Chapter Five: Ari

Three days later, a disheveled, grime-covered figure appeared at the foot of a towering mountain. The man muttered incessantly, “Old man, you just left without so much as bringing me down from that mountain.” With that, he walked away from the mountain’s base—after three days, Luo Hao had finally managed to descend from the heights.

A short distance from the mountain stood a large town. As Luo Hao passed through, many young women burst into giggles, for even the beggars looked better than he did in his ragged attire.

“Geniuses are always eccentric, ordinary people can’t understand them,” Luo Hao comforted himself, ignoring the stares as he pushed straight through the crowd.

“Help! Help!” Just as Luo Hao was about to leave, a woman’s cry for help rang out, stopping him in his tracks. The voice, despite the urgency, was pleasant to the ear.

Could this be the legendary hero-rescues-beauty scenario, essential for any traveler from another world? Surely this woman had some influential background. If he saved her, wouldn’t he soon marry a wealthy beauty, be appointed CEO, and reach the pinnacle of life?

“Brother, what’s happening up ahead? Why is someone calling for help?” Luo Hao asked, stopping a nearby middle-aged man who was sighing heavily.

The man looked at Luo Hao’s tattered appearance without disdain, only sighing, “It’s always Murong Hai from the Murong family, forcibly taking girls. Who knows how many good women he’s ruined?” His words were tinged with helplessness.

“Brother, is there no one who can stop him?”

“Stop him? Ha, you must be new to Yihai City. The Murong family is the most powerful clan here, and Murong Hai’s elder brother, Murong Ying, is said to be a senior disciple of the Celestial Sea Sect. We can’t afford to offend them!” The man shook his head again.

“Celestial Sea Sect? Isn’t that where I’m heading?” Luo Hao fell silent at the mention, but the middle-aged man assumed he too feared the sect. There was no shame in that; the Celestial Sea Sect was one of the strongest in a thousand-mile radius—who wouldn’t be intimidated?

“Help me, please! Don’t come any closer!” Peering through the crowd, Luo Hao saw a fat man in luxurious robes, wielding a folding fan, watching as his subordinates dragged away a young woman in white. She struggled desperately, crying out for help, but the surrounding people remained silent, cowed by fear of the Murong family and the Celestial Sea Sect.

The girl looked back at the crowd, hope fading, and tears streamed down her face. In that instant, Luo Hao felt his mind go blank. He muttered, “Ah Li.”

The girl’s appearance was almost identical to his late sister, Ah Li—a wound that would never heal. Their family was poor, and he had watched helplessly as his sister died from illness when he was sixteen. He could never forget her desperate, longing gaze, as if a dagger had pierced his heart.

“Stop!” Without thinking, Luo Hao plunged out of the crowd. Heaven had given him another chance—a sister he could protect. Last time, he had failed, but this time, he would fulfill his duty as an elder brother.

“Tiger King’s Moon Prayer!”

With a roar that echoed like a savage beast loosed from its cage, Luo Hao unleashed a punch at Murong Hai’s two henchmen.

A white tiger of unmatched ferocity rose behind Luo Hao, bathed in the pale light of the moon. Deadly energy erupted from its body as Luo Hao’s fist transformed into a tiger’s claw, smashing down on the henchmen.

Bang!

Before the two could react, they were slammed into the ground, the sound of bones shattering making everyone present flinch. Blood spurted from their mouths as they fell unconscious in twin craters.

Luo Hao shielded the girl behind him, her face stunned as she stared at the ragged figure who had stood up for her. Even Murong Hai was shaken.

He had run rampant in Yihai City for ages, and no one had ever dared lay a finger on him. Though Luo Hao looked like a beggar, Murong Hai was no fool; from Luo Hao’s actions, he could tell he was a martial artist of considerable strength. His own henchmen were tier-three in Qi Spirit, yet they couldn’t withstand a single blow.

Murong Hai steadied himself, eyes narrowed. “Beggar, who are you, to dare injure members of the Murong family?” He spoke with a hint of probing, but Luo Hao ignored him, turning instead to the girl, his voice trembling, “Miss, what is your name?”

The girl, inexplicably reassured by this ragged youth, replied, “My name is Ah Li, I’m an orphan. Brother, you should leave quickly—Murong Hai won’t let you go.”

“Kid, if you know what’s good for you, get lost!” Murong Hai’s voice intruded, but Luo Hao paid him no mind.

Ah Li. Luo Hao’s heart trembled—was this fate? “Just for that ‘brother,’ I won’t leave you behind today. You say you’re an orphan—then from now on, you bear my surname, and I’ll be your brother. As long as I live, no one will bully you. Is that alright?” His voice was almost pleading.

“So you fancy this girl, resorting to such tactics!” Before Ah Li could answer, Murong Hai’s mocking tone reached Luo Hao’s ears.

But in the next moment, Murong Hai felt as if a beast had locked onto him; Luo Hao’s gaze was fierce, animalistic, making Murong Hai instinctively swallow.

Then Luo Hao spoke in a cold, indifferent tone, “Don’t think you’re somebody just because your brother’s a disciple of the Celestial Sea Sect. I couldn’t care less. If you’re brave, let your brother come find me—Luo Hao of the Celestial Sea Sect.”

As Luo Hao finished speaking, Murong Hai’s expression shifted. Though the man before him was ragged, he’d felled two tier-three Qi Spirit fighters in one strike—a feat Murong Hai preferred to believe meant Luo Hao was indeed from the Celestial Sea Sect.

Murong Hai glanced deeply at Luo Hao. “Just wait, my brother will come for you.” With that, he left without sparing a glance for his fallen henchmen. If Luo Hao truly was a disciple of the Celestial Sea Sect, he couldn’t afford to provoke him; the best course was to leave it to his brother, Murong Ying.

Seeing Murong Hai leave, Luo Hao breathed a quiet sigh of relief, his body swaying. He’d managed, with the strength of Qi Spirit tier one and his mastery of the Doomsday Tiger Arts and Twin Dragon Sovereign Arts, to defeat two tier-three fighters in a single blow, temporarily intimidating Murong Hai. By bluffing further, he’d convinced Murong Hai he was a disciple of the Celestial Sea Sect. Truthfully, Luo Hao could barely handle one tier-three opponent, let alone two.

“Thank you, brother!” Ah Li thanked Luo Hao. Before she could react, Luo Hao grabbed her wrist and hurried away; if Murong Hai returned, there was no guarantee he could bluff his way out again.

With Ah Li in tow, Luo Hao fled Yihai City, only stopping once they entered the mountain path. He stared at the girl, his gaze making her uneasy. She retreated, guarding her chest.

Luo Hao gave a bitter smile—how could staring at her not arouse suspicion? “Miss, don’t be afraid. I won’t harm you. You just look so much like my late sister, Luo Mengli.” Mentioning his sister, Luo Hao’s expression darkened, sorrow etched between his brows.

The girl seemed to sense he wasn’t a scoundrel. She bit her lip and whispered, “Brother… brother.” Though her voice was barely audible, Luo Hao’s hearing, sharpened by his Qi Spirit breakthrough, caught it.

Overwhelmed, Luo Hao grabbed her hand, only to release it awkwardly. “Thank you. Since you’ve accepted me as your brother, I won’t neglect you. Ah Li, come with me to the Celestial Sea Sect. I can’t let you go alone.” His voice was earnest, full of care and even a hint of pleading. If the scruffy old man knew, he’d be shocked out of his wits.

“Brother, from today on, I’ll be called Luo Mengli. You’ll protect me forever, won’t you?” Perhaps she had endured hardships; for this sudden brother, she was both happy and afraid—afraid of losing him again.

Luo Hao sensed her uncertainty. He patted her head. “I’m your brother—who else will protect you? If anyone dares hurt you, I’ll make sure they die.” The killing intent in his eyes as he uttered “die” chilled the air.

“Mengli’s not afraid anymore!” Feeling her brother’s care, she wiped her tears and smiled warmly.

On the mountain path, Luo Hao traveled with his newly recognized sister, Mengli. From her, he learned the way to the Celestial Sea Sect and shared stories about his eccentric master. Mengli giggled at his tales and secretly thought, No wonder brother’s so ragged—it all makes sense now.

After crossing a ridge, they saw a small village below. Luo Hao thought, At least we’ll have a place to rest tonight, though Mengli will have to put up with some hardship. Mengli seemed to read his thoughts. “Brother, as long as I have somewhere to sleep, I’m grateful. I’m not picky.”

Luo Hao smiled at her, and the two descended the slope. At the village entrance, they found a broken stone tablet inscribed, in faded strokes, with the words Peach Garden Village.

Entering the village with Mengli, Luo Hao immediately sensed something was amiss. For such a large village, not a soul was in sight. The silence was unsettling, and broken monuments littered the ground.

“Mengli, it seems this village has been abandoned for a long time. We’ll have to make do tonight. Don’t stray too far when we sleep—I feel there’s danger lurking here.” Mengli nodded solemnly, clutching Luo Hao’s arm tightly. Her full chest accidentally pressed against him, causing his body to stiffen.

“Brother, what’s wrong?” Mengli asked, puzzled by his sudden rigidity.

“Ah—nothing, let’s go.” Luo Hao coughed awkwardly, inwardly cursing himself for being such a beast—to even have stray thoughts about his own sister.