Chapter Twenty-Seven: But I Am Your Senior Brother Luo

The sun shone brightly that day.

Li Bofeng's injuries had finally healed. Although his expression was grave, there was a touch of unease in his eyes.

The ten-day deadline had passed, yet Zhao Zegang still hadn't returned.

"Captain, shouldn't we be heading out?" Zhang Chaoyue was a slender youth with delicate features. However, his brows lacked determination, revealing a certain indecisiveness.

At that moment, a faint greenish hue lingered on Zhang Chaoyue's face; the snake venom hadn't fully dissipated, forcing him to cut short his recuperation. Fortunately, his strength had recovered almost completely, so it would hardly affect his fighting ability.

Li Bofeng nodded, his face somber. The absence of a key team member was a cause for anxiety—any captain would want to retrieve him. Moreover, Zhao Zeming, who was about to reach the third stage of Qi Condensation, was a valuable asset; even if Zhao Zegang's fate seemed grim, the entire team ought to search for him. Even if their efforts yielded nothing, at least they could give him an answer.

"I think two members went missing this time—one is Ah Gang, the other..." Zhang Chaoyue frowned, feeling the weight of the task.

"There isn't another," Zhao Zeming interrupted coldly. "That was just a temporary member, strictly speaking, not a true member of Bofeng's team."

Yang Qing squeezed his fists inside his sleeves, lowering his head slightly.

Zhang Chaoyue glanced at Zhao Zeming, then at Li Bofeng, falling silent as he awaited the captain's decision.

"Let's go—let's find Ah Gang first," Li Bofeng said, striding to the front of the group.

They hadn't gone far when Li Yang approached them, face alight with excitement. Beside him was none other than Luo Tian.

"Brother Luo!" Yang Qing rushed forward, his voice brimming with joy. "You're alright? I thought..."

"I'm fine," Luo Tian nodded with a smile. "I did encounter some trouble, but I managed to return."

"That's wonderful! I need to go out and look for Brother Zhao first. When I get back, you must guide me in my cultivation again—don’t forget!" Yang Qing had heard about Li Yang's situation. Unlike those who attributed it to mere luck, Yang Qing, personally instructed by Luo Tian, firmly believed it was mostly thanks to Brother Luo.

"It's a promise," Luo Tian replied without hesitation, recognizing Yang Qing's genuine enthusiasm.

"Are you not coming with us to search for him?" Zhao Zeming, displeased, confronted Luo Tian. "Even as a temporary member, you should fulfill your obligations!"

Li Bofeng's expression showed internal struggle. He knew it would be best to have an extra pair of hands, but he couldn't bring himself to ask Luo Tian.

"No," Luo Tian replied curtly, turning his lips up in refusal.

Li Bofeng's thoughts from that day had not escaped Luo Tian, who didn't blame him; it was only natural, especially for a captain responsible for his team. Yet, not blaming didn't mean acceptance. Who would feel grateful after being the first one abandoned? Now they expected him to spend time searching for someone?

Wasn't this a joke?

"Are you courting death?" Zhao Zeming's face darkened instantly. His brother's fate was uncertain—perhaps already lost in the Divine Sun Forest—while Luo Tian, the temporary member, weak and disrespectful, had returned unscathed. It was intolerable. Clenching his fists, Zhao Zeming finally released them, spitting out, "I never thought you could be such an ungrateful wretch!"

He truly wanted to beat this kid up.

"Did you ever go to the valley to look for me?" Luo Tian raised an eyebrow, asking coolly.

"Hmph, why would I?" Zhao Zeming retorted, knowing it wasn’t the time for discipline.

Yang Qing grew anxious, unwilling to see Luo Tian in conflict with the team. If Brother Luo could join Bofeng's team, it would be ideal—far better than struggling to find another group himself.

"Then why should I go look for Zhao Zegang?" Luo Tian said, half laughing, half exasperated. When he was forced to flee into the valley, only Yang Qing had shown concern. After joining temporarily, danger had scattered everyone. That was only natural. But for them to expect him to be grateful to Bofeng's team, wasn’t it excessive?

"Scoundrel! You brat, do you treat the sect's rules as nothing? That is your Brother Zhao!" Zhao Zeming was flushed with anger. Luo Tian was too arrogant; the captain had abandoned him, which seemed reasonable since he was weak and a burden. But today, he called his brother by name, disregarding the Divine Sun Sect's rules.

Even Li Bofeng couldn't help but frown. Though he felt nothing special about Luo Tian, addressing someone by name instead of "Senior Brother" was simply too much—a blatant disrespect for elders.

"But I am your Brother Luo," Luo Tian said, finally fed up with the quarreling. He circulated his vital energy, a green glow rising quietly from his body. "How about calling me Brother Luo and letting me hear it?"

"Luo—" At Luo Tian's first words, Zhao Zeming was incensed, ready to rebuke him, even to teach him a lesson. But the gentle green aura emanating from Luo Tian's body, in that moment, was as dazzling as the sun, impossible to look at directly.

Zhao Zeming's mouth opened involuntarily, as if swallowing a whole egg, the rest of his words swallowed back, unable to speak.

"Brother Luo..." Yang Qing uttered the words like a dream, disbelief written all over his face.

For an ordinary outer disciple, advancing a level in half a year was already a feat—only the elite heirs of the four major families could progress faster, and even then, only to a point. In the mid stages, two or three years without improvement was common.

Take Shen Lingfeng, twenty years old, at the seventh stage of Qi Condensation—remarkably dazzling, with peers reaching that level at thirty. Shen Lingfeng was like a crane among chickens, commanding respect.

But Brother Luo, absent for just ten days, had jumped three levels?

Back when he was a menial worker, Brother Luo advanced rapidly in the early stages, though he stalled at the peak of Body Tempering for a long time. But this was the Qi Condensation realm!

Li Bofeng's eyes widened. After just a few days, Luo Tian had reached his own level?

He must have consumed some rare treasures, or how else could he have achieved this?

"Brother Luo, you're even more formidable than I imagined!" Li Yang, simple-minded, thought only of admiration. He had always been deeply grateful for Luo Tian's guidance.

"In the future, if you seek me out, it's three hundred contribution points each time," Luo Tian joked. Seeing Li Yang searching for him upon his return touched him. "Alright, I'll give you one free session, but remember to spread the word for me!"

Seeing Luo Tian chatting and laughing, Zhao Zeming was beside himself with rage, yet dared not speak again, fearing Luo Tian would make him address him as "Senior Brother"—a proper obligation according to sect rules.

"Congratulations," Li Bofeng managed, his heart in turmoil, but he didn't ask how Luo Tian had done it. Matters of fortune were never openly discussed.

Without waiting for Luo Tian's reply, he promptly led the others away.

Luo Tian watched Zhao Zeming depart, full of resentment, and smirked. Sooner or later, you'll call me Brother Luo, just as you should.