Chapter Sixty-Two: Escape

At this moment, upon hearing Xiao Fan mention the past, Xiao Yue could not suppress a surge of nameless fury within him. Since things had reached the point where all must be laid bare, he no longer felt any fear in his heart.

“Pretending? What about you? What have you done? Striking from the shadows, poisoning your own brother—so this is your skill, this is the brotherhood between us!” Xiao Yue’s voice was nearly a roar, his anger unrestrained.

Xiao Fan sighed. “So you truly know.”

Xiao Yue was taken aback, then suddenly realized the truth, his anger intensifying. “You were testing me?”

In truth, Xiao Fan had sensed something was wrong in Xiao Yue’s demeanor, but was unsure whether it was because he had uncovered the truth; hence, he probed him. He had not expected to expose so much so easily.

Now, facing Xiao Fan, Xiao Yue felt a deep and growing dread, as if he had never truly known this fifth brother of his.

Chu Feng, too, felt his hair stand on end—not from Xiao Fan’s strength, but from his terrifying depth and cunning. This man undoubtedly had the makings of a formidable overlord.

“What’s the use of saying any more?” Xiao Fan shook his head, pain and a chilly resolve on his face. “Second Brother, I almost wish you had never known the truth.”

Xiao Yue sneered. “What, are you afraid your own deeds will be exposed?”

At the same time, Chu Feng took a deep breath, his expression grave. He closed his eyes, as if unwilling to witness conflict between the two brothers. Yet this was merely a façade; Chu Feng knew danger was imminent. He closed his eyes to release his spiritual sense, preparing for a possible escape.

Xiao Fan seemed unperturbed by Xiao Yue’s challenge. Immersed in his own world, his face remained etched with pain—perhaps regret—but what Xiao Yue felt was an endless chill.

Xiao Fan closed his eyes slightly, his face growing even colder, a killing intent gathering between his brows. “Second Brother, I truly do not wish to kill you. I do not. You are forcing my hand!”

“Let’s see if you can!” At that moment, Chu Feng suddenly shouted. Even as he spoke, he seized Xiao Yue’s arm and leapt away with all his might.

Chu Feng’s strength was already extraordinary, and his explosive power was terrifying. With a full burst, he vanished into the darkness in an instant—covering a distance of perhaps forty or fifty yards with a single leap.

Neither Xiao Fan nor the black-clad woman at his side had anticipated Chu Feng’s move, nor the terrifying force with which he acted.

“He carries the aura of the Golden Sun Ancestor Stone. Does he truly think he can escape?” Xiao Fan’s face was so dark it seemed it might drip water.

Beside him, the black-robed woman sprang forward, pursuing Chu Feng’s direction.

Within the tent, the others burst out as well. Without asking questions, they followed Xiao Fan, chasing after the woman in black.

In terms of strength, Chu Feng was only somewhat stronger than a third-rank Earth Spirit Warrior; in daylight, a ninth-rank Earth Spirit Warrior would have caught him in moments.

Fortunately, it was the dead of night. Chu Feng could clearly sense everything within ten yards around him, a tremendous advantage over those whose spiritual sense had not yet reached that level.

In this darkness, even a ninth-rank Earth Spirit Warrior was nearly blind, able to see only vague shapes. Their pursuit would be severely hampered.

With Xiao Yue on his back, Chu Feng sped through the night, quickly leaving Golden Sun Ridge behind and plunging into the forest. Though his eyes were closed, his perception of his surroundings was clearer and more detailed than sight could offer. In this state, his speed was undiminished from broad daylight.

Within the forest, Chu Feng’s physique was pushed to the limit. He fled like a phantom, not daring to pause for even a moment.

Yet their predicament remained dire, for their pursuers were ninth-rank Earth Spirit Warriors—more than one.

Chu Feng and Xiao Yue’s faces were grave, feeling as if at any moment a savage beast might strike from behind.

This was why, when Xiao Fan returned, Xiao Yue had not allowed Chu Feng to escape lightly. Once they left, there was no turning back. When Xiao Fan’s murderous intent was finally revealed, they had no choice but to flee for their lives.

Chu Feng’s nerves were taut, cold sweat streaming down his face. To be honest, with ninth-rank Earth Spirit Warriors on their trail—even at night, even with spiritual sense—he was far from confident they could escape.

No matter how strong, the body has limits; this explosive state could not last long.

Meanwhile, though their pursuers’ speed was affected, being eighth- and ninth-rank Earth Spirit Warriors, they were likely not far behind.

In truth, the situation was worse than Chu Feng and Xiao Yue realized, for Xiao Fan and the others could track them by following the aura of the Golden Sun Ancestor Stone.

Before long, Chu Feng had run more than ten miles, but in the darkness he had lost all sense of direction. He no longer knew where he was fleeing.

Fatigue was setting in, but he pressed on.

On Chu Feng’s back, Xiao Yue couldn’t help but glance behind. The forest obscured his view, but he could sense powerful auras drawing ever closer.

After a brief silence, Xiao Yue said, “Chu Feng, if we keep going like this, we’ll both die. Perhaps—”

“No.” Before Xiao Yue could finish, Chu Feng cut him off, evidently guessing his intention.

Without stopping, Chu Feng replied, “You think if you stay, I’ll escape safely? Even if I did, should I spend the rest of my days tormented by regret and guilt?”

He panted heavily, then continued, “You would risk your life for me. Do you think I’m someone who clings to life and fears death?”

He said no more, simply running on with all his strength.

Xiao Yue fell silent, sighing deeply, his heart a tumult of emotion—moved, pained. He thought of how, though he and Xiao Fan were true brothers by blood, the one who plotted against him turned out to be his dear younger brother.

Yet he had met Chu Feng as a stranger along the road, and now they were bound together in life and death, sharing true brotherhood.

“This is true brotherhood—life and death together. If, in my life, I have a brother like you, I shall die without regret!” Xiao Yue exclaimed suddenly.

“In that case, we should all the more strive to survive,” said Chu Feng.

With Xiao Yue’s words, Chu Feng felt as though he’d gained renewed strength. But before long, they were forced to halt.

They had reached the end of Golden Sun Mountain—a cliff with no path forward.

Chu Feng had no idea how deep the chasm was, for his spiritual sense extended only ten yards.

Standing at the cliff’s edge, both men felt a chill of dread down their spines. From the moment they arrived, an overwhelming terror emanated from below.

It all came from the depths of the gorge—a killing aura so intense it made their hair stand on end.

If it were an ordinary cliff, with enemies close behind, Chu Feng might have risked leaping down.

But now, hesitating at the edge, Chu Feng felt only death lurking in the endless darkness.

“How could it come to this?” Chu Feng muttered, unwilling to accept their fate. He withdrew his spiritual sense and opened his eyes.

At this moment, Xiao Yue spoke. “Down there…it must be Black Moon Valley.”

“This is Black Moon Valley?” Chu Feng’s face was incredulous. He gave a self-mocking laugh, despair rising in his heart. “Heaven truly wishes to destroy us!”

Chu Feng had heard Xiao Yue speak of the valley’s dangers and never expected that the very place he most wished to avoid would become his destination.

It was not just Chu Feng—even Xiao Yue had lost hope. He could feel their pursuers’ auras growing ever closer.

Sure enough, within moments, a cold voice sounded: “Why stop running?”

Even before the words faded, a tall man in black appeared just ten yards from Chu Feng. It was the same man who had killed Mr. Lü and the others.

This one had arrived first, clearly the strongest among the nine.

At that moment, Chu Feng and Xiao Yue found it almost laughable—how fate toyed with them. Saved by this man before, now perhaps they would die by his hand.

The black-clad man did not act immediately. He simply stared coldly at them, waiting for Xiao Fan and the others to arrive.

Xiao Yue, still on Chu Feng’s back, was about to ask to be set down when a flash of golden light appeared before his eyes. He heard Chu Feng grunt, then felt Chu Feng’s body lurch, and the two of them plunged toward Black Moon Valley.

Chu Feng was also shocked. He had only seen a flash of gold, felt a heavy force strike him, then his body was hurled into the abyss.

The change happened in an instant—so fast that even the ninth-rank Earth Spirit Warrior was momentarily dazed, watching the two men plummet.

When the black-clad man saw the golden light clearly, his expression changed. But by then it was too late to act—there was nothing he could do.

One after another, the other ninth-rank Earth Spirit Warriors arrived, and finally Xiao Fan himself appeared. All were stunned to find the place empty—no sign of Xiao Yue or Chu Feng.

“Where are they?” Xiao Fan inquired.

The black-clad man pointed ahead. “In Black Moon Valley.”

“So he truly hates me. He’d rather leap into Black Moon Valley and face eternal damnation than die by my hand and leave a corpse behind,” Xiao Fan said, his expression complicated, his thoughts unreadable.

Xiao Fan knew well the terror of Black Moon Valley—a place even Sacred Spirit Warriors feared. Ordinary men who entered were doomed, perhaps even to utter annihilation, losing even the chance of reincarnation.

Xiao Fan sighed, a trace of pain and reluctance on his face. “Perhaps this is for the best. I truly did not wish to end his life with my own hands.”

Then the black-clad man shook his head. “They did not leap willingly; they were pushed.”

Xiao Fan’s expression changed, surprise flashing in his eyes. He looked at the man in black. “Was it you?”

“Golden Sun Ancestor Stone,” replied the black-clad man quietly.