I'm Already the Richest Man, Why Did My System Just Arrive?

Chapter 236: Chapter 158: Former Imperial Tutor

Chu Chengfeng’s expression turned grim. He slowly sat down where Xie Luohe had just been sitting. He bent over, picked up a chopstick from the floor, placed it in his right hand, and closed his eyes, recalling Xie Luohe’s movements.

”At the time, two of the blades sealed off Xie Luohe’s right side, preventing her from raising her hand.”

”Xie Luohe flicked her finger and, in a flash, sent the chopstick flying into her left hand.”

Of all the people present, only Chu Chengfeng had clearly seen Xie Luohe’s move.

’Not hard.’

Chu Chengfeng smiled confidently and flicked his finger.

CLATTER.

...The chopstick fell to the floor.

Zheng Xiu stared at the chopstick on the floor, then looked at Chu Chengfeng, whose attempt at showing off had failed.

Chu Chengfeng coughed dryly twice, picked up the chopstick with his left hand, and continued without batting an eye, ”At this point, the chopstick was in the left hand.”

”Xie Luohe channeled her strength through her left hand and launched it. The chopstick first passed through him.” He pointed at a corpse on the floor, then looked at the wall. There was a shallow indent on it.

Similar indents appeared a total of five times—on the teahouse’s various walls, the corner of a table, and a chipped piece of a wine jar.

Chu Chengfeng searched around and finally turned over the fifth person’s body. The tip of the chopstick was protruding from the back of the head.

Finally, with a look of horror, Chu Chengfeng mentally replayed Xie Luohe’s instantaneous movements. He was even more struck by the terror of her technique and said gravely, ”God-like skill.”

It was only then that Zheng Xiu understood. His expression was odd as he asked, ”Are you saying that Feng... no, that Xie Luohe’s second chopstick ricocheted five times and killed five people in an instant? How is that possible?”

Chu Chengfeng replied, ”That’s why I said it was God-like skill.”

’You might as well just say she was hacking.’

’Archers have always been overpowered cheaters.’

Zheng Xiu fell into deep thought.

’Is Xie Luohe really Feng Bei?’

’If I reason by analogy...’

’Feng Bei entered the painting before me. Right now, I’m experiencing everything Gongsun Mo went through two hundred years ago, from his point of view. But no matter what happens, I still remember that I am Zheng Xiu. Even if I introduce myself as Gongsun Mo to everyone, I’m still Zheng Xiu. I know who I am.’

’If Feng Bei’s situation is similar...’

Zheng Xiu suddenly thought of a terrifying possibility.

’How does time pass inside the painting?’

’Could it be... that Feng Bei has forgotten she’s Feng Bei and now believes she’s Xie Luohe?’

’Then how are we supposed to get out of the painting?’

Zheng Xiu once again felt the profound terror of Gongsun Mo’s ”Cannibal Painting.”

His connection to the outside world was completely severed.

Aside from maintaining his sense of self, he was now virtually indistinguishable from ”Gongsun Mo.”

He hadn’t even found a way to leave the painting yet. For now, he could only go with the flow, following Gongsun Mo’s memories.

’No, I have to find Feng Bei again. First, I need to confirm whether or not she and Xie Luohe are the same person. But how can I confirm it? I’m not actually that familiar with Feng Bei. Other than the fact that we have the exact same face, I don’t know of any other way to definitively identify her, like a birthmark on her butt or something.’

Just then, after his moment of awe, Chu Chengfeng turned to see Younger Brother Gongsun muttering to himself and clapped Zheng Xiu heartily on the shoulder with a laugh.

”I say, Younger Brother, I was just joking earlier. You haven’t actually fallen for her, have you?”

Zheng Xiu shook his head. ”Brother Chu, you jest. That’s absolutely impossible.”

Chu Chengfeng breathed a sigh of relief. ”That’s good, then.”

Zheng Xiu asked, puzzled, ”Judging by your expression, Brother Chu, you seem a bit afraid of Xie Luohe?”

Chu Chengfeng said, ”Before today, I wouldn’t have said I was afraid. But after witnessing Xie Luohe in action with my own eyes... Heh, it would be a lie to say I’m not. I’d only ever heard that her Archery was peerless, earning her the fiftieth spot on the Weapon Manual on the strength of that skill alone. But after seeing her today, it’s clear her skills aren’t limited to just Archery. Her other abilities are probably far beyond imagination.”

”You two sirs...”

At that moment, the Shopkeeper and the waiter, hearing that the commotion outside had died down, cautiously peeked out. Seeing the master and the scholar with their arms slung over each other’s shoulders, the Shopkeeper asked quietly, ”Do you two require a room?”

”No need!” Chu Chengfeng laughed and waved his hand, pulling Zheng Xiu out of the teahouse. ”Let’s find another place to talk.”

As the two walked down the street, they saw that the fight between the Iron Fan Scholar and Cao Dongxue had already ended. The area was a complete mess, with many stalls smashed to pieces. Commoners were pointing in one direction, cursing.

Chu Chengfeng glanced at the traces of the fight from a distance, shook his head, and smiled. ”Just as I thought. It ended without any real conclusion.”

Chu Chengfeng explained that after so many years, Cao Dongxue had taken a new wife and no longer gave a damn about his ex. Running into his ex-wife’s former lover here in Kang City was a complete accident. Having a public fight was just for show, a way to give an account to the Martial World and prove that he, Cao Dongxue, was a man of honor who was clear about his grudges. They’d clash a bit, run off to some deserted spot, go through the motions, and then go their separate ways to avoid further awkwardness, drawing a line under the whole affair. That’s what Chu Chengfeng meant by ”ending without any real conclusion.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiu’s eyes widened. ”It can be like that?”

Chu Chengfeng said, ”What else? Younger Brother, this is the Jianghu. Isn’t it fascinating?”

Zheng Xiu shook his head. ”It’s boring.”

Chu Chengfeng nodded and sighed. ”That’s true. Your heart is set on the lofty imperial court, so naturally, you look down on the distant Jianghu.”

Zheng Xiu said, ”Brother Chu, you’re so poetic. It makes me wonder if you’ve ever taken the provincial examinations.”

”Nonsense!”

The two found a stall selling herbal tea, sat in a corner, and smilingly watched the people come and go.

Chu Chengfeng took a sip of the herbal tea and found it bland, no match for fine wine.

”Younger Brother, now you finally understand why I told you to stay put in Kang City these days and not go running around, don’t you?”

Zheng Xiu nodded. ”You’re trying to tell me that the area around Kang City is unsafe lately? That a storm is brewing, and wandering around recklessly could easily get me dragged into it?”