Don't Easily Take In a Stray Cat!

"This isn't about money," Tang Fei waved his hand, his expression serious.

When someone who likes money says it's not about money, it means they want more.

Phoenix didn't speak either, just stared at Tang Fei with a playful gaze, waiting for him to give her a reason to refuse.

"We can't take the risk," Tang Fei said earnestly. "If it were just me, I'd gamble with you. What's that saying? Fortune favors the bold. In times like these, what doesn't involve risk?"

"But you saw it yourself, I have an old man and Little Fatty at home. One is old, the other is young, and neither can even lift a chicken."

Phoenix's gaze shifted to Little Fatty's face. When she woke up that morning, she clearly saw him bring down a hammer weighing several hundred pounds, splitting a massive boulder perfectly in two. The dividing line was straighter and longer than her own calf. And this little freak called himself unable to lift a chicken?

What chicken was he even trying to lift?

Phoenix?

Pah!

"I told you, you came here to escape pursuit. What if those who want to kill you track you down? We're just pitiful people with no ability to protect ourselves. How can we contend with those fully armed experts? We do want money, we want supplies, but we want to keep our lives even more."

"I don't just want to protect my own life, but also the lives of the old man and Little Fatty. Even our neighbors could get caught in the crossfire. I know how powerful the weapons on your New Star are."

"I can't, out of my own kindness, harm other kind people. That kind of kindness is hypocrisy."

Phoenix nodded, agreeing with Tang Fei's words.

Then, her delicate eyebrows rose, a charming curve appearing on her lips. She glanced at Tang Fei and asked, "So, Mr. Tang Fei, what do you plan to do?"

"What do I plan to do?" Tang Fei's eyes widened as he looked at Phoenix. How did this become his problem?

I've stated my difficulties. Shouldn't it be your turn to persuade me now?

Give me weapons, give me supplies, give me everything I need. Tempt me with wealth, seduce me with beauty.

Why did you kick the ball back into my court?

"Yes," Phoenix nodded obediently. "You saved me. You are my savior, and the first person I met on this planet."

"Just because I can't leave immediately in an escape pod, and can't contact my family on New Star, does that mean you've decided to abandon me and let me fend for myself here?"

"You also know that I'm unfamiliar with this place. And I know how crazy and terrifying the people in the Wasteland can be. I think you have more insight into this than I do. If you don't help me, I have no other path but death."

"You have to help!" Little Fatty chimed in from the side, clearly agreeing.

Even though this woman couldn't help him smash rocks, she was pretty, had a pleasant voice, and on the way to find Tang Fei earlier, she said that he must have suffered a lot as a child to be able to wield such a big hammer at his age. She told him to take care of himself and taught him the correct way to exert force, saying it would prevent him from twisting his back.

When did I get a waist? I only have a belly.

She also asked Little Fatty's name. Little Fatty said his name was Little Fatty. She said, "No, I'm asking for your real name."

Little Fatty was touched. No one had ever asked for his real name before, nor had such a beautiful girl treated him so gently and kindly.

He felt they were already friends.

He couldn't stand by and watch her be abandoned by Tang Fei, nor did he want her to fall into the hands of those Predators or the Flame Society.

Heaven knew what insane things they might do.

Tang Fei glared fiercely at Little Fatty, surprised that a traitor had appeared so quickly in their group.

He studied Phoenix thoughtfully, his eyebrows raised. "What do you mean? You're not trying to latch onto me, are you?"

"There's a saying on New Star: don't easily take in a stray cat."

"What do you mean?"

"Because you'll easily develop feelings for it," Phoenix said slyly.

"..."

"Of course, I know this will put you in a difficult position. My presence will increase your living costs and even put your lives at risk," Phoenix said seriously, looking at Tang Fei and Little Fatty. "But I absolutely won't let you suffer any losses."

"Although the escape pod is broken and I can't contact New Star, if I don't report my safety for a long time, my family will come looking for me on Earth immediately. I didn't report my safety at the scheduled time last night. If I'm not mistaken, they should be on their way now."

"When my family finds me, I'm willing to give you double the supplies. On top of the deal we made earlier, I'm willing to give you double the supplies to thank you for everything you've done for me."

"As for those who want to kill me, if they arrive late and I've already been picked up by my family, you can completely shift the blame, say you don't know me at all. I don't think they'd want to trouble innocent, blind... natives, as that would only expose their tracks."

"If they arrive early..." A fierce killing intent flashed in Phoenix's eyes. She said fiercely, "Then we'll make sure they never leave. Don't worry, my injuries are almost healed. I'm not completely defenseless anymore. As long as we handle it properly, they won't gain any advantage."

Tang Fei stared at Phoenix and asked, "Are you a cultivator?"

Phoenix didn't deny it, nodding. "Yes."

"What's your level now?" Tang Fei asked.

"Realm?" Phoenix looked at Tang Fei. "On New Star, the division of strength is called a realm. I heard this term originated from the Wasteland."

Worried that the words 'Wasteland' might hurt the young man's pride, Phoenix glanced apologetically at Tang Fei. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"It's fine," Tang Fei shrugged casually. "Look around you, isn't this just a ruin? Everyone here looks less than human, more like ghosts. Even the plants and animals have mutated."

"The first rule of survival in the Wasteland is that nothing is more important than staying alive. As long as others don't steal your food, they can spit in my face."

Phoenix was shocked and asked, "Did someone spit?"

"Yes."

"And then what?"

"He's dead," Tang Fei said with a smile, revealing that chilling, signature grin again. "He spat on me and tried to steal my prey, so I killed him."

After a long pause, Phoenix looked at Tang Fei and explained, "The cultivation realm divisions on New Star originate from Old Earth. They are Body Tempering, Qi Control, Mystic Insight, As You Wish, and Grandmaster – the first five realms, also known as the 'Mortal Realm'."

Tang Fei nodded. This was exactly what the old man had told him.

"Of course, the Grandmaster realm is further divided into Lesser Grandmaster and Greater Grandmaster. Although it's just a difference of two words, the strength they represent and the powerful abilities they contain are worlds apart. A Lesser Grandmaster can guard a region, while a Greater Grandmaster can guard a nation. Greater Grandmasters are already at the pinnacle of human martial arts. Every Grandmaster is someone sought after by various countries..."

"There are also the Star Burning, Immortal Roaming, and Domain realms. These three are known as the 'Divine Realm.' However, these are legendary realms. I haven't seen them, and I don't think any human can reach them."

Tang Fei's chest swelled with emotion, his eyes burning with desire.

If he could one day step into the Grandmaster realm, being admired by all and revered by the world, how glorious would that be?

Of course, he also knew that the possibility of such a thing was extremely slim. If it were that easy to reach the Grandmaster realm, wouldn't this world be filled with Lesser Grandmasters like dogs and Greater Grandmasters everywhere?

If that were the case, what would be so special about the Grandmaster realm?

Noticing the look in Tang Fei's eyes, Phoenix asked curiously, "You cultivate too?"

"No," Tang Fei shook his head. "What cultivation are we doing? We have no techniques and no supplements. Every day, we're just thinking about how to survive. We have to run all over a mountain just for a bite to eat. Where would we find time to cultivate?"

"This is also cultivation," Phoenix said with certainty.

Tang Fei stared at Phoenix's face for a long time. Phoenix became a little uncomfortable under his gaze and spoke first, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"You're really beautiful," Tang Fei said earnestly. "More beautiful than me."

"But you have a bit of a pretentious tendency," Tang Fei retracted his aggressive gaze and said. "I heard people who read a lot often have this problem. Every step is an experience, every place is a view, every tribulation is cultivation, and life should be full of uncertainty."

"Only people who have too much free time like to say things like that. If your every hunt determined life and death, and every time you drew your blade it could be the last... let's see if you can still talk about a peaceful life with a calm heart."

"Like me and Little Fatty, we just want to lie peacefully at home. We don't want to go out hunting, and we don't want to draw our blades against people."

Little Fatty nodded repeatedly, his face full of anticipation. "And we want meat to eat every day."

... Phoenix was speechless.

These two people were very unfriendly.

But she could endure it.

For the sake of survival, anything could be endured.

"You've said so much, but you still haven't told me what realm you're in," Tang Fei asked.

"Qi Control realm," Phoenix said. "I just entered the Qi Control realm."