Chapter 159: Quite a Surprise, Aren't You?

"Tianfeng, what about you?" Elder Liu stood up, leaning on his cane. "You drift about outside day in and day out, and it's never a proper arrangement. After all, you are still a descendant of the Liu family."

Liu Qianqian also looked at Chu Tianfeng with eager eyes.

"I make my own decisions about my affairs." Chu Tianfeng turned around, happened to see Liu Qianqian, and then turned his head back to say, "And as for Qianqian, the lot of you should stay out of her business from now on. If there is another situation like the Zhu family of the Salt Assembly, don't blame me for turning hostile!"

Elder Liu and the others exchanged glances in dismay, not daring to utter a sound.

"Brother!" Liu Qianqian stood up again.

"Alright." Chu Tianfeng waved his hand. "I have matters to attend to. Take good care of yourself."

"Oh," Liu Qianqian replied with a grievance-laden tone. "You be careful, too."

"Everyone, farewell!" Chu Tianfeng cupped his fists in salute to the people in the hall, then deliberately turned to Hua Zhengjun and his daughter. "Uncle, Sister Wu, farewell."

Everyone returned the courtesy one by one.

Chu Tianfeng gave Du Jingjing a slight nod, and the two walked out together.

"Tianfeng!" Scarcely had they walked far when a soft voice came from behind.

It was Hua Hua. She came trotting up to catch up with them.

"Sister Wu." Chu Tianfeng turned around, steeling himself.

Every time he faced Hua Wu, he always felt a sense of owing her.

Not only because Hua Wu frequently suffered collateral damage on his account, but also because there was an indescribable and unnameable feeling in his heart.

"This is for you." Hua Wu pulled out a small red booklet, on which were inscribed the three prominent characters: "Marriage Certificate".

Du Jingjing harbored a natural hostility toward Hua Wu. Once again, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at the sky.

"Thank you!" Chu Tianfeng smiled bitterly as he took it, opened it, and glanced inside. "Whose work is this photo on here? It looks remarkably authentic."

The joint photograph of the two people on it looked just like a real picture of them together—so seamless that one couldn't tell at all it had been digitally synthesized.

"I had an animation expert at the studio city do it." Hua Wu smiled brightly. "As long as you're satisfied."

She had originally wanted to add that if he wasn't satisfied, the two of them could make a trip to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Anyway, she wasn't ready to marry Chu Tianfeng yet, nor did she think Chu Tianfeng was ready to take her as his wife.

"You—" Chu Tianfeng casually tucked away the marriage certificate and started to speak.

To his surprise, Hua Wu spoke at almost the exact same moment: "You—"

Then, with a tacit understanding, both of them said simultaneously: "You speak first!"

Chu Tianfeng had no choice but to extend a hand, gesturing for Hua Wu to go ahead.

Hua Wu let out a giggle and asked, "Have you been staying inside Peach Blossom Valley for these past few months?"

"Mm." Chu Tianfeng shrugged out of habit.

His entering Peach Blossom Valley could hardly be considered a secret now; it didn't really matter whether he spoke of it or not.

"I heard it's very dangerous in there," Hua Wu said, her expression turning serious.

"Uh..." Chu Tianfeng could sense her concern and felt slightly moved. "To ordinary people, it is somewhat dangerous; but to me, it's practically a paradise on earth."

Indeed, while the Peach Blossom Valley mystic realm might seem perilous at every step to others, to him, it was far safer than the outside world.

After all, the highest-level demonic beasts in the mystic realm were merely at the early stage of the third tier, posing no real threat to him; whereas the martial artists with the highest cultivation levels in the outside world had already reached the peak of Protal Heaven, capable of ending his life with ease.

"Did you manage to find a lot of treasures in there again?" Hua Wu asked once more.

"Of course." Chu Tianfeng felt a mild sense of pride.

On this trip to the Peach Blossom Valley mystic realm, not only had he gathered all the materials needed to forge flying swords and successfully crafted them, but he also obtained the Spirit-Cleansing Mist Lotus, advancing to the Great Completion of Qi Refining in a short span of time. Furthermore, he found all the ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills, brewed pills complete with medicinal halos, and successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.

Aside from that, he acquired numerous materials for setting up formations, restoring his formation-master skills to that of a Lower-Grade Formation Master. At the same time, he also secured about a thousand demonic cores and three thousand spiritual stones.

It could be said that he was the biggest winner of this Peach Blossom Valley mystic realm expedition, an outcome that could simply be described as a bountiful harvest.

"Yet I always feel that having too many treasures is never a good thing. You were hunted down in the past precisely because of treasures. Don't you think you have enough already?" Hua Wu knitted her delicate brows.

"I actually feel it doesn't make much difference," Du Jingjing interjected from the side. "The people who want him dead would still hunt him down even if he handed over every single treasure he owns."

Chu Tianfeng spread his hands, indicating his agreement with Du Jingjing's statement.

"This..." Hua Wu caught a glimpse of the bracelet on Du Jingjing's wrist out of the corner of her eye, and a trace of displeasure flashed across her heart. "Oh, almost forgot. Thank you for the bracelet."

She herself didn't know why she felt unhappy; it was as if she subconsciously viewed herself as Chu Tianfeng's wife, and seeing him give gifts to other women—especially a gift identical to her own—made her feel quite distressed.

"You're welcome." Chu Tianfeng noticed the unease revealed between her brows, though unfortunately, he had no idea why she was uneasy.

"By the way, what was it you wanted to say just now?" Hua Wu looked alternately at Du Jingjing's two wrists. Seeing that the girl only wore a single bracelet, her spirits lifted slightly, and she thought to herself that she was, after all, his wife; he still treated her differently from others.

"Um..." Chu Tianfeng pondered for a moment and said, "I heard you've been looking everywhere for me?" Pausing briefly, he added, "Actually, you don't need to worry about me. My cultivation level isn't low these days, and there aren't many people who can threaten me."

Hua Wu had originally intended to say that she was looking for him to get a divorce, but seeing the hostile expression on Du Jingjing's face nearby, she changed her mind. Instead, she adopted the utmost gentleness and said, "Be careful in everything you do. Don't push yourself too hard."

Du Jingjing continued to look up at the sky. However, the sky was a blanket of dreary gray, and she could see nothing at all.

This was also the first time Chu Tianfeng had witnessed Hua Wu's tender side, and he involuntarily broke into a cold shiver.

A trace of amusement flickered across the corner of Hua Wu's eyes. As if feeling her performance wasn't quite thorough enough, she walked right up to Chu Tianfeng and straightened his collar for him. "Well then, I don't have anything else pressing. Take care of yourself."

Chu Tianfeng was left utterly dumbfounded, failing to keep up with Hua Wu's rhythm. Even as Hua Wu walked back into the living room, he still felt somewhat dazed.

"Haven't you looked enough?" A sharp, girlish rebuke suddenly sounded beside him.

Only then did Chu Tianfeng reluctantly retract his gaze.

Not to mention, Hua Wu's retreating figure was indeed very lovely; that cascade of shoulder-length hair and that slender, graceful posture truly invited wandering thoughts.

Ouch!

Unfortunately, before Chu Tianfeng could indulge his thoughts for long, he felt a fleshy pinch at his waist, bringing a twinge of pain.

"What's wrong?" Chu Tianfeng sidestepped gently and looked blankly at Du Jingjing beside him.

"Look at that little expression of yours! You were practically drooling!" Du Jingjing curled her lips in a pout.

Chu Tianfeng gave an awkward laugh, then recalled something and asked, "How did you know I was here?"

The fact that Du Jingjing had followed right on his heels the moment he set foot in the Liu residence had left him deeply puzzled.

Ever since the Lijiajere incident, he had kept his cell phone stored inside his storage ring, believing that the Special Operations Team could no longer track its signal.

"I figured it out by divination, didn't I?" Du Jingjing gave him an uncharitable side-eye. "Some people in my family keep watch on that little courtyard, satisfied now?"

"Looking for me with a purpose?" Chu Tianfeng frowned slightly.

He rather disliked the feeling of being monitored, even if that surveillance carried no malicious intent.

"All right, who told you to throw away your phone?" Seeing that he was displeased, Du Jingjing quickly defended herself. "My grandfather wants to see you, but we couldn't find you anywhere, so we had no choice but to wait by the stump for the hare."

Chu Tianfeng mused for a moment and said, "Very well, let me reiterate once more: I am only providing the pill recipe."

Flame Dragon Fruit and items of that sort were extremely scarce, and he did not believe a second plant could be found on Earth.

His relationship with the Du family was still fairly decent, and he didn't want the two sides to have a falling out over such a matter.

"You've said that hundreds of times already," Du Jingjing rolled her large eyes once more. "Hurry up and let's go."

The two walked to the garage, and as before, Chu Tianfeng took the driver's seat.

Du Jingjing sat in the front passenger seat. Looking up and catching sight of the vehicle's registration certificate, she casually picked it up and brought it before her eyes.

"Capital license plates?" Du Jingjing asked suspiciously.

The corners of Chu Tianfeng's mouth twitched upward slightly. "So what?"

"I don't remember you having any dealings with the Capital." Du Jingjing glared at him with resentment. "Be honest, whose car is this?"

"It was a gift from someone named Xiao Xinghua!" Chu Tianfeng started the engine and lightly pressed the accelerator.

The car gave a low growl as it surged out of the Liu estate and onto the main street.

"Xiao Xinghua?" Du Jingjing lowered her head in thought for a moment, then suddenly cried out, "Xiao Xinghua of the Capital's Xiao family?"

"Seems like it," Chu Tianfeng said casually, keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "His daughter is called Xiao Yunmeng, or something like that."

Scarcely had the words left his mouth when a sharp pain flared at his right ribs.

Good grief! Can we not have a pleasant conversation anymore? Chu Tianfeng cursed inwardly.

"You only ever remember Xiao Yunmeng!" Du Jingjing withdrew her pinch, her little tiger teeth grinding with a clicking sound.

"I met Xiao Yunmeng first, and Xiao Xinghua later," Chu Tianfeng said with a depressed expression.

He and Xiao Yunmeng had filmed in the same production crew and had interacted several times. Furthermore, Xiao Yunmeng had saved his life—how could he possibly not remember her?

"You know Xiao Yunmeng?" Du Jingjing asked skeptically.

"Of course," Chu Tianfeng curled his lip. "Surprised? Amazed?"

Although Xiao Yunmeng was a celebrity, in his eyes she was just an ordinary girl, and he didn't consider knowing her to be any particular honor.

"Amazed..." Du Jingjing wanted to hurl an insult, but the words died on her lips, and she felt a touch of regret. Letting out a long sigh, she lowered her voice and asked, "You met while filming?"

Chu Tianfeng smiled faintly. "No wonder those sects don't take you people seriously; your intelligence-gathering work is truly pathetic."

"Hateful!" Du Jingjing spat out a word of disgust. "With so many people in a film crew, she was just there playing an extra for a few days—who would have guessed you'd end up knowing her!"

Chu Tianfeng cast a resentful look at Du Jingjing, thinking to himself that such a massive extra was currently sitting right beside her, and her remark made his position rather awkward.

"Watch the road!" Du Jingjing threw another grand side-eye at him. "I know you're famous now and don't need to be an extra anymore, so what are you showing off about to me?"

Chu Tianfeng had no wish to get entangled in this topic and seized the opportunity to change the subject. "Did your grandfather want to see me just for that pill recipe?"

"I'm afraid not. The old man is full of sneaky tricks, so you'd better watch out when the time comes," Du Jingjing pouted.

"Oh? Is there something else?" Chu Tianfeng asked again.

"I'm not entirely sure either, but I guess it has something to do with the Foundation-Cultivating Pill or the Innate Pill." Du Jingjing's bright, clear eyes looked at Chu Tianfeng. "If you don't want to cooperate with him, you can just refuse outright."