Beggar Travels the World

Chapter 15

Perhaps agreeing to search for Cui Shenghan with Bai Can was a mistake.

Shui Wu'er slowly walked downstairs and was stunned when she saw the situation downstairs.

A dozen or so women dressed in purple stood in a row in the hall, each with a cold expression. A middle-aged beauty sat in the middle, a half-smile playing on her lips, her eyebrows gleaming. A man stood respectfully behind her, his head bowed. The whole scene was incredibly grand and imposing.

Most of the people in the inn were intimidated by the woman's power and fled. Only the Five Evil Stars stood in a row facing the middle-aged beauty, each of them looking fierce and menacing, yet their aura was no less imposing than hers.

In another corner sat a man and a woman, both exceptionally beautiful. Because of Bai Can, Shui Wu'er had already investigated their situation. The sick woman was named Rong Qiu Rui, the eldest daughter of You Rong Manor, while the young man was Rong Ju Feng, the young master of You Rong Manor. You Rong Manor was located in the western border region, and its previous generation had been renowned in the martial arts world. However, after the death of the old master, its power gradually declined, and it faded from the martial arts scene. Rong Qiu Rui had suffered from a strange illness since childhood, and despite seeking help from numerous famous doctors, none could cure her. Only then did Rong Ju Feng seek the help of the legendary physician, Bai Wen.

This Master Rong loves his sister dearly, but he is cold and aloof, keeping strangers at bay. Rong Qiurui, however, is unlike her brother. She is simple, kind, and naive. After a few days, she opens up to Shui Wu'er, making Shui Wu'er feel ashamed.

Before anyone could see, the Black Dragon King of the Five Evil Stars had been slapped hard across the face, probably for speaking rudely. The one who slapped him was the respectful man behind the middle-aged woman. Before anyone could see him clearly, he had already moved in front of the Black Dragon King to punish him, and then returned to his original position.

Apart from the Black Dragon King, who was crying out and clutching his cheek, the Five Evil Stars were all terrified. In their more than twenty years of experience, they had never suffered such an insult, let alone the fact that their opponent's martial arts were so high that they were powerless to resist.

"Who...who exactly are you people?" After a long while, Yama, the scholar, finally came to his senses.

"The leader of the Qiong Sect, Mu, is here! Why don't you kneel down and pay your respects!" The man spoke, his voice flat but swift.

"Qiong Sect?"

The Five Evil Stars exchanged glances, and White Bear Lord suddenly laughed, "The leader of the Qiong Sect is clearly surnamed Jiang, and he is a grown man. You are a woman, and you are quite good-looking, but you are not quite good enough to impersonate the leader." Everyone present could see that his smile was extremely forced.

The man glanced at him, expressionless: "Master Jiang passed away last year. The current master is Master Mu."

The Five Evil Stars exchanged another glance and had no choice but to accept the fact. The Smiling Buddha stepped forward and bowed, saying, "So it really is Master Mu who has graced us with his presence. My brothers were quite rude earlier, please forgive them."

Mu Wanfeng—The middle-aged beauty looked around, stood up, but didn't exchange pleasantries with the Smiling Buddha, leaving him quite embarrassed. After a moment of silence, she suddenly asked, "Which way is Hundred Questions Valley?"

Everyone's expression changed; what Yanluo Xiucai had said was indeed true.

"Is Master Mu also going to Hundred Questions Valley for medical treatment?" The Smiling Buddha asked cautiously.

Mu Wanfeng nodded: "This long-standing heartache needs to be treated."

Bai Xiongjun and the others couldn't help but show anger on their faces. They had all suffered from intractable diseases for decades and had no choice but to take this path. Mu Wanfeng was so nonchalant about it, as if she had just casually found a doctor to check on her typhoid fever and cold.

"Doesn't Master Mu know that the Divine Physician of One Hundred Questions only sees one patient per year?" White Bear Lord stepped forward angrily.

Mu Wanfeng's eyes sparkled, a faint smile appearing on them, causing Bai Xiongjun to be momentarily stunned.

"This leader naturally knows."

White Bear steadied himself and said, "Since Master Mu knows this, he should..." He originally wanted to say that he should withdraw voluntarily, but after thinking about it, he thought it would be too much, so he changed his words to, "He should know the principle of fair competition."

"Oh?" Mu Wanfeng raised her eyebrows in surprise. "This sect leader has never known the principle of fair competition." She turned slightly to face Shui Wu'er, who was going up the stairs.

Shui Wu'er couldn't help but shrink back.

Mu Wanfeng seemed not to see her at all: "Who else here is going to Hundred Questions Valley? Wu Guo, kill them all."

"Yes," Wu Guo replied obediently, as if she had merely instructed him to slice two eggplants.

As soon as these two sentences were uttered, everyone's expression turned extremely ugly. Mu Wanfeng clearly intended to exterminate them all, and a major battle was inevitable.

Shui Wu'er slowly turned around and went upstairs.

A colorful ribbon suddenly shot out from Mu Wanfeng's sleeve, tightly wrapping around Shui Wu'er's waist. She felt a dizzying sensation, and the next second, her body was already flying into the air.

A white shadow drifted down just in time, the colorful ribbon split in two, and Bai Can intercepted Shui Wu'er's flight towards Mu Wanfeng, landing slowly.

"How can the leader of a sect be so arrogant?" Bai Can's sense of justice was on full display.

Mu Wanfeng glanced at him coldly, but her sharp gaze shot directly at Shui Wu'er: "Is your mother's surname Ruan?"

Shui Wu'er finally managed to put her feet on the ground, leaned against Bai Can, and shook her head in fear.

Mu Wanfeng stared at her suspiciously: "What is your relationship with Ruan Wuyou?"

Shui Wu'er shook her head again.

Mu Wanfeng gritted her teeth and sneered, "Do you think I can't do anything to you just because you don't talk?" With a wave of her hand, the colorful ribbon slapped directly at her head.

"Stop!" someone shouted at the door.

It turned out to be Baili Tieyi.

Shui Wu'er's heart sank.

Mu Wanfeng stopped her attack and smiled brightly: "So it's Young Master Tieyi. You're so fast, you're only half a day late. Why, didn't Young Master Qingyi come with you?"

Before she could finish speaking, Shui Wu'er saw Baili Qingyi gracefully enter.

She truly is a celestial being descended to earth; her entrance is always so magnificent.

Her heart tightened sharply, then tightened again.

The immortal looked thinner and his complexion wasn't good. His brows remained calm as ever, but he had lost some of his warmth. And... there was a beautiful woman following behind him.

"Young Master in Green, it's been a long time." Mu Wanfeng's tone was light and cheerful. Women, regardless of age or beauty, are always pleased to see a handsome man.

"Master Mu." Baili Qingyi remained polite, his gaze sweeping around before returning to the group.

Shui Wu'er trembled, hurriedly shifting her weight from Bai Can and standing properly. Why was she acting so guilty?

"Since Master Mu has come to the Central Plains, he must abide by the rules of the Central Plains, compete fairly, and prioritize the capable." Baili Qingyi's words were calm, yet contained a sense of oppression.

"Hmph, I just won't stand my ground, what can you do about it?"

Behind Baili Qingyi stood four guards, as well as Yuwen Cuiyu. The imposing presence... was about the same. So the Baili family wasn't completely destitute after all.

"Master Mu, if it comes to a fight, Qingyi might not necessarily lose." This already carries a threatening tone.

Mu Wanfeng choked for a moment before turning cold and menacing: "That's right. If it weren't for the woman behind you that day, you wouldn't have taken a blow from me. And the only one who could take a blow from me and still be unharmed is probably the young master in green."

Shui Wu'er slowly smoothed out her stiff smile. So it was out of chivalry, huh? Very well, very well.

"Master Mu showed mercy that day, and I, Qingyi, will never forget it. I beg you, Master Mu, to grant me this favor." He was neither humble nor arrogant, but he had completely blocked the way.

Shui Wu'er heard herself sneer: So what if he can fight? Who would dare to talk big if they couldn't?

Mu Wanfeng's face turned pale and then flushed. After a long while, she said, "Fine, I, Mu Wanfeng, will grant you this favor!" She waved her sleeve and said, "Go back and prepare. We'll enter the valley tomorrow!"

Yuwen Cuiyu followed closely behind Baili Qingyi. As she passed Shui Wu'er, she asked softly, "Miss Shui, are you feeling better?"

Shui Wu'er smiled and said, "It's alright."

As Baili Tieyi passed by Shui Wu'er, he asked, "Little Wu'er, did you really elope?"

Shui Wu'er almost choked on her own saliva.

Only one person acted as if she didn't exist from beginning to end.

Either they don't care about her at all, or they're furious.

It's probably the former. The person still looks calm and composed, with an elegant demeanor that captivates countless young girls. Where is the anger?

Oh well, it was a doomed relationship to begin with.

※ ※ ※

Shui Wu'er always slept very soundly, and only in her dreams would she peacefully reveal a faint sorrow.

The room was dimly lit, and a figure stood indistinctly in front of the bed.

His fingers gently touched the sleeping person's brow.

Shui Wu'er stirred, her brows furrowed, and she murmured in her sleep, "Xiao'er... I dare not... I dare not..."

The hand recoiled as if it had encountered a thorn, and an indescribable expression crossed the face of its owner.

He stood there for a while before reaching out again to grasp her wrist. The pulse he felt through her fingertips made him frown.

In a daze, Shui Wu'er felt her body being lifted up and then carefully placed in an embrace—broad, warm, and firm, yet perfectly fitting. A touch of warmth quietly flowed through her hair, so tenderly.

She let out a soft moan, and a familiar, clean, and refreshing masculine scent wafted from her nostrils.

Consciousness surged through her like a torrent, she shuddered, the dream faded, and reality overwhelmed her.

Her cheeks flushed slightly; she clearly sensed something.

It's him!

She dared not open her eyes, dared not do anything, fearing that it was all an illusion.

She suddenly felt something cold on her lips, and before she could realize it, a pill slid into her mouth, and her heart sank.

"Swallow it, it's good for your health." A soft male voice brushed past her ear.

She was stunned.

"Swallow it, or I'll help you swallow it."

A soft gasp was heard, and she obediently did as she was told.

She heard him sigh. A tender feeling welled up in her heart; this man was someone everyone in the martial arts world wanted to rely on.

After a moment of silence, a warm embrace enveloped her once more, gently and softly, as if trying to meld her into itself.

"What am I supposed to do with you?" he murmured from above.

And she, pressed close to his chest, could feel the beating of a heart inside him, more clearly than ever before.

People are always bolder in the dark.

At this moment, the two were intimately close, yet they tacitly kept silent.

At this moment, their hearts were pounding like drums, yet they remained as calm as if they were alone.

At this moment, she dared not open her eyes, and he dared not reveal that she was already awake. In that instant, it was as if the glamour and noise had been stripped away, and something was about to burst forth in each of their hearts.

It turns out that each other's thoughts were clear in the other's mind.

It turns out that she wasn't the only one who had a clear mind but dared not speak it out.

※ ※ ※

Those who enter the Valley of a Hundred Questions seeking medical help must ask themselves a hundred questions.

There is no other reason than that the path to the Valley of a Hundred Questions is the most intricate and complex in the world, a path even gods and ghosts cannot traverse. Legend has it that hundreds of years ago, Nanxingzi, the 179th generation descendant of Guiguzi, set up an array here, trapping three thousand elite soldiers of Yuwen Huaji at the end of the Sui Dynasty. None of them survived. Over the years, the array was destroyed and transformed into this valley.