The Secret to Picking Up Girls

Since no one was leading the way, the group had no choice but to proceed on their own. Ling Wei figured that the reason the people of Tianmen could coexist peacefully with the local mountain folk wasn't because they were kind, but because they were using them as cover. If that was the case, Tianmen's location should be very hidden. Although Ziyan Mountain was large, the only truly secluded area was deep within the mountains. However, because it was late at night, even with flashlights, visibility was extremely low in the pitch-black darkness.

Saying it was impossible to see one's fingers would be a slight exaggeration, but not by much.

The three men and one woman entered the mountain, and the eerie howls of unknown animals echoing through the deep woods made the girls feel a little scared. Zhang Yuze, in his ignorance, felt no fear, but perhaps he was just sensitive, as he could feel the girls beside him inching closer. Tian Ling even grabbed his hand tightly.

Although the three girls were skilled martial artists and bold, they were still girls. They were all afraid of the unknown. After all, they were girls, and their courage was much smaller than boys. It's like a grown man who might be afraid of cockroaches; it's the same principle.

Zhang Yuze even felt the sensitive parts of the girls' bodies pressing against his arm. Of course, the girls didn't notice.

“A-Shui, what do you think is making that noise?” Tian Ling asked Zhang Yuze, clutching his side tightly while holding a flashlight in her other hand, her voice somewhat timid.

Zhang Yuze chuckled and said to Tian Ling, “If I'm not mistaken, it should be monkeys! They're the most common thing in the mountains.”

“Monkeys? Are you sure?” Tian Ling, hearing Zhang Yuze's words, immediately felt a little relieved.

“Well, I'm just guessing, I can't be sure.” Zhang Yuze said sheepishly.

“You're annoying!” Tian Ling slapped Zhang Yuze playfully.

After their conversation, the atmosphere relaxed a bit.

“Stop talking, you guys. Talking at night like this will attract the attention of our opponents. Besides, it's too quiet around here, our voices will carry far.” Ling Wei said sternly to Zhang Yuze and Tian Ling.

After climbing the mountain for an entire night, even though they were cultivators, they were all a little tired from the long journey. However, the surroundings were pitch black, and there wasn't even a place to rest.

“Sister Ling, I'm tired, can we take a break?” Hu Ruihong said, panting.

Ling Wei glanced at Hu Ruihong and smiled, “You're a woman, how can you be so weak? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?”

Hu Ruihong glared at Ling Wei unhappily and retorted, “Women get tired too, it's normal!”

Ling Wei nodded and frowned, “But it's not easy to find a place to rest right now!”

Suddenly, Zhang Yuze pointed to a spot ahead and said, “There seems to be a thatched hut over there.”

“Really!” The three girls looked in the direction Zhang Yuze was pointing and indeed saw a thatched hut in the distance.

Hu Ruihong nodded and smiled at Tian Ling, “Not bad, your bodyguard may seem a little rigid, but his eyesight is pretty good.”

The four of them walked to the thatched hut and entered. They found it to be very simple, with only a dilapidated table and a few planks of wood laid on top, covered with some straw. It was clear that this was a resting place for mountain folk who came to gather herbs, chop wood, or herd cattle. However, judging by the dilapidated state of the hut and the thick layer of dust on the table, it had probably been a long time since anyone had been there.

“Sister Ling, we've been searching for so long, and we still don't know where the enemy's stronghold is. Isn't it a bit too aimless to keep searching like this?” Hu Ruihong took a deep breath and looked at Ling Wei with some concern.

Ling Wei smiled faintly, appearing very confident, and said, “Didn't you think I'd considered that? Do you think I'm so reckless as to do something without a plan?”

Hu Ruihong and Tian Ling heard from Ling Wei's words that she seemed to know something. They couldn't help but look at her with some confusion.

Ling Wei, seeing the curious look on the two girls' faces, smiled faintly and said, “I had already looked at the terrain in this area before we came. The only place to hide people is in a small area. And have you heard of Willow Village?”

“Willow Village?” Tian Ling frowned, thought carefully, and suddenly remembered something, looking at Ling Wei and saying, “Is Sister Ling talking about the Willow family, which is somewhat famous in the martial world? I heard that their Thirty-Six Styles of the Wind-Following Sword Technique is very powerful. More than a hundred years ago, they had an expert of the eighth level. But in recent years, they have gradually declined.”

Ling Wei nodded and said, “Yes, you're right, it's that Willow Village.”

Hu Ruihong suddenly thought of something and asked Ling Wei curiously, “Sister Ling, why are you talking about Willow Village at this time? Could it be that Willow Village is also nearby?”

Ling Wei smiled and looked at Hu Ruihong, saying, “I knew I couldn't hide it from you. That's right, the master of Willow Village had a brief encounter with me a few years ago, and I think he should know something about the situation in this area!”

Hu Ruihong and Tian Ling were immediately relieved to hear this. If that was the case, it would be better than searching aimlessly like headless flies.

Relaxed, the girls suddenly felt a little bored. Being in the deep mountains, and it being April, the weather was still a bit cold. The girls were dressed very thinly and felt a chill from the cold wind outside. They couldn't help but hug themselves. Zhang Yuze, on the other hand, didn't seem to feel any discomfort at all.

“Hey, you've been wearing those glasses ever since we met you, aren't you tired?” Hu Ruihong looked at Zhang Yuze, who had been silent, feeling a little puzzled.

Tian Ling smiled and said, “Forget it, all of our bodyguards have this requirement, they generally don't take off their glasses.”

“Oh!” Hu Ruihong just asked casually and didn't mean to delve deeper.

Zhang Yuze instantly breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Hu Ruihong didn't ask any further. Otherwise, if he took off his glasses, he wondered what Ling Wei and Hu Ruihong would do!

After chatting for a few more sentences, the group decided to sleep fully clothed because they were going to Willow Village the next day. Zhang Yuze volunteered to take on the task of keeping watch. The girls declined several times, but perhaps because they were too tired, they reluctantly went to rest.

Zhang Yuze sat cross-legged on the grass. At this moment, he didn't know what to do. He thought of Chen Liqiong back home, and her every smile and frown, and couldn't help but feel a little lost.

“Liqiong, have you arrived home yet? Are you doing well now? Do you miss me?” Zhang Yuze sighed deeply.

Ever since Chen Liqiong left, Zhang Yuze had realized that Chen Liqiong occupied such an important place in his heart. The feeling of endless longing made his heart feel a little blocked.

Just as Zhang Yuze was in a daze, time slowly passed. Suddenly, he felt a slight movement and quickly turned around, only to find that it was Ling Wei. At this moment, she was staring intently at him.

Zhang Yuze was a little surprised and asked Ling Wei with some concern, “Why aren't you sleeping?”

Ling Wei shook her head at Zhang Yuze and smiled, “I can't sleep. After all, we are in this unknown place. If the enemy comes, it will be troublesome.”

Zhang Yuze nodded solemnly when he heard this and said, “Yes, you're right. But don't worry, I'll keep watch, and I'll notify you if there's any movement.”

Ling Wei shook her head and said to Zhang Yuze with a solemn expression, “Forget it, you go to sleep, you've been working hard too.”

Zhang Yuze smiled and said, “It's okay, I'm a boy, and my body is more resistant to fatigue than yours. I think you should rest.”

Ling Wei looked at Zhang Yuze deeply, and with Zhang Yuze's insistence, plus the fact that she was indeed a little sleepy, she finally went to rest.

Zhang Yuze closed his eyes. Although he couldn't sleep, he could still rest his mind.

Suddenly. Zhang Yuze felt some information enter his mind. This information was some fragmented images. A young man was fighting with several men. What surprised Zhang Yuze was how familiar that young man was. It seemed to be himself.

“Could this be my past?” Zhang Yuze frowned and muttered.

It was just that the information that suddenly appeared was too little, and for a while, Zhang Yuze couldn't find his identity information.

“Why, why can't I remember who I am?” Zhang Yuze closed his eyes sadly. He could feel that someone seemed to be calling out to him in his heart.

“What's wrong?” Suddenly, a concerned voice sounded beside Zhang Yuze.

Zhang Yuze calmed down the complicated feelings in his heart, opened his eyes, looked at Hu Ruihong beside him, and asked her with some puzzlement, “Why aren't you asleep yet?”

When Hu Ruihong heard this, her face instantly turned red, and she lowered her head, seeming a little embarrassed. She stammered to Zhang Yuze, “I… I want to… you know!”

“Uh…” Zhang Yuze wasn't too slow-witted, and instantly knew what Hu Ruihong wanted to say.