Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

"Old Sha, I don't think that simpleton was lying," said the person standing next to Sha Tongtian, who was none other than Peng Lianhu, also known as the "Thousand-Handed Butcher," one of the five top fighters under Wanyan Honglie.

Peng Lianhu continued, "Hou Tonghai and the Four Demons of the Yellow River aren't weak. Even if they couldn't beat that kid, there's no way he could've killed them all."

"I examined the wounds myself. Each of the Four Demons had their throats cut with a single stroke, while Hou Tonghai had been impaled through the chest and pinned to a wall, all in a single strike, without any other injuries."

"Even you and I might struggle to pull that off, don't you think?"

Peng Lianhu's words left Sha Tongtian taken aback! His usual hot temper prevented him from thinking things through, but Peng's analysis made him realize the gravity of the situation.

Leaving aside the disciples, although Hou Tonghai wasn't a top fighter, he could still hold his own for a few moves. He wasn't utterly defenseless…

"Could it have been someone else who killed them?"

Sha Tongtian's face was full of confusion as he wondered when he had managed to offend such a formidable opponent.

Peng Lianhu advised earnestly, "It's best not to make any rash moves with that kid. If he's connected to the killer, then keeping him here will eventually lure that person out."

"Once they come to the prince's mansion, we can request help from Lingzhi Shangren and the others. We'll definitely capture them!"

The more Sha Tongtian listened, the more sense Peng Lianhu's words made, and he nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Guo Jing, who was being held in the prince's mansion dungeon, was feeling more and more wronged. He really hadn't killed anyone.

But aside from him, there was no one else at the scene.

Suddenly, an image flashed in Guo Jing's mind.

That scholar in long robes, who looked weak as though he couldn't even truss a chicken!

"You may have gotten me tangled up in this, but you took my money, my coat, and even framed me!"

"You villain, don't let me find you!"

Even Guo Jing, who rarely cursed, couldn't help but shed tears of frustration.

After surviving the near-death incident, Chu Yang's life hadn't changed much; he still taught during the day and enjoyed storytelling sessions at night.

He used to only occasionally visit the tavern for storytelling, but since Xiao Huang's sudden disappearance, his visits had become more frequent.

Chu Yang would habitually order a table of food and wait from dusk until dark.

He hoped that, by some chance, while he was eating, the rascal would suddenly pop up from some corner…

But days went by, and he saw no trace of Xiao Huang.

It was as if he had vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed in the city.

"That rascal with his foul mouth and cocky attitude probably offended someone important and got himself killed, tossed into some ditch somewhere, didn't he?"

The more Chu Yang thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Xiao Huang had always joked around with him in a carefree manner.

With his modern mindset, Chu Yang didn't think much of it, but others, especially those with status, might not be so forgiving.

If he had angered someone powerful, the outcome would be predictable.

In the ancient world, where human life was as cheap as grass, nobody would care about the death of a street urchin like Xiao Huang, let alone report it to the authorities.

"Even if I file a report, the authorities probably won't bother with a beggar's life. If I want to find him, I'll have to do it myself."

Since transmigrating to this world, Xiao Huang was the closest Chu Yang had to a friend, and he couldn't just ignore it.

The worldview gap between modern and ancient people was immense, and finding someone he could truly talk to felt as rare as winning the lottery.

If Xiao Huang were truly gone, Chu Yang would once again face the solitude of having no one to talk to.

Returning to that emotional desert would be terrifying.

After a quick dinner, Chu Yang headed east to the City God Temple. While Xiao Huang might not be there, most of the city's beggars gathered there.

When it came to finding people, no one could compete with the Beggar Sect disciples.

As Chu Yang stepped into the temple, the stench hit him, nearly making him retch.

"Mr. Chu."

The beggars in the temple, upon seeing Chu Yang, immediately brightened up.

In no time, they surrounded him.

The beggars at the temple were familiar with Chu Yang, as this "Mr. Chu" frequently brought them food and was one of the few benefactors they could rely on.

Chu Yang didn't disappoint them, as he had bought plenty of good food on his way there, feeling it would be rude to ask for help empty-handed.

After handing out roast chicken, buns, and other snacks, Chu Yang explained his purpose.

Hearing that he was looking for someone, the beggars straightened up and put on serious expressions, exuding the demeanor of true Beggar Sect disciples.

"Mr. Chu, don't worry. As long as the person you're looking for is within Southern Song borders, we'll dig up every inch of ground to find him."

The leader of the City God Temple, a six-bag disciple named Da Yong, swore emphatically, patting his chest with confidence.

"Thank you, everyone."

Chu Yang cupped his hands in gratitude, maintaining a polite demeanor that showed respect for the Beggar Sect disciples.

Da Yong beamed with pride, and, feeling greatly motivated, immediately instructed his followers to search for the person.

The beggars quickly dispersed, leaving the temple unusually quiet.

Searching for someone wouldn't yield instant results, so seeing the beggars scatter, Chu Yang decided to leave before nightfall.

Three days later, at dawn, as Chu Yang was about to begin his morning class, a knock came at the courtyard gate.

Chu Yang opened the door to find Da Yong, though this time he looked far less confident than before, his face solemn as he whispered, "Mr. Chu, we've found the person, but... the situation isn't looking good."

Chu Yang frowned, "What do you mean, Brother Da Yong?"

Da Yong took a deep breath and explained, "Based on the clues you gave us, our brothers managed to trace your friend's whereabouts. He seems to have been taken by a young expert."

"The brothers initially planned to rescue him for you, but that young man's martial arts were formidable, and they couldn't even stand up to him. They were all injured…"

"I'm truly sorry, Mr. Chu. Our skills fell short; we couldn't help you."

Chu Yang said nothing, instead turning back inside to retrieve a bag of money, which he pressed into Da Yong's hands.

Da Yong opened the bag and, seeing the substantial amount of money inside, was utterly shocked. He hurriedly tried to hand it back, saying, "I can't accept this, Mr. Chu. I already feel ashamed enough that I failed to help you save your friend—how can I take so much silver?"

Chu Yang gently pushed his hand back and shook his head. "Keep it. Have the brothers get their wounds treated. Winter is just around the corner, and if they're hurt, they might not make it through."

"Take good care of them, and make sure no lingering health issues develop."

Da Yong's eyes reddened, and he shakily accepted the money bag. "Mr. Chu, you're a good man. On behalf of the brothers, thank you. But don't worry—I'll think of a way to ask the elder at the main branch for help in this matter."

"There's no need for that," Chu Yang replied, shaking his head. "Just tell me everything you know about Xiao Huang. From here on, I'll handle it myself."

Da Yong, anxious, tried to dissuade him. "Mr. Chu, please, don't act recklessly. That man is a true expert—you're a scholar without the strength to fight, and you wouldn't be able to defeat him."

Chu Yang laughed. "I'm not that foolish. I'll get someone else to handle the fighting."

Though unsure who else Chu Yang might know with such skills, Da Yong saw the confidence on his face and held his tongue.

"The man who's holding your friend doesn't seem to be a martial expert from the Central Plains—his fighting style has a hint of Western influence."

"Currently, they're staying within a prince's mansion here in Yanjing..."

As Da Yong detailed the situation, Chu Yang grew increasingly puzzled. Logically, if Xiao Huang had offended someone, he'd most likely be killed on the spot. What sort of expert would bother taking a small beggar so far away?

"Damn, could this actually be some kind of romantic entanglement?"

"Probably not a respectable expert..."

Chu Yang couldn't help but imagine a scandalous story between two men and shivered in disgust.

"Ugh. Suddenly, I don't feel so eager to save him anymore..."

The next day, after his last class, Chu Yang announced that his private academy would be going on break. Cheers erupted, with students joyously causing a commotion in the courtyard. Seeing their excitement, Chu Yang chuckled and then assigned a mountain of holiday homework to ensure the "flowers of the nation" stayed busy.

The cheers abruptly stopped, and the students looked on in stunned disbelief, some even shedding tears.

With a satisfied nod, Chu Yang smiled and left.

Yanjing, located within the Jin Kingdom, was its capital, far from Chu Yang's small city in the Southern Song territory. This chaotic world had a geography vastly different from the maps in Chu Yang's memory; none of his prior geographic knowledge was useful here.

Maps were a rarity in ancient times. Chu Yang scoured the entire town but found no complete map, finally getting a worn parchment map from a storyteller at a tavern. This map had accompanied the storyteller across many lands and had a glossy, well-worn look; those with slightly poor eyesight might struggle to read the faded labels.

With a sigh, Chu Yang took the map and prepared to set off.

Chu Yang wasn't too concerned about the map's clarity—he intended to fly over, and as long as landmarks were roughly accurate, he'd manage.

Under the cover of night, Chu Yang used the Ultra-Lightweight Rock Technique to ascend into the sky, his form concealed by the dark night.

From above, the view below bore a striking resemblance to the faded map, creating a dreamlike effect. Within about half an incense stick's time, Chu Yang had reached the Southern Song border and spotted a grand border fortress.

Beyond this was Jin territory.

Crossing the border, Chu Yang soon reached Jin Kingdom, passing over several cities. Yet he didn't feel as though he'd left his own country; the architecture showed little difference between the two regions.

Following the map's directions, he soon arrived at Yanjing. Compared to the small city where he'd lived, Yanjing was more than ten times its size, sprawling like an ancient beast slumbering on the earth. Even in the dead of night, the city was brightly lit and bustling.

Apparently, Jin didn't enforce a curfew.

Unable to find a quiet place to land amidst the brightness, Chu Yang circled around until he found a quieter spot in the northern part of the city, where common folk lived and the lights were dimmer.

The area was peaceful, with citizens rising at dawn and resting at dusk.

"Yanjing is home to numerous nobles, and there's more than one prince's mansion here. Where exactly is Xiao Huang being held?"

"It's late now, and most people are asleep. My sensory powers aren't picking up much…"

"Forget it; I'll find a place to rest and continue tomorrow."

Walking alone on the street, Chu Yang felt a serene stillness, broken only by the distant sounds of a watchman's clapper.

Leaving the northern district, he noticed an increase in light and the sounds of street vendors.

"Hot wontons—warm and delicious!"

"Grilled meat! Fresh lamb, deer, and fish, five coins a skewer!"

"Steaming soup noodles, only eight coins a bowl!"

Almost all the stalls on the street sold late-night snacks. As Chu Yang passed by, he felt transported to a modern night market.

"Food is the essence of life. No matter the era, the warmth of bustling streets always soothes the soul."

Sighing, Chu Yang sat down at a wonton stall and ordered a bowl. The rich aroma made his mouth water, and he eagerly dug in, realizing how hungry his night of flying had left him.

While Chu Yang was eating, two figures approached the stall, scanning the surroundings before stopping beside the table. It was a small stall, with just one table and a few benches, seating three people at most, albeit snugly.

The two of them stared intently at Chu Yang, clearly waiting for him to finish.

"Two bowls of wontons, please!" one of them, a middle-aged man with a weathered face and white-streaked hair, said. His face bore wrinkles and scars that hinted at a storied past.

Next to him was a young woman with a spirited beauty—she wasn't strikingly delicate but had a refined elegance and an air of strength, with bright eyes and graceful features.