Chapter Eighty-Sixth: Painting a Phoenix

only had two choices:Flee along the escape route left by the opponent, or die where you stand.He made no choice.Even though it was the "safe route," he still had to give it his all to squeeze in.This...You... just what did you say

In a tavern in the capital city of Li Guo, Yining City, two patrons who were still excitedly discussing world affairs were interrupted by a pair of ferocious hands covered in strange patterns. The hands silenced them, cutting their conversation short and snuffing out their lives.

The accident happened suddenly.

Their twisted, flushed faces hung over the table, adorned with greens, braised pork, liquor and shards of porcelain, pressed tightly against the tabletop.

These rugged hands belong to a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat.

Before the incident, he was just sitting alone in a corner drinking, not attracting any attention at all.

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But at this moment of sudden aggression, the entire restaurant's heated atmosphere was frozen.

No one knows who he is now, but everyone can feel the danger!

The force of the press was so great that it cracked the tabletop, a network of fine fissures spreading across its surface. Yet, despite the damage, the table remained stubbornly rigid, refusing to give way and steadfastly supporting the faces of the two wretched drinkers.

This indicates that at least in terms of power, this hooded man still maintains a fine degree of control.

The hat wearer slightly raised his head, revealing a fraction of his truly unsightly face. He snarled and repeated, "Say it again!"

"Say...what are you saying, grandpa" One of the patrons pressed against the table, his face already scarred with broken porcelain, mumbled in a plea for mercy: "Spare me! We didn't say anything bad, did we"

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Another guest was completely stunned and speechless.

“Let him go! We’ve already reported this to the authorities!” someone shouted courageously.

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The straw hat traveler fiercely twisted his head and, with a glance, sent the speaker flying! He soared high into the air before crashing to the ground, his fate unknown.

The entire wine shop was silent and serene.

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The hat-wearing man seemed to harbor immense hatred, gritting his teeth and saying: "What did you just say about Huang Wei What did you say about Huang Wei"

“Grandpa! We respect Huang Wei truly, I support him coming back!” The guest who could still speak cried out.

"This is not it!"

“Phoenix... Phoenix True's return, the key, that guy called Ge Fei disappeared” The drinker spoke as if remembering something, his whole face twisted into a knot: “Grandfather, we only said this, didn't say anything else— ”

"Indeed." The man in the straw hat's temples bulged with veins, as if he were about to crush the two heads under his palm: "You say... Ge Fei is the key to Phoenix's True Return"

"Aren't we wrong Old Master, I just heard it from others." The two drinkers trembled: "If we said something wrong, sir, you are a magnanimous person. Don't hold grudges against us and give the child a chance to correct himself..."

At this moment, a clear shout suddenly rang out from outside the winehouse, shattering several points of the tense atmosphere within. "Ge Brother!"

That man smiled as he walked into the tavern, saying, “How come you came to the capital and didn’t even say hello to your younger brother As a result, these blind fools dared to offend you”

The winehouse was suddenly in an uproar.

“Mr. Fan is here!”

>

“So he’s Ge Fei after all…”

“Let Fan-Master give him a good lesson!”

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"Psst—are you dead"

The one who arrives is none other than Li Guo Huang He Tian Jiao, the current Northern Road General Manager, Fan Wujiu!

He still carried his folding fan regardless of the season, but he had grown much more composed. He was no longer as frivolous as he was when he roamed the mountains and seas with Zhongli Yan. Time had matured many people, and he was one of them—in this sense, Zhongli Yan remained "unchanged in character."

Today's real person, Ge Fei, is a terrifying monster that could sweep away the entire country of Li Guo.

He suddenly fell ill in a tavern in the capital of Li Guo. No one in Li Guo, from high to low, dared to stand before him. It wasn't that they lacked courage, but there was no need.

Even the large army that was brought in was like paper.

Even Duan Si Gu, the former number one expert and a cultivator who reached the Divine Realm, couldn't withstand the gale-force winds of Ge Fei.

It is commonplace for arguments and even brawls to occur in taverns. However, for today's Li Guo, one mishandled incident could very well lead to national ruin!

The common people are either unaware of the situation or still believe that their "Mr. Fan," who they think is unrivaled, can discipline the critics. However, those in power must have a clear understanding of themselves.

>

Fan Wushù took the initiative to volunteer, and even stopped the court from sending messages to Shushan for help.

He now knew that Ge Fei's shell housed a monster from the mountains and seas, and didn't want to stimulate a wild beast with danger.

After becoming an official, his bearing was very heavy, now he has restrained it all. His folding fan is inserted in his waist, intentionally wearing a Confucian scholar's robe on top of his official attire. He hurried over with composure, even when suddenly faced with a change, he had a smile on his face. He greeted Ge Fei warmly with a bow, then waved his hand, asking everyone in the wine house to step back.

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The spectators departed like a receding tide.

Only the two that had been flung onto the table remained.

Fan Wuji looked at Ge Fei, his smile kind. Ge Fei also looked at Fan Wuji, his eyes fierce.

After a moment of silence, Ge Fei let go of his hand, and the two innocent wine drinkers staggered away.

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Fan Wujue kept a relatively safe distance, in the empty tavern, pulled up a chair and sat down: "Long time no see, Ge brother! You seem a bit nervous now - I have no ill intentions towards Ge brother, and there's really nothing in Li Guo that should make you nervous... Let's sit down and chat, how about it"

"Talking...hehe." Gèfì didn't sit down.

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Humans invented "etiquette" and "laws".

In Ge Fei's perception, the former is "a paper shackle", and the latter is "an iron cage".

The essence of "禮" is "safety." Both parties use "禮" to express — "I do not pose a threat to you," "I will not harm you."

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Ge Fei doesn't believe that he won't hurt Fan Wujue.

He needed to reclaim his sense of security in a beastly way, because in this human world, he felt immense danger!

Supporting the table, half-broken and half-whole, he heard his blood surge in his throat.

He wants to eat meat, drink blood, and kill people.

“What would you like to talk about” he asked.

"Perhaps, we could talk about why Brother Ge is so tense"

>

Ge Fei's pupils suddenly contracted, his killing intent almost uncontrollable, as if he was about to bare his fangs the next moment: "Do you think I'm nervous"

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"It's me being nervous, Brother Ge!" Fan Wuji immediately raised his hands, showing he meant no harm: "I wanted to say— I pose no threat to Brother Ge, and Li Guo is definitely not directed at you. What made you feel uncomfortable If you don't mind, I can analyze it for you."

Ge Fei gritted his teeth and said angrily, "I'm not feeling unwell."

He once thought the Shan Hai Realm was the most dangerous place, that with just a moment of carelessness, those beasts lurking in the darkness would swarm and tear you to shreds, turning you into nourishment for the divine ascendants, trampling you into the dust of the Shan Hai Realm.

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There is nothing to trust, all the mountain gods, sea gods, and even the rules of the world are unreliable.

Every monster who wants to live longer has to adapt to the new rules in a world of constant evolution.

Later, he became the master of the Shan Hai Realm and the "jail warden" of the Shan Hai Prison. He believed he could represent Huang Wei Zhen, and even after Huang Wei Zhen disappeared, he replaced Huang Wei Zhen, transforming from a "warden" to a "superintendent". He never felt threatened again.

Only chaos can pose a slight threat, but it's only a small one.

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Those humans who regularly come to the Shan Hai Realm for trials are all weak. If not for the restrictions of the Shan Hai rules, one would eat another, where would there be so many fancy tricks!

He stood at the extreme height of the boundary between mountains and seas, touching the edge of the fantasy world, and began to yearn for the real world.

He thought that it was merely a larger Sea of Mountains Realm, and he would eventually reach the peak in that world as well, dominating everything.

But after leaving the Shan Hai Realm, he discovered.

Even the creator of the Shan Hai Jing, Huang Wei Zhen, who was omnipotent in his own mind, could not control the present world, nor could he realize his ideals in life!

How wondrous a fantasy world, capable of evolving into such a magnificent reality.

Is something called "ideal" more fantastical than fantasy itself

"Ideals," was the second lesson he learned during his studies at Yinxang Peak.

Gao Zheng spent a long time explaining to him Huang Wei's true ideals.

He also saw Gao Zheng's ideals in the process of getting along day and night.

This is also another form of "teaching through words" and "leading by example".

But he learned all the courses of humanity very quickly, except for "ideal," which he never understood.

Huang Wei truly had ideals, Gao Zheng had ideals, and Wen Jingxiu also had ideals, but Ge Fei did not. At first, he wanted to dominate the world, but later he just wanted to live well—preferably freely, and if that wasn't possible, then to endure whatever was necessary.

It wasn't easy to escape the Shan Hai Realm. He had struggled for a long time, transitioning from fantasy to reality. Now, he wanted to live well.

Yue Guo no longer made him feel safe. There were all sorts of strange people playing chess there, and Wen Jingxiu was not someone he could trust – that night in Fuji City, he even felt a sense of impending doom! The instincts of a beast frequently warned him of danger, and it wasn't just coming from Jiang Wang. So after escaping Fuji City, he fled Yue Guo without looking back. He didn't care about patriotism, the grand ambitions of the new policies, or his master and fellow students.

He had escaped from even the mountains and seas, what prison could possibly hold him

He would never admit to his unease.

In the world of beasts, expressing unease is to reveal weakness, and the fate of weakness is death.

"Of course, of course, Brother Ge!" Fan Wujiu's attitude was extremely humble: "What I just said wasn't 'discomfort'. I asked, what made you find it unpleasant to hear"

In the world of beasts, this act of the Northern Road Chief putting his hands up and exposing his vital organs is a gesture of surrender.

Ge Fei's heart was filled with killing intent that wouldn't settle, he managed to hold back some of it.

He stared into Fan Wujue's eyes, his bloodthirsty gaze judging how sincere this submission was. But perhaps he didn't even realize it himself, his voice trembled slightly: "What do you think of what they said"

Fan Wushu tentatively asked, "Which sentence"

Ge Fei ci opened his sharp teeth and snarled: "Don't play dumb with me!"

"Little brother is definitely not pretending to be stupid! I'm just confirming with Big Brother, so as not to offend Big Brother because of my clumsiness!" Fan Wujiu spoke rapidly: "Now, this message is spreading everywhere in Nanyue, saying that Big Brother is the key to Huang Wei's true return—I can't judge whether this sentence is true or false. But I can tell Big Brother, this news comes from insiders within the country. As for who is behind it all, causing it to spread so quickly, I can only say there are many hands at play, not just one."

"Why" Ge Fei couldn't figure it out for a moment. When he couldn't understand, he became even more murderous: "Who are these masterminds Why do they all want to deal with me"

Fan Wushù looked at his face and cautiously said, "Brother Ge, let me try to express my opinion. See if it makes sense—I guess someone wants to test your mettle. To see if Huang Wei truly can return, and probably how she would return. Right now, everyone is in the dark, unaware of what lies ahead. It's inevitable that some people will throw stones to feel their way. Brother Ge, you are that stone they threw."

Ge Fei suddenly raised his head, his hat shattered, his long hair flying wildly: "Why use me to test the waters I am me, Huang Wei is truly Huang Wei. Whether he returns or not has nothing to do with me—"

He slammed his fist on the table, causing it to vanish into nothingness: "I am Ge Fei! I am the Heavenly Pride of Humanity, a True Person of this Era! I am not his creation!"

“I agree! I completely agree with you, Ge Brother!” Fan Wujue hastily soothed. “Whether Huang Wei truly returns or not is his own business, what does it have to do with Ge Brother Those gossipers are not well-intentioned!”

He patted his chest and guaranteed: “Those two who were just bragging, I'll have them exiled immediately!”

Before the word "let go" even landed, Fan Wujiu's body had already crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom!

Ge Fei was like a four-legged wild beast, pouncing on Fan Wujue and pinning him to the ground. He pressed so hard that the bricks beneath them cracked outwards in expanding fissures.

That hideous face was contorted with intense emotion. His bloodshot eyes were filled with murderous rage. Grinning his teeth, he spat out words that sounded like a grinding rock: "I remember now, you're friends with Zhongli Yan! You want to harm me, you want to avenge him!"

"Brother Ge! Brother Ge! Calm down!" Fan Wujiu's divine manifestation in his golden body was instantly broken, but he tightly controlled his instincts, resolutely not resisting, lest it arouse the mountain sea monster's even more intense killing intent: "I can't hurt you, I only manifested divinity three months ago, I couldn't even break through your defenses. Zhongli Yan is a dead-hearted小心眼, if I really go against him out of spite, he'll blame me for stealing his limelight and make my life difficult from then on! Calm down, Brother Ge!"

Gèfēi stared at Fan Wujiu with a deathly gaze. His five fingers had already grown into sharp claws, his heart filled with murderous intent. He couldn't actually hear anything Fan Wujiu was saying; all he heard was "calm," "calm," "calm"!

He is very intelligent, but after coming to the real world, he often loses control and cannot think. The high teacher said this was because he encountered ignorance in the process of transitioning from fantasy to reality. There is "dust" in his heart, therefore he is blinded by it.

That's why it often needs to be cleaned.

Sweep the courtyard outside, and sweep the mirror of your heart inside.

Since he began studying at the university, the number of times he lost control and went mad has noticeably decreased.

After slaying Wu Ling in the Yinxian Lane, he completely hid himself away to contemplate.

Over the past few turbulent years, he had secluded himself in the mountains, hiding within obscurity. He spent his days studying with Gao Zheng and confining himself to introspection, seeking to cleanse his heart.

The chessboard on the back mountain of Yinxiang Peak was his only window to observe the world.

All he knew, was taught to him by Gao Zheng.

After Gao Zheng's death, Wen Jingxiu became his only source of intelligence.

So it was not until today, after fleeing thousands of miles across borders, that he learned the so-called "truth" from passersby.

"Ge Fei... is the key to Huang Wei's true return!"

There was a feeling so strange and foreign, that it chilled him to the bone, beyond his control. That trembling sensation, he thought he had long forgotten... fear!

He plotted for hundreds of years, exhausting every possibility, until he finally escaped the Shanhai Realm and arrived in the real world. He suppressed his savage nature, stifled his free will, and diligently followed Gao Zheng's teachings, painstakingly reading those dry books one by one. He worked hard to be a good person and live a life of freedom.

Not until today did he discover that he had never gotten rid of Huang Wei Zhen!

Could it be that all his past efforts were in vain, and he never truly escaped

Could it be that everything he went through was a lie, that the so-called escape was just an illusion, and that this world is another mythical realm

What do all those books read on the mountain amount to

What is it that Gao Zheng talks about in his account of the future

Perhaps Gaozheng is also fake!

Gao Zheng had never truly treated him as a disciple, nor had he ever been sincere to him!

Gao Zheng was willing to teach him only because he was "the key to Huang Wei's true return"!

Otherwise, how could Wen Jingxiu, as his senior brother, treat him like a fool and a pawn

There is no good person in this world, no true person. Everyone wants to use him, harm him, and achieve their own purpose through him.

Including Huang Wei Zhen!

What a load of rubbish keywords!

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Ge Fei's heart was racing wildly at this moment. He felt blood rushing backwards, and he wanted to tear open his skin, rip off his flesh, and pull out his bones. He wanted to crawl out of this ridiculous shell. He wanted to destroy everything, kill everything he saw!

He wants to destroy the world, or be destroyed by it!

He once so desperately wanted to live, for which he would do anything. He could be a dog, chained up, barking and acting crazy.

But if he were alive, he would still be a dream, he would still be in the cage.

If all his efforts were merely preordained, he had never truly been autonomous.

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He could give up his life!

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He can kill anyone, and anyone can kill him, as long as his madness, his desire for destruction, can stop Huang Wei's true appearance. He has already gained the dignity of being human, so he can no longer bear the days in captivity! He does not want to live forever in the Shanhai realm!

Kill! Kill everything!

But...

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There's a voice in his heart that keeps telling him——

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“Ge Fei, you must learn to be patient.”

This voice was soft, yet profound.

He couldn't think, but rationality still appeared.

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He knew that if he killed Fan Wujue today, he would completely betray Gao Zheng's teachings and become a rude and lawless beast, no longer able to be called a "human".

His efforts to cultivate himself amounted to nothing but futility!

Patience. Patience.

Ge Fei held Fan Wujue's head in one hand and slowly got up with himself supporting him.

Finally, he gasped for breath and retracted his claws.

The crisis of life and death finally came to an end, Fan Wujue also let out a long sigh of relief, lying flat on the ground, motionless. He felt his neck was wet, he didn't know if it was blood or sweat.

The two people stayed silent for a while.

"You said—" Ge Fei suddenly asked again, his eyes strange: "If I am the key to Huang Wei's true return, if I just die like this. Will he be unable to return"

Fan Wujue tightened his heartstrings again. He knew this was a capricious and violent person.

He pondered for a moment and said, “This is just my own immature idea, Elder Brother. Just listen to it — I think if Huang Wei could be so easily stopped, he would have been stopped long ago. He used to be so brilliant, and he still had some enemies. He wouldn't wait until Elder Brother came up with a plan.”

Ger Fei's eyes flickered between black and white, mirroring the ever-changing sky of this city.

He clutched his head in pain, forcing himself to calm down and think. He told himself he needed to find a way out for himself. As calmly as he could, he asked, "You said — how can I prevent Hōngwěi Zhēn from returning Every time I think about him existing in this world, I can't be sure of my own existence."

Fan Wushù originally wanted to say "Don't even think about it," but when the words reached his lips, they became: “We can think of a way slowly.”

“Yes, there’s always a way.” Ge Fei tried to comfort himself, attempting to regain the sense of high-above observation and control he once had in the Shan Hai Realm. He gritted his teeth and said stubbornly, “Isn’t it said that I’m the key to Huang Wei’s true return I have some crucial clues on me after all.”

He thought he could find Huáng Wéi Zhēn's enemies. He could cooperate with those who had destroyed Huáng Wéi Zhēn's ideals. Those people could shatter Huáng Wéi Zhēn's dreams, and of course, they could also make Huáng Wéi Zhēn die again.

"When you get to the mountain, there will be a way!" Fan Wujiu said with conviction.

Ge Fei looked at Fan Wujue, the ferocity in his eyes subsided, replaced by a genuine apology. He reached out to him: "I'm sorry, Brother Fan, I was rude today. You are right, there wasn't anything wrong originally. It was just that I was too nervous."

Fan Wushù quickly reached out his hand to let Gé Fēi pull himself up.

"It's nothing, it's nothing," he quickly said. "Just a misunderstanding. We're all honest people, if there's anything, just say it clearly."

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“Li Guo is not my enemy, nor are you.” Ge Fei had regained his composure and civility at this point. He wasn't giving up; he was going to strive to find a way out.

“Brother Ge, you flatter me!” At this moment, Fan Wujiu laughed with a pure heart: “I’ve always considered you a friend!”

"Friend... hello. Friend!" Ge Fei's expression was complex, thoughtful. After a long time, he bowed slightly: "Brother Fan, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first. I hope we meet again next time, not in such an awkward situation. We can drink and chat happily together."

“Hahahahahaha.” Fan Wujue laughed a few times: “After we leave this door, I’ll forget about today!”

He opened his folding fan and fanned himself twice, unable to bear the heat!

Ge Fei turned and walked outside. As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back. He wanted to say a polite farewell to Fan Wujue again, but as soon as the words reached his lips, he had forgotten them. He stared at the open fan in Fan Wujue's hand, momentarily stunned: "Fan brother, this fan of yours—"

Fan Wushu's fan was quite beautiful, with phoenixes of various shapes and sizes painted on it, so lifelike.

“Oh, the Duke gave me this when I was promoted a few days ago. The pattern on the fan is drawn by a master artist from five hundred years ago. He became famous for his phoenix paintings and unfortunately died young. There are not many of his works left now, so it's precious.” Fan Wuji hurriedly handed the folding fan forward: “Ge brother, do you like it If you like it, take it!”

Ge Fei didn't take the fan, just muttered, "Fan brother, there's a question I'm not sure about the answer to. You are knowledgeable, could you help me understand"

"I dare not claim to have all the answers!" Fan Wujue said. "Brother Ge, please ask away. As scholars, let us discuss this together."

Ge Fei hesitated for a moment, then asked somewhat tentatively, "How many kinds of phoenixes are there in the world"

"Nine kinds!" Fan Wujiu blurted out, "Look, they're all painted on the fan! Red is a phoenix; yellow is a golden pheasant; blue is a crane; purple is a mandarin duck; white is a swan; green is a parrot; black is an albatross; blue is a azure kingfisher; and orange is a rainbow bird!"

This chapter is 6,000 words long, of which 2,000 are from the Silver Grand Alliance member Phecda (2/3).

(The End)

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Please: wap.ishuquge.netow what I'm looking at."Just one step away from the fairy palace, how can I not be excited...He gritted his teeth, turned around and left: "Let's hurry up and leave here. We'll come back when we figur...