Chapter 1179: Reunion with an Old Friend

He was also injured, but even the Four Celestial Venerables couldn't stop him.

Qin Mu said, "He immediately returned to the Land of the Supreme Void to confront Celestial Venerable Huo and Celestial Venerable Xu, throwing the Heavenly Court into disarray."

King Tian Shu laughed through his tears, "That's just the kind of person he is! Not to mention four Celestial Venerables, even ten Celestial Venerables couldn't stop him! No one can stop him!"

Qin Mu stood up, patted his shoulder, and smiled, "But he needs you. He's waiting on the battlefield for his old veterans, for his old subordinates."

King Tian Shu leaned over his desk and wept, "I'm timid, just a coward. I could only drink to embolden myself, and my drinking caused problems. I even called him a coward who only dared to hide in Wuyou Township... In truth, I'm the real coward..."

Qin Mu walked out of the tavern and said to Godly Being Chi Xiu, "Let's go."

Godly Being Chi Xiu glanced at him and led him further on.

They arrived at the Qin King's Palace. Its gates were tightly shut, guarded by two green-faced, fanged Ghost Kings.

Godly Being Chi Xiu knocked on the door and said, "King Yama, Celestial Venerable Mu has arrived."

The sound of something overturning came from inside the palace, followed by King Yama's voice, "I'm not here... Oh, fine, let him in... Wait a moment, I'll greet him myself."

The palace gates opened. King Yama, dressed in stark black, was shrouded beneath a dark cloak, his face unseen.

"Celestial Venerable Mu..." Though his expression was hidden, the emotion in his voice was very complex.

Qin Mu stepped into the Qin King's Palace, looked around, and chuckled, "King Yama, you're still as austere as ever. There's not a single treasure here worth looking at."

King Yama was silent for a moment, then said, "During the calamity of Eternal Peace..."

Qin Mu interrupted him, "The calamity of Eternal Peace has passed. I won't live in the past. The people of Eternal Peace survived the tribulation and are living well now."

King Yama said hoarsely, "You saved Eternal Peace, but you paid a great price."

Qin Mu turned around and smiled, "I'm doing very well now, and I've come further than I did before the Eternal Peace calamity. It was a blessing in disguise."

"You endured many hardships."

"I am stronger, more robust than before, and my Dao heart is more stable, never wavering."

King Yama said, "You single-handedly bore the fate of Eternal Peace..."

"No!"

Qin Mu chuckled, "It was all the people of Eternal Peace who collectively bore the fate of Eternal Peace. I couldn't carry it alone, but everyone carried it together, and so we managed to overcome the crisis of survival. It was the same in the Kaihuang era. The remnants of Kaihuang should no longer be scattered."

King Yama fell silent.

Qin Mu walked around the Qin King's Palace, then smiled, "This place of yours is too quiet and somewhat mournful, like a little resentful concubine banished to the cold palace. Even you've become gloomy; it doesn't suit me. I'll go see the others."

He stepped out, leisurely saying, "A young man with white hair, filled with grand but empty aspirations; how can an old warhorse, tethered, lament with a long, sorrowful cry?"

King Yama watched him leave the Qin King's Palace, then lowered his head and pushed back his cloak, revealing a full head of silver hair, though his face was still that of a youth.

His gaze was cold and somber, yet flames flickered in his pupils.

"Celestial Master Fisherman should be fishing by the River of Oblivion."

Godly Being Chi Xiu continued to lead Qin Mu forward, saying, "The mountain gorge there is steep, but unfortunately, there are no fish. Beneath the River of Oblivion, only lonely spirits and wild ghosts wander in the water."

Before long, Qin Mu saw Celestial Master Fisherman. The old man sat on a small stool, a fishing basket beside him. Two small red fish had their fins resting on the basket, looking around curiously.

Seeing Qin Mu approach, the two small red fish quickly shrank back into the basket. The male fish even grabbed the lid and carefully closed it, so as not to disturb Qin Mu, whispering, "Grandpa will be beaten half to death..."

"Nonsense! I think it'll be full death, the kind where you're completely dead!"

"Shh, quiet."

Qin Mu came up behind Celestial Master Fisherman. The Celestial Master's body stiffened, and his fishing rod trembled.

Qin Mu chuckled, "Celestial Master, your Dao heart is unstable. Be careful, the fish might get away."

Celestial Master Fisherman grunted, stood up, reeled in his fishing rod, removed his bamboo hat, and turned around. "It's one cut whether I stick my neck out or pull it back. Are you here to beat me or scold me?"

Qin Mu asked, surprised, "Why do you say that?"

Celestial Master Fisherman sighed, "During the calamity of Eternal Peace, when you needed us most, we ran away. I failed you. Whether you beat me or scold me, I will neither retaliate nor argue."

From the fishing basket, the two small red fish peeked out through the gaps. The female fish whispered, "If they start fighting later, should we try to stop them?"

"No."

"Will he turn into braised fish?"

Qin Mu raised his fist and thumped Celestial Master Fisherman's chest, saying, "Let's just let this matter go. The calamity of Eternal Peace is a scar on my Dao heart. Coming to Fengdu, each of you tries to reopen my wound. My heart is also made of flesh; it hurts a lot. Don't mention it again."

Celestial Master Fisherman stared at him blankly, "You... Alright, I won't mention it again."

Qin Mu smiled and said, "I came this time for two reasons: first, to see you all, and second, to find King Di Yiyue and borrow her Netherworld Heavenly Gate to counter Yin Tianzi's divine abilities. Celestial Master, do you know where she is?"

Celestial Master Fisherman tentatively asked, "Aren't you going to see the others? For example, Old Man Qinghuang, or King Di Shitian, and the Woodcutter?"

Qin Mu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "I will go see them."

He took his leave. Godly Being Chi Xiu led him to the village where Celestial Master Wu Dou lived, next to the Dou Niu Realm. Celestial Master Wu Dou had even moved his rice paddies and large willow trees into Fengdu.

Under the willow tree, Niu Sanduo was noisily smoking a water pipe. Seeing Qin Mu arrive, he hastily stood up, looking somewhat flustered.

Qin Mu walked up to him and smiled, "Senior Brother Sanduo, are you well?"

"Well, well!"

Niu Sanduo hastily said, "During the calamity of Eternal Peace..."

Qin Mu raised a hand and smiled, "No need to mention it again."

Niu Sanduo could only swallow his words, saying, "Master doesn't know you're here yet. If he did, he'd surely be too ashamed to show his face."

Qin Mu smiled faintly, "Celestial Master Wu Dou's martial Dao reaches the divine, so he naturally possesses immense divine abilities. How could he not know about my arrival in Fengdu? He might hide for a moment, but after hiding, he'll still come to his senses and come out to see me."

Just then, Celestial Master Wu Dou's voice, clear as rinsing tea, came from behind him, saying, "When I heard you arrived, I did hide. But after thinking it over, I decided I still had to come out and see you. I have wronged you. If I continued to hide, it would be even more unbecoming."

Qin Mu turned around and smiled, "Celestial Master..."

Suddenly, Celestial Master Wu Dou dropped to his knees and repeatedly kowtowed to him with loud thuds, creating a large crater in the ground!

"I have always considered myself to stand upright and act justly, with no regrets in my heart before heaven and earth! But this matter of the Eternal Peace calamity, I can never get past it in my mind!"

Qin Mu was about to help him up, but Celestial Master Wu Dou's cultivation was so profound that he held Qin Mu down, making him accept his kowtows, and said in a deep voice, "The people of the Dou Niu Realm are descendants of soldiers who died in battle during the Kaihuang era. Their divine bridges were erased, and generation after generation couldn't escape death. You saved them, yet I abandoned you when you suffered! This was not the act of a gentleman, but of a petty person!"

Qin Mu could only allow it.

If he were to stop him from atoning, it would become an impediment to his martial Dao heart.