Transmigration: The Peerless Immortal Husband

When Gu Yao opened his eyes, Chi Changye and the other two made their move simultaneously. Against these small-time thieves at the Qi Refinement stage, a mere display of spiritual pressure was enough to render them immobile. The knives in their hands all clattered to the ground. Seeing this, the remaining three instantly realized they had encountered someone they couldn’t handle. Without a second thought for their captured companions, they turned to flee.

Staying behind wouldn’t save their comrades anyway; it was better to retreat and bring reinforcements to rescue them later.

However, before they had taken more than a few steps, a long, rope-like object flew from behind and ensnared all three, binding them together. The rope was transparent and crystal-like, and its head even turned toward the one in front, flicking its tongue like a snake. The man let out a blood-curdling scream before his eyes rolled back, and he passed out.

Because they were tied together, the falling man nearly dragged the other two down with him. It was then that the remaining two saw clearly what had bound them. It wasn’t a rope at all—it was a snake, a crystal snake. The aura emanating from its body alone was enough to make them almost lose control of their bladders in terror.

“Mercy, great hero! Please spare us! We were blind and didn’t recognize who we were dealing with. We deserve to die!” The two were so terrified that they dropped to their knees on the spot, snot and tears streaming down their faces. They begged for mercy while slapping themselves in self-punishment.

Meanwhile, the others who had been captured regained their freedom. Following the example of the first two, they too fell to their knees, trembling. There was no other choice; even without considering the four cultivators present, the crystal snake alone was enough to utterly crush these small-time thieves. Reality was harsh.

Tian Feirong and the chubby youth leaped to their feet. This was their first time dealing with such low-level bandits, and they found it quite amusing.

They rummaged through the bandits’ belongings and discovered, to their dismay, that the eight of them together had only two storage pouches. And inside those pouches, there were barely a dozen spirit stones, along with a few spiritual beads and some gold and silver treasures. It was a pitiful sight.

“These bandits are way too poor! I thought we could loot them in return,” the chubby youth grumbled, unable to accept how destitute these bandits were. This was his first time encountering such impoverished thieves.

Tian Feirong felt a bit conflicted, his thoughts drifting back to the days they had spent in Yuanyang Town.

Gu Yao chuckled softly and said, “When Brother Ye and I left that place, we only had ten thousand taels in silver notes and a thousand spiritual beads. We didn’t even have a single spirit stone. And that was after pulling some strings to get it. These guys are wealthier than we were back then, right, Brother Ye?”

Chi Changye nodded with a faint smile. Reflecting on those times, he found warmth in the memory despite the dark night. Back then, he was gravely injured and could barely summon any spiritual energy. Even worrying about the next meal was a challenge. Now, those struggles felt like an amusing memory.

The chubby youth fell silent. Happiness truly came from comparison. Though he had been treated poorly in Cuiyan Valley, he had never lacked material comforts. He couldn’t even imagine what Gu Yao and Chi Changye’s lives had been like before.

Tian Feirong had to break the nostalgic mood with a light cough. “What should we do with these guys?” he asked.

Chi Changye cast him a glance that made him shrink back. Gu Yao smiled and said, “Let’s keep them tied up for the night. Tomorrow, they’ll lead us to Xiong Tou Fortress. None of us have been there before.”

“Fine. I’ll tie them up. You guys can go rest.” Tian Feirong quickly busied himself. The chubby youth called back the crystal snake, which, on its way back, flicked its tail at the unconscious bandit, waking him up with a scream. Seeing the crystal snake nuzzling against the chubby youth, the bandit trembled and nearly fainted again.

The eight bandits were tied into a bundle and dumped in a corner. Tian Feirong then returned to the campfire, and the four resumed meditating and resting. The night passed uneventfully, though the bandits spent it in regret. They deeply lamented choosing these four terrifying individuals to rob. They couldn’t figure out who they were, but they seemed far more formidable than the leaders of Xiong Tou Fortress.

The binding was simple, just vines from the area, and it would have been easy to escape. However, none of the eight dared to move throughout the night. They stayed huddled together, trembling until dawn.

When Gu Yao and the others had breakfast, they casually waved a hand, and the vines fell away, setting the bandits free.

“Find something to eat yourselves. Once we’re done, we’ll head out,” Gu Yao said.

The bandits found the situation bizarre. These four cultivators, who looked young but were undoubtedly in the Foundation Establishment stage, still ate breakfast like ordinary people? Yet, the eccentric habits of powerful individuals were not something they dared to question. They made do with some dry rations and water conjured with a simple spell, then obediently prepared to lead the way.

During the sleepless night, after their initial fear subsided, the eight bandits had exchanged glances, silently pondering the origins of these four. Were they targeting Xiong Tou Fortress? But what in Xiong Tou Fortress was worth such a grand effort? None of them considered the possibility that this was the group from Yuanyang Town. And even if the thought crossed their minds, they dismissed it as impossible.

After Gu Yao became renowned, people around Yuanyang Town had thoroughly dug into the Gu family’s situation. The treatment Gu Yao had received in the Gu family and the reasons for his departure had long been spread far and wide. Although many cultivators refrained from acting against the Gu family out of deference to Gu Yao’s surname, few believed he held any lingering affection for them. Back when he left the Gu family but had yet to leave Yuanyang Town, his ties with them had already been severed. Over the past decade, Gu Yao had never once contacted the Gu family.

Especially after Chi Changye formed his Golden Core, people often mocked the Gu family for “picking up sesame seeds and losing a golden melon.” They had pinned their hopes on another Gu family member who had joined the Changxian Sect, but whether that person could successfully grow was still uncertain. Besides, the teleportation arrays were now sealed, cutting off their connection to potential support.

Xiong Tou Fortress was situated in a treacherous location, with a narrow entrance that made it easy to defend and hard to attack. Those who came here rarely cared about each other’s identities. As long as you paid the entrance fee and didn’t threaten the fort’s position, you could even kill and burn within the walls without issue.

The group of eight bandits, led by the Zhao brothers, had suffered an unfortunate fate. The elder brother, Zhao Dagou, had been the one eying Gu Yao’s storage pouch. His younger brother, Zhao Ergou, had stayed behind at the fort, waiting for his elder brother to return with loot. The two brothers had stumbled upon a damaged cultivation manual and, through trial and error, managed to make some progress, forming a small band in the area. Unfortunately, this time, they met their match in Gu Yao and his companions.

When Zhao Ergou saw his brother return, he eagerly asked, “Big Brother, didn’t you send word that you found some fat sheep? How was the haul this time?”

Zhao Ergou’s innocent question made Zhao Dagou’s face darken as though he had just lost his parents. The others in his group looked similarly pale and shaky.

Zhao Dagou’s heart skipped a beat as he cautiously glanced at Gu Yao and his companions. Then, he smacked his younger brother hard. “What nonsense are you talking about? I brought some esteemed guests to entertain. Take the others back first—I’ll show our guests around the fort.”

He was inwardly cursing his younger brother for digging his own grave and resolved that if only one of them could survive, it might as well be Zhao Ergou. Signaling his men with his eyes, he urged them to leave quickly.

Zhao Ergou, though confused about how the “fat sheep” had become “guests,” obediently complied, assuming his brother had some hidden plan. Before leaving, he cast a greedy glance at Gu Yao and the others, which made Zhao Dagou shudder uncontrollably.

Turning back, Zhao Dagou saw the faint smiles on Gu Yao and his companions’ faces and felt his legs grow weaker. His petty schemes had been completely seen through, but the others had chosen not to call him out. It wasn’t due to his cleverness.

Gu Yao pointed ahead. “Lead the way.”

“Yes, yes,” Zhao Dagou stammered, not daring to disobey. As they entered the fort, the guards at the gate didn’t seem to pay special attention to Gu Yao’s group, likely due to some trick they used.

Inside Xiong Tou Fortress, the atmosphere was chaotic, a mix of all sorts of people. The air was heavy with the scent of blood, evidence of the frequent violence in the area. Knowing Gu Yao and his group’s likely interest, Zhao Dagou led them straight to the fort’s black market.

The black market lived up to its name. Even during the day, it was dark, with dim lighting that seemed deliberately designed to create a shadowy, chaotic effect. The air was poorly ventilated, making the stench almost unbearable. Tian Feirong’s face turned pale; before coming, he had harbored some childhood fantasies about Xiong Tou Fortress, but those illusions were now completely shattered. Reality was a harsh blow.

Not long after they entered, someone suddenly charged at them. Surrounded by people, there was no way to dodge. The crowd seemed eager to watch the drama unfold. To them, Gu Yao and his companions were unfamiliar faces—newcomers, and therefore the easiest targets for such attacks.

Zhao Dagou couldn’t help but want to cover his eyes. These idiots were as blind as he had been, mistaking this group for “fat sheep.” A strange face didn’t mean they were easy to bully!

Before the man could even collide with Gu Yao and his group, an invisible force bounced him back, sending him crashing into a stall behind them. The stall’s goods spilled all over the ground in a chaotic mess. Tian Feirong feigned a look of astonishment and said, “Wow, this guy is so considerate! He was so worried about hitting us that he bounced off by himself. Hey, big brother, you’re not hurt, are you?”

The man lying on the ground looked dejected. Realizing he had messed with the wrong people, he could only swallow his misfortune and quickly waved his hands, saying, “No, I’m fine.”

“You’re fine, but I’m not!” the stall owner behind him roared angrily.

Gu Yao and his group simply walked away, shaking their heads. Behind them, the stall owner was arguing with the man who had knocked over his stall, demanding compensation. As for who would come out on top in that quarrel, Gu Yao and the others had no interest in finding out. After all, the stall only had a messy assortment of junk with little of value. The stall owner likely realized Gu Yao and his group weren’t as simple as they appeared, which was why he focused his frustration on the other man.

After this incident, the area around Gu Yao and his companions quieted down somewhat. Zhao Dagou, however, could only smile bitterly. He knew that once Gu Yao and his group left, the people in the black market would probably come knocking on his door for answers. But how was he supposed to know anything about these four?

Many curious and probing gazes, as well as spiritual senses, fell on Gu Yao and his companions, but they ignored them all. They wandered aimlessly through the black market. While there was hardly anything worth their attention, Tian Feirong couldn’t help but think about the time Gu Yao and Chi Changye had both struck gold gambling on mystery boxes. Perhaps, in a place like this, he might also stumble upon a hidden treasure.