Here comes a cliche lie...!

They met with Chu Changying the following day at the edge of the city. It was morning and the city was rather lively.

"This is Bai Hu. He is…" Zhang Wang, though a usually good liar, was trying really hard to smile properly, "He is my lover…"

She froze for a moment, looking between the two men. Her Shidi was giving her a dumb expression, did he forget that she could see right through him? Never mind.

When she saw this Bai Hu character, she couldn't help but be full of suspicion as well. For one, he was tall, and Zhang Wang explicitly hates anyone taller than him. And despite wearing a blindfold, she could tell that his features were exquisite, from his knife-life jawline to the tall pointed nose. The red outer-coat he sported was Zhang Wang's as well.

"Hello, I am Bai Hu of Xianggu-"

She cut him off, uninterested, "I don't believe you."

Zhang Wang sighed, he had already seen this coming, "Yeah well, it's the truth, okay? Don't be rude to him, he's delicate." That might have been just a little bit of a lie as well but, Zhang Wang didn't care.

"Don't even try," Chu Changying rolled her eyes as she walked off. She refused to believe this! Zhang Wang? With a man? No way, not unless the sun decided to suddenly rise from the west, she absolutely refused to believe it.

"But it's true, sorry! I know that Shijie is jealous but you'll just have to accept that my heart is taken by another," Zhang Wang chirped as he nudged her teasingly. He was trying really hard to lighten up the situation and despised knowing that he had to keep up the act.

Worst, was this Yu Yanlin who acted more like his servant or pet than a lover.

Truly, the situation was awkward in all aspects.

In order to traverse the grasslands, they went and bought horses. Or more accurately, Chu Changying went to buy horses for all of them. Zhang Wang shamelessly admitted that his pockets were exceptionally light and demanded that his Shijie fork out extra expenses. After all, they were doing her a favor so it was only right.

Chu Changying's dainty face twisted into a sneer, "You want me to believe that Shidi really foolishly settled for this weakling? He does not even hold a weapon! What's with that?" She pointedly glared at Yu Yanlin's empty waist and swept her eyes up and down his figure. Clearly, unimpressed.

They were saddling up their newly purchased steeds. This breed, though small, was particularly nimble and sturdy but it still looked a little funny when someone as tall and big as Yu Yanlin mounted on the thing, dwarfing the beast.

"I can use my hands, it is no problem." Yanlin simply hummed, unconcerned by Cu Changying's suspicion and criticism. However his nonchalance only seemed to provoke her annoyance further.

She rolled her eyes and scoffed, "This man of yours, doesn't even understand his place and you want to bring him back to Xunfeng Peak with you? Stupid kid. Sikong Yong will have you flayed, you know that right?

"..." Zhang Wang rubbed the back of his neck. "A-hu," he sang sweetly, "come here."

For a moment, Yu Yanlin almost forgot who 'A-hu' was supposed to be. Awkwardly, he clenched his teeth and steered his horse toward Zhang Wang. Seriously, his naming sense was terrible… Wasn't calling a white tiger demon 'Bai Hu' being too obvious? Not to mention, downright cheesy. Though the blindfold was able to hide most of his apprehension, his voice came out a little exasperated, "Please don't call me that."

Zhang Wang's smile strained, trying to remind this dumb demon that they were supposed to act like lovers, "Okay, then I will call you Huhu instead." He watched the way teeth clenched and a light flush rose to Yu Yanlin's cheeks and decided it might be fun to tease this person more. "Since Shijie is saying you're weak and don't have a weapon, how about I give you mine? I know your swordsmanship is good." Having yet to mount his horse, Zhang Wang unbuckled the blade at his waist to hand it off.

Demon King Yanlin was most notorious with his black whip, Heiyushu but his skill with a jian could not be easily dismissed either. Of course, it wasn't as if the demon king could just simply pull out his family heirloom so carelessly.

"Is this appropriate?" Yu Yanlin asked, but still reached out the blade that was being handed over. Slowly, he drew it a little to gauge the blade up close. Though, it wasn't like he could see anything.

It was a weird choice of words, attracting Ch Changying's scrutinizing eyes.

Argh, so everything was up to Zhang Wang, wasn't it? He did his best to keep his expression sunny and sweet, "Most certainly! How can I let my cute Huhu go without a weapon of his own? This blade's name is Ermei. It is a special sword I got from a very special person so please treat it well."

Chu Changying peeked over as well, interested in this sword that was being handed over. She had never heard of a blade called Ermei before and reasoned that it came from the five months of mysterious adventures that he only hinted at vaguely. Curiosity gnawed at her but she wasn't going to embarrass herself by showing too much interest in Zhang Wang.

"What about you?" Yu Yanlin asked, securing the sword at his hip and showing his superior dexterity despite being blinded.

"Hm? I thought it was obvious that my skill never lied in swordsmanship in the first place. I'll be fine without it."

Zhang Wang finally hauled himself up on his steed and the three of them were ready for departure. The grasslands were a vast plain that the horses called home. If they rode without rest they would reach Xunfeng Peak in about a day and a half's time.

But they were not going to a straight route to Xunfeng Peak.

As per Chu Changying's request, they were going to go the stupid roundabout way, though a narrow canyon that followed the North Blue Summits all because she was being hunted by an assassin.

That was right.

They were going to risk their lives by going through an infamous and dangerous trail, rumored to be inhabited by ghoul and devils just to avoid one stupid assassin. Zhang Wang had no idea what kind of nemesis she could have gained but Chu Changying only explained that it was due to the shining jewel that she had tasked Zhang Wang to help her carry.

All this trouble, just to get Sikong Ren a birthday present.

…They didn't even celebrate birthdays in this world! So what was with that? If this wasn't some sort of side quest trigger then Zhang Wang was going to be sorely disappointed.

Alas, his system was as disrespectful as always and flashed the same old [ 12.015% ] in his face when he went to check on progress.

This was all about to go downhill and probably worse.

Oh well.

Zhang Wang only sighed a little and then laughed.

Before then an endless grassland stretched out with mountains dotting the edges.

He kicked his horse, passing Yu Yanlin and Chu Changying.

"You idiot!" She called but kicked her horse to chase him. Despite her chiding, there was a telling smirk on her lips.

Yu Yanlin laughed as well and urged his horse faster as well. The three of them raced for the cover of tall mountaintops, momentarily forgetting the purpose of their journey.

Above, a lone eagle cawed at it circled before doubling back to land on a gloved hand.

Princess Ariunbayar scrunched up her nose in distaste. She was the Princess of the Steppes and she refused to throw in the towel just because her foolish foe had gathered a few extra mob characters on her side.

No, Ariunbayar was intent on getting her debugger back without fail.

After all, she had already progressed up to [ 86.4% ] in her main quest! She wasn't going to stop now!