Disciples of the Thief Sect Never Use the Main Gate to Travel

“Hey, bro, don’t look so miserable. Being famous is a good thing! Countless cultivators spend their whole lives striving to be as well-known as you.

Don’t take it for granted. Cheer up. Here—let me treat you to a drink.”

Mouth, his face swollen and wrapped in bandages, strolled over with a few plates of appetizers. He raised the bottle of Qingshan Bamboo Wine he’d bought during today’s special discount and spoke to Xiao Yu, who lay slumped over the table like a lifeless rag. His tone was that of someone enjoying the drama.

I don’t want this kind of fame!

Xiao Yu ignored him, his heart hollow. He really shouldn’t have left Demon Gathering Island. Staying put would’ve been fine.

Why did he have to come out and investigate? At worst, decades later, the world-ending boss would kill him. That would’ve been better than this social death.

The only thing he could be grateful for was that he’d managed to pull his pants back up before everyone stormed in. Otherwise, he’d have been publicly exposed.

“You really won’t drink? Today’s discount on Qingshan Bamboo Wine is rare. Sure, the tavern’s getting more customers because of your… legend, and the owner’s happy enough to offer discounts. In a way, you contributed. It’d be a shame to waste it.”

Pfft!

Mouth’s words stabbed into Xiao Yu’s heart like a knife.

Shut up! He just wanted peace.

Xiao Yu’s mind was numb. No wonder the tavern was so crowded today.

Turns out everyone was just here to gossip.

Suddenly, he remembered the Azure Wave Sword Saint who married a sow. Back then, Xiao Yu had laughed hard at the picture of the man hugging the pig. Now that he was in the same situation…

It wasn’t funny anymore. He felt a strange sympathy.

But thinking about it—actually, people only knew the pervert was Ye Feng, an inner sect disciple of Xuanling Sect.

Not Xiao Yu.

All those things were done by the protagonist, Ye Feng. Nothing to do with Xiao Yu.

Once he realized that, Xiao Yu came back to life.

Most of his acquaintances were on Demon Gathering Island. He didn’t have any real connections in the wider cultivation world. Any he did have were linked to Ye Feng, not him.

The one socially ruined was Ye Feng. Xiao Yu’s reputation was untouched.

Sure, his face had been seen and drawn by some artist cultivator. But no big deal—Ye Feng looked 80% like him.

So the protagonist had to be revived. He needed someone to take the fall.

With that thought, Xiao Yu sat up straight, full of energy. Another reason to revive the protagonist. Mouth across the table glanced at him.

“Feeling better? By the way, Xuanling Sect released a clarification on Shanshui News. They said Li Yunshang’s actions were due to mind control, not her own will. They’re now fully hunting Ye Feng. Anyone who captures him and brings him back gets a reward… let me see… one… ten… a hundred… a thousand high-grade spirit stones! Hey bro, what do you think? Should we—?”

“Get lost.”

The burning look from across the table told Xiao Yu exactly what Mouth was thinking.

Come to think of it, escaping Xuanling Sect alive was all thanks to this Thieving Sect disciple.

The prison was locked, the only exit blocked by a crowd of people rushing in.

Xiao Yu might not have made it out on his own.

He could’ve used the Qiankun Earth-Dodging Talisman.

But at that moment, socially destroyed and mentally blank, he couldn’t think straight.

Luckily, the Thieving Sect disciple from the next cell tunneled through the wall.

Grabbed Xiao Yu and ran—through the wall, taking Xiao Yu with him.

Yes, through the wall.

Had to be a Thieving Sect disciple. Truly miraculous.

Xiao Yu looked at Mouth, who was now chugging wine, with a complex expression.

The Thieving Sect had a bad reputation, but they’d never caused any deaths.

In a way, his impersonation was kind of like what they did.

Either way, this guy had saved his life and gotten him out of Xuanling Sect.

“So… why did you save me?” Xiao Yu asked.

“What do you mean why?”

Mouth shoveled food into his mouth, giving Xiao Yu a confused, beady-eyed look.

“No good deed comes without motive. There’s no free lunch. We’re not related. You could’ve slipped away while I distracted everyone. Instead, you took me out in front of everyone. That’s way harder.”

“Oh, that!” Mouth put down his chopsticks, stood up, leaned on the table, and stared intensely at Xiao Yu:

“Actually… I’ve fallen for you!”

Thud!

“Ow! Damn it, I was joking! Don’t hit me!”

Xiao Yu immediately put the chair he’d raised back down. The noise drew stares from others.

At a nearby table, a small figure saw Xiao Yu punch Mouth to the ground, curled into an even tighter ball, and trembled.

“Sorry. I’ve been on edge lately with all these things.”

Xiao Yu quickly apologized and helped Mouth up. The onlookers lost interest and returned to their conversations, soon distracted by another headline on the Shanshui News:

The newly accepted direct disciple of Wanyun Pavilion’s sect leader had transformed into a beautiful girl after eating a rare herb. She’s now offering a massive reward for anything that can reverse the change—no price too high.

For a moment, the hype around Ye Feng faded. Xiao Yu exhaled in relief.

Because of his “feats,” street patrols had tripled. He was sure that if he went outside, ripped off his mask, and shouted “I’m Ye Feng!”, he’d be swarmed.

And worse—some terrifying figures had taken notice. The sect leader of Longyang Sect publicly declared they needed talent like Ye Feng. They’d offer free protection. He hoped Ye Feng would see this and join Longyang Sect for joyful♂ exchanges—jiao liu, jiao liu.

Hiss!

Xiao Yu shivered involuntarily. After Li Yunshang’s face-peeling incident, he’d layered three fake faces. Should be safe now.

Normal people would peel the top layer and assume that’s Xiao Yu’s real face. Even if they peeled a second, there’d still be one left.

That was the limit. More layers would look suspicious.

“Actually… it’s not me. It’s the Thieving Sect that’s interested in you, bro.”

Mouth’s voice pulled Xiao Yu from his thoughts.

“The Thieving Sect?”

“Yeah, bro. You’ve got rare bones. Perfect for us. Wanna join? Great benefits!”

“No.” Xiao Yu didn’t hesitate. “Not interested. I already have a sect.”

Dao Sect, maybe. Thieving Sect? No thanks.

“Hey, don’t refuse so fast!” Mouth clicked his tongue. “You’re perfect for us. Looks like you can’t go back to Xuanling Sect anyway.”

“No, I don’t have any talent for theft.”

Xiao Yu waved him off. Being called a pervert? Fine. But a thief? That was just slander.

“Don’t be misled by rumors. Who says we have to steal? We care about the process. Whether we succeed or not doesn’t matter. Here.”

Mouth tossed something over.

Xiao Yu caught it—a golden token with the character for “thief” embossed on it.

“Keep this. The Thieving Sect has no fixed base. Few rules. Many disciples come from other sects. Hold onto it. Might help you someday.”

“Why do you want me to join?”

“Tch! Well… recruiting new members gives us performance bonuses—spirit stones. I’m a bit short on cash lately.”

Mouth rubbed his stubble, then replied seriously.

Xiao Yu: “…”

Is that really the reason? So casual?

“Of course, not just anyone qualifies. You’ve got the potential. Anyway…”

Mouth wolfed down the rest of the food, wiped his mouth, and stood.

“Trust me, you’ve got talent. If you don’t join now, our leader will come find you later.

She’s the sect master—not someone to mess with. She’ll probably be very interested in you. That’s all I’ll say. I’ve got to go. Need to leave early, or I’ll miss the Fengqiu Secret Realm opening next month.”

“Think it over. Most people can’t even get in!”

Mouth floated out the tavern window, leaving nearby gossips stunned.

Do you Thieving Sect people not use doors?

Xiao Yu muttered to himself, then leaned on his chin, deep in thought.

“System, is there any chance Ye Feng can be revived?” he asked.

The whole reason he left Demon Gathering Island was to find out how the protagonist died. Now he knew. The only question was revival.

“There’s a small chance. The weapon that killed him retains a trace of his soul essence—extremely faint, like a single flake of dandruff from your body. Reviving him would be meaningless. It would require extremely rare treasures. Even if revived, he wouldn’t truly be him. It’d be like creating a new person.”

This… really didn’t seem possible.

Forget the revival treasures—they’d be priceless, far beyond Xiao Yu’s means.

Just getting that weapon from Li Yunshang was already a huge problem.

He’d barely escaped. Was he really going to walk back in?