Traveling Between Two Worlds: From Bread for Maids to Fantasy Overlord

The night was deep, and moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Huang Yiming, holding Yang Xiu's hand, hurried through the mountains and forests along the route marked on the map. Having just completed his body tempering, his stamina far surpassed his former self, and his steps were light and quick. But Yang Xiu was, after all, a young girl, and after walking for half an hour, she was already panting, her face flushed, yet she still gritted her teeth and persevered, unwilling to slow down her young master.

"Xiuxiu, take a rest if you're tired." Huang Yiming stopped and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead, then found a clean rock for her to sit on. Yang Xiu shook her head and obediently handed him her water pouch: "Xiuxiu isn't tired, young master. We need to hurry, the bandits are fierce, it'll be troublesome if they catch up with us."

Seeing the little girl's sensible appearance, Huang Yiming felt even warmer inside. He took out a chocolate from his pocket, unwrapped it, and held it to her lips: "Eat something to replenish your strength. Walk slowly, I'll protect you." Yang Xiu took a small bite of the chocolate, the sweetness melting on her tongue. Her eyes curved into crescents, full of happiness.

Huang Yiming took out the animal hide map and examined it carefully by the moonlight. However, the markings on the map were obscure and difficult to understand. He couldn't recognize many place names and symbols at all, so he frowned and asked, "How far is Qin Family Fort? What do these symbols mean?"

Yang Xiu leaned closer, pointed her little finger at the symbols on the map, and began to explain softly, her voice gentle yet clear: "Young master, this symbol represents a river, this is a monster's lair, this is a gathering place for refugees, Qin Family Fort is on the east side of Black Wind Ridge, about thirty miles from here. Just cross that small hill in front of us and you'll arrive."

She paused, then added, "Qin Family Fortress is the largest fortress in the vicinity. Its lord, Qin Cang, is a top-tier expert among mortals, with several hundred guards under his command, dedicated to protecting refugees. They have been fighting against the Black Wind Mountain bandits for several years and have never lost. However, the fortress has strict rules, and outsiders who want to enter must have a token or show sufficient sincerity."

Huang Yiming was stunned, staring wide-eyed at Yang Xiu. He had initially thought this little girl was just well-behaved and sensible, but he hadn't expected her to be so intelligent, knowing everything about the trivial matters of this other world—she was practically a walking encyclopedia of this world. He couldn't help but ruffle Yang Xiu's hair, his eyes full of admiration: "Xiuxiu, you're amazing! You know all this?"

Yang Xiu blushed, lowered her head shyly, and said softly, "I heard it from my parents when we were wandering around. After my parents passed away, I lived with other refugees. These are common sense tips for survival, nothing special." As she spoke of her sorrow, her eyes dimmed, filled with grievance.

Huang Yiming's heart tightened, and he quickly grasped her small hand, his tone firm: "With you here, I will never have to wander again, and I will never have to be afraid of anyone again." Yang Xiu looked up at him, her eyes regaining their light, and nodded vigorously, full of reliance.

To ease the tension, Huang Yiming took out a small bag of modern refined salt from his storage space. The snow-white salt glistened under the moonlight, shimmering faintly. The moment Yang Xiu saw it, her eyes widened, her mouth formed an "O" shape, her face filled with shock. She instinctively covered her mouth, almost letting out a cry.

"Immortal... Immortal's refined salt?!" Yang Xiu's voice trembled as he reached out to touch it, yet dared not, fearing he might damage this priceless treasure. "Young Master, this... this is too precious! In Black Wind Ridge, ten catties of coarse grains can only be exchanged for a small pinch of coarse salt. I've never seen such pure white refined salt in my entire life. The refugees all say that only immortals can afford it!"

[Ding! This system is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Host's boasting has been successful, and the little maid's shock level is off the charts. Friendly reminder: Don't show off. This stuff is worth one dollar a bag in modern times, but it's an incredibly valuable commodity in this world. Save it to exchange for benefits at Qin Family Fort. Don't waste it; it's a wasteful thing.]

Huang Yiming raised an eyebrow, casually tossing the salt bag back into his storage space with a nonchalant and carefree motion, as if it were just a bag of ordinary dust. This only amplified Yang Xiu's awe. A faint smile played on his lips as he said nonchalantly, "It's just an ordinary item, no need to make such a fuss." But inside, he was inwardly agonizing: This is money! He almost blurted out that he should tell Yang Xiu to keep it, but he forced the words back down, his attempt to maintain his aloofness nearly causing him internal injury.

Huang Yiming couldn't help but laugh, pinching Yang Xiu's little face: "What fairy salt? It's just ordinary salt. I'll make sure you have enough to eat from now on." Yang Xiu shook her head seriously: "Young master, you don't need to coax me. This is a treasure. Xiu Xiu will definitely keep it safe for you and will never lose it."

Seeing her serious expression, Huang Yiming chuckled inwardly. Cheap modern goods had become rare treasures in this other world. Trading between the two worlds was a sure-fire way to make money. He put away the refined salt and continued to ask about the common knowledge of this other world. Yang Xiu answered all his questions without reservation, explaining everything from the differences between mortals and cultivators to the prices of various supplies and the grudges between surrounding forces.

Huang Yiming grew increasingly alarmed as he listened. In this fantasy world, the strong prey on the weak, cultivators reign supreme, and mortals are as worthless as weeds; without strength, one cannot even gain a foothold. Yang Xiu's intelligence was undoubtedly his greatest asset; with her by his side, he could avoid countless detours.

"Xiuxiu, you are truly my treasure maid," Huang Yiming praised sincerely. Yang Xiu's cheeks flushed even more, and she lowered her head shyly, feeling sweet inside. After resting for a while, the two set off again. With Yang Xiu leading the way, the route became much clearer, avoiding areas infested with monsters and bandit patrol routes, and their travel speed increased considerably.

Just as they crossed the hill and were about to reach the outskirts of Qin Family Fortress, a series of noisy footsteps and shouts of refugees came from afar, creating a great commotion. Huang Yiming's expression changed instantly. He immediately shielded Yang Xiu behind him, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his eyes coldly fixed on the source of the sound. His aura was fully unleashed, displaying the composure of a master in the face of danger.

[Beep! This system is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. It has detected a large number of people. Don't panic. Even a coward can pretend to be a master. Stay calm and don't show your fear.] Huang Yiming's heart skipped a beat, his heart rate soared, and his palms instantly became sweaty. He gripped his gun tighter and tighter, his mind racing to think of a solution, but his face remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. The contrast was striking.