Chapter Sixty: Intention and Accident

After subduing these Night Shadow members, Chen Mu began to inquire into the workings of the Night Shadow organization.

Night Shadow typically undertook covert assassinations or accompanied certain important figures on confidential missions. Of the four Night Shadow Sons, all were currently engaged in secret tasks and thus had not met with Chen Mu, the newly appointed deputy leader. Presumably, when they returned, their reaction would mirror that of the other Night Shadow members—unwilling to accept Chen Mu's leadership—but that was a matter for another time.

Chen Mu glanced at the thick assassination register and clicked his tongue; Night Shadow was indeed the deadliest blade in the Nine Nether Sacred Land. The list of targets eliminated this year alone was staggering, dense and innumerable.

After inspecting the daily training of the Night Shadow members, Chen Mu sought out a cultivation chamber within the organization and began to cultivate.

Inside the chamber, he activated the Ancient Sun Scripture, and took a Foundation Pill refined by Rou’er to accelerate the consolidation and strengthening of his yuan energy. His dantian absorbed the pill’s pure energy, refining his yuan foundation like a furnace under the scripture’s operation, making his gathered yuan energy ever more solid.

Time flowed on; by the time he had fully absorbed the medicinal power of the pill, afternoon had come, and his yuan foundation had grown visibly stronger.

Opening his eyes and ending his cultivation, Chen Mu stepped out of the chamber to find a woman waiting quietly for him—none other than Gongsun Lin.

Chen Mu was momentarily startled. “You were waiting for me here?”

Gongsun Lin nodded gently. “Yes.”

“You must have waited a long time,” Chen Mu said, a little embarrassed.

She shook her head, though Chen Mu could tell she had indeed been waiting quite a while. He apologized, “Sorry for making you wait. Is there something you need?”

At this, Gongsun Lin puffed her cheeks and said, “Can’t I come see you without a reason? I heard you’ve been given a new residence as the newly appointed official, so I wanted to check if you’re settling in well.”

Chen Mu thought for a moment and replied earnestly, “Thanks to you, it’s all right.”

Gongsun Lin rolled her eyes. “All right? You’re given food, lodging, and a high office, and all you can say is ‘it’s all right’?”

After pondering a moment, Chen Mu asked, “Is your mother feeling better?”

The warmth in Gongsun Lin’s heart grew at his concern. Smiling, she said, “After taking the pill made from the Seven Dream Salora flower, my mother’s injuries have gradually improved, and she’s regained consciousness. She wants to meet you.”

“She wants to see me?” Chen Mu asked, puzzled. Now that she was recovering, shouldn’t she stay with her family?

“I told my mother you saved me, and she wants to thank you in person,” Gongsun Lin said, her cheeks reddening slightly.

“So she wants to thank me. All right, I’ll meet her then,” Chen Mu agreed readily.

Seeing him accept, Gongsun Lin immediately took his hand and led him to the Leader’s residence to see her mother.

Upon entering the residence, they came to the Leader’s wife’s bedroom, where she was resting and recuperating—Gongsun Lin’s mother. Seeing the good color in her face, Chen Mu’s worries eased somewhat. After all, he and Gongsun Lin were friends, and it was always concerning when a friend’s mother was unwell.

Gongsun Qingyang, attending to his wife, was surprised to see his daughter bring Chen Mu and asked, “Lin’er, why did you bring young Chen Mu here?”

Gongsun Lin replied shyly, “I didn’t bring him; Mother told me to bring him. She said she wanted to thank him in person.”

Gongsun Qingyang looked to his wife, Zhao Qingqing, “You want to see young Chen Mu?”

Zhao Qingqing, now awake, smiled tiredly. “Yes, I’m curious about this young man—so gifted at such a young age. Naturally, I wanted to meet him. But most importantly, I want to thank him for saving Lin’er, who was able to gather the Seven Dream Salora flower and save my life.”

At this point, Chen Mu had been led near Zhao Qingqing by Gongsun Lin. He bowed and greeted, “With the Nine Nether in my heart, may the Sacred Land endure! Chen Mu pays respects to the Leader’s wife.”

Zhao Qingqing replied warmly, “Young man, no need for all those formalities in front of me. Don’t be so restrained—just relax. Calling me Leader’s wife is too distant; you saved my life, and you’re just a few years younger than Lin’er. Just call me Aunt Qing.”

Chen Mu felt a bit uneasy—Gongsun Lin’s mother was rather enthusiastic, which caught him off guard. Nonetheless, he followed her request. “Aunt Qing.”

She smiled. “That’s better. You’re still young—no need to act like those adults with their bureaucratic airs. Just relax. Qingyang, I’d like to chat with Chen Mu. Go outside and don’t eavesdrop.”

Gongsun Qingyang was taken aback, then glanced at Zhao Qingqing and at Chen Mu and Gongsun Lin, seeming to understand something. He left the room and closed the door.

Gongsun Lin’s cheeks were flushed, her heart anxious and unsettled.

Chen Mu, perplexed, watched Qingyang leave, then turned to Zhao Qingqing. “Aunt Qing, whatever you want to talk about, I’ll chat with you. Don’t worry, I’m quite talkative.”

“Chen Mu, where are you from? Where is your home…”

Zhao Qingqing began asking about Chen Mu’s past, and he did not shy away from sharing that he was born in Great Xia, his sect destroyed by conspiracy, his father expelled by the clan, and other such experiences. Of course, he glossed over any sensitive details related to his own secrets.

Zhao Qingqing sighed, “You’ve endured much, suffering so young.”

“I don’t mind. The main thing is my father’s whereabouts are unknown, and I only survived by faking my death. Now I can’t search for him openly. At present, I must strengthen myself, so I can return and avenge him,” Chen Mu said, his face darkened with hatred.

Zhao Qingqing suddenly changed the topic. “Chen Mu, what do you think of our Lin’er?”

“She’s… Gongsun Lin is a wonderful person, a very reliable friend!” Chen Mu replied after some thought.

Hearing herself called a friend, Gongsun Lin felt both comforted and slightly disappointed.

Zhao Qingqing, observing Lin’er’s expression, could tell she harbored feelings for Chen Mu, but his words made her sigh inwardly.

Zhao Qingqing pressed further, “Just a friend? No fondness at all?”

Chen Mu replied, a bit confused, “I do like her; otherwise, I wouldn’t consider her a friend. Wait, actually, she’s not just an ordinary friend.”

Hearing this, Gongsun Lin’s eyes brightened, but Chen Mu’s next words made her want to slap him.

“Gongsun Lin can be a bit silly at times. She’s more like an elder sister than a friend—she’s older than me, after all. Honestly, calling her Sister Gongsun would feel more natural…” Chen Mu mused seriously, considering Gongsun Lin’s place in his heart.

“Chen Mu, you little rascal!” Gongsun Lin erupted, bursting into tears as she fled the room.

Zhao Qingqing was exasperated—Chen Mu was such a blockhead. Who would tell a young woman she was “older” right to her face?

Still, Zhao Qingqing could see Lin’er’s affection, but Chen Mu’s heart was elsewhere. Perhaps it was good for her daughter to see reality clearly.

Gongsun Qingyang, seeing his daughter run out, rushed into the room to demand an explanation from Chen Mu, who replied in confusion, “I just said, compared to being friends, the young leader is more like my elder sister.”

Hearing this, Qingyang understood the situation, snorted coldly, and went after Gongsun Lin, leaving Chen Mu bewildered.

Zhao Qingqing took Chen Mu’s hand and patted it. “Chen Mu, you must look after Lin’er more in the future. She’s been adored as the young leader since childhood, so everyone treats her with reverence. Only you disregard her status and treat her as a friend. I hope you can support her, as you would your own sister. Your life has been hard; if you don’t mind, you could recognize me as your godmother, and Qingyang as your godfather. Then you would be our godson. What do you think?”

Chen Mu was silent for a long time. Zhao Qingqing was so kind to him, but if he accepted the Gongsun couple as godparents, he would have three sets of parents. His mother at the Chen family had died early, so he barely remembered her.

Seeing his silence, Zhao Qingqing frowned. “You’re unwilling?”

Chen Mu replied awkwardly, “No, it’s just… it feels a bit complicated. My parents at the Chen family aren’t my birth parents, but they raised me, so I’ve always considered them as such. If I recognize you as godmother and the Leader as godfather, I’d have three sets of parents.”

Zhao Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh, then said, “Three sets of parents—so what? With three fathers and three mothers doting on you, wouldn’t you have three times the happiness?”

Chen Mu thought for a moment. “That makes sense… I can’t argue with that. Then… I’m willing to recognize Aunt Qing as my godmother, and Leader Gongsun as my godfather. Your godson Chen Mu pays respects to godmother.”

“Good child, rise. From now on, take care of your Sister Lin’er. Whether she becomes the young leader matters little to me; what I care about is her happiness,” Zhao Qingqing sighed.

“Godmother, once I’ve avenged my father, I will help Sister Lin’er. But once things settle, I may leave—I’m searching for my birth parents, who gave me to the Chen family out of necessity. I long for a broader stage; I want to leave this continent and explore other lands. If Sister Lin’er wishes to see the world with me, I’ll gladly bring her along, so we can look out for each other. Regardless, I’ll always respect her choice.”

“Very well. Lin’er is entrusted to you,” Zhao Qingqing said with another sigh.