Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 854 Three Parties Missed an Opportunity
Xu Xuan brought Xiaobai back to the village. The dog, named Dudou, darted out of the bushes and circled around their feet, its nose constantly sniffing the faint scent of blood on its owner.

"It's quite effective, little guy."

No time to play with the dog, everyone's busy with their own things from now on.

Xiao Bai sat on the edge of the bed, her fingertips gently stroking the jade hairpin.

The hairpin felt slightly cool, with a faint shimmering light—like some kind of call. In the fragments of her broken memories, she seemed to see a figure standing on a high platform, with countless kneeling figures below…and she was among them.

Is this really me?

Meanwhile, Xu Xuan was visiting each household.

Squatting by the hearth in the village chief's house, he casually mentioned, "I've explored the cave to the north. It's spacious and dry inside, and there's even an underground river with flowing water..."

The old village chief puffed on his pipe, chuckled, and nodded: "I understand, I understand."

Apart from the frequent deaths caused by venomous snakes, the village has not suffered any other major disasters in recent years.

When Xu Xuan hinted that "there might be war," the old man even laughed out loud: "What would officials do in this godforsaken place? Aren't they just wasting their time eating and drinking?"

The other villagers reacted in almost the same way.

The hunters patted their chests and declared, "Once the drawbridge is lowered, even a god couldn't cross!"

Even the children would laugh and imitate him, saying, "Brother Xu Xuan is even more timid than a mountain rat!"

Xu Xuan knew he couldn't persuade them, and after assessing the village's strength, he finally shook his head and gave up.

First, my prestige isn't enough to lead everyone to do anything. Second, the village population is small, only a little over a hundred people. Finally, without changing people's mindsets, even if other methods are used to mobilize them, it will only harm them.

The night was as dark as ink. Xu Xuan squatted on his doorstep and rubbed his face vigorously.

Failed!
Sigh... It's all because we weren't vigilant enough before. Letting Xiaobai show up in the village was a huge mistake!

The girl stood out like a firefly in the dark when she stood in the crowd, especially since she couldn't hide at all in the secluded village.

If the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion discovers that they've located the snake-catching village, that would be a real problem.

Xu Xuan began to reflect on how his anger towards the tax collector had made him lose his composure and fail to maintain the caution expected of a transmigrator.

I never imagined that the underlying theme of this world was fantasy and martial arts, which led to the current troubles.

Then I went back to my little house.

It's time to get your biggest trump card up and running; you can't always look so preoccupied.

You need to stand up for yourself in crucial moments.

Under the oil lamp, Xu Xuan rested his chin on his hands, his shadow swaying in the firelight, instantly creating a lively atmosphere.

His gaze was fixed intently on Xiaobai, a gentle smile playing on his lips, his tone light yet undeniably direct:
"noob!"

"What have you recalled? Do you need me to help you with it?"

His smile remained unchanged, clearly showing his kindness and approachability; he seemed like a caring older brother.

The content is straightforward and to the point.

Time was of the essence; the pursuers from the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion could close in at any moment.

Xu Xuan felt that, given their current relationship and his own performance, he had already earned that trust.

Although he is just a weak man, he needs to gain control.

The monster's instincts began to kick in.

Xiao Bai was indeed somewhat taken advantage of, after all, having met such a magical and reliable friend while suffering from amnesia, she would naturally rely on him.

He immediately confessed the fragments of his memory, including the vague details.

Hopefully, this somewhat strange man can help him.

"I think... I was in a huge cave, and a woman ordered me to assassinate the Imperial Preceptor." Xiaobai frowned, trying hard to recall. "She was very strong, and I had no intention of resisting. She seemed to be my master... The people in the Imperial Preceptor's mansion said I was an assassin, but I can't remember the specifics..."

"I only remember"

After listening, Xu Xuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately seized on the key point and asked:
"Is the cave large?" "What kind of cultivation technique does the Imperial Preceptor practice?" "How big is the difference in strength?"

The size of the cave indicates that the old witch has a base of operations. The "replenishment technique" of the Taiyin Zhenren is basically a typical evil cultivation method. The fact that Xiaobai couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes when she assassinated her shows that there is a huge gap in their strength.

From just a few words, Xu Xuan immediately identified two targets.

One is the Imperial Advisor, whose very name sounds like a villain.

This guy did all sorts of awful things: forcibly conscripting poisonous snakes, exploiting the people, and practicing evil arts.

He's already cemented his villainous image. What's more, he even sent people to hunt down Xiao Bai; this has created a huge grudge.

The other is the old woman who forced Xiaobai to assassinate someone. What kind of good person would someone be capable of forcing others in a cave?

Not to mention her master, even her own mother wasn't a good person.

Since I, Xu Xuan, am such a good person, then these two absolutely cannot be good people.

So, breaking through the fog, this is a battlefield where the two sides are vying for supremacy behind the scenes.

Xiao Bai, with her gentle nature, is nothing more than a pawn.

That makes things even more complicated; the sect behind them is no longer an ally, but rather an enemy.
This perilous situation made Xu Xuan's mind work even faster, and he even came up with various countermeasures like a monster.

What about bringing in third-party resources?

In this complex game of chess, his and Xiaobai's strength alone is too weak; they must find new variables.

According to the intelligence Xu Xuan had just obtained, the jade hairpin became a breakthrough point.

What the wicked old woman bestowed upon it must be extraordinary.

The name Baoqing is probably related to Baoqingfang outside Yongzhou City in Ah Xuan's memory.

So he casually said to Xiaobai:

"Although that place was a small workshop, the craftsmanship was extremely superb and ingenious."

"Looking back now, it probably wasn't a coincidence."

"If you want to regain your memories, just go there and ask."

This world has cultivators and demons, so it's normal for it to have workshops that forge magical artifacts.

There might be more intelligence there, but there might also be greater danger.

For Xu Xuan, the outside world was like a dark forest.

There is also a risk, which is what happens after Xiaobai regains her memory.

Her current naivety and kindness stem from her amnesia. But what if she remembered everything—who she was, the old woman who forced her, even the mission she might be carrying…?

Will this girl cause a rift between us, and then push things into an abyss?
The thought flashed through my mind, but I quickly suppressed my unease.

Now is not the time to hesitate. Rather than passively waiting for a crisis to strike, we should take the initiative and seize the opportunity.

Xiao Bai seemed to sense his concerns, or perhaps she realized the difference between herself and this man.

She pursed her lips, her voice soft yet tinged with trepidation:
"Thank you, Ah Xuan. Actually, you don't need to worry about me... You don't even know who I am."

The implication couldn't be clearer—what if I regain my memories and find myself to be your enemy?
Xu Xuan glanced at the kind-hearted girl.

Girl, I have to take care of you now, because you're my only trump card.

Besides, we are good young people of the 21st century. What's wrong with doing good deeds?

Of course, to avoid any rather dramatic situations, we need to take a little precaution now. "Little White."

His voice was soft, but it was firm and unquestionable.

"I told you, you are my best friend."

Xiao Bai's fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, and she felt her heart suddenly beat faster.

"No matter what you become after you regain your memories, it won't change."

"Of course, I believe you feel the same way."

Xiaobai's emotional level +1 +1 +1 +1
Her eyes were slightly red. In this unfamiliar world, this man she had only known for a short time had given her the most steadfast trust.

许宣负罪感+1-1+1-1+1-1
This is the truth, but it's too cheesy.

So morality rebounded after being condemned.

The hairpin shimmered slightly, seemingly silently complaining: "Although your relationship is progressing quite well, you really should consider whether you should also kill the person when you end things. Isn't this guy's approach to love a bit a little sinister?"

Finally, under the starry sky, Xu Xuan made his decision.

He didn't have much time left, and he wasn't sure how long his tricks could hold off the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion.

So, I'll give it my all.

Since the original owner of this body was a member of this village, so am I.

Although he had only recently transmigrated, the villagers' simplicity and kindness, the old village chief's care, and even the group of mischievous children had made it impossible for him to sit idly by.

And how can you cause trouble and then just walk away?

Although he is still a weakling, he is at least more knowledgeable and courageous than the average villager.

We must find a way to save this village.

Smear the marks on the ground with force, and clean up all the writing and drawing.

When I stood up, my bones made a slight "clicking" sound.

Back inside, I found the little brown rice I had left and hastily cooked myself a pot of watery porridge.

There were few grains of rice and a lot of water, but at least it was enough to fill our stomachs.

They wolfed down the food, then packed up the rest, carefully wrapped it in a cloth, and stuffed it into their bundle.

I had originally planned to invite the beautiful woman to dinner, but she politely declined.

"If you don't want to eat it, that's fine; every little bit helps."

Although the moon was high in the sky, Xu Xuan had already made all the necessary preparations.

Standing in the open space in front of the house, I took one last inventory of my equipment by the moonlight: dry rations, umbrella, grappling hook, snake hook, cloth bag, water bag, herbs, and a bellyband that was squatting at my feet with its tongue sticking out.

These tattered items aren't magic weapons, but when a man wears them all on his body, it signifies that he's prepared to risk everything.

"Oh, wait, there's more."

Xu Xuan suddenly remembered something and turned back into the house.

Crush some special herbs together with minerals, carefully wrap the powder, and stuff it into a hidden pocket in your sleeve.

"Now is Xu Xuan in his complete form."

In the moonlight, his figure appeared exceptionally tall and straight. In the darkness, the outline of the village was faintly visible.

A faint light flickered in Xu Xuan's eyes.

That wasn't the light of magic, but the kind of resolute determination an ordinary person would have when risking their life.

Xiao Bai stood to the side, unconsciously holding her breath.

She suddenly realized that the man's aura had now surpassed that of all the important figures in the fragments of memory.

"Let's go!"

Xu Xuan's voice was soft, yet it pierced the night sky like a sharp sword.

"Outside Yongzhou City, there is a grove of ginkgo trees."

Two figures left under the cover of night.

Xu Xuan walked ahead with firm steps; Xiao Bai followed closely behind, its white clothes shimmering in the moonlight; Du Dou wagged its tail and trotted to the back.

Behind them, the sleeping village remained quiet.

On the other side, the temporary camp of the Imperial Preceptor's residence was brightly lit.

The Grand Preceptor's eldest disciple slammed his palm down, shattering the table in front of him, sending splinters flying everywhere.

"What did you say? A whole squad disappeared?" A sinister gaze swept over the scout kneeling on the ground. "Wasn't the search divided by area?"

The scout pressed his forehead to the ground, his voice trembling: "Reporting to the Immortal Master, we've searched the entire area. We haven't even found a trace of blood."

The disciple of the Imperial Preceptor suddenly stood up, his Taoist robe fluttering even without wind.

He simply couldn't understand how a living person could just disappear without a trace. Even if the white snake killed him, wouldn't it leave some signs of a struggle? Could it have swallowed him whole?

The tent was completely silent; the attendants didn't even dare to breathe.

"Go, find all the things those good-for-nothings used in their lifetime!"

A short while later, a servant brought over a pile of miscellaneous items.

A broken waist tag, worn-out wristbands, and half a piece of uneaten dry rations.

The Imperial Advisor casually picked up a boot, made a hand seal, and chanted an incantation. The boot twisted and deformed in his hand, finally transforming into a jet-black bat.

"Go ahead,"

"Find them, alive or dead."

The bat flapped its wings and flew out of the tent, circled once in the night sky, and then suddenly sped off in the southeast direction.

Dozens of black-clad warriors mounted their horses, their hooves thundering, and followed the bat downstream at breakneck speed.

The Imperial Preceptor's disciple narrowed his eyes, gazing into the distance at the darkness, a cruel smile curving his lips: "I'd like to see who dares to touch anyone from the Imperial Preceptor's residence."

What he didn't expect was that someone, relying on monstrous instincts, had escaped this unknown tracking method from the very beginning.

The bats followed the water flow southward, passing through Xiemu County, Yingpu County, and Fengcheng County.

The soldiers in black armor were exhausted; those soldiers were incredibly fast runners.

On the other side, deep within the dark cave, the Serpent Queen sat bewildered on her throne, her crimson serpent eyes flashing with a cold light.

“It’s one thing for the White Snake to fail in her mission,” her hoarse voice echoed in the cave, her fingertips lightly tapping the handrail, “but that hairpin is the key to dealing with the old thief Taiyin.”

Inside the cave, dozens of snake demons lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to utter a sound. The snake mother suddenly flicked her sleeve, and several eerie green lanterns shattered with a crack.

"Useless!" she shouted angrily. "Are all the spies we sent out just sitting around doing nothing? They haven't even gathered a single clue!"

Could it be that the White Snake has turned to the Taiyin Immortal?

"Impossible," she murmured to herself, yet dared not completely deny the guess.

After all, that hairpin contained a secret powerful enough to threaten the Taiyin Zhenren.
"It seems we'll have to use the backup pieces."

The Serpent Mother sneered and suddenly straightened up from her throne. Three crimson lights gathered at her fingertips, the "Blazing Sun Scales" she had cultivated for many years.

(End of this chapter)