A Thousand Miles to Find Her Husband, Yet Disaster Strikes

Woven bamboo basket… Zhu Zhaozhao shivered out of nowhere. Yikes~ What a scary man.

“This young lady doesn’t even know your name!” Zhu Zhaozhao placed her hands on her hips and shouted at him righteously.

But after catching a glimpse of Yi Wulu’s chilling, cold gaze, her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was barely a whisper: “If I can’t call you stinky Daoist… then what should I call you…”

“I am Yi Wulu, a disciple of the Wugou Sect,” the young man replied, puffing out his broad chest and straightened back, his tone carrying a subtle sense of pride.

Yi Wulu… not a bad name, Zhu Zhaozhao thought to herself.

“As for the purpose of this trip to Daoquan Town…”

“A little bamboo demon like you doesn’t need to know.”

Yi Wulu gave Zhu Zhaozhao a sideways glance.

Tch—stinky Daoist. Zhu Zhaozhao kept a straight face, but inside, she was grumbling a hundred times over.

“You just said I’d be following you anyway!” Zhu Zhaozhao complained, annoyed that Yi Wulu guarded against her like she was a thief—completely unnecessary in her opinion. “I’ll find out sooner or later, so why not just tell me now?!”

Yi Wulu tilted his head, silently observing Zhu Zhaozhao for a moment.

She had a point. If she really was Pangui’s fiancée, there was no reason to hide it from her—after all, the jade bamboo ring would eventually be returned to its rightful owner.

Having thought it through, Yi Wulu was just about to tell her the truth. But seeing Zhu Zhaozhao puffing her cheeks in frustration, he suddenly felt the urge to tease her.

“I was just about to tell you,” Yi Wulu said seriously, then the very next second put on an exaggerated act and rubbed his neck. “But… why does my neck suddenly feel so sore?”

Zhu Zhaozhao got it instantly—and immediately stepped forward to give Yi Wulu a neck massage.

“Stinky—cough—Master Wulu, please just tell me already~”

“This shoulder… why does it still feel so uncomfortable?”

Zhu Zhaozhao understood immediately and slid her hands outward to give Yi Wulu a shoulder massage.

“From now on, we travel together as one—human and demon united! No secrets between us!”

Although Yi Wulu found the term “human and demon” a bit odd, he appreciated Zhu Zhaozhao’s flattering attitude and opened his mouth to speak.

“Our purpose in going to Daoquan Town is to search for the whereabouts of the Kunlun Jade Demon and deliver an old friend’s heirloom.”

“Not long ago, I came down the mountain, and the Demon-Detecting Plate detected the Kunlun Jade Demon’s aura in Daoquan Town.” After saying that, Yi Wulu lifted the Demon-Detecting Plate hanging at his waist to show Zhu Zhaozhao.

The Demon-Detecting Plate had a luminous glass bead inside, and was framed by the Eight Trigrams of Heaven and Earth, it could detect demons and trace their aura, or conceal one’s own aura.

“Once I find the Kunlun Jade Demon and finish the task, I will return the jade bamboo ring to you.”

As Yi Wulu spoke, he recalled events from nine years ago: his master had been entrusted to deliver what was recorded inside the jade bamboo ring to a Kunlun Jade Demon named Xiang Yu in the capital. But when his master arrived, he only heard of a palace upheaval:

The imperial advisor Xiang Yu became a demon master. On the day the late emperor passed away, he incited the second prince to rebel. Fortunately, the late emperor was prepared, the second prince Zhou Huaiyuan was executed at Chengtian Gate, and demon master Xiang Yu disappeared without a trace.

Master Zhan Zhang failed to find Xiang Yu and returned empty-handed after a year. Meanwhile, the matter of senior brother Gao Shang’s defection also urgently required resolution. Therefore, the heavy responsibility of finding the Kunlun Jade Demon Xiang Yu fell upon the closed-door disciple Yi Wulu.

The master had instructed Yi Wulu to wait until he was proficient in Wugou Sect’s techniques before coming down the mountain. Seven years had passed since then.

Yi Wulu’s thoughts drifted far away, but in the next second, Zhu Zhaozhao’s explosive voice snapped him back.

“Then it’s settled!!!”

Zhu Zhaozhao punched Yi Wulu’s left shoulder, slinging her arm around his back like a close buddy. “I’ll help you find the Kunlun Jade Demon. Once you finish your task, return the jade bamboo ring to me immediately!”

Zhu Zhaozhao wasn’t the least bit interested in what Yi Wulu was doing looking for the Kunlun Jade Demon—she just wanted to get the jade bamboo ring as soon as possible and find her brother.

That said, following Yi Wulu wasn’t a bad idea either. He was clearly a powerful demon hunter. On one hand, she could use his protection to avoid threats and attacks from other demons and Heavenly Masters, on the other, she could build a good relationship with him and maybe get his help in searching for her brother.

Wahaha, the best of both worlds.

—

The next day, the rain that had fallen all night had finally stopped.

The faint morning light streamed through the paper-covered window of the ruined temple and fell across Yi Wulu’s face. His eyelids stirred slightly before he opened his clear, alert eyes.

The young man rose and tidied himself up. Meanwhile, Zhu Zhaozhao was still fast asleep in a pile of straw nearby, snoring away and talking in her sleep.

“Hehehe, stinky Daoist, now you know how awesome I am! Serves you right for bullying me!” Zhu Zhaozhao was dreaming of putting Yi Wulu in his place.

In her dream, she had Yi Wulu tied up and strapped to a wooden bed. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t break free. All he could do was grit his teeth and curse, “Zhu! Zhao! Zhao! You’re good, huh!”

“Hehehe. That’s what you get for bullying me!” Zhu Zhaozhao smacked her lips and let out another laugh in her sleep.

But the sweet dream was abruptly ended by a soft, cool touch.

Still groggy, Zhu Zhaozhao vaguely saw Yi Wulu leaning over and gently patting her cheek, wearing a face full of distaste and amusement. “Little bamboo demon, what kind of dream are you having? You’re drooling all over the place.”

What? Drooling? This young lady’s gentle and elegant image must not collapse just like that!

Zhu Zhaozhao instantly shot upright and wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve. “Is it morning already? That fast?”

She still hadn’t slept enough.

Yi Wulu didn’t respond. He simply slung his pack over his shoulder and walked toward the door. As he passed by Zhu Zhaozhao, he knocked her lightly on the head with the back of his hand.

“Let’s go. Time to head out.”

As days passed, the sun and moon took their turns. Three days later, just before sunset, the two of them arrived at Daoquan Town.

Yi Wulu walked swiftly in front, while Zhu Zhaozhao, exhausted before even reaching the town gates, plopped down onto the ground and began to protest.

“Yi Wulu! Don’t tell me you’re that poor? You can’t even afford to rent a carriage?”

“Poor? No,” Yi Wulu shot back calmly.

“You—you—you…” Zhu Zhaozhao was so angry she couldn’t get her words out. “I don’t care! This young lady can’t walk another step—I want to ride a carriage!”

Yi Wulu completely ignored her, lifted his foot, and continued walking forward. “There’s an inn up ahead. Come if you want.”

An inn?!!! Finally, I can rest!

In a flash, Zhu Zhaozhao darted forward and rushed straight toward a nearby inn called “Laifu Inn.” In her wake, only a fluttering bamboo leaf floated gently to the ground beside Yi Wulu.

Yi Wulu: “…”

“Innkeeper! Two upper rooms!” Zhu Zhaozhao strode in with big steps, shouting at the top of her lungs.

The innkeeper, an elderly man, was startled by the fiery young woman bursting through the door. Before he could speak, a tall youth in fitted black clothing followed behind and quietly stepped forward.

“Shared lodging is fine,” Yi Wulu said coolly, edging Zhu Zhaozhao aside as he placed a few copper coins on the counter.

Zhu Zhaozhao’s expression darkened. After all the trouble getting to an inn, she was just looking forward to a nice hot bath—and now Yi Wulu wanted her to sleep in shared quarters?! She was furious and immediately exploded.

“Seriously?! Stinky Daoist, are you really so broke you’re making a young lady sleep in a shared room? Is that how shabby life is for Wugou Sect disciples?!”

After confirming that the demon hunter Yi Wulu wouldn’t exterminate her—a harmless little bamboo demon—Zhu Zhaozhao had long since dropped all pretense and reverted to her true self, continuing to sass heaven, earth, and especially Yi Wulu.

“Miss Zhaozhao is rich, Miss Zhaozhao is generous,” Yi Wulu said with a smirk and a raised brow. “Why don’t you pay for the room, then?”

He couldn’t care less about a little demon’s temper tantrum.

“You—!”

Under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head. More importantly… I have no money.
Fine! I’ll endure it!

With the silent chant of “Endure!”, Zhu Zhaozhao’s face turned red from frustration. The innkeeper quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“Don’t be angry, young lady~ Careful not to hurt your health~” the old man said cheerily, beaming at the pair in front of him. “Once your husband earns some money, he’ll give you everything nice~”

Zhu Zhaozhao: ?! He’s not my husband!

Yi Wulu: …I’m not her husband.

The two spoke in unison to correct the innkeeper, showing an unexpected moment of harmony.

Oh? So they’re not a couple? the innkeeper thought, Still, they do look quite a match. Even speak in sync.

“Ah~ Don’t take offense, good guests. This old man simply misunderstood~” the innkeeper chuckled as he stroked his beard. “But even if the lady wanted an upper room, there are none left. Just earlier, all the upper rooms were—”

“There is one,” a cool male voice cut in from the stairwell, interrupting the innkeeper. “If the two young heroes don’t mind, you may share it with me.”

The voice arrived before the man himself.

Zhu Zhaozhao turned toward the stairs and saw a richly dressed man descending from the second floor of the inn.

He was well over seven feet tall, his hair tied up neatly under a crown. He wore a pale yellow round-collared long robe embroidered with flying cranes, and casually fanned himself with a white ink-painted fan.

At first glance, one might think he was some wealthy noble son traveling for leisure.

The man in the yellow crane-embroidered robe walked steadily up to Zhu Zhaozhao, and she became more and more certain that he wasn’t an ordinary nobleman.

His breathing was calm, his features elegant and gentle like jade. Most importantly, Zhu Zhaozhao faintly sensed a trace of… demonic aura coming from him.

A demon?

Without giving anything away, Zhu Zhaozhao quietly released a sliver of her own demon energy toward Ji Xin, hoping to confirm the identity of the man in yellow.

The light fragrance of bamboo leaves slowly spread.

“Who are you?” Yi Wulu stepped forward warily, positioning himself between Zhu Zhaozhao and the man in yellow.

The man in the yellow robe wasn’t offended. He bowed gracefully, lowered his head, gripped his fan with both hands, then opened it outward in a respectful gesture as he saluted them.

“I am Ji Xin, a man from the capital,” he said with warmth and politeness. His manner was like the moon shining through pine trees, and his voice flowed like a mountain spring. “Just now, I overheard the young lady with you wishing for an upper room, so I thought I’d offer mine. If the two of you don’t mind, I’d be happy to share.”

“That won’t be nec—” Yi Wulu had just begun to refuse when a faint scent of fresh bamboo hit him in the face.

The subtle fragrance drifted from Zhu Zhaozhao’s sleeve, flowing up the hand she had extended and into Yi Wulu’s direction.

Zhu Zhaozhao immediately covered Yi Wulu’s mouth and dragged him aside. At the same time, she flashed Ji Xin a bright smile. “That’s great! Thank you, Brother Ji!”

Once she turned her back, she leaned in close to Yi Wulu’s ear and hissed under her breath:

“Yi Wulu, are you stupid?”

“Why wouldn’t we take advantage of this?!”

“Besides, this young lady absolutely refuses to sleep in that awful shared room with you!!!”

Yi Wulu didn’t reply, but inside, something tensed like a string being pulled taut.

Too close.