At the feet of these two mysterious figures, his companions had already collapsed all over the ground, losing consciousness without so much as a sound.
“You… Do you know who I am!” The tailing man tried to threaten them, his words fierce but his heart full of dread.
But deep down, he already knew things were hopeless.
These two mysterious people had clearly come prepared. No matter what name he threw out, he doubted they’d back off.
“Of course we know. Didn’t you just mention the Gang Wolf Legion?”
“If you know that, then how dare you…”
“Do you know who I am?” Before he could finish his threat, one of the mysterious people cut him off.
The tailing man was stunned. Was the other about to reveal some even more earth-shattering background?
Which side could it be? The Hei Long Gang, whose recent reputation was on the rise, or the veteran Ci She Hui?
For a moment, he was at a loss, instinctively shaking his head. “Who are you?”
Unexpectedly, the attacker smacked his palm. “Exactly! You don’t even know who I am, so what’s the use of your threat? Who are you threatening, the air?”
To seek revenge, you first need a target. This tailing man didn’t even know who to go after, so how could his threat have any effect?
“Alright, I’ve granted you your last wish. Now, go tell your great-grandmother about what comes next!”
The mysterious person mocking him raised her hand.
Before the tailing man could react, the other mysterious person struck him hard on the head with a wooden club, sending him into immediate physical slumber.
After dealing with this group of villains, one of the mysterious figures—none other than the always-upright Miss Hua Jian—turned to look at the buyer, who was now trembling and at a loss due to the abrupt turn of events.
“Um, thank you, fairies, for saving me…” The buyer swallowed, testing the waters as he spoke.
“No need for thanks. Hand over the goods.” Hua Jian waved dismissively, then reached her hand out to the buyer.
The buyer’s face stiffened. So, out of the wolf’s den and into the tiger’s lair—what terrible luck.
But these two mysterious people were clearly more dangerous than the Gang Wolf Legion. If he didn’t cooperate, would they just kill him on the spot?
Judging by how swiftly they acted, they could kill him in the city without causing a stir—no one would even know he was dead.
Resigned, he obediently took out the Jin Nang and handed it over.
This was the only thing on him worth fighting over.
Hua Jian took the Jin Nang, opened it, and glanced at the contents. Nothing fancy—just a very clear location.
She copied down the location, tossed the Jin Nang back to the buyer, and said, “Stay indoors for a while. If this group can’t find us, they’ll probably come after you.”
The buyer hadn’t expected Hua Jian to return the Jin Nang. For a moment, he wondered if he’d misjudged her.
Maybe this mysterious person was actually a good person?
Hua Jian couldn’t be bothered with how the buyer’s opinion of her changed. Having done what she needed, she left with Linglong.
See? Another good deed done and intel obtained.
In a deserted spot, they changed back into their usual attire. Hua Jian shot Linglong a smug look, practically begging for praise.
Linglong picked up on Hua Jian’s intent and didn’t mind offering a bit of encouragement.
She reached out and gently ruffled Hua Jian’s hair twice, praising as she did so, “Hua Jian, you’re amazing.”
Irritated, Hua Jian swatted Linglong’s hand away, wishing she could leap up and give Linglong a smack.
Are you praising me or a dog here? And stop touching my head! I won’t grow tall if you keep doing that!
“Don’t touch my head. Do it again and I’ll bite you, believe it or not!”
Linglong tilted her head, wondering why Hua Jian seemed increasingly sensitive about being patted on the head lately.
Very strange.
Was this a rebellious phase?
Seeing Linglong’s puzzled expression, Hua Jian felt a little silly herself.
So dull! Linglong’s the one who acts more like a dog!
“What do you think of this place?” Hua Jian tossed the copied address to Linglong, shifting the topic back on track.
Linglong took the jade slip with the address and used her spiritual sense to extract the information.
The address in the Jin Nang was straightforward, but for two people not familiar with the Northern Mountains, finding the place would still be tricky.
The clue referred to a small area on a map. They’d need a complete map of the Northern Mountains to locate it.
And such a thing wasn’t available in ordinary shops.
“You mean maps can’t be bought?” Hua Jian was surprised. She’d assumed a detailed map of the Northern Mountains could be bought anywhere.
“There are general maps, yes. But to find this specific area, ordinary maps won’t cut it. Only the powers that make a living in the Northern Mountains have maps detailed enough.”
In a way, detailed maps were like secret techniques—foundations of these cultivator factions.
With these maps, they could attract more cultivators to join them.
“Basic maps of the Northern Mountains are everywhere, but they only show the most fundamental terrain, made by elders a long time ago.”
“The map doesn’t include spirit beast territories or danger zones. The core area of the Northern Mountains was also left out, due to opposition from powerful spirit beasts at the time.”
Linglong continued, explaining that the maps you could easily buy nowadays just showed a rough outline of the mountains.
Anything more, you simply couldn’t get.
Hua Jian understood. The maps she could get her hands on were old and crude, with even blank zones in the middle.
So what’s there to say? They needed to figure out a way to get a usable map.
“Does Hudaosi have a complete map?” Hua Jian’s first thought was of the Protectorate Supervisor.
Linglong nodded. Of course Hudaosi had maps—they often had to chase criminals into deep forests, so they needed to venture deep into the mountains.
But those maps contained too many secrets. Ordinary Hudaosi cultivators only got a glimpse when on missions.
Neither of them was a Hudaosi member, so it’d be very difficult to get special treatment.
And besides, it would be cheating a little. Linglong thought she shouldn’t use her Saintess status unless absolutely necessary.
“Hudaosi is out. What about Wanhuagu? Would they have a map?”
Hua Jian was direct. If she couldn’t use the righteous path’s resources, why not lean on her current connections in the demonic path?
After all, a person can’t hold it in forever—there’s always a way.
She’d just done Fanghuagu a favor. It was only fair to ask them for help now.
“That’s not a good idea…” Linglong instinctively refused.
Why did asking Fanghuagu for intel feel riskier than asking Hudaosi?
One was using her status to pull strings; the other was colluding with the demonic path!
No matter how you looked at it, the latter seemed more outrageous.
“Then you go back first. I’ll ask Huan Rui by myself—I’m a rogue cultivator, so I’m not afraid.”
Hua Jian understood Linglong’s hesitation, but didn’t see it as a problem.
Linglong’s identity was awkward, but she, Hua Jian, didn’t feel awkward at all.
She was still a rogue cultivator. Being on good terms with Wanhuagu was nothing serious, and no one would call her a traitor to the righteous path.
She hadn’t even joined the Saint Sect. She was fearless!
As for Linglong, she could just turn a blind eye to this. If anyone asked, the two had parted ways.
Where Hua Jian got her intel was her own business—not from anything shady.
Linglong bit her lip and hesitated for a moment, but in the end, didn’t leave Hua Jian’s side.
“I’ll go with you.”
She couldn’t always let Hua Jian do everything for her—she wanted to be the senior sister someday and had to take responsibility.
Hua Jian couldn’t figure out why Linglong had suddenly become so serious, even walking with the aura of “though a thousand people oppose me, I’ll go on,” as if the northern church was a dragon’s lair.
Not long ago, the two had just left here. When they returned, Huan Rui was standing at the gate, waving goodbye to a strangely-expressing Chai Xianyun.
From Huan Rui’s expression, the cooperation must have succeeded.
“Didn’t expect you to know… them.” Chai Xianyun gave Hua Jian and Linglong a very subtle look.
Before, she hadn’t known the whole story, but now, from Huan Rui’s hints, she’d guessed Hua Jian’s identity.
And knowing that, things only seemed more absurd.
How did these two, whose positions were so opposite, end up together? Wouldn’t they start fighting halfway through?
“It’s always good to have more friends, isn’t it?” Hua Jian knew what Chai Xianyun was hinting at and could only bluff her way through.
You can call me someone from Wanhuagu, but I won’t admit it. I’m just a rootless rogue cultivator.
As for Huan Rui, she’s just a friend.
“As a rogue cultivator, you have to make more friends to get by. Otherwise, when enemies show up, you’re on your own.”
Chai Xianyun looked at her with a face that said, “Keep talking, if I believe you, you win.”
Huan Rui nearly wrote out your identity in black and white, and you’re still pretending? So fake!
“If you say so, you say so. I’ll head back now.” Chai Xianyun said goodbye to the three and left with her young maid.
After the outsider left, Huan Rui looked curiously at the nervous Linglong, wondering why Hua Jian had brought her along.
She’d only met Linglong once, back when she didn’t know Hua Jian’s identity—just another likable guest.
Now that Linglong had appeared again, her attitude changed a bit.
The three of them stood at the church entrance, exchanging awkward glances, none speaking for a while.
After some time, someone lurking inside finally couldn’t stand it.
“Why don’t you all come in and sit? Standing at the door is ruining the scenery.” Qian Feixue came over and said with a helpless smile.
Hua Jian and Huan Rui had no objection. Linglong hesitated a moment, but then nodded.
Inside, Linglong first bowed to the statue in the church. After all, it was one of the Jade Pool’s ancestors—she had to show proper respect.
This made Huan Rui curious. Why was this righteous young lady worshipping here?
Wasn’t the one worshipped here Wanhuagu’s founder?
“Hua Jian, why did she bow to our founder?” Huan Rui whispered to Hua Jian.
Hua Jian was also taken aback. What do you mean your founder? Isn’t this the Jade Pool’s immortal ancestor?
Could this ancestor be both Wanhuagu and Jade Pool’s founder? That’s a bit much…
“She said it’s her Jade Pool’s ancestor.” Hua Jian whispered back.
Huan Rui was stunned by this answer, instinctively looking at Qian Feixue.
Was Qian Feixue lying to her?
Qian Feixue, seeing Huan Rui’s gaze, knew what she was thinking.
She glanced at the confused Hua Jian and at Huan Rui, who wore suspicion on her face. The white-haired, blue-eyed girl rubbed her forehead and sighed.
“Our ancestor was really something. If you don’t believe it, just ask this little Jade Pool sister.”
Linglong finished her bow and, seeing the two’s questioning looks, stroked her chin and organized her words.
“Our ancestor really was amazing—the strongest recognized by both the righteous and demonic paths at the time.”
To sum up, this ancestor beat down the entire demonic path single-handedly, then reorganized it, becoming its uncontested leader.
Although she started as a disciple of Jade Pool, later on she focused more on demonic affairs.
In other words, she was perhaps the only person both paths had to respectfully call senior.
“Oh my goodness…” Even Hua Jian was shocked by this ancestor’s deeds. Now that’s a main character!
The top figure in both paths, destroyed the old demonic order and built the new one—how powerful must you be to pull that off?
“Not only that, she promoted Jian Sect’s expansion, reopened the path to immortality. Now, every cultivator who walks the Xianlu owes her gratitude,” Qian Feixue added.
Hua Jian fell silent. After a pause, she asked Qian Feixue, “Is it too late for me to start worshipping her now?”
She’d always thought the little proselytizing booklets were fake. Who’d have thought their contents were true!
This ancestor is seriously impressive. I should believe!
“Sincerity is what matters. If you want to join us, I’d be thrilled.” Qian Feixue grinned, loving how quick-witted Hua Jian was.
“Ahem, Hua Jian, don’t forget the main business!” Linglong coughed forcefully, bringing Hua Jian back on topic.
“Oh, right. Huan Rui, do you have a detailed map of the Northern Mountains?”
……
Normal updates resume tomorrow. The reason for today’s weird schedule is that I played Delta Force all day yesterday.