Chapter 3: So It Was You!

Gao Wu watched as five men walked into the inn. They were dressed in identical black robes and boots, with long sabers at their waists and black iron masks covering their faces.

"Buliangren!"
"It's the Buliangren from the Duke of Tang’s estate!"

As murmurs filled the room, Gao Wu finally realized who they were. Having killed a man just yesterday, he felt a bit sensitive about government officials and couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

Once all five had entered, the iron-masked man in the lead scanned the room and projected his voice, "The Duke of Tang’s estate was burglarized recently by members of the Netherworld Cult. If anyone has information regarding the cult, report it to the Buliangren. The Duke of Tang will reward you handsomely!"

With that, he tossed a notice to the innkeeper. "Post this in the shop. Do not let it be damaged!"
"Yes, yes!"

*So they aren't looking for me!* Gao Wu breathed a sigh of relief, but then something felt off. *The Netherworld Cult? How could it be the Netherworld Cult? What kind of mess is this thing I’ve inherited? Why does it cause trouble everywhere?*

Gao Wu suddenly noticed the expression on the face of the Little Dragon Maiden across from him. It was fascinating—shifting from confusion to contemplation, and finally, as if she had made a firm decision.

"What are you thinking about?" Gao Wu whispered. He hadn't expected the girl to answer, but unexpectedly, her voice echoed directly in his ears.

"This is no place to stay!"
Telepathic projection!

The two hurriedly finished their meal and set off immediately. Since all their belongings were on Gao Wu’s person, it made things much simpler.

Walking down the street, Gao Wu asked, "Little Dragon Maiden, where are we going?"
The Little Dragon Maiden looked at the young man beside her, surprised. "Isn't that something you should be considering?"
"Uh..."
Gao Wu was nearly choked by her retort; he hadn't expected the girl to be so sharp-tongued. "Then let's go to Kaifeng and see who exactly is impersonating the Netherworld Cult!"

Unfortunately, Fengqiu County was too small, and Gao Wu had no experience in the martial arts world. Their approach was too amateurish. As soon as they left the city, several groups of people began tailing them.

Gao Wu held a tattered map showing the route from Fengqiu to Kaifeng. Thanks to his former life as a professional civil engineer, where drafting and mapping were basic skills, he could barely decipher the crude document.

"Hey, Little Dragon Maiden, it’s one thing that I can't ride a horse, but how come you don't know how to ride either?"
Gao Wu had originally planned to rent a horse and have the Little Dragon Maiden carry him to Kaifeng, even daydreaming about the feeling of holding her slender waist, but that hope was quickly doused.

Rent a horse? Why rent instead of buy? Well, because he was poor. Although he had found a few banknotes on the body, he couldn't spend them all at once, could he?

"I grew up in the Ancient Tomb since I was a child. It is quite reasonable that I do not know how to ride a horse, isn't it?"

"Ugh, that means we’ll have to walk for at least two whole days!"
"Mm. I am not tired at all."
"..."
Right. The Little Dragon Maiden was at the Xiantian realm; of course, she wouldn't be tired from mere walking. Wait—Xiantian realm, lightness skills?
"Hey, aren't you skilled in lightness kung fu? Fly and carry me!"
The Little Dragon Maiden glanced at him. "I cannot carry you."

Gao Wu understood the meaning behind that look. It wasn't that she couldn't carry him; she clearly just didn't want to!

---

Not far behind Gao Wu, Zhang Zifan and his two subordinates followed at a cautious distance.
"Young Master, we just received word from home. The Master of the Filial Gate has arrived to assist!"
"Only Uncle Ten?"

Li Cunxiao, Master of the Filial Gate of the Tongwen Pavilion, was known as the greatest warrior in Bianzhou. If he were in charge, there shouldn't be any problems, yet Zhang Zifan felt a vague sense of unease.

He looked into the distance at that white-clad figure, as pure as snow. Even from hundreds of meters away, he could almost catch the faint, delicate fragrance of the girl, which left him unable to help himself.
"If I could take this woman as my wife, I would have no regrets in death!"

"Oh? I wonder which woman my nephew wishes to take as his wife? Uncle Ten will help you kidnap her!"

A shrill voice came from behind Zhang Zifan. He turned abruptly to see a mountain of flesh looming over him. It was a giant nearly three meters tall, weighing over 400 pounds, wearing black clothes that looked like mere rags draped over a mountain. Anyone faint of heart would have been scared to the point of wetting themselves just by looking at him.

Yet, this mountain of flesh had gotten so close without any of them noticing—the extent of his martial prowess was clear. This was none other than Li Cunxiao, Master of the Filial Gate of the Tongwen Pavilion!

"Uncle Ten!" Zhang Zifan gasped.
"Greetings to Master Filial!" his subordinates shouted.
"Hmm? Nephew only sees Old Ten? Do you not see Uncle Nine?"

The shrill voice sounded again. A small head emerged from the top of the mountain of flesh. The man was tiny, looking strikingly like Sun Wukong, perhaps due to dwarfism, standing only about 1.4 meters tall.

"Greetings, Uncle Nine!"
"Greetings to Master Loyal!"

This was Li Cunzhong, Master of the Loyal Gate!

"Haha, nephew, the Eldest Brother specially ordered us to come and give you a hand!"
"I dare not accept such honor. I ask for your guidance, Uncles Nine and Ten!" Zhang Zifan bowed modestly.
"Hey, we are family, why be so formal?" Li Cunzhong changed the subject. "Is there any news of the Dragon Abyss Map?"
"Replying to Uncle Ten, rumors in the martial arts world say the Netherworld Cult caused a scene at the Duke of Tang’s estate, and later, the traitor Wang Changfeng ran off with the Dragon Abyss Map."
"Where is Wang Changfeng?"
"He was killed last night at the Yuelai Inn in Fengqiu County! I checked his body; the Dragon Abyss Map was not on him."

Zhang Zifan hesitated before continuing, "At the time, Wang Changfeng was killed too quickly. I didn't have time to stop it—and, of course, I lacked the strength to intervene. I suspect that before he died, he might have said something to his killer."
"Who killed him?"
"Uncle Ten, the person who wounded Wang Changfeng was a woman in white, but the one who killed him was a waiter at the Yuelai Inn. Neither of them has ever been heard of in the martial arts world before."

"A waiter? Interesting!" Li Cunzhong let out a cackling laugh that made the two kneeling subordinates tremble.
"Old Ten, let’s go. Let us meet this waiter!"
"Uncle Ten, be careful. That woman in white is quite strange; she should not be underestimated!" Zhang Zifan warned, concerned for his family despite his infatuation.

Li Cunzhong waved him off, sitting on Li Cunxiao’s shoulder as they pursued the pair ahead.
"Young Master, what should we do?"
"Fool, obviously we follow and see!" Zhang Zifan flicked his folding fan, returning to his composed demeanor.

---

The Little Dragon Maiden followed Gao Wu at a leisurely pace, mostly silent. Gao Wu was used to it; she was intelligent but sparing with her words.

Suddenly, the Little Dragon Maiden paused and stared behind them. Gao Wu turned to look as well. In the distance, a black dot was slowly enlarging. When the figure finally came into full view, he couldn't help but blurt out, "Holy shit!"

The Little Dragon Maiden, hearing these words, looked even more shocked than when she had seen the giant. She stopped looking at the "mountain of flesh" and stared directly at Gao Wu.

"Where are you from?"

At that moment, Gao Wu was completely stunned. *What is going on? What is happening here?*
The Little Dragon Maiden? Liu Yifei?
There was no Little Dragon Maiden; this was clearly Liu Yifei herself!