Flame Shrine!

In the dense forest, Tang Fei walked ahead carrying the rabbit while Little Fatty and Phoenix chatted as they walked, seeming to get along remarkably well.

Phoenix did indeed like Little Fatty better. He was simple and genuine, and looked kind and approachable.

Tang Fei had more tricks up his sleeve than a beehive had holes. Who knew which of his words were true and which were false? Phoenix was always on edge when she was around him, afraid she might stumble into one of his traps.

Tang Fei. A true master at digging pits!

Tang Fei did not care what they were talking about. He was in an excellent mood, and even his stride carried an arrogant, high-spirited swagger.

There had originally been no hunting assignment today, yet by a stroke of luck, they had caught a rabbit.

What woman could be more important than a rabbit?

This rabbit was big and fat, with plump haunches. Even with one more mouth to feed at home, it was enough for them to eat happily for three days.

Besides, Phoenix ate very little. Little Fatty ate more in one meal than she did in an entire day.

Old Man always called Little Fatty a rice bucket. How was that a bucket?

It was a vat!

After crossing Hate Mountain, they were about to enter the human settlement when they unexpectedly ran straight into a group of men wearing long robes and hats.

The Flame Shrine!

When the apocalypse descended and darkness fell, a group of opportunists had risen with the tide, using the pretense of lighting the spark and seeking the light to save the world.

Whether they had saved anyone was not important. In any case, the organization had gained more and more members, and its influence had grown greater and greater.

After humanity's elite migrated to New Star, with all laws and police gone and the order of survival utterly destroyed, the Flame Shrine had taken on the responsibility of "punishing" and "educating" Old Earth.

Of course, they had bestowed those responsibilities upon themselves.

To a certain extent, they held the power of life and death over ordinary Refugees.

The Flame Shrine had a strict hierarchy. Ranks were divided by robe color, with the flame emblem serving as their banner and symbol.

Ordinary members wore gray robes with gray flames embroidered on their chests. Above them were black robes, White Robes, red robes, and Gold Robes. Every rank wore a different color, and the flames embroidered on their chests were different as well.

Gray robes were ordinary members, the god's apostles. Black robes were third-rank divine envoys, White Robes were second-rank divine envoys, red robes were first-rank divine envoys, and Gold Robes were Flame Gods.

Most of this group wore gray robes and were the lowest-ranking members of the Flame Society. Their leader wore a black robe. He was the leader of these Gray Robe figures, as well as the Flame Society's leader in this region.

It was already too late to avoid them. Doing so would only invite more suspicion and needless disaster.

So Tang Fei stopped and waited for the group to pass first.

But the black-robed man at the head of the group stopped as well. After giving Tang Fei a gloomy once-over, his gaze landed on Phoenix, who stood a step behind him, and instantly blazed with dazzling light.

It was as if a sun had appeared before him, igniting every glimmer hidden in his pupils.

The moment Tang Fei saw the change in his eyes, he knew things were going badly. Even he thought Phoenix's fair, tender appearance was exceptionally beautiful. In the eyes of these vulgar men, she would probably seem like an immortal descended to earth.

Moreover, Phoenix wore a fitted black uniform utterly unlike the local Refugees' clothing. Tall and long-legged, gorgeous and alluring, she looked like a proud little swan that had fallen into a yard full of dusty chickens. A woman like that naturally drew every eye.

Was that not why Tang Fei had carried her home in the first place?

If she had been built like Little Fatty, Tang Fei would have had to consider whether saving her was necessary.

It had nothing to do with character. He was mainly afraid he would not be able to carry her!

Tang Fei did not move, and neither did the Flame Shrine's people. Tang Fei did not speak, and neither did they.

The atmosphere immediately froze into a standoff.

After a long while, the black-robed man grew impatient. Pointing at Phoenix, he asked, "Who is she?"

"Her?" Tang Fei looked around, then deliberately lowered his voice and put on a cautious expression that said, I'm only telling you, so don't spread it around. He whispered, "She's an honored guest from New Star. Her whole family came by spaceship."

Tang Fei did not dare say what relationship she had to him, because if he did, the Flame Shrine would immediately take action and seize her.

Some names could earn a fifty-percent discount. Others could get your bones broken.

They would not give a young hunter any respect, much less care about his dignity. On Old Earth, the true law of the jungle prevailed. The strong devoured the weak—an unshakable truth.

There was no need to pretend or conceal it.

It so happened that important figures from New Star often came down to explore, searching for ancient relics, secret texts, or spiritual salvation.

Unable to determine Phoenix's true identity, they did not dare act rashly.

"Is that so?" The black-robed man carefully examined Phoenix again before asking, "Where is her family?"

"That is difficult for me to say." Tang Fei wore a troubled expression as he looked at the black-robed man. "Divine Envoy, you know that most honored guests from New Star have private matters to attend to. My family's Elder took on the role of guide. Since the journey was rather dangerous, they left this young lady with us and asked us to care for her."

The black-robed man hesitated. He could hear the information Tang Fei had deliberately revealed.

First, this woman was an honored guest from New Star, and her status was far from ordinary.

Second, her entire family had come by spaceship. There were many of them, and they possessed advanced weapons and equipment. They were not to be provoked lightly.

Third, the Elder of the boy's family had taken the honored guests on an important mission. Though they were only a few children, the adults in their family could return at any time. He had better not get any bad ideas.

A sinister smile appeared at the corner of the black-robed man's mouth. "Since this honored guest came from New Star, did she register with our shrine?"

"She probably did?" Tang Fei looked at Phoenix and asked uncertainly.

"She should have registered. The butler handles such matters, so I do not know much about them." Phoenix shook her head.

She knew she was in danger. From the first moment the black-robed man saw her, she had known what kind of thoughts he harbored.

She also understood that if this was not handled properly, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She understood Tang Fei's intentions and was willing to play along with his act.

After all, he was protecting her.

At that thought, a wave of warmth unexpectedly rose in Phoenix's heart.

"Registered?" The black-robed man sneered. "I am responsible for Hate Mountain District. If an honored guest arrives, others might not know, but would I not?"

"She trespassed into the territory guarded by our shrine. What does she intend to do? What are her motives? The shrine must investigate this matter thoroughly."

"That is right. Let her come with us. For all we know, they might be those damned Predators."

"They came to our territory without even informing the Flame Shrine. Do they have any respect for our Flame Shrine at all?"

"Take her away, take her away. Whatever it is, explain it clearly at the shrine."

--

The Gray Robe figures understood their leader's intentions and all clamored to take Phoenix away.

Some eager men even rushed forward to seize her, only to be blocked by Tang Fei's body.

"Divine Envoy, Divine Envoy!" Tang Fei looked at the black-robed man. He knew the decision rested in this man's hands. "We are not Predators. We are just three children. How could we possibly be Predators?"

"Are there few children among the Predators? When they strike, they are even more vicious."

"Exactly. Even if they are not Predators, they could be the Predators' scouts—spies who came to our human settlement to gather information, waiting for their people to come rob us."

"Take them away!" The black-robed man swept his hand through the air and shouted, "Why waste words with him? If he dares obstruct us again, take him back to feed the god."

Fear appeared on Tang Fei and Little Fatty's faces.

So-called feeding the god meant cutting someone into pieces and throwing them into a cage to feed the Divine Pets raised by the shrine.

A group of Gray Robe figures came over to seize Phoenix. Her eyes turned cold as she prepared to take action and kill.

Tang Fei suddenly charged at the Gray Robe figures like an enraged wolf cub, roaring hoarsely, "Don't touch her! Get away! All of you, get away!"

"Don't touch her. She cannot go with you." Little Fatty rushed forward right after him.

Crack! Bang!

A group of men rained fists and kicks on the two of them.

Tang Fei quickly dropped to the ground. Little Fatty held out for quite a while before finally catching on.

Covered in bruises and wounds, he lay down as well.

Thus, amid Phoenix's curses, the people of the Flame Shrine took Phoenix into the Hen Mountain Secret Forest.

(PS: Thanks to Bai Xiu Ben Xiu for becoming our Alliance Leader, the chief of the Hainan Guard Army, and a good brother of more than a decade.)