Chapter Seventy-Six: Encountering an Old Friend Once Again

Chen Mu concealed his cultivation with the secret technique Hidden Aura from the Phantom Veil Manual, feigning the appearance of an ordinary merchant. After spending a hefty sum to bribe the soldiers guarding the gates of Great Xia, he finally entered the empire’s interior.

Returning to his homeland, he felt a pang of sorrow. His sect had been annihilated, his family shattered, his father’s whereabouts unknown, and his elder brother imprisoned in the dungeons of the Azure Vault. Back then, he could do nothing but watch as others toyed with his fate.

But now, with newfound strength and confidence, he had returned to Great Xia for revenge. Old scores and new grievances alike were to be settled. His first destination was the territory of the Bright Moon Blade Sect. He planned to hunt its disciples, gradually luring out their leading figures and eliminating them. He intended to keep the sect living in constant dread of assassination, letting them experience true terror and the agony of a life worse than death.

Along the way, Chen Mu heard a rumor circulating within the empire: every so often, mass murders occurred, with over a hundred victims at a time, their bodies drained of blood and vitality, reduced to mere skeletons. The perpetrator was undoubtedly Blood Sky, who had seized Xiahou Shang’s body. Blood Sky had come to Great Xia and plunged the land into chaos and fear. This threat had to be dealt with, or when he finally established contact with the demon race, the entire Yuan Yao continent would fall into their hands. Humanity would either be slaughtered or kept alive as livestock for the demons’ bloody feasts.

Upon entering the territory of the Bright Moon Blade Sect, Chen Mu found that their domain had expanded greatly during his absence. What was once Starview Valley now belonged to the sect.

He entered a teahouse and took a seat by the window on the second floor, sipping tea while listening for news. It was said that the sect’s elders and disciples had been frequently mobilized recently, as if searching for someone, though no one knew exactly whom.

The rest of the gossip was trivial, stories of young women getting married, men fleeing town with gambling debts, leaving their families behind—nothing of consequence.

After more than an hour in the teahouse, Chen Mu grew bored and was about to settle his bill when he noticed disciples of the Bright Moon Blade Sect patrolling and searching the streets. A woman in her thirties, passing below, seemed to deliberately avoid the sect’s disciples, hurriedly heading toward the city outskirts. She failed to notice that a man in the Core Formation realm was trailing her.

Recognizing her at once, Chen Mu was surprised. Though their encounters had been few, he was certain she was Qu Rou, former Elder of the Pill Pavilion in Starview Valley.

Could some from Starview Valley have escaped the massacre? Chen Mu had not witnessed the annihilation himself and so could not be sure if survivors remained. The sight of a former comrade brought him genuine joy, but seeing Qu Rou being followed filled his heart with unease. Now was not the time to reveal his identity, so he resolved to follow discreetly and observe.

Qu Rou left the city, entering a forest. Sensing she was being followed, panic spread across her face, and she broke into a frantic run.

Her pursuer, knowing he’d been discovered, stopped hiding and gave chase, calling out, “You must be Qu Rou, former Elder of the Pill Pavilion in Starview Valley, correct? Qu Rou, if you tell me where those disciples you spirited away have gone, the Bright Moon Blade Sect will welcome you with open arms. You’ll be granted the position of a sect patron.”

Knowing her identity was exposed, Qu Rou replied furiously, “I will never reveal the disciples’ whereabouts to your sect! Forget it! If it comes to death, so be it—kill me if you must!”

“Ah, Qu Rou, that’s not the way. As a skilled alchemist, how could we bear to kill you? Once you’re imprisoned, I’ll petition Sect Leader Liu to have you betrothed to me. With a restriction placed on your soul, you’ll become part of our sect. You’ll be both my beautiful wife and an unreserved alchemist for the sect—what a splendid outcome!” The elder leered.

“Gao Cheng, you’re shameless!” Qu Rou spat in outrage.

Qu Rou was hardly adept at combat or escape techniques, her passion lay solely in alchemy. There was no way she could outrun Gao Cheng, the sect elder.

As Qu Rou faced imminent capture and was about to end her own life, Gao Cheng moved in a flash, intercepting her delicate hand just as she was about to strike herself, preventing her suicide.

Qu Rou fought desperately but was firmly restrained, unable to move. Despair overtook her; one look at Gao Cheng’s lecherous, lip-licking face told her her fate would be grim.

At that moment, Chen Mu, employing the Nine Shadows Step, arrived like a phantom, aiming a killing blow at Gao Cheng.

Sensing the sudden murderous intent, Gao Cheng released Qu Rou and leapt backward, barely evading Chen Mu’s attack.

He was shaken—though the blow seemed insignificant, its vital energy could easily have killed him. Terrified, he shouted, “Who dares ambush me, Gao Cheng? Don’t you know I’m an elder of the Bright Moon Blade Sect? Aren’t you afraid of our sect’s retaliation?”

Chen Mu, his face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat, clicked his tongue. Clearly, his Hidden Aura technique was not yet perfected; he could not kill as invisibly as Rou’er. Still, he felt no disappointment—after all, a Core Formation cultivator was nothing to him.

Qu Rou was stunned by the turn of events—someone had saved her and forced Gao Cheng to retreat. This person must have followed her, otherwise how could they have arrived at this remote spot and intervened at such a critical moment?

Once recovered, Qu Rou clasped her fists and thanked him, “Thank you, friend, for saving me. Otherwise, my honor would have been sullied by this despicable man.”

Chen Mu shook his head. “No need for formalities, Elder Qu—you flatter me. Save your thanks for later; the priority now is to deal with this Bright Moon Blade Sect scum.”

His words suggested familiarity, yet with his hat and cloak, his face was unrecognizable. Qu Rou could not discern who he was.

“So arrogant! If you want to deal with me, show your true strength!” With that, Gao Cheng drew a gleaming blade and launched an attack at Chen Mu.

Chen Mu met it head-on with his fist. Gao Cheng sneered—who would dare block a sword with bare hands? Was he courting death?

Qu Rou was alarmed by the move—how could he be so reckless? She began to worry once again about escaping Gao Cheng’s clutches.

But when blade and fist collided, the unexpected happened. Both Gao Cheng and Qu Rou were shocked; Chen Mu’s fist shattered the magical blade, breaking it in two. What kind of physical power was required for such a feat?

With his weapon destroyed, Gao Cheng panicked, his bravado evaporating. He clasped his fists, pleading, “Friend, let’s not interfere with each other. Take this woman and do as you wish. As long as you spare me, I’ll agree to any demand you make.”

Chen Mu raised an eyebrow. “Any demand? Then how about borrowing your head?”

Gao Cheng’s expression darkened. Clearly, Chen Mu was determined to kill him. Puzzled, he asked, “Why must you drive me to death? We have no grudge—why wield your sword against me?”

“No grudge? The Bright Moon Blade Sect, Seven Stars Pavilion, and Azure Vault destroyed Starview Valley. How could there be no grudge? Not only will I kill you, I’ll wipe out your sect to avenge Starview Valley!” Chen Mu’s face twisted with fury.

“You… you’re one of Starview Valley’s remnants? But the elders either died or surrendered. There’s no one like you!” Gao Cheng stammered, panic-stricken.

“I’m not an elder—I’m Chen Mu, the personal disciple of the Valley Master of Starview Valley!” Chen Mu’s aura surged, no longer concealing his presence. A terrifying killing intent radiated from him.

Both Gao Cheng and Qu Rou were stunned. Chen Mu? The one who stirred chaos at the Great Xia Heroes Gathering? When did he become so powerful? Rumor had it Chen Mu survived and participated in the trials outside the border, but Gao Cheng knew little and thought Chen Mu had defected to the demon sect, reduced to a fugitive.

Qu Rou, meanwhile, had no idea Chen Mu was alive. News of his death had spread throughout Great Xia, and their interactions had been brief, so she’d paid little attention.

To discover her savior was the young man from years past left her with complicated feelings—he had grown to match her in strength, and within mere months.

Realizing the mysterious attacker was Chen Mu, Gao Cheng’s first thought was to flee and report to the sect leader, for he knew he was no match for Chen Mu. He tried to escape.

But as soon as Gao Cheng moved, Chen Mu followed, striking with a Soul-Shattering Sphere to break Gao Cheng’s flight. Chen Mu leapt forward, thrusting his right hand into Gao Cheng’s chest and plucking out his heart.

Such brutality left Qu Rou pale—she hadn’t expected Chen Mu to be so ruthless, killing Gao Cheng by tearing out his heart.

After crushing the heart, Chen Mu turned to Qu Rou. She instinctively stepped back, frightened.

Seeing this, Chen Mu paused, then cupped his fists. “Disciple Chen Mu greets Elder Qu.”

Qu Rou started, sensing no malice from him. Cautiously, she replied, “You need not call yourself a disciple anymore. We now stand as equals. If you don’t mind, address me simply as Friend Qu.”

Chen Mu pondered, then said, “Very well, Friend Qu. I have a few questions I hope you’ll answer truthfully.”