Following the map's directions, we chose a winding route, totaling over three thousand li. At the speed of our horses, it would take about a week to reach Cangyue City. However, along the way, I finally understood just how delicate and demanding those so-called "thousand-jin young ladies" truly were. As the Palace Mistress of the Royal Family and a handmaiden deeply favored by her, Shenyin and Shenyi could barely stomach the dried meat and bread we brought in our spatial packs; their faces were as green as they could get. This greatly worried Long Qi and Long Zhan. The two lads seemed to have developed affections for Shenyin and Shenyi, and now that their main meals were unappetizing, they were naturally anxious. Yet, these two were experienced wanderers, and they certainly figured out a way to improve the cuisine. Once Shenyin and Shenyi tasted the wild rabbit and pheasant roasted personally by Long Qi, these royal daughters were instantly captivated by grilled game. However, upon learning that Jin Hong's roasting skills were even superior, they immediately shelved Long Qi and Long Zhan, turning their attention to pandering to that kid, Jin Hong.

Long Qi and Long Zhan were so furious they nearly spat blood, their gazes toward Jin Hong laced with icy, chilling killing intent. Poor Jin Hong found himself caught in the middle, agonizing over the dilemma. But Jin Hong managed to devise a compromise: Long Qi and Long Zhan would be responsible for hunting rabbits and pheasants, while Jin Hong would handle the roasting. And so, the pheasants and rabbits on both sides of the continent suffered. Though Long Qi and Long Zhan were warriors, their skills in archery while riding were also formidable. Their arrows, while not achieving one hundred percent accuracy, could easily hit nine out of ten shots. Thus, the members of the Roaming Dragon Gang, chaperoning two major patrons, hunted as they traveled toward Cangyue. Who would have guessed they were fleeing for their lives? Long Xin and I both felt a mixture of laughter and tears.

Dragon Shadow Manor!

"Hah! This brat has run off to Cangyue!" Jian Qiu commented with a smile.

"Heh, he can really run, can't he," Jian Fei remarked. "That'll keep Longyuan Feixue and the others busy for a while."

"Hahahaha, this kid grows more to my liking," Jian Qiu chuckled.

"I suppose I need to write a letter, ask those old fogeys in Cangyue to keep an eye on things," Jian Fei said. "This brat's guts are boundless; he might stir up trouble again."

"Yes, better be careful," Jian Qiu replied, a strange smile flickering across his lips. "After all, he is the future son-in-law of our Dragon Shadow Manor; we can't have anything happening to him."

"Hehe! You old rogue!"

Moon Sect, within the Divine Moon Palace!

Yan Luo gazed absently at the horizon, a faint smile playing on her lips, causing the disciples of the Divine Moon Palace beside her to whisper amongst themselves.

"Look, the Palace Mistress is spacing out again."

"She must be thinking about that guy."

"It's truly enviable."

"If a man would ever risk everything to fulfill my wish, I would be so moved that I would marry him," one female disciple gushed with a lovesick expression.

"You, forget it," I thought. That big ox from the Twin Moon Palace seems quite suitable for you.

"..."

Elsewhere!

White Sun Heavenly Gate, a certain inn!

"Damn it all," Hu Xiaoshan Ye roared in frustration. "That brat ran off to Cangyue!"

"What, Cangyue?" Ying Zhen Kuang Ren nearly jumped up. "Is the intelligence accurate?"

"Do you doubt the reconnaissance capabilities of the Shabak Pigeon Group?" Li Xie asked sinisterly.

"What do we do now?" Xiong Ba Tianxia asked. "Do we really have to chase him all the way to Cangyue?"

"Hateful! This brat must know we are after him," Longyuan Feixue declared. "He’s clearly playing us for fools."

"We absolutely cannot let him go," Hu Xiaoshan Ye insisted. "Otherwise, we four young masters will be utterly disgraced."

"I hope I catch him first," Xiong Ba Tianxia gritted his teeth. "Otherwise, I’ll teach him a lesson."

Not just him; even the usually ladylike Longyuan Feixue’s face was contorted with murderous intent. "What are we waiting for? Let's hurry to Misbiel Harbor now!"

Among them all, only Li Xie managed a bitter smile, subtle enough that others might miss it. That brat's skill at escaping was first-rate. Li Xie's intuition told him this pursuit would not be easy; things might go wrong again, but for now, they could only take it one step at a time.

"To Cangyue! Oh great, I get seasick!" Hu Xiaoshan Lin's face turned pale green with fright. They didn't possess Star's royal token, so they had to take a boat to Cangyue. A voyage across the great ocean would take at least three months. Thinking of this, everyone felt a wave of dizziness. All seven of them were born in Mengzhong, an inland area, mostly desert; most people never see the ocean even once in their lifetime. Hu Xiaoshan Lin had taken a boat once during past trials, and the seasickness from that trip still made him shudder in lingering fear.

"No one is forcing you to follow," Ying Zhen Feiyan had been thoroughly annoyed by Hu Xiaoshan Lin lately and was eager to shake off this bothersome fly.

"Hehe, well..." Hu Xiaoshan Lin could only manage an awkward laugh. Seasickness was certainly terrifying, but Hu Xiaoshan Lin was unwilling to give up the chance to pursue Ying Zhen Feiyan.

And so, the seven of them, having barely settled into the inn for half a day, were back on the road, rushing back toward Mengzhong. They were covered in dust, and their expressions were as ugly as they could be. After all, they had rushed non-stop from Mengzhong to White Sun Heavenly Gate in just half a month, and now, before they could even get comfortable, they had to hurry back.

"Blue Lightning, when I catch you, you're dead!"

Ha-chou! Strange. On such a hot day, why did I suddenly feel a chill? I looked up at the sun, feeling an inexplicable emptiness and a pang in my heart.

"Heh heh, it seems someone is thinking about you, Third Brother!" Shenyin said with a strange smile. "Long Qi and Long Zhan told me you have someone you care about in Biqi, didn't they?"

"This... hehe," I said, feeling awkward but seething inwardly. Those two, Long Qi and Long Zhan, were truly nosy, telling Shenyin these things for no reason—only causing me trouble.

"Don't be shy. You're not young anymore, and it's time for marriage," she sighed, already adopting a parental tone toward me.

"Look, a tavern ahead!" Just as the awkwardness peaked, sharp-eyed Jin Hong shouted excitedly, pointing ahead.

Indeed, it was a tavern. By the side of the deserted path, a dilapidated sign displaying a large character for 'Wine' hung askew from a wooden pole in front of the small clearing.

"Roar! The day has finally come!" Dong Guan exclaimed excitedly. "Hurry up!" Saying so, he charged toward the tavern first.

"This kid, really!"

Still, it was a stroke of luck to find a tavern in such desolate wilderness, far from any village or town. However, as wanderers, we instinctively surveyed the surroundings.

Following the path toward the tavern, there was a forest ahead, and nothing beyond that was visible. On both sides of the path were towering cliffs and mountains. Looking at the terrain, the first thing that came to mind was that it was an excellent spot for an ambush. Long Xin and Long Qi also looked solemn.

"Who cares? Let's go in and take a look first," Long Xin decided.

"Be careful."

"Waiter! Bring us whatever good food you have, everything!" As soon as he entered, that kid Dong Guan bellowed. The rest of us followed him into the tavern. It was a shack built of wood, only about thirty square meters, with several long wooden tables neatly arranged in the center of the hall. While not luxurious or elegant, it was clean and tidy. Perhaps due to its isolated location, there were hardly any customers; only two waiters were dozing off, their heads nodding against the doorframes.

However, upon seeing customers arrive, one waiter immediately rushed over with a fawning smile. "Young heroes, the best wine and meat will be right out!"

"Heh, the faster the better!" Jin Hong chimed in, supporting him. "After traveling so long, we can finally have a decent meal."

Choosing the largest table, Long Zhan ordered, "Bring a few jars of good wine too."

Shenyin and Shenyi, however, were excitedly observing the interior of the establishment.

"Hah! This is the legendary little tavern," Shenyin remarked. "It really is quite small."

"Uh, young hero," the waiter replied awkwardly. "We rarely get guests all year round. Building a bigger tavern would be pointless."

"Just focus on your work," Long Qi quickly interjected. "These two young ladies haven't seen much of the world; please don't mind them."

"Heh, how could I?" the waiter replied. "Seeing you all so young and already daring to venture out, this waiter truly admires you."

"Not at all, we are just traveling around to broaden our horizons." Among the group, Long Qi was the oldest and thus the most experienced; matters involving general interactions were usually delegated to him.

"Where are you headed? You know the road ahead is full of dangers," the waiter chatted casually with us. Meanwhile, the clatter of pots and pans could be heard from the back, indicating the kitchen was busy. The waiter before us seemed more like a front-desk receptionist, entertaining us while the work was being done.

"Heh, what’s there to fear? We are unparalleled super wanderers! Whoever dares to target us will surely be sent running with their tails between their legs!" That reckless kid Dong Guan, despite his easygoing appearance, was intentionally playing the part. Sometimes, deliberately acting like a rookie is the best way to mislead those with ill intentions. "We heard long ago that the Fengqing Ferry and the Unraveling Forest ahead have fierce Steel-Toothed Spiders and Sky Wolf Spiders. We came all this way just to see them with our own eyes." This was actually a pre-arranged excuse.

"Hah! So that's it," the waiter immediately showed a look of reverence. "Those Steel-Toothed Spiders and Sky Wolf Spiders in the forest are no simple creatures. You young heroes must be very careful."

"Heh heh, don't worry," Jin Hong patted his chest proudly. "We are all very, very skilled."

"Just how skilled are you?" Suddenly, the surroundings seemed to darken. A dozen burly warriors and several mages in robes walked into the doorway, followed by three Taoists.

Damn it, this is indeed a den of thieves. That waiter was just sounding us out. Now that they had our measure, there was no need to hide anything.

Leading the group was a giant figure clad in War God armor. His shiny bald head, not wearing a helmet, held two brass-bell eyes flashing fiercely. He carried a large Inferno axe, looking somewhat similar to Long Zhan. To the bald man's left was a Taoist figure of average height, wearing pale blue and white Ghostly Battle Gear. His head was covered by a Taoist helmet with pointed ears sticking out, obscuring most of his head; only his gloomy pupils and the thin lips below his nose were visible. He clearly looked like a violent brute, and the Silver Snake weapon in his hand created a strange, contradictory aura. To the bald man's right was another brute, nearly two meters and thirty centimeters tall. His physique involuntarily reminded me of Belon in the Zuma Hall. This world of Marfa truly deserves its reputation as the homeland of monsters; it hadn't been long before I encountered another one.

Long Xin and the others were inwardly horrified.

"Good heavens, what a giant!"

He wasn't even wearing armor, just exposed flesh. His muscles, like countless tiny inflated balloons, trembled slightly, enough to make one's scalp tingle. It seemed all the muscle men in this world were keen on showing off, terrified that others wouldn't realize how developed their muscles were. But to be honest, I was quite envious. Compared to him, my small arms and legs made me feel terribly inadequate.

This giant carried an oversized Inferno axe, its weight surely more exaggerated than Li Xie's big weapon. But looking at his face, we were once again greatly surprised!

Good heavens!! This fellow's face was far too "seductive"—it was an exquisitely beautiful, jade-like face! Combined with the long blue hair trailing down his back, he looked exactly like a stunning, ultimate beauty! But paired with that physique! It was inexplicably strange and ferocious. Everyone can picture it: an angelic face, and that "devilish" figure! It probably describes this person standing before us!

"Wow! A muscular, ultimate Ren Yao (hermaphrodite/cross-dresser)!" Long Xin, the leader, muttered softly!

En!! Long Zhan involuntarily nodded.

"One bald guy! One ultimate Ren Yao, plus that insidious man—looks like none of them are good sorts!" Dong Guan muttered.

It seemed that everyone in the Roaming Dragon Gang possessed a mental fortitude comparable to steel rebar. Their combat skills might not be great, but their psychological resilience was top-notch. Facing such a destructive and shocking appearance from the opposition, they still had the mood to critique and comment.

"Hey, I ask you, what are you here for?" Only then did Shenyin belatedly ask.

"Are you perhaps street performers?" Shenyi analyzed. This wasn't intentional provocation; these two simply hadn't seen much of the world, so wild speculation was understandable.

"Can't you tell?" The leading bald man was nearly choked with anger. "We're here to rob you."

"Good heavens, robbing wanderers—you truly have talent," Dong Guan said lightly, though he had already charged up magic, ready for a fight.

"Besides, we are all dirt poor, relying on hunting Steel-Toothed Spiders in the forest ahead to collect their venom and exchange it for some money in the city," Long Qi countered. "How dare you try to rob us?"

"Heh heh, we can't afford to be picky," the ultimate Ren Yao stated. "My brothers do nothing but banditry for a living. We won't make things difficult for you now; leave all your clothes, packs, and weapons. Oh, as for the girls, leave your undergarments; rest assured, we only rob wealth, not virtue."

"Although my brothers are bandits, we still adhere to the principle of 'the Way of the Thief,'" the leading bald warrior struck a righteous pose. "As long as you cooperate obediently, we don't want to make trouble."

"This is difficult," Long Qi and the others said, their eyes darting around, assessing the surroundings. All exits were blocked; there was no possibility of breaking out. "If you ask us to give it up, we'll just give it up—wouldn't that be too humiliating?"

"Exactly! If this gets out, we won't be able to mix in society anymore," Long Zhan agreed.

"It seems you don't plan to cooperate," the insidious man, living up to his name, said; his voice sounded chillingly cold.

"That's right." Shenyi casually hurled a massive Fireball, aiming directly at the insidious man's face.

"How bold!" The insidious man hadn't expected Shenyi to make such a move and quickly dodged sideways.

The rest of us secretly sweat-dropped. This girl seemed to enjoy surprise attacks, but unfortunately, her skills were lacking. The clumsy Fireball was easily avoided by the insidious man, but it enraged him.

"Destroy them for me!"

Roar!! Blue shadows surged instantly. Nine warriors swarmed forward!

"Damn it, we haven't even finished talking! What kind of bandit is this, completely lacking patience!" Long Zhan also roared in anger, sweeping his Inferno Battle Axe in a 'Thousand Armies Sweep.'

A dazzling crescent of sword energy slashed out, immediately sweeping toward the foremost nine warriors.

Roar!! The opponents were no pushovers! Their Asura Battle Axes and Zhanmadao met the incoming attack.

Clang!! Clang!! Clang!! A series of loud impacts sent several figures flying backward—it was the attacking warriors who had been blasted away by Long Zhan's Inferno Axe! They were fortunate that their weapons intercepted the crescent energy; otherwise, being directly struck would have meant instant death. They were all shocked, but Long Zhan on the field did not pause. His Inferno Battle Axe spun like the wind, instantly weaving layers of incredibly dense Battle Qi around his body, fiercely slamming into the dense crowd.

Thwack, thwack!! Like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, every enemy blocking Long Zhan’s path was no match for him. Every sweep of the Inferno Battle Axe sent someone flying. However, perhaps Long Zhan was intentionally holding back, as no one had been cleaved to death yet. But the tables and chairs in the tavern were smashed to pieces, and a large area around Long Zhan was cleared in an instant. His imposing display was truly shocking.

This situation thoroughly unsettled the charging warriors, filling them with terror. Some even turned tail and ran.

"Well done, big guy!" It was Shenyi on the side, unable to help but shout encouragement to Long Zhan.

"Hahahaha." Encouraged by the beauty’s cheers, Long Zhan became even more spirited. "I say, are you planning to rely on these shrimp soldiers and crab generals to carry out your banditry?"

We had long since noticed that the cultivation of the warriors who attacked was only at the peak of the Middle Stage, bordering on the early stages of High Rank. Therefore, we weren't worried about Long Zhan coming to harm. Of course, this was also an opportunity to gauge the enemy's strength.

"All of you, stand down!!" The big bald man realized the situation was turning bad and roared loudly.

Whoosh!! The warriors, already terrified by Long Zhan, were waiting for these words. They immediately retreated completely, leaving the area empty once more.

"Good strength!! You have some skill! State your names!" The muscular ultimate Ren Yao had a gloomy expression.

"Damn it, who are you to demand I report my name? Unless you’re a girl!" Long Zhan replied with a mischievous grin, showing he had a knack for comedy. "But if you could slim down that figure a bit, I might consider it!"

"Roar!! You bastard, you're the one who’s a girl!" The ultimate Ren Yao instantly became furious. "Die!"