Chapter 65: When Something Is Unusual, There Must Be a Hidden Cause

The arrow Tang Jiao released was not only unexpected but drawn swiftly, its aim precise; as it shot forth, it carried the sound of wind and thunder, full of force. Chu Feng could never have anticipated that Tang Jiao, without a word, would draw her bow and fire at Liu Run, and that this arrow truly carried murderous intent.

Faced with such a fierce arrow, Liu Run was even more astonished. Tang Jiao was his fiancée, and yet she aimed the arrowhead at his own head, shooting this ruthless arrow at him?

Clang!

When the sharp arrow reached Liu Run, he raised his sword to deflect it. With a loud clang, the arrow veered off, flying away, and Liu Run was forced several steps back by the force, his chest surging with blood, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

“Tang Jiao, are you mad? You actually tried to shoot me dead?” Liu Run roared loudly.

“I didn’t mean to kill you! I just wanted to test if you’ve been possessed by some evil spirit, controlling your body and soul. Now it seems you really are Liu Run!” Tang Jiao replied, her face filled with melancholy.

“Nonsense! Of course I’m Liu Run!” Liu Run was now utterly confused.

“Are you still my fiancé Liu Run? Ever since Chu Feng arrived at the Wind and Thunder Martial Pavilion, you seem to have become a different person, full of malice, always speaking sarcastically or trying to sow discord. My father’s relic, the Moon-Piercing Pearl, was wielded by Chu Feng to slay the Thunderbeast, contributing to our Pavilion. Isn’t that the greatest value of the Moon-Piercing Pearl?”

Tang Jiao spoke at length, her disappointment with her fiancé evident in every word.

“Tang Jiao, that’s not how it is. The bridge belongs to the bridge, the road to the road. Without the Moon-Piercing Pearl, couldn’t Chu Feng have slain the Thunderbeast? He lucked out with the Golden Battle Python, and now he’s flaunting the Moon-Piercing Pearl. You may accept it, but I can’t stand it!” Liu Run spoke as if deeply aggrieved.

“Liu Run, enough! Do you take Chu Feng for a fool?”

Chu Feng suddenly sneered and said, “My intuition is always sharp. I know the conflict between us isn’t just about the Golden Battle Python. You keep targeting me simply to provoke me, hoping I’ll turn away in anger and ignore the Wind and Thunder Calamity in your Pavilion. Once the calamity erupts, you’ll have your chance to act. Isn’t that your plan?”

“You… what nonsense are you talking about! You’re completely incoherent!”

Hearing Chu Feng’s words, Liu Run not only flew into a rage but his face flushed deeply, as if Chu Feng had uncovered something, leaving him momentarily speechless.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Liu Run cried out in pain. Just as he was distracted, his foot faltered and he was struck on the left arm by lightning released from the tail of the Twin-Tailed Thunder Monkey. Half of his arm immediately turned black, swelling like a wooden stump.

Fortunately, Liu Run was at the fifth stage of body refinement, in the Iron Bone realm, his physique extremely tough, immune to flood and fire. Had he not reached the Iron Bone realm, the lightning from the Twin-Tailed Thunder Monkey would have reduced his arm to ash in an instant.

“Haha! Too much poison in your gut, struck by lightning, were you?”

Seeing Liu Run’s agony after the lightning strike, Chu Feng couldn’t hide his pleasure and voiced his satisfaction loudly.

“Chu Feng, you dare to mock me?!” Liu Run endured the pain in his arm and questioned fiercely.

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not mocking you!”

Chu Feng shook his head and said, “I’m just reminding you, when facing the mighty Thunderbeast, you’d best be careful lest you get struck and cry out in pain! Now that you’ve been injured by lightning, grit your teeth and bear it, don’t wail and drag everyone down, spoiling the mood!”

“Chu Feng, you! What a sharp tongue!”

Previously, seeing Chu Feng’s taciturn demeanor, Liu Run had assumed he was not eloquent or sharp-tongued, but now he realized Chu Feng was a master of words, his remarks biting when he chose to speak.

“Haha! Liu Run, you always warned Chu Feng not to hold us back, now he’s returning the favor. He means well—bear your pain, swallow your grievances, don’t let us down!”

Fan Qianjun laughed heartily, loudly supporting Chu Feng.

Though he had only recently met Chu Feng, Fan Qianjun felt a strong affinity for him—not just because Chu Feng had saved him earlier. As for Liu Run, though Fan Qianjun had known him for years, it seemed today was the first time he truly saw him.

If not for their shared brotherhood as disciples, Fan Qianjun’s fiery temper would have had him chop Liu Run down long ago for repeatedly provoking Chu Feng.

Lei Jianqin and Tang Jiao didn’t mock Liu Run, but neither did they offer words of comfort. Liu Run was prickly and unsociable, and challenged the Thunderbeast himself; now struck by lightning, he had only himself to blame.

“Fine! Chu Feng, you win!”

Liu Run gritted his teeth and hissed, “I’m here to fulfill the Pavilion’s mission, not to quarrel with you all! We’ll see who laughs last!”

“That’s right, we’ll see!”

Chu Feng nodded coldly.

Where there’s abnormality, there’s mischief. Judging from Liu Run’s actions, his behavior today was utterly unreasonable, clearly aiming to stop Chu Feng from resolving the Wind and Thunder Calamity in the Pavilion. There must be some major plot behind it.

Yet, knowing so little about Liu Run, Chu Feng couldn’t fathom what scheme he was plotting, and Lei Jianqin and the others were equally perplexed.

“Tang, careful!”

“Ah!”

Lei Jianqin had barely finished his warning when Tang Jiao cried out in pain.

A fist-sized Thunder Sand Spider, its numerous fine legs clinging tightly to Tang Jiao’s left foot, had bitten her. Lei Jianqin’s twin swords flashed, slashing and stabbing, finally flicking the terrifying spider to the ground.

Though Lei Jianqin’s swordwork was swift, it was still a moment too late. Tang Jiao’s left leg felt as though struck heavily; she could barely stand, forced to support herself with her great bow.

“Tang, are you all right?” Lei Jianqin asked immediately.

“My… my foot was bitten by the Thunder Sand Spider. It’s not a major injury, but moving is difficult!” Tang Jiao replied, enduring the searing pain.

The Thunder Sand Spider wasn’t a true Thunderbeast—otherwise Lei Jianqin’s swords wouldn’t have sufficed—but even so, a bite was enough to make Tang Jiao suffer.

Tang Jiao quickly swallowed a healing pill, but the wounds caused by beasts in the Wind and Thunder Cavern barely responded to medicine; her entire left leg felt useless, powerless, and without her great bow for support, she would surely collapse.

Seeing Tang Jiao in such a state, Liu Run, still moving swiftly, shook his head and said, “Tang Jiao, look at you! Earlier, I asked you to come help me. Had you listened, the Thunder Sand Spider wouldn’t have targeted you, and you wouldn’t have to suffer now. Truly…”

“What? Liu Run, are you even human? Tang Jiao is injured, and instead of comforting her, you say something so cold? I ought to chop you down!”

Fan Qianjun flew into a rage, brandishing his glittering snowflake hatchet, threatening to strike Liu Run.

“Don’t mind him, Brother Fan! Whether I suffer or enjoy myself has nothing to do with Liu Run!”

Tang Jiao gritted her teeth, tears welling in her eyes; her fiancé Liu Run was a different man today, so disappointing.

“Master Chu, my apologies!” Tang Jiao turned, face full of regret, and said to Chu Feng, “We invited you here to help, yet instead of aiding you, I’m wounded, slowing you and the team down. I am truly ashamed!”

Tang Jiao’s injury left her left leg nearly useless; in the battles ahead, she couldn’t help, and would need care from others—a burden slowing their progress.

“Tang, you exaggerate! Though I can’t heal your leg, I can ensure you keep moving without slowing us down!”

Chu Feng nodded.

“What? Chu Feng, you don’t mean someone should carry Tang Jiao, do you?” Fan Qianjun asked, puzzled.

“Not someone, but this!”

Chu Feng replied, taking from his storage pouch a brick-like object and tossing it out.

Whoosh!

Like the sudden opening of a great umbrella, the brick transformed in an instant; from its square shape, various components unfolded, and before Chu Feng stood a golden giant crab, as large as a millstone.