Over the next period of time, my days consisted almost entirely of eating, sleeping, and waking up to fight Lu Xiu.
Every time, my head would end up with several new bumps.
Later on, I felt as though my head had become much harder.
However, I gained a lot from it. At the most basic level, I learned how to use *bone covering* on my body to act as weapons or armor. I figured this out during close-quarters combat.
With this, I could rely on my own explosive power and speed to compete with Lu Xiu. The petrification effect of the *Unsharpened Sword* would be blocked by the bone, and it also greatly reduced the damage I took.
Relying on this ability, I almost managed to punch Lu Xiu flying, but unfortunately, he cheated in the end. He started using his gun directly, making it very difficult for me to get close.
Beyond that, my physical coordination also increased significantly. I could even react quickly enough to dodge invisible attacks and rapidly perceive and respond to an opponent’s abilities during a fight.
For example, when fighting Lu Xiu, he would pull out a gun, a sword, a rope, talismans, and all sorts of other props. Every time I was about to hit him, he would use a new weapon.
It was a total cheat.
“Why are you looking at me with such resentment?”
He stood next to me with a blade of grass hanging lazily from his mouth, catching my aggrieved little gaze.
“I think you’re cheating.”
“Oh.”
‘Oh?’
‘Why is “oh” all you have to say?’
He glanced at me. “I haven’t even complained about how much you eat every single day.”
“I’m growing,” I said, pinching my stomach. “How else am I supposed to beat you?”
“Hmph.” He didn’t say anything else, looking quite punchable as he stood in front of the station with his hands in his pockets.
Today was the day we were leaving Bian Du. News from the Heavenly kingdom had quieted down quite a bit. It seemed that the last provocation against the *response division* had caused them a lot of trouble.
‘Heehee, serves them right. It would be best if they were just killed off. Then I wouldn’t even mind going a day… no, half a day without delicious food.’
*Beep beep beep beep—*
In the distance, a massive *green bus* was slowly approaching.
It was covered in the heads of various creatures, hanging like wind chimes that clattered against the metal skin as the vehicle moved, making a sharp *clacking* sound.
“Do we really have to ride in such strange things?”
I truly didn’t understand.
Last time it was a strange *ghost train*, and now it was a strange bus.
“A normal means of transportation would definitely take much longer. Besides, this thing is way safer. It looks imposing just by its appearance,” Lu Xiu explained.
‘I don’t think he and I are talking about the same thing.’
When the bus pulled up in front of us, Lu Xiu stuffed two coins he had been playing with into the box and led me onto the vehicle.
There were no people inside, nor were there any monsters. There were only rows of dilapidated seats, looking not much different from an old bus.
I found a random seat and sat down. Lu Xiu sat beside me, placing our luggage above as we waited for the bus to start.
“Where exactly are we going?”
“Qingluan city,” Lu Xiu said after a moment of thought. “It’s a city with a fairly developed tourism industry.”
“Then who are we going to see?”
“An eccentric old man. He has a strange temper, and he’s as foul and stubborn as a stone in a latrine.”
‘He doesn’t sound like a *good person*…’
“But don’t worry. Although he has a bad temper, his strength is beyond question.”
“Then compared to you? Who is more powerful?”
Hearing my question, Lu Xiu fell into slight contemplation before shaking his head.
“He can’t beat me in a fight, but he’s far better than me at performing rituals.”
“What about compared to me?”
He glanced at me, sighed, shook his head, and said no more.
*Kacha kacha—*
The bus jolted once, and then the scenery outside the window began to recede. It transitioned from the city to the countryside, and from day into night.
About one day later, the bus stopped, and Lu Xiu shook me awake from my sleep.
I smacked my lips and wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth.
“Get ready, we’re at our stop.”
Following Lu Xiu off the bus, we realized the vehicle had stopped in front of a graveyard.
As the night wind blew, the leaves rustled with a chilling, eerie sound.
I crouched down and looked at the tombstone in front of me.
“*Tomb of Lu Heshan*…”
The name was somewhat mottled, eroded by the wind.
Looking back, I saw that Lu Xiu had already started walking forward. I stood up and jogged a few steps to catch up with him.
We walked out of the cemetery.
After walking for nearly thirty minutes, lights finally came into view. A small town nestled by the water revealed itself. At the entrance of the town stood a horizontal tablet with the words: *Lujia Town*.
*Sniff sniff—*
I closed my eyes and twitched my nose, smelling a strange scent.
It was like the mountain Lu Xiu had once taken me to; the temple in the mountains had this same scent of incense.
We crossed a small bridge. The gurgling water flowed beneath the bridge toward a distant bay.
On the surface of the water, the lights of countless homes and the moon in the sky were reflected, appearing both bustling and cold.
“Fresh roasted fish, delicious and fragrant…”
“I am the *Great General Governing Xuance*, the number one town in the world! All living beings, slit your throats for me immediately!”
“One plus one equals two, two plus two equals three…”
On the street, beside the small stalls, the night market was just beginning. People walked through it wearing simple clothes. At first glance, it felt as though we had traveled back in time.
White walls and gray tiles, upturned eaves and delicate corners—red paper lanterns were hung, illuminating the world.
It was so lively.
I licked my lips.
“Lu Xiu.”
“Don’t be hungry yet. You can be hungry once we reach our destination.”
“Huh?”
I didn’t quite understand what he meant.
We passed through the crowds and the stalls, finally turning a corner into a small alley. We stopped in front of a courtyard gate.
Red couplets were pasted beside the door, but the characters on them were very ugly, and I couldn’t read them.
Lu Xiu stood in front of me, reached out, and knocked on the door.
*Thump thump thump—*
The sound traveled behind the door but triggered a dog barking not far away.
After about five minutes, there was still no movement.
Lu Xiu’s mouth twitched, and he knocked again.
*Thump thump thump—*
Still, no one opened the door.
“Maybe they aren’t home?” I suggested.
“I’m leaning more toward the idea that they just can’t be bothered to deal with us.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Eh… then aren’t we going to be locked out? Lu Xiu, I’m a little hungry. How about we get something to eat and then come back?”
As I spoke, I looked at a flowerpot nearby, where a large red flower was blooming vibrantly.
“Hey, old man, if you don’t come out, I’m going to pull up your flower.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, hurried movement came from inside.
The door groaned, and the *tap-tap* of slippers approached from a distance, mixed with curses like “brat” and “skinning you alive,” finally stopping behind the door.
“See, I told you it was intentional.”
Lu Xiu revealed a fox-like smile.
“What is a brat like you doing at my place? No one comes to my door unless there’s trouble afoot.”
Behind the door, a slightly aged voice pierced through the crack.
He still didn’t open the door for us.
“Naturally, I have business to discuss.”
“Did you get into trouble again?”
“…What kind of person do you take me for?”
***
*Clack—*
The door bolt was pulled back, and the main gate swung inward.
An old man wearing a blue cloth shirt stood at the entrance, holding a cattail fan. He frowned as he looked Lu Xiu up and down, and finally, his gaze landed on me behind him.
“Hello.”
I waved at him and gave a silly grin.
*Slam!*
The gate shut instantly, and a gust of wind hit my face.
“Eh?”
My smile froze on my face.
“You animal! You brat!! You bastard! What kind of *ghost* of a thing did you bring here?!”
“Oh my mother! His third uncle’s eldest lord’s second concubine’s grandmother! I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die!!! *Sanqing* Great Supreme Lord, protect me, protect me!”
The grumbling voice came from behind the door, accompanied by a great deal of clattering noise.
I scratched my cheek.
‘It seems… I’m not very welcome?’