Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Hiding Place

Something to ask me? Qu Rou looked at Chen Mu in confusion. She had no dealings with him, so what could possibly require Chen Mu to seek her out with questions? Still, she did not refuse, but waited for him to speak.

Chen Mu took a deep breath and asked, “Fellow Daoist Qu, did you lead a group of sect disciples to escape and avoid this calamity? I have two friends in the sect, one named Lü Shi, the other Zhang Jiudan. Are either of them among those you saved?”

Qu Rou was surprised at his question; these two must be dear friends to Chen Mu. She pondered for a moment before replying, “I led the disciples of my Pill Pavilion branch, so there is no one named Lü Shi among them. However, just before the incident, a disciple named Zhang Jiudan was promoted to serve as a pill apprentice for one of our alchemists. So among those I brought, there is indeed a disciple by that name.”

Chen Mu’s face paled further upon hearing that Lü Shi was not among them, but he felt some relief knowing Zhang Jiudan was safe. Observing the changes in his expression, Qu Rou could tell that Chen Mu was a man of deep loyalty and affection, which shifted her impression of him from the ruthless figure she had imagined earlier.

Chen Mu continued, “Fellow Daoist Qu, do you have any news of my master, Gu Xingyuan? During that fateful battle, my master believed I had died and buried me before leaving alone. Since then, I have not known his whereabouts.”

Qu Rou felt embarrassed—Gu Xingyuan had buried Chen Mu? But she couldn’t help but imagine the scene, since Chen Mu spoke of it so lightly, glossing over the details. For the first time, she thought Gu Xingyuan might not be as reliable as she had believed.

After piecing together how Gu Xingyuan had buried Chen Mu, she looked at him apologetically. “I’m sorry, Fellow Daoist Chen. Since the disaster at Starwatch Valley, we’ve been in hiding. We also do not know the whereabouts of Master Gu. But we are searching for him, hoping he can once again become the backbone of our group.”

Chen Mu sighed, nodded, and his eyes shone with resolute determination. “Sooner or later, Starwatch Valley will reappear before the world. For now, the priority is ensuring your safety—and then, vengeance!”

Qu Rou hurriedly cautioned him, “Fellow Daoist Chen, you must not act recklessly. All three sects are backed by Nascent Soul cultivators; you cannot hope to oppose them. Revenge is important, but you must also think of yourself.”

Chen Mu waved her concern aside. “I have my own ways to escape the hands of Nascent Soul elders. Enough about that. Can I meet Zhang Jiudan? I have acquired many cultivation resources, and I intend to give some to him for his advancement. After all, part of this disaster was caused by me; this is at least some compensation for causing him to wander. I have an impertinent request, Fellow Daoist Qu—would you take Zhang Jiudan as your disciple? As someone else’s pill apprentice, it could take years for him to distinguish himself, but as your disciple, it would be different. Whether it’s money or cultivation resources, I can provide it. I am planning to gather people to rebuild Starwatch Valley, and I can offer you a safe haven.”

Hearing Chen Mu’s request for her to take Zhang Jiudan as a disciple, she was unsure how to respond. Yet, when he promised resources and a secure place to stay, she was so excited she almost cried out. These days of hiding were because nowhere was safe, and she had gone out in search of resources for her disciples to cultivate.

Without hesitation, Qu Rou agreed. She then asked, “Where is this safe haven?”

Chen Mu hesitated, unsure if Qu Rou would dare go to that place, but he nevertheless told her, “It’s a spot in the middle section of the Star Ridge Mountains. I am quite familiar with a tier-three beast there; it will protect you.”

Hearing that the place was in the spine of the Star Ridge Mountains made Qu Rou uneasy. When Chen Mu mentioned he knew a tier-three beast, she was utterly stunned.

When did spirit beasts become so agreeable? What methods did Chen Mu use to coexist with them? Qu Rou wasn’t exactly skeptical, but his words were simply beyond belief.

Seeing her disbelief, Chen Mu did not explain further. Instead, he summoned with a call to his spirit beast bracelet, and a majestic eagle beast appeared out of thin air.

Qu Rou immediately became tense at the sight, not daring to even breathe. Her own cultivation was only at the mid Core Formation stage. Though the eagle beast was a tier-three beginner, its combat strength could rival a late Core Formation cultivator. Facing such a powerful beast, how could she not be shaken?

The eagle beast cast Qu Rou a disdainful glance, then landed and rubbed its head against Chen Mu’s cheek.

Chen Mu stroked its feathers and said, “Fellow Daoist Qu, perhaps I am naturally close to spirit beasts. As long as they possess some intelligence, they will heed my words. Now, do you believe me?”

Qu Rou forced a bitter smile. Indeed, Chen Mu was mysterious, and his abilities marked him as an extraordinary figure.

Since Chen Mu had spoken so frankly, Qu Rou had no reason to refuse. With resources and a safe haven, it was exactly what they needed.

Chen Mu continued, “Once you are settled, I will begin my vengeance against the Bright Moon Blade Sect. When the time comes and I have the strength, I will bring you all back to the original site to reestablish Starwatch Valley, and once again make its name renowned throughout the Great Xia Empire!”

Qu Rou nodded with relief. “Very well, I am willing to follow you and rebuild Starwatch Valley together. Let us first go meet the other disciples, and once everyone is gathered, we can move to the middle section of the Star Ridge Mountains and make our home.”

Thus, Qu Rou led Chen Mu to their current hiding place.

They arrived at a remote mountain village, where the disciples she had rescued from the Pill Pavilion were living as refugees in hiding. The disciples often treated the villagers’ ailments in exchange for supplies and goodwill, so the village chief permitted them to stay.

Along the way, Chen Mu and Qu Rou exchanged information, clarifying the chain of events that led to the destruction of Starwatch Valley. Most of the cause stemmed from Chen Mu, but Qu Rou did not blame him. The true fault lay in the greed of the Azure Path Sect, which ultimately led to the valley’s downfall.

Furthermore, elite disciples like Gu Feng had defected to the Azure Path Sect, which Qu Rou deeply despised. Especially those from the Hall of Punishments, who had acted as inside agents, guiding the three sects in their assault—she ground her teeth in hatred at this betrayal.

Chen Mu glossed over his time in the Bright Moon Empire, as it was not relevant to Qu Rou.

Outside the village, someone waited for Qu Rou’s return. Seeing her approach with a black-clad, straw-hatted stranger, the man became instantly vigilant.

Qu Rou noticed his caution and greeted him, “Li Haosheng, he is not an enemy. He is also a disciple of Starwatch Valley. I was followed while out gathering resources, and he dealt with the pursuer for me.”

Upon hearing this, the disciple named Li Haosheng relaxed, though he continued to glance at Chen Mu suspiciously. “Greetings, Elder Qu. Thank you for your efforts. Elder Qu, you said this man is also a disciple of Starwatch Valley? Whose disciple is he?”

Chen Mu removed his hat and said calmly, “Chen Mu, personal disciple of Master Gu Xingyuan, the Valley Lord.”

Li Haosheng was shocked. Rumor had it that Chen Mu had died under the pursuit of the three sect masters. How could he be alive?

But that was not important. Li Haosheng glared at Chen Mu and said, “You are not welcome here! Leave at once!”

It wasn’t surprising—Chen Mu’s reputation within Starwatch Valley’s inner sect was already poor. The accusations fabricated by the He brothers and Youlan were still remembered.

Chen Mu ignored him and said, “Take me to Zhang Jiudan.”

Li Haosheng felt insulted by Chen Mu’s disregard. “You disgrace of the sect—if you don’t leave, I’ll take action!”

Chen Mu frowned and slapped him. Qu Rou tried to intervene, but she was no match for Chen Mu.

The slap landed hard, knocking out one of Li Haosheng’s teeth. Chen Mu looked at him and said, “You’ve all called me a disgrace for long enough. I didn’t care what you thought before. But now that I intend to restore Starwatch Valley, I must speak: Are you all brainless? You believe I defiled the outer disciple Youlan and labeled me a disgrace and a beast. But did you ever consider my strength back then? With only six meridian channels open, could I, a weakling, lord it over the outer sect and defile someone cherished like Youlan? It’s a miracle I wasn’t beaten to death. Who are the He brothers? Traitors from the Hall of Punishments, which incited your hatred against me. You trust what He Lang and He Si said, but not my words. Now, they have become disciples of the Azure Path Sect. It’s because you trusted them and the Hall of Punishments’ riffraff that the sect’s defenses were breached and Starwatch Valley was destroyed so swiftly!”

Qu Rou sighed. She knew of this incident, had participated in interrogating Chen Mu, and heard the He brothers’ testimony. She was certain there was more to it. The inner disciples were easily incited, needing a scapegoat under pressure, and cared little whether Chen Mu was innocent. When he first joined the inner sect, he was not accepted, so no one cared for his feelings, and everyone parroted the baseless accusations.

Chen Mu’s slap left Li Haosheng speechless. He was not unaware that this was a plot by the Hall of Punishments, but he didn’t care; to him, Chen Mu was never truly one of them.

Chen Mu’s rise was marked by too many peculiarities—resisting Elder Xiao Jueqing’s attack at the Meridian stage, being chosen as the Valley Lord’s personal disciple, defeating enemies above his level...

All these made him stand out among the inner disciples, provoking jealousy. When the He brothers exposed the fabricated image of Chen Mu as a villain, this jealousy made everyone believe the false accusations and attack him with words and scorn.