Above the Galaxy

In the dense forest, Tang Fei walked ahead with a rabbit in hand, while Little Fatty and Phoenix chatted along the way, seeming to get along quite harmoniously.

Phoenix indeed liked Little Fatty more because he was simple and genuine, with a friendly and approachable appearance....

Tang Fei's mind was more complicated than a hornet's nest; who knows which of his words were true and which were false? Phoenix always walked on eggshells around him, afraid of falling into a pit he might have dug.

Tang Fei—truly a master pit digger!

Tang Fei couldn't care less about what they were chatting about; he was in a great mood, strutting along with a certain pride.

There hadn't been a plan to hunt today, yet by a stroke of luck, he had caught a rabbit.

What is a woman compared to a rabbit?

The rabbit was big and fat, its rump plump; even with an extra mouth at home, it would still be enough to leave them feasting contently for three days.

Moreover, Phoenix had a very small appetite, Little Fatty could eat more in one meal than she did in an entire day...

The old man always scolded Little Fatty for being a bottomless pit, but this wasn't a pit.

This was a vat!

They passed through Henshan and were about to enter the human gathering area when they inadvertently bumped right into a group of men wearing long robes and hats.

Flame Shrine!

When the apocalypse struck and darkness descended, a group of opportunists rose, masquerading as the torchbearers seeking light to redeem mankind.

Whether they redeemed anything was irrelevant; the organization's membership kept growing, as did its power.

With humanity's elite migrating to New Star and the disappearance of law and police, leaving survival order in complete disarray, Flame Shrine took on the "punishment" and "education" duties on the Old Land.

Of course, these duties were self-appointed.

One could say that to some extent, they held the power of life and death over the ordinary drifters.

Flame Shrine had a strict hierarchy, distinguishing ranks by the color of the robes and using the Flame Emblem as their flag and marker.

Ordinary members wore Grey Robes, with a grey flame emblazoned on their chests. Ascending from there were Black Robe, White Robe, Red Robe, and Golden Robe. Each rank wore different colors, and the flames embroidered on their chests varied accordingly.

Grey Robe represented ordinary members, the Angels Envoy. Black Robe signified a third-level Divine Envoy, White Robe a second-level Divine Envoy, Red Robe a first-level Divine Envoy, and Golden Robe stood for the Flame God.

The majority of these people wore Grey Robes, the lowest rank within Flame Society. The leader of the group wore a Black Robe, the chief of these Grey Robes, and also the Flame Society's leader for this region.

It was already too late to avoid them, doing so would only invite more suspicion and unwarranted disaster.

So, Tang Fei halted his steps, waiting for the group to pass by first.

However, the man in the Black Robe stopped too, and after scrutinizing Tang Fei with a somber gaze, his eyes landed on Phoenix a step behind him, instantly lighting up with a dazzling brilliance.

It was as if there was a Sun in front of him, igniting all the light harbored in his pupils.

Seeing the change in his gaze, Tang Fei knew the situation was not good. Even he thought Phoenix's pale and tender look was exceptionally beautiful, not to mention what these vulgar men might think... Perhaps they saw her akin to a celestial being?

Moreover, Phoenix was dressed in a black, form-fitting uniform quite distinct from the local drifters, tall and leggy, glamorous and sexy, looking like a proud little swan that had landed in a drab chicken run, naturally drawing attention and turning heads.

Tang Fei had shouldered her home precisely because of this...

If she had a build like Little Fatty's, Tang Fei would have to reconsider the necessity of saving her.

It had nothing to do with his character, mainly because he feared he couldn't carry her!

Tang Fei stood still, and so did the people from the Church of Light. Tang Fei remained silent; likewise, the people from the Church of Light said nothing.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense and standoffish.

After a long while, the man in the Black Robe, growing somewhat impatient, pointed at Phoenix and asked, "Who is she?"

"Her?" Tang Fei looked around, intentionally lowering his voice and cautiously putting on a demeanor as if to confide a secret meant just for him, whispering, "She's a distinguished guest from New Star... her whole family took a spaceship here...."

Tang Fei dared not say she was anyone to him because if he did, the people from Flame Shrine would immediately move to snatch her...

Some people's names could get you a discount; others could get you a broken bone.

They would not give face to a young Hunter, nor care about your dignity. On the Old Land, the real law of the jungle prevailed; the immutable truth of survival of the fittest needed no disguise or concealing.

Coincidentally, New Star often saw high-ranking individuals descend for adventures, searching for ancient relics, secret scriptures, or spiritual redemption.

They could not ascertain the true identities of one another, which made them hesitate to act rashly.

"Really?" the man in the Black Robe carefully looked over Phoenix and then asked aloud, "What about her family?"

"That I can't say," Tang Fei said with a look of difficulty, addressing the man in the Black Robe. "Lord Divine Envoy also knows, the distinguished guests from New Star generally have their own private affairs to handle... My family elders are responsible for guiding duties. Because the journey is rather dangerous, they left this young lady behind, entrusting us to take care of her..."

The man in the Black Robe hesitated. He could pick up on the information revealed in Tang Fei's words.

First, this woman was a distinguished guest from New Star, possessing an extremely complicated identity.

Second, they came as a whole family on a spaceship, numerous and powerful, armed with advanced weaponry, not to be trifled with easily.

Third, the boy's family elders were escorting the guests on an important mission, and despite them being just a few children, the family's adults could return at any moment... It would be best not to harbor any ill intentions.

A sinister smile emerged on the lips of the man in the Black Robe as he said, "Did the distinguished guest report to our Shrine upon coming over from New Star?"

"Did we report?" Tang Fei glanced at Phoenix, uncertain as he asked.

"It should have been reported... These matters are handled by the butler; I am not very clear on it," Phoenix shook her head.

She knew she was caught up in a dangerous situation; from the moment the man in the Black Robe laid eyes on her, she was aware of the thoughts crossing his mind.

She was also aware, if handled improperly, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She understood Tang Fei's intentions and was happy to play along with the act.

After all, he was protecting her.

At this thought, Phoenix felt an unexpected warmth in her heart.

"Reported, huh?" the man in the Black Robe laughed coldly. "I am in charge of the Henshan Gathering Area. Whether any distinguished guests have arrived... others might not know, but how could I be unaware?"

"She rashly intruded into our Shrine's protected zone, what is she intending? What's her motive? This matter, our Shrine must investigate thoroughly."

"Right, take her with us... Perhaps they are those damn predators..."

"Arriving on our territory, yet failing to even greet us at our Shrine, do they have any respect for our Flame Shrine?"

"Take her away, take her away, let's settle matters inside the Shrine..."

------

The men in Grey Robes knew their leader's intentions, shouting one after another to take Phoenix away.

Some, even more eager to show off, rushed forward attempting to seize her, but Tang Fei used his body to block them.

"Lord Divine Envoy... Lord Divine Envoy..." Tang Fei looked towards the man in the Black Robe. He knew the decision rested in this man's hands. "We're not predators... We are just three kids; how could we possibly be predators?"

"Children among predators? Aren't they scarce? They are much more vicious when they strike..."

"Exactly. Even if they aren't predators... they could still be predators' spies, snooping around our human settlement for information, waiting for their people to come and rob us..."

"Take them away!" the man in the Black Robe waved his hand decisively and shouted, "Why waste words with him? If he dares to obstruct again, bring him back for God-Feast."

Tang Fei and Little Fatty showed expressions of fear.

God-Feast meant to be cut into pieces and thrown into a cage to feed the divine creatures kept by the Shrine.

A group of Grey Robes came to capture Phoenix. Phoenix's eyes chilled, ready to kill.

Tang Fei surged forward towards the Grey Robes like an enraged Xiao Lang, bellowing, "Don't you touch her... Back off, all of you back off..."

"Don't touch her... she can't go with you..." Little Fatty also charged in close behind.

Crackling and pounding!

A group of people set upon the pair with fists and feet.

Tang Fei quickly lay down on the ground, while Little Fatty withstood for quite some time before it dawned on him...

He also ended up lying down, covered with bruises.

Thus, amid Phoenix's curses, Phoenix was taken into the Henshan Forest by the people of the Flame Shrine.

(ps: Thanks to Bai Xiu for becoming our esteemed member, Lord Commander of the Hainan Garrison, and also a good brother for over a decade.)