After buying the clothes from Tuo brothers, our journey to the southwest of the town was anything but comforting.
The black clothes we wore practically stuck to our body like a snake's shedding skin.
Face and body all covered, we attracted suspicion from anyone who looked our way. They found us comical and scary at the same time.
Running like it was the end of the world, I made no attempts on stopping before we reached the town's border. As we got closer to the sparse trees, I finally stopped and so did Chunu.
In her overly fitting clothes, she looked like those royal spies decipted in romance stories. She'd look aesthetically pleasing if not for her puffed belly. However, I also wasn't in a position to say anything about it. My physique wasn't much better than hers.
I glanced at the horizon. Dunes upon dunes of sand stretched out as far as I could see. Far over here, no one could see us.
"Why are we here?" Chunu immediately asked as soon as we stopped running. Her face was dyed orange with the glow of setting sun. Night was coming.
"Chunu, you're going to be the bait," I told her abruptly.
"What!?"
"The bait, you'll stand here and distract the two who'll be coming."
She was thoroughly confused by what I said. She looked here and there, we were in the middle of nowhere. What was I talking about? Who were 'the two'?
"Chunu," I said, with utmost seriousness, "We're going to rob people."
"No we are not! Why would we?" A little disagreement, she was still confused.
I placed my hands on her shoulder and looked into her eyes, like the dependable brother I am.
"I am a robber, Chunu. It is your sisterly duty to assist me in my endeavours." I made a rather convincing smile out of habit, even though I was wearing a mask.
"Y-you are...?" She was bewildered.
I'm sure her respect for me reached an all time low, but it was a variable that fluctuated according to circumstances. For now, this was a matter of money, and I was going to go as low as I could for it.
So I said, "Indeed, now stand here and look out for Guoguo. He and that young master Chai will be here anytime now."
Patting her back, I rapidly pulled myself behind a large tree and hid carefully under its shade.
I was full of hope. After hunting the spiders, although they might not be injured, they'd surely be tired. Also, after defeating an enemy, people tend to be less vigilant of their surroundings. It was a universal fact. That's why, THIS was a great chance to loot them.
Minute after long minutes, me and my awkward sister waited for them to come. And they did come, but in a much more tired state than I'd expected.
Shoes sinking on the sand, with their lethargic steps; they reached before Chunu.
"Who is it!?" Guoguo alarmingly got into an attacking position after seeing an unexpected person.
Who roamed the outskirts of the town at night and why here? He was highly suspicious.
As I hadn't given any other instructions to my little sister, her response was a bit unprofessional.
"I-I'm Chunia, here to mmeet young master Chai as per my bro- ahem, my brothel master's instructions."
I felt this totally reasonable urge to facepalm all day by hearing this. However, I stopped myself from doing so and quietly started moving behind the two boys. In my hand was another black scarf I kept in reserve. It was going to be an important weapon in just a while.
"State now, woman. What's your purpose in coming here?" This time, it was the young master. His small eyes narrowed even more as he spoke. Though, I could see a vastly different reaction on Guoguo's face.
'He knows, he knows who she is!' I thought.
As a lie needed more lies to it cover up, Chunu quickly picked up my innate skill in the interrogation that followed.
"My master... Zuuu- No, Fanzui Gaoshou wants to discuss some important matters with young master."
All bullshit, of course.
"Do you know this Fanzui?" Guoguo asked Dou Chai but the reply was a tired shake of his head.
"Uncover your face, woman!" He ordered.
"Right here... young master?"
"Don't make us repeat ourselves, or we'll attack you," Guoguo threatened. However, the effect was minimal. Although she had lost all her powers, she would in no way be timid against mortals.
Chunu stretched her palm forward. Guo, thinking that she was about to attack, quickly pulled out his sword but nearly lost his balance when he heard her say,
"Stop, I wasn't talking to you."
'A chance!'
I had no idea she could stall for so long but now was the time.
I quickly reached behind the young master and delivered a solid punch that could leave a man groaning, but Dou Chai was still prepared.
"Behind us!? Er Guo, restrict that girl!" He shouted and blocked my punch with one of his sophisticated fans.
What he didn't expect and see, was the black scarf in my hands that I wrapped on his wrist. Taking a step back, I dodged the fan's sharp edges and re-orientated my punch to his stomach.
Tired he was, his reflexes couldn't keep up with mine and my fist landed on his belly. With a feet sweep, his position was imbalanced and he fell on his butt.
At body tempering stages, greater experience and the use of weapons was the deciding factor. As the cultivation gets higher, the more the rank matters. Right now, him being one rank higher than me played no role in this battle.
After he fell down, I was sure of my victory, but he pulled a rather low stunt that I failed to foresee. The sand, with hands full of sand, he threw it at my face.
"Ahhh, my eyes!" Growling, I grabbed my left eye and got on one knee.
Dou Chai attempted to stand up again but I was faster. Pulling his leg, I dragged him beneath me and started punching his face with my dominant hand.
On the other hand, Guoguo and Chunu were locked in a furious... game of chase. Apparently, this Guo was more incompetent than he appeared to be.
Tummy full and bursting with energy, Chunu was like a quick rabbit that Guoguo failed to catch no matter how much he tried. Although he was also a rank higher than her, he was too tired by now.
'The number of spiders he and Dou Chai killed must've been huge,' I thought.
Though the plan was going well, I was getting irritated. I didn't know why, but this young master had a special knack for getting beaten up. Even after tens of punches, he was still trying to stand. Talk about being persistent. Just faint already.
Tired of chasing Chunu, Guoguo finally realised he wouldn't be able to catch her in this state and came to assist Dou Chai.
On his hands was a long sword that, unfortunately, had no blunt edges. Meaning, if he hit me with that, he could slice me in two.
I stopped punching Dou chai and got into an attacking position. My left eye was unfunctional but for now, I could make do with it.
My weapon; I still had my black scarf with me. I didn't know where Chunu had run off to by now, but I was sure she wasn't that far away.
Guoguo was vigilant. He knew I wasn't weak. Defeating young master Chai (even by using a despicable move), was not an easy feat in his opinion.
He held his sword with his two hands in a striking position, I could see his hands shaking. In the end, the boy was still inexperienced.
Sure, he had fought a few fights here and there but when it came to life threatening events, he probably hadn't experienced that yet. Even though I had no weapons, he could recognize what a threat I was.
"Haaaaa! I'm going to kill you!!" Shouting unnecessarily, he marched forward but then, she came.
Silent as a snail, deadly as a child's wail. She creeped up behind him and gave a solid slap on his defenceless skull.
Pa!
That was enough to disorientate the boy in a way that guaranteed victory for us. It was totally unexpected.
Guoguo fell face first to the sand and I quickly seized his sword, ending the fight then and there.