Zhang Yi

Pang Juan died beneath a tree.

Qi Army arrows had pierced him a thousand times, and the Wei Army had been routed by the Qi Army. No one had any thought of gathering his remains.

Sun Boling wouldn't go, and naturally Tian Ji wouldn't either.

On a battlefield strewn with corpses, only a woman in verdant green and a bird dragged Pang Juan's body away.

"Mr. Sun..."

Tian Ji watched Verdant Green Maiden leave with Pang Juan's body, his brows drawing together.

He looked at Sun Boling and asked, "Should we stop her?"

"The Master must not be offended!"

Sun Boling said to Tian Ji with a grave expression. It was the first time Tian Ji had seen him so serious. Even when discussing Pang Juan, he had never been this solemn.

Tian Ji drew a deep breath and nodded. "Tian Ji understands!"

Verdant Green Maiden buried Pang Juan beneath a nameless mountain.

She was alone, so Pang Juan shouldn't expect his grave to be grand or filled with precious burial goods. At most, she'd toss in some food to send him on his way.

"Ah... What a waste of good food."

Verdant Green Maiden sealed the grave with earth, looking as if her heart were breaking.

Hong Luan flapped her wings beside her and asked, "Should I go find some offerings?"

At that, Verdant Green Maiden immediately shook her head and said, "Go find me something to eat. I threw all the meat I had on me in there."

Hearing this, Hong Luan planted a foot on her head and said, "I told you not to give away every last bit, Stupid Snake!"

"Couldn't let him be a hungry ghost, could I?"

Verdant Green Maiden covered her head and muttered.

Though Hong Luan scolded her, she understood that this was just her nature. She quite liked that about her, too, so she dutifully went to find her a string of wild fruits. "Here, I found these for you. Eat up."

Verdant Green Maiden looked at the fruit and asked, "Couldn't you bring back a wild boar instead?"

She waved a hand beside her head. "Use your brain, would you?"

"Do snakes look like they eat vegetarian?"

Hong Luan: "..."

"Stupid Snake, are you asking for a beating? Look at my size! How am I supposed to bring you a wild boar? You're lucky to have fruit!"

She charged forward and mussed up Verdant Green Maiden's hair in an instant.

Snake Girl and Bird Sister laughed and tussled their way back from the Wei State toward Ghost Valley. But this time, before they could reach Ghost Valley, someone stopped them along the way.

Verdant Green Maiden hurriedly grabbed Hong Luan and thrust her toward the person blocking the road. "I'm lazy, broke, and weak. Bandit boss, take her instead!"

"I'm telling you, this bird is a divine bird! You won't lose out if you take her!"

"Here, here, I'll give her to you..."

As she spoke, Verdant Green Maiden tried to hand Hong Luan directly to the person before them.

Hong Luan struggled in her hands and cursed, "Stupid Snake! How can you give me away? I'm your good friend! Won't you be lonely without me...?"

At that, Verdant Green Maiden immediately stopped and nodded. "You're right, I suppose. Then I won't give you away."

She took a step back, looked at the person before them, and asked, "Who are you? If you're robbing people, can I join your gang? We'll split whatever we get, three-seven. I don't need much—just give me seventy percent and cook me a couple of dishes."

"Do you think he'll agree?"

Hong Luan muttered.

"Let's try. Maybe he will," Verdant Green Maiden whispered.

"But he's stopped talking." Hong Luan glanced at the person ahead, then turned to Verdant Green Maiden.

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Verdant Green Maiden blinked and looked up. The person stood rooted to the spot, staring at her and Hong Luan with his mouth agape, not saying a word.

"Hey, are you going to rob us or not?"

Verdant Green Maiden asked. The other person suddenly came to his senses and stared at her in astonishment.

Seeing his expression, Verdant Green Maiden clicked her tongue and muttered, "That's way too much of a shock. With nerves like that, how can he go around being a bandit?"

But as Verdant Green Maiden muttered, the other person took a step back and cupped his hands in greeting. "This junior is Zhang Yi. Greetings, Ghost Valley Master!"

"Uh..."

When he gave his name, Verdant Green Maiden froze.

Then she sprinted down the road at full speed, but after only a few steps, Zhang Yi stopped her. "Ghost Valley Master, why are you leaving in such a hurry? Did this junior do something wrong?"

"You're wrong! Showing up in front of me is wrong!"

Verdant Green Maiden shot him a glance and waved him away. "Go on, go on. I'm not Ghost Valley. You've mistaken me for another snake."

"But..."

Zhang Yi blinked and said, "Ghost Valley Master really does look just like you. I asked all along the way, so there can't be any mistake! And you even have a bird that can speak."

"She's called Hong Luan."

Verdant Green Maiden held Hong Luan up and introduced her to Zhang Yi.

Hong Luan smacked Verdant Green Maiden in the face with a wing. "Is this the time to introduce me? Stupid Snake."

"Oh! Right, right!"

Verdant Green Maiden finally came to her senses and pointed at Zhang Yi. "I'm not taking disciples anymore. You'd better seek another teacher!"

Hearing this, Zhang Yi looked somewhat regretful. "In that case, this junior came too late! It's just a pity I prepared so many generous gifts for you, Master. Now I can't give them to you. Sigh... It's my fault."

"Wait!"

Verdant Green Maiden blinked, then scurried over to Zhang Yi, stars shining in her eyes.

"You just said you prepared generous gifts?"

Zhang Yi nodded. "Yes, generous gifts! But, Master..."

"Hold it! Let me see what these generous gifts are."

Verdant Green Maiden wouldn't let Zhang Yi trick her with a few words. She insisted on seeing the gifts first. Zhang Yi nodded and led her over to his carriage. Sure enough, a heap of gifts had been laid out inside!

"Are all these... for me?"

Verdant Green Maiden's eyes shone.

Zhang Yi nodded. "Yes, but, Master..."

"Ahem!"

Verdant Green Maiden interrupted him with a cough, then turned back and smiled at him. "I'll take you as my disciple!"

"Take me?" Zhang Yi blinked and stared at Verdant Green Maiden in astonishment. "But, Master, didn't you say...?"

"Did I say anything just now?"

Verdant Green Maiden was the sort who could change her mind without batting an eye. After all, she shed her skin every few decades. When it came down to it, snakes didn't have any shame to begin with!

No shame, no worries.

Cheerfully, Verdant Green Maiden took the reins from Zhang Yi and climbed into the carriage. She waved to him and said, "Let's go. I'll take you back to Ghost Valley!"

Zhang Yi brightened and hurried after Verdant Green Maiden.

But as Verdant Green Maiden drove the carriage farther and farther away, it seemed they weren't heading toward Ghost Valley at all!

Zhang Yi asked quietly, "Master, where are we going?"

"I'm going to kill you and bury you. Then this whole carriage of stuff will be mine."

Verdant Green Maiden said calmly. Her words gave him quite a fright, and he stared at her with wide eyes, as if he couldn't believe she would do such a thing!

Verdant Green Maiden glanced at him and said, "I'm just teasing you."