【This Is the Beginning】

Xie Liang was standing by the roadside with a wolf, waiting for a taxi.

【Xie Liang】

Xie Liang, dressed in light attire, although he had a long sword hanging at his waist, his appearance and demeanor did not resemble a warrior. Instead, he looked more like a pampered nobleman.

【Wolf】

The wolf wore a collar and was panting with its tongue out.

【Road】

The road was a newly constructed one in front of the Xiaoxiang Villa, flat and spacious, stretching out to the horizon where a setting sun hung precariously.

Xie Liang had been staring at the horizon for an hour, waiting.

He had urgent matters to attend to at a post station outside Jiancheng, a long journey away. Leading a wolf made it inconvenient to ride a horse, and the villa’s carriages, though luxurious, were too cumbersome for a quick trip.

Fortunately, there was the YuYu Ride-Hailing system to solve this problem.

【YuYu Ride-Hailing】

YuYu Ride-Hailing is a scientifically convenient system for hailing carriages, with registered carriages spread across major cities in Daliang.

Passengers only need to follow a few simple steps to complete the process from ordering to boarding.

【Step One】

Go to a nearby outlet to buy a mother Gu insect.

This is a newly developed, registered trademark Gu insect called Liruo. Mature Liruo is safe and non-toxic, completely transparent, resembling a slug, and will awaken upon contact with human skin, going dormant once touch is removed.

【Step Two】

To hail a ride, touch the mother insect to awaken it. The mother insect will emit a scent that attracts male Gu insects in all directions.

Each registered driver keeps a pigeon that has consumed a male Gu insect. Driven by mating desire, the male insect will guide the pigeon to the location of the mother insect.

【Step Three】

Once the passenger receives the pigeon that arrives first, they release the mother insect to let it sleep, freeing the pigeon from the male insect’s control.

Next, the passenger ties a note with the address to the pigeon’s leg, sending it to the driver. After waiting for a while…

“Wait a while.”

Xie Liang rolled his eyes.

He shifted his numbed legs, looked up at the increasingly darkening sky, took out the mother insect, and prepared to order another carriage.

Suddenly, he heard flapping wings. The pigeon he sent out an hour ago had returned, carrying a new note.

Xie Liang read, “Dear passenger, I am in Jinxi Town. How do I get to your villa?”

The handwriting was sloppy, full of errors.

【Note】

Xie Liang decided to fully demonstrate the manners of a noble son, writing back, “Driver, are you new? I have urgent matters and have to cancel the order. My apologies. Here’s a little tip.”

The pigeon returned quickly this time.

Xie Liang read, “I’m on Chang Street. Should I go left or right?”

“…”

Xie Liang replied, “Towards the sun.”

He added, “Brother, don’t come.”

This time, before he even had time to put away the pen and paper, the pigeon was back: “Dear passenger, please trust in my professionalism. I will definitely pick you up.”

“…”

Xie Liang gritted his teeth and said, “Pigeon, if you fly back, I’ll cook you.”

The wolf panted happily at the word “cook.” Xie Liang shot it a sideways glance and said, “I can’t actually cook it; I’d get blacklisted.”

The wolf lowered its head and whimpered.

【Carriage】

The carriage finally arrived under the starlit sky as dusk fell.

It was indeed a vehicle designed for long-distance travel, light, sturdy, and nondescript from the shaft to the wheels, capable of crossing mountains and rivers without easily attracting bandits.

It took some skill for such a carriage to be this late.

【Horse】

The horse was an extraordinary steed, well-traveled and unflinching, walking proudly up to the wolf.

【Wolf】

The wolf cautiously hid behind Xie Liang.

【Driver】

The driver exclaimed, “Oh, how come you brought a wolf? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have dared to take the order.”

The driver seemed to be around thirty-six or thirty-seven years old. In the twilight, his features were vague, appearing ordinary, but his voice was gentle and reliable.

Xie Liang calmly said, “This is not a wolf; it’s a wolfdog.”

He patted the wolf and said, “Bark.”

“…”

The wolf looked at Xie Liang.

Xie Liang urged, “Bark, Wangcai.”

“…”

The wolf gave a bizarre bark that sounded like a howling wolf. Xie Liang turned and said, “See? He’s very obedient.”

The driver stroked his chin and said, “Let me think about it.”

Xie Liang sneered, “Sure, keep delaying. At this rate, we might cover ten miles by next year.”

The driver said, “Don’t rush, young man. Take a nap in the carriage, and we’ll be at the inn by midnight.”

【Four Hours Later】

The driver lifted the curtain. Xie Liang was sitting with his arms crossed, and the wolf was sprawled at his feet, sound asleep.

The driver smiled apologetically and said, “Young master, we’ve found an inn. Do you want to rest or keep going?”

Xie Liang pointed and said, “What do you see?”

“…”

The driver said, “The sunrise.”

“…”

The driver said, “Sorry, I’ve traveled this road seven or eight times. Last night, I suddenly couldn’t decide whether to go left, straight, or right, so I tried all directions.”

“…”

【Xie Liang】

Xie Liang is a cultivated person. Xie Liang said, “Driver, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll get off here. Let’s settle the fare.”

The driver said, “Young master, don’t worry. I’ll definitely take you to your destination, not a mile less.”

“…”

Xie Liang said politely, “Driver, maybe this job doesn’t suit your strengths.”

The driver humbly said, “It’s okay. I’m usually quite responsible.”

Xie Liang couldn’t take it anymore, “You need to be responsible for knowing the way!”

The driver thought for a moment and suddenly realized, “You’re in a hurry? Then wait a moment, young master.”

“…”

The driver said, “Let me find a car navigator.”

【Car Navigator】

The car navigator said, “Forty-five wen to Xingdong Town.”

The driver said, “We travel light and fast. Forty-five wen could get us to Jincheng.”

The car navigator said, “There are officers killing people in Jincheng. A fire broke out. I don’t dare to go. The farthest I can go is Xingdong Town.”

The driver said, “Forty wen.”

The car navigator said, “Forty-three. Take it or leave it.”

The driver said painfully, “Get on.”

The car navigator sat down next to him expressionlessly, saying, “Welcome to use the car navigator. Turn right two miles ahead.”

【Shen Huaishan】

As the carriage started again, the driver said, “It’s a long way to Jiancheng. I’m Shen Huaishan. If you have any requests, just let me know. If you’re satisfied, please give me a five-star rating.”

Xie Liang, having not washed up in the morning and in a bad mood, politely said, “Nice to meet you.”

The car navigator said, “Please continue straight on the current road. There is a speed camera three miles ahead.”

Shen Huaishan reined in the horse and asked again, “What urgent matter are you dealing with?”

Xie Liang thought for a moment and said, “It’s a matter of life and death.”

【This Is a Flashback】

Seven days ago.

In the capital, there was a tall building.

In front of the building hung a plaque inscribed by the emperor himself, reading: “A Lifetime of Peace for the Good Man.”

It was well-known that the landlord was a close confidant of the emperor, responsible for identifying time travelers as a time traveler himself.

Even so, it was rare for the emperor to summon someone into the palace to play cards.

After the landlord paid his respects, he heard the emperor above him say with a smile, “I suddenly remembered the deck of cards you invented. Come and play a few hands of ‘Race to the Top’ with me.”

The emperor was still young, his face pale, his eyes sharply angled upwards.

The imperial family of Daliang all seemed to possess the villainous faces of serpents and scorpions.

The landlord dealt half a deck of cards for two players and calmly played a card, “One card of ‘Just this job and I’ll go home to get married.’”

The emperor said, “One card of ‘Did you hear a strange sound?’”

The landlord said, “Four cards of ‘I have a secret to tell you tomorrow,’ bomb. Your Majesty, what made you think of playing cards today?”

The emperor twirled the jade ring on his finger and said leisurely, “Pass. The world is not peaceful. I’ve held three days of court sessions in a row. I wanted to relax with you.”

He was being too modest. The world was not just “not peaceful,” it seemed on the verge of changing hands.

【This Is Background Information】

Back when the previous emperor was in power, there was a heated debate in the court about the influx of time travelers. The common people always regarded these oddities as disasters, especially with cases of sudden possession during meals, where someone would collapse and rise with a different soul.

Many officials argued that these beings were potential threats and must be eradicated. Only the Prime Minister and a few other civil servants insisted that the arrival of these people was an act of fate and could not be defied.

The previous emperor ultimately adopted the Prime Minister’s suggestion: all time travelers must undergo a court trial. Half of those deemed capable would serve the court, while the rest would be imprisoned.

After the previous emperor’s death, the new emperor, Zhou Jingyi, aimed to achieve great things, both granting high positions to time travelers and tightening his control over them. All time travelers were forbidden from interacting with each other, and their every move was closely monitored by imperial spies. If they evaded reporting and mingled with the populace after arriving, they would be hunted down and captured.

But such measures could only oppress those without ambition.

Those with the ambition to “recreate the world” had gathered in one place, secretly researching all kinds of weapons like bird guns, cannons, and poison smoke for years.

Several months ago, these so-called “disasters” in folklore finally showed their claws.

This group of radicals, funded by unknown sources, suddenly produced a large number of weapons, recruiting troops everywhere. Under the banner of “advancing societal development, fully realizing the modernization of Daliang,” they swiftly captured eight cities, directly threatening Guanzhong. If not for their short supply, they would have taken over the world in no time.

During the autumn locust famine, when local bandits rose, the civil servants could not come up with countermeasures. Military commanders with power in the four directions watched the situation, eager to act.

Time travelers working in the court, implicated by this, dared not raise their heads. The emperor ordered them to hasten the research on the enemy’s weapons, but there had been no results so far.

In the vast capital, it seemed only the landlord was still living a wealthy and leisurely life, unaffected.　　【End of Flashback】

Entering Xingdong Town, the car navigator took the money and got off. Before leaving, he said, “There are rebel soldiers in the city ahead and bandits outside the city. You might want to take a detour over the mountain. It’ll just take an extra hour or two.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “Don’t worry, young master. Once we cross the mountain, we’ll be close to the post station.”

Xie Liang said, “Did you account for the time it takes to find the way?”

Shen Huaishan said, “Uh, no.”

“…”

Xie Liang put down the curtain and whispered, “We’re really going to be late this time.”

Xie Liang sighed, “If it weren’t for you, I could’ve ridden a horse and been there by now.”

The wolf said, “Arf.”

Xie Liang said, “Prepare yourself, because if it comes to it, I’ll ride you to escape.”

The wolf was shocked, “Arf.”

【Mountain】

The mountain was quite high, with only a dirt road worn down by carriages and horses.

Halfway up the mountain, the carriage suddenly stopped. Xie Liang’s heart jumped as he grabbed his sword hilt, expecting a robbery, but then heard Shen Huaishan laugh outside the curtain, “Oh dear, what should we do now?”

Xie Liang lifted the curtain and saw a steep slope ahead with loose dirt, difficult for horse hooves to climb.

“…”

Xie Liang looked down at his spotless light attire, then up at the sun.

【Slope】

Shen Huaishan praised, “I didn’t expect such young skills from the young master.”

Xie Liang gritted his teeth, “Shut up and push! One, two, push—”

The carriage moved up a section of the slope, Xie Liang’s new boots sinking into the dirt.

Xie Liang panted and said, “You’ve got quite some strength. Were you once in the martial world? One, two—”

Shen Huaishan laughed, “I was a bodyguard for a while, crude skills, not worth mentioning.”

Xie Liang said, “Then why did you stop being a bodyguard and become a driver? Did you get lost and lose your cargo?”

“…”

Xie Liang had been speaking out of frustration but saw Shen Huaishan’s expression change, as if he had touched a sore spot, so he stopped talking.

Shen Huaishan paused, then said calmly, “I got too old to run as a bodyguard.”

Xie Liang glanced at him, unable to see where the age showed.

Shen Huaishan changed the subject, “Young master said you’re going to Jiancheng for a matter of life and death. Is it a fight?”

Xie Liang said, “No fighting. Just stealing someone.”

【Another Flashback】

Five days ago.

An invitation lay quietly on the emperor’s desk.

The emperor flipped through it, chuckling, “’Pioneer Group’… quite a loud name. They’ve turned our Daliang into their wasteland. They say they don’t want to start a war and want to negotiate in Jiancheng. What do you think?”

The landlord carefully said, “Jiancheng is a strategic stronghold, always heavily guarded. Their influence can’t reach there. Choosing that place must be to show sincerity.”

The emperor tapped his forehead with his finger and sighed, “The officials are useless. Things have come to this, we can only go with the flow. You lead the negotiation team.”

The landlord was dumbfounded, “I’m not qualified—” The emperor said, “I don’t want to hear it.”

“…”

The emperor smiled, “I don’t have many people I can trust. Give me a reason to trust you.”

…

The landlord returned to his building and called his confidants, “Have the spies in Jiancheng sent any information?”

The confidant said, “They reported everything is normal, no unusual activity.”

The landlord’s expression finally darkened.

【Yet Another Flashback】

Three days ago.

Xie Liang said, “What does this have to do with me?”

Lin Kai said, “The landlord’s information network might be compromised. I’ve sent letters without any reply, and only today did I learn he’s near Jiancheng. That obvious trap, only a fool would go. The only plan now is to intercept and steal him away.”

Xie Liang said, “The Lin Alliance has many experts. Why come to Xiaoxiang Villa to find me?”

Lin Kai said, “Fighting is about numbers, escaping is better with fewer. You, with excellent lightness skills and rich escape experience, are the best choice.”

“…”

Xie Liang reminded, “That’s thanks to the Lin Alliance.”

Lin Kai opened his folding fan with a smile, “If successful, I’ll persuade Dr. Tao to find a body for Fan Aiguo.”

Xie Liang sighed, “I wonder if that guy still wants to be human.”

【Fan Aiguo】

Fan Aiguo was gnawing on a bone with a crisp crunch.

【Lin Kai】

Lin Kai laughed, “Dr. Tao said switching to an animal body is easier, but taking over a human body requires immense effort and risks. Getting a newly dead body to anchor his soul, though troublesome, can be done with the Lin Alliance’s power. But your friend insists on finding a handsome one…”

Xie Liang was silent.

The day Fan Aiguo pressed his paw on the ground and wrote “handsome” elegantly, the Lin Alliance was speechless.

Xie Liang said, “I’m not comfortable leaving him alone.”

Lin Kai said, “No problem. Use YuYu Ride-Hailing, I’ll give you a 20% discount.”

“…”

Xie Liang said, “You run YuYu Ride-Hailing?”

Lin Kai said, “Yes, the landlord’s idea, developed by Dr. Tao with the Liruo worm, now recruiting operators. How about Xiaoxiang Villa investing?”

【End of Flashback】

As the sun slanted westward, the carriage finally struggled over the mountain.

Xie Liang, tense, kept the curtain lifted, eyes glued to the road, muttering, “Don’t get lost, don’t get lost…”

Shen Huaishan reassured, “Young master said the negotiation is tomorrow, plenty of time.”

Xie Liang said, “You don’t understand. Once they enter that trap tomorrow, even gods can’t save them. The only chance is tonight. The Lin Alliance found they booked a suite at an inn outside the city. If I find him, drug the guards, and escape, there’s still a chance.”

Shen Huaishan laughed, “No need to worry. Look, that patch of lights ahead must be Jiancheng. Just head for the lights, can’t go wrong.”

【One Hour Later】

Shen Huaishan laughed, “Oh, turns out it’s not Jiancheng.”

【Old Driver】

Shen Huaishan said, “Don’t worry, from this town to Jiancheng is one road, just go straight… or maybe left?”

Shen Huaishan fell into thought.

“…”

Xie Liang said, “Move.”

Xie Liang squeezed next to Shen Huaishan, took the reins, and suddenly spurred the horse, making the carriage jolt.

Shen Huaishan, caught off guard, swayed, “Stay calm, young master, don’t arouse suspicion… Hey, slow down, we’re there!”

Xie Liang reined in, stopping the carriage at the inn’s entrance.

Xie Liang turned, “It’s a miracle you haven’t been reported.”

【Shen Huaishan】

Shen Huaishan, seemingly a mild-mannered person, said gently, “Sorry, young master, almost delayed your important matter. I’ll give you a 10% discount.”

Xie Liang handed over the money, “No need. If you really want to make up for it, wait outside. I’ll steal the person, then we head to the Lin Alliance.”

【Inn】

By now, the sun had set, and the distant Jiancheng’s gates closed, locking in the city lights.

Xie Liang jumped down, the innkeeper greeted him with a smile, “Guest, staying the night?”

Xie Liang asked, “Are there any other inns nearby?”

The innkeeper said promptly, “This is the only one on this road, three stars, clean rooms, soft beds, free breakfast and wake-up service.”

Xie Liang asked, “Any soldiers staying recently?”

The innkeeper hesitated, “Yes, often.”

Xie Liang casually tossed him a tip, “Get me a suite.”

【Sleeping Smoke】

The suite was on the second floor.

Once the innkeeper left, Xie Liang locked the door, listened for a while, then changed into a set of black clothes and took out a tube of sleeping smoke and an iron wire.

He waited until the inn was silent, then climbed out the window, cat-like, to the neighboring window. He poked a hole in the window paper, inserted the bamboo tube, and released the smoke.

Soon, the snoring inside faded, then ceased.

Xie Liang bent the iron wire, inserted it into the window latch, and carefully unlocked it.

In the dead of night, under the weak moonlight, Xie Liang entered through the window, using the faint light to check the person on the bed.

【Twist Here】

With a thunderous roar, the world lit up as bright as day. Xie Liang barely had time to look up before a blast wave hurled him through the air. The walls and windows shattered into splinters, flames swept in, and the floor trembled violently with a cacophony of screams.

In a desperate leap, Xie Liang somersaulted through a window, tumbling to the ground from the second floor. As he straightened up, he surveyed the burning inn.

Hell had descended upon the earth in an instant. The small inn was engulfed in flames, broken walls exposing charred corpses, some still in soldiers’ uniforms. Xie Liang’s pupils contracted as he instinctively called out, “Landlord?”

There was a series of soft thuds as debris fell, and a few figures staggered to their feet among the ruins. One of them, bloodied, sniffled at the sight and then, upon seeing Xie Liang, bellowed, “This is outrageous! Get that bastard!”

Xie Liang shouted, “It wasn’t me!”

The man yelled back, “Then why are you wearing night clothes?”

“…”

Xie Liang said, “It really wasn’t me.” Feeling guilty and unable to argue, he quietly grasped his sword. But the man shakily fumbled around and then raised a bird gun.

【Immediate Reaction】

Xie Liang turned and fled.

A gunshot rang out, the bullet grazing his shoulder. The man cursed and fired several more shots, his companions joining in.

Xie Liang dodged erratically as he ran, feeling a surge of despair. Suddenly, he heard a horse neigh and saw a familiar carriage charging towards him. With a burst of lightness, he leaped into the carriage.

The carriage didn’t slow down, barreling straight towards the assailants.

The men hurriedly aimed their guns but seemed to have trouble reloading. With the carriage bearing down on them, they scattered in a panic.

The carriage veered onto the main road, with someone shouting furiously behind, “Anyone still alive, reload and chase!”

【Fleeing】

Xie Liang was terrified, “Go, go, go, go…”

Shen Huaishan remained calm, “Come up, get on the horse.”

Xie Liang, too panicked to question, scrambled out of the carriage and onto the horse. Shen Huaishan followed, seating himself behind Xie Liang and deftly taking the sword from his hand.

Xie Liang heard a sharp snap from behind, and the horse suddenly surged forward at full speed.

As Xie Liang looked back in the chaos, he saw nothing but empty space where the carriage once was, and shouted, “What did you do?”

Shen Huaishan said, “I cut the yoke.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “Don’t worry, staying alive is the priority. We can get another carriage…”

Xie Liang shouted, “What about my wolf!!”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “Isn’t that a dog?”

Xie Liang shouted, “What about my wolf!!”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “Don’t worry, the wolf will sense danger and jump off the carriage. And even if they catch up, they likely won’t harm a beast.”

Xie Liang, heart racing, forced himself to think clearly, “Where are we running to?”

Shen Huaishan said, “Hmm…”

【Good Question】

Stars dotted the sky, and the heavy gates of Jiancheng remained closed ahead.

With the plains offering no cover, Xie Liang pointed back to the mountain they had crossed earlier, “Head back there.”

Shen Huaishan steered the horse off the road and galloped wildly, the pursuers relentless. Xie Liang counted roughly ten to twelve men.

Shen Huaishan guided the horse into the dense forest until the foliage was too thick to pass through, and they could no longer hear the pursuers.

Shen Huaishan halted the horse, “Should we find a place to hide?”

Xie Liang, catching his breath, suddenly snatched back his sword and pressed it against Shen Huaishan’s neck.

【Definitely a Mole】

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “What are you doing?”

Xie Liang whispered, “I figured it out.”

Shen Huaishan said, “What did you figure out?”

Xie Liang said, “A regular bodyguard couldn’t easily take my sword. I thought only the landlord’s group stayed at the inn. But that explosion not only endangered the landlord but also exposed the Pioneer Group’s infiltrators. They thought I was the bomber, but I knew I wasn’t. The only one who could have done it is you.”

Shen Huaishan was stunned, “Why would I do that?”

Xie Liang said, “You have some unspeakable plot, wanting them to destroy each other. That’s why you took my order, pretended to get lost, and slowed me down, preventing me from taking the landlord.”

Shen Huaishan’s mouth hung open.

Shen Huaishan said, “Young man, your reasoning is impressive. I almost believed it.”

“…”

【Absolutely a Mole】

Shen Huaishan said, “One thing I don’t get. If I had a plan, why wouldn’t I just kill you midway, instead of all this trouble?”

Xie Liang said, “You couldn’t beat me.”

Shen Huaishan said, “True. So why did I save you with the carriage just now?”

Xie Liang thought for a moment, “Your conscience was pricked.”

“…”

Xie Liang said, “Or you developed inexplicable feelings for me.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “Oh.”

【Still a Mole】

This delay cost them precious time. Hearing the chaos of footsteps, someone parted the nearby bushes and shouted, “They’re here!”

Seeing they were surrounded, Xie Liang gritted his teeth, leaping from the horse and landing on a tree trunk, his sword slicing through the moonlight and felling two men.

The display intimidated the group, who seemed unskilled in martial arts, and they hesitated to confront him directly, instead hiding behind trees and firing their bird guns.

Gunfire echoed as Xie Liang retreated and jumped back onto the horse, now sitting behind Shen Huaishan, his fingers pressing threateningly on his acupoints, “Retreat.”

Shen Huaishan spurred the horse, “Xiao Die Yun Zhang? You’re Xie Liang?”

Xie Liang said, “With your vision, you must be more than a mere bodyguard.”

Shen Huaishan smiled wryly, “If the sword was in my hand, why would I let you take it back?”

Xie Liang said, “To gain my trust.”

Shen Huaishan said, “And then?”

“…”

Xie Liang said, “Then deceive me into staying with you, taking me to some unspeakable place.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “Oh.”

【Shen Huaishan】

Shen Huaishan suddenly reined in the horse, “Maybe you should get off here?”

“…”

Xie Liang slapped the horse’s rear, “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

【Horse】

The horse was confused.

【Truth】

Shen Huaishan urged the horse, “No.”

Xie Liang pressed his cold fingers with a surge of energy into his acupoints, “Tell the truth if you don’t want to die!”

Shen Huaishan thought for a moment, “I regret taking this job.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “You’ll have to compensate for the carriage.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “And the horse’s injuries count as damages.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan thought again, “That’s about it.”

【Proof】

Xie Liang slowly said, “Are you really not a mole?”

Shen Huaishan said, “Probably not.”

Xie Liang said, “How can you prove it?”

Shen Huaishan smiled bitterly, “Please teach me a way, young master.”

“…”

Deep in the forest, roots twisted, and branches tangled, making it hard for the horse to move. The pursuers caught up. Xie Liang, anxious, said, “The Lin Alliance is on the other side of Jiancheng. I need to get reinforcements to find the landlord and the wolf. I’ll buy your horse or return it later.”

Shen Huaishan said, “No.”

Xie Liang asked, “Why not?”

Shen Huaishan said, “You can use the horse, but I can’t get off.”

Xie Liang said, “You do have a problem…” His words stopped abruptly.

Before them, the view suddenly opened up to a cliff, with a raging river below, its depth unknown.

Cold sweat drenched Xie Liang. Without thinking, he struck Shen Huaishan’s acupoints, immobilizing him.

Xie Liang, fully alert, demanded, “Explain this?”

Unexpectedly, Shen Huaishan looked equally distressed, “I don’t know the way.”

“…”

【Action Scene】

Hearing the pursuers closing in, with no escape, Xie Liang steeled himself, leaping back into the dark forest like a crow. The men saw a shadow and fired instinctively.

Xie Liang grunted in pain as a bullet struck his left arm, but he kept moving, darting through the trees, using the darkness for cover.

One pursuer said, “Look, a martial arts film.”

His companion cursed, “Martial arts my ass, try deflecting bullets.”

【Desperation】

Gunfire continued, startling the birds.

Xie Liang, barely holding on, dodged and evaded, hoping they’d run out of bullets. But the pursuers quickly developed a tactic, with some reloading while others fired, maintaining continuous fire.

Exhausted, Xie Liang slowed, then took a bullet to the leg, collapsing as branches snapped.

The pursuers closed in, one aiming his gun at Xie Liang’s head as he struggled to stand.

At the last moment, something whizzed through the air, striking the gun and knocking it aside. The man fired, hitting only a tree root.

The object landed—a stone.

Xie Liang turned, seeing the man and horse he had left behind were now gone.

【Struggle for Survival】

A quick-witted time traveler pointed in the direction from which the stone had flown, shouting, “That bastard has allies! Shoot that way!” The others, hearing this, turned and fired.

Enduring immense pain, Xie Liang climbed to his feet and dragged his injured leg, creeping behind them. He had just raised his sword when he heard the mournful neigh of a horse from the shadows of the trees, followed by the heavy thud of it falling.

Heart tightening, Xie Liang felt a surge of energy course through him. He plunged his sword into a man’s chest, the dying man’s throat producing a gurgling sound. Xie Liang pulled out his sword and thrust again, killing three men in quick succession. The remaining ones hurriedly aimed their guns at him, but Xie Liang, unable to perform his light-footed techniques, could only fight to drag another down with him to hell.

In the darkness, there was a series of rapid “whizzing” sounds. The men could barely see the incoming objects, only hearing the “clang clang” of metal. Their hands went numb, and their gun barrels were all bent. Before they could react, a figure darted out like a ghost, snatched a bird gun, and without a word, aimed and fired, hitting one of them squarely in the forehead.

In a flash, Xie Liang found himself being lifted off his feet. The figure hoisted him onto his back, launched into the trees, and sped away.

【Shen Huaishan】

Shen Huaishan muttered, “Tsk, what a waste of ammo,” and tossed the bird gun aside.

Lying on Shen Huaishan’s back, Xie Liang found himself choking on a multitude of questions.

“…”

Xie Liang asked, “When did you learn to use a gun?”

Shen Huaishan replied, “Just now. I figured it out by watching.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan sighed, “This thing in the hands of an expert could sweep armies. The younger generation is indeed formidable.”

Xie Liang said, “Thank you for saving me.”

Shen Huaishan replied, “Oh.”

Xie Liang continued, “Sorry for dragging you into this and for wrongfully accusing you.”

Shen Huaishan said, “Hm.”

“…”

Xie Liang said, “And the horse…”

Shen Huaishan interrupted, “That wasn’t your fault. It was my poor sense of direction that got it killed. Hold on, and don’t die on me.”

Xie Liang, touched, said, “I’m fine for now.”

Shen Huaishan said, “That’s good. At least hold on until you help me find the way.”

“…”

【Hiding】

Shen Huaishan didn’t flee far before stopping. He climbed a large, leafy tree and settled Xie Liang on a branch, signaling for silence.

Xie Liang held his breath, and soon they saw the pursuers pass beneath them. One said, “They can’t have gone far with an injured man. They must be hiding nearby. Split up and search!”

Another said, “If they’re not in the cave, they’re up in the trees.”

Another said, “Trees are hard to search. A flashlight would be handy.”

Yet another cursed, “Can’t even make electricity, let alone flashlights. A torch is more practical.”

【True Name】

As the pursuers moved away, Shen Huaishan looked Xie Liang up and down, tearing strips of cloth from his clothes. “We’ll treat your wounds properly when we reach the Martial Arts Alliance. For now, let’s just stop the bleeding.”

Xie Liang raised his arm, letting him bandage the wounds, and asked quietly, “Senior, what’s your real name?”

Shen Huaishan paused, “What real name?”

Xie Liang said, “With your skills, you can’t be an unknown in the martial world. Who are you really?”

Shen Huaishan chuckled, “This is my real name. I’m just an unknown. I was a bodyguard who had some trouble and stopped running escorts.”

Xie Liang remained silent.

【Secret】

The wind rustled the treetops, and distant lights flickered like foxfire. The pursuers had finally lit torches.

Suddenly, Xie Liang said, “Years ago, the famous chief escort of Wei Zhen Escort Agency died in a landslide. That was seven or eight years ago, right?”

Shen Huaishan scoffed, “Chief Escort Yang prided himself on his looks and sense of direction. If you think I’m him, you might as well bring him back from the grave.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “Young man, I’ve lost my way more times than you’ve eaten meals. My secret has nothing to do with your little trouble. Saving you is just professional courtesy.”

Xie Liang, embarrassed, said, “I was reckless. I can’t repay your great kindness…”

Shen Huaishan said, “If you want to repay me, leave me a five-star review.”

“…”

【Wolf】

The night deepened, the stars gradually moving westward. The wilderness was silent, except for the distant howls of beasts.

Suddenly, Xie Liang sat up, “Did you hear a wolf’s howl?”

Shen Huaishan said, “I think so. But it’s not unusual for wild wolves to be around here. It might not be—”

At that moment, another howl echoed. Xie Liang furrowed his brow, listening intently. “It’s Fan Aiguo. He’s looking for me!”

Shen Huaishan said, “Your wolf has a unique name.”

They heard footsteps approaching. A time traveler said in alarm, “Why are there wolves? It sounds like it’s coming this way!”

Another said, “Don’t be scared. We have torches. We can shoot it if it comes close.”

The two walked beneath the tree, torches raised, looking around. Xie Liang, hidden in the foliage, whispered, “He’s climbing the mountain…”

Shen Huaishan whispered back, “Wolves won’t come near the fire.”

Xie Liang shook his head, “My wolf is different. He’ll come towards the fire to find me. We can’t let them see him!”

A time traveler stopped, “I think I heard something.”

Shen Huaishan covered Xie Liang’s mouth, holding his breath and staying still.

The two searched but found nothing and slowly walked away. Shen Huaishan released his hand, pressing Xie Liang down, “Stay calm. You’re too injured to move recklessly.”

Xie Liang’s mind raced, “But I can call out to him.”

Shen Huaishan scolded, “Are you stupid? Shouting will reveal our hiding place. Is that wolf more important than your life?”

Xie Liang didn’t answer.

Shen Huaishan, seeing his expression change, slowly said, “You’re insane.”

Xie Liang didn’t argue, nodding, “Senior, you should leave. This has nothing to do with you. Don’t get involved. I’ll call out once you’re far enough.”

【Repayment】

The wolf’s howls grew louder.

Shen Huaishan said, “I’m not leaving. It’s against my professional ethics.”

Xie Liang said, “I appreciate your goodwill, but the situation is unique. I can’t watch him die. Please understand.”

Shen Huaishan angrily said, “I saved your life, but a beast is still a beast. My horse died, but your wolf can’t?”

“…”

Xie Liang said, “There’s more to it. He’s not just a wolf.”

Shen Huaishan said, “My horse wasn’t just a horse either!”

Xie Liang, exasperated, said, “It’s different… Your horse was special, but it was still a horse…”

【Desperation】

Seeing Shen Huaishan’s confused expression, Xie Liang made up his mind, “If you don’t leave, I’ll call out.”

Shen Huaishan threw up his hands, “You’re unreasonable. I’m not dying with you!” He leapt into the forest.

Xie Liang closed his eyes, counting silently, “Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight…”

The stars were silent, as if watching the cycles of karma.

His sweat-soaked hand could barely hold his sword. He placed it across his knees, adopting a solemn posture.

“Four, three, two…”

Taking a deep breath, Xie Liang shouted with all his might, “Fan Aiguo!”

His voice echoed through the forest, startling the mountains. The wolf’s howls stopped.

Xie Liang screamed, “Go down the mountain! I’ll meet you at the foot!”

The wolf gave a short howl and fell silent. The pursuers, however, rushed towards the sound, “They’re in the trees! Aim for that one, we’ll hit them eventually!”

The first shot struck Xie Liang’s waist.

He writhed in pain, trying to fix his hair, mumbling, “I should’ve given my life to you then. Consider this repayment.”

【Twist】

The second shot never hit.

Xie Liang felt himself being lifted again, thrown onto someone’s back. Shen Huaishan, with his robes fluttering, darted through the branches.

Shen Huaishan said, “You’re risking your life for that beast. Do you have some forbidden feelings for it?”

“…”

Xie Liang said, “It’s not like that.”

【Old Friend】

As dawn approached, the forest grew brighter, making it harder to hide. The pursuers, exhausted, panted heavily. Shen Huaishan, also wounded, slowed and finally stopped.

Xie Liang struggled off his back, his waist wound bleeding profusely. “Senior, we can’t both escape. My death repays

 a debt. You don’t need to die with me.”

Shen Huaishan said, “I owe my life too.”

Xie Liang, confused, asked, “To whom?”

Shen Huaishan said, “A pretty boy.”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “He was better-looking and knew his way around, but not as skilled as me. He wanted me to follow him, and I agreed to be an unknown beside him. But I always argued with him. One day, while escorting, we had a falling out and parted ways.”

At the brink of death, Shen Huaishan grew more talkative, “I took the wrong path and was lost for three days. When I finally found my way, I learned he had died in a landslide looking for me.”

Xie Liang, understanding, heard the pursuers closing in. Their eyes gleamed with bloodlust. Out of ammunition, they drew poisoned blades.

Shen Huaishan pressed a palm to Xie Liang’s back, transferring energy. “I always wondered if I had chosen the right path…”

The lead pursuer charged with a shout, brandishing his sword.

Shen Huaishan said, “I could’ve at least told him one thing.”

He shoved Xie Liang, who stumbled and realized they had reached the mountain’s foot.

Shen Huaishan turned away, calmly saying, “Go find the wolf. Ride it to escape.”

The pursuers swarmed, their blades aimed at Shen Huaishan. Xie Liang threw his sword, shouting, “Senior!”

Shen Huaishan caught the sword and yelled, “Get lost!”

【Descent】

Tears filled Xie Liang’s eyes as he stumbled and ran, his leg wound reopening, leaving a trail of blood. Suddenly, he tripped over a tree root and rolled down the slope.

Gritting his teeth, Xie Liang propped himself up, seeing a pair of horse hooves in front of him. His gaze slowly moved upward to a familiar horse face.

The horse scraped the ground, carving out the character “Fan.”

【The Horse】

Shen Huaishan, injured and wary of the poisoned blades, fought with all his might, driven by sheer willpower, but was nearing his limit. Suddenly, he heard the familiar sound of horse hooves. Turning around, his expression briefly resembled seeing a ghost.

Xie Liang shouted, “No time to explain, get on the horse.”

“…”

By now, dawn was breaking, and the two of them galloped towards the rising sun. Xie Liang, cold from blood loss, felt his consciousness drifting. Suddenly, Shen Huaishan said, “There’s a group of people ahead.”

Startled, Xie Liang thought they were caught in a pincer attack and that this was the end. But the group ahead rushed past them without hesitation, heading straight for the pursuers behind. The sound of clashing weapons ensued.

Xie Liang, squinting to see who it was, let out a sigh of relief and choked out, “Alliance Leader Lin!”

【Lin Kai】

Lin Kai, hands behind his back, ordered, “Take the prisoners alive. Bring the injured to be treated.”

Immediately, people came to place the two on stretchers and carried them away to tend to their wounds.

Xie Liang anxiously said, “Alliance Leader Lin, someone bombed the inn last night, the Tower Master…” He stopped mid-sentence upon seeing the figure beside Lin Kai.

【Tower Master】

The Tower Master said, “Ah… sorry, it seems I was the one who bombed it.”

【Xie Liang】

Xie Liang, mouth agape, stared in silence for a moment before looking at Lin Kai.

Lin Kai, laughing awkwardly, said, “There was a mix-up because of intercepted letters. Sorry for the trouble, Brother Xie.”

【Tower Master】

The Tower Master explained, “Simply put, as a time traveler who did nothing, the Emperor grew increasingly displeased with me. Knowing change was inevitable, I sent Yunqi to the Martial Arts Alliance and planned my escape. When the Emperor ordered me to negotiate, he blocked my information network in Zhan City. Sensing something was off, I found poison on the soldiers sent to monitor me.”

“…”

The Tower Master continued, “The Emperor likely planned to kill me and the Pioneer Group representatives, killing two birds with one stone. I decided to blow up the inn before the negotiations, faking my death to escape. I hid near the ruins, planning to slip away quietly, but then I heard you calling my name and saw the time travelers chasing you…”

“…”

The Tower Master said, “I guessed you might be sent by Lin Kai to rescue me, so I followed, hoping to help. I then saw a wolf climbing out of a carriage, grabbing me and writing with its claws, scaring me half to death.”

“…”

The Tower Master said, “Fan and I split up; I went to find Lin Kai for reinforcements, and he went into the mountains to find you. Running all the way wore out my shoes, and I feared the worst for you two…”

“…”

The Tower Master coughed, “Anyway, sorry again for the trouble, Brother Xie.”

【The Horse】

Xie Liang turned to the horse, “How did you become a horse?”

The horse scraped the ground, “When I heard your shout, I ran down the mountain and saw a horse’s body. Figured it was easier to escape this way…”

Xie Liang quickly stopped him and glanced at Shen Huaishan.

【Shen Huaishan】

Shen Huaishan was staring at the sky.

【Three Days Later】

The Martial Arts Alliance headquarters was surrounded by lush bamboo and elegant pavilions, like a paradise, though the conversations within were far from idyllic.

Lin Kai, eating a melon, said, “The Emperor’s ruthless actions have severed any chance of negotiating with the Pioneer Group.”

The Tower Master replied, “Do you really think the Pioneer Group came for peace talks? Prince Yu hates the Emperor and is now backing the Pioneer Group, probably itching to storm the capital.”

Lin Kai laughed, “Your bombing gives both sides an excuse to start a war.”

The Tower Master slouched lazily in his chair, “They would have found an excuse anyway. These people built guns but not a single steam engine. Do you know why?”

“…”

The Tower Master said, “They don’t want social change or to lose their privileges; they just want to move into the palace. Human nature has always been like this, but these people are more dangerous. After all… knowledge is power.”

Lin Kai said, “I don’t get what you’re saying, but it sounds scary.”

“…”

The Tower Master said, “Don’t pretend.”

【Alliance Leader】

The Tower Master asked, “A big battle is inevitable. What’s your plan?”

Lin Kai, still eating the melon, said, “I’m always a bystander. What’s your plan?”

The Tower Master smiled, “Me? My boy Yunqi got a book from the Pioneer Group’s hideout last time.”

This seemingly nonsensical statement made Lin Kai squint at him.

They stared at each other for a few seconds before the Tower Master extended his hand, “Share some of that melon?”

【Ending】

Xie Liang, holding a horse, stood by the roadside waiting for a ride.

【The Road】

The road in front of the Martial Arts Alliance was broad and open, welcoming heroes from all over.

Recently, Alliance Leader Lin Kai had been doing good deeds, setting up a refugee camp at the foot of the mountain. Not only did he provide food and clothing, but he also hired refugees to build strange-looking sheds, assembling unheard-of devices inside. These sheds were said to be “factories.”

The refugees, grateful for the work, were diligent, and the temporary refugee camp gradually developed into a small town.

【The Carriage】

Lin Kai had given a new carriage to Shen Huaishan. Seeing Xie Liang, he smiled, “No need to see me off.”

Xie Liang said, “Why don’t you stay longer to recover before leaving?”

Shen Huaishan replied, “This is a young man’s business; I’ll stay out of it.”

Xie Liang lowered his head, “Where are you going?”

Shen Huaishan smiled, “I don’t know much, I’m tired of fighting and killing. All I can do now is drive a carriage. Although your Alliance Leader gave me a new carriage, he insists I learn to navigate before I can take jobs. Since I can’t do anything now, I’m planning to visit a grave.”

Xie Liang pointed to the horse beside him, “Fan Aiguo wants to apologize. This horse seems important to you, and he feels bad for using it.”

Shen Huaishan said, “It belonged to an old friend. Even though it’s dead, I’m glad it could help you. Use it as long as you need before changing back.”

【The Horse】

The horse, eyes moist, neighed, “Whinny.”

【Shen Huaishan】

Shen Huaishan waved, “Take care. I’m leaving now.”

Xie Liang stood there, watching the carriage move away into the sunset, casting a lonely shadow.

【Xie Liang】

Xie Liang looked at the horse, which snorted.

He silently reached into his pocket and pulled out a box, from which he took a transparent, slug-like worm.

Shen Huaishan had just driven a short distance when he heard the fluttering of wings. The pigeon on his cart flew out in a hurry.

Shen Huaishan turned back, watching the pigeon fly up and down before landing on Xie Liang’s shoulder.

“…”

Xie Liang seriously tied a note to the pigeon’s leg and let it fly back to the carriage.

Xie Liang said, “Driver, I’d like to take my horse for a walk and have no particular destination. May I join you for a while?”

“…”

Shen Huaishan said, “Get in.”