Volume Three, Chapter 105: The Gold and Silver Stronghold

Other issues were easier to address, but the last one left Yu Mu speechless. He could only insist, “At the time, it was to heal your injury!”

Hu Niu wore a look of complete disbelief and retorted, “That ridiculous technique of yours—are you saying you can only heal by hitting that particular spot?”

“Uh... well, not exactly. I was in a hurry and didn’t even notice where I struck before acting. So...” Yu Mu stammered.

“Hmph! What a lame excuse. Fine, no matter what, you did save me once, so let’s call it even and forget it,” Hu Niu said, her expression softening suddenly as she smiled brightly. “Can you take out your stick so I can see it?”

“My stick? Take it out? What are you thinking?”

“You pervert, why are you covering there? What’s on your mind?” With that, she smacked Yu Mu on the head.

“I meant the jade-green wooden staff,” Yu Mu clarified.

“Oh, you should’ve said so earlier... Uh, why would I show it to you?” He was about to retrieve the stick but immediately hesitated.

Hu Niu sneered, “Cheapskate! It’s just a stick. If I wanted to see it, I wouldn’t care much. Hmph!”

“That’s a relief,” Yu Mu wiped a cold sweat in secret.

“Relief? Hmph! Hurry up and call that cursed bird out so we can be on our way. Do you want those people to come after us again?” Another smack landed on Yu Mu’s head.

With a long cry, the Thousand-Mile Crane sprinted out from the dense forest. The two mounted the crane, one in front and one behind, and vanished like a wisp of dust.

“Hey, your true form is so cute. Why don’t you be my pet?”

“In your dreams!”

Just as Yu Mu settled, he nearly tumbled off the crane’s back.

Day after day, they traveled on.

Hu Niu had fully healed and was already plotting another robbery.

“Miss Hu, you just recovered, and we’ve already stolen two spirit artifacts. Shouldn’t we behave for a while?” Yu Mu urged, holding the reins of the Thousand-Mile Crane.

“Hmph! What do you know? This Fire Cloud Spear is awkward to wield. Though it’s a spirit artifact, its quality is poor—worse than a decent supreme Dao artifact. Besides, it doesn’t match my attributes, and I haven’t mastered its Dao method. For now, it’s just a big, dark arrow to me,” Hu Niu complained.

“What about the Binding Immortal Net?”

“One artifact isn’t enough,” Hu Niu said, pausing before grinning. “Why don’t you give me that stick? If not, your bamboo hat will do.”

“In that case, I might as well join you in robbing,” Yu Mu retorted.

“Cheeky!” she snapped.

“Did you originally have no artifacts at all?” Yu Mu had always wanted to ask. How could a Nascent Soul expert lack Dao artifacts? Yet since meeting her, apart from the pair of cymbals she stole, he had never seen her use her own artifacts.

Hu Niu sighed, “Our family focuses on body cultivation and forbids dependence on external items. But after going out, I realized spirit artifacts are indispensable in battle. Unlike you, lucky enough to be born with a native Dao artifact, I have to steal to survive.”

Hu Niu shook the Binding Immortal Net in her hand, smiling mischievously. “If I had known how useful these artifacts are, I’d have started robbing sooner. Now I’m hooked. What do you think I should do?”

Yu Mu had never heard anyone justify robbery so convincingly.

“Look, there’s Jin Yin Fort ahead,” Hu Niu said excitedly, pointing to a mountain.

“Jin Yin Fort?”

“Yes. It controls a rich mine. They’re as strong as the Seven Star Slope—perfect targets for us.”

“The Seven Star Slope?” Yu Mu glanced at her.

“Uh...” Hu Niu quickly corrected herself. “They only have one Nascent Soul-level expert. Why that look? How could I know Seven Star Slope just promoted a Nascent Soul, who’s pretending to be weak but is actually fierce? Pfft! No, more like a bear devouring a big fool! Talking to you is tiring, hmph!”

Seeing Yu Mu clench his lips tight, she added, “Whatever. You’re coming with me to rob, since you’re my pet.”

Yu Mu could no longer hold back. “Hey! When did I become your pet? Ouch! Who’s that?”

The Thousand-Mile Crane stumbled while running fast, and one of them fell flat on the ground.

Spitting out dirt, they looked up to see seven people standing before them.

Furious, Hu Niu demanded, “Who are you? How dare you ambush your lady?”

The leader laughed heartily. “We are the Seven Heroes of Jin Yin Fort, waiting for you. You two are the little thieves robbing Magu Ridge and Seven Star Slope?”

‘So the news travels fast. They must have set this ambush long ago. That has to be it!’ Yu Mu nodded silently.

Suddenly, Yu Mu was smacked inexplicably.

“You’re the little thieves! This lady and this guy are the Twin Tigers, robbing bandits around here.”

“Why not Twin Bears and Tigers? That sounds more imposing!”

“Shut up!” Hu Niu was exasperated with her foolish comrade.

“Since you came to us, hand over your valuables, or I’ll take them myself.”

The seven heroes burst into laughter. The leader suddenly stopped, coldly commanding, “Archers, prepare!”

At the order, hundreds appeared atop the trees, all armed with bows and arrows—spirit artifacts.

Yu Mu and Hu Niu were shocked. Now they understood why the otherwise unremarkable Seven Heroes could dominate a mine.

“Release the arrows!”

Arrows rained down like a storm.

Hu Niu quickly unleashed the Binding Immortal Net, capturing over a hundred arrows at once, but even more arrows slipped through.

Yu Mu leapt forward, knocking Hu Niu down and pinning her beneath him.

“What are you doing? You lecherous bear! Wait, your bamboo hat can be used like this?”

As he spoke, the bamboo hat above transformed into a large cover, shielding them both. Outside, a chaotic barrage of arrows struck, yet none penetrated.

Though the volley was dense, the archers were mere lackeys, using low-grade Dao artifacts. Such arrows could not pierce the bamboo hat.

When the arrow fire ceased, both roared in unison, transforming into their bear and tiger forms.

“Today, I will crush Jin Yin Fort and rid the travelers of this menace! Roar!”

The Seven Heroes matched their spirit. The leader snarled, “Our mountain band lacks a tiger-skin throne. Today, I’ll skin you both. Bear skins on the floor, tiger skins as chairs. Kill!”

Hu Niu’s eyes gleamed with killing intent. “You’re asking for death!”

With a fierce tiger roar, she lunged forward.

“Brothers, surround and kill the tiger demon. The black and white bear is no threat—leave him to the others.”

At the command, the Seven Heroes encircled Hu Niu, while Yu Mu was swarmed by minions.

Shouts and cries filled the air as a fierce battle erupted.

Though Yu Mu faced more enemies, his pressure was less than Hu Niu’s. She fought alone against one Nascent Soul and six Golden Core experts, yet was steadily losing ground.

Hu Niu tried her usual tactic, roaring fiercely as she secretly deployed the Binding Immortal Net aiming for the leader. Capturing him would turn the tide.

But as she cast the net, the leader grabbed a lackey from behind and threw him into it.

Hu Niu’s face paled. Such a counter to her net? No wonder they refused to fight in the air—they were well prepared.

This must have been intelligence leaked by the second leader of Magu Ridge.

Clearly, these bandits were not independent but connected.

Hu Niu repeatedly cast her net, only to be thwarted each time. Losing her main weapon, the situation worsened.

Though their strength rivaled Seven Star Slope, they underestimated Jin Yin Fort’s wealth.

Each of the seven leaders wielded extraordinary artifacts; the leader and his two bear comrades had spirit artifacts, while others used high-quality Dao artifacts.

To break the deadlock, Hu Niu leapt into the air but was met with a volley of arrows. Shocked, she quickly landed, already pierced by several arrows. Though not severely wounded, she dared not fly again.

Neither expected such a comprehensive enemy plan. Now, only a desperate fight remained.

Hu Niu roared, shaking off the arrows. Her tiger body leapt, claws flashing like blades, yet she could not escape defeat.