Chapter 76: Clearly Interested in You

After finally dealing with Sayako’s body, Chu Tianfeng returned to the cave beneath the cliff.

Du Jingjing had already awakened. She gazed at the travel-worn Chu Tianfeng, her cheeks flushed, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

“You helped me remove the bullet?” At last, Du Jingjing summoned her courage and asked in a low voice.

Chu Tianfeng knew she was shy. After all, the process of extracting a bullet was somewhat intimate, so he replied casually, “Yes. To save you, little miss, I wasted one of my elixirs. I really don’t know how to get Special Operations to reimburse me.”

For the first time ever, Du Jingjing didn’t retort. Instead, she glanced behind him. “You make your own elixirs?”

A few days ago, Chu Tianfeng had carried in bundles of medicinal herbs and a battered pill furnace. Now, the furnace remained, but all the herbs had disappeared.

Du Jingjing wasn’t foolish. She could easily guess what he’d done with the herbs.

“That’s right.” Chu Tianfeng put on a look of deep regret. “Miss Du, you know, the pill I gave you is called the Nine-Tailed Heart-Saving Elixir. It’s priceless—worth tens of millions. You’d better speak to the Special Operations team for me. They should at least compensate me seventy or eighty million.”

“Seventy or eighty million!” The straightforward Lv Hui was astonished and cut in, “Little Du, you’d better cough it up and return it to him. We can’t afford such medicine.”

“Out of the way!” Du Jingjing pushed Lv Hui aside and turned to Chu Tianfeng. “The Special Operations team won’t pay that much, but I do know someone who would. If you dare go to him, you’ll definitely get your money.”

“Who?” Chu Tianfeng had only been joking, but the mention of money piqued his interest immediately.

Seventy or eighty million! That’s no small sum. Even Bill Gates himself would dash like a rabbit if he could earn that for a single trip.

“Du Sancai—my grandfather,” Du Jingjing replied with a hint of pride.

This was the second time Chu Tianfeng had heard the name Du Sancai; the last time had been at Huangshan Peak, when Guo Xiancheng had mentioned it.

For now, all he knew was that Du Jingjing was Du Sancai’s granddaughter; beyond that, he was clueless.

“He’s wealthy? And generous?” Chu Tianfeng asked.

Both questions were crucial.

First, Du Sancai had to be rich. If he were destitute, it wouldn’t matter if Chu Tianfeng had saved his entire family, let alone just his granddaughter—there’d be no compensation to be had.

Second, he needed to be generous. There are plenty of rich people in the world, but if he were a miser, after saving his granddaughter, you’d be lucky to get a meal out of him, before he had his driver drop you off at the bus stop in his Bentley Mulsanne—just like that!

What else could you do? Hold a knife to his throat?

“You don’t know Du Sancai?” Lv Hui stared at Chu Tianfeng as if he were a monster.

“Why should I? Is he a famous director or screenwriter?” Chu Tianfeng retorted.

Given his profession, it was useful to know a few directors, and he did know several—well, assistant ones.

“You… You—fine, you win.” Lv Hui was so exasperated he could barely speak. “Let me tell you, her grandfather is really wealthy, and also very, very generous.”

He practically ground out the last words between his teeth.

Chu Tianfeng’s heart sank halfway.

“Don’t listen to him. My grandfather adores me. Seventy or eighty million? Even seven or eight hundred million—if he deems it worthwhile, he’ll pay without hesitation,” Du Jingjing continued, tempting him.

“Forget it.” Chu Tianfeng shook his head. “Your grandfather’s probably famous for being a penny-pincher, if even people like Lv Hui know about it.”

Du Jingjing rolled her eyes. “Suit yourself. Don’t come crying to me later. We’re heading back tomorrow morning; you still have a few hours to think it over.”

“Going back?” Chu Tianfeng shrugged. “I have some bad news for you: Ma Tu has already returned to your base ahead of you. If I’m not mistaken, Special Operations is probably preparing to issue a warrant for your arrest.”

“A warrant?” Du Jingjing’s lips curled. “Ma Tu doesn’t have that kind of clout. Anyone have a phone?”

Lv Hui spread his hands, indicating he didn’t.

Chu Tianfeng pulled out his phone and tossed it to Du Jingjing. “It seems to be out of battery.”

Du Jingjing didn’t mind. She took the phone and walked to the cave entrance—presumably to call Special Operations.

Chu Tianfeng sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began cultivating the Five Elements Technique.

After a while, Du Jingjing returned and sat beside him.

“How did you know Ma Tu went back?” she asked, tossing the phone to him.

“I overheard their conversation when I went out just now, all right?” Of course, Chu Tianfeng wasn’t about to admit he’d captured a prisoner and killed them all.

Du Jingjing was a soldier, he was a—well, not quite a criminal, perhaps a thief! There are things better left unsaid, lest he bring trouble upon himself.

“You’re not being honest!” Du Jingjing pouted, but in the end didn’t argue further. Instead, she asked softly, “We’re leaving tomorrow. Where will you go?”

“Is the Ma Tu situation resolved?” Chu Tianfeng countered.

“Of course. A little eel like him can’t stir up any real trouble.” Du Jingjing dismissed the idea.

“Then congratulations.” Chu Tianfeng closed his eyes again. “I’m heading back to Tianhai tomorrow.”

Du Jingjing wanted to say more, but seeing his indifferent expression, she pursed her lips and walked to the wall, where she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

Early the next morning, Chu Tianfeng led the two of them out of the cave, and the three made their way to the eastern shore.

Lv Hui still moved cautiously, pistol in hand.

Du Jingjing had also been tense, but seeing Chu Tianfeng’s calm, untroubled demeanor, she relaxed and walked beside him.

After more than half an hour, they reached the eastern side of the island.

Three speedboats still floated on the lake in a triangle formation.

Lv Hui and Du Jingjing rushed into the water and swam to the nearest boat.

Chu Tianfeng swam leisurely behind them.

Lv Hui and Du Jingjing scrambled onto the boat and ran into the cabin. Soon after, the sound of wailing drifted out.

Chu Tianfeng swam up, climbed lightly onto the deck, but did not enter the cabin. He had already known the previous day that Fan Youzhang was dead. He hadn’t told the others because Du Jingjing was still recovering; he feared the news would worsen her condition.

After ten minutes, Lv Hui and Du Jingjing carried Fan Youzhang’s corpse onto the deck.

“You know who they are, don’t you?” Du Jingjing’s eyes were red, burning with anger.

So many people had chased them last night, and now, in the morning, those people had vanished without a trace. There was no way this had nothing to do with Chu Tianfeng. His calm demeanor made it obvious.

“You’re too weak. Even if I told you, it would be pointless.” Chu Tianfeng shook his head.

One was at intermediate dark energy, the other late-stage—such strength, to dream of revenge, was pure fantasy.

“Who was it?” Du Jingjing stamped her foot and cried.

Lv Hui glared at Chu Tianfeng in hatred.

“The Tomb-Raiding Sect,” Chu Tianfeng sighed, gazing into the distance.

Far off, where sky met water, a dark helicopter thundered toward them.

Ah!

Du Jingjing collapsed against the railing, sobbing uncontrollably.

Lv Hui knelt before Fan Youzhang’s body, biting his lower lip until blood dripped onto the corpse.

“My condolences,” Chu Tianfeng said, walking to Du Jingjing and gently patting her shoulder.

But Du Jingjing turned and threw herself into his arms, wailing in grief.

The helicopter grew larger, its color turning moss green.

It soon hovered overhead, the lake’s surface boiling with surging waves.

A thick rope slowly descended. Only then did Du Jingjing release Chu Tianfeng and, with Lv Hui’s help, secure Fan Youzhang’s corpse.

Afterward, Lv Hui, carrying a bundle, climbed the rope to the helicopter.

“I’m going now,” Du Jingjing said as she approached Chu Tianfeng, her eyes still brimming with tears.

“Take care,” Chu Tianfeng shrugged.

“You be careful too,” Du Jingjing’s voice grew unexpectedly gentle. “Don’t act recklessly again. If you can’t handle something, call me.”

Chu Tianfeng felt numb all over. For a moment, he wondered if he’d given her the wrong pill last night—perhaps an aphrodisiac instead of a restorative.

The helicopter thundered away, but Chu Tianfeng could still see a delicate face pressed to the window.

“That lady is definitely interested in you.” A crisp voice echoed in his mind.

Chu Tianfeng shivered. “Don’t joke around. That’s scarier than your crush on that fellow last night.”

“Hey!” Sayako protested loudly. “Don’t say things like that again!”

“All right.” Chu Tianfeng raised his hands in surrender, thinking, You’re over a thousand years old; what do you know?

Chu Tianfeng entered the cabin, searched for some time, but found no key for the speedboat. Helpless, he dove back into the water and swam to the opposite shore.

He resolved then and there to learn some practical skills. Otherwise, what kind of master thief would he be if he couldn’t even steal a car or a boat?

It took him more than an hour to swim ashore.

After a brief rest, he used a spell to dry his clothes, then sat cross-legged on the spot, circulating his energy to recover his strength.

He had just completed one major cycle when he heard footsteps rustling in the surrounding woods.

Chu Tianfeng wasn’t concerned. Now that he’d broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement, his confidence had soared. He didn’t believe his luck was so bad as to run into someone stronger than himself by chance.

Moments later, two men emerged—a middle-aged man and a young man.

The middle-aged man was about forty, with a square face, short eyebrows, narrow eyes, a flat nose, and a wide mouth, with two thin mustaches on his upper lip. In short, his features were understated—extremely understated.

He wore a black short-sleeved Tai Chi uniform, holding a round compass with an indifferent expression.

The younger man looked twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a square face and a buzz cut. He wore a black t-shirt and green slacks, and happily held a wooden sword, grinning at Chu Tianfeng.

The two stopped seven or eight meters from Chu Tianfeng. The young man eyed his chest and smiled, “Miss, I see your brow is dark and your visage shadowed—you must have encountered something unclean.”