Chapter 51: The Two-Year Promise


    "Watch your tone when speaking to my woman. I’ll let your earlier offense slide, but if it happens again, I won’t hesitate to cut off your hand," Shangque said coldly, his face darkening as he saw Phil’s hand being slapped away by Li Chengfeng.


    "Second Brother, don’t be rash. You’re no match for them," Han Ming gasped, trying to calm Li Chengfeng. He knew that while Li Chengfeng was usually carefree, once he got serious, he would throw caution to the wind, even at the cost of his life.


    Han Ming feared that Li Chengfeng, in his current state of rage, would suffer greatly.


    But Li Chengfeng was beyond listening to reason. He gently set Han Ming down and charged toward Huangying and Zhanhu, his combat aura flaring.


    "Another fool rushing to his death. How naive," Huangying sneered, spitting in disdain as he saw Li Chengfeng charging recklessly. With a wave of his hands, seven or eight wind blades shot toward Li Chengfeng.


    Although Li Chengfeng was a sixth-tier peak Great Warrior, one tier above Huangying, a fifth-tier Great Mage, warriors generally advanced faster than mages. However, mages had devastating offensive power, and in this situation, Li Chengfeng was at a severe disadvantage.


    But unlike Han Ming, Li Chengfeng had combat aura.


    He didn’t need to rely on his physical body to withstand attacks.


    Li Chengfeng’s combat aura surged as he swung his hands, transforming the aura into sharp wind blades that clashed violently with Huangying’s magic wind blades.


    A clash of wind versus wind!


    Li Chengfeng’s aura-infused wind blades collided with Huangying’s magic wind blades, canceling each other out.


    However, the impact sent Li Chengfeng stumbling backward. Before he could regain his footing, Huangying summoned his wind elemental beast soul.


    Three slender, translucent wind snakes darted toward Li Chengfeng.


    Li Chengfeng tried to block with his aura-infused wind blades, but the snakes twisted and dodged his strikes, slashing across his chest with vicious precision.


    How powerful were beast souls?


    Even as Li Chengfeng gathered all his combat aura to defend, the three wind snakes shattered his defenses and tore into his flesh.


    Three deep, bone-exposing gashes appeared on Li Chengfeng’s chest, blood gushing out.


    "Second Brother!" Han Ming cried out, struggling to crawl toward Li Chengfeng despite his own injuries.


    Han Ming had barely survived Huangying’s massive wind blade earlier, his internal organs nearly crushed by the impact. After some rest and healing, he had regained enough strength to move, but his magic was nearly depleted.


    He dragged himself to Li Chengfeng’s side, using the last of his magic to cast healing spells. The drained water elemental crystal in his hand was discarded, replaced by a new one.


    Even so, it drained almost all his remaining magic. Absorbing energy from magic crystals was a slow process, far slower than casting spells. Otherwise, mages would have infinite magic as long as they had crystals.


    Moreover, Han Ming’s unique constitution caused most of the absorbed magic energy to dissipate, leaving only a fraction behind.


    "Third Brother, don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Heal yourself first. I’ll be okay," Li Chengfeng coughed up blood, urging Han Ming to stop.


    Han Ming’s face was cold and expressionless as he gasped, "Second Brother, don’t speak. Today, we live or die together. Even if we die here, we won’t let them laugh at us. I won’t abandon my brother."


    Li Chengfeng’s eyes reddened, and he choked back tears, unable to speak.


    "Enough! Stop this! Today’s mess is my fault. Let it end here. No more fighting!" Phil shouted angrily at both Han Ming and Huangying.


    Huangying shrugged indifferently, as if the whole ordeal had nothing to do with him. He acted like a mere bystander.


    "Cough, cough… I don’t need your pity. I, Han Ming, take full responsibility for my actions. This is between me and Huangying. It has nothing to do with you," Han Ming said coldly, not even glancing at Phil, his eyes fixed on Huangying.


    Phil, angered by Han Ming’s defiance, snapped, "Are you insane? You’re severely injured! This is reckless! You’re overestimating yourself! Isn’t your life more important than this? You’re no match for them. Listen to me, go back and heal. Train hard. Even as a water mage, you shouldn’t give up. Maybe one day, you’ll achieve something."


    Han Ming chuckled coldly, saying nothing. He had seen the disappointment on Phil’s face earlier. He knew she thought he had backed down, that he was cowardly.


    First, you think I’m a coward, and now you think I’m reckless. You’ve said it all.


    Women, women.


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    But Han Ming didn’t bother explaining. From the start, he had never considered Phil his lover. It was all her one-sided affection.


    He had been dragged into this mess for no reason, and now his second brother was severely injured. And this woman had the audacity to lecture him.


    How laughable.


    Phil, seeing Han Ming’s cold smile, was deeply disappointed. She thought Han Ming was being stubborn and foolish, but she genuinely didn’t want to see him die here. "You’re really this stubborn? Give up, listen to me. You’re not on their level. Huangying’s talent and strength are beyond your reach, no matter how hard you try. Don’t blame me for being harsh, but this is the truth. You’re just a first-tier water mage. I know you’re unwilling, but this is reality. Don’t let anger blind you!"


    Shangque tugged at Phil’s sleeve, signaling her to stop wasting her breath on this ungrateful kid. In his eyes, Han Ming was just a small fry, unworthy of their attention. If not for today’s events, they would never have crossed paths with someone like Han Ming.


    To Shangque, Han Ming was just a minor character being toyed with by the elite. It was already merciful that they weren’t actively seeking to ruin him.


    Phil, too, shared this sentiment.


    She shook off Shangque’s hand and continued, "Give up, Han Ming. There’s no point. What can you even do? I’m saying this for your own good. I know you look down on us, but we are at the top. You’re a water mage, and your friend is just a warrior. What can you do now? Throw your life away? Go back, and I’ll convince them not to trouble you. If you’re really afraid, you can drop out, run far away. I’m sure they won’t bother with someone like you."


    Phil’s words, though seemingly caring, only made Han Ming more resolute.


    Li Chengfeng was fuming, but Han Ming stopped him.


    "Don’t waste your breath on people like this. It’s pointless," Han Ming said.


    "Well, well, so you’ve got some backbone. Fine, today I’ll make sure you stay stubborn to the end," Huangying said, approaching Han Ming and Li Chengfeng, his wind magic swirling around him.


    "Stop! I’m speaking. When did I give you permission to interrupt?" Phil barked at Huangying.


    "You!" Huangying’s face turned red with anger.


    "Today, I’m going to deal with these two, no matter what!" Huangying’s stubbornness flared as he sent a massive wind blade toward Han Ming and Li Chengfeng.


    Roar!


    With a furious shout, Phil punched forward, her fiery combat aura transforming into a blazing tiger that shattered Huangying’s wind blade.


    Huangying’s face darkened. He was wary of Phil. Though she was a warrior, she was a fifth-tier War Madness, and he wasn’t confident he could defeat her. Still, he wasn’t too concerned. As a fifth-tier wind mage, he was arrogant. In his eyes, Phil was just a woman. If not for Shangque, he wouldn’t have hesitated to take her on.


    Huangying glanced at Shangque, who shook his head slightly.


    "Fine, I’ll back off. You can continue lecturing your little friend," Huangying said, his cold demeanor melting back into his usual carefree attitude as he crossed his arms, watching with amusement.


    "Haha, Third Brother, who would’ve thought we’d need a woman to protect us? I can’t accept this," Li Chengfeng spat out a mouthful of blood, furious at the situation.


    "Han Ming, right? If I’m not mistaken, you’ve only been at the academy for a year. If you’re really unwilling to give up, train hard. In two years, there’ll be a magic academy competition. If you’re lucky enough to make it to the finals and last ten moves against me, I’ll let… let Phil kiss you. How about that?" Shangque finally spoke.


    Phil glared at Shangque. "What are you saying!? Don’t treat me like a prize! I haven’t accepted your advances. And ten moves? You’re a first-tier Archmage. Even if he trains like crazy for two years, how much can he achieve? He’s just a water mage!"


    Shangque smiled. "Fine, five moves then. That’s the lowest I’ll go."


    "You’re teasing me, aren’t you? How annoying!" Phil couldn’t help but laugh, momentarily forgetting that Han Ming and Li Chengfeng were severely injured.


    "Haha, you two, no need to flaunt your affection in front of me. A kiss? I’m not interested. But I accept your challenge. Not to last five moves, but to defeat you. And when I do, I don’t need her to kiss me. I’d rather not dirty my face. Just have you and your lackeys kneel and apologize to us. How about that?" Han Ming laughed. He found the whole situation absurd.


    "Haha, yes, kneel and apologize. Third Brother, you never fail to amaze me," Li Chengfeng laughed heartily, showing no fear despite being surrounded by four powerful opponents.


    "What did you say? You’re pushing your luck. Do you really think I won’t kill you?" Shangque, usually calm, now showed anger. He raised his right hand, gathering fiery magic that heated the air around them.


    "Stop!" Phil grabbed Shangque’s hand, stopping him from casting.


    "Han Ming, you’ve truly disappointed me. A person must know their limits, and you… sigh. I’ve said enough. Take care of yourself. Let’s go."


    Phil pulled the furious Shangque away. Though she had never accepted his advances, she admired his strength. Among their peers, few could match Shangque. Even she, a fifth-tier War Madness, was inferior to him.


    As Huangying and Zhanhu passed Han Ming and Li Chengfeng, they whistled mockingly before swaggering off.


    "Third Brother, how do you feel now?" Li Chengfeng suddenly asked.


    "Great, better than ever. And you?" Han Ming replied.


    The two exchanged a look, seeing the same unyielding determination in each other’s eyes.


    The onlookers, seeing the drama end, began to disperse. A few who had watched the entire scene approached, offering to help.


    "Just take us back to my place. Thank you," Han Ming said with a friendly smile.


    The man quickly called some friends, and together they carried Han Ming and Li Chengfeng to Han Ming’s villa.


    Han Ming had planned to leave the next day to search for the extreme cold magical beast core, but this incident forced him to delay. The two spent three days recovering in Han Ming’s villa.


    During those three days, Han Ming and Li Chengfeng discussed many things.


    Li Chengfeng mentioned that during his past adventures, he had heard of an ancient War God’s ruins in the Magical Beast Forest. It had caused quite a stir, with countless mercenaries and warriors flocking to the forest in search of the legendary site. As a child, Li Chengfeng had joined a group of mercenaries to explore, but the forest was too dangerous. Out of ten people, only nine would return.


    And they had only explored the outskirts.


    Even some reclusive experts had ventured deep into the forest but found nothing.


    Li Chengfeng was convinced the ruins existed. An old mercenary had once told him that he had been there but fled in terror, with dozens of experts dying around him. Only by hiding among the corpses had he survived.


    The ruins were said to be elusive, shifting locations over the decades, possibly moving deeper into the forest.


    After the humiliating fight three days ago, Li Chengfeng resolved to search for the War God’s ruins.


    His destination, the Magical Beast Forest, was in a completely different direction from Han Ming’s target, the Barbarian Forest.


    After much discussion, the two decided to part ways.


    This separation was fraught with danger, and neither knew if they would meet again. But both were determined to achieve their goals.


    With a promise to reunite in two years, the two brothers, still injured, went their separate ways, each embarking on a path to become stronger.


    "Third Brother, you must survive. Don’t make me come back in two years only to find you gone."


    "Haha, Second Brother, I should be saying that to you."


    The two shared a laugh and a firm handshake before boarding separate airships—Li Chengfeng heading for the Magical Beast Forest, and Han Ming for the deepest part of the Barbarian Forest, the Barbarian Ice Plains.