Hunters in Disguise, Prey in the Shadows

Li Wangyan and Chu Jiao slept in the same room, but the room originally had two beds.

Moreover, after blowing out the candle, nothing could be seen, so it didn’t really matter.

The main purpose of this arrangement was for safety.

They should try not to be alone, although Li Wangyan acted alone during the day while gathering information.

However, the two had reached a consensus: tomorrow, they would take on a mission from the Wind and Rain Pavilion.

Then, they would see if this mortal organization could investigate information about the Greenbeard Fiend.

Li Wangyan hadn’t actually considered the matter of the so-called Mo Ling.

He didn’t know his Second Senior Brother that deeply, but it sounded quite interesting.

He decided to learn more about his Second Senior Sister.

* * * *

The next morning, Chu Jiao got up.

Somewhat clumsily, she used the firewood stove to cook a pot of hot porridge.

“It’s been many years since I last did something like this. I didn’t expect I could still manage it. I thought I’d burn it.”

“The taste is quite good.” Li Wangyan offered his evaluation after taking a sip.

Chu Jiao, however, said, “In the end, it’s just porridge. How good can it possibly taste? You shouldn’t talk nonsense like that.”

“I’m not lying. The simpler something is, the more effort it requires. Doing it well is even harder.”

“Alright! Let’s set off! Don’t just treat me like a girl to be pampered just because you turned me into this young woman’s appearance! I’m not the type to get smug over a couple of compliments!”

“Then that proves Senior Brother has indeed received many praises over the years, to be immune to them. Senior Brother truly is an outstanding person.”

Chu Jiao blushed slightly and said nothing more.

After breakfast, Li Wangyan fetched water and washed the bowls.

Chu Jiao remembered that when she lived with Mo Ling, it was also like this… To think that all these years, she had relied on magical power for everything.

Now, doing things with her own hands, various memories came flooding back.

After tidying up, Chu Jiao followed Li Wangyan out.

From the outside, Li Wangyan looked like her elder brother.

She didn’t know what was going on with this Mystic Maiden Mirror, why it made her look so petite.

“Is Master also this petite?”

“Master? Master is a plump and beautiful woman.” Li Wangyan answered honestly.

“A plump and beautiful woman? Can you be more specific?”

Li Wangyan felt it was inappropriate to say. “That… isn’t it a bit disrespectful to Master…”

“I won’t tell on you, alright? What exactly does Master look like, physically?”

Li Wangyan then roughly gestured. “Master is probably about… this big!”

“What?! Really?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

“And how tall is Master?”

“About half a head shorter than me.”

Chu Jiao moved closer to Li Wangyan and realized she only came up to around his armpit.

Her expression immediately became rather strained.

“Why? Is there something wrong with your Mystic Maiden Mirror?”

“Perhaps… perhaps the immortal energy within is somewhat insufficient, so it could only turn you into a young girl’s form. After a few more years, you should grow taller.”

Is that so? That made sense. It was normal for such an Immortal Artifact to require immortal energy to function—perhaps she was just unlucky. After all, this mortal realm probably couldn’t replenish immortal energy.

Li Wangyan then said, “But isn’t this also quite good? This way, we can pretend to be siblings. If you were older, we could only pretend to be husband and wife.”

“…You’re right. That might not be a bad thing.”

* * * *

The two arrived at a secluded teahouse, gave the code phrase, and received the first mission of their (current) lives.

[‘Investigate the treasure recently obtained by the local street gang, the ‘Black Shark Gang,’ within the city.’]

“Our luck is this good?”

Speaking of treasures… it was hard not to think of the Greenbeard Fiend! If there was someone who might have recently obtained some hidden treasure, it was likely related to him.

This wasn’t arranged by Li Wangyan.

“People of this sort are already sources of information for us. Let’s go test the waters together.”

During the day, they located the Black Shark Gang’s base.

They waited until nightfall, donned black night clothes, and began moving swiftly.

With no magical power, only “Qi” remained within their bodies.

Relying on physical strength and this one breath, they could only use “martial arts.”

Fortunately, Chu Jiao had once been a great knight-errant and knew many martial arts.

Li Wangyan, having been reduced to a mortal for a time, had also studied martial arts.

The two kept moving across the tiles of rooftops.

Chu Jiao remembered again—the last time she moved like this in a mortal nation, scaling walls and vaulting over roofs, was when she was with Mo Ling. Back then, Mo Ling always followed behind her.

But now…

She was following behind Li Wangyan.

For some reason, it felt… somewhat reassuring…

Was that how Mo Ling felt back then? Just watching that somewhat blurred silhouette ahead in the night, just following like this, brought a sense of peace?

Had she, too, once given Mo Ling that feeling?

If… if that Greenbeard Fiend hadn’t appeared back then, she and Mo Ling would surely have…

* * * *

The two quickly infiltrated the so-called Black Shark Gang stronghold.

Even with strength equivalent only to the fifth or sixth layer of Qi Refining, they were overwhelmingly powerful in a mortal nation. To put it bluntly—Chu Jiao’s Golden Core level physique meant ordinary mortals couldn’t cut her even with swords.

Did they really think the saying ‘My fate is my own, not heaven’s to decide’ was a joke?

However, they didn’t cause much commotion. If this gang was connected to the Greenbeard Fiend, making a scene would alert the enemy.

Sneaking stealthily, continuously avoiding the sight of others, they advanced deeper into the gang’s territory.

They were also somewhat curious about what this so-called treasure might be.

Then, when the two approached the central area, they both froze.

“Boss! These two women, I traveled thousands of miles to bring them from beyond the western frontier! Golden hair, blue eyes, exotic charm!”

A very sinful transaction was taking place here.

Chu Jiao had the urge to draw her sword and start cutting people down.

Li Wangyan quickly pulled her away.

“We still need to complete the mission. Drawing swords and killing people would ruin everything. It would cause a lot of trouble later. I know you can’t stand it, but we’d best not interfere too much in mortal affairs. It’s easy to incur karmic ties, making future heart tribulations difficult to overcome.”

Clearly, the mortal understanding of “treasure” differed greatly from a cultivator’s.

[‘Exotic women? Noted. After verification, you will receive contribution points. There are some other missions here you can also attempt to accept.’]

Of course, they would accept—all kinds of missions. They needed to investigate matters related to the Greenbeard Fiend.

This was also a way to distract themselves. After all, for a cultivator, lacking magical power was a very anxiety-inducing thing.

“Before I became a cultivator, I was a great knight-errant. It was different back then. Mo Ling and I traveled around upholding justice, acting whenever we saw something unjust.”

Chu Jiao suddenly spoke.

Li Wangyan stopped walking.

“If Senior Brother wishes, we can do that too.”

“Call me Senior Sister. It must feel awkward for you to call me ‘Senior Brother’ when I’m in this female form.”

“In that case, Senior Sister, I’ll obey your command… Returning to the previous topic, if Senior Sister feels it necessary for us to uphold justice, we can do that too. Regardless, we are from a renowned righteous sect. Cleansing evil is also our duty.”

Chu Jiao, however, shook her head slightly.

“No need. As you said, we should avoid incurring karmic ties. Mortals have their own stories, mortals have their own fates. Moreover… if we cannot find the Greenbeard Fiend, what good is upholding justice? Once that fiend recovers and regains his cultivation, this entire city will be slaughtered. At that time, good people, bad people, of all classes… what difference would it make?”

“Senior Sister is absolutely right. We must indeed find the Greenbeard Fiend as soon as possible. Otherwise, the consequences are unimaginable.”

* * * *

On the other side of the city district, an old beggar slowly collected his broken bowl, which contained only a few copper coins.

He silently put the money away.

[‘Those two probably aren’t dead. They’re in the city too.’]

[‘Based on that Chu Jiao’s killing intent… It’s a race to see who recovers faster? This old fiend has roamed the world for a hundred years. When have I ever been afraid? This is my tribulation, and also my opportunity.’]

[‘That kid must possess a supreme treasure. Otherwise, he couldn’t have unleashed such destructive power… If I can obtain it, my path to Nascent Soul will be complete.’]

“Cough! Cough!”

He coughed violently, eventually hacking up several mouthfuls of black blood.

“Old thing! You’re probably carrying some disease! Get lost! Don’t infect me!”

Someone who saw him in this state yelled at him in disgust.

The shouts of mortals… it’s been many years since he last heard them.

He seemed to see the beggar boy from a hundred years ago… also insulted like this, randomly beaten, fighting other beggars to the death over a few coins, his mouth full of blood.

It was only because he happened to find a manual of an evil cultivator and had some slight talent for cultivation that he embarked on a different path.

How many people did he kill back then? Who did he kill?

He couldn’t quite remember.

How ironic. Being a fiend for too long, killing too many people, he couldn’t even remember who he killed. He only remembered the humiliation he suffered… even after all these years, it remained vivid. I truly am a born fiend.

And now, here I am, back to my old trade.

He scrambled to the side, as if afraid of obstructing the noble passerby.

Physical recovery would take some time. That kid struck fiercely, but his condition was definitely worse than mine. Forcibly borrowing such power, how could he not pay a price? Perhaps that kid has already perished.

He only needed to find that kid’s treasure.

He didn’t need to recover much cultivation. He only needed to regain the Foundation Establishment stage to sweep through this city, then refine all its inhabitants to restore himself to Perfected Golden Core.

As for the person who insulted him just now… he would make him experience the agony of being unable to live or die.

Step by step, he shuffled along slowly. He looked lonely, miserable, and pitiful.

A struggle had quietly begun to unfold within this city.

But who was the hunter, and who was the prey?