On the way, he found out that the kids were twins of different gender, the boy was named Feng Zu'er, and the girl was named Feng Xian'er. Apparently the group that was threatening them was called the "Black Demon Mercenary Group", and they wanted a "Treasure" from them.
Soon, a small village appeared before their eyes. Some middle-aged ȧduŀts dressed in rough clothing stood in the front of the village, wearing expressions of frustration and helplessness, with a married woman weeping and covering her face.
Still, there were still two questions in Jean's mind, what was the "Treasure", and what is that flame-shaped imprint on their foreheads.
Feng Zu'er and Feng Xian'er threw themselves in the direction of the weeping woman with her husband.
Feng Zu'er/Xian'er: Father… Mother!
The woman suddenly lifted her head when she heard the voices of her children; she almost believed that she was dreaming as she stared in a daze and watched her children dash over. It was only until they had landed in her bosom, that she tightly embraced them.
Husband: Zu'er, Xian'er, how did you….
The middle-aged man on the side was visibly shocked and then was at a loss of what to say in his delight.
He turned back and pointed at Jean.
Feng Zu'er: It's that big brother who fought off those bad people and saved us. Big brother is really strong. He only needed only some seconds to defeat all three of the bad people.
Feng Xian'er: Mn. Mn. Also, big brother promised us that he'll help us fight off those bad people.
All eyes turned to Jean. The middle-aged man took a step forward, bowed deeply towards Jean, and sincerely stated.
?: Sir, thank you for saving my two children. I truly do not know how I ought to repay you… My name is Feng Baichuan and I am the current clan leader. This is my wife Feng Caiyun.
Jean: I was a bit angry with them so it wasn't a problem for me to fight them.
Surprisingly, when Jean tried to analyze everyone's Profound strength, his eyebrows slightly rose when he saw that everyone was at the 10th Elementary Profound Realm.
Feng Caiyun: Thank you, truly, we are too grateful.
A bearded old man at the side heaved a sigh of relief and said.
?: It is simply too wonderful that Zu'er and Xian'er managed to come back safely. However, those vicious thieves…
Feng Zu'er: Big brother is very strong, he can definitely drive all the vicious thieves away.
Jean: Hoho, you can bet I will. *Click*
He turned on the safety of his Assault Kebab since he was in a civilized place, the nearby people were surprised from the sound of his Assault Rifle while Jean spoke.
Jean: Clan Leader Feng, I would like a place to rest for now, it's been 2 days since I traveled from the New Moon City and I want to discharge some stress.
Feng Baichuan: Of course, please follow me.
Jasmine: How come this place has the Phoenix's Essence?
Jasmine's voice surprised Jean.
Jean: The primordial divine beast?
Jasmine: Correct. Even though it's very faint, it is definitely without a doubt, the Phoenix's essence. How strange… Could it be that the phoenix had actually descended to this inferior plane before?
Jean: 'Inferior plane… It seems as if there's a longer peak I need to reach, heh. It will make this choice worthy of being followed after all.'
Jasmine: And the flame imprint on their foreheads, is also the mark that the phoenix bloodline bears! But this mark's color and the color that I know, are completely different.
Additionally, the mark of the phoenix bloodline is normally hidden; only when using the phoenix's power of fire would the mark fȯrċɨbŀƴ appear, but the people here all bear the mark of the phoenix and it's as if they can't hide it. In short, this is too weird!
Jean was brought to a clean hut from Feng Baichuan, who spoke.
Feng Baichuan: Please rest easy here. We are just a small clan hidden. Everything we have cannot compare with the outside world, so we can only inconvenience you.
Jean: The Clan Leader Feng doesn't need to worry, just having a safe place is enough for me. But… Are you guys perhaps the Phoenix Ruins' guardian clan?
Feng Baichuan froze, his pupils distinctly contracted slightly and his expression rapidly fluctuated as he thought about how to deny or avoid the question. But after a few breaths of time, his expression calmed down and answered.
Feng Baichuan: The guardian clan? We aren't worthy of that title. We are simply keeping away from the world while carrying this sin and curse.
We are just a humble clan who have to atone for their sins, generation after generation. Although I don't know where you learned that we have a relationship with the Phoenix, but it looks like… You came here in order to obtain the so-called 'treasure' that we're guarding, right?
Jean: No, I just came here for training, it was just fate that we met. I recognized your relationships with the Phoenix thanks to your marks on your foreheads, the only difference I know from the one I recognize is the color.
Feng Baichuan mockingly laughed at himself and said.
Feng Baichuan: The Phoenix imprint… Different color… Yes, different color. The originally respected imprint that symbolized its power and bloodline has turned into a cursed mark of sorrow; our ancestors made a horrible mistake, but what kind of sin have we, the younger generation commit!?
Jean: 'Ouch, I think I touched a sore spot…'
Feng Baichuan: I believe that you are not a bad person because I can't sense any maliciousness from your body and you have also saved my two children. However I should repay you, is something I ought to do. Only…
Our clan is currently facing a disaster; if you are to continue to stay here, the disaster could involve you so you should rest here. It would be best if you could finish fast and leave before those treacherous people come back here again. Because the next time those villains come, perhaps… It'll be the disaster of disasters.
Feng Baichuan: *Sigh* Originally this was a place that was feared from everyone due to the number of powerful beasts that were here, however, we were protected from the Phoenix's essence, which now resides in the Ruins. But I don't know how those Mercenaries came here…
Jean: The next time we cross, those Mercenaries won't exist anymore.
Feng Baichuan laughed a bit and said.
Feng Baichuan: Okay then, you stay here and have a good rest. If you need anything, just give me a call… I hope those vicious men would come a bit later.
Feng Baichuan opened the door and walked out with a worried expression, leaving Jean alone.
…
…
Jasmine: Interested in the thing they're guarding?
Jean: Oh hell yes! Since the essence of the phoenix is here, there is a great possibility that the Phoenix left behind something! even a single drop of blood of his is something priceless! And it may even help me on my journey to being the strongest!
Jean: Woman, I could literally scare the shit out of the Evil God himself is he was here right now, you don't have any right to call me "Mere Mortal".
Jasmine: ...You are right…
[21:43]
[7/4/1995]
[F: "Fear"]
After checking his watch, he sighed and placed it on the nearby table before sleeping on his bed, the longer he would sleep, the faster "Gluttony" would not have effects on him… That was an annoying Schrift even if it was overpowered as hell…
[Tomorrow afternoon]
?: ... If you're smart, then quickly undo the seal at the back mountain! You are the guardian family here, you would surely have a way to undo it! Don't make us force you to do it!
*GRUMBLE!*
Jean slowly opened an eye, which looked empty, however if one would look better, he would see illusions of pained souls circling around the pupils shrieking in terror as Jean's teeth were getting sharper at nȧkėd eye.
Jean: I'll fuċkɨnġ EAT them…
Jean stood up and grabbed his Assault Kebabs before opening the door and walking towards the entrance with a pissed off expression.
Around 80 between the 1st and 5th Nascent Profound Realm
Around 30 above the 5th Nascent Profound Realm
4 at the True Profound Realm
Unfortunately, his hunger will not go away until midnight, so he picked up some random stones and trash from his Sky Poison Pearl before eating it, attracting some people's attention on his "Diet".
The moment he saw the mercenaries, he pointed the Assault Kebab at them and shot through the openings between the barrier of the Clan members, surprising both the parties.
Mercenary 1: They killed Blacky!
Mercenary 2: You bastards!
Jean: You fuċkɨnġ Cotton-Pickers, now I'll show you to not wake up your daddy! [AN: Please accept my apologize for racism, I am a great fan of dark humor, and I will use such terms in future]
Jasmine: ...Cotton-Pickers?
Jean didn't say anything to her, clearly pissed off from being woken up.