Chapter 111: Chapter 108: The Former Waste

The next morning, Mu Chen was woken by a clamor. His bed was right next to the window, so the sounds from outside easily drifted in.

Startled, Mu Chen scrambled out of bed. He cursed himself for being so careless. ’To think I slept so soundly. If this were the Demon Beast Forest, I would have become Magical Beast dung and turned to dust long ago.’

"Brother Mu Chen, you’re awake."

As soon as he sat up, Mu Chen saw Little Tiger making his bed. When he saw Mu Chen get up, he called out with a smile. Qing Lei stood to the side, looking a bit downcast. He forced a smile when he saw Mu Chen, which served as a greeting.

Mu Chen sighed and patted Qing Lei’s shoulder. Only he understood the complex emotions his friend was feeling right now. To watch so many students joyous about going home while you had no home to return to... Mu Chen had felt that way before.

"What are your plans for the holiday?" Mu Chen asked softly.

Qing Lei gave a bitter smile. "I’ll probably stay at the academy. Maybe I’ll go check out the Library Pavilion."

"I see." A sharp glint flashed in Mu Chen’s eyes. "Revenge requires sufficient strength and ample preparation. If you act rashly, not only will you fail, but you might lose your only chance to ever get it."

Qing Lei froze, his gaze flickering away. He had indeed been planning to return to Gostan City during the ten-day holiday to look for a chance to take revenge, but he never thought Mu Chen would see through him so easily. Mu Chen patted his shoulder again and picked up the Profound Jade Box from his bedside. That was the name Mu Chen had given it—it would be weird to just keep calling it the black box, wouldn’t it?

After shouldering the Profound Jade Box, the circulation speed of the Primordial Power in his body instantly dropped several-fold. Then, his Primordial Power began to compress continuously until it reached a certain limit. After washing up and saying goodbye to Little Tiger, Mu Chen left the dormitory. The sun was bright outside, and everywhere he looked, first-year students were beaming with excited smiles.

When the surrounding students saw Mu Chen, their faces filled with adoration. This was the representative of the first-years, their goal—the undisputed number one expert of the outer circle, Mu Chen.

Mu Chen was low-key by nature. After nodding at the crowd, a Flash of Thunder flickered beneath his feet, and his figure vanished, leaving only a faint afterimage that lingered for a moment.

In the plaza, a slender figure stood looking around, her every glance captivating. A hint of mock annoyance was on her beautiful face. It wasn’t until Mu Chen appeared, clad in snow-white robes, that a joyful expression bloomed on her face. Her slight smile was bewitching, her eyes like tranquil water, melting the hearts of all who saw her.

Mu Chen rubbed his nose, saying sheepishly, "Sorry, I’m late."

Mu Bingling shot Mu Chen a glare, but seeing his awkward expression, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Her laugh was like a blossoming lotus, shy and delightful. "I’m not blaming you. We can finally go home. Mom and Dad will be overjoyed to know you’re coming back."

"Yeah, we can finally go home..." Mu Chen gazed into the distance, in the direction of Luofeng City.

Just then, a youth in purple robes rushed anxiously through the academy gates. As he crossed the plaza, he spotted Mu Chen and Mu Bingling at once.

"Mu Chen, you’re still here! I was afraid I was too late."

Hearing the voice, Mu Chen turned to see that it was none other than Kong Ye Ming, the one who had challenged him yesterday. With a slight smile, Mu Chen said, "If you’d been any later, I might have already left."

Kong Ye Ming chuckled. "I can’t lose a duel and get a reputation for welshing on my bets. Here are one thousand Martial Power Pills and ten Martial Spirit Essence Pills. Take them."

Mu Chen was taken aback. "Didn’t I say I only wanted five hundred Martial Power Pills and three Martial Spirit Essence Pills?"

Kong Ye Ming rolled his eyes at Mu Chen and pursed his lips. "You really think so little of me? I’m the son of the Imperial Chancellor, after all. Is my life worth only that many pills?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Mu Chen smiled helplessly. "Alright then, it would be rude to refuse."

Kong Ye Ming chuckled again and clapped Mu Chen on the shoulder. "Alright, your conditions are met. If you ever need anything in the future, just come find me. I’ll be there. You’re the first person I, Kong Ye Ming, have ever wholeheartedly admired. Even though I can’t beat you, I still have some sway in the Imperial Capital."

Mu Chen didn’t refuse. He knew Kong Ye Ming’s words were sincere. He nodded and said, "In that case, thank you in advance."

Kong Ye Ming shook his head. "Then it’s settled. You two seem busy, so I’ll let you get back to it. I have to go report to my instructor."

After saying that, Kong Ye Ming gave Mu Chen and Mu Bingling a suggestive look before turning and running off, leaving Mu Chen with a dark expression and Mu Bingling with a beet-red face.

Checking the time, he saw it was getting late. Traveling from the Imperial Capital to Luofeng City would take ten days on foot, but only four by horse-drawn carriage. The Imperial Academy’s facilities were comprehensive; the academy would provide special carriages for first-years returning home, which was not only convenient but also ensured their safety. In the Xuanling Empire, almost no one dared to hijack a carriage bearing the Imperial Academy’s crest. This was due to a well-known saying: "It is better to offend the Imperial Family than the Imperial Academy."

The story originated a thousand years ago. It was said that the Imperial Academy was then led by that Martial Saint Headmaster. One time, a carriage transporting new students was hijacked by a notorious group of bandits. During the struggle, a student who resisted too fiercely was beheaded by the bandit leader. When the Saint Headmaster heard the news, he flew into a rage. With a single palm strike, he obliterated a hundred-li-wide valley, turning it and the bandits’ lair into dust. From that day on, no evil force in the Xuanling Empire ever dared to go near anything bearing the Imperial Academy’s crest again.

Inside the carriage, the jolting motion was making Mu Chen a little sleepy. He didn’t know if it was because Mu Bingling was by his side, but he found it easy to relax.

"Chen’Er, if you’re tired, go ahead and sleep. Big Sis is right here with you," Mu Bingling said softly, gently squeezing Mu Chen’s hand.

Mu Chen shook his head. "I’m not tired. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve been in a carriage in three years, so I’m not used to it." As he spoke, he turned his hand over and clasped Mu Bingling’s. Hers was cool and soft to the touch.

With just the two of them in the carriage, a tender atmosphere bloomed amidst the gentle rocking of the road. They simply gazed at each other. They weren’t sure if it was just their imagination, but it felt as if the other had just plucked their heartstrings.

The journey passed slowly in this tender atmosphere...

Luofeng City... It was still the same as it was three years ago, though some faces had changed. As a supply city, Luofeng City always had a large flow of people, and the hawkers’ cries that rang out from time to time were even louder than before.

At the city gate, a group of men, travel-worn and covered in dust, walked in. Leading them was a man in green robes on horseback. His face bore three bloody scars—fresh wounds, it seemed, that had not yet scabbed over.

Behind him followed a dozen or so guards. Their attire was neat and uniform, but exhaustion was written on every one of their faces.

One of the guards took a deep breath and said, "Captain, it’s been three years. We’ve searched almost every neighboring country but found no trace of Young Master Chen. Could it be... Besides, with Young Master Chen’s talent..."

"Shut up! The Patriarch said we are to find him, dead or alive! As guards of the Mu Family, all we need to do is obey. Three years have already passed; what’s another three to us?" the man on horseback snapped, looking back at them.

"Yoo-hoo... Isn’t this the Mu Family’s Guard Captain, Mu Lei? Still looking for that useless young master of yours? Let me see, it’s been three years now, hasn’t it? Tsk tsk, your Patriarch really won’t shed a tear until he sees the coffin. A crippled good-for-nothing like him, gone for three years... Even if a Magical Beast didn’t eat him, he would’ve been beaten to death by someone long ago." A snide, effeminate voice came from Mu Lei’s right. The speaker was exceptionally ugly, with a long horse-like face, small eyes, a bizarrely large nose, and a thin mustache above his lip. As he spoke, he habitually twirled the slender mustache with his index finger, giving off an unnervingly soft and sinister air.

Hearing this, Mu Lei didn’t even spare the man a glance. He said proudly, "The Mu Family’s business is no place for outsiders to comment, especially not the Li Family, who are nothing but lapdogs. Li Jian, you’d be better off going back to protect your own master. Don’t let him get beaten up again while you’re powerless to help. Brothers, let’s go!"

"You!" Li Jian pointed at Mu Lei, his body trembling with rage. Staring at Mu Lei’s retreating back, Li Jian’s ugly face twisted into a ferocious scowl. ’Hmph, the Mu Family,’ he thought viciously. ’Everyone in Luofeng City knows your family is about to collapse. If it weren’t for that Mu Bingling, the Mu Family would have been driven out of Luofeng City long ago. Heh heh, but how long can one Mu Bingling protect you?’

With that, a mousy glint flashed in Li Jian’s small eyes. He walked alone toward a pink building where a group of scantily clad women were cooing and beckoning to potential customers.

「Luofeng City... The Mu Family...」

In the main hall, an old man sat with his head bowed, reading a book. His brow was tightly furrowed, and a constant sorrow seemed etched upon his face. This was none other than the Mu Family Patriarch, Mu Gu Tian. In just three years, his once-black hair had turned mostly white.

"Sigh..."

With a soft sigh, Mu Gu Tian closed the book. ’The situation in Luofeng City is growing more and more pressing, and the pressure on the Mu Family is mounting. However, the ruins the Wang Family discovered a few days ago could be a turning point for us. But my Martial Artist Realm... aigh...’

"Patriarch! Patriarch!"

Just then, a maid came running over. Mu Gu Tian’s brow furrowed, and he snapped, "Such a hurry! Where are your manners!"

The maid’s face paled at his words. "Patriarch, this servant knows her mistake," she said hastily.

"Hmph. Just this once. Now speak, what is it?" Mu Gu Tian grunted.

The maid seemed to let out a sigh of relief. After catching her breath, she said, "Patriarch, Guard Captain Mu Lei has returned."

Mu Gu Tian sighed. "Have him come here."

"Yes, this servant will go at once." The maid hastily agreed and ran out. Watching her retreating figure, Mu Gu Tian shook his head with a bitter smile. He had long since given up hope that Mu Chen was still alive. But whether as the Patriarch or as a grandfather, he had every reason to find him. This persistence had lasted for three years. Three years ago, the Mu Family’s situation hadn’t been good, but they had at least been able to hold on. Now, three years later, the family was like a candle in the wind, on the verge of being extinguished. In his current state, Mu Gu Tian no longer had the luxury of diverting his attention to search for Mu Chen.