Chapter 4: Two Questions
"Who are you people?" Tang Feng asked, standing in front of Bandit 4, his hands behind his back.
"S...senior, my name is Lin Zhang, and I'm a disciple of the Celestial Pavilion Sect," Lin Zhang desperately answered.
Tang Feng watched Lin Zhang carefully. He realized that Lin Zhang had the same eyes he once had—back when he was young and naive. He knew that he and Lin Zhang had a lot in common and that Lin Zhang would surely become strong in the future.
Taking his mind off Lin Zhang's potential, Tang Feng continued his questioning.
"I have no grievances against you and your people, so why did you attack me?"
"Senior, we are the guards in charge of protecting this cave. We detected that an intruder had activated the traps we set and came to take a look, only to discover it was senior," Lin Zhang answered, his head bowed in fear. He was fully aware that any wrong move could cost him his life.
"What's inside the cave?" Tang Feng asked, his gaze directed at the cave.
Lin Zhang raised his head, hesitant to answer.
"Senior… this—"
Tang Feng shifted his gaze to Lin Zhang, his expression now stern, showing that he wasn't joking around.
"I'll say! I'll say!" Lin Zhang blurted out in fear. I can't bear to provoke this senior, he thought, his mind flashing to the way Tang Feng had completely obliterated his companions.
"This cave is our Celestial Pavilion Sect's treasury. All our sect's finances and weapons are stored there. Of course, we have never seen the exact contents with our own eyes—only the elders have the right to do so."
"What about the Celestial Emperor you mentioned earlier? Who were you referring to?" Tang Feng asked, his eyes still sharp and stern.
"Lord Tianzong, Senior… His name is Lord Tianzong."
Tang Feng smiled. The heavens are really helping me this time.
He had no way to earn a living since he had just arrived here, and now he had landed in front of an opportunity to begin his revenge—as well as gain the finances to go through with it.
As Tang Feng thought inwardly, a realization hit him like an intense pressure. He stopped to think.
Turning around, he placed a hand on his chin, supporting it with the other as his gaze turned to the grass beneath him.
If what he says is true, does that mean the owner of this body also sought the treasures in the cave?
After all, he was only a couple of kilometers away from the cave.
"There was a young man, a few kilometers south of here, who was murdered and left by a tree. Did he also come for the treasures, or was he just killed for trespassing?" Tang Feng asked, his face devoid of any emotion.
Lin Zhang was silent for a moment, turning his gaze away from Tang Feng.
How does this senior know about that guy? Is he a relative or a friend who's here to avenge him?
Lin Zhang thought to himself before turning back, staring at the monster before him, unable to utter a single word.
"Forget it for now," Tang Feng said.
Lin Zhang released a huge breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He began wondering if he was now useless to this senior since he had provided the information he wanted.
"Senior…" He began, but Tang Feng cut him off.
"Come with me. We're going to play a game."
Lin Zhang gulped. He quickly nodded and rushed to follow behind Tang Feng as he walked into the cave.
---
The exterior of the cave looked normal, but as Tang Feng stepped inside, he got an unsettling feeling.
Something is wrong.
He looked around, trying to figure out the source of the feeling. The cave's internal walls had carvings, some forming pointed edges that resembled mountain peaks.
Tang Feng paid no attention to the carvings because he had already asked Su Yan to analyze and save them.
Lin Zhang followed closely behind, barely paying attention to his surroundings. He knew that this game would cost him his life if his performance was displeasing.
"Senior, this game… where are we going to play it?" he asked with a forced smile, trying to catch a glimpse of Tang Feng's expression.
Tang Feng glanced at him from the corner of his eye but didn't bother responding. Instead, he looked back at the cave's entrance, which was almost blown away from the earlier mishap. He sighed and walked deeper inside.
As they continued, Tang Feng realized he was growing weaker and more fatigued with every step. He looked at Lin Zhang, who seemed unaffected.
He must know something.
Tang Feng circulated his Chi as a countermeasure, but it was slowly being drained away.
I see. So my Chi being sucked out of me was the reason I felt so weak earlier. Interesting.
Tang Feng looked back at Lin Zhang, who was now glancing around but still unfazed. He didn't ask what Lin Zhang used to protect himself. Instead, he continued walking.
The cave grew darker, and the speed at which his Chi was being drained increased.
"Su Yan, is there a way to stop my Chi from being drained?" Tang Feng asked as he created a ball of light by gathering the surrounding Chi instead of using his own.
"Can this body handle it?"
Tang Feng sighed in relief.
"Activate it."
Lin Zhang was still walking while looking around when he suddenly bumped into Tang Feng and fell backward.
He wondered why Tang Feng had stopped but saw that he was deep in thought. Lin Zhang was about to ask when—
A dark, ominous aura erupted from Tang Feng.
Lin Zhang didn't know what he was seeing, but it was too strong. His body froze as he was forced to his knees, sweat pouring down his face as he struggled to breathe.
"Su Yan, it's too much."
The intensity of the aura diminished.
Tang Feng was shaken by the overwhelming power from the Chaos Core, but he was also relieved that his Chi was now protected.
He looked back at Lin Zhang, who was crumpled on the ground in shock.
"Let's go," Tang Feng said simply.
Lin Zhang was too frightened to respond.
"Monster… monster…" he kept muttering, his eyes staring into space.
Tang Feng sighed and decided to tweak his aura slightly.
"Su Yan?"
Tang Feng's aura skyrocketed for an instant before vanishing.
It was enough.
Lin Zhang snapped out of his trance, gasping for breath. He looked at Tang Feng's retreating figure, sweat still dripping from his face.
Who is this man? Why is his power so terrifying?
Lin Zhang gulped.
If Senior and the ancestors were to battle, I'm not sure the ancestors would have it easy…
He hurried to follow Tang Feng while keeping a safe distance.
---
They arrived in a labyrinth-like chamber, filled with ancient structures and towering pillars.
Tang Feng's Chi had stopped draining, though he hadn't realized it yet.
"Su Yan, how far is the treasury from here?"
Tang Feng's gaze shifted to Lin Zhang. He was about to attack him for lying—until—
Tang Feng stopped. That was bad news.
If there were multiple formations and arrays, that meant two things:
1. The treasure being protected was no ordinary treasure.
2. It was hidden well—likely within one of the formations or arrays.
Tang Feng walked over to Lin Zhang and placed his hand on his head.
"S…Senior, wait! Don't kill me! I was just following orders!" Lin Zhang pleaded desperately.
Tang Feng paused.
"I just have two questions for you, Lin Zhang," he said, pointing at him.
Lin Zhang practically ran to him.
"Senior, what do you want to know? Ask me anything, and I'll answer!"
Tang Feng's voice turned intimidating.
"Earlier, I asked you about the man by the tree. You didn't answer."
Lin Zhang gulped.
"His name was Luo Zeng… He was a worker in the sect. He was killed for trying to take back his sister's necklace…"
Tang Feng clenched his fists, his voice coated with rage.
---