Chapter 418: The Path Forward

Pan Dehai threatened them, ordering the three-headed ones to leave Haichiling.

The three-headed ones each had three heads, each with its own name.

The leftmost head was that of an adult man, named Mengzi.

The middle adult woman was called Juanzi; most of the time, her body controlled the three-headed form.

The rightmost child was called Xiaoshan.

Mengzi erupted: "Pan, don't say we've been hungry two days—we'd rather starve to death right here than leave without an explanation from you!"

"Fine spirit," Pan Dehai praised. "Since you're all virtuous souls, I'll grant your wish." With a wave of his hand, the food on the ground vanished.

Juanzi, in the center, cried out: "Master Pan! We're sorry! Don't hold a grudge—give us the food, we'll eat and leave right away!"

Pan Dehai sighed: "If it were up to my temper, I'd never give it back once you refused.

But today I'll break my own rule—take the food."

As he spoke, the food reappeared on the ground.

Juanzi bowed and thanked him profusely.

Pan Dehai waved his hand: "Don't thank me yet—I won't let you eat before you leave. Go now, walk a hundred li away, then eat."

Pan Dehai feared they'd cause trouble after eating; if they caused trouble a hundred li away, it'd be far from Haichiling, and they'd have to walk another hundred li back hungry—meaning their meal would be wasted.

Mengzi still wanted to fight. After Pan Dehai disappeared, he whispered to Juanzi: "Let's find a place, eat the food in secret, then come back and kill this old bastard—this can't end like this!"

Juanzi shook her head: "Don't act rashly. Take the food and go."

"What right does he have to…"

"If you say another word, I'll sew your mouth shut!" Juanzi snapped. "Who are we? Who do you think you are?

We're escaped criminals, worse than stray dogs—do you really think you can fight a local god?

While we still have food, let's find another place."

Mengzi gritted his teeth: "Where else can we go? Are we really going back to Criminal City?"

"We'll never go back to Criminal City—not even dead!" Juanzi unfolded a map, studying its markings. "Head to Wuqinxiang. We'll ration the food—we'll make it there."

"Hunt!" Mengzi growled. "Xiao Fu saw plenty of deer in the woods yesterday—if you hadn't forbidden hunting before, they'd have taken them!"

Juanzi frowned: "We didn't hunt before, and we won't hunt now. We must not hunt on this journey—it's what our benefactor told us!"

As they spoke, several other three-headed ones approached: "Juanzi, can we enter Haichiling?"

Juanzi replied: "This place won't take us. We're going to Wuqinxiang."

"Will Wuqinxiang take us?"

"Let's try."

…

Over three thousand three-headed ones divided the food and trudged slowly through the snow.

The cold wind blew; every li they walked, many collapsed into the snow.

Those who could rise kept walking; those who couldn't left their corpses behind.

Pan Dehai's form hid in midair, silently observing their direction.

He wondered how they'd traveled from Criminal City to Haichiling—and where they'd go next.

…

"This new land is so treacherous—how did they find this route? We never knew it existed!"

Not only Pan Dehai was curious; several Border Guard scouts trailed behind the three-headed ones, equally puzzled.

"Don't care where they got the route—on this side, Master Liao warned every local god: no one dares shelter them."

"What about New Land?"

"They're not from New Land—what can they eat there?

Even if they find food, would any local god in New Land dare shelter them?

These three-headed ones are fierce—who knows what they'll do?"

…

With the little food Pan Dehai gave them, the three-headed ones barely made it to Wuqinxiang.

The local god of Wuqinxiang didn't appear; she sent a middle-aged woman named Qiao Shaofen to meet Juanzi.

Qiao Shaofen looked at Juanzi: "Go elsewhere. This place won't take you."

Juanzi pleaded: "We just need a place to settle—anywhere, no matter how small."

Qiao Shaofen said: "Wuqinxiang houses only those with no ties. Three thousand of you coming together? That breaks our rules."

Juanzi hurriedly added: "We won't live together—we'll scatter! We'll never contact each other again!"

Qiao Shaofen still shook her head: "Even if you scatter, you're still from the same place. You say you won't contact, but you'll still long to be together.

That's still having ties—Wuqinxiang can't accept people like you."

"We'll sign a contract—we'll never meet again! Please, just speak for us!"

Juanzi knelt. Qiao Shaofen sighed and said: "I'll consult the Lady and reply later."

"Alright, we'll wait. Thank you, Sister Qiao." Any glimmer of hope, Juanzi would fight for.

Two more days passed. Qiao Shaofen came to the border and told Juanzi: "The Lady agrees to let you stay."

Juanzi was overjoyed—but Qiao Shaofen hadn't finished.

"But the Lady stipulated: not everyone can stay. Wuqinxiang fears trouble most. Men, with their volatile tempers, are not allowed."

No men meant half of them couldn't enter Wuqinxiang?

It wasn't that simple.

The gender of these three-thousand-plus was hard to define—their physiology was unusual.

Juanzi asked cautiously: "When you say 'male' and 'female,' do you mean by their lower bodies?"

Qiao Shaofen shook her head: "Not by body. By mind. If a woman carries a man's mind, she's still trouble."

That made things far more complex.

One body, three heads—which head defined gender?

Juanzi asked again: "So you mean the head that controls the body mustn't be male?"

Qiao Shaofen still shook her head: "The Lady says: if any head is male, you're out."

Juanzi's head spun.

Each of the three thousand had three heads—mostly mixed male and female.

Were there any with three female heads?

Yes—only one in ten, about three hundred.

According to their rules, only those three hundred qualified as female.

Three hundred could be accepted. Juanzi planned to assign them to two women—but Qiao Shaofen added another condition: "To enter Wuqinxiang, you must be untied. Carrying relatives with you? Still forbidden."

The left head, Mengzi, asked: "What now? What trick are you pulling?"

Qiao Shaofen frowned: "How dare you speak like that? 'Trick'? This is Wuqinxiang's rule!"

Mengzi roared: "Then tell us—how do we sever ties when we have three heads?"

Qiao Shaofen said: "Only one head may remain."

All three-headed ones about to enter Wuqinxiang froze in horror. Juanzi stood speechless. Mengzi roared: "Are you telling us to cut off our heads?"

Qiao Shaofen nodded: "If you can't do it yourselves, I'll find someone to do it for you."

"Monster! You're a bastard! If you won't take us, just say it—why toy with us?!" Mengzi lunged to attack, but Juanzi fought to control her body and held him back.

Qiao Shaofen watched Juanzi coldly: "If you can't sever your ties, I can't help you."

With that, Qiao Shaofen left.

Snow fell heavily. Juanzi sat on the ground, tears falling one by one.

The right head, the child's, Xiaoshan, whispered gently: "Sister, don't cry. We'll find another place. Don't cry—I won't ask for food again."

Juanzi stood, studied the map, and led the group forward through the snow.

After walking over ten li in New Land, Xiaoshan nodded off beside her—he was fading.

"Xiaoshan, don't sleep! I'll find you food soon—don't fall asleep!"

"Mmm… won't sleep… won't sleep…" Xiaoshan mumbled.

A gale swept through. The group halted.

These three-headed ones had sharp senses—they sensed someone approaching.

Juanzi saw faint green lights in midair. She knew a local god had arrived.

A man's voice reached them: "You've come a long way. To reach my land is fate—would you like to settle here?"

Juanzi looked up at the green lights: "Sir, what's your name?"

"I'm Liang Zhenjiao, master of this land."

Juanzi glanced at the others: "Sir, you really mean to shelter us?"

Liang Zhenjiao said: "That's my intention."

"But we're not from New Land—we won't find food…"

"Don't worry. A few Farming Cultivators came here recently, cleared land, and planted crops from Proper Land. I've brought you some."

He let out a long cry: "Dang~"

The sound was like a clock striking the hour.

After the chime, a pile of millet appeared on the ground.

"Everyone, try this—see if you can eat it."

Juanzi grabbed a handful of millet and shoved it into her mouth, chewed twice, and swallowed.

"We can eat it!" Juanzi was excited. "Sir, we can eat this grain."

"Hehe," Liang Zhenjiao chuckled twice. "Since you can eat it, don't leave—have a proper meal here first."

Mengzi was skeptical: "You really will take us in?"

After traveling this far, they had suffered too many losses; Mengzi didn't believe this local deity could be so kind.

The ghostly flame hovered in midair for a moment, then spoke to them: "I sincerely hope you'll stay. I have nothing lacking—except housing."

This winter is cold, bitterly cold. Could you help build a few houses?"

One, to give you a place to live; two, to add shelter for the people in my territory. Then we can live well together."

"That's easy!" Juanzi immediately agreed.

Liang Zhenjiao praised: "Miss, you're truly straightforward. First, have a meal—then we'll start work after you're full!"

After eating, Juanzi truly led these three-headed ones to begin work.

These three-headed ones were strong and diligent; in just two days, they built over five hundred wooden houses on Liang Zhenjiao's territory.

Juanzi planned it out: they kept two hundred houses for themselves, and handed over the remaining three hundred to Liang Zhenjiao as a gift.

Liang Zhenjiao looked troubled: "My people are numerous—these houses still aren't enough. But if I ask you to work more, I'd feel guilty."

Juanzi quickly said: "No problem—we'll build five hundred more! Just give us some food."

"Then I'm in your debt."

Two more days passed, and the three-headed ones built another five hundred wooden houses. The housing should've been enough, but Liang Zhenjiao was still troubled: "I counted the grain yesterday—it's still not enough. I told those few farming cultivators to push harder, but farming relies entirely on them—they simply can't finish it all."

Juanzi hurriedly said: "Let us handle it!"

Liang Zhenjiao sighed: "I truly can't ask this of you—it's unfair to you all."

Without hesitation, Juanzi led everyone to the fields to clear land. In ten days, they reclaimed vast farmland. They thought the matter was settled, but Liang Zhenjiao was troubled again.

"Growing grain isn't something that happens overnight. I've calculated repeatedly for days—there's still not enough food."

Juanzi looked at Liang Zhenjiao with urgent concern: "Tell us—where else can we lend a hand?"

Liang Zhenjiao let out a long sigh: "I'm truly sorry. I'll give you more grain—please choose another place with ample water and food to settle."

PS: Finding a path to survival is this hard? What crime could they have possibly committed?

(End of Chapter)