Translator: AnubisTL
Chu Youhuan's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, her eyebrows twitching incessantly. Her pearly teeth were clenched tightly, emitting a faint creaking sound.
Gu Feng, that damned scoundrel, had been playing the fool all along. His strength was far from that of someone who had just entered the Innate Realm. The spiritual power within him was vast and fierce, like an ocean, and his soul power was formidable. He had even mastered a secret soul attack technique. His combat experience was seasoned, and his perception was sharp to an alarming degree. What was even more terrifying was his defense, which was as hard as a savage beast in human skin. Hitting him felt like striking an iron plate, and one's knuckles would nearly shatter.
Even so, with Chu Youhuan's cultivation and her understanding of martial arts, she shouldn't have been reduced to such a state. Who could have guessed that Gu Feng would immediately resort to close combat? His dazzling array of attacks, his elusive movements, combined with some kind of movement technique, made him appear like a ghost, unpredictable and untraceable.
Caught off guard, Chu Youhuan was suppressed throughout the fight, suffering immensely.
Moreover, Gu Feng's fighting style was particularly shameless. He didn't care whether his opponent was male or female; he aimed for any opening and attacked relentlessly, even targeting sensitive areas. Several times, just as Chu Youhuan was about to unleash a powerful move to defeat him, Gu Feng would throw a punch directly at her chest. As a female cultivator, she naturally had to dodge, losing her advantage and falling back into a suppressed position.
It's no exaggeration to say that for a full half-hour, Chu Youhuan was on the defensive, taking hit after hit. As for the injuries on Gu Feng, they were only inflicted when Chu Youhuan, unable to bear it any longer, finally unleashed strength surpassing the fifth level of the Innate Realm, barely salvaging some dignity.
Originally, she had wanted to give Gu Feng a thorough beating, but who would have thought that the scoundrel, sensing the situation turning against him, resorted to a despicable trick? He opened the door of the training room and fled.
Under normal circumstances, Chu Youhuan would have undoubtedly chased after him, shouting threats. But today, she couldn't.
The reason was that during the fight, that bastard Gu Feng had completely destroyed not only the robe Chu Youhuan was wearing but also several spare robes in her storage ring. No matter how furious she was, she couldn't go out like this. She had no choice but to hide in the training room, waiting for her team members to come to her rescue.
"He's nothing but a scoundrel!" Chu Youhuan couldn't help but shout in anger as she recalled the humiliation.
"What are you all standing around for? Get me a robe! Can I go out like this?"
"Oh—" One of the female cultivators hurriedly opened her storage ring, about to take out a robe, but was stopped by another female cultivator beside her.
The nine female cultivators exchanged glances, each seeing the flames of gossip burning in the others' eyes.
The door of the training room was closed, and they squatted in front of Chu Youhuan, their eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Sect Leader, what a coincidence, I didn't bring a robe!"
"Sect Leader knows me, I'm always so poor, how could I afford to buy extra robes?"
"Same here, I basically wear the same robe all year round."
"I have extra robes, but I didn't bring them with me!"
"Gu Feng is really something, hitting so hard. It's like he wasn't here for a martial arts match but for something else."
"Absolutely despicable! Sect Leader, don't be angry, we'll scold him for you."
"Gu Feng tore up so many of Sect Leader's robes, he has to pay for them. This is a small matter, no need for Sect Leader to intervene, we'll handle it!"
"The nine of us will go to his door together. Even if Gu Feng has ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare not compensate."
"Not only do you have to pay for the dress, but also the medical expenses. Look at how swollen our Sect Leader is here."
"So pitiful, those were once straight, slender, and fair thighs, now they're all bruised. The medical expenses can't be less!"
"The handprint on the butt is terrifying. How much force did Gu Feng use?"
"Sect Leader, don't be afraid. Although he has the final say here, he can't blatantly act like a rogue!"
"Seek justice, we must severely punish such rogue behavior!"
"Support!!!"
"..."
The nine female cultivators chattered like a flock of sparrows.
Chu Youhuan's flawless face was filled with wide-eyed anger, her brows furrowed in fury.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Quickly bring out the dress. I'm going to beat Gu Feng until even his parents won't recognize him!"
In the past, when Chu Youhuan got angry, they would have been terrified. But now, they could see through her bluster and became even bolder, speaking more enthusiastically.
"Hehehe, Sect Leader, stop being stubborn. You're a peak Innate Realm expert, probably already half a step into the Spirit Nurturing Realm. If you wanted to teach Gu Feng a lesson, you could have done it earlier. Why wait until now?"
"Sisters, I seriously doubt Gu Feng is that strong. The Sect Leader must have gone easy on him."
"Gu Feng has only been in the Innate Realm for such a short time. With his temperament, he wouldn't bother cultivating much. Even with the Myriad Tribulations Physique, at most he's at the second level of the Innate Realm. How could he possibly defeat our Sect Leader, who's at the fifth level? I don't believe it, no matter what."
"Same here. Could it be that the Sect Leader did it on purpose?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? The Sect Leader isn't that kind of person. How could she let Gu Feng have his way with her?"
"Wow, your vocabulary is impressive. 'Have his way with her' is such a fitting phrase."
"Hehehe... giggle giggle... hahaha!"
Chu Youhuan, who had initially been cold-faced, couldn't hold back any longer amidst the laughter of the female cultivators. Her flawless face was now flushed, like the evening glow before sunset, exceptionally radiant.
"I... I was caught off guard. Gu Feng's strength isn't as weak as you think. He's playing the fool to eat the tiger..." Seeing them getting more and more outrageous, Chu Youhuan hurriedly explained.
"Playing the fool to eat the tiger? Or is it an old cow eating tender grass? This is worth pondering!"
"What are you talking about? Our Sect Leader is only two years older than Gu Feng at most. She's not an old cow!"
"..."
"Are you done yet? I've been suppressing my strength at the fifth level of the Innate Realm. I underestimated him at first, and that bastard Gu Feng went all out from the start. I was caught off guard and was suppressed the whole time!" Chu Youhuan blushed and loudly explained.
However, in the eyes of the female cultivators, this explanation was just an excuse. Is Gu Feng really that strong? Do they think we're clueless?
"Sect Leader, stop explaining!"
"Yeah, we all understand."
"Explaining is just covering up, and covering up is admitting the truth!"
"..."
"You just don't understand, Gu Feng he..." Chu Youhuan, overwhelmed by the noise, shouted in frustration.
"Sect Leader, it's you who doesn't understand!" One of the female cultivators stopped laughing, her expression turning serious. "Even if Gu Feng really has strength comparable to the fifth level of the Innate Realm, he definitely can't match the ninth level of the Postnatal Realm. There's no doubt about that, right?"
Chu Youhuan nodded silently.
"Isn't that obvious? Think carefully. If the person standing opposite you wasn't Gu Feng, but another male cultivator, wouldn't the Sect Leader have already erupted in anger the first time he launched a shameless attack? How could he have been allowed to continue repeatedly?"
"Don't talk about suppressing your cultivation realm or not using special Spirit Artifacts to suppress it. If you wanted to erupt, couldn't you have done so at any moment?"
"Sect Leader, you need to face your true feelings. The fact is, you don't guard against Gu Feng at all, or rather, you don't reject this kind of physical contact in your heart!"
"As for the reason, Sect Leader, you can think about it yourself!"
Chu Youhuan opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words. She lowered her head, her mind in turmoil, feeling somewhat flustered and unsure of what to do.
"Sect Leader, don't be so nervous. Gu Feng is actually quite impressive—handsome, wealthy, and strong. Most importantly, he doesn't have that annoying arrogance that other geniuses often display."
"He's a hundred times better than Shu Yuheng, who appears gentle and refined on the surface but is actually arrogant and dismissive."
"The key is that Gu Feng is exceptionally manly. Even in the Postnatal Realm, he dared to challenge the top-ranked disciple on the Inner Sanctum Heaven Ranking. That's not something an ordinary person would have the courage to do."
"Whether it's out of jealousy or a burst of passion, Gu Feng is truly remarkable."
"Hand the Sect Leader a robe, and let's go."
"..."
As the chatter around her faded, Chu Youhuan sat on the ground, lost in thought. The words of those female cultivators echoed in her mind.
Her cheeks flushed, and her brows furrowed and relaxed intermittently. Finally, she let out a soft sigh.
She put on the robe, picked up the scattered strips of cloth on the cultivation chamber floor, and muttered under her breath, "That scoundrel!"
...
At the checkpoint of the Swamp Zone, merchants bustled about, taking advantage of the unique geographical benefits and slightly lower tariffs compared to other checkpoints. This made it a popular route for merchants heading to Great Li for business.
Some were even willing to detour hundreds of kilometers to pass through here.
The rise of this checkpoint had severely impacted the three-thousand-mile border line under General Ning's jurisdiction, especially the two checkpoints within two hundred miles on either side of the Swamp Zone. They were nearly deserted, with business volume plummeting by eighty percent.
This made General Ning restless, and he came to discuss countermeasures with Gu Feng. However, Gu Feng was also at a loss.
"General Ning, this is the market's own choice. Logically speaking, the tariffs here are only about one percent lower than yours. Although it's closer to Great Li, the Swamp Zone's environment is harsh... Overall, the advantages here are not significant enough to make merchants abandon your checkpoints and come here instead," Gu Feng said calmly.
"The root cause of the current situation lies in the checkpoints themselves!"
Gu Feng's words were not baseless. Military personnel tended to act in a straightforward and rough manner, and since they were on fixed salaries, they lacked motivation.
They treated passing merchants almost like prisoners, resulting in a terrible experience for the merchants.
General Ning knew the reasons, but he was powerless to change it. He could only hang his head and leave the Swamp Zone.
In mid-May, Gu Feng organized the "First Swamp Zone Black Crocodile Fishing Competition!"
With a prize pool of up to ten million Low-grade Spirit Stones, it attracted nearly two hundred participants, including high-ranking officers from General Ning's elite army, Innate Realm cultivators from the Swamp Army, and Elders from the Sunset Glow Sect who were assisting in the defense.
Under the restrictions on fishing rod quality and the use of Spiritual Power, Gu Feng performed exceptionally well and took first place.
He was delighted, but his shareholders were furious.
At the second quarterly shareholders' meeting held at the end of June, they launched a verbal assault, severely criticizing Chu Youhuan.
"Chu Youhuan, you're also a shareholder and the deputy marshal of the Swamp Army. Can't you be a bit more serious in your work?"
"Three months ago, we tasked you with forming a team to rigorously train Gu Feng. We had high hopes for you, but what happened? Gu Feng was nowhere to be seen all day, and he even organized some ridiculous Black Crocodile Fishing Competition. You've seriously neglected your duties!"
"As the end of the year approaches, time is running short. What should we do now? What can Gu Feng use to defeat Shu Yuheng? A fishing rod? Or perhaps the Black crocodile?"
"You've truly disappointed us. Don't you understand that the most important task this year isn't about earning Spirit Stones or building facilities, but ensuring Gu Feng survives the decisive battle at the end of the year?"
"We're not even demanding a victory. Just a draw or a slight disadvantage—is that too much to ask?"
"As long as he isn't instantly defeated, we'll find a way to halt the battle!"
"..."
The leaders of various factions, spittle flying, surrounded Chu Youhuan, hurling accusations at her.
Chu Youhuan pursed her lips, waiting until the leaders had exhausted themselves before uttering a single infuriating sentence: "I can't teach him. If you think you can do better, why don't you step up yourselves?"
Listen to that! What kind of attitude is that? Does she have no sense of responsibility? Is she waiting for Gu Feng to fall at the end of the year so she can seize power?
The two sides glared at each other, arguing for a full hour before finally deciding that the leaders would personally step in to guide Gu Feng.
"Higher realms won't be meaningful for guidance. I suggest everyone suppress their strength," Chu Youhuan softly suggested, a hint of slyness flashing in her eyes.
"We don't need you to teach us that. We have our own plans. And by the way, you're stripped of your responsibility to oversee Gu Feng's training," a leader surnamed Guo said coldly.
Chu Youhuan wasn't fazed. With a smile, she produced a Mystic Artifact. Anyone with eyes could see it was a tool specifically designed to suppress cultivation levels, typically used in life-and-death duels.
"Hmph, are you teaching me how to do my job?" Leader Guo snorted, then took the artifact, hung it around his neck, and entered the training room.
"Old Guo suppressed his strength to the fifth level of the Innate Realm. How cautious of him!"
"Isn't this kind of guidance battle inappropriate? The gap between Old Guo and Gu Feng is still too large."
"Old Guo is naturally cautious. They call him the 'Ten-Thousand-Year Ghost.' This is just like him."
"I wonder how strong Gu Feng is now. I've heard he hasn't trained a single day these past few months, just playing around."
"He's young. It's normal to get a bit carried away after some success. Let him see the gap in strength and give him a wake-up call. If he starts working hard now, he might still have a chance by the end of the year."
"Actually, you can't blame him. If I had achieved what he has at his age, I'd be even more arrogant!"
"Look, the training room door is opening."
"Less than a quarter of an incense stick's time? This guidance battle seems way too perfunctory!"
"..."
Old Guo walked out of the training room with steady steps, expressionlessly removed the Mystic Artifact from his neck, and handed it to the next leader who was about to enter.
Then he stood there, as still as an ancient pine tree.
"I've neglected Gu Feng's cultivation progress during this time. I feel deeply unworthy. Please, senior, spare no effort in guiding him!"
Chu Youhuan's voice reached his ears, and Old Guo's mouth twitched slightly.
"Don't worry. I'm not like some people who talk a big game, acting as if they bear great responsibility, only to put on a show and do a half-hearted job!"
"I'll guide him for half an hour!"
Watching the figure stride confidently into the training room, Old Guo's expression faltered. His gaze flickered toward Chu Youhuan, who was beaming with joy, and he felt his old face burn. He glared at her fiercely.
This is such a trap. Suppressing his strength to the fifth level of the Innate Realm and fighting against Gu Feng is just asking for a beating. With his combat experience and understanding of Martial Skills, he barely lasted less than one-eighth of an incense stick's time. The reason he came out after a quarter of an incense stick's time was because he spent the other eighth of the time healing his injuries.
After all, he is a person of some standing; he couldn't come out with a bruised and swollen face.
Even this duration was achieved with Gu Feng holding back. If it were a life-and-death struggle, he would probably be killed within ten moves.
Of course, Old Guo didn't reveal Gu Feng's true strength to the other shareholders; otherwise, he would have been the only victim, and that wouldn't do!
"Good things should be shared by everyone!" Old Guo thought with a somewhat mischievous grin.
(End of the Chapter)
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