Chapter Sixty-Six: Little Dongfang

Chapter Sixty-Six: Little Dongfang

“Chief Dongfang, you’re sending out hero invitations with such fanfare, summoning countless experts—will Wu Hong dare to show himself?”

A middle-aged Taoist said this. He appeared otherworldly, as if untouched by the dust of the mortal realm, followed by a young Taoist. Yet, when the elder mentioned Wu Hong’s name, the youth’s body visibly trembled, his face twisted with rage—clearly he hated Wu Hong to his very core.

Wu Hong recognized this young Taoist; it was the same one who had followed behind Wu Songran in the desert.

This assembly of several hundred, their internal energy profound, were all renowned martial masters. Wu Hong no longer feared any single expert at the peak of the post-heaven stage, but faced with ten or more, even he would have to flee.

“Hmph—Wu Hong may be a villain of the worst sort, but he is also outrageously arrogant! He’s provoked countless enemies in the martial world, yet has never shown fear. Besides, his woman is here as my guest—he’s bound to appear.”

Little Dongfang spoke, her brows furrowed. She was a rare beauty, her face radiant and refined.

Wu Hong, listening from the rooftop, racked his brain but could not recall how he’d offended this woman. Perhaps it had been the imposter who had incurred her wrath.

“Chief Dongfang, your reasoning seems rather forced. Wu Hong is clearly a formidable figure—would he risk everything for a woman’s life?”

A man of distinguished bearing, clad in green, his small eyes and round face exuding a sinister air, spoke coldly.

“Hehe, Master Qingyang, you don’t understand. Wu Hong is lecherous to the extreme. Though he has slain countless martial artists, the lives of his women are dearer to him than his own. He’s absurdly conceited, and looks down on all heroes under heaven!”

Little Dongfang smiled, as if she understood Wu Hong’s character intimately.

The martial elders exchanged odd glances, wondering if Dongfang’s enmity with Wu Hong was entangled in matters of romance. Though her fame was recent, her reputation was already well-established, and they speculated that her hatred might stem from a complicated relationship.

Wu Lie’s expression darkened as he looked at Little Dongfang, his heart plotting a thousand tortures for Wu Hong.

As for the origins of this suddenly prominent Little Dongfang, few knew her true background.

She continued, “Consider it: Wu Hong’s lust is almost pathological. He cannot go a day without women. Who knows what ruthless martial arts he practices? He’s violated the emperor’s concubines, even his own sister...”

“Chief Dongfang, I respect you as a rising star, but you’re out of line here. My brother is not that kind of person!” Wu Songran, face flushed with indignation, interrupted before Dongfang could finish her words.

Wu Songran now hated the imposter who masqueraded as Wu Hong, but there were too many who bore grudges against Wu Hong.

Her words carried little weight, and some even speculated her relationship with Wu Hong was more than ordinary. No matter how she defended him, none could be convinced.

“Hehe, Princess Wu, there’s no need to be so agitated. I have no ulterior motives; I simply wish to expose this beast in human form before all martial artists and officials!”

Wu Hong, listening from the rooftop, felt a deep sense of shame. His role as another person had allowed the imposter to commit countless atrocities under his name, and Wu Songran had surely suffered a miserable year, tormented by endless gossip and slander.

Wu Hong had been the last to exit the Celestial Book Cave, via a special passage. Most martial artists who entered had left early, finding nothing of value.

But why did such rumors persist? Had the imposter truly done something so heinous to Songran? In truth, neither Wu Hong nor anyone else knew that the one who had stripped Wu Songran that night was actually Wang Liang. Since entering the miniature world of the Celestial Book, Wang Liang had vanished without a trace.

Everyone in the grand hall, martial artists and officials alike, listened as Little Dongfang exposed Wu Hong’s crimes one by one. The crowd’s faces turned grim, for Wu Hong’s acts were universally condemned, and many present had suffered at his hands.

Despite Wu Songran’s attempts at defending Wu Hong, she lacked any forceful argument. The imposter never masked his face during his crimes, always leaving his name inscribed on the wall—a sin beyond forgiveness.

The more Wu Hong listened from the rooftop, the colder his heart grew. Had he known, he would have killed the imposter in the miniature world of the Celestial Book. He hadn’t expected the imposter to escape a year earlier and commit so many evil deeds.

Soon, the crowd dispersed. Wu Songran and Wu Lie left as well, everyone plotting how to capture Wu Hong and avenge their grievances.

Only Little Dongfang remained in the hall.

“Hmph—Wu Hong, just wait. I’ll make your crimes known throughout the land, leave you nowhere to hide, and then carve you into a thousand pieces!”

Her delicate face twisted in fury as she spoke.

Little Dongfang rose, gazing at her jade-like hands, her expression growing darker. She muttered, “Hmph—wait, everything will come back around!”

Wu Hong gently lifted a small ventilation window on the roof and saw Little Dongfang heading toward the rear hall. Only then did he slip into the grand hall.

His movements were like the wind; ordinary servants couldn’t sense his presence. As he passed them, they only felt a faint breeze.

The rear hall of Blackwood Cliff was a resting place for martial artists and officials. Wu Hong crept toward it, only to be dumbfounded—the rooms numbered in the hundreds. How was he to find Li Ruolan’s hiding place?

He passed through corridors and by a small lake, arriving at a row of rooms. His body moved like a giant gecko, clinging upside down along the eaves, careful and silent. Dressed in black, blending smoothly with the deep brown hues of the hall, he became one with the darkness.

Even if servants looked up from beneath the eaves, as long as he remained still, they would not notice him, truly resembling an assassin born of the martial world.

Wu Hong searched room after room for more than an hour, finding nothing, growing increasingly anxious.

When he reached the door of an unusually large room, two maidservants stepped out.

“Chief Dongfang is such a peculiar person—clearly a woman, but her gaze was so strange when she saw us.”

“Yes! Every time I help her bathe, she stares intently at my body, as if she’s thinking something odd. Sometimes she gets angry for no reason! She’s really strange. She has everything a woman has, so why the odd look? Sometimes I wonder if there’s a man’s soul inside her.”

Hearing their conversation, Wu Hong realized this was Little Dongfang’s room. Since she had initiated this campaign against the demon, if he could seize her, she would surely know where Li Ruolan was.

By now, Wu Hong bore no resentment toward those who hated him—they were victims of the imposter who used his name.

The two maidservants walked away.

Wu Hong descended, his body pressed against the red pillar by the door, moving slowly downwards like a gecko. His strength was astonishing, and his weight negligible, making such climbing effortless.

With a creak, Wu Hong pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside. A strong floral scent filled his nose, accompanied by the sound of water splashing.

“Oh no! Is Little Dongfang bathing? This might not be appropriate…”

Just as he reconsidered capturing her, light footsteps approached from outside. Wu Hong, startled, nimbly leaped onto the tall, sturdy wooden beam overhead, hiding himself. The beam was perfect for concealment.

From there, he could see everything in the hall.

He saw a beautiful woman, her body bare, seated in a large jade bath. Steam rose from the clear water, petals floated atop.

Little Dongfang’s skin was like mutton-fat jade, delicate and radiant. Pearls of water clung to her smooth skin, occasionally rolling down from her chest—a sight of boundless temptation.

“Who’s there?” Little Dongfang’s eyes suddenly sharpened, staring at the door—she had clearly heard the unusual footsteps outside.

Wu Hong, momentarily stunned by the sight, was startled into remembering why he was hiding, exhaling quietly.

“Miss Dongfang! It’s me.”

Little Dongfang’s brow furrowed, recognizing the voice. “Young Master Wu Lie, what are you doing here? I’m not exactly presentable. Whatever it is, let’s discuss it another day.”