Chapter 455 - 228: The Apex of Force and Ferocity

Chapter 455: Chapter 228: The Apex of Force and Ferocity

At this, Shen Qingyao’s interest was also piqued. "Oh, right! I’ve been wanting to ask about that too," she said enthusiastically.

Wasn’t Chen Cheng himself the very Sword Intent Senior the two sisters were talking about?

"Sword Intent Senior?" Chen Cheng feigned a look of confusion. "Senior Sisters, are you referring to the expert who killed the Earth Defect Old Monster?"

"The very same," Shen Qingshuang confirmed with a nod, her gaze fixed intently on Chen Cheng.

"I haven’t met him," Chen Cheng replied honestly.

’How could a person possibly meet themself in this world?’

Upon hearing his reply, both Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang looked disappointed.

"What a shame!" Shen Qingshuang sighed softly, murmuring, "If Junior Brother Chen ever had the chance to witness the breathtaking and incomparably sharp Sword Intent of that senior, it might open up a new path for him."

"That’s right," Shen Qingyao chimed in. "That Sword Intent Senior reduced the Organ Refining Realm expert, the Earth Defect Old Monster, to mere bones with his Sword Intent alone. How incredible must that have been! Junior Brother Chen is also skilled with a sword. If he could witness it, it would be a great boon to his future Cultivation."

...

Several days later, Chen Cheng and the two sisters, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, had successfully slain another five Tier Three Demon Beasts, more than ten Tier Two Demon Beasts, and over forty Tier One Demon Beasts.

Of course, all the Tier Three Demon Beasts had been killed by Chen Cheng.

The forests of the Great Wilderness Mountain Range near Fenglin Town were now almost completely clear of Demon Beasts.

With the demon-slaying operation proceeding so smoothly, the Shen Family Swordsmen and Protectorate Army soldiers following the trio to collect various Demon Beast Materials were all exceptionally excited.

Although they were only playing a supporting role, they knew there would be no shortage of Merit and silver coin rewards waiting for them back in the city.

Chen Cheng, without a doubt, had become the most respected person among them, and in their hearts, he was their God of Wealth!

"Follow Master Chen, and you’ll eat well, drink well, and earn heaps of Merit and rewards!"

This became a common refrain among the Shen Family Swordsmen and the soldiers of the Protectorate Army.

With the Demon Beasts almost completely wiped out, the Demon-slaying Team was reorganized. Shen Zhiheng, Luo Mingyu, and the others no longer served as Scouts.

Instead, they were now in charge of arranging personnel to collect and transport the Demon Beast Materials back to the city.

Meanwhile, Chen Cheng and the sisters, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, roamed about, hunting down the remaining Demon Beasts.

One day, Chen Cheng and the sisters, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, roamed the forest for a full circuit but didn’t encounter a single Demon Beast.

Around noon, the three returned to the valley where the Demon-slaying Team had set up their temporary camp.

"Master Chen!"

"Master Chen!"

"Master Chen!"

...

All the way from the edge of the camp to the council tent at its center, every single person bowed respectfully to Chen Cheng.

Meanwhile, the two sisters, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang, walking on his left and right, were completely ignored.

Arriving outside the council tent, Shen Qingyao gestured for him to enter and said with a playful smile, "Master Chen, after you!"

Chen Cheng couldn’t help but laugh. "Senior Sister Qingyao, you don’t have to be so formal!"

In fact, everyone had initially called him Lord Chen. It was only after Jian Luchuan and Gou Yi arrived and respectfully addressed him as Master Chen that everyone else followed suit.

Chen Cheng wasn’t one to sweat the small stuff, so he couldn’t be bothered to correct them and simply let them be.

Shen Zhiheng, Luo Mingyu, and several elite Shen Family Swordsmen were inside, discussing matters.

Seeing Chen Cheng and the two sisters enter, the Swordsmen all bowed respectfully, calling out, "Master Chen!"

Even Shen Zhiheng and Luo Mingyu smiled and cupped their fists. "Master Chen, you’ve returned!"

Looking rather helpless, Chen Cheng returned their salute with a smile. "Mhm. We just took a loop through the nearby forest. We didn’t find anything, so we came back early."

Shen Zhiheng looked relieved. "In that case, it seems the Demon Beast Tide threatening Fenglin Town is more or less resolved! I was just discussing it with Patriarch Luo. We think we should pack up and head back to Moshan City tomorrow. What are your thoughts, Master Chen?"

"Sounds good." Chen Cheng gave a slight nod, then walked over to a hanging map. He pointed to a patch of forest and said, "I’ll leave the arrangements for returning to the city to you, Lord Shen and Patriarch Luo. This afternoon, I’ll take some men and patrol the forest near Five Peaks Ridge one last time. Once I’m done, I’ll head straight to Moshan City and rendezvous with you all there."

Five Peaks Ridge was a vast expanse of forest, spanning over a hundred li, and was named for the five towering mountain peaks within it.

It was located on the edge of the Great Wilderness Mountain Range, not far from the border between Moshan County and Xinyi County.

Many of the Demon Beasts in the recent Fenglin Town Demon Beast Tide had come from the Five Peaks Ridge Forest, which was closer to Xinyi County.

Most of the Demon Beasts that fled had also escaped in the direction of the Five Peaks Ridge Forest.

Chen Cheng had previously discussed this with Shen Zhiheng and the others. They all agreed that the large number of Demon Beasts in the Fenglin Town tide was due to an influx from the direction of Xinyi County.

If there was any lingering threat from the Demon Beast incursion at Fenglin Town, it would be in the Five Peaks Ridge region.

Of course, the vast majority of the Demon Beasts from the tide had already been slain.

Even if the remaining Demon Beasts in the Five Peaks Ridge region were to regroup, they would only be a handful of stragglers, incapable of causing any real trouble.

...

As Chen Cheng set out for the Five Peaks Ridge Forest, Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang naturally accompanied him.

Another twenty-some Shen Family Swordsmen followed behind, tasked with collecting Demon Beast Materials.

After traveling for two hours that afternoon, the trio finally reached the outer forests of Five Peaks Ridge.

Along the way, Chen Cheng lit the Beast-Attracting Incense several times but detected no trace of Demon Beasts.

It wasn’t until dusk that they finally found a Tier Two Leopard Demon in a valley.

This Leopard Demon was exceptionally cunning; even when Chen Cheng lit the Beast-Attracting Incense nearby, he couldn’t lure it out.

As luck would have it, the trio had decided to spend the night near the valley. While following a nearly dry creek in search of a suitable water source, they stumbled upon the Leopard Demon by a deep pool.

Before Chen Cheng even had to make a move, Shen Qingyao dispatched the Leopard Demon with a single slash of her sword.

「Night fell.」

A bonfire blazed inside a cave in the valley.

Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang were busy roasting the Demon Beast Meat.

Meanwhile, Chen Cheng gathered dry grass and spread it on the cave floor to make beds.

With their level of Martial Arts Power, the three of them could have rested perfectly well just by sitting up all night.

’But sitting bolt upright in a cave all night can’t possibly be as comfortable as lying down, can it?’

"Junior Brother Chen, can you make a bed for me too?" said Shen Qingyao.

Not to be outdone, Shen Qingshuang added, "Me too, Junior Brother Chen."

"Sure!" Chen Cheng set to work with focus and, of course, remarkable speed.

Before the Demon Beast Meat had even finished roasting, a large bed of clean, dry grass was ready!

Chen Cheng lay down on it, feeling completely relaxed.

Seeing that he wasn’t making any more beds, Shen Qingyao’s brow furrowed. "Junior Brother Chen," she chided, "why did you only make a bed for yourself?"

Shen Qingshuang piped up as well, "Junior Brother Chen, you just promised. Are you going back on your word?"

Chen Cheng sat up, looked from Shen Qingyao to Shen Qingshuang, and said,

"There isn’t enough room in the cave for three beds, so we’ll have to make do with one. This one is big enough for all three of us."

Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang exchanged a look, but neither said another word.

...

After they finished the roasted meat, Chen Cheng plopped down in the middle of the big bed and was soon fast asleep!

Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang looked at each other, and finally, with hearts full of apprehension, they each lay down on either side of Chen Cheng.

Listening to Chen Cheng’s long, even breaths, the two sisters found themselves wide awake.

They were afraid he might suddenly try something while they were asleep!

But clearly, their worries were unfounded. Chen Cheng was sleeping as soundly and peacefully as a baby.

"Wow! Junior Brother Chen, you sure can sleep!" Shen Qingyao propped herself up on one elbow, reached out a slender finger, and gently poked Chen Cheng’s cheek.

When he didn’t react, she gently blew a puff of air beside his ear.

From the other side, Shen Qingshuang whispered, "Shen Qingyao, you should be sleeping. Why are you teasing Junior Brother Chen?"

Shen Qingyao immediately denied it. "I’m not teasing him!"

With that, she turned over and pretended to sleep, though she subconsciously scooted a little closer to Chen Cheng.

Seeing this, Shen Qingshuang also snuggled closer to Chen Cheng, her beautiful eyes fixed on his handsome, well-defined face.

A torrent of thoughts rushed through her mind.

A long time passed, and Chen Cheng remained fast asleep.

’I wouldn’t have guessed. Junior Brother Chen is actually a true gentleman. This quiet version of Junior Brother Chen, and the bold, mischievous one from that other night... which one is the real you?’

With that silent thought, Shen Qingshuang snuggled even closer to Chen Cheng, pressing up against him as she drifted off to sleep.

...

「The next morning.」

When Shen Qingyao and Shen Qingshuang awoke, Chen Cheng was already gone.

Suddenly, both of them let out a simultaneous gasp of surprise!