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Liu Guanfeng looked at the exhausted Zhang Yuru, who was crying beside him, and pressed down on Ma Xianglong's fist with his right hand. "Brother Ma, it is fate that we met on that desolate island. Right now, you are in need of manpower. If you trust me as a brother, I would like to join you. Although I may not have much ability, I believe I can still contribute in some ways. I wonder if you would find me too clumsy, Brother Ma?"
After hearing Liu Guanfeng's words, Ma Xianglong looked up at him. "Liu Brother, it's not that the elder brother doesn't want you to join us; it's that I don't want to drag you into this. You must understand that what we are doing is rebellion."
"Brother Ma, that's where you're wrong. What you're doing isn't rebellion; it's overthrowing tyranny for a new life. If you believe I'm not the spy from Severe Winter that you mentioned, please allow me to lend my humble assistance. If you refuse, I will turn around and leave without hesitation."
Seeing Liu Guanfeng's earnestness, Ma Xianglong felt moved. "Alright, Liu Brother, for your unwavering kindness today, I will let you come with us. Now, Liu Brother, we shouldn't delay any longer; let's go."
After nodding, Liu Guanfeng took out a small vial from his pocket and said to Zhang Yuru and Ma Xianglong, "Brother Ma, Miss Zhang, this vial contains a pill that can change one's appearance. Just dissolve it in water and gently apply it to your face. I'm sure Severe Winter knows what you both look like and will send someone to draw your portraits. It would be best for both of you to alter your appearances."
Upon hearing Liu Guanfeng's words, one of the spies from yesterday suddenly remembered something and nodded. "If it weren't for what Liu Brother said, I might have forgotten. When I went to Winter City yesterday, I saw a wanted poster near the city gate with what seemed to be portraits of Miss Zhang and Butler Ma on it. You two should definitely listen to Liu Brother and change your appearances."
Ma Xianglong nodded and poured out a pill from the vial to give to Zhang Yuru while Liu Guanfeng handed over a water pouch. Zhang Yuru took the water pouch and went to the back of the cave, turning her back to everyone as she began her first attempt at changing her appearance. Meanwhile, Ma Xianglong poured a bit of water into his hand to dissolve the pill and applied it directly to his face.
The astonishing effect gradually appeared before everyone's eyes. All the guards watched as Ma Xianglong transformed; once the pill dried on his face, a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and big eyes appeared before them. If it weren't for Ma Xianglong's unchanged voice, everyone present would have had difficulty recognizing him as their steward. His previous appearance was completely unrecognizable; he had transformed entirely.
Seeing how effective the Disguise Pill was, Liu Guanfeng nodded. "Brother Ma, this pill works quite well; no one should recognize you now. If you encounter someone familiar and don't speak, I doubt anyone will be able to identify you."
Ma Xianglong nodded while the others looked around without noticing anything unusual. At that moment, Zhang Yuru walked out of the cave, leaving everyone amazed by the miraculous effects of the potion. Zhang Yuru now had willow leaf eyebrows and Dan Feng eyes. Although she no longer had her previous stunning beauty, she still resembled a charming young lady with an entirely changed face; her age seemed to shift from her teens to around twenty-three or twenty-four.
The first thing Zhang Yuru did upon stepping out was ask Liu Guanfeng, "I can't stay like this forever, can I? When can we return to our original appearances?"
"I still have another vial of potion here; just drop it into water and wash your face with it afterward. You won't have any issues during your usual washing routine," Liu Guanfeng replied.
Ma Xianglong turned to the other guards and asked, "Does anyone have any money? We need to rent a carriage and horses in the nearby village."
The guards checked their pockets and found only five Silver Coins among them—hardly enough for their needs. Liu Guanfeng also searched himself and recalled seeing local currency when he first arrived on the island; he had received many such coins as gifts from Xuantian. After rummaging through his belongings, he finally found two Gold Coins hidden in his shoes and willingly handed them over to Ma Xianglong.
With Liu Guanfeng's two Gold Coins in hand, everything could be resolved easily. Ma Xianglong arranged their identities: Liu Guanfeng and Zhang Yuru were now portrayed as the President of a small Merchant Guild and his wife while all others were their guards; Ma Xianglong retained his identity as steward. They were traveling merchants who had been robbed by Mountain Bandits and were now fleeing for their lives back home—their destination being the fishing village previously agreed upon with Zhang Yuru's father.
Soon they arrived at Winter City where they had gathered information yesterday. Their disguises caught the attention of the guards at the city gate; one guard approached them for inquiries after which Ma Xianglong paid the city gate tax before entering the city with them. Their purpose for entering was to purchase vehicles and horses.
Before long they reached a carriage shop where they spent two Gold Coins to buy a carriage and five horses. One of the guards took charge of driving while two guards shared each horse. Ma Xianglong rode one horse alone while Liu Guanfeng and Zhang Yuru occupied the carriage as its owners. After a brief stop in Winter City, they left because they had urgent matters to attend to—Zhang Yuru's father was severely injured and his life was uncertain; everyone was anxious to return and check on him.
The forgotten land of the Supreme Deity is divided into two parts: the eastern island called Luo Heng Island and the western island known as Said Island. Each island has a kingdom, with five cities on Luo Heng Island and four cities on Said Island. The two islands are connected, but only during the months of March and April does a submerged road appear to link them. Despite being neighbors, battles are constant between the two islands. The king of Luo Heng Island, Severe Winter, is determined to conquer both islands, leading him to launch several large-scale attacks on Said Island each year.
The issue of funding falls heavily on the extensive taxation imposed on the people of Luo Heng Island. There are countless types of taxes, and it is mandated that every household must have at least one member serve in the military. Additionally, all males over the age of sixteen are required to serve five years in the army, with severe penalties for evasion resulting in execution for the entire family.
As a result of years of battles, mandatory military service, and heavy taxation, the people of Luo Heng Island live in misery. Numerous resistance groups have emerged, one of which is led by Zhang Yuru and Ma Xianglong. They call their organization the New World. Zhang Yuru's father is the leader of this faction, and they disguise themselves as merchants. Despite the ongoing conflict between the two kingdoms, there are regulations that protect merchants from harm.
Although various resistance organizations are active, King Severe Winter remains firmly in power due to his strength as a Divine Knight and his mount, a Ninth Tier Four-Legged Sea Dragon. This has allowed him to maintain his position as king despite countless assassins falling at his hands.
Severe Winter has a chancellor named Horn and a Grand Marshal named Sidu Leihong, both possessing peak Advanced Knight strength. Additionally, he has two unseen bodyguards whose identities remain unknown; anyone who has seen them has died. These bodyguards are trained to be close protectors and possess near Divine Knight capabilities. However, their mounts are only Seventh Tier magical beasts, which slightly diminishes their overall strength.
The assassination attempt on Severe Winter has enraged him greatly. He immediately set out with his chancellor and Grand Marshal to hunt down the New World faction. Both Yu and He were killed by Horn and Sidu Leihong. Fortunately, Zhang Yuru was not in the city at that time; she was intercepted by soldiers upon her return but managed to escape. It was also fortunate that Severe Winter had deployed all his capable forces to capture the headquarters, giving Zhang Yuru and her companions a chance to flee. They escaped for three days and nights before reaching a small island, but during their journey at sea, their small boat was destroyed by a Sea Beast, resulting in half of their guards perishing.
The group hurried along their path and passed through various checkpoints without incident. Ma Xianglong and Zhang Yuru felt fortunate to have Liu Guanfeng with them; his Disguise Pill allowed them to avoid excessive questioning on their way back since even their relatives would not recognize them standing nearby.
One day, they came across a small village not far ahead. Just a few kilometers away lay the vast ocean; this was also the northernmost village on Luo Heng Island known as Qianyu Village.
Qianyu Village served as a secret base for the New World. They had previously agreed that if anything went wrong, they would retreat here. As Ma Xianglong was the chief steward of the New World Chamber, he had visited this place many times before.
Ma Xianglong led everyone to a relatively large courtyard and knocked on the door in a specific rhythm. The door opened immediately to reveal an elderly man over fifty years old. Upon seeing him, Ma Xianglong bowed deeply and said, "Elder Yu."
Elder Yu looked Ma Xianglong up and down and asked, "Who are you? I don't think I've seen you before."
Ma Xianglong smiled slightly and replied, "Elder Yu, I am Xiang Long. The young lady behind me is in the carriage."
Elder Yu looked at Ma Xianglong in surprise: "Listening to your voice really reminds me of that kid Xiang Long, but what happened to your face?"
"It's a long story; let's go inside first."
Elder Yu opened the door wide as Liu Guanfeng and Zhang Yuru jumped down from the carriage. Upon seeing Elder Yu, Zhang Yuru rushed forward and bowed deeply: "Elder Yu."
"Young lady? Have you become less beautiful?"
"I had no choice in this matter, Elder Yu. Is my father here?"
Elder Yu nodded, "The Leader is inside, but..."
"But what?"
"His condition is not good. The doctors in our Merchant Guild are helpless; they all say... they all say."
"What do they say, Elder Yu? Please tell me!" Zhang Yuru shook Elder Yu's arms vigorously.
"They all say the Leader can only live for another two weeks at most, and according to them, the Leader probably only has a day or two left."
"Elder Yu, please take us to see my father," Zhang Yuru's anxious voice rang out again.
Elder Yu glanced back and saw Liu Guanfeng standing among the guards. He pointed at Liu Guanfeng, "Who is this young man? I don't think I've seen him before."
Ma Xianglong approached Elder Yu, "Elder Yu, this young brother is Liu Guanfeng. We met him when we escaped to a small island, and all of us survived thanks to his help. Now he is one of us, and he is quite pitiful—without parents and unable to practice martial arts."
Elder Yu turned back to look closely at Liu Guanfeng. Liu Guanfeng appeared as if he had nothing to hide, revealing everything about himself. Elder Yu felt a sense of trust towards this elder.
"Since that's the case, you two come with me. The rest of the guards stay here as Guardians."
"Yes," the other guards replied.
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