Given Mu Yun's current traveling speed, it would take at least two days to reach Qingchuan City from home. After passing through the dense forest and stepping onto the official road, he walked at a leisurely pace, stopping now and then. Whenever a speeding carriage passed by, he would give it a wide berth to avoid being splashed with mud.
Half an hour later, dusk began to fall. Spotting an inn by the roadside with its oil lamps already lit, a striking sight in the fading light, Mu Yun quickened his pace toward it.
He planned to stay the night, rest up, and set out again early the next morning, aiming to arrive in Qingchuan City by evening. The inn was not unfamiliar to him; in years past, when he had accompanied Old Man Zhu to Qingchuan City, they had occasionally stopped or stayed here.
Humming a tune, Mu Yun entered the inn. Under the waiter's guidance, he took a seat by the window. The young boy paid some coin, and the waiter brought water and food. After eating his fill, Mu Yun sat staring blankly out the door.
Outside, the pitch-black wilderness was filled with dense forest rustling in the wind, the swaying tree shadows like specters. Mu Yun could not help but recall the battle between immortals in the Purple Bamboo Grove. Though he had not witnessed it firsthand, the desperate screams echoing in his ears would not fade. The image of the man in blue suddenly collapsing dead lingered in his heart like a dark cloud.
The young boy had no idea that his once-peaceful life had already been shattered by that unexpected clash.
"Little brother," the waiter said, seeing Mu Yun sitting alone, and came over to strike up a conversation. "Things haven't been peaceful lately. Don't go wandering these wild mountains alone at night."
Mu Yun withdrew his thoughts and glanced at the waiter. "Give me a single room. Just for one night." He handed the waiter some additional coin.
Seeing that the boy had guessed what he was getting at, the waiter chuckled and said, "Little brother, you may be young, but you're sharp. Still, what I said just now about things being unsettled—that's no lie." He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Mu Yun's ear. "Our innkeeper says there have been many bodies found in the woods near the official road lately—some of them skilled fighters. The innkeeper told us to pack up and close the day after tomorrow, head into the city to lay low."
Seeing that Mu Yun did not respond, the waiter, thinking he did not believe him, shot him a knowing look and lowered his voice further. "See that table by the door? Those are government men. They're here on official business, investigating the case."
Mu Yun followed his gaze. There were five people at the table by the door, all with serious expressions, eating quietly. Only when the man at the head spoke did the others pause and nod in agreement. When one of them adjusted his robes, the metal badge of authority at his waist was briefly visible, confirming the waiter's words.
But they were too far away, and several other tables were filled with drinkers making a racket, so Mu Yun could not make out what was being said.
"My friend, seems like you know a bit. Why not share it with me?" Mu Yun withdrew his gaze and smiled at the waiter. The waiter looked a few years older than Mu Yun, perhaps fifteen or sixteen. In his previous visits with his grandfather, Mu Yun had never seen him before; he was likely a new hire.
"That's all I know. How would I know the details? Even the officials can't figure it out. I just overhear the innkeeper sometimes—barely know the surface."
Mu Yun smiled faintly and said nothing more, thinking to himself that the waiter was probably making up stories to secure his business for the night.
Just then, one of the five at the door called out, "Waiter, come here. Bring more wine."
The waiter immediately straightened his expression and hurried over.
At that moment, a creak sounded as the inn's door was pushed open from the outside, and a gust of wind swept into the room. The waiter had been near the entrance after attending to the table of five, and he moved toward the door, thinking the wind had blown it open.
Just as he was about to close it, a much greater force suddenly slammed the door wide open. The waiter could not dodge in time and was knocked to the ground. The two door panels slammed against the walls with a loud crack.
The noisy inn instantly fell silent.
Like most inside, Mu Yun turned his gaze toward the entrance.
Two men in close-fitting blue robes entered first. After sweeping the room with their eyes, one fixed his gaze on the officials' table by the door, while the other stepped back outside. Moments later, over ten more people filed in. This group walked straight inside but did not take any seats.
When all had entered, a tall man standing in the midst of the group spoke coldly: "Everyone, my master is passing through and will be using this inn for the night. Aside from the innkeeper, kitchen staff, and waiters, everyone else has half an incense stick's time to leave. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."
He then turned to a young man beside him and said, "Young master, please wait a moment. We will clear the premises at once."
The young man lifted his eyelids slightly, swept his gaze around the room, and said unhurriedly, "Very well."
Before the words had fully faded, a loud crack rang out. Ten paces from the young man, near the inner hall, a table surrounded by five rough, burly men drew everyone's attention. They were all glaring angrily. One of them, perhaps drunk, had his chest bare. His thick palm had just shattered a bowl.
The big man lifted his hand, brushing off the dust of the broken bowl. "I am Du Laosan of Shadao Bay. Which bold hero speaks such arrogant words?"
At this, murmurs broke out across the inn. The five officials by the door quietly placed their hands on their swords.
Shadao Bay—years ago, the Du brothers had gathered a ragtag band there, making their fortune through highway robbery. Later, they turned to commerce, and having presumably greased the right palms in officialdom, the authorities not only turned a blind eye to their past but even showed them some favor. After rising in status, the Du brothers kept a low profile and successfully laundered their reputation. Shadao Bay became one of the major powers in Qingchuan City.
Just as they were at their peak, the eldest and second Du brothers met violent ends. Du Laosan took over the gang, ruling with tyranny, bullying men and women alike, and Shadao Bay's reputation grew even worse than before. Rumor had it that Du Laosan himself had orchestrated his brothers' deaths.
Mu Yun had heard these stories from his grandfather, thinking at the time that Du Laosan had indeed brought ruin to his own kin—truly a venomous heart.
"One of Qingchuan City's notable figures—finally seeing him in person." Mu Yun murmured to himself, his eyes fixed on the shattered bowl Du Laosan had reduced to dust. "The force in that palm—shattering the bowl without damaging the wooden table beneath. Controlling force like that… he might be stronger than me."
Seeing that someone had stepped forward, and a formidable figure from Qingchuan City at that, the crowd quickly joined in. Curses erupted from all sides. Some, emboldened by drink, even tried to rush forward, only to be held back by their companions.
"An ant dares to speak its name?" The tall man sneered, his voice carrying clearly to Du Laosan's ears.
"Damned bastard!" the big man roared. He slammed the table, sending the bowls and plates leaping into the air. With a rapid flurry of strikes, like spinning tops, he sent several bowls and plates spinning at high speed toward the tall man and his group.
"Peak Body Refining? Or a Qi Refining cultivator?" Mu Yun watched the big man's movements intently, knowing full well the gap between them.
Peak Body Refining was considered a second-rate expert among martial artists.
Reaching Qi Refining placed one among the top first-rate masters.
In the mortal world, Qi Refining was divided into four stages: the first, Sharpening Senses; the second, Miniature Realm; the third, Object Manipulation; and the final, Kaiyang Realm.
Of course, because Qi Refining was the ultimate stage most mortals could hope to reach in their lifetimes, these top martial artists had refined this realm into these fine distinctions.
In the cultivation world, however, Qi Refining was merely a fleeting phase, so it was only divided into levels—from one to nine. Reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining prepared one to attempt Foundation Establishment. The final stage of preparing for Foundation Establishment corresponded to the Kaiyang Realm in the secular world.
A Qi Refining cultivator at the Object Manipulation stage was already an unparalleled expert in the secular world, holding high status—perhaps a city lord or a martial arts grandmaster. As for Kaiyang cultivators, they were focused on pursuing Foundation Establishment and the path of immortality, rarely concerning themselves with mortal affairs.
If the "other" Mu Yun had seen this, he would have thought of Qiao Feng, the protagonist from a famous Earth novel called Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, who was likely at the Object Manipulation stage of Qi Refining.
With such skill, Du Laosan certainly had the ability to stir up trouble in Qingchuan City.
Just as the crowd began to cheer, they saw the bowls and plates flying toward the tall man halt in mid-air, suspended as if an invisible wall stood before him. The tall man casually raised his hand and waved. The spinning bowls slowed to a stop and clattered to the floor.
"Half the time has passed," the man said calmly, withdrawing his hand.
"Object… Object Manipulation!" someone stammered in shock.
"My lord, we failed to recognize your eminence. We take our leave." Several tables of drinkers rose and fled. Within a few breaths, only two or three tables remained.
Seeing this, Du Laosan and his men also prepared to slip away.
"The others may go. You may not," the tall man said flatly, as if pronouncing judgment on Du Laosan.
Terror flashed across Du Laosan's face. He dropped to his knees with a thud. "My lord, we were blind and disturbed your presence. Please, let us leave."
"Striking first is a capital offense. End your own lives, and you will keep your bodies intact," the tall man said coldly, looking at Du Laosan as though he were already dead.
"My lord!" Du Laosan was drenched in cold sweat, his body trembling like a sieve. Seeing that the tall man was unmoved, he crawled on his knees toward the young man at the center. "My lord, I beg you to spare us. We are willing to serve you as beasts of burden."
The young man frowned, his patience wearing thin. "Enough noise. Zhong Wu, grind them into meat paste for the dogs."
So the tall man was called Zhong Wu. At the order, he prepared to act.
Du Laosan and his men had apparently been waiting for this moment. Before the young man had even finished speaking, Du Laosan sprang into action. Crouching low before the young man, he drew a gleaming dagger from somewhere and thrust it straight at the young man's chest.
Kill the leader first!
Du Laosan was a man who could bend and break at will, decisive in action. Seeing no way to retreat, he had feigned submission only to strike first, seizing the initiative.
"You court death!" Zhong Wu snorted. Moving after Du Laosan but arriving before him, he swept his leg in a vicious kick to Du Laosan's waist. The speed was blinding. The force of the kick was immense—Du Laosan flew like a ball, crashing through several tables and chairs before finally stopping.
As for the intended victim of the assassination attempt, his expression had not changed in the slightest. If anything, a faint, cruel smile played at the corners of his mouth.
…