Even if it’s that young man, what exactly happened? Please explain it to us!” Xing Mang grumbled.
Seeing Wu Hen’s hesitant expression, Fei Xue gently stepped closer and whispered, “What’s wrong? Was there something wrong with what just happened? Even if that young man is an A-rank cultivator, it has nothing to do with us directly! Why do you look so worried?”
“Actually, I’m not sure it’s that young man either. But among everyone here, only his expression changed as we talked, especially when I mentioned the crushing defeat of our Blade and Ice teams six years ago. His reaction was extremely intense…”
“What?” Fei Xue exclaimed in shock. Noticing that others were looking over, she quickly lowered her voice and said, “Are you saying he’s that Berserker?”
Wu Hen pondered for a while before slowly saying, “No. It only means he definitely knows about this incident! Although his age might match, from our analysis back then, that Berserker was also a young man who practiced martial arts under our master. But their heights were vastly different. I remember that Berserker was already close to 1.8 meters tall, with a robust build and muscles full of explosive power! As for that young man just now, both in terms of physique and aura, he’s far inferior…”
“If it’s not him, then why do I feel you’re a bit uneasy?” Fei Xue continued to ask.
“It’s not just about today. I’m worried about this mission. Although it’s to be carried out jointly by the Blade and Ice teams, as you just saw, against true cultivators, our special abilities hold no advantage at all! I don’t know why, but I have no confidence in this mission at all…” Wu Hen said with a heavy heart.
Fei Xue didn’t say anything else. She simply moved closer to Wu Hen, took his hand, and looked at him with a gentle gaze, full of encouragement and support…