C53 Saving a Life

"Alright!" Han Lin reluctantly took what Han Feng offered, feeling a newfound closeness to his brother. Despite their past conflicts, Han Feng still thought of him when it came to sharing the spoils. They truly were blood brothers.

Having dealt with Chang Wenjun and Hong Xingbao, Han Lin was beginning to appreciate the value of kinship.

It occurred to Han Lin that among his siblings, his eldest brother, Han Mo, seemed to treat Han Feng quite well, certainly better than they had before.

Was it because Han Mo had more life experience?

Han Lin nodded to himself, convinced that was the reason.

Han Feng stowed the Source Flower and collected the tokens from Hong Xingbao and the others. With a chuckle, he remarked, "Got 38 tokens. Hong Xingbao sure did rob a lot of people."

Leaving that spot, they continued their search elsewhere.

By the afternoon of the second day, most of the tokens they had gathered ended up in Han Feng's pouch.

"I'm injured and not up for competing in the Family Trials rankings," Han Lin admitted. "I just need enough tokens to save face."

When hunger struck, they searched for water and eventually came upon a river. There, they found a young girl lying injured.

"Han Yutong!" Han Lin exclaimed upon recognizing her.

Hearing the alarm in Han Lin's voice, Han Feng hurried over.

It was quite fortunate for them to stumble upon two clan members in the vast Jade Peak Mountain Range in just one day, even if both were injured.

Han Feng examined her and reassured, "She has many wounds, but none are life-threatening. She's just lost a lot of blood. Basically, she passed out from the blood loss."

They tended to Han Yutong's wounds and kept watch over her, roasting meat nearby.

The aroma of the meat eventually roused Han Yutong.

"You're awake?" came a soft voice.

Han Yutong's eyes sharpened as she exclaimed, "Han Feng!"

"And don't forget about me," Han Lin called out, eager to assert his presence.

Han Yutong hesitated before finally asking, "Was it you two who saved me?"

Han Feng smirked, "Who else would it be? Anyone from the other families would have likely finished you off instead of playing the hero."

"You've been injured and unconscious for a while; roasted meat isn't the best idea. I've made you a meat and mushroom soup instead. Have some," he suggested.

"Thank you." Han Yutong gratefully sipped the soup and nodded her thanks to Han Feng.

Once they had all eaten their fill, Han Feng inquired, "What exactly happened to you?"

"With your abilities, you could easily rank in the top ten of the trial participants."

It was then that Han Yutong's face paled. "Oh no, I nearly forgot—I was attacked by Chang Wenhua. Han Rou distracted him to save me. Han Feng, you must help her. Given Han Rou's strength, she's probably at her limit by now."

"Chang Wenhua?" Han Lin was astounded. "Is he really that formidable? Even Sister Rou couldn't stand against him?"

Han Yutong gave a wry smile. "Yes, it's baffling how Chang Wenhua has trained. He's advanced to the late period of Mortal Rank and has begun to solidify his Internal Strength into Attribute Genuine Qi, completing at least a quarter to a third of it."

"If Chang Wenhua is still hiding his true power, he might have reached halfway!"

"That's impossible! He's not even fifteen yet, and he's already at the late Mortal Rank with so much Attribute Genuine Qi condensed!"

"Could Chang Wenhua possibly have a Lower-grade or even a Medium-class Aptitude?" Han Lin shook his head in disbelief.

A look of concern washed over Han Yutong's face. "I wish I didn't believe it, but the facts are right in front of us."

Han Feng mused, "The Chang family has some powerful backing, something you both are probably aware of by now."

"If there's a powerful backer behind them, then Chang Wenhua's advanced cultivation level makes sense."

"Just yesterday, when I encountered Chang Wenjun, he had already unlocked six Main Bloodlines. The previous time we met, he had only managed four."

"I'm now certain that the Chang family's backing is at least of Mystic Level strength."

Han Lin and Han Yutong were taken aback and fell silent.

Han Feng abruptly rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his trousers, and addressed Han Lin, "Take care of Han Yutong for me—I'm going to look for Han Rou."

"Han Yutong, show me which way Han Rou went."

Han Yutong pointed in a direction, "Over there."

Without hesitation, Han Feng dashed off.

Han Yutong expressed her concern, "Han Lin, do you think Han Feng and Sister Rou will be alright?"

Han Lin scratched his head, "How should I know? Chang Wenhua is a Late Period Mortal Rank martial artist, after all. But Han Feng and Sister Rou are nearly at the peak of the Middle Period Mortal Rank. They might not be able to beat Chang Wenhua, but escaping is probably within their reach."

Somewhere in the Jade Peak Mountain Range, a woman in yellow robes was desperately running, her clothes stained with fresh blood.

A shadowy figure was leisurely trailing her.

"Han Rou, you can't run forever. Why not stop and enjoy yourself with me?"

The woman, Han Rou, spat disdainfully, "Scoundrel!"

Chang Wenhua's face turned icy, "You're asking for death, daring to insult me like that!"

"Shadow Flash!"

Shadows flickered, and suddenly Chang Wenhua was blocking Han Rou's path.

Han Rou looked on in disbelief, "How are you so fast? Is the gap between the Late and Middle Periods of Mortal Rank really that vast?"

Chang Wenhua smirked, oozing smugness.

"This is my footwork-based Martial Skill, the Basic Upper-grade Shadow Flash. What do you say? If you come with me, I'll teach you this technique."

Chang Wenhua's mind was racing, "The Mystic Sect's Human Rank Martial Skills are forbidden to be shared with outsiders, but basic martial skills are a different matter."

"A mere Shadow Flash is nothing. If I desire it, my elder brother could easily find a superior Martial Skill to give me."

"Once my brother advances to the Mystic Rank, his stature within the Mystic Sect will soar. Then, even if he shares some Human Rank Martial Skills with our family, the Mystic Sect won't object."

Han Rou remained stoic, her gaze icy as she stared down Chang Wenhua.

Chang Wenhua's face hardened, "If I kill you, raping your corpse will serve just the same."

"Nine Shadow Palms!"

Despite Han Rou's unchanged facade, she was seething with rage inside.

"Six Solar Finger!" Chang Wenhua snapped his finger forward.

Han Rou coughed up blood, her shoulder rendered useless.

Her right shoulder bore a gaping hole from Chang Wenhua's strike, blood gushing forth.

Chang Wenhua closed in with a mocking sneer, "You're gravely wounded. I'm curious to see how you'll fight back now."

He overpowered Han Rou, pinning her beneath him. She felt her hands weaken, despair creeping into her heart. Was she really about to be violated here?

No, she refused to let that happen!

Summoning her Internal Strength, Han Rou mustered all her remaining power, thrusting her right knee upward with ferocity.