Chapter 40: Belated Revenge

When he opened his eyes, he was already deep within the hallucination.

Soft fragrance enveloped him, and Yun Niang was as beautiful as ever. Dressed in crimson, she was teasingly drawing circles on his chest with a lock of her hair. Seeing Chu Feng awaken, her face lit up with delight. "Husband, you’re awake."

Chu Feng's expression changed abruptly. He sprang up and eyed Yun Niang warily. "Don’t come any closer."

Yun Niang’s face fell instantly, her demeanor sorrowful and pitiful. "Husband, why are you acting this way? Don’t you want me anymore? Or did I do something wrong to make you angry?"

Chu Feng took a deep breath. "Yun Niang, you’re a spirit, aren’t you?"

"Don’t try to deceive me. I already know."

"In the Blood Cavern, there’s a painting. The beauty in the painting must be you, right?"

Yun Niang nodded. "You know everything, Husband. Please let me explain. I never meant to deceive you."

Chu Feng said, "Very well, I’d like to hear your explanation."

"You are a spirit, I am human. If I’m not mistaken, spirits feed on living souls, absorbing their strength. Do you realize that after our battle last night, I woke up with aching waist and legs, my whole body weak, my soul damaged? If I keep staying with you, I fear I won’t even be able to get out of bed tomorrow."

Yun Niang fell silent, then said softly, "Since you dislike me so much, I will leave now and never bother you again."

With that, she began to leave.

"Wait," Chu Feng said. "You can go, but tomorrow will be soon enough. Since you’re here, why not discuss a business worth billions?"

"Alright, I’ll do whatever Husband asks," Yun Niang replied, nodding gently.

Night passed.

The next morning, Chu Feng awoke feeling his legs tremble and his eye sockets sunken, dark circles shadowing his gaze.

"This time, it’ll take at least half a year to recover," he thought.

He was happy, but physically drained, his soul’s flame noticeably weaker.

Still, it was all worthwhile.

As Chu Feng stepped out into the courtyard to bask in the sun and restore his strength, Chen Wanwan appeared.

Upon seeing Chu Feng’s condition, her face darkened.

She snorted coldly. "Some people really risk everything for women—shameless, despicable."

"Stop," Chu Feng interjected hurriedly.

"I was forced into it. Yun Niang said she would never bother me again if I spent one last night with her. What choice did I have? She’s a spirit, and before her, I’m nothing more than an ant."

Chen Wanwan frowned. "That makes no sense. Once a spirit targets someone, there’s no escaping death. With your physique and soul, why would she let you go?"

"If she truly let you go, then the methods I prepared are useless."

"Naturally, they’re useless," Chu Feng waved dismissively.

"But what exactly did you prepare that could intimidate a spirit?"

Chen Wanwan snorted. "Since they’re useless now, there’s no need for you to know."

"Insolence! You think I’m powerless because my soul is damaged and my energy depleted?" Chu Feng slapped his thigh. "Is that it?"

Chen Wanwan scoffed. "It’s not about what I think—the fact is, you really can’t do anything to me. If you’re unhappy, fine, let’s fight three hundred rounds!"

"You—" Chu Feng was speechless.

"Let’s say you win, but don’t celebrate too soon. Once I recover, I’ll show you what I'm capable of!"

...

Thus, a month passed swiftly.

Chu Feng’s body finally recovered.

He was reborn.

On the night of his recovery, he seized Chen Wanwan and gave her a thorough beating—until she begged for mercy.

It was notable that Yun Niang had not sought him out throughout the month.

However, on this day—

Zhao Shanhe came to pay a visit.

"Elder, do you remember the destroyed mine veins and the disciples killed? According to your account, the culprit was a disciple named Fang Yun who accidentally entered the Ancient Blood Cavern and was slain by you."

Chu Feng frowned. "Has he returned? Did he survive?"

Zhao Shanhe nodded. "Yes, Fang Yun really appeared again."

"Previously, since he was dead, the disciples reported his crimes to the Sect Leader and stopped pursuing the matter. Who would have thought that half a day ago, he suddenly returned alive."

Chu Feng was unconcerned. "Destroying mine veins, killing sect disciples—according to sect rules, his soul should be extracted, his spirit destroyed, and he cast into the Endless Inferno, never to be reborn. He’s bold to return."

Zhao Shanhe said, "If he returned alone, we would have apprehended him. The key is, he was brought back by the Grand Elder."

"Moreover, it seems he’s become the Grand Elder’s favorite."

"Liu Rushi," Chu Feng’s expression chilled instantly.

In the Supreme Dao Sect, there were three Nascent Soul Grand Elders.

Liu Rushi was one of them, and the only female among the three.

Yet, Liu Rushi had lived for two thousand years; her appearance was now that of an old woman, in her fifties or sixties. Chu Feng couldn’t help but admire Fang Yun for enduring such a situation.

He really dared.

At that moment, outside Lone Mountain, a voice rang out.

"Disciple Xiao Yi, by order of the Grand Elder, requests Elder Chu to come to the Hall of Punishment."

The Hall of Punishment—a place where disciples were disciplined.

Anyone entering it faced varying degrees of punishment.

To summon him to the Hall of Punishment was clearly to target him.

A surge of murderous intent radiated from Chu Feng.

Was it for Fang Yun?

In a mysterious courtyard of the Supreme Dao Sect, Fang Yun, clad in white, had been reborn from the Blood Cavern. All his previous injuries had healed, and, transformed by the Blood Cavern, he had become strikingly handsome. Coupled with the marvels of the Evil Dragon Technique, any woman who saw him could not help but be moved.

Yet at this moment, Fang Yun was tightly embracing an elderly woman with white hair, wrinkled skin, and withered complexion, gritting his teeth. "Sister Liu, you must stand up for me."

The "Sister Liu" he spoke of was none other than Liu Rushi, one of the three Nascent Soul Grand Elders.

"That Chu Feng, relying on his status as Elder, tried to kill me and destroyed my root of troubles. If not for my great fortune, I would have died and never met you, Sister Liu."

Liu Rushi responded angrily, "Chu Feng is audacious—nearing death, yet he abuses his authority, bullies the weak. I may have overlooked it before, but now that I know, I will not let him off."

"There, there, I’ve already notified Xiang Yutian to open the Hall of Punishment and mete out his sentence. If all goes as expected, even if he survives, I’ll cast him into the Ice Inferno. With his depleted lifespan, he’ll never escape."

Fang Yun was moved. "Sister Liu, you’re wonderful. I don’t even know how to thank you."