You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 440: Zhong Wuye and Master (2 in 1 order required)

Shortly after leaving Linshui County, Zhong Wuye discovered several strange figures scattered in the countryside ahead.

She cautiously stepped forward to investigate, only to see a group of ragged pedestrians slumped on the ground, shrouded in a strange black mist, as if controlled by some evil force. Just as Zhong Wuye was debating whether to help them, a petite figure darted out from behind the bushes and made a mysterious hand gesture in front of the pedestrians.

She was a girl in a black robe, only as tall as Zhong Wuye's shoulders, with a face as pale as the moon, and dazzling silver hair braided into a bun with a bright red silk rope wrapped around the top of her hair.

Her ruby-like eyes sparkled in the darkness, looking eerie and mysterious. She formed several complex hand seals in front of the passersby, muttering something in a strange, yet gentle, tone that was difficult to hear clearly.

As the girl cast the spell, the black fog covering the pedestrians began to dissipate a little.

Zhong Wuye looked closely and found that the black mist was slowly condensing into twisted black shadows like gnarled branches, like monsters with hideous figures and red fangs, peeling off from the bodies of those people bit by bit.

The girl also had a strangely shaped scepter in her hand, with intricate spells painted on the body of the scepter, which glowed faintly in the dim moonlight.

Just as Zhong Wuye was hesitating, the girl had already waved her scepter and ordered the strange figures in the mist:
"Evil ghost, retreat! Return his body to its original state!"

The terrifying black mist instantly vanished under the scepter's light, dispersing the terrifying illusions it had created. The pedestrians who had been sprawled on the ground, paralyzed, gradually regained consciousness. The ferocious expressions on their faces faded, replaced by a look of bewilderment and confusion.

Seeing this, Zhong Wuye couldn't help but admire the young woman's political skills. He was about to approach to express his gratitude, but the faint ominous aura around the girl made him wary. As expected, the girl put away her scepter and turned around, revealing a pair of eyes as charming and cold as the crimson moon, staring at Zhong Wuye resolutely.

"Another Dragonborn." The girl's voice was as cold as frost, and her tone was flat without any warmth.
"You high and mighty beings have always been a thorn in the side of exorcists like me. How dare you, seeing me saving the poor souls possessed by nightmares, come and obstruct me?"

Zhong Wuye's heart trembled, but he explained calmly:
"Miss, what you saw was just an unintentional glimpse of your actions as I passed by. Although we dragons consider humans to be inferior creatures, I, Zhong Wuye, do not like to have too much interaction with people like you for no reason, and I have no intention of hindering your plan to save people."

The girl snorted coldly, her attitude extremely disdainful:
"Well. If I disturbed your galloping when I cast the spell just now, there is no need for you and me to say anything more. However."

She looked Zhong Wuye up and down, and her tone softened as she spoke.

"Although you and I are from different races, we both share the same goal: to drive out those ghostly demons from the underworld. We can be considered fellow travelers who have met halfway."

"You have your own way of cultivation, and I also have my own soul-saving technique that I am focusing on learning."

The girl said this, finally clasping her fists in front of Zhong Wuye and bowing, "It would be better for the two of us to go our separate ways. We'll say goodbye tonight, but perhaps we'll meet again someday in the future."

After hearing this, Zhong Wuye also saluted and said, "If that's the case, then let's do it this way. However, I have something to ask you first." The girl raised her eyebrows and motioned for her to continue.

"I'm the leader of a circus troupe in Linshui County. On my travels, I've seen numerous instances of humans infected by the Nightmare Demon. It seems the plague is intensifying within the human world. What could possibly be the cause of such a large-scale Nightmare Demon outbreak? And if you can, could you help me resolve this issue with the 'Soul-Transfer Technique' you mentioned?"

Upon hearing this, the girl waved her hand and cast a spell. The scepter immediately appeared out of thin air, emitting a faint white light, which obviously included Zhong Wuye.

Her eyes were sharp and sharp, and she spoke for an unknown reason: "Although I know a little bit, I can't explain it to you. I'm afraid you have to explore the reason yourself."

The comments were full of riddles: "Oh my goodness, is this another game with everyone being a Riddler?"

……

As the night deepens, the scenery of Daoxi Village becomes more peaceful and tranquil.

A clear stream surrounds the village, and the weeping willows by the river nestle on the shore, swaying in the night breeze from time to time, creating a scene full of green.

The village's thatched cottages are scattered in an orderly fashion, with lush greenery planted in front and behind them. Smoke curls from cooking fires everywhere. Barefoot children play in the river, while nearby, a village woman hums a tune as she weeds her garden in the moonlight, creating a tranquil and idyllic atmosphere.

Zhong Wuye traveled quickly and soon arrived at the entrance of Daoxi Village.

She walked calmly through the village and headed towards a two-story building hidden in a secluded area. There was a small inn here called "Yu Man Lou", which was where the members of the Liuli Group stayed a year ago.

Now, this is Zhong Wuye's secret base in the human world, his temporary home. From the outside, the inn looks small, but the interior decoration is extremely warm and elegant, full of the charm of the Jiangnan water town.

As soon as he pushed the door open, two or three simply dressed maids bowed and respectfully welcomed Zhong Wuye in. The lobby was elegantly furnished, dotted with pots of blooming wild flowers, and the air was thick with the sweet aroma of incense. Zhong Wuye strode quickly through the hall and headed straight to an upstairs attic.

This attic is the boudoir left behind by Miss Mi Yu, the village chief and the owner of the inn.

She had always been cautious and careful, so every detail of her residence exuded the graceful elegance of a beautiful young lady from a small family. The room was small, but the furnishings were exquisite and refined, dotted everywhere with fresh flowers, ceramic tea sets, and other personal treasures. Even in front of her carved dressing table, a few branches of blooming osmanthus flowers were placed, emitting a faint fragrance in the twilight.

At this time, Mi Yu was sitting cross-legged on the cushion on the bed, with his hands clasped together as if meditating.

Her pretty face looked even more gentle and beautiful in the candlelight, like a fairy in a lotus cloud dress who was untainted by the mud.

As soon as Zhong Wuye walked in, she opened her eyes peacefully and smiled slightly: "Miss Zhong, you were very quick today. You returned to Yu Man Lou just in the evening. Did everything go well with the performance this time?"

Zhong Wuye took the account book out of his arms and threw it hard on the table, his expression full of displeasure:
"Although I did obtain evidence of the thieves colluding with profiteers, I was also forced to wander around the mountains and countryside for a while. I even offended some of the cronies of the unscrupulous county magistrate!"

After saying this, she frowned deeply, her expression solemn:
"Right now, besides the fear of the people, I'm afraid the police from all over Linshui County are searching for me. I can only hide in Yuman Tower for a while until the storm has died down and then make further plans."

At this moment, footsteps were heard from outside, and then the maid from Yu Man Lou came forward and saluted, saying:
"Miss Miyu, Lord Taishi has arrived."

Mi Yu nodded and invited the person in. Then he saw a middle-aged official dressed as a scholar hesitantly walked in. Although he was dressed simply, his every move and gesture exuded a majestic and graceful demeanor.

Seeing this, Zhong Wuye bowed.

The scholar waved his hand, stopping Zhong Wuye from talking, and started playing with the account book on the table, saying naturally:
"Miss Zhong has indeed performed an important good deed this time, contributing significantly to the court's fight against corruption. Although the process was difficult and dangerous, it seems to have yielded some results."

After a pause, he changed the subject: "However, Miss Zhong, you must not be complacent. These ants are just the tip of the iceberg of the country's parasites."

The scholar took out a pen from his pocket and scribbled a string of characters on the account book, then handed it to Zhong Wuye.

"This is the name and whereabouts of our next informant. Miss Zhong, please feel free to inquire more about him in the future. As long as I can obtain more valuable clues, I believe your goal of finding the Xuantian Dragon Territory will be further advanced!"

After hearing this, Zhong Wuye's eyes showed a hint of excitement, but he didn't say anything. He just solemnly put the parchment into his arms.

……

Afterwards, Zhong Wuye fell into memories. As a descendant of Yinglong, Zhong Wuye has been searching for the "Xuantian Dragon Domain" in order to find a home for his dragon descendants.

Xuantian Dragon Territory comes from the legend passed down by the dragon clan since ancient times.

According to legend, at the end of the mountains and the sea, there is a vast and isolated cave. If the Dragonborn can migrate there, they can have a permanent resting home and no longer have to suffer from the exclusion and cold eyes of the world.

Back then, when Zhong Wuye was gathering intelligence about the Xuantian Dragon Territory, Tai Shibo from the Dayuan court found her and offered to mobilize his resources to help Zhong Wuye obtain intelligence, and to find Daoxi Village as a temporary settlement for the Liuli Group.

But the condition is that Zhong Wuye needs to help Tai Shibo complete some tasks secretly.

Regarding the legitimacy of the mission, Tai Shi Bo insisted that it was to punish corrupt officials in the court. For example, the account books stolen in this mission were ironclad evidence of the Linshui County Magistrate plundering the people's wealth. Zhong Wuye was punishing evil and promoting good!
Although Zhong Wuye was skeptical about this, the most important thing for her now was the fate of her clansmen. As long as it didn't involve killing innocent people, she was willing to take on even the dirty work!
……

Tai Shi Bo's tone was gentle and he was obviously in a good mood.

He pointed to a stack of brown paper rolls on the table and said slowly:
"Miss, since you helped me steal that merchant's illegal accounts, you've helped me clear up a lot of mystery. Now, after investigating, the crimes of the Golden Cicada Thieves have all come to light."

As Tai Shibo spoke, he unfolded a scroll of brown paper. It was densely covered with lines of beautiful small characters, detailing the history of the Golden Cicada Thieves' crimes:
"Although these individuals call themselves chivalrous thieves, they have repeatedly robbed innocent people and committed brutal acts. This violates the laws of the Great Abyss Dynasty and they should be executed on the spot. This is my lady's final mission this time.
According to the clues provided by the informant, we will completely wipe out the Golden Cicada Thieves Group and capture their leader!"

Zhong Wuye's heart tightened after hearing this. Although she was a martial arts expert, the world of martial arts was not just about fighting and killing. She had to think twice before dealing with such a gang.

She was about to reply when Tai Shi Bo suddenly raised a finger and said something crucial in a low voice:
"If Miss Zhong can complete this mission of suppressing the bandits, I will not only provide you with information on the whereabouts of Xuantian Dragon Territory, but I will even use the power of important officials of the current dynasty to help you reach Xuantian Dragon Territory and clear all obstacles along the way. How do you say that?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhong Wuye's eyes couldn't help but flash with excitement.

Searching for the Xuantian Dragon Territory has been her long-cherished wish for many years of practice, and is also her ultimate goal in this life as she journeys through the swamps and hardships.

Now that this dream is right before her eyes, it all depends on whether she has the courage and tenacity to make the final attempt. Zhong Wuye slowly exhaled a long breath, and the look in his eyes changed from hesitation to determination.
She bowed respectfully to Tai Shi Bo and made a solemn promise:
"Alright! I will do my utmost to eradicate the Golden Cicada Bandits. I hope Master Taishi will stick to his word!"

……

Before leaving, Zhong Wuye came to the back mountain of Daoxi Village.

A breeze blew by, and the trees on the mountain rustled, as if there was an eye in the dark spying on all the secrets in the mountain.

Zhong Wuye didn't care about the prying eyes. She had long been accustomed to resting and practicing in this lush forest since she was a child.

After coming out of Daoxi Village, she quickly walked onto a narrow path in the woods, walking slowly and steadily, with a focused and calm expression.

Soon, a wide open space appeared before our eyes, where towering trees spread out in all directions, just like a natural courtyard.

There is a stone staircase in the middle of the open space, and at the end of the stone staircase is a depression. The terrain is slightly sunken but very quiet.

The members of the Liuli Group, hiding in Daoxi Village, practiced their skills in secret. Their instructor was a mysterious figure with a plain face and a gauze mask, whose true identity was never revealed.

When Zhong Wuye was halfway there, his expression became serious and he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the depression.

That was the mentor who had raised her since she could remember. He was wearing a long blue cloth robe, with a long sword on his back and a layer of gauze covering his face, making it difficult to see his features clearly.

"Master, you have indeed arrived as promised. Is everything okay?"

Zhong Wuye walked down the steps slowly and bowed to the master. As a disciple who had been taught by a master, Zhong Wuye never dared to be arrogant or presumptuous. He was extremely respectful and respectful to his master.

A pair of eyes as sharp as lightning could be vaguely seen under the veil, staring at Zhong Wuye sharply for a moment.

Although I couldn't see his true face, I could vaguely sense a hint of fierceness in him.

But the next moment, the mysterious man's aura suddenly relaxed, as if his previous fierceness was just a misunderstanding by his disciples, and he showed the demeanor of a kind and friendly teacher:
"My dear disciple, have you been training diligently lately? Before we set out to fight the Golden Cicada Bandits, I will teach you the most profound martial arts. Do not wait until you are truly in danger to realize the regrets of your last days."

"As expected, nothing can be hidden from the master."

Zhong Wuye was naturally intelligent and quickly grasped her master's intention to teach her martial arts. Pulling out a small, fine steel dagger from her bosom, she charged forward and unleashed a series of fierce and powerful moves.

The mysterious man was not afraid at all. He took the attack with one hand and drew out the long sword behind him with the other hand. Soon he turned the weapon in his hand into a series of brilliant killing moves.

The martial arts moves of both of them were extremely superb and extraordinary. Although they were just sparring, the two energies were still intertwining fiercely in the air.

For a while, the sound of whistling wind was incessant. Zhong Wuye responded to every killing move of his master with one move here and one move there. He became more and more courageous and full of fighting spirit. Gradually, he caught up with the opponent's rhythm and responded with full concentration.

Soon, she felt the blood boiling in her body, and unprecedented sharpness and dominance burst out. She exerted force on her wrist and blocked the master's sharp blade! Without waiting for the master to make a second move, she twisted her waist and quickly changed her moves, forcing the master to dodge repeatedly.

The two of them fought back and forth, and the air was filled with smoke.

But just when their martial arts skills had reached perfection, the masked man suddenly paused, and unexpectedly stopped his attack, raising his hand to signal Zhong Wuye:
"Your martial arts attainments today have truly reached the pinnacle. You are truly qualified to become a master."

Zhong Wuye couldn't help but smile when she heard this. She was so grateful for her master's kindness that she knelt down excitedly to thank him:
"Master, thank you so much for your guidance over the years. I am able to achieve this little bit today thanks to your cultivation and teaching. When I find my old place in the Dragon Territory, I will definitely invite you to stay with me in Longhu Mountain for a while so that we can enjoy our retirement."

The master waved his hand and said slowly:
"The encounters in this world are but temporary gatherings, and will eventually separate. Today I urge you to leave your apprenticeship, and it is time to leave your Liuli Troupe. When I taught you and Miyu and the others martial arts, I did so with the intention of giving you skills to protect your lives, but I neglected to teach you some worldly principles, such as human nature and reason, good and evil, and cause and effect."

Zhong Wuye frowned in confusion. She wanted to ask a few more questions, but was interrupted by a gesture from her master:
"You lost your parents when you were young, and when you should have entered the world, you were instead caught up in trials and tribulations. You haven't had much personal experience with some of the world's principles. But this is precisely what you must understand for yourself in the future.

The last thing I want to teach you is to be careful! Because sometimes being too naive can bring you unnecessary trouble.

After saying this, the master turned around and left leisurely, soon disappearing in the sunlight in the forest.

Zhong Wuye watched his master go away in silence for a long time.

She suddenly felt an inexplicable fear rising in her heart, as if once she left this mentor who guided her in life, she would have to face endless crises in the unknown world alone.

Moreover, the hidden meaning in her master's words made her feel even more uneasy. Could this world really be more sinister and treacherous than she had originally imagined?
(End of this chapter)