An Jiu found a place to hide, waiting for someone from the Bounty Board to guide her.
The night watchman’s footsteps grew closer. With the outcome already decided, the crowd no longer lingered and quietly dispersed.
Around midnight, a man wearing a silver mask arrived beneath the board. He glanced at the black list, reached out to take it, then stood with his hands behind his back, waiting.
Seeing someone step forward, An Jiu knew it must be the Bounty Board’s representative and followed suit.
The man collected all the posted notices before finally looking at An Jiu and saying, “With your strength, few in the entire Great Song could rival you. Why not take the black list?”
This question again.
The other four also turned their gazes toward her. After all, Transformation Realm Masters were exceedingly rare in this world. Establishing a connection with one and receiving even a few words of guidance would be immensely beneficial.
“Can I not take the white list?” An Jiu countered without answering.
Her clear voice rang out, startling everyone present—including those hidden in the surroundings. This was unmistakably the voice of a very young woman!
The silver-masked man took a moment to collect himself. “Of course you can.”
An Jiu fell silent. If taking the list was valid, what more was there to explain?
Eccentricity was common among masters, and for good reason. If one devoted their entire life to a single pursuit while disregarding all else, it was difficult to remain normal.
The masked man knew better than to press further. “Please follow me,” he said to the group.
The bounty hunters automatically paused, waiting for An Jiu to move first.
In the martial world, strength commanded respect—especially when the gap was as vast as the one between An Jiu and the others.
They followed the masked man to a simple, tidy hut. Shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls and records. A long table stood in the center, surrounded by six chairs.
“The information on today’s targets is all here. You may review it freely, but leave before dawn.” The masked man paused before continuing, “The maximum time limit for white list deliveries is four months. As long as the task is completed within that period, bring the goods to the board and contact the person who posted it. The full bounty will be paid without fail.”
His gaze shifted slightly. “If there are no further questions, I shall take my leave.”
With that, he waited briefly. Seeing everyone had moved to the shelves, he departed at once.
An Jiu found the dossier on the target from the list.
The man’s name was Liu Chi, known as Big Liu. It was said he had begun roaming the martial world at thirteen, becoming an outer disciple of Wudang before being expelled for stealing secret manuals. He had since occupied a mountain as his stronghold for twenty-nine years, now reigning as the tyrant of Funiu Mountain.
Big Liu’s lair, the Fierce Tiger Stronghold, was built on Taiping Peak in the Funiu Mountain range. It housed over three hundred men, though most were novice Martial Arts Masters—some didn’t even know martial arts, relying only on brute courage. A ragtag bunch, through and through.
Taiping Peak? The dossier only mentioned the peak’s name but provided no map.
The room was silent. The other four held their documents but kept stealing glances at An Jiu. Seeing her study the materials so intently, they couldn’t help but wonder. For a peerless master like her, taking the head of a mere mountain bandit leader should be as easy as reaching into a bag. Why the need for such careful scrutiny?An Jiu had always felt that her strength was lacking. In this world, all martial arts masters possessed Inner Force, but she did not. She could only compensate for this deficiency through diligence, unaware that her current abilities already placed her among the top experts in the martial world. Unless she was besieged by three or four eighth or ninth-order martial masters, she would not be defeated under normal circumstances.
After reviewing all the materials, An Jiu quickly left the house, circled the city twice to shake off a few tails, and then returned to Plum Blossom Village to prepare for her journey.
During her trial at the Crane Control Institute, she had once been to Mount Funiu and was somewhat familiar with the route. However, the Funiu mountain range stretched endlessly—how could she know where a small peak like Taiping was located?
Sheng Changying... An Jiu thought of him again.
On the island, everyone except for one person was asleep.
As An Jiu headed to Sheng Changying’s residence, she saw that very person swaying toward her with a smoking pipe in his mouth, exhaling clouds of smoke. "What are you doing running to a man’s room in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?" he asked.
"And what are you doing blocking a woman’s path in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?" An Jiu retorted.
Mo Sigui blew out a smoke ring, visibly irritated. "Do you think I want to be out here blocking your way in the middle of the night?!"
"Move. I have important business." An Jiu stepped around him.
Mo Sigui flashed past her and reappeared in front of her. "Keep me company for a bit."
His swift movement surprised An Jiu, but considering his unique physique, it made sense. "I don’t have time. Don’t you have two tigers? Talk to them instead."
"One’s too dumb to find its way, and the other’s too proud to even glance at me. I’ve had enough!" Mo Sigui had indeed tried confiding in the two tigers before, but all he got in return was Da Jiu’s blank stare and Xiao Yue’s utter indifference.
After finishing his smoke, Mo Sigui casually tapped his pipe against a nearby tree trunk. "What’s your business? If it’s interesting, take me along."
An Jiu looked at him and suddenly smiled. "Interesting? Oh, it’s very interesting."
"You... don’t look at me like that. It’s creeping me out." Mo Sigui shuddered. "I think I need to reconsider carefully."
"I’m going to Mount Funiu. There are plenty of rare medicinal herbs there. How about it?" An Jiu said.
Mount Funiu’s climate was ideal for growing various herbs, and Mo Sigui had been there countless times—he knew the place well. "Why are you going to Mount Funiu?"
"Do you know if there’s a Taiping Peak in Mount Funiu?" An Jiu asked.
Mo Sigui thought for a moment. "That’s the territory of the Wei Hu Bandits, isn’t it?"
An Jiu was overjoyed—it was like receiving a pillow just as she was about to sleep. But then she remembered Mei Jiu’s Gu poison. "Have you finished preparing the antidote for Mei Jiu yet?"
"You think antidotes are like home-cooked meals, ready whenever you say so?!" Mo Sigui scoffed.
"How much longer?" She considered waiting until Mo Sigui cured Mei Jiu before completing her bounty mission.
"Don’t even bring it up! Just mentioning it makes me lose all desire to sleep!" Mo Sigui sighed deeply. The sedative smoke he had reformulated three months ago had stopped working on him, and on top of that, he’d been struggling with the Gu poison antidote, keeping him in a constant state of agitation. If this continued, he’d collapse soon.
An Jiu ignored his complaints and pressed, "How much longer, exactly?"
"No idea. Depends on my mood." Mo Sigui turned and walked away, flicking his sleeve.
An Jiu followed him. "What kind of mood would help you finish it faster?"
"A good mood."
An Jiu thought seriously for a moment. "How about I sing you a song?"This was the talent she believed she could showcase best.
Mo Sigui quickly interjected, "Please don't. I'm afraid I might just end my life after hearing it."
An Jiu automatically assumed it was because her previous songs were too melancholic. "Don't worry, this time I'll sing something more cheerful."
"Don't push me," Mo Sigui said with a look of utter despair. "Push me any further, and I'll die right in front of you!" (To be continued...)
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