Hidden Shadow – CH 308

Chapter Three-Hundred-Eight: Do Not Force Me

An Jiu found a place to hide, waiting for the bounty hunters to come and fetch her.

The night watchman’s footsteps grew closer; the outcome was decided, and the crowd ceased their entanglement, quietly retreating.

Around midnight, a person wearing a silver mask arrived at the bottom of the list, glanced at the black list, took it down, and then waited with their hands behind their back.

Seeing someone move forward, An Jiu knew it was the bounty hunters and followed.

The person took all the lists, finally looking at An Jiu and saying, “With your strength, there are few rivals in the entire Song Dynasty. Why did you not take the black list?”

It was that same question again.

The other four also looked at her. After all, experts at the Transcendent Realm were extremely rare in this world; establishing a connection and receiving some guidance would undoubtedly be immensely beneficial.

“Can I not take the white list?” An Jiu countered with a question.

Her clear voice stunned everyone present and those hidden nearby. This was clearly an extremely young woman!

The man in the silver mask composed himself. “Of course.”

An Jiu fell silent. Since accepting the challenge was effective, what else was there to explain?

The temperament of highly skilled individuals was often eccentric; this rule was not without reason. If someone dedicated their entire life’s energy to one thing, becoming indifferent to everything else, it was difficult for them to be normal.

Knowing it was not wise to press further, the masked man said, “Please follow me.”

The people who had accepted the challenge automatically stopped, waiting for An Jiu to leave first.

In the martial world, strength was paramount, especially for someone as powerful as An Jiu, who was so far removed from their level!

The group followed the masked man to a simple hut. The hut was very clean, with shelves on the walls displaying numerous scrolls. A long table stood in the center, with six chairs around it.

“The information on today’s targets is all here. You may take as much as you like and leave before dawn.” The masked man paused. He continued, “The longest delivery period for the White List is four months. Before that, as long as you complete the task, you can bring the goods to the place listed and contact the person who posted the notice that day. The reward and interest will be paid.”

His gaze shifted slightly. “If you have no further questions, I will take my leave.”

He paused for a moment. Seeing everyone heading to the bookshelves on all sides, he immediately left.

An Jiu found information about the target on the list on the bookshelf.

This person was named Liu Chi, also known as Big Liu. It was said that he started his journey in the martial world at the age of thirteen, becoming an outer disciple of Wudang. Later, he was expelled from the sect for spying, and from then on, he ruled the mountain for twenty-nine years, now a local tyrant in the Funiu Mountain range.

Big Liu’s stronghold was built on Taiping Peak in the Funiu Mountain range, called Weihu Village. It had about three hundred people, but most were novice martial artists, some even without any martial arts skills, only possessing brute force. A complete rabble.

Taiping Peak? The document only listed the name of the mountain, but there was no map.

The room was silent. The other four people, holding the documents, kept glancing at An Jiu’s movements. Seeing her focused, they could not help but wonder. For a master like her, taking the head of a mere small mountain stronghold leader should be a piece of cake. Why was she looking at it so carefully?

An Jiu had always felt her strength was weak. All martial artists in the world possessed internal energy, while she didn’t. She could only compensate for her lack with hard work. Little did she know that with her current strength, she had already entered the ranks of top masters in the martial world. Unless attacked by three or four eighth or ninth-level martial artists, she would not be defeated unless something unexpected happened.

After finishing reading all the documents, An Jiu quickly went out, circled the city twice, shook off a few pursuers, and then returned to Mei Mansion to prepare her travel supplies.

During the trial at the Konghe Academy, she had been to Funiu Mountain once, so she was somewhat familiar with the route. However, the Funiu Mountain range was continuous; who knew where the small Taiping Peak was?

Sheng Changying… An Jiu thought of him again.

Everyone on the island was asleep, except for one person.

An Jiu went to Sheng Changying’s place and saw someone strolling over, pipe in mouth, puffing out smoke. “Why are you running into a man’s room in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

“Why are you blocking a woman’s way in the middle of the night?” An Jiu retorted.

Mo Sigui exhaled a smoke ring, somewhat annoyed. “Do you think I want to stay up in the middle of the night and block the way?!”

“Get out of the way; I have important business.” An Jiu walked past him.

Mo Sigui flashed and reappeared in front of her. “Talk to me for a while.”

An Jiu was somewhat surprised by his rapid progress, but considering his special physical constitution, she figured it was just a passing phase. “I am busy. Do you not have two tigers? Talk to them.”

“One’s a complete idiot, and the other’s covered in pockmarks. I’ve had enough!” Mo Sigui had confided in those two tigers before, but all he ever got was Da Jiu’s blank, vacant face, and Xiao Yue completely ignoring him.

Mo Sigui finished his cigarette and tapped it against a tree trunk beside him. “What brings you here? Want to have some fun? Want me to join you?”

An Jiu looked at him and suddenly laughed. “Interesting, very interesting.”

“You…do not do that; it is creepy,” Mo Sigui shuddered. “I think I need to think about this carefully.”

“I am going to Funiu Mountain. There are plenty of precious herbs there,” An Jiu said. “What do you think?”

Funiu Mountain had a suitable climate for growing various herbs. Mo Sigui had been there countless times and knew it very well. “What are you going to Funiu Mountain for?”

“Do you know about Taiping Peak in Funiu Mountain?” An Jiu asked.

Mo Sigui thought for a moment. “That’s the territory of Weihu Village?”

An Jiu was overjoyed; it was like a godsend. But then she thought of Mei Jiu’s Gu poison. “Has the antidote for Mei Jiu been prepared?”

“You think antidotes are as easy as homemade food? You cannot just prepare one whenever you want!” Mo Sigui scoffed.

“How much longer?” She considered completing the task after Mo Sigui cured Mei Jiu’s poison.

“It’s better not to mention it! Once it is brought up, I am wide awake again!” Mo Sigui sighed deeply. The sleeping pills, whose formula he’d modified three months ago, had no effect on him, and coupled with the constant struggle with the antidote, he was in a state of heightened excitement. If this continued, he’d collapse soon.

An Jiu seemed oblivious to his complaints, pressing, “How much longer exactly?”

“I do not know; it depends on my mood.” Mo Sigui turned and walked away.

An Jiu followed. “What kind of mood will allow you to prepare it quickly?”

“A good mood,” An Jiu thought seriously for a moment. “How about I sing you a song?”

This was her most prized talent.

Mo Sigui quickly said, “Please don’t! I am afraid I will commit suicide after listening to this.”

An Jiu automatically assumed that the previous long songs were too sad. “Do not worry, I will sing something cheerful this time.”

“Do not force me.” Mo Sigui looked at her with despair. “If you force me again, I will kill myself!”