182 Ares summons the Three Immortals! He deploys the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation!
That nap left Chu Feng with a sore back; spending the night with six women wasn't easy—he'd had to weave a huge bed out of vines between the bamboos just to fit everyone.
At this high altitude the sun rose fast; sleeping in was impossible, and the scorching light ruthlessly smacked Chu Feng's face.
He slowly opened his eyes, then cursed, "Who plucked every leaf off the bamboo above me? No wonder there's no shade!"
"Me! Got a problem with that?" Zhu Zhuyun grinned like a Cheshire cat.
"Hmph!" Chu Feng could only grunt in defeat.
He wasn't going to stay meek—yesterday's surrender had been faked; Zhu Zhuqing's cultivation was just too overwhelming. After a night's sleep, though, he was back to full strength.
Pretty or not, if you mess with me, I'll hit you.
Spiritual energy wrapped his fists, flickering blue; devouring that scripture had noticeably boosted his power.
"Take my punch, crazy woman!" Chu Feng roared.
Zhu Zhuyun curled her lip in disdain. "Overestimating yourself."
Spiritual qi surged out of her body, her white robe billowing as though it were sucking in all the surrounding wind.
"Brat, witness true Nascent Soul Stage—Heavenly Dance Flowing Clouds!" Her expression turned grave; bamboo snapped in every direction, and even the clouds above hid the sun.
Chu Feng's fist met her wind wall and could advance no further. He pushed the Qiankun Cover to keep himself hovering in mid-air.
But he couldn't hold out for long; within minutes he deflated like a punctured ball. The tempest flung him up and slammed him to the ground.
Zhu Zhuyun gloated, even pulling a face at the miserable Chu Feng.
This was absolutely intolerable!
Chu Feng hadn't admitted defeat. In a voice even louder—and lewder—than hers, he declared, "Look what I've got!"
He dangled four or five pink ribbons he'd swiped from her fragrant shoulders.
"You shameless rogue—die of anger!" Zhu Zhuyun fumed.
Chu Feng truly possessed the aura of a scoundrel. Though he couldn't get close, the pills he'd swallowed earlier let him slip a wisp of spiritual energy out for sneaky little moves.
If he'd known this trick in his past life, he wouldn't have dropped dead after a few peeps.
Yet he sensed things were about to get worse—he'd only meant to tease, but Zhu Zhuyun looked ready to go all-out.
Her hair whipped about like high-speed fan blades.
Chu Feng sighed; he had to resort to his ultimate trump card—strategic retreat.
He spun around and bolted through the labyrinthine bamboo grove.
But this was clearly Zhu Zhuyun's turf; escape was impossible.
He could struggle a bit more, but hunger had drained his strength. Yes, he was starving again—that old geezer had lied; eating a book certainly didn't last two days.
Speed was the only thing Zhu Zhuyun couldn't match, so her fury mounted with every failed catch.
Wherever she passed, bamboo snapped and shattered; if this kept up the entire grove would be ruined.
Chu Feng had a new idea: since she didn't care for the grove, he might as well eat it all.
A true foodie—when starving, anything goes.
Because Zhu Zhuyun was at the Nascent Soul Stage, Chu Feng's suction actually drew spiritual energy toward her.
But it benefited him too—he could now choose what to absorb within range and what to ignore.
Zhu Zhuyun stopped, stunned; she'd never seen such a freakish skill. Chu Feng merely opened his mouth in a sucking motion, and the bamboo automatically shrank and flew into his jaws.
Such talent—Zhu Zhuyun doubted even her master could learn it.
But she remembered Master Zhu Zhuqing had told her to guard this grove; how could she explain if only bare earth remained?
"Stop right now!" Zhu Zhuyun shouted.
As Chu Feng hesitated, Ah Yin arrived. Seeing him with an unfamiliar woman, she yelled, "Stop my foot!"
Well then, no stopping—it was only a few hundred square meters, mere minutes of work.
Zhu Zhuyun asked, "Is he your man or what?"
"Your man, my foot! What were you two doing alone in this bamboo grove?" Ah Yin snapped.
Chu Feng, still munching bamboo, interjected, "We've been alone together for ten years; that phrase doesn't apply to her."
The jab made Ah Yin's hair bristle. Out of nowhere she produced a stick and whacked his head.
The blow made Chu Feng cough—and with a whoosh the entire grove vanished down his gullet.
Zhu Zhuyun stared at the expanse of yellow earth, stamping in rage. "Pay me back for my bamboo or this isn't over!"
Ah Yin stuck out her tongue. "Nyah-nyah, my Little Sword won't listen to you. I won't pay—what can you do?"
Zhu Zhuqing strolled up, speaking in hectic exasperation: "Holy crap, one night away and my bamboo grove is gone?"
"Master, it's all this guy Chu Feng's fault!" Zhu Zhuyun said hastily.
"Nonsense. With your savage temper, if you hadn't treated him badly he wouldn't have blown up. I say you two will replant the bamboo together—talk after it's done."
Zhu Zhuqing stroked his white beard serenely.
"Old man, you can't be serious. This whole grove—by the time we plant and regrow it I'll be white-haired. I'm destined for great deeds; no way." Chu Feng shook his head.
"Haha, truly a reckless calf. Just plant the seedlings; with your movement skill it won't take an hour. I'll handle the rest," Zhu Zhuqing said.
"Don't think saving us earns my gratitude. If you don't teach us techniques afterward, old man, you'll regret it," Ah Yin fumed—pure jealousy.
"A Holy Maiden of the mighty Heavenly Dao Sect, yet you need our Sect to teach you? That's quite the humble downgrade," Hui Xu said gravely.
"Master, you mean the Holy Maiden who vanished ten years ago?" Zhu Zhuyun exclaimed.
"Enough, enough—let old matters rest. Holy Maiden, your fate with this young man runs deep; knock some sense into him later, haha."
Zhu Zhuqing flicked his whisk and departed, leaving a sack of fresh bamboo shoots.
"What's that old fogey babbling about? Zhu Zhuyun, do you know?" Ah Yin asked, utterly bewildered.
She probably didn't grasp the trick, or perhaps she'd simply grown muddle-headed.
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