A year had flown by for Li Wei. In that time, he had gone from being "that quiet kid who trains a lot" to "that young guy who still trains a lot but now people actually respect him." His stats, both in skill and stature, had leveled up:
Tiger Boxing Method: [Completed]
Iron Sand Palm: [Completed]
100 Poison Immunity: [13/100]
Basic Swordsmanship: [75%]
Not bad for a guy who still preferred peace and quiet over loud celebrations.
Speaking of loud, the town of Longjiang was buzzing with excitement. Vendors were setting up stalls, kids were running around like they'd eaten too much sugar, and everyone was preparing for the arrival of Lord Zhang, the wealthy benefactor who apparently had big plans for the town—new roads, bridges, probably a statue of himself somewhere.
Li Wei, ever the people person (not), stood off to the side, watching the preparations with mild interest. He wasn't exactly thrilled about the arrival of a man whose idea of "improving the town" involved too many speeches and not enough action. But, duty called, and Li Wei had to be part of the welcoming committee whether he liked it or not.
The Mysterious Lord Zhang and a Job Offer He Didn't Ask For
The day before Lord Zhang's big arrival, Mayor Zhao summoned Li Wei for a private chat. Because nothing said "fun afternoon" like a serious meeting with the mayor. The mayor, looking far too serious for a man who had probably spent the morning practicing how to pronounce "infrastructure," got straight to the point.
"Li Wei," Mayor Zhao began, trying to sound as if he hadn't rehearsed this line a hundred times, "I want you to meet Lord Zhang before he addresses the town. Your expertise will be vital moving forward."
Li Wei raised an eyebrow. Expertise? I just want to punch things and occasionally solve mysteries, not build bridges, he thought. But, being the polite young man he was, he nodded.
Enter Lord Zhang. Tall, imposing, and exuding the kind of wealth that makes people instantly nervous. He walked into the room like he owned not just Longjiang but probably the mountain it sat on too.
"You must be Li Wei," Zhang said, offering his hand in what felt like a challenge disguised as a handshake. "I've heard much about your skills."
Li Wei shook his hand with the calm politeness of someone who wasn't about to get sucked into anything fancy. "Thank you, Lord Zhang. I am honored by your kind words," he replied, sounding like he'd just read from the manual: How to Politely Decline the Obvious Job Offer Coming Your Way.
"I could use someone like you on my team," Zhang continued, clearly not picking up on Li Wei's subtle disinterest. "As an engineer."
Li Wei blinked. Engineer? Did I miss something? He could punch through walls, sure, but building walls was a whole different skill set.
"I appreciate your generous offer, Lord Zhang," Li Wei said diplomatically, "but my heart lies in the mountains and small towns." Translation: I'd rather spar with bandits than attend meetings about road construction.
Zhang smiled, maybe a bit disappointed. "Your loyalty is admirable. If you ever change your mind, the offer will remain open."
Not happening, Li Wei thought but gave a polite nod instead.
Lord Zhang's Big Speech and Li Wei's Focus on… Not That
The next day, the whole town gathered in the square for the big speech. Vendors sold food, children ran around pretending to be warriors (with a lot more yelling and less actual martial arts), and the excitement was palpable. Li Wei, standing near the back, wasn't exactly captivated by the proceedings.
Mayor Zhao took to the stage like a man who lived for grand openings and introduced Lord Zhang with more fanfare than was probably necessary. Then, Lord Zhang launched into his speech about roads, bridges, and a bright future. Everyone cheered. Even the kids, who had no idea what a bridge was, cheered just because it seemed like the thing to do.
Meanwhile, Li Wei's mind was elsewhere. Sure, bridges were great and all, but he had bigger concerns—like the legendary thief, the Three-Eyed Phantom. Now that was something worth thinking about. The thief had been making waves for years, leaving a trail of rumors and head-scratching cases. The fact that no one had ever caught him? Impressive. The fact that everyone thought he had three eyes? Less impressive, but still interesting.
As Lord Zhang wrapped up his speech, promising to make Longjiang "a beacon of prosperity," Li Wei mentally noted all the clues he had gathered about the Phantom. There had been distinct symbols left at each crime scene, and merchants had spoken of a shadowy figure who moved like the wind—swift, silent, and impossible to catch.
Back to the Important Stuff: Phantom Hunting
Once Lord Zhang finished his grand departure, Li Wei returned to his true passion—investigating the Three-Eyed Phantom. As the town went back to normal and the excitement died down, Li Wei dove into his old files, piecing together every detail he could find.
He wasn't one for myths, but something about the Phantom felt real. Maybe it was the meticulous nature of the thefts, maybe it was the fact that no one had ever seen him clearly. Either way, Li Wei was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Sitting in his workshop, he looked over maps, notes, and old interviews. It was like solving a puzzle where half the pieces were missing—and the other half were probably hidden by the Phantom just to mess with him.
As the sun set, Li Wei knew one thing for sure: the Phantom was out there, and sooner or later, their paths would cross. In the meantime, Lord Zhang could keep his roads and bridges. Li Wei had a legend to catch.