Chapter 39: Unaware of My Underworld, Daring to Ask Life and Death at My Fingertips

Chu Xiaoyu was taken aback. “What? Thieves? Are they still here?”

“Sir, I’m terribly sorry. I knocked them both out,” Niu the Fatty replied with a simple, sheepish grin.

“Well, knocked out is knocked out. Let’s go have a look.”

Outside the main hall, Chu Xiaoyu was surprised to find the mist over the farmstead unusually thin—a likely reason for the intrusion.

This violet mist was a strange, natural barrier encircling the farm. When dense and undispersed, no outsider could step foot within; even if they managed to breach it, they’d encounter odd, labyrinthine phenomena—no matter how many paths they took, they’d always return to their starting point.

Yet the mist changed randomly. Even as the farm’s master, Chu Xiaoyu had no way to control it.

“Sir, they’re right here.”

A man and a woman, both around thirty, stood before him. Their attire instantly revealed they weren’t ordinary folk—their gear was complete, as if they were about to undertake some grand endeavor.

“Niu, you’re too strong. They still haven’t woken up,” Iron Fan said, sucking on a popsicle and shaking her head at Niu’s blundering strength.

He was like a coarse, wild bull. How could normal people withstand such a beating?

Niu scratched his head, still grinning foolishly. “Sir, I really didn’t mean it. I just gave them a gentle tap, but who knew they’d be so fragile…”

“No matter. They won’t die. And if they did, it would be their just deserts.”

Chu Xiaoyu instantly registered the identities of the man and woman—and was startled by their notoriety. They were the infamous duo from Jingxi, the legendary male and female thieves.

The woman was known as “Seven-Leaved Flower.”

The man was called “King of Unyielding Paths.”

Among a myriad of blossoms, untouched stands one flower. In a thousand mountains, all birds have flown; in ten thousand paths, all traces of men vanish, and not a blade of grass grows for miles.

They were the king and queen of thieves!

Truly the world-renowned criminal pair.

According to the information feedback, this couple was wanted internationally, their skills at thievery unparalleled and honed to perfection.

They had committed 1,008 burglaries—709 of them international cases—caused 30 deaths, and spared not even eight-year-old children.

Their crimes were heinous beyond measure.

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How could it be these two? So they managed to infiltrate the farmstead without a sound, and Chu Xiaoyu hadn’t noticed at all.

He was somewhat surprised at his own oversight, perhaps too absorbed in other matters to prevent such a rookie mistake.

“Immortal Master, how do you plan to deal with them?” Sun Wukong, noting Chu Xiaoyu’s changing expression, couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Chu Xiaoyu quickly instructed, “Wukong, fetch a basin of water and wake them up for me.”

“Right away, Master! Hehe, another fun task!”

The Monkey King scampered off in high spirits.

“Immortal Master, please step aside!”

With a splash, Sun Wukong doused both faces with a full basin of water.

Seven-Leaved Flower and King of Unyielding Paths slowly regained consciousness.

Neither had any recollection of how they’d been knocked out. Given their skills, it was impossible for them to be ambushed, yet the impossible had occurred. They’d felt nothing—how terrifying.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I about to do?

“You are…”

“Seven-Leaved Flower and King of Unyielding Paths, since your debut in Jingxi, you’ve become internationally renowned as a criminal duo. Now wanted globally, your bounty stands at fifty million dollars. You’ve committed 1,008 burglaries, 709 of them abroad, caused 30 deaths, and spared not even eight-year-old children.”

As Chu Xiaoyu recited their dossier, the notorious pair were utterly stunned.

Who was this man? How did he know so much, and with such chilling precision? Was he some kind of cybernetic entity?

It was incredible—almost unbelievable.

After nearly ten minutes of dumbfounded silence, King of Unyielding Paths timidly asked, “Who… who are you? How do you know us so well? Are you a policeman? No… you’re not.”

A cold laugh escaped Chu Xiaoyu as he gazed at them with amused detachment. “You do not know the Underworld, yet dare to ask me about life and death. You don’t know who I am, and still you dared trespass in my farmstead. Your aim was my White Dragon Horse, wasn’t it? You meant to steal it, yes?”

“There’s a road to heaven that you won’t take; instead you barge into the gates of hell. I must admit, you’re both quite bold.”

“What do you mean by that?” The internationally wanted pair had made a rookie mistake, and a grave one. They coveted the White Dragon Horse, but neglected to investigate the farm’s master, Chu Xiaoyu. Their reckless intrusion could only lead to ruin.

Never before, since their first foray into crime, had the duo stumbled—until now, in this inconspicuous little farmstead.

“Sir, you said they’re master thieves. So their skills must be formidable?” Iron Fan finished her popsicle, licking the last traces from her hand with her small tongue.

A stunningly beautiful woman, licking her finger like a greedy kitten—comical yet breathtaking.

Everyone was transfixed.

Who was this woman? How could she be so lovely, almost unreal, as if she’d stepped out of a painting?

“Ahem… Girl, don’t make such gestures in front of outsiders,” Chu Xiaoyu couldn’t help but admonish.

Sun Wukong stared in a daze; Niu the Fatty was lost in thought.

The man and woman were petrified.

Iron Fan, bewildered and adorable, replied, “But why? I just don’t want to waste anything. This popsicle was strawberry flavor, so delicious. Sir, may I have another?”

Chu Xiaoyu immediately refused, “No, you’ve already had at least ten tonight. Too many will upset your stomach.”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you, Sir. So, what do you plan to do with these thieves?”

“Immortal Master, since these two are so wicked and their crimes so great, why not kill them?” Sun Wukong suggested.

Niu the Fatty disagreed, “If we kill them outright, it’s too easy. Better to bury them alive—they’ll make good fertilizer for the orchard’s fruit trees.”

“Very well! As you wish, I leave this matter to you.”

“Ah! No, please… spare us…”

They tried to flee, but were shocked to find themselves bound by an evil, terrifying force—unable to move a muscle.

What a righteous and formidable farmstead master!

They truly knew remorse now.