The next morning, Han Feng set off on his journey. Although Zhang Lingling was reluctant to let him go, she knew he was a man, and one day, he would have to leave home. After walking part of the way with him, she returned home. Han Dang, on the other hand, was much more straightforward—Han Feng hadn't seen a trace of him since the night before!
The thought of meeting the legendary protagonist group made Han Feng giddy with excitement. Back when he read the novels, he had often imagined himself in their shoes. Now, that childhood dream was finally coming true.
Two years ago, Han Feng had already found an excuse to visit Nuoding City. He and Tang San were born in the same year—Han Feng was actually a few months younger—so he wasn't worried about missing the storyline he was familiar with.
Of course, Han Feng wasn't stupid enough to think he should go out of his way to make friends with Tang San.
Tang San, being a reincarnated old soul, was far more worldly and mature than Han Feng. If Han Feng had tried to approach him too eagerly, Tang San would definitely have become suspicious.
"I wonder if I'll ever get a chance to inherit a godhood in the future?"
"The God of Fire? Or maybe the God of Defense? I think I read somewhere that the Fire God was a first-tier deity, originally meant to be inherited by Ma Hongjun—but he failed, didn't he? I probably don't stand a chance either... The God of Defense... huh. Does that even exist?"
"Maybe the Ice God isn't a bad choice either?"
"Well, if all else fails, I could just cozy up to Tang San and see if he can take me to the heavens with him!"
Lost in fantasy, Han Feng spun dreams of his bright future without noticing the odd looks he was receiving from passersby.
To be honest, Han Feng looked more like Zhang Lingling, but his large eyes gave him a vibrant and clever charm rather than making him look feminine. His handsome face and striking red-tinged hair—an effect of his cultivation—gave him a hint of otherworldly beauty. As Zhang Lingling often said, if Han Feng ever acted a bit more "normal," he could easily steal the hearts of many young girls.
Unfortunately, "normal" was a foreign concept to Han Feng.
As he walked, many young women and married ladies alike cast wistful glances his way.
"What a handsome boy... What a shame he seems a bit off."
A few thought differently though—as long as he's good-looking, being a little weird isn't a deal-breaker.
Han Feng continued through one town after another under a mix of curious and amused gazes.
To save time, he used his soul power to travel faster. So even if people were annoyed by his goofy smile, no one dared bother him.
He had left in the morning, and by evening, he could already see the outline of Soto City in the distance. Sure, riding a carriage would've been faster, but Han Feng, being a modern soul at heart, refused. He had tried one at age seven or eight, and ever since, had vowed: Even if I collapse from exhaustion, I'll never ride a carriage again!
Besides, enrollment didn't start until tomorrow—he had time to spare. Despite traveling light, he wasn't unprepared. He carried two soul tools: one was a ring given to him by Qian Renxue, worn around his neck for storing valuables. The other was a bracelet for daily necessities, gifted by Han Dang when Han Feng decided to attend Shrek Academy—bought with his secret savings (under Zhang Lingling's "gentle persuasion").
A son travels far, and a mother worries.
Zhang Lingling had stuffed nearly half the household into those two soul tools!
As he neared Soto City, Han Feng picked up the pace. He had no intention of camping in the wild.
"Hey, little girl! Be smart and hand over all your valuables, and we might let you go. Otherwise…"
Hearing that voice, Han Feng rolled his eyes. Seriously? I'm actually witnessing a robbery?
From his elevated position, he looked down and saw three thugs surrounding a pink-haired girl in a yellow dress. The men were burly and intimidating, especially in contrast to the girl's delicate figure. Each of them held a weapon, glinting coldly in the fading light.
Han Feng couldn't help but sneer at the bandits.
You've got such a pretty girl in front of you, and you're just here for money? Is this some kind of code of ethics? Or... is she one of those deceptive beauties who could scare off an army if seen from the front?
His mind ran wild with sarcastic theories, but he made no move to help.
He could tell the three bandits had no soul power—they were just ordinary thugs. But the girl had a notable aura of soul energy around her. There was no need for him to get involved.
Even an auxiliary-type soul master could easily overpower regular people with just their soul power.
With that in mind, Han Feng turned to leave. The sun was setting, and he didn't want to be delayed—there was still a bit of distance to Soto City.
"Big brother, save me!"
To his surprise, the pink-haired girl suddenly turned and cried out. Her voice was sweet and melodious like a songbird, but tinged with helplessness that tugged at the heart.
Her call startled the three bandits, making their meaty faces tremble. They spun around to look in the direction she was facing—and spotted Han Feng, who was just about to leap away.
With his calm expression and elevated position, Han Feng did resemble the classic hero from a storybook coming to save the damsel.
The three bandits, apparently no strangers to books, instantly became wary.
"Name yourself! We're the Three Bandits of Soto, and we fear no one!"
Han Feng sighed inwardly. I really should've activated my Shadow Shield before heading out... How careless.
He was genuinely surprised that this girl, clearly weaker than him in soul power, had sensed him despite his aura being hidden.
But what truly caught him off guard was her appearance—she was even younger and more beautiful than he had expected. She looked to be around his age, maybe no older than thirteen. Her short pink hair and refined appearance gave her a charm that was rare and striking.
Even though he had seen the breathtaking beauty of Sister Qianqian, Han Feng had to admit—this girl was on par with her, differing only in aura and personality.
At the moment, however, she wore a sly, smug expression that irritated him.
She's clearly using me.
"Hey! Our boss asked you a question!"
One of the bandits, sensing Han Feng's silence, mustered the courage to shout, though his voice lacked conviction.
Han Feng shrugged. Still annoyed at being used, he replied casually, "I'm just a passing Kamen Rider—not her brother, and I'm not looking to get involved. Do as you please. Just ignore me."
The moment the words left his mouth, the girl looked at him in disbelief, her wide eyes full of confusion and accusation.
From childhood until now, she had never been treated like this.
If this had happened back home, just that one sentence would have been enough to sentence Han Feng to death.
While Han Feng was telling the truth, the three bandits didn't buy it.
"You think we're that stupid?!"
The leader's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly swung his broadsword toward the girl. His thinking was simple: if she was important to Han Feng, threatening her might work. His aggression was fueled by fear—he was afraid Han Feng was faster than him.
Han Feng had originally planned to stay out of it—but what shocked him was that the girl didn't react at all!
She simply stood there, eyes locked on him with anger and disbelief, unaware of the blade coming down.
Han Feng was both stunned and furious. How could someone so unaware reach this level of cultivation?!
Even so, he couldn't let her die.
With a flash of red, the Shield of Heavenfire appeared. His second soul ring lit up, and his body was instantly wrapped in scarlet flames. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of the girl, his blazing shield blocking the falling blade.
His voice was calm and deep:
"If it's money you want, take it—but don't hurt anyone."
Unbeknownst to Han Feng, two figures watching from the shadows let out a sigh of relief. Their hearts, which had nearly leapt out of their chests, finally settled back into place…
P.S: Read advanced chapters in my collection at patreon.com/Zarctus