Chapter 1. The Best in the World is Fat

[Xu]

He immediately noticed.

The feel of the bed where he lay was different.

While he was asleep, someone had moved him to a different place.

He thought that was the problem, but it was more serious than that.

The plump flesh had disappeared.

His inner strength was nowhere to be found.

His body... had completely changed.

The face reflected in the mirror was filled with melancholy.

Though his appearance was still passable, how could a body be so flabby?

It was hard to even walk.

It seemed he had undergone a soul transfer.

When he woke up, he faintly heard a sound...

- ...

Whether it was a human voice, a melody, or just noise.

He wasn't sure if it was an auditory hallucination.

He had received a young body as a gift in his joyless old age, but why did it have to be a body that seemed about to die? The packaging and contents were a mess.

Was it because of that day?

The day when Sword Saint challenged him to a duel.

The words Sword Saint raved about in a fit of madness that day...

Or...

Chapter 1. The Best in the World is Fat.

Hou Gong felt good.

The table was full of delicious dishes.

The only pleasure in his monotonous days was, of course, mealtime.

Creak, creak.

When he sat down, the chair screamed as if it were dying.

"Quiet, quiet."

Hou Gong soothed the chair as if it were a baby.

It wasn't the chair's fault. The chair wasn't old.

He was extremely fat, with a waist that seemed to be the combined size of three ordinary people. If he wasn't careful, he might confuse his stomach with his buttocks. Even sitting at a four-person table, he looked like he was alone.

"Well, what should I eat first?"

The chair calmed down. He picked up the chopsticks.

But soon a problem arose.

A cold woman's voice came from outside the door, and Hou Gong had to stop with the chopsticks in mid-air.

"Lord of the Alliance, it's Zhuge Hui."

"What is it?"

"I have urgent news to report."

"I'm busy. Come back in an hour."

A composed answer came from outside the door.

"Yes, I understand."

But reality was different.

Zhuge Hui, a beauty with pale skin and long black hair, who had a cold demeanor, opened the door and walked in.

Hou Gong smiled at the sight of the beauty.

He didn't expect her to back down.

How many times had this happened?

"Come here. Let's eat together."

"You're fat."

Compared to when she spoke outside the door, Zhuge Hui's expression and voice had changed. She pretended to be cold but was actually friendly, and her cold expression had disappeared, replaced by a smile.

She poured herself a cup of tea and sat opposite him.

"Kid, a plump person is more attractive."

"Uncle, you are attractive."

"Thank goodness."

"Ha ha ha!"

She was a military strategist of the alliance, a person of great intellect.

She spoke very little and was thorough in her work. Her expressionless face always emitted a cold aura, which is why people called her Ice Flower. But to Hou Gong, who had known her since she was a baby, she was just a cute and spoiled granddaughter. Sometimes she was a nuisance.

"Smiling like that..."

"Like a clown?"

"You've become smarter."

"I came to bring you great news, but I might just leave."

"You've never really left after saying that."

"He he..."

"Why do people call you Ice Flower?"

Hou Gong clicked his tongue, but Zhuge Hui was smiling broadly.

"Two things. Good news and bad news."

"Good news first."

"The Green Forest King has successfully raised cattle. The meat from Wuwang Mountain is of the highest quality."

"Is that so?"

Hou Gong laughed.

He had told the Green Forest King to raise cattle instead of doing useless things in the mountains, and the kid had finally achieved something.

His jowls danced as he laughed, and his cheeks rose, making his eyes almost close. Zhuge Hui was staring at him with a smile.

"Ha ha! The Green Forest King has finally found his calling."

"Don't celebrate yet."

"Oh, there's bad news. Hmm."

"A message arrived from the Xianyan branch. Based on Sword Saint's route and travel time, he will arrive at the alliance by noon tomorrow."

"Already? Hmm, Sword Saint is in a hurry."

Hou Gong frowned.

About a fortnight ago.

A letter arrived at the alliance.

Unexpectedly, it was a challenge from Sword Saint.

Sword Saint was once known as the Best Swordsman in the World.

His martial arts were truly astonishing, reaching the heavens and shaking the earth.

He had suddenly disappeared ten years ago, staying out of sight and seemingly cutting ties with the martial world. But now he had unexpectedly challenged him to a duel.

However, Hou Gong had no intention of accepting the challenge.

He could just leave quietly.

Sword Saint would be a suitable next leader.

He was a gentle, righteous, and humble person.

His martial arts had surely improved over the past ten years, and he would handle unexpected situations well.

Though he was moving faster than expected, there shouldn't be any problems.

"What will you do?"

"Run away."

"That's ridiculous."

Zhuge Hui burst out laughing.

On the contrary, Hou Gong looked serious.

"Uncle is serious. It's better to run away and abandon the title of Lord of the Alliance than to face Sword Saint's sword. Sword Saint's noble character would make him an excellent leader, and he would be called the Best in the World, the Best Swordsman in the World. I've had my fill after nearly thirty years."

"Why don't you just accept the duel? I want to see Uncle's martial arts at least once."

"Attend my funeral?"

"Then who sent the demons of the Evil Sect, the Ghost Emperor of the Ghost Valley, and the Demon King of the Western Region to the afterlife?"

"Tsk tsk, it was just luck."

"So you sent them to the afterlife by luck?"

Zhuge Hui looked unamused.

Hou Gong shrugged.

"Sure. Besides, look at my body now. It's hard to even walk. I'm out of breath. I'll run away tonight, and you'll have to clean up the mess."

Zhuge Hui pouted, disappointed.

"I've only ever seen Uncle eating since I was a child."

Five years ago, her father passed away. Her father was always with the Lord of the Alliance, who was his sworn brother and also a friend. It was around that time that the Lord of the Alliance's appetite increased dramatically.

Zhuge Hui put on a bored expression again.

"If Uncle leaves the alliance, where will you go?"

"I don't know... maybe to the cattle ranch on Wuwang Mountain where the Green Forest King is, or to the North Sea. The Ice Fish of the North Sea is said to be very delicious, and the Ice Maiden of the North Sea invited me to come."

"Wherever Uncle goes, I'll come to see you in half a year."

"Ah... that's a hassle. Why are you doing this?"

"I don't know. The handover might take less than half a year, so keep that in mind."

He wasn't unaware. In fact, Zhuge Hui knew better than anyone. Uncle was always cheerful and full of energy, brightening everyone around him. There was nothing more exciting than traveling the world with such an Uncle. At least for her.

At that moment.

Hou Gong's face hardened.

Zhuge Hui made a cute pout.

"Phew... Do you really hate it that much?"

"..."

"Um... Uncle...?"

Zhuge Hui called out cautiously.

The atmosphere had changed in an instant.

It wasn't like Uncle's usual demeanor.

He always took even serious matters lightly and wrapped his scolding in jokes. She had never seen this side of him before.

"Quiet."

Zhuge Hui's eyes widened in shock.

She could tell something was seriously wrong. She waited with a dark expression.

At that moment, Hou Gong was listening to a distant voice.

At the entrance of the alliance,

A voice came from outside the gate.

- Sir Wu Lianke, what is it?

- It's an urgent message. The Xianyan branch has been attacked. By Sword Saint. He even extended his reach to the civilian houses. Everyone was killed by Sword Saint's sword!

- What, what are you saying?

- This is no time for that. The nearby Shaolin and Wudang have stepped in, but we don't know what will happen. We must inform the Lord of the Alliance immediately!

'Is he mad?'

Hou Gong's eyes narrowed.

Sword Saint was a respected figure of the righteous sect, admired by all.

His sword was a living sword, a righteous sword, not a killer. If he was causing a bloodbath, there was only one explanation.

'Possessed by evil (入魔)!'

He needed to locate him first.

If he was mad, he could be anywhere.

Hou Gong concentrated his inner strength between his eyebrows and spread his senses with his consciousness in an instant.

Boom!

A wave rippled through the space, expanding to over five hundred feet. Within that range, the breaths, conversations, and inner strength of thousands of people poured in.

Nothing.

Hou Gong amplified his energy.

His eyes began to shine brightly.

A powerful consciousness, far stronger than before, extended out.

Boom!

Though it was formless, the energy explosion made Zhuge Hui stagger back a few steps.

She felt something pierce through her, gasping and clutching her chest. The table had already been pushed away, and the dishes on it had fallen to the ground.

- Ha ha ha ha! The Shaolin 108 Arhat Formation! Excellent. I will destroy the formation and dye Shaolin in blood!

Hou Gong faintly caught Sword Saint's voice. He was still near the Xianyan branch in Hebei.

"Uncle!"

Zhuge Hui shouted, pushed against the wall. Her eyes were filled with fear.

She had never seen Uncle's martial arts.

The title of the Best in the World and the fear others had of Uncle were only things she had heard about. Even walking fast was something Uncle never did, so whether he could use lightness skills was questionable.

But now, Uncle's momentum was earth-shattering.

His eyes shone brightly, and his aura flowed endlessly.

His white hair fluttered in the raised energy, and his clothes flapped wildly in the surging aura.

"Sword Saint has been possessed by evil (魔化)."

"What?"

"We don't have much time! You..."

Hou Gong's figure shot up.

Zhuge Hui only saw a flash.

The ceiling broke and crumbled, and Hou Gong's figure, now a beam of light, disappeared into the sky.

'No way... This can't be...'

Zhuge Hui almost fell over.

The shock continued.

Almost simultaneously, a hole appeared in the opposite wall, and three purple beams burst out.

They were three swords.

The swords, now purple, left trails of light as they followed the path the Lord of the Alliance had taken and disappeared.

Zhuge Hui, dazed, swallowed hard.

'Uncle...'

In the presence of the true strength of the Best in the World, the Best Swordsman in the World, Zhuge Hui couldn't think of anything.

"Everyone, calm down. It's the Lord of the Alliance!"

"Since the Lord of the Alliance has left, we will wait for his orders!"

The outside became chaotic as the light streaks disappeared, and the alliance's leadership was calming the situation.

Only then did Zhuge Hui regain her senses.

She also received a mental message from Uncle. After listening to it, she rushed outside.

***

A purple glow streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of light.

When people on the ground saw the purple light, it was already far away, leaving only late exclamations and questions.

In an instant, the light streaked to the sky above the Xianyan branch, and Hou Gong's eyes burned with anger.

Amid the ruins of the hall, corpses were scattered everywhere.

Blood was splattered on the fallen walls and the ground.

A few people were searching for survivors among the ruins, their bodies injured.

Not long after leaving, Hou Gong faced an even more horrific scene.

A village was a sea of blood.

Over a hundred men, women, and children were torn apart and scattered, unrecognizable. He spread his consciousness to scan the area, but there were no survivors.

Why?