I relax as I lie on a real bed, not one of those uncomfortable fake beds we have in the carriage. With all the luxury they've added to that carriage, they could have made a little more effort to make them comfortable. Or maybe, at a certain level, cultivators don't care so much about comfort, since my mother hasn't complained and just looks at me amused when I do.

  And I am grateful that when we arrived in this village, Nei Baihu ordered us to stop for a day of rest, since we still have half a month to go before we reach the city of Xi'an.

  This trip has only confirmed what I had already concluded from reading books, which is that this world is absurdly large and the distances are crazy. It will take us almost a month to reach our destination, and it is not even the city furthest from the imperial capital.

  And it's not that we're going particularly slowly. I never thought it possible that a human being could go at what I estimate to be about 10 km/h for hours on end over several days, because that's the speed at which the Nei Wei have been going all the way here, traveling ten hours every day with only one break every five hours to eat.

  That means we've traveled more than a thousand kilometers in these thirteen days, practically a quarter of the distance between the east and west coasts of the United States, walking and without stopping. It's clear that the improvements that cultivators have are totally absurd, since not even Captain America would be capable of doing that.

  And that's not to mention the horses and their ability to keep up, because when I asked her, he told me that they are something called spirit beasts, beasts that are capable of absorbing Qi, which gives them abilities that normal animals do not have. So, even animals can become cultivators.

  And not only animals, but even plants are also capable of doing so, since the absurdly strong wood from which the carriage we use is made is called ironwood, which is taken from trees that are capable, of course, of absorbing Qi to harden themselves.

  At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me that even the stones on the side of the road are capable of cultivation, but I've decided not to ask for the sake of my sanity.

  But soon my nocturnal ramblings are overcome by the comfort of the bed, and sleep claims me.

  When Lianhua wakes me up to tell me that I must get up and have breakfast, I dawdle and try to get her to let me sleep a little longer, but she ignores me and pulls me out of bed to help me get dressed and do my morning ablutions.

  When we are done, she takes me to the dining room, and when I take a closer look at my surroundings, since I was too tired to do so last night, I notice that the inn is quite large and luxurious, which surprises me since the town did not seem big enough for an establishment of this status.

  When we arrive at the dining room, they are already waiting for us, so Lianhua seats me next to my mother and then sits down on the other side next to Lingxi. As soon as we sit down, several waitresses begin to serve us breakfast, and we start to eat eagerly, as it is a pleasant change from the food the Nei Wei have been serving us along the way, which, although it was fine, was clearly army rations.

  I notice that as soon as we finish breakfast, one of the Nei Wei on duty in the dining room leaves, returning a moment later with Nei Baihu, who approaches our table.

  “Guifei Xiang”, she says to my mother as she bows. “I apologize for disturbing you so early, but this is the village at the entrance to the Fog Marsh, and I was instructed to tell you upon arrival that you have a letter to deliver to the Yao clan.”

  “That's right”, my mother replies, then turns to Lingxi. “Go to the carriage and bring the letter with the Sun family seal that is in my luggage. We'll wait for you at the door of the inn.”

  Lingxi stands up, bows to my mother, and leaves the dining room, after which my mother addresses Nei Baihu again. “If you came so early, it's because it's better to give it to them as soon as possible, isn't it?”

  “Yes, Guifei Xiang”, replies Nei Baihu. “The sooner we deliver it, the sooner they can organize the guides to take us through the swamp.”

  My mother stands up as she says “Then let's not waste any time.”

  Seeing my mother stand up, I hesitate for a moment but quickly decide to ask her “Mother, can I have Lianhua take me for a walk around the village? I've never seen anything other than the palace and the places we've passed by from the carriage.”

  “All right, Wen”, my mother replies with a smile, but then looks at the Nei Baihu. “I suppose it won't be a problem for some Nei Wei to escort you.”

  “No problem, Guifei Xiang”, replies the Nei Baihu. “That's what we're here for.”

  I can't help but smile broadly when I hear her permission, so after my mother and Nei Baihu leave, I turn to Lianhua and say “Come on, we have a world to explore.”

  Lianhua looks at me as she replies “Zhāohuán Wen, you know we can't leave the village, right?”

  “Those are minor details”, I say. “Come on, pick me up and let's get out of here before someone changes their mind and I have to stay locked up.”

  Lianhua lifts me out of the chair and we leave the inn, where I notice that half a dozen Nei Wei begin to follow us at a short distance, I suppose so as not to be too intrusive.

  As we enter the village, I notice that it doesn't seem too big, with all its buildings having a similar simple and functional architecture. The inn where we are staying is at one end of what appears to be the main street, so I tell Lianhua to head to the other end of the street, since in a town of this size, everything interesting is likely to be on this street.

  As we walk down the street, I notice that there are a disproportionate number of inns, so I ask “Lianhua, do you know why there are so many inns in a town as small as this?”

  “It's because the town is the entrance to this side of the Fog Swamp”, Lianhua replies, but she notices that this doesn't mean anything to me and continues with her explanation. “The Fog Swamp is a small forbidden area. The swamp is covered by a fog that disorients people and causes them to get lost unless they know the trick to crossing it.”

  I nod my head, encouraging Lianhua to continue with the explanation "And those who know the trick to crossing it are the Yao clan, who organize caravans to cross it and allow you to join them for a fee. But those caravans only leave when they consider there are enough people, so many have to wait several days for it, hence the large number of inns, many of which also belong to the Yao clan."

  Listening to Lianhua, I realize what a great business the Yao clan has. They charge to cross the swamp, but they only cross it when they want to, so they can force people to stay in the village for several days and spend money in the establishments that also belong to them. In my previous world, there were people who would kill just for the chance to have such a monopoly.

  As she explains, we continue walking down the street, discreetly followed by our bodyguards, and I see that many people have set up small stalls on the side of the street and are selling all kinds of things. I imagine that many of those waiting to cross the swamp are merchants and are trying to offset their expenses by making some sales.

  I tell Lianhua to take me to the stalls, and I spend part of the morning browsing and seeing what normal products are like in this world, since an imperial palace is not the best place to find everyday items due to the large crowds.

  And so I entertain myself all morning listening to people's inconsequential conversations and haggling while I look at stalls full of kitchen utensils, various types of clothing, toys, drinks, and even one that has several types of musical instruments.

  But nothing catches my attention until I come to a stall that, rather than being specialized, is more of a bazaar-style stall, full of all kinds of things. I tell Lianhua to come closer to the stall, where there are already several people, and I start browsing.

  Among the multitude of things at the stall, what interests me most are several books in a corner, clearly placed where they are least in the way and which the stall owner has little hope of selling.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  But for some strange reason, my gaze always wanders to an area where there are a few pieces of jewelry to look at a ring on display. The ring is made up of two bands, one black and the other white, intertwined and adorned around the edges with five gems in red, green, blue, yellow, and clear, but without looking more closely, I wouldn't know what kind they are.

  And if there's one thing my years of experience in the field have taught me, it's that when something catches my attention so intensely, I'm about to discover something interesting. With a decisive movement, I reach out and take the ring just before someone else can grab it. When I look up, my eyes meet those of a young man who had reached out in vain.

  “Girl”, his voice is icy, laden with excessive arrogance. “If you know what's good for you, give me that ring.”

  I look at the young man and estimate him to be in his twenties, although with the whole cultivation thing, I always wonder if I'm right. He wears clothes that clearly reveal his high-status family background, yet they are adorned with so many jewels and ornaments that they seem to show off his wealth rather than his good taste.

  “Are you referring to us?” Lianhua replies as she turns to look at him, her tone deliberately carefree, which for some reason makes me nervous.

  “Who else?” the young man spits out as he looks at us with hostility. “Tell that annoying brat, who I'm sure you're carrying in your arms because she's so useless she can't even walk yet, to hand over that ring before I lose what little patience I have left.”

  My gaze shifts between Lianhua and the young man during the conversation, and I see a flash of anger in her eyes that she can barely contain. I see her make a discreet gesture with her free hand to the Nei Wei who are standing a little further away.

  “Xiaojie Wen”, Lianhua asks me in a voice full of a softness I've never heard from her before, which makes me begin to worry about her intentions. “Do you really want to keep this ring?”

  Her tone, using an honorific she has never used with me before, surprises me. Not fully understanding her intentions, but trusting her, I nod and respond firmly. “Yes, I find it very interesting and would like to keep it.”

  Lianhua nods slightly, then turns her gaze to the young master, her expression now icy “You have heard Xiaojie Wen. If you'll excuse us, we are busy.”

  The young man's face is tinged with fury, his features twisted with indignation. He reaches for the hilt of his sword, a gesture that is mimicked by his two henchmen, who step forward with mocking smiles.

  One of them, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, laughs contemptuously “Do you really think you can defy our young master? You clearly don't know who he is to dare to talk back to him like that. He is Yao Zhi, heir to the Yao clan, and in this city, his word is law!”

  The other henchman, thinner and with a sharp gaze, adds in a venomous tone “You'd better hand over the ring and kneel before we force you! And if you're convincing enough, we might even consider sparing your lives. Although, of course, we can't promise there won't be a small punishment.”

  “And you don't know who we are, and I'll only say this once”, Lianhua replies in a tone of voice so sharp it seems to cut through the air itself. “Get out of here and stop bothering us, or you may bite off more than you can chew.”

  The atmosphere becomes tense, and a snort from Lianhua as she turns away, ignoring the trio, seems to be the spark that ignites the violence. Without further warning, Yao Zhi draws his sword, and his henchmen follow suit, their faces contorted with rage. However, before they can even take a step, Lianhua jumps with me, bringing us closer to the Nei Wei and away from the imminent danger.

  And then the violence erupts.

  Chaos breaks out around us. The Nei Wei, who had remained silent until now, charge with lethal precision at Yao Zhi and his men, their spears dancing in the air. Despite the initial surprise, the trio manages to defend themselves for a brief moment, long enough for him to shout desperately “Guards, guards!”

  I nervously watch what is happening around us. However, the calmness with which Lianhua acts, in contrast to the tension I feel, momentarily reassures me. My eyes fix on her hand as she pulls a talisman from her clothing, similar to the one I wore during the assassination attempt that nearly ended my life. As the fight between the Nei Wei and Yao Zhi's group intensifies, Lianhua brings the talisman to her lips, and I see it begin to glow as she murmurs softly “Zhāohuán Wen is under attack in the central part of the main street.”

  The combat between the Nei Wei and Yao Zhi's group is a deadly dance. The guards, who I imagine are trained by Jiaoliu Feng, move as one body, and each of their attacks is aimed with ruthless accuracy.

  Despite the ferocity of the rioters, I see that the Nei Wei's superiority in both weapon handling and cultivation quickly becomes apparent. One of the guards disarms an attacker with a fluid movement while another grabs Yao Zhi and pins him to the ground with a relentless lock. The trio's screams are drowned out by the sound of blows and the crunch of breaking bones. It is a terrifying sight, a brutal display of the Nei Wei's power that leaves no doubt as to their prowess.

  As I watch the terrible scene, I hear voices and the sound of people approaching, so I look to see who it might be and see a group of guards coming down the street, clearly heading towards us. I also notice that the atmosphere in the street has changed dramatically and the merchants have closed their stalls to take refuge in nearby premises alongside passers-by, as if this were an everyday scene for them. However, the merchant from the stall we had visited is still here, hiding under a table and strangely calm.

  The guards arrive quickly, their unsheathed swords glinting in the sunlight. While one of them, who appears to be the leader, demands that we release his young master, they attack the Nei Wei, who quickly form a defensive formation around us with clockwork precision, while one of them continues to watch over Yao Zhi's group, who can barely move after the brutal confrontation earlier. The guards launch their attacks fiercely, but it's like hitting an iron wall due to the Nei Wei's superiority, and soon the sound of steel clashing and the cries of the combatants fill the air.

  It is obvious that the Nei Wei's training and cultivation place them on a level far above the guards, but despite this, my heart races as I see more guards appearing from the side streets. The tide of men grows, and although the Nei Wei fight with the ferocity of cornered tigresses, the numerical difference begins to tip the balance against them, and as I see some of them begin to suffer injuries, I begin to wonder how long they can hold out before being overwhelmed.

  Lianhua also seems to notice the change in the situation, and for the first time I see a shadow of concern cross her face, but before I can say anything to her, a battle cry echoes from the end of the street. I look toward the source of the cry and see a crowd of Nei Wei charging at the group of guards surrounding us, maintaining a lethal formation that contrasts with the lack of discipline the guards have shown so far.

  The guards who are still in the street turn toward them, surprise and panic taking hold of their faces as they see an army rushing toward them with more than clear intentions. A small part of my brain imagines Tom Cruise charging forward to the soundtrack of The Last Samurai, but the reality of the situation quickly snaps me out of my fantasies.

  What follows is a scene of pure brutality as the Nei Wei launch their attack with inhuman ferocity and demonstrate their superiority as they cut and pierce the guards with relentless precision. It's not the first time I've witnessed armed conflict due to some expeditions I've made to some of the less secure areas of my old world, but what is happening before my eyes surpasses anything I've ever seen before.

  In the blink of an eye, the battle turns into a massacre. The screams of the wounded men, the sound of steel cutting through flesh, and the sight of the blood-soaked ground make my stomach churn, but I force myself to keep watching because this whole situation is due to our actions.

  From the relative safety of the barrier our bodyguards have formed around us, I watch as the Nei Wei, with their calculated and precise movements, wipe out the guards, who, despite their numbers, are unable to contain the Nei Wei's unleashed fury. And it soon becomes clear that what at first seemed like an uncertain situation is now clearly an overwhelming victory on our side.

  I look at Lianhua, who is watching the carnage with a cold indifference that I had only seen on the night they tried to assassinate me, and I swallow hard before asking her in a low voice “Wouldn't it have been better to tell them who I was from the beginning? All this could have been avoided.”

  “I would have”, Lianhua replies in a calm but cold voice. “But then they decided to insult you, and no one insults Zhāohuán Wen and gets away with it.”

  Okay, it's now official that Lianhua is totally a Yandere and very scary. I almost feel sorry for anyone who wants to confront her, given that the nuclear option seems to be her first response to everything, but I'm even more amazed when Lianhua turns back to the stall we were looking at the beginning of all this and says to the merchant under the table as if nothing had happened “Finish serving us.”

  I see the merchant start to sweat and crawl out from under the table as the sound of combat begins to fade behind us.

  Lianhua looks at me and asks “Is there anything else you want from this stall besides the ring, Zhāohuán Wen?”

  I note with disbelief that although the merchant is nervous, he has clearly seen or experienced similar situations before, as he does not panic, and neither Lianhua nor the Nei Wei behind us forming a barrier seem particularly surprised by his behavior.

  I need a moment of calm to analyze everything that is happening, but in the meantime, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I point to the books and say to the merchant “With the ring, I would like to take all those books.”

  The merchant takes out the books with unusual speed and wraps them in a piece of cloth, tying them so they don't move. As he wraps the books, the sound of fighting behind us disappears, and I look over Lianhua's shoulder to see that the Nei Wei have finished subduing the guards. They are gathering almost all of them, unarmed, in the center of the street, but many are lying on the ground, and I cannot tell if they are only wounded or dead.

  “Here you are, Zūnjià”, I hear the merchant say, and I look back at him.

  Lianhua looks at the package and says to the merchant “We can't take it now, but someone will come for it and pay you for the books.”

  The merchant swallows and replies to Lianhua “As you wish, Zūnjià.”

  Lianhua steps away from the stall and we walk away, followed by the original Nei Wei with whom we began this excursion. I notice that the three men from earlier are being moved to the center of the street with the rest of the prisoners.

  For the first time, I look at the ring I'm clutching tightly in my hand, the ring that started this whole mess. It really doesn't seem valuable enough to almost start a war, but when I lift it up to get a better look, through the hole I see my mother approaching from the end of the street with the Nei Baihu, a seemingly middle-aged man dressed in luxurious clothes and escorted by both Nei Wei and guards. And when I see my mother's frown as she approaches, I get a chill.

  “Lianhua”, I say to my Yandere maid. “I think we're going to have more serious problems than just a simple battle.”