Li Chaofeng and Jiang Biehe's gazes swept over to Hu Tiefa, making him immediately aware that the atmosphere in the room had shifted. With just a moment's thought, he understood the reason.
He had been seen by Jiang Qin as the last hope.
Of course, Hu Tiefa was absolutely unwilling to save Jiang Qin. After all, this was the Married Garment Divine Skill.
If it were the old stinky bug or the dead rooster standing beside him, he could have easily been tricked.
But unfortunately, the little kitchen god and himself had only met once, and they didn't even know each other's names — there was no trust between them.
With a sigh, just as he was about to shake his head and refuse, Jiang Biehe hurriedly interrupted.
"I can write the Married Garment Divine Skill for you first, but my only condition is that you let my soul return home. As long as you can bring me back alive, I will give you a reward far greater than the Married Garment Divine Skill itself."
Hu Tiefa was curious upon hearing that there was some benefit better than the Married Garment Divine Skill. He looked at Li Chaofeng, who wore a wary expression, and chose not to remain silent.
"Oh? A benefit greater than the Married Garment Divine Skill? Old Hu here has never heard of it — do tell."
"Cough, cough."
Jiang Biehe suddenly coughed twice. He felt a loosening sensation at the knife pressing against his forehead and was too frightened to move.
Li Chaofeng, meanwhile, pondered whether to withdraw the Five Insect Knife now and let Jiang Biehe die on the spot.
Knowing a person's face but not their heart — although this reckless man had come to save him, who could tell if he harbored other intentions?
Old Hu?
He had heard of a hero surnamed Hu in the Gu Long world, and this reckless man's temperament somewhat matched.
But was he really Hu Tiefa?
As Jiang Biehe's coughing subsided, he smiled triumphantly at Li Chaofeng and finally spoke.
"Of course, it's on the tiger's head... cough... um."
Jiang Biehe stopped abruptly, sensing the short knife on his forehead slowly vibrating and moving toward Li Chaofeng's body.
Although it was invisible to the naked eye, he could feel the knife inching in Li Chaofeng's direction.
If he hadn't pressed the knife firmly in place, he would have already been dead.
Swallowing hard, Jiang Biehe glanced down at the tiger's corpse beneath him.
A huge hollow gaped on the tiger's head — yet the spot where a short knife identical to the one on his own forehead should have been was empty.
Not two knives, but only one?
So… Li Chaofeng's short knife was remotely controlled?
That meant the reason the short knife was initially stuck in the tiger's head was to show Jiang Biehe that Li Chaofeng was unarmed.
Now, if Li Chaofeng wanted him dead, all it took was a single thought.
Seeing the faint smile at the corner of Li Chaofeng's mouth, Jiang Biehe knew he was right.
The short knife on his forehead was even more extraordinary than he imagined.
Li Chaofeng had complete control over his life and death.
What a miraculous blade.
Jiang Biehe realized his fate was truly at the mercy of Li Chaofeng's thoughts. Calm, he no longer hurried — instead, he simply stared at Li Chaofeng, waiting to see what he intended to do.
His original plan had been to first write a revised version of the Married Garment Divine Skill, then reveal to this reckless man how sharp Li Chaofeng's short knife really was. Maybe, in seeking to obtain the blade, the reckless man would kill Li Chaofeng and seize the treasure.
Even if he were to die, Jiang Biehe intended to take revenge.
Whether he actually died would depend on how obsessed the reckless man was with the Married Garment Divine Skill.
Jiang Biehe wasn't one to carry a genuine martial arts manual with him.
When he devised this plan, he thought Li Chaofeng had two knives — the one on the tiger's head would keep the reckless man satisfied for a while.
But now, Jiang Biehe needed to find a way to tell the reckless man that the short knife on his own head was a divine weapon.
He wanted Li Chaofeng dead!
And just as he hoped, not only was the reckless man curious about the Married Garment Divine Skill, but Li Chaofeng was as well.
Li Chaofeng smiled at the reckless man and said, "Since he wants to write the Married Garment Divine Skill first, shouldn't Hu Hero verify if it's genuine before deciding whether to fight me?"
Hu Tiefa's heart raced at these words. He longed for the skill and the chance to see even a glimpse of it would be priceless.
Yet, for a martial arts manual he might never use, he was reluctant to let this young man harbor ill will against him.
This young man never intended to learn the Married Garment Divine Skill; he only wanted to kill Jiang Qin — and avoid the infamy that would bring.
A good reputation in the martial world was worth little if it didn't bring money.
"Forget it."
Just as Hu Tiefa was about to refuse, Jiang Biehe scanned the surroundings.
"Brother Li, you brought paper and pen, right?"
Li Chaofeng smiled. Jiang Biehe was indeed clever and nodded in confirmation.
"Of course, after all, I've been wanting you to write something for me."
Jiang Biehe now felt no urge to survive. He knew that if he said the wrong thing, he would die — so he was surprisingly carefree, even cracking a self-deprecating joke.
"Oh? Write something? A confession, maybe?"
At the mention of the word 'confession,' Li Chaofeng was momentarily stunned. He never expected Jiang Biehe to admit guilt, but after a moment's thought, he squinted and asked uncertainly,
"Do you know how to write?"
Jiang Biehe smiled. The certainty of death had freed him from the fear of it.
He recalled how Li Chaofeng had always treated him — never once truly trusting him.
"Brother Li wants me to write? I could fill an entire book. But… I'm afraid this Hu hero won't wait that long."
Li Chaofeng's gaze shifted toward Hu Tiefa. In his mind, Jiang Biehe's confession was worth far more than the Married Garment Divine Skill.
No, to be precise, anything Jiang Biehe wrote was worthless by itself. The only real value lay in trading it with Yan Nantian for the genuine Married Garment Divine Skill.
Everyone in the martial world believed Yan Nantian had died in the Valley of Villains, but Li Chaofeng knew better — Yan Nantian wasn't dead, he just hadn't awakened yet.
If he wasn't dead, then possessing a "confession" proving that Jiang Qin died by his hand might be enough for Li Chaofeng to exchange it for the real Married Garment Divine Skill from Yan Nantian.
Yan Nantian never cared much about guarding his martial manuals. The Divine Sword Technique was passed to Lu Zhongyuan; the Married Garment Divine Skill to the jade boy Jiang Feng. He didn't mind if his divine manuals were shared.
This was also why Jiang Biehe hadn't been killed by Li Chaofeng yet.
But the reckless man before him disrupted Li Chaofeng's plans. Just as Li was about to persuade him, Hu Tiefa smiled and answered Jiang Qin's question.
"I can certainly wait!"
"Jiang Qin's confession alone can comfort the spirit of Hero Yan in heaven. Not just the Married Garment Divine Skill — even if every divine skill in the world were in his mind, I can wait."
Hu Tiefa's tone was resolute and unwavering, leaving the scheming Jiang Biehe momentarily dizzy.
Li Chaofeng stared at this bold, reckless man for a long moment before suddenly bursting into laughter, his voice breaking with intermittent chuckles.
"Are you sure? This guy's already barely clinging to life — he may not survive long enough to finish his confession. When that time comes, the Married Garment Divine Skill will be gone for good."
Hu Tiefa laughed heartily. "If it's gone, it's gone. I'm just curious how miraculous this Married Garment Divine Skill, famed as the Zen of martial arts, really is. But it's not like I must see it!"
"But Jiang Qin's confession? That I have to read. Not reading it won't soothe the rage inside me!"
With that, Hu Tiefa's eyes widened as he looked down at the fallen Jiang Biehe, his face full of satisfaction.
"Write quickly. I may not be able to tell if the Married Garment Divine Skill is genuine, but I can definitely tell if this confession is true or false!"