A chill flew down Hui’s spine. Glancing over his shoulder, Hui rubbed his neck. He saw nothing but the street behind him, full of ordinary cultivators going about their business. I feel like someone was speaking evil about me just now. But who would bother to speak evil against a righteous cultivator like me?

“Should we ask around about that female warrior, then?” Ying Lin suggested.

Drawn back to the moment, Hui shook his head. “Only as a last resort! Ying Lin… everything costs money.”

“Ah?”

“Instead, let’s go to a tavern. If there’s any rumors about this female warrior, we can listen in for free at a tavern!”

“Master is indeed brilliant!” Ying Lin replied, clapping.

“Don’t be sarcastic,” Hui said, rolling his eyes.

Ying Lin grinned. She tapped her chin and glanced up at the sky. “Eh? I was just praising Master. Does Master not like it?”

“Where’d you learn those lines?” Hui asked, suddenly suspicious.

“Fu Liyu used to say such things to her father,” Ying Lin replied.

Corrupting my disciple before she even became my disciple! Ah, now I understand why most sects prefer young disciples. Youths are so quickly corrupted! Hui shook his head, mournful.

In that case… what was I? A youth with an entire lifetime worth of corruption behind him…

Hui waved his hand. No, no. I don’t count. After all, I was hardly corrupted. See, even now, I’m an ordinary and righteous cultivator!

“Ah, wait a second.” Hui lifted his hand and cast a snakeskin over Ying Lin. He changed her face and robes, disguising both. In a moment, a pleasant-looking young lady in green robes stood before him.

“Master?” Ying Lin asked, tilting her head.

“In case we get caught, it’s best if you do not get caught with your own face,” Hui explained.

“Master is brilliant,” Ying Lin replied, beaming.

“Stop with the flattery,” Hui complained.

A second later, he caught sight of Ying Lin’s new, fake robes, and pressed a hand to his forehead. Wait… why didn’t I just do this in the first place?

No, no. If it’s Li Xiang, she can tell lies from truth. I want to proudly say I’ve taken care of my disciple. Even if I had to spend money, I at least got something worthwhile out of that money!

Hui nodded to himself, satisfied. That’s right, that’s right. No one takes this Hui’s money for nothing. But for worthwhile goods… well, I’m not a thief!

Tossing his hair, Hui straightened his posture and let out a cold harrumph. Like this, I shouldn’t look like I usually do, with my poor posture and about-to-be-hit demeanor, right?

Ying Lin stared at him, wide-eyed.

“What?” Hui asked, self-conscious. Did I go too far? Do I look stupid instead?

She shook her head and smiled. “Master, you look good today!”

“Ah, well,” Hui murmured, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. He coughed, then gestured her on. “Come on. Let’s keep moving. We don’t want to attract attention.”

Ying Lin nodded.

Together, the two of them ventured into the city. Hui led the way, and Ying Lin followed at his side, a half-step behind him. As he walked, Hui checked for guards, but saw none. Hmph! Where’s your ‘immediately stopping any trespassers?’ Too easy!

A passing guard, in the same white-and-green as the first, glanced in Hui’s direction. Hui quickly looked away, maintaining his noble demeanor as he did so. Though, of course, I can’t afford to be careless. One mistake, and I could bring this entire city’s guard force down on myself. I can’t afford that kind of attention!

Rogue cultivators passed, chatting amongst themselves. One, an unremarkable middle-aged man with a scruffy beard and crows-feet, stopped and looked at Hui. He frowned. “Do I know you?”

Hui resisted the urge to touch his face and make sure his snakeskin disguise remained. He looked up at the man and bowed with a polite smile. “Small cultivator has never met one such as yourself before. Perhaps you’re mistaken?”

At the same time, Rogue’s memories welled up in his head. His name is Luo Qingge. He’s a fifth-realm rogue cultivator with little hope of advancement, and he’s hopelessly jealous of Rogue, for reasons beyond human understanding. He's working with the same group of rogues Rogue is, obeying the orders of All Heavens Sect.

Hui jolted internally. If those rogues are here, then... that means All Heavens is interested in this town. But why?

Concerned, he reached out to Rogue. Any ideas?

Rogue shook his head. No. I wiggled out of Luo Qingge’s group as soon as I could. Whatever he’s doing is completely separate from what I’m doing.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

At the same time, Luo Qingge narrowed his eyes at Hui. “That manner of speaking, that way of behaving… you’re that disguise expert, aren’t you? Ji Yichen!”

Hui licked his lips. Externally, he laughed lightly, but internally, he screamed. Rogue! Rogue, what do I do? Deny? Accept?

Rogue hesitated a moment, considering. Given Luo Qingge’s personality… he can’t bear to be wrong. If he continues to suspect you, he’ll go to any and all lengths to prove himself right. It’s better to admit it and make your excuses! That way, he should leave you alone.

Hui nodded. He looked at Luo Qingge and smiled mysteriously, lifting his sleeve to hide it. “Ah, Senior. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

“I knew it!” Luo Qingge laughed. “I told you, your disguises are nothing before my eyes. No matter what you dress as, I’ll recognize you! No matter what.”

Eh? Why’d the last half of that feel like a heartfelt confession?

Rogue coughed. Er… that’s just the kind of person he is. You’ll learn to ignore it.

Luo Qingge looped an arm around Hui’s shoulders. “Now that we’ve reunited, why don’t we go have a drink? First round’s on me. I’ve missed you so much!”

“Er… yes, a drink,” Hui agreed. I was going to go to a tavern anyways, so it’s fine. But… can someone really get used to this?

It’s not… quite his fault. He was brought up by a sect who specializes in… er, womanly techniques, as the son of one of the seductresses. Apparently this quirk of his is just how they speak in that sect, Rogue explained.

Hui sighed. At least he isn’t teasing me. I think?

Ying Lin joined in with the rest of the cultivators. Luo Qingge dragged them into a scummy looking tavern full to the brim with rogue cultivators like themselves. Hui looked around, taking in the stained walls, patched-together tables, and hearty bartender. Is this… really a space for cultivators? I thought they were all about being aloof and elegant, not…

Catching his hesitation, Luo Qingge clapped Hui’s shoulder and laughed. “Boss Xiaoren keeps it cheap, since the boys bust up the place at least once a week, isn’t that right?”

The other rogue cultivators agreed, some laughing as they nodded.

Ah, well… it makes sense. If this is the kind of tavern people brawl in all the time, there’s no point in keeping it pristine and elegant, Hui thought, nodding. He sighed out, somehow relieved. It reminds me of the bars back in my world. In a way, it’s comforting.

“Hey, boss! Some plum wine, pretty please? For me and my friends,” Luo Qingge requested, his voice lilting weirdly at the end.

One or two of the rogues glanced at him, but most ignored it, used to his quirks of speech. Rather to his surprise, Hui found himself quickly blotting it out and mentally rewriting Luo Qingge’s lines.

“Why don’t you go ahead and sit?” Luo Qingge said, leading them to a table.

“Sure thing. Coming right up,” the tavernkeeper said in a high-pitched voice. A stooped old granny hopped nimbly up onto the shelves to retrieve a heavy jug, then returned. Though the shelves appeared so flimsy a single touch would shatter them, Boss Xiaoren stepped from one to another as if they were as solid as temple stairs. She thumped the jug down on the table and threw a pile of cups down beside it, then hurried off again.

“Hey, granny! Pour the wine, at least,” one of the rogues shouted.

A second later, a chopstick nailed the rogue’s crown hairstyle to the wall. Boss Xiaoren’s eyes glittered. “What did you call me?”

“Young lady, would you do us the honor of pouring the wine?” the rogue quickly corrected himself, his expression extremely respectful.

Hui swallowed. See! Hidden experts everywhere. Even the elderly should be treated as crouching tigers and hidden dragons!

Boss Xiaoren harrumphed. “That’s more like it.” She shuffled back over and began to slowly fill their cups one at a time, so slowly the liquor practically dripped out of the jug. The rogue who’d spoken up before opened his mouth again, but one of his friends covered his mouth before he could commit suicide by Boss Xiaoren.

Sipping his wine, Luo Qingge turned to Hui. “What’ve you been up to, Ji Yichen? I thought you were investigating that secret realm under the sword.”

Hui’s eyes subtly widened. A secret realm? Rogue! You didn’t say!

We still haven’t figured out how to get in. Don’t get too excited, Rogue replied.

Hui waved his hand. “Ah, we failed to discover a path inside, so I’ve gone to investigate if there’s any other hints as to the location of the entrance,” Hui explained.

“Ah, I see, I see. Any progress?”

Hui shook his head regretfully. “And you?”

Luo Qingge sighed. “Nothing so exciting, I’m afraid. We’re here to investigate the City Lord, to ensure he isn’t embezzling All Heavens’ funds. So far, it’s been a lot of wandering the city and drinking. The damn City Lord won’t see us, and we’re just a bunch of rogue cultivators hired by the sect. We don’t have any authority to demand he sees us. Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if this whole ‘investigation’ was specifically set up to catch nothing, whether the City Lord is embezzling funds or not.”

Hmm… embezzling funds? Something to keep in mind. “What about that warrior out to the west? Have you heard about her?”

“Oh? Is she your type?” Luo Qingge let out a high-pitched giggle and nudged Hui like a high school girl.

Hui licked his lips. This is a bit spicy for the eyes. “Er, I don’t know. I had heard she had a great deal of knowledge about secret realms, and I hoped to meet with her, but all I know is that she’s to the west.”

“Ha! What is she, your lost lover? My love away far upon westward skies… it’s like a line from a poem. Ah, but I don’t know. As far as I’m aware, she’s just another fourth-stage cultivator or so,” Luo Qingge said, shrugging.

Eh, Senior, when did I ever say anything about her being my lost lover? Even if it is Li Xiang, we’re… we’re… I’m just another admirer! Not a lover, for sure. No, no. Not this small cultivator.

“The warrior woman?” one of the other rogues spoke up, leaning in.

“Yes, her,” Hui said, nodding. “Have you heard of her?”

“Who hasn’t?” he laughed. “She’s our idol. That aloof, cold aura, her swordskills, her indomitable spirit, her peach blossom eyes…”

“Not to mention, she’s a peerless jade beauty,” another rogue cultivator chipped in.

Hui put a hand on his chin. If this is Li Xiang, then she’s a sword spirit in a woman’s body. No matter where she goes, she becomes everyone’s idol. Is it possible that, when cultivators see her, they instinctively want to pick up such a peerless treasured sword, and thus idolize her?

Well, she is beautiful and skilled, too. It’s not as if there needs to be a supernatural reason for people to idolize her!

“Where is she? I want to meet her,” Hui requested.

The rogues laughed. Hui looked around, confused. Is it that weird of a request?

Luo Qingge clapped his shoulder. “Don’t we all? If she was easy to find, the City Lord would have already slaughtered her. He’s put money on her head.”

“She does keep attacking his men,” another rogue spoke up.

“The real miracle is that he hasn’t managed to kill a fourth-realm cultivator like her yet, when he’s fifth-realm himself,” Luo Qingge said, shaking his head. “Her sword-skills are heaven-defying. To fight someone a level above her to a standstill…”

She’s sounding more like Li Xiang by the second. Ah, I’d love to sit around and talk, but if these men don’t know any more about Li Xiang, that’s time better spent investigating around the city. Hui stood. He bowed to the rogue cultivators. “My thanks, Seniors.”

“Leaving so soon? No need to be so formal. Stay, stay,” Luo Qingge enticed him.

Hui bowed again. “I’m afraid I have urgent business. Please excuse this small cultivator.”

Ying Lin stood as well, moving toward the door ahead of him.

“If you insist. If you find that fairy maiden, let us know,” Luo Qingge called after him.

Hui bowed one last time and escaped out the door.