Chapter 22: Received Entrustment

The street was peaceful. In recent days, people seemed to have overcome their inner anxieties, no longer panicked or as afraid. The sound of women and children crying was rarely heard.

Chu Feng walked along the bluestone path towards his residence, located on the easternmost side of the town next to vast orchards. It was very quiet.

Would the yellow ox cause trouble? He was a little worried; that fellow wasn't exactly well-behaved. Although he had already told it to hide if anyone approached...

However, it might not obey.

It was too conspicuous, its entire body golden yellow, even its horns looked as if they were cast from gold. Anyone who saw it would find it abnormal.

The courtyard was quiet; he didn't hear any human shouts or ox bellows, which made Chu Feng breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Upon entering the courtyard gate, he saw no one and couldn't help but frown slightly. Hadn't someone been looking for him? They shouldn't have left so quickly.

Chu Feng had always been curious who exactly would come looking for him here, especially when roads between cities were severed and various regions were undergoing strange, dangerous changes.

This time, he didn't want to miss it; he had to find out.

Suddenly, a figure appeared on the balcony of the second-floor study. It was a young man with a faint smile, standing there and observing him.

Chu Feng was a little displeased. He had never seen this person before, and for a stranger to walk directly into his study, disregarding the owner's feelings, was extremely rude.

Moreover, the man was remarkably calm, standing there silently and looking at him with such indifference, as if he were the master of the house.

“Who are you?” Chu Feng asked. Was this one of the young men Uncle Liu mentioned? He didn't recognize him.

“Zuo Jun,” the young man replied, leaping down from the second-floor balcony into the courtyard with agile and precise movements.

He was of medium build, with a wheat-colored complexion, stiff, short hair, and bright eyes. He wasn't handsome, but he had a distinctive, almost sharp, aura.

This young man named Zuo Jun looked extraordinary, like a soldier who had spent years in the jungle.

However, it was merely a resemblance; he likely wasn't a soldier. He carried an air of sharpness and self-confidence, and one could tell at a glance that he wasn't someone who liked to follow orders.

“I don’t know you,” Chu Feng said, staring at him.

“Don’t you know me now?” Zuo Jun said calmly, his scrutinizing gaze sweeping over Chu Feng from head to toe.

Chu Feng felt great aversion. This was his home, yet this person was acting like the host, completely disregarding his feelings and being somewhat overbearing.

“If you have nothing to do, please leave. I don’t know you!” Chu Feng ordered, showing him the door.

“Do you think I wanted to come to this dilapidated place? I’m just doing someone a favor, checking up on you,” Zuo Jun said.

“At whose request?”

Zuo Jun didn’t answer. He walked around Chu Feng, brazenly sizing him up from head to toe. He had been observing him since he first saw him, and now he was even more presumptuous.

“Just a bit more handsome, otherwise, nothing special,” Zuo Jun concluded.

“Presumptuous,” Chu Feng felt even more disgusted. They had just met and didn't know each other; what could this person possibly know to draw such a conclusion?

“Don’t take it badly, what I’m saying is the truth. Calling you unremarkable is me being polite,” Zuo Jun said unceremoniously, his gaze sharp and pressing on Chu Feng. “Someone like you can only be considered ordinary. The world has changed, and I believe, without any surprises, you will end up among the lowest ranks.”

“Are you sick?” Chu Feng was utterly repulsed. This person spoke in a preachy tone, as if standing on a high pedestal, lecturing him about his life.

“Get out of here immediately!” Chu Feng pointed towards the courtyard gate.

“Out?” Zuo Jun’s gaze was intense, as if it held thorns. Combined with his wheat-colored complexion and stiff, short hair, he clearly looked like a tough person.

“You? You dare speak to me like that?” He shook his head, as if finding it utterly ridiculous.

“Do you think you’re so great? What gives you the right to come to my home and throw your weight around?” Chu Feng tried his best to restrain himself. He didn't want to get into a fight with this person; he just wanted to drive him away.

“Do you think I have nothing better to do? The Taihang Mountains are a magnificent range, one of the most famous mountains in the world. Now, treasures are everywhere, and my time is very precious. If someone hadn’t had enough influence to ask us to stop by and look after you while we’re in this area, why would I be here?” Zuo Jun scoffed.

“You can leave. I don’t need your care,” Chu Feng said, frowning as he looked at Zuo Jun. This kind of 'care' was better off without; it was truly annoying.

Chu Feng ignored him and went straight upstairs to his study. There were some papers there where he taught the yellow ox to read, and Zuo Jun had already been in this room.

Zuo Jun sneered: “You still don’t understand what era this is. Well, for someone at your level, you simply can’t access that stratum. You’re always slow to realize things, completely unaware of the huge gap between you and people like us.”

He was very casual, following directly behind and entering Chu Feng’s study once again.

“Get out!” Chu Feng had truly had enough of him and yelled.

“Ignorant!” Zuo Jun’s expression turned cold. “You know nothing.”

Then, with a look of disdain, he said: “In the past, you were just lucky enough to know that person. Now, they’re showing a little old affection, but it might not be the case in the future. How far is the distance between a god and a beggar? You had a slight interaction during a period of ignorance, and that’s all. In the future, the distance will become an insurmountable chasm.”

Chu Feng looked at him calmly and said: “Are you done talking? Get out!”

“Don’t yell at me. You still don’t understand that the gap between a mortal and someone like me is absolutely not something you can cross,” Zuo Jun said coldly.

Then, he looked at Chu Feng and said: “Now, pack your things and come with me to the county town.”

Chu Feng suppressed his anger, gradually calmed down, and asked: “Why go there?” He controlled himself, wanting to understand the situation.

“The Taihang Mountains are full of treasures. I, along with some others, have come to the Taihang Mountains. We are responsible for this nearby area and are currently stationed in the county town. We can ensure your survival; after all, we were asked to look after you, so we must make some effort,” Zuo Jun said plainly.

There was a team of people near the Taihang Mountains outside? The sharp glint in Chu Feng’s eyes receded.

“I’m fine here, and I don’t want to go to the county town,” Chu Feng refused. He also asked: “What kind of people are you exactly?”

Although he had already guessed, he wanted to confirm.

“You’re a mortal; you don’t need to know so much. Our world is beyond your reach. Just be honest and well-behaved, live your ordinary life, and come with me in a moment,” Zuo Jun said with disdain, having lost his patience.

“You can leave now; I won’t be going with you,” Chu Feng said, walking out of the study.

“You really don’t know your own place, ungrateful as you are. Are you still expecting others to come pick you up? If so, you can only be called utterly stupid!” Zuo Jun said.

“Hmm?”

Passing Chu Feng’s bedroom, Zuo Jun inadvertently caught sight of a black short sword. He immediately stopped, then strode towards it.

“Don’t touch that!” Chu Feng reacted quickly, following immediately and snatching it into his hand.

“This sword body is ancient and somewhat extraordinary. You must have stumbled upon it somewhere, right? Hand it over, let me see!” Zuo Jun said in a deep voice, his tone commanding, almost an order.

The black short sword, about a foot long, was found by Chu Feng outside the train. At the time, the ancient man who died was very mysterious and strangely, hanging from a giant vine.

At the same time, a satellite was also hanging from the vine, which had greatly shaken him then.

“This is my item; it has nothing to do with you,” Chu Feng refused.

“The sword embryo is good, and it carries an ancient essence; it’s not an ordinary item. How about this: you give it to me as a meeting gift, and in the future, I’ll take better care of you. Otherwise, it would be a waste to leave it in the hands of a mortal like you, like casting pearls before swine.”

Zuo Jun spoke quite impolitely, having no reservations whatsoever. He was extremely self-centered, and his words were particularly grating.

Chu Feng looked at him coldly, without speaking.

This was Zuo Jun’s idea of looking after someone, as requested? It was truly repulsive, and now he was even trying to snatch his black short sword.

“Hand it over!” Zuo Jun reached out, his tone commanding.

Chu Feng ignored him, his expression cold.

Zuo Jun directly reached out to grab it himself. Ever since he saw this sword embryo, he knew it might be an extraordinary sword artifact. How could he allow it to fall into the hands of a mortal?

Thud!

At this moment, Chu Feng no longer restrained himself, nor did he want to endure any longer. From such close proximity, he threw a punch, striking Zuo Jun’s lower abdomen. It directly bent his body like a shrimp, then sent him flying sideways with a loud crash.

Zuo Jun’s face was filled with pain, and he was somewhat pale. He was extremely shocked and incredulous that he had been injured by the mortal whom he considered to be among the lowest ranks.

Chu Feng had immense strength, twelve times that of an ordinary person. At this moment, his physical body was slightly crystalline and exuded a fragrant scent. In ancient times, this would have been considered achieving physical sainthood.

How powerful was that punch!