Chapter 120: I

Cang Luo watched Lin Zhiping and the other two with unease, hesitating whether to run, while Lin Zhiping and the others stared back at him and Uesugi Emiko.

Lin Zhiping, far away, frowned tightly—who was that man beside Emiko?

Where is Feng Qingyun?

That day, Uesugi Emiko felt unwell; Feng Qingyun said it might be from eating too much dried rations and suggested she eat some fruit to stimulate her appetite.

Lin Zhiping thought it reasonable and immediately went to find fruit, but when he returned, the two were gone.

He waited in place for a while, but no one came; fearing they were in danger, he frantically searched everywhere, searching for days without success, so he returned to the sect—they might be looking for him too, and if they couldn’t find him, they’d return to the sect.

But after returning to the sect, he learned Uesugi Emiko and Feng Qingyun had not come back, so he patiently waited several more days—but still no sign of them.

Now Lin Zhiping knew they must be in trouble, so he summoned two fellow disciples from his hometown to enter the Beast Mountain Forest together to search.

But as soon as they set out, they encountered Uesugi Emiko—and beside her was another man, though not Feng Qingyun.

Lin Zhiping was utterly baffled: where had Emiko and Brother Feng been these past half-months? What danger had they faced?

Why wasn’t she with Brother Feng? And who was this stranger?

“Brother Lin, isn’t Sister Emiko with Brother Feng? Who is that man?”

The speaker was Ma Fei, one of the disciples Lin Zhiping had called for help, a Martial General Stage One cultivator.

The other, Jiang Feng, also a Martial General Stage One cultivator, added: “That man’s robe looks familiar... Ah, yes—it’s the outer disciple robe of the Profound Heaven Sect. Is he a Profound Heaven Sect disciple?”

He frowned strangely: “Look, Sister Emiko’s clothes... why are they also Profound Heaven Sect robes? Could Sister have betrayed our sect and switched to the Profound Heaven Sect?”

Lin Zhiping now noticed too; he said nothing, his brow furrowing again as he quickened his pace—he’d ask and find out.

Soon, the three arrived before Uesugi Emiko and Cang Luo.

Lin Zhiping glanced at Cang Luo and the Fire-Eating Wolf Erha, then embraced Uesugi Emiko tightly, voice trembling: “Emiko, where have you been all this time? Do you know how hard I searched for you? Do you know how much I missed you?”

Uesugi Emiko tried to pull away but couldn’t; she stole a guilty glance at Cang Luo, then smiled brightly: “Brother, I missed you too...”

The two embraced as if no one else existed; Ma Fei and Jiang Feng stared in envy, while Cang Luo turned his head away early, heart aching painfully and feeling deeply awkward.

Damn it, what am I even here for?

The third wheel?

The neighbor Wang?

Cang Luo shook his head, unwilling to stay and watch their affection, and turned to leave.

As he moved to go, Lin Zhiping swiftly called out: “Brother of the Profound Heaven Sect, please wait!”

Cang Luo frowned; though annoyed at being halted, he stayed—he feared causing misunderstanding.

After stopping Cang Luo, Lin Zhiping released Uesugi Emiko and frowned: “Emiko, where is Brother Feng? And who is this Profound Heaven Sect brother?”

“Also, why are you wearing Profound Heaven Sect robes?”

Uesugi Emiko remained calm—she had already prepared her story: “Brother, after you left, two Triceratops Rhinos suddenly charged out. Brother Feng and I couldn’t hold them, so we split up to flee.

I don’t know what happened to Brother Feng, but I nearly died by the Triceratops Rhinos—luckily, Brother Cang passed by and saved me. Brother Cang is a genius disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect.”

She pointed at Cang Luo, whose expression had turned odd, and continued: “My original clothes were torn by the Triceratops Rhinos; these are borrowed from Brother Cang.

Afterwards, Brother Cang took me to find you, but you weren’t there—I’m certain you were searching for me too.

So I didn’t rush back to the sect; I healed while still looking for you...”

As Uesugi Emiko spoke, Lin Zhiping gradually relaxed—but his heart pounded with shock.

Emiko had encountered a Tier Three apex beast—the Triceratops Rhino!

Damn it! Where was I then? Why wasn’t I beside Emiko to protect her?

Lin Zhiping seethed inwardly, blaming himself for failing to protect Uesugi Emiko.

After a moment of self-reproach, he remembered the man who had saved her and quickly bowed: “Thank you, Brother Cang, for saving her. I have no way to repay you—should you ever need anything in the future, I swear to serve you with my life!”

Then he realized he hadn’t introduced himself: “I am younger brother Lin Zhiping, outer disciple of the Five Elements Hall, Martial General Stage Two, from Tongzhou Lingshan County.”

Behind him, Ma Fei and Jiang Feng quickly introduced themselves too—they were fellow townsfolk of Lin Zhiping, all from Tongzhou Lingshan County.

Cang Luo’s brow relaxed; he returned the bow: “I am younger brother Cang Luo, outer disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect, Martial General Stage Three, from Tongzhou Earth Village.”

He glanced at Uesugi Emiko, waved his hand: “It was nothing—how could I ask for repayment? A trivial matter, no need to mention it. Since you’ve reunited, I’ll take my leave.”

With that, Cang Luo mounted Erha and rode off without pause, giving them no chance to speak.

Behind him, Lin Zhiping, seeing him leave quickly, said nothing more—he had many questions for Uesugi Emiko, but bowed once more toward Cang Luo.

Uesugi Emiko watched Cang Luo’s retreating back, her eyes suddenly brightening—Tongzhou Earth Village? Could Brother Cang’s hometown, that secret realm, be called Earth?

Beside her, Jiang Feng muttered: “Brother Cang is only Martial General Stage Three—how did he drive off the Triceratops Rhino and save Sister Emiko?”

Lin Zhiping froze, turning to Uesugi Emiko in confusion: “Yes, Emiko—how exactly did Brother Cang save you?”

Uesugi Emiko’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, then she wore an exhausted expression: “Brother, I’m tired... let’s talk when we return.”

Lin Zhiping nodded, taking Uesugi Emiko’s hand and retracing their steps toward the Five Elements Hall.

Behind them, Jiang Feng frowned, glancing from Cang Luo’s back to Uesugi Emiko—he sensed something off between them...

Cang Luo, watching them leave via satellite, finally exhaled in relief, sweat soaking his back—he feared Emiko might slip up; he’d already prepared for battle.

“Why do I feel like the villain?”

He chuckled bitterly, shook his head, and ordered Erha to speed up.

Cang Luo did not return to the Beast Mountain Forest—his goal had been achieved: he had tamed his second beast companion, the Tier Two beast, the Earth Badger.

Not only that—his cultivation had broken from Warrior Stage Nine to Martial General Stage Three, and he had acquired a Grade Three longsword—real power gained.

As for loot, he now possessed over seventy Tier Two beast cores and a hide of the Shadow Tiger—truly a bountiful harvest.

Additionally, he had uncovered a new... ability.

Hunger Absorption!

Thinking of Hunger Absorption, Cang Luo fell silent—this ability couldn’t be used freely, and it had stripped him of his personal happiness.

Damn it!

Cang Luo felt disgusted.

“Sigh!”

Cang Luo sighed heavily, commanding Erha to head southwest.

Southwest was the location of Danyang County.

Cang Luo had no rush to return to the Profound Heaven Sect—he planned to visit Danyang County first.