I Wanted to Get Along with You as an Ordinary Man

This Women's Country... the horses ran so slowly.

Wu Wang's carriage was drawn by two Mystic Horn Horses. It had only a crude canopy, open to the wind on all sides, and was not particularly comfortable.

After jolting along for half a day and half a night, they had not even covered a few hundred li.

In the latter half of the night, they reached a relay station. Before Wu Wang could find a room to rest in, he was surrounded so tightly, layer upon layer, that not even water could seep through.

The relay station's wooden building had nearly been crushed by the surging crowd!

The words Wu Wang heard most often were these:

"Is this a man?"

"Ah, this really is a man!"

"They don't look any different from us."

There was absolutely nothing new about it.

Of course, some bold and excitable older women tried either to reach forward and touch him or to tug at his clothes.

Wu Wang endured as best he could, dodging left and right, while the archers Fengge had brought kept shouting:

"This is a man to be presented to the King! If you dirty him, you will answer for it!"

This situation was understandable enough.

If a woman went to the Western Plains' Husband Country, she would probably receive much the same treatment.

After being tossed about for an hour, Wu Wang finally obtained a quiet room and was able to sit in meditation on the bed and rest.

The inside and outside of the relay station gradually quieted down. Yet some women still refused to leave, lingering nearby and gazing hopefully toward the station.

"Honestly! Isn't he just a man? Every last one of them is acting like they've gone mad."

Fengge's complaint came from outside the door.

The general carried a wine jar, slightly drunk, kicked open the door, and charged in, shouting:

"This general has guarded the royal capital and the borderlands for so many years. Can't I enjoy myself first?"

Wu Wang's old face reddened. With practiced ease, he picked up a dagger and held it to his neck.

Fengge's "drunkenness" instantly vanished. She sat down resentfully beside the windowsill, curled up her right leg, hugged her knee, raised the wine jar, and tipped back two mouthfuls.

Wu Wang sniffed it... the alcohol content was not very high.

Fengge muttered, "Get some rest. At daybreak, we'll continue on our way. We should reach the capital around noon."

"Is the general not resting?"

"What, are you afraid I'll get handsy once you're asleep?"

Fengge chuckled. "You're overthinking it. Presenting you to the King is the real priority. How could I lay a finger on the King's treasure?"

This was quite a good chance to fish for information.

Wu Wang smiled. "Women's Country seems to have simple, honest customs. Being King here must be rather worry-free. There is no need to fear ambitious ministers."

"Of course," Fengge said, patting her chest. "Whoever dares defy the King must first answer to this general!"

"You should still not let your guard down," Wu Wang said seriously. "The human heart changes constantly. Since ancient times, power has made people linger and forget to leave. There has never been any shortage of those coveting the throne."

But Fengge waved a hand dismissively.

"Impossible. You don't understand Women's Country. Our King... she is the most perfect existence."

Starlight glimmered in the general's eyes. She looked up at the ceiling beam and murmured:

"She is so beautiful. Ever since she was little, she has always been so beautiful and kind. She cannot bear for any one of her subjects to suffer injustice."

Wu Wang raised a brow beside her, organizing the intelligence he had gathered in his mind.

It seemed this Fengge was one of the Women's Country King's trusted generals. Her expression just now had definitely not been feigned.

The night was far from peaceful.

Wu Wang simply sat in meditation to stabilize his breathing, while Fengge kept reaching out from the windowsill to press down young women clinging to the windows.

Early the next morning, the Sun Star had just risen.

Wu Wang got up and walked to the window. Looking down, he saw young women sprawled all over the grass outside, some knocked unconscious, others simply fast asleep.

Ah, this...

Inwardly, Wu Wang took out his little notebook and added another notch of hatred toward the person who had cursed him with Maiden Contact Sleep Syndrome.

Looking out the window, he could see field after field of rice paddies.

In the distance were rolling hills, terraced fields gleaming with rippling light, along with many orchards and tea trees. He could also see grazing cattle, sheep, and Spirit Beasts.

Villages scattered across the hills rang with cheerful laughter early in the morning.

Silver-white light filled Wu Wang's eyes. He could see women practicing martial arts in the woods, women beating clothes by the stream, women gathering firewood and boiling water, and women bare-chested as they butchered livestock.

As far as the eye could see, from children with hair tied in little knots to hunched old folk, all were women.

This secluded kingdom is rich in resources and prosperous in life. Judging from the atmosphere in yesterday's military camp, it does not seem like a country on the verge of rebellion.

Wu Wang pondered for a while, and several guesses arose in his mind.

Infiltration by the Hall of Ten Evils?

That did not seem right either. This was the Western Plains, territory ruled by Primordial Deities. They were essentially in the same camp as the evil gods behind the Hall of Ten Evils.

Although Women's Country was a human kingdom, it was much like the Great Waves and Bear Hug families of the Northern Plains, with no connection to the Human Domain.

Moreover, Women's Country had a national protective barrier. There had to be ways in and out, but this place lived at peace with the world and had no interests entangled with the outside.

Could the "rebellion" the old senior had mentioned be a struggle among the nobility?

With these questions in mind, Wu Wang boarded the carriage and spent the journey admiring the scenery, while casually probing Fengge for information.

Who knew how many days it had been since he had left that old auntie's side. He missed the tea she brewed with her own hands.

It was only the second day since he had left Senior Shennong Shi's side. Tsk, tsk. Cultivating alone really was nice.

Women's Country had quite a large population.

Villages and towns stood side by side, with little forest and much farmland. Paths crisscrossed like veins, and broad roads stretched out for galloping horses.

From time to time, they could see one or two walled cities, with vast residential districts inevitably spread beyond their walls.

"This place truly is carefree."

"Of course," Fengge said, with faint pride on her face. "Our country is like this. There are no enemies outside, and everyone gets along harmoniously. Sometimes it can feel a little boring, though.

Look ahead. Once we go around that hill, you will see our capital."

Wu Wang looked up. Before him lay a slope covered in pale grass and wildflowers, while dark green mountains could still be seen on the horizon.

Wu Wang praised, "What a wonderful place."

Fengge smiled. "Hehe, you'll live here from now on too. You can come out with our King more often and enjoy the moon, flowers, wind, and snow."

Wu Wang smiled but said nothing.

Just then, a large force of cavalry emerged from behind the hill. Female guards in white cloaks and golden armor galloped down the main road.

Fengge raised a hand in signal. The convoy quickly stopped, and the archers retreated to the roadside.

A shout immediately came from afar. "Great General Fengge! Is the man in the carriage behind you?"

Fengge laughed. "He is here! Has the King become so impatient that she sent all of you out?"

The expressions of the charging female guards changed drastically, and they cried out:

"Great General, retreat at once! The King sent us to save you!"

"The men are Fierce Beasts in disguise! They are cruel and heartless! They have already spread panic through the royal capital!"

Fengge turned and glared at Wu Wang, her eyes filled with confusion.

Wu Wang was equally bewildered, but his Spiritual Sense had already slipped into the rings on his hands, ready for a strategic retreat at any time.

The several dozen guards dismounted from afar and drew the swords at their waists. With tense expressions, they rushed to the carriage and surrounded Wu Wang.

These guards appeared to have been carefully selected as well. Every one of them was strikingly beautiful.

But the killing intent on them was no sham. They were all utterly focused, as though Wu Wang might rip open his clothes and transform the next instant.

What did it feel like to be surrounded by a group of beautiful young ladies?

Wu Wang was, after all, a young lord. He had seen plenty of scenes like this and remained calm as he said:

"Perhaps there has been some misunderstanding. I am nowhere near a match for General Fengge."

"Um," Fengge said from the side, "don't be hasty. Could there be some mistake?

I caught him at the border. Although I do not know how he passed through the national protective barrier, his strength is rather mediocre, and he has no background to speak of. He is a cultivator from the Human Domain."

Wu Wang: ...

You're the one who's mediocre. I previously specialized in the Star Invocation Technique!

The golden-armored guard at the lead immediately said:

"Great General, you do not know this. There is currently a man in the royal capital!

No one knows how this man sneaked into the capital or when he arrived. When we caught him, he was on one of our citizens' beds!"

Wu Wang's mouth twitched. That ominous premonition had indeed come true.

Upon reaching Women's Country, aside from a proper man like himself with a strange illness hanging over his head, with everyone being so enthusiastic, few men could keep themselves under control.

A golden-armored guard cursed through gritted teeth, "It has now been confirmed that at least sixteen citizens fell victim to his foul hands and lost their chance to enter the Sacred Pool to nurture the next generation!"

A guard beside her looked unwilling, biting down on her silver teeth. "Damn it, why wasn't I the first to encounter that man?"

The entire group of guards immediately looked over. The guard who had accidentally voiced her true thoughts hurriedly added, "Then I could have cut him down with one stroke!"

All the guards nodded in unison and continued to seethe with righteous indignation.

Wu Wang also felt somewhat indignant... Sixteen! What a beast!

Then he heard:

"The Grand State Preceptor consulted the oldest records of our people and saw the Whispers of the Gods.

God said: Men are all liars. There are no men in this world who are not fickle-hearted. Men should be hacked into a thousand pieces. Men are born to hurt women! Men are Fierce Beasts!"

"Ah, this?"

Fengge was somewhat dumbfounded as well. She looked at Wu Wang, then at the guards.

The guards immediately prepared to swarm forward and make short work of Wu Wang.

"Wait," Fengge said after pondering for a moment. "What did Her Majesty say?"

A guard immediately answered, "Her Majesty said the State Preceptor was right."

"How could men be Fierce Beasts?"

Fengge said:

"We are women, and the corresponding counterpart to women is men. If men are Fierce Beasts, then aren't we Fierce Beasts too?

The people of the Human Domain outnumber us by who knows how many times, and they all rely on men and women to bear the next generation.

As for losing the ability to nurture the next generation..."

Wu Wang reminded her, "They should have consummated a marriage and become husband and wife. Perhaps your country's Sacred Pool has a rule that only virgins may enter and bathe within it."

"Right, I seem to remember there being such an ancient saying," Fengge said, pinching her chin as she considered it.

Wu Wang coughed, rose from the carriage, and the guards around him subconsciously took several steps back. The archers nearby also became fully alert.

Wu Wang declared loudly:

"Everyone, I must correct a matter of common knowledge.

The man you captured cannot represent men as a group, just as I cannot.

But I am different from him. I am a proper man! I abide by the teachings of humanity's ancient sages! I am absolutely not one of those who are stirred by beauty, forget profit at the sight of beauty, or forget propriety at the sight of beauty!"

A guard immediately said, "There it is, a man's honeyed words!"

"Do not be afraid, everyone! Strike together!"

Wu Wang continued struggling valiantly:

"I support your hacking that man into a thousand pieces, but please do not tarnish the word 'man'!

Being born human, neither male nor female is our choice, nor is it what divides us!

We are all human, bearing the great mission of carrying on our race. A person's character is not determined by whether they are male or female, but by who they are!"

The golden-armored guards looked at one another, and each of their expressions changed somewhat.

An older female guard suddenly sighed and said firmly, "This man absolutely cannot be allowed to remain. He does not even need physical contact with us to alter our thoughts through words alone.

He bewilders hearts and confuses minds. Kill him!"

"Kill! Kill!"

Wu Wang looked around and found that the archers had already drawn their bowstrings. A trace of resolve flashed in his eyes.

"Ah," Fengge wanted to stop them, but suddenly hesitated. Feeling utterly overwhelmed, her thoughts became incomparably tangled, and she could not decide how to handle the matter.

Just then!

The guards cried out in alarm. Fengge also caught a glimmer of light and looked up toward its source.

A pair of transparent Star Wings hung in the air, extending from behind Wu Wang.

Wu Wang sat cross-legged in midair, his entire body wrapped in soft white light. A purple crescent moon appeared on his forehead, and his whole being radiated a holy aura.

"So be it. My identity can no longer be concealed.

I am the young lord of the Bear Hug Tribe of the Northern Plains, the only son of Cang Xue, first of the Northern Plains Seven-Day Sacrifice, the youngest Great Star Sacrifice and Moon Sacrifice of the Northern Plains in ten thousand years. By the command of the great Star God, I now travel the Great Wilderness in search of the Star God True Scripture that will save the people.

I passed through your land and concealed my identity only to avoid unnecessary trouble. I also wished to learn whether this place held the true scripture I sought.

Here are my identity documents, as well as the handwriting of the Northern Plains Seven-Day Sacrifice. Women's Country may verify my identity."

As he spoke, several balls of light flew from Wu Wang's sleeve and floated before the leading female guards.

Fengge's open mouth could not close for a while. The guards looked at one another, then all fixed their gazes on the balls of light, seeing the Parchment Scrolls and Crystal Balls inside.

Wu Wang sighed softly. "General Fengge, do not take offense. I originally wanted to get along with you as an ordinary man."

"You really are a divine envoy of the Northern Plains?"

"You could say that."

The atmosphere here immediately became subtle.

Thus, half an hour later.

A brand-new, splendid carriage appeared in the middle of the main road, complete with a canopy and banners, drawn by six horses and escorted by golden-armored female guards on either side.

Fengge had also changed into the full armor of a great general and rode at the very front.

While they were still far from the mighty walls of the Women's Country capital, the sounds of drums and horns welcoming a distinguished guest already rang out in the distance. Young girls in the bloom of youth held flower garlands, barefoot, and danced gracefully along the broad street within the city gates.

Wu Wang sat upright within the carriage, his expression peaceful, eyes closed in concentration, maintaining a faint soft glow around his body.

By the time they reached the city walls, people already filled both inside and outside the walls. The main street within the city had been covered with a red carpet that stretched all the way from the gates to the magnificent royal palace.

Suddenly, Wu Wang opened his eyes and looked up at the figure hanging outside the city wall...

This was that man.

At that moment, he was covered from head to toe in vegetable leaves, barefoot, disheveled, and hanging his head. As though he sensed Wu Wang's gaze, he gave his head an elegant shake, striving to toss his long hair aside. The instant he saw Wu Wang, he froze.

Wu Wang was also stunned when he saw the man's face clearly.

It was... only because I glanced at you once more amid the crowd...

"Brother Xiong, Brother Xiong, Brother Xiong, Brother Xiong!"

The hanging man shouted at the top of his lungs, struggling with all his might. "Brother Xiong, save me! It's me! Ji Mo! Old Ji! Your worthy little brother Ji! Brother Xiong, save me! I'm innocent! I haven't even touched a single woman from Women's Country!"

Black lines filled Wu Wang's forehead as he abruptly turned to look at the female guard beside him.

"You said the one you wanted to slice into a thousand pieces was him?"

The guard respectfully replied, "Divine Envoy, it is him!"

"Are there any technical difficulties with the slicing-into-a-thousand-pieces part?"

Wu Wang revealed a gentle smile and said warmly, "If you've never done this before, I can offer a few ideas. A fishing net is an indispensable tool when carrying out a thousand cuts."

The guards' eyes immediately lit up.