Chapter 21: Gun King Tong Yuan

  "Lan Ge's master can live in these deep mountains, he must be a senior with high martial arts skills." Zhao Fei said with great admiration.

  "That's natural." When Zhao Fei mentioned his own teacher, Xia Houlan's heart was filled with pride. It was as if he was talking about himself. "Right, Ah Fei, how did you guys end up in this situation?"

  "Never mind, my brother and I went into the mountains to visit a friend, but we were delayed for some time. After entering the mountains, it didn't take long before night fell, and halfway through, we encountered a fierce tiger. My brother fought with the tiger to protect me, and although he killed the beast, he was also seriously injured." Looking at Zhao Yun behind Xia Houlan, Zhao Fei's heart couldn't help but feel sad, and his eyes involuntarily welled up with tears. "My brother did it all to protect me, if I hadn't been a burden to him, with his skills, how could he have been hurt by such a lowly beast?"

  "It was actually him who killed the tiger, I really didn't expect your brother to be such a great warrior." Xiahou Lan said with emotion. Looking at the person behind him, Xiahou Lan's heart was filled with admiration, after all, fighting a tiger bare-handed wasn't something just anyone could do. As for himself, if he didn't have any weapons, he wouldn't dare to fight the tiger empty-handed either. But then again, maybe that person could.

  "How could Langye be wandering in the mountains so late?" Zhao Fei looked at Xiahou Lang with great puzzlement. To think that without special circumstances, no one would wander alone in the mountains at midnight. Not even a renowned hunter would do so. After all, nighttime is when ferocious beasts are most active, especially deep in the mountains and forests. Since Xiahou Lang wasn't a hunter, how could he be running around with his bow and arrow on his back, carrying weapons everywhere in the middle of the night?

  "It's like this, my master just told me that there was a continuous tiger howl in the mountains. He suspected that some travelers might have encountered a fierce tiger at night, so he asked me to bring some weapons and take a look. When I arrived at the scene after hearing the tiger howl, I found that the tiger was already dead but didn't see anyone around, so I searched around and finally found you guys."

  "This is heaven helping me, but Master Lan is indeed formidable. With just a few tiger roars, he knew someone was in distress. I don't know what Master Lan's surname and name are. Next time, I'll have the opportunity to thank him with my brother." After finishing speaking, Zhao Fei repeatedly thanked him.

  "A Fei, there's no need to be like this. My master doesn't care about these empty titles, or else he wouldn't have hidden himself in these deep mountains and ancient forests. But speaking of my master, he is indeed a legendary figure." As soon as Xia Houlan mentioned his teacher, his expression immediately became proud. "You should know that my teacher is a generation's gun god, known as the Penglai Gun God." At this point, Xia Houlan's expression was filled with reverence.

  Upon hearing this, Zhao Fei couldn't help but feel a shock. His expression changed greatly. "Lan Ge is referring to the Penglai Gun God Scattered Immortal Tong Yuan Dashi?" During his speech, Zhao Fei's emotions were very complicated.

  "Oh? You actually know my master." Xia Houlan was somewhat shocked, but he didn't think much of it and let it go. After all, his master was a renowned master of the generation. However, Xia Houlan did not know that Zhao Fei's shock was not just about that. "We're here," Zhao Fei said, looking up towards the front, where a thatched hut came into view, with some faint lights still visible. Seeing the hut in front of him, Zhao Fei could no longer support his own body, and exhaustion and pain instantly filled his entire being. He couldn't hold on any longer, and Zhao Fei suddenly fainted.

  "Xiao Fei, what's wrong with you!" Seeing Zhao Fei fainting, Xia Hou Lan was greatly alarmed.

  Darkness, and yet again endless darkness. Once more, I feel my body floating lightly, could it be that I've died again and crossed over? As the familiar sensation washes over me, Zhao Fei's thoughts change once more. Unknowing whether to be happy, sad, excited or something else. Who would have thought, on the first time out of the village, such a thing would happen. If only I had known earlier, why did I need to risk life and limb to follow him out? Suddenly, Zhao Fei feels a sharp pain in his head. His lightly floating body instantly sinks, and he plummets downwards.

  He didn't know how long he had fallen, but Zhao Fei only felt a heavy thud as he crashed to the ground. His entire body was in agony from the intense force of the impact. Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself inside a thatched hut. Due to being in darkness for so long, the light inside the hut was somewhat dazzling. Rubbing his eyes, he carefully looked around and discovered that his clothes were no longer his own. Had he really crossed over again?

  Just as Zhao Fei was lost in thought, an old man pushed the door open. "Awake? Feeling better?" The old man looked very kind, his hair combed very neatly, without a single strand out of place. Although his eyebrows and beard were already white, his face was still a deep purple color, looking very spirited. In the slightly sunken eye sockets, a pair of deep brown eyes quietly told the story of the years' vicissitudes. His build was not robust, and he looked somewhat hunched over.

  "Thank you, sir, for saving my life. I'm feeling much better now." Although he looked normal on the surface, Zhao Fei felt that this old man was not ordinary. So his tone was filled with reverence. "May I ask, sir, where am I currently?"

  Looking at Zhao Fei, the old man smiled but didn't speak. Being looked at by the old man, Zhao Fei felt his heart flutter. "This... this... has my family done anything wrong?"

  "You've gone through so much hardship, isn't it just to see me? How is it that after seeing me, you're like this." The old man stroked his beard and continued: "Although I don't know why you wanted to see me, but based on your actions alone, it's worth my while to meet with you personally. Loyalty and determination will surely lead to great accomplishments in the future."

  Listening to the old man, Zhao Fei's face also turned red. He touched the back of his head with his hand. "There, elder, you're being too serious. How could I be as you said? Could it be that you are the legendary Gun God Tong Yuan?"

  "Haha." Upon hearing Zhao Fei say this, the old man chuckled. "What's with all this 'gun god' business? It's just a title given by friends in the jianghu, an empty name, not worth mentioning."

  "The master's disdain for worldly fame is truly something us juniors can learn from!" Zhao Fei thought to himself as he tried to get out of bed and bow deeply to Tong Yuan, but unfortunately his body had only just recovered that morning. He managed to do it halfway before falling back onto the bed. His whole body was in pain, cold sweat immediately broke out, and he couldn't help but moan.

  "Little friend, don't move around. Your injuries still need some time to rest and recover. It's not suitable for you to exert yourself now." Seeing Zhao Fei's actions, Tong Yuan nodded his head in satisfaction. "First focus on recovering your body, other matters can be discussed later." After speaking, Tong Yuan turned to leave.

  "By the way, Master, how is Yun Ge?" Zhao Fei asked anxiously as he saw Tong Yuan about to leave.

  "Xiao Yun is not in any big trouble, just lost too much blood and didn't hurt her body. After resting for a while and replenishing some energy, there won't be any major issues." Tong Yuan said to Zhao Fei while leaning against the door.

  "It's all right, it's all right." Zhao Fei's hanging heart suddenly put down. A wave of drowsiness swept over him.

  "All right, I won't disturb you young friend's rest anymore." After finishing speaking, Tong Yuan turned around and walked out of the house, while Zhao Fei also fell asleep soundly.