Main Text, Volume Three, Chapter One Hundred and Twenty: A Difficult Path Ahead

The two finished their drinks and, with lingering reluctance, exchanged bows before parting ways.

The innkeeper kept his word and personally escorted him to the teleportation array. With a flash of light, they arrived in an unfamiliar city. Following their established routine, they inquired about the location of the next array and headed out.

They had not gone far when they heard someone behind them declare, "By order of our superiors, we are now apprehending two wanted criminals. Look here—these are the sketches. Anyone who sees these two must report them immediately. Any failure to do so will be treated as the crime of harboring fugitives."

Upon hearing this, the two immediately merged into the crowd. Peering back stealthily, they saw a person sitting atop a horse, holding two sketches and plastering them onto the entrance of the teleportation array. A closer look revealed one beauty and one beast—it was undeniably them.

The two were struck with alarm. They had not expected the enemy to move so swiftly; the wanted posters had already reached this far. Even these private teleportation arrays had been notified. Their future journey had become significantly more complicated.

The faction belonging to the city lord was known as the Abidao. Though this sect was not as powerful as the Three Saints, it was unique in this territory, allowing it to act with the precision and speed of an extended limb. There was no other choice now but to race against time. Fortunately, the enemy did not yet know Yu Mu’s true appearance, so he could still be the one to gather information.

Although they had altered their appearances, such minor tricks relying on spiritual power could be seen through by anyone with a keen eye. In ordinary times, such disguises were common among cultivators and went unnoticed, but if subjected to careful scrutiny, their ruse would inevitably be exposed.

Thus, they dared not delay and began searching from one location to another for a teleportation array that had not yet received the notice. This path proved to be an arduous ordeal. At times, they were forced to replan their route and take long detours. Once, they were even compelled to travel to their next destination on foot. What should have been a journey of a few days stretched into an entire month before they finally reached Wangming City, the final stop before Pearl City.

Wangming City was a mid-sized city, and because it served as a major transport hub to Pearl City, there were many private teleportation arrays. As usual, once they reached the vicinity of the array, they left An Shu behind while Yu Mu went to scout alone.

However, the moment he walked toward the entrance of an array, he was startled by the sketches plastered on the walls on either side. He had seen plenty of wanted posters on their journey, but why was he so shocked by these? Because the sketch of him was no longer a bear, but a true, human likeness.

Yu Mu turned and left without hesitation. As he walked, he pondered, "Who exposed my true face? From the moment I was captured in the river until now, I have never revealed my true form to outsiders. Back in Huyu City, I always appeared in my bear form. How could the city lord have obtained a sketch of my human face?"

Yu Mu could not fathom it. He hurried to An Shu’s hiding place and told her what had happened. An Shu was equally bewildered. With no other choice, the two proceeded with even greater caution, searching for an array that lacked the posters. Fortunately, this was the last city; the next stop would be Pearl City. They felt a glimmer of relief, fearing that otherwise, it might have taken them several more months to get this far.

***

After much searching, Yu Mu finally found a "black market" teleportation array run by a group of river bandits. The ingenious part was that their array was set up on a large ship, which was why it had escaped the notice of the authorities.

The moment they emerged from the teleportation array in Pearl City, they were stunned by the city's immense scale. It was no smaller than the City of Freedom. An Shu, seeing a city of this size for the first time, was like a village girl visiting the capital—simultaneously excited, curious, and gripped by a vague sense of trepidation.

They had arrived on a large ship as well. After crossing a surging river, they went ashore and headed straight for the government-run teleportation array in the city center. Because the distance between the two cities was vast and separated by a desert, only the government could afford to establish an array leading to Emerald City. This was the only way to reach Emerald City, and although Yu Mu knew the situation he faced, he had to take this gamble. He even considered, in a desperate scenario, the reckless act of charging into the array during someone else’s teleportation, or using the old method of breaking in at night and bribing the staff with a high sum. In any case, he would never give up easily.

As they walked, An Shu was so distracted by the various snacks and delicacies along the road that she could barely move. She gazed with fascination at these exotic treats, swallowing hard as her throat bobbed. Yu Mu watched from the side, secretly amused. Ever since he saw the snacks she had given to Xiao Mi, he knew what the young girl liked. Unfortunately, she was strapped for cash; back at the Daoist sect, her master gave them just enough pocket money for powders and rouge, leaving her with no surplus. All expenses for their flight had been covered by Yu Mu. Confronted with the endless temptations, she could only stare longingly.

She stopped dead in front of a lollipop shaped like a pinwheel. She asked the merchant timidly, "Sir, how much for this candy?"

"One spirit crystal."

"Wow—why is it so expensive?"

"This is made with osmanthus sugar, and you think it's expensive? Hmph!" The merchant looked at her with disdain, making An Shu even more self-conscious.

"I’ll take all of these." With a clatter, Yu Mu produced a money pouch and tossed dozens of spirit crystals onto the table with casual ease. His suave display of wealth instantly won over the beauty before him; the laws of this ancient world were universal.

The merchant’s attitude shifted instantly. He hurriedly packed all the candy and handed it to Yu Mu. Yu Mu turned and handed it to An Shu. An Shu hesitated, unsure whether to accept. If she didn't, she couldn't resist the temptation; if she did, their current relationship remained in a rather awkward state.

Yu Mu had no time to ponder the small anxieties of a girl. He shoved the candy into her hands and gave her the money pouch as well, saying, "Consider it a loan. Let’s go."

***

Without waiting for her reply, he turned and continued walking. An Shu looked at the two items in her hands, a smile gradually forming on her lips. She tucked the pouch into her bodice, clutched the lollipop, and skipped after Yu Mu.

With her heart lightened, An Shu transformed into a cheerful girl, momentarily forgetting the flight. Along the way, she kept buying this and picking out that. Before long, she had purchased dozens of snacks, her hands and mouth both full.

Yu Mu secretly observed the girl, who was as happy as a child, and felt a pang of envy for her innocence, her simplicity, and her easily satisfied heart. She had only just stepped into the world of martial arts and did not yet understand the cruelty of the cultivation world. Yu Mu could not bear to see her innocence shattered.

*May you never have to experience anything too cruel,* Yu Mu sighed to himself.

When they reached the teleportation array in the city center, they saw from afar that their sketches were clearly posted on both sides of the gate. The two hid within the crowd to observe. Every person entering the array had to undergo a rigorous inspection; each individual had to reveal their true face to pass. It seemed sneaking in was impossible; they would have to find another way.

As they were about to turn and leave, a commotion broke out outside the array. A voice shouted, "Why is your Abidao so tyrannical? By what right do you inspect my true form? You run a business; how can you engage in such bullying? I am going to enter this array today—let’s see who dares to stop me."

Yu Mu was overjoyed. He turned to see a middle-aged man attempting to force his way into the array. He stopped in his tracks, thinking, *As long as there is chaos here, there might be a chance.*

The disturbance outside immediately drew the attention of the higher-ups within the teleportation hall. Before long, several people emerged. Upon seeing those who walked out of the hall, Yu Mu and An Shu were struck with terror.

*How did they end up together? And why are they here?*

Among those who walked out of the hall were three people they recognized: the butler from the city lord's estate, Ye Yun, and Mo Xiaomei!