Chapter 36: A Sheep Lost on the Crossroads

Chapter 36: A Sheep Lost on the Crossroads

"Snake Xiaogui" was obviously a fake name, but Li Chaofeng had every right to withhold his true identity from Peng Yihu—who, after all, had saved his life.

Peng Yihu didn’t mind. The night before, they’d only briefly exchanged names and stories while recovering from their ordeal. Now fully rested, he turned to Hu Tiehua and asked why they’d ventured into the desert.

As Hu Tiehua explained, Peng Yihu heard the names Chu Liuxiang and Ji Bingyan mentioned—and felt a surge of reassurance.

Swallow and Butterfly Twin Wings, Fragrant Blossoms Fill the Mortal Realm.

Ten years ago, the three of them had already been celebrated heroes in the Martial World. If they’d reunited now, it couldn’t be for ill intent.

Never mind the Paradise Star on Peng Yihu’s shoulder—the Jade Beauty, one of the Four Treasures of the Capital, had even fallen into the hands of the "Thief Lord", only to be returned once he’d grown bored.

As Hu Tiehua recounted their desert journey, Ji Bingyan—who’d just finished checking the camel caravan’s supplies—approached Li Chaofeng. He crouched beside the iron pot, studying the clear water inside.

Ji Bingyan had kept watch during the first half of the night, while Li Chaofeng had emerged later to set his Suspended Sword Condensation technique. They’d missed each other.

Now, Ji Bingyan examined the scene with curiosity. The swords and pots had come from Peng Yihu’s caravan. But the water in the pot? Ji Bingyan, who’d brought his own water supplies, knew better. The water in their leather bags always carried a faint fishy scent, no matter how clean it seemed.

Li Chaofeng yawned and sat up, noticing Ji Bingyan’s fascination. "Suspended Sword Condensation", he explained with a grin. "Works fine as long as the air isn’t too dry."

Ji Bingyan winced inwardly, chagrined. "No wonder you’ve never feared the desert, you sly fox. With water at your fingertips and that nose of yours, tracking beasts—or people—is child’s play. You’re unstoppable out here."

Li Chaofeng chuckled, but his smile faded. "Since dawn, a hawk’s circled above. About twenty riders linger a mile off—watching, not daring to approach."

Ji Bingyan frowned. Glancing at Peng Yihu and the others listening to Hu Tiehua’s boasts, he lowered his voice. "Think they’re after us—or the Paradise Star on Peng’s shoulder?"

Li Chaofeng’s eyes gleamed. "More accurately? Peng Yihu was delivered to us by them."

Ji Bingyan’s lips twitched into a wry smile. "Looks like they’ve underestimated us completely."

Li Chaofeng blinked, surprised. Since when had Ji Bingyan grown so confident?

Reading his thoughts, Ji Bingyan whispered, "Don’t flatter yourself, you snake-brat. If I weren’t worried that stinking bug Chu Liuxiang would drag us into trouble, do you think the Stone Guanyin could touch us? With your nose leading the way, even the Jade Emperor himself couldn’t trap us."

Ji Bingyan’s true worries were twofold: the Stone Guanyin, and Chu Liuxiang’s insatiable curiosity.

That curiosity was Chu Liuxiang’s greatest flaw—and Ji Bingyan’s pet peeve. Once piqued, it brought endless chaos. Ji Bingyan had learned this through years of shared adventures in the Martial World.

Compared to the hotheaded Hu Tiehua, Ji Bingyan resented Chu Liuxiang far more.

They could’ve taken safe paths, but Chu Liuxiang always chose danger. Ji Bingyan’s careful plans had been upended countless times by his reckless friend.

Yet here he was, still bound to him by life and death.

Now, with enemies closing in, evasion seemed impossible. Ji Bingyan nodded, already plotting their next move. If they couldn’t hide, they’d need to know their foe.

Hu Tiehua then mentioned the poison Peng Yihu’s group had suffered. At the mention of Heart-Rot Poison, Peng Yihu paled. Hu Tiehua gestured to Li Chaofeng, repeating his earlier explanation. Peng Yihu rushed over, bowing deeply.

"Snake Young Master, is it true that resisting the inner itch is enough to survive Poppy Poison unscathed?"

Li Chaofeng studied him. "If you’d ingested it longer, recovery would’ve been harder. But as Hu said, the itching is just your body purging it. A single dose? Just a minor ailment. You’ve shown no symptoms lately—you’re likely healed."

Relieved, Peng Yihu’s face fell. "Master Ji, might we share some camel water? We must press on—the cargo’s bound for Kucha Kingdom. Failure would ruin the Peng family’s reputation."

Ji Bingyan narrowed his eyes, then smiled. "Kucha? Convenient. We’ll escort you."

Peng Yihu’s joy was barely concealed. "What an honor to travel with three such heroes!"

Chu Liuxiang, Hu Tiehua, and Ji Bingyan were legends in the Martial World, their skills evenly matched. Over the past decade, Chu Liuxiang had even earned the title "Thief Lord."

With them guarding him, Peng Yihu knew the Paradise Star would be safe—unless Chu Liuxiang himself coveted it. And if their foes truly wanted it, he’d have no choice but to yield.

Chu Liuxiang, meanwhile, scratched his nose, puzzled by Ji Bingyan’s sudden cooperation. He’d already guessed Li Chaofeng’s secret: someone had placed Peng Yihu in their path, seeking a favor in return.

If not for his urgent quest to rescue his beloved, Chu Liuxiang might’ve leapt into this new mystery himself. But he held his tongue—Ji Bingyan had decided, and as a friend, he’d follow.

Most importantly… this was an invitation.

Black Pearl, the desert’s young lord, had kidnapped his lover—a veiled invitation to Kucha Kingdom.

Now, Peng Yihu’s route to Kucha aligned with Chu Liuxiang’s goal. The two "invitations" might share the same sender.

By dusk, the caravan packed and departed. Li Chaofeng directed Peng Yihu’s men to stock dried horsemeat, and the camels trudged westward.

As they moved, Li Chaofeng nodded subtly—the riders behind them now kept their distance.

Water was no issue. Twenty men wouldn’t threaten Chu Liuxiang and his companions.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end