Chapter 271: Possession

In a drowsy haze, Qin Mu felt someone clambering onto him. His sleep had always been easily disturbed, and with a frustrated kick or two, he sent the intruder tumbling from the bed.

The other person, equally bewildered, scrambled back onto the bed, pulling the quilt with them, and burrowed into his embrace. Qin Mu, however, delivered another swift kick, sending them down again. In the end, the three girls huddled together, leaving him stranded on the side.

The preceding days had been exhausting, and both Qin Mu and Ling Yu Xiu slept deeply. It was only in the early morning of the following day that Qin Mu finally awoke. Ling Yu Xiu was snuggled close, her head tucked into his armpit. Qin Mu carefully and cautiously moved his arm, fearing he might disturb her.

In truth, Ling Yu Xiu was already awake. As a young lady, she was naturally a little shy and, fearing an awkward awakening, pretended to be asleep. She secretly opened her eyes and saw Qin Mu quietly tiptoeing out of the room, pinching his shoes in hand.

Once outside, Qin Mu exhaled a breath of relief. The two twin palace maids were already up, chatting in the courtyard. One complained, "Young Master Qin likes to throw punches in his sleep. He gave me a good kick. Look, my eye socket is swollen."

"Don't even talk about it!" the other chimed in. "I was kicked too, right on my chest, and sent tumbling off the bed. Were you... not taken advantage of?"

"Not at all. Only the princess and the young master slept together, and we were also on the bed, all under one large quilt. How are we supposed to report this?"

The two girls fell silent for a moment, then spoke in unison, "We won't say anything. The young master and the princess won't say anything either, so it's best we keep quiet!"

This concerned the dignity of the royal family. Speaking further might lead to their heads being separated from their bodies, a fact they understood perfectly.

Qin Mu pulled on his shoes and cleared his throat before stepping out.

The two palace maids hastily bowed in unison, saying, "Young Master, you're awake? We sisters were reckless yesterday. Thankfully, with the young master's care, we didn't perish under the Little Poison King's hand."

Qin Mu returned the bow, saying, "It was also fortunate that the two elder sisters were there. You injured the Little Poison King, making him dare not act further."

The two palace maids exchanged glances and laughed together. "Young Master, don't call us elder sisters. We serve the empress dowager and don't even have surnames, only names. I'm Jian Qi, and she's Qin Qi."

Seeing him studying them, trying to distinguish who was who, the two palace maids couldn't help but giggle. Qin Mu noticed their distinguishing features: Jian Qi had a small canine tooth on her left side, and Qin Qi had one on her right.

"Young Master, we didn't return all night and must report back to the palace early."

Qin Mu nodded. "You've had some rest, and the residual poison in your bodies has also dissipated. There are no major problems. I still have a few detoxifying pills here; take them first."

The two palace maids thanked him and took the pills. Just as they were about to leave, they heard Ling Yu Xiu's voice from the room, "Wait for me! I'll go back with you!"

The two girls stopped and turned back to see Ling Yu Xiu rushing out in a panic, her clothes dishevelled. She wore only white inner garments, her hair also a mess. She clutched her outer robe and dragged her shoes. When a shoe came off, she hastily lifted her foot to retrieve it, but her black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, completely unbound.

Ling Yu Xiu attempted to fix her hair, but her clutched outer robe slipped and fell, leaving her truly embarrassed.

Qin Mu looked at her and saw a pair of ample breasts threatening to spill from her clothing. The young man truly hesitated, unsure whether to remind her or step forward to help tuck them back in.

Jian Qi and Qin Qi exchanged glances, then walked forward, helping the princess back into the room to comb her hair and dress.

Ling Yu Xiu's face was flushed with shyness. She boldly and quietly asked, "Will I get pregnant?"

The two palace maids widened their eyes, surprised. "Princess, why would you say that?"

"I heard palace people say that when men and women sleep together, they get pregnant."

Ling Yu Xiu said seriously, "We slept for almost a day and a night; perhaps I'm already pregnant."

Jian Qi burst out laughing. "Princess, you're mistaken. It's not that kind of thing. Ah, I can't explain it clearly to you. The young master is a divine doctor; he surely has methods."

Ling Yu Xiu widened her eyes. "It can be like that?"

"Of course. I've heard that some noble madams who don't want to give birth find alchemists to prepare medicine, and they won't get pregnant."

Qin Mu sent the three girls away and noticed that the pear blossoms on the yellow pear tree were in full bloom, covering the branches.

"Spring has finally arrived."

The young man thought, "Once the first harvest matures, this year of disaster can finally be considered over."

He washed up and, finding himself alone save for Long Qi Lin, had no intention of cooking. He simply decided to go down the mountain for a meal. Just as he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw Ba Shan Si Jiu walking over, fully dressed, and declaring loudly, "I just saw the princess and two palace maids carrying lanterns down the mountain. Could they have come from your room?"

"Nonsense, senior brother, don't speak without basis."

Qin Mu's face didn't redden, nor did his heart pound. He said, "Senior brother, have you come to find me about Ban Gong Cuo? Have you eaten breakfast?"

Ba Shan Si Jiu's voice was always loud, no less so than Duke Wei's. If the matter of Ling Yu Xiu and the two palace maids having slept in Qin Mu's room for a night became known to him, the entire capital would soon hear of it.

For Qin Mu, his feelings arose and were checked by propriety; he hadn't done anything out of line. But for the rest of the world, it would be an extraordinary matter. The news of a princess sleeping with someone would surely lead to the emperor's decree of execution. Secrecy was paramount.

"I just ate at the foot of the mountain. I know you just returned from the palace and have been tired for so long, so you're probably still hungry. I brought you some food."

Ba Shan Si Jiu took out several oil paper packages and handed them to him. Qin Mu quickly thanked him. Opening one package, he saw a steamer of buns. Another contained meat from an unknown exotic beast, boiled in clear water and mixed with shredded scallions in a red sauce. The third contained pickled vegetables.

Qin Mu invited him into the room, and they sat down to eat.

Ba Shan Si Jiu watched him wolf down the food and sighed, "The emperor is truly stingy, not even providing you with good food when he sends you to treat illnesses. Right, Ban Gong Cuo's Six Harmonies Divine Treasure's wall is mostly broken."

"That fast?"

Qin Mu lifted his head, showing surprise.

Cultivating to the Six Harmonies realm meant becoming a divine ability user. For any cultivator, each realm required careful honing. Qin Mu, breaking through the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure wall in two years, was already considered very fast.

He had cultivated diligently in the Five Luminaries realm for nearly a year and was now on the verge of the Six Harmonies realm. But wanting to break through the Six Harmonies Divine Treasure wall, he still didn't know when he could succeed.

The last time they encountered Ban Gong Cuo, he was merely a fledgling in the Spirit Embryo realm. Now, only half a year later, Ban Gong Cuo's realm had already surpassed Qin Mu's, and he had become a divine ability user in the Six Harmonies realm!

This cultivation speed was absolutely abnormal, completely deserving of being called divine speed!

"This boy has something strange about him."

Ba Shan Si Jiu pinched a stem of pickled vegetable and put it in his mouth. "Imperial College's Six Harmonies Hall is the place where they teach about breaking through the Six Harmonies Divine Treasure wall. Scholars who have completed their cultivation in the Five Luminaries realm all go there to listen to lectures. Shen Wan Yun, Yue Qing Hong, Qin Yu, Yun Que, Fatty Wei, and some other prodigies have all gone. This Ban Gong Cuo is also there. Hong Fa Shi Tai of Six Harmonies Hall said his progress is extremely rapid, basically not needing any guidance from Shi Tai. Three days ago, he had just completed the Five Luminaries realm, and now he has already mostly broken through the wall. In just another two days, he will be a divine ability user in the Six Harmonies realm. Right, how far has your cultivation reached?"

"The Five Luminaries realm is basically complete."

Qin Mu ate a large mouthful of meat and said, "But I still have no clue about the Six Harmonies realm."

Ba Shan Si Jiu's gaze flickered. "Then you should go to Six Harmonies Hall. Hong Fa Shi Tai specializes in teaching this. I want to see who is stronger, you or Ban Gong Cuo."

Qin Mu didn't lift his head. "I feel there's no need. I, the Overlord Body..."

"I know, I know, you're the Overlord Body, nose in the air, an old cow full of arrogance."

Ba Shan Si Jiu laughed. "I had Wan Yun test him. Wan Yun was defeated in two moves in his hands."

Qin Mu finally lifted his head, surprised. "Two moves? Senior brother, are you sure he only used two moves to defeat Shen Wan Yun?"

Ba Shan Si Jiu nodded.

Qin Mu's face became solemn. Shen Wan Yun was indeed extraordinarily talented, an elite of the young generation. His talent and comprehension were only slightly inferior to those of the Buddha Son and Dao Zi, and his strength was also extremely high. When the Buddha Heart Buddha Son blocked the Imperial College mountain gate, Shen Wan Yun went to challenge him and was defeated after more than ten moves, which showed his strength.

His accumulation was very thick, and after receiving guidance from the Yan Kang National Teacher, he had almost no shortcomings.

After returning from the Southern Border, Qin Mu rarely saw him, only hearing that he spent most of his time in Tian Lu Tower, presumably cultivating the divine transformation state of the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure.

Shen Wan Yun, after cultivating the divine transformation state of the Five Luminaries Divine Treasure, even if not as good as the Buddha Heart Buddha Son, was not far behind.

To defeat Shen Wan Yun in only two moves... Qin Mu himself would find it difficult unless he used overbearing moves like Sword Tread Mountains and Rivers from the outset!

"A bit interesting."

Qin Mu finished eating, wiped his mouth, and laughed. "Wu Ke Han, you're always instigating me to go to Six Harmonies Hall to meet this Ban Gong Cuo. What exactly are your plans?"

Ba Shan Si Jiu said leisurely, "I want you to probe his details. I suspect he's possessed by a ghost. Moreover, the Overlord Body shouldn't be afraid, should it?"

"Possessed by a ghost?"

Qin Mu was slightly startled. He thought of the time when Butcher mentioned in Lou Lan Golden Palace that there was an old monster who had reincarnated eighteen times and lived nineteen lives. He lost his voice and said, "Your meaning is..."

Ba Shan Si Jiu nodded. "I suspect Ban Gong Cuo is no longer Ban Gong Cuo but has been possessed by an extremely fearsome old monster, a monster who has lived for ten thousand years. He is also Heavenly Knife Teacher's old enemy. It was precisely because of him that Master even abandoned his own name and dared not use his real name."

Qin Mu nodded. Ba Shan Si Jiu had told him this matter before. No one had ever told him Butcher's real name, not even Ba Shan, precisely because of that strong one in Lou Lan Golden Palace who had reincarnated eighteen times!

That was a fearsome existence. Knowing an enemy's name meant being able to directly cast spells to harm them.

"Shen Wan Yun couldn't probe his details, so I just want you to go to Six Harmonies Hall to meet him."

Ba Shan Si Jiu's gaze flickered. "Heavenly Knife Teacher's biggest enemy is him. If Ban Gong Cuo is indeed possessed by him, then killing Ban Gong Cuo can resolve a mortal enemy for Master. However, he is, after all, the son of the Man Di Country Khan. Without a certain grasp, I won't act rashly. Therefore, only you can go to probe his details."

He appeared rough, but his thoughts were very meticulous.

Qin Mu stood up and said, "I also just want to try breaking through the wall and rushing to the Six Harmonies realm. I'll go to Six Harmonies Hall..."

He said sheepishly, "Senior brother, which great hall is Six Harmonies Hall?"

Ba Shan Si Jiu almost spat blood. "You've been at Imperial College for almost a full year and you don't even know which is Six Harmonies Hall?"

Qin Mu said somewhat awkwardly, "I've been at Imperial College this long, but I've only listened to one class."

"I'll take you there!"

Ba Shan Si Jiu led him out of the scholars' residence. As the two walked side by side, Qin Mu suddenly remembered something and said, "Senior brother, have you heard of the Heavenly Saint Sect?"

————Second chapter update at eight o'clock!