Chapter 179: White Serpent City

Facing the demon‑kind comrades who came looking for him, Wang Wu remained very courteous; he hadn't intended to get involved, but after noticing that all the demons were watching him, he had to step forward and state his position.

"Hello, I wonder what business you have in finding us?"

Wang Wu originally thought the female comrade was coming with something important, but after learning the truth, he realized the demoness just wanted to get close and make small talk.

After all, it was clear from their party that they were a powerful demon clan; although they were in a borderland, the locals there were well‑informed and understood the current world situation fairly well.

Wang Wu didn't mind the demoness's attempts to get close; on the contrary, he found her rather pleasant to look at.

So the two kept chatting, grew more like‑minded, and ended up staying in the village for a full three days before setting off again.

The demoness was the village chief of Daming Village, a butterfly demon named Hua Xiaoyue, just over eight hundred years old.

Thanks to the Extreme Heaven Divine Palace, she has naturally mastered the demon‑common cultivation method that flows from the palace, and she practices it quite well.

Of course she didn't know who Wang Wu was, because although he still looks the same, his outward persona is that of a demon.

So in the eyes of this demon, Wang Wu is considered her dearest demon compatriot.

As village chief, Hua Xiaoyue runs the settlement quite well. Traveling through the borderlands, Wang Wu has seen many villages, many of which are mixed human‑demon communities, and it's not uncommon for demons to serve as village chiefs.

Though Hua Xiaoyue's village is small, its living conditions are clearly far better than the few villages they passed before.

Because of the demoness's outstanding abilities, Xie Yu's mother once tried to invite her to take a post in White Serpent City, but the demoness politely declined with a smile.

She has been the village chief for eighty years, so the human residents have all grown up under her watch, giving her a deep affection for the place.

The reason she runs the village so well is that Hua Xiaoyue skillfully leverages her demon heritage, being charismatic and generous; she greets passing travelers and caravans warmly and maintains good relations with neighboring villages.

The socialization level of borderland demons is fairly high, after all, living mixed with humans for a long time makes them hard to be lowly.

Moreover, Hua Xiaoyue stands out even among them; in a demon city she would be considered a high‑status demon.

High emotional intelligence, high IQ—a quintessential quality demon. It would be strange if such a demon didn't catch Xie Yu's mother's eye.

Nevertheless, even though Hua Xiaoyue politely declined Xie Yu's mother's invitation, the relationship between the two demons warmed rapidly during their brief three‑day encounter.

At parting, the heavily pregnant Hua Xiaoyue dabbed her tears with a silk scarf while saying goodbye to Wang Wu and his group of demons.

After this little episode, the group of demons continued onward and soon reached a border pass of Chu State.

They faced no obstruction; after reporting their identities, the guard soldiers promptly let them pass.

Chu State has long treated demons fairly well, even more lenient than the Zhou Dynasty, and now that the demon clan has the backing of the Extreme Heaven Divine Palace, their attitude toward demons will only improve.

Technically, Wang Wu is also a Chu native; his household registration is in Chu, making him a proper Jing‑Chu barbarian.

So after arriving in the other‑worldly Chu State, he felt a certain resonance—a sense of returning home.

Well, actually it's mainly because Chu's customs are liberal; although the clothing here is still rather "retro," it's comparatively more open.

For example, they wear deep‑V‑neck Hanfu paired with various stockings.

Stockings plus traditional flat embroidered Chinese shoes left Wang Wu staring in amazement.

He had previously thought this world didn't have stockings or the style of underwear from his hometown; such items should only exist in his master's world.

Indeed, the March Realm also lacks his hometown's underwear styles, despite its art style being very close to his home in that sci‑fi world.

Yet now, here in the other‑worldly Chu State, the place of his other‑worldly origin, Wang Wu sees something strikingly familiar:

Stockings.

He's way too familiar with this—how could he not be?

And it's not just stockings; there are fishnet socks, thigh‑highs, all sorts… uh, that's digressing.

"W‑Why is the style of underwear you're wearing not like theirs?"

After Wang Wu lingered in the first border city of Chu State and returned to his inn, he looked at Xie Yu's sister's clothing and asked, puzzled.

"You mean indecent clothing?" Xie Yu's sister paused, then glanced at the Chu woman beside her.

They didn't even know the woman's name, nor did Wang Wu; she had knocked on the door during their heated argument and burst in as soon as Wang Wu opened it.

Because she trespassed without permission and was extremely rude, her eyes instantly reddened upon seeing Wang Wu, and she lunged at him.

Concerned for personal safety, Wang Wu had to resort to self‑defense.

Unexpectedly, the Chu woman's defensive ability was quite strong; she kept getting knocked out by Wang Wu several times, yet she revived within minutes and kept attacking him.

After the seventh time, she finally collapsed completely, unconscious.

"That's not the case," Xie Yu's sister said. "Our family's indecent clothing is all imported from Great Zhou; as for Chu‑style ones, Wang Xiaoge will see them when he reaches our White Serpent City."

"However, the current fashion in White Serpent City is the Great Zhou style, so Wang Xiaoge probably won't see many Chu‑style garments then."

"Ah, it's fine, it's fine," Wang Wu waved his hand, "I was just asking, not really that interested."

"Oh?" Xie Yu's sister looked at Wang Wu with a half‑smile, "But I saw earlier that Wang Xiaoge you…"

"The other party begged for mercy countless times, yet you, brother, just wouldn't relent."

"It's not like I never spared her," Wang Wu shrugged, "but as soon as I pardoned her—less than a second—she relapsed, reverting to old habits, remembering the hits but not the blows; what could I do?"

"Haha, indeed," Xie Yu's sister chuckled lightly, "Wang Xiaoge, you truly are extraordinary."

Wang Wu has not yet publicly disclosed his demon identity to the world, though he no longer intends to hide it; however, he currently has no intention of revealing it voluntarily.

We'll see later; we'll look at it when the time comes.

The party lingered in the border city of Chu for a few more days before departing.

After about a week, they finally arrived at the Li River front of Chu State.

"Down ahead lies our White Serpent City, Commissioner Wang."

Xie Yu turned his head and said to Wang Wu beside him.

"Hmm." Wang Wu nodded, "No time to waste, let's go down."

White Serpent City sits directly above Chu's great city of Lan County, a megacity with a population of seven million.

The Li River spans a full three hundred kilometers in width, wider than the widest river back home.

Its depth is equally astounding—six thousand meters, with a riverbed comparable to the deep sea.

Come to think of it, the oceans in this world occupy less area than the land, but the great rivers are truly massive.

White Horn City lies four thousand meters deep in the Li River, on a vast river‑bed plain.

Because Blue County lies directly above it, the connections between White Horn City and human societies are fairly close, and the two sides often cooperate.

At this moment in Blue County overhead, there is no rumor of a "distinguished guest from White Horn City in Li River arriving at the Supreme Celestial Palace," because Wang Wu has activated stealth mode and ordinary people cannot recognize who he is.

No wonder the Yinji Divine Sect's disguise technique is a very low‑level cultivation skill; after acquiring the divine art "Blur," disguise is essentially unnecessary.

Wang Wu came to White Horn City certainly not to handle official business… pfft, Wang Wu came to White Horn City certainly to handle official business.

And that official business is to go out and see the world.

If you ask whether Wang Wu has any ambition, he does, but his ambition is not to conquer or rule the world.

Getting stronger—that is probably his only main goal at present.

Besides getting stronger, he aims to challenge ten thousand different opposite‑sex opponents before his thirtieth birthday.

That challenge, to be fair, is quite difficult, because he was already twenty‑six when he transmigrated, and now two or three years have passed since his arrival.

His time is running short, yet his challenge target is still a bit far off.

As of now, he's still short by roughly six thousand seven hundred opponents; his memory is excellent—after all, he has a super brain and recalls every opponent's traits and weaknesses perfectly.

Of course this isn't a disease or addiction; how could a monster consider this an addiction?

It's simply a monster's nature.

"Xiao Cui! Xiao Cui!! Don't go, Xiao Cui! Xiao Cui!!!"

When he first arrived in White Horn City, the ones greeting Wang Wu were certainly not an official welcome squad, because he traveled low‑key.

So the first thing Wang Wu heard upon entering the city was this.

"Xiao Cui, no!! No, Xiao Cui!!!"

A human cultivator ran through the main street of White Horn City, sniffling and tearing up as he chased a mermaid soaring in the sky.

Yes, a mermaid—or rather a fish demon revealing its true form.

White Horn City is divided into wet and dry districts; the former is mainly inhabited by amphibious demon races and humans, while the latter is home to purely aquatic demon races.

Although after transformation everyone becomes amphibious, those who grew up immersed in water naturally prefer to live in water after transformation.

"Xiao Cui, Xiao Cui!!!"

The male cultivator shouted with a heart‑rending cry, and every passerby could only sigh.

"What's going on?" Wang Wu withdrew his gaze from there and asked his companions curiously.

Since arriving in White Horn City, the demons accompanying Wang Wu have changed; now he is followed by a clam demon, a shrimp demon, an unnamed fish demon, and a freshwater octopus.

"A human cultivator who sought but could not obtain," Zhang Xingxing said while munching on the chips Wang Wu gave him.

Because they do not know Wang Wu's true identity and assume he is just a friend of the matriarch, the companions naturally behave accordingly.

"Our demon race generally dislikes being bound to a single target; this human cultivator probably wanted his own kind to love only him for life, but was rejected, right?"

Another shrimp demon said at that moment:

"Such matters are quite common in our White Horn City."

"Why?" Wang Wu asked, a bit puzzled. "Humans should know our demon nature, right? If you really want to find this kind of demon, wouldn't it be easier to go straight for bird demons?"

"Because White Horn City is nearby," the accompanying fish demon Huang Shuo said with a smile.

"Because it's close and large, our White Horn City can see many humans."

"Come to think of it, humans seem especially fond of fish demons and our clam demons," clam demon Yu Mian added at the end of the conversation.

"Bird demons usually dwell in deep mountains and forests and generally dislike dealing with humans. Blue County borders White Horn City, so cultivators living in the city can easily reach us; the water demons we are are the ones most frequently encountered." Zhang Xingxing said.

"Xiao Cui! Xiao Cui!!"

The human cultivator over there continued wailing like a ghost, but his cries drew no sympathy, only a group of schadenfreude onlookers and the most enthusiastic human spectators.

Scholars may fantasize about all kinds of female demons in novels, but bird demons are rarely seen in such books.

Foxes, cats, dogs, and the renowned clam and fish are the regular fixtures of strange‑tale erotica.

"Ha ha." Wang Wu was also watching the spectacle; regarding the pitiful human cultivator, he felt the same schadenfreude.

"I heard Mr. Wu is formidable," at that moment, clam spirit Yu Mian coiled around, his body reverting to its true form, a soft human torso emerging from the shell to entwine Wang Wu.

It wasn't just her; there was also the cephalopod soft‑body demon Zhang Yingying.

"Here?"

When faced with a challenge, Wang Wu has never refused.

But this venue is indeed a bit excessive, after all it's not a competition.

It's not shyness; it's mainly fear of a fine—ah no, mainly fear of breaking the rules.

After all, Tian Mang City does not permit such things.

"Actually, I know a hidden spot…"

Shrimp demon Xia Suo was now clinging to Wang Wu; she hugged him tightly and whispered provocatively into his ear.

"Hmph." Faced with the provocation of the four female demons, Wang Wu let out a cold snort and then arrogantly said:

"Just because you all want to challenge me?"

"How would you know otherwise without trying?"

The female demons' eyes were also filled with fierce battle intent.

Soon, three hours later, Wang Wu and a single demon emerged from the alley, looked around, and continued toward the street ahead.

Strolling more, seeing more—that is Wang Wu's purpose.

After all, ten thousand defeated subordinates is no small number; it's a challenge Wang Wu wagers his dignity as Tian Mang City's top master on.

"Brother Wang!"

But before Wang Wu could take two steps, a ringing sound erupted.

He answered the call, and immediately Xie Yu's voice came from the other end:

Brother Wang, something's happened at the palace!

(End of chapter)