Chapter 760: Where Righteousness Lies

"How could Mu Ping die?"

His mother still hadn't fully recovered, remaining grief-stricken by Aunt Ping'er's death and not quite registering what Qin Mu was saying.

Qin Mu had no idea what had happened during the time Mu Ping brought him from Youdu to the Great Ruins. Grandma Si and the others were also unaware, knowing only that the woman had been dead for a long time when she delivered Qin Mu to the riverbank. It was only her lingering obsession that compelled her to bring Qin Mu to a safe place.

Qin Mu saw her again in front of Misty River Pass, where she had become a female corpse in the water. Only after hearing Qin Mu tell her, "I've grown up, I've survived," did her obsession vanish. She then sank to the bottom of the river, completely free from all earthly ties.

From Youdu to the Great Ruins, Qin Mu was just a two or three-month-old infant with no memories. Although the journey wasn't incredibly long, there must have been an unknown struggle during that time, with someone attempting to abduct or kill Qin Mu in a place unseen by Earth Lord.

Unfortunately, Mu Ping could no longer recount the events of that period herself.

"Mother, I will personally find Aunt Ping'er's soul. No matter where her spirit is, I will bring her back." Qin Mu smiled, comforting his mother. "Your son now has some abilities and knows many people. Even if Aunt Ping'er's soul has scattered, or if it's been suppressed, I will definitely be able to rescue her. Mother, Brother is here too. He really wants to see you."

"Brother?" Consort Zhen looked at Qin Mu with some confusion and worry. Qin Mu smiled. "Yes, Brother. When we were born, he protected Mother in Youdu. I'll call him out."

Suddenly, Qin Mu's body became still, standing motionless.

"Feng Qing?" Consort Zhen grew anxious, calling out repeatedly, "Feng Qing! What's wrong?"

Within Qin Mu's continent, the Big-Headed Baby crossed his arms over his chest, turned his head to the side, and folded his chubby legs. "I'm not going! Mother is afraid of me!"

Qin Mu walked around to face him and smiled. "As the older brother, you still have a child's temper. Stop messing around. Haven't you wanted to see Mother again for a long time? This is a rare opportunity."

"No!" The Big-Headed Baby turned his head to the other side. "Mother likes you more, not me. I was picked up, and you're her real child! I'm not going!"

Crimson Emperor's thought said, "Alright, little fatty, if you don't want to go, then don't. But could you please get off me first? You've been suppressing me long enough!" He was pinned face down on the ground, with the Big-Headed Baby sitting on him.

Meanwhile, in the distance, the white-browed, white-bearded Celestial Venerable clone was peeking out from behind the Qin character mountain range.

Qin Mu laughed. "We are one, so why am I the real child and you the 'picked-up' one? Stop messing around, go see Mother. She's getting impatient. If you don't go, I'll go out myself."

The Big-Headed Baby hurriedly got up and rushed towards the outside, saying, "Fine, I'll go!"

Seeing him leave, Crimson Emperor's thought quickly got up and dusted himself off—though there was no actual dust, it was simply habit.

The Celestial Venerable clone on the other side hastily ran out, glanced at Qin Mu, and shook his head. "You're finished, you're finished. You let the great demon king out, you won't be able to reclaim your body! You're doomed, kid!"

Qin Mu smiled. "Celestial Venerable, that's my brother. We're inseparable..."

The white-bearded old man glared furiously, blowing his beard. "Don't you know that big-headed brat has gone bad? Who did he learn it from? He learned it from you, kid! After he goes out, he'll definitely seal you and trap all three of us in here!"

Qin Mu's expression subtly changed. "My brother wouldn't do that..."

Outside, Consort Zhen was feeling uneasy. Suddenly, Qin Mu exhaled a turbid breath, and his son's physical body began to crackle and expand, growing taller and larger. Yet, his age regressed, and he gradually transformed into a chubby, white-skinned boy before her eyes.

Qin Mu's clothes, a treasure refined by Yu Zhaoqing, expanded with his body, but on the big chubby boy, they looked comically baggy.

Consort Zhen was bewildered, staring blankly at her son's transformation, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Wait a moment, Mother!" The big chubby boy excitedly took off his two gluttony pouches, rummaging through them. Suddenly, his three eyes lit up. He pinched a willow leaf, slapped it onto his forehead with a "pop," and beamed, "Naughty little brother, you can't come out now!"

Within Qin Mu's continent, Qin Mu was attempting to fly out of this space and reclaim his body. Suddenly, the patterns of a willow leaf appeared in the sky, and the Great Buddha radiated light, its aura connecting with the willow leaf, sealing the heavens and earth.

Qin Mu was stunned. "My... brother..."

"You're finished!" The white-bearded old man furiously exclaimed, "You corrupted him, you're doomed, and so are we!"

Qin Mu blinked, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

Crimson Emperor mumbled, "I think it's fine, actually. At least that kid Qin Mu won't beat us up all the time."

"Mom! I'm back!" The Big-Headed Baby excitedly clapped his chubby hands towards Consort Zhen, wanting a hug, but realized his body was too big to embrace his mother. He quickly shrank himself.

Consort Zhen, disoriented, held the two or three-month-old infant. This baby was just like Qin Mu when she had put the jade pendant around his neck and sent him out of Youdu.

Yet, all of this seemed so absurd.

She wore a tender expression, feeling as though this moment was a blessing from heaven, a compensation that allowed her to witness her son's early years.

Just then, Left Attendant Minister and the others, who had gone fishing and frog-catching, returned, staring blankly at the infant in Consort Zhen's arms.

Seeing the fish and frogs they carried, the Big-Headed Baby became excited. He jumped from his mother's arms, moving his short legs and arms in unison, and rapidly crawled towards them.

"Yummy!" The baby grew larger and larger, grabbing the Left Attendant Minister. His mouth opened, half the size of the sky, ready to swallow the Left Attendant Minister along with the fish and frogs.

Outside, village women approached, carrying vegetables and fruit, and even a chicken-granny-dragon. They stared blankly at the scene.

"Cluck!" The chicken-granny-dragon fainted.

Just as the Left Attendant Minister was about to be swallowed, Consort Zhen's gentle voice came, "Feng Qing, you mustn't eat him."

The Big-Headed Baby hesitated, then reluctantly put the Left Attendant Minister down. He gave the petrified official a lingering look and chirped, "Twenty years, Uncle has grown so strong, his meat must be chewy and springy... Aunt Juan'er, hug me—"

He pounced into a village woman's arms. Aunt Juan'er held him stiffly, her body trembling.

The Big-Headed Baby secretly licked Aunt Juan'er's face, his eyes gleaming fiercely. Aunt Juan'er dared not move. Just then, the Big-Headed Baby felt his body lighten as Consort Zhen scooped him up and pulled him into her arms.

Qin Fengqing slyly blinked, looked at his mother, then put his thumb in his mouth, babbling and waving his short arms and legs.

Consort Zhen showed a loving expression, kissed his forehead, and smiled at the frozen crowd, "Our reunion as mother and son is a joyous occasion. Please go and prepare some food."

Although all of them were deities, they were still terrified of this little tyrant from Youdu and nervously went to prepare the meal.

Consort Zhen played with the infant in her arms, enjoying the happy reunion with her son.

Not long after, the food was ready, but no one dared to sit down to eat; they stood trembling to the side.

The Big-Headed Baby glanced at them, and everyone hastily sat down. The baby then smiled again.

Consort Zhen fed her son, and Qin Fengqing ate obediently, very happy. He said, "It doesn't have the taste of souls, so it's not very sweet, but it's delicious because Mother is feeding me."

After the meal, Consort Zhen held him, humming a soft lullaby to coax him to sleep. The Big-Headed Baby babbled and waved his limbs before eventually falling into a deep slumber.

Consort Zhen raised her hand and gently caressed her son's face, gazing at him in a daze.

After much hesitation, her finger still rested on the willow leaf covering his third eye.

Just then, the baby in her arms opened his dark, glistening eyes and looked up at her.

"Mother, don't take it off." The baby looked at her with wide eyes, a pleading expression on his face, pouting, and whimpering, "Please don't take it off. Feng Qing misses Mother, Mother please don't take it off..."

Consort Zhen swayed gently, humming a lullaby, "Feng Qing is Mother's good baby, no more fuss, time to sleep..."

"Mother, don't take it off..."

Consort Zhen removed the willow leaf. The baby closed his eyes, tears welling from the corners of his three eyes and tracing paths down his face. He turned his head away and whispered, "You don't like Feng Qing; you like little brother..."

Consort Zhen kissed him. "Mother loves you. I just don't want you to cause any more trouble. I only hope you can live well. You can't control yourself, but your brother can... Mother only wishes for both of you to live."

She picked up the baby and placed him on a small bed.

Qin Fengqing sighed and returned to Qin Mu's continent, feeling dejected.

His body gradually grew larger. A moment later, Qin Mu opened his eyes, got up from the bed, and knelt before Consort Zhen, resting his head gently on her lap.

Mother and son sat in silence.

Two days later, Consort Zhen urged, "Feng Qing, you must leave. This is not a place for you to stay long."

Qin Mu stood up, smiling. "Mother, I will return. Next time I come back, I will take you away from here so you can enjoy a better life outside."

Consort Zhen walked him to the village entrance. Qin Mu hesitated, then whispered, "I've seen Father. He's still alive."

Consort Zhen's body trembled. She shook her head. "You don't need to lie to me. With such severe injuries, he couldn't have survived..."

"Father is truly alive." Qin Mu's voice was firm and deep. "I've seen him. He's in Youdu, still on the same treasure ship that carried us. He's been searching for Mother. He became a tree man, and because of Zhenxing Sovereign, he swore an oath to Earth Lord that when he saw me, he would reveal the location of Wuyou Township to Zhenxing Sovereign. When I reunited with him, he didn't open his eyes to look at me... But he really is alive."

Consort Zhen was stunned.

"Mother, I want to know how to get to Wuyou Township." Qin Mu hesitated. "I want to see Founding Emperor."

Consort Zhen was silent. After a moment, she said, "Don't go back."

Qin Mu was taken aback. He raised his voice, "Why?"

Consort Zhen shook her head. "Don't go back! I forbid you to go back!"

Qin Mu stood there, stunned.

"Mother, stay here." At the village entrance, he turned, knelt to the ground, kowtowed three times, then rose and departed.

Consort Zhen watched him walk into the dark forest of steles. Qin Mu looked back and saw her still standing there.

Youdu Jade Lock Pass, Divine-Demon Great Camp.

Within the great camp, thousands of soldiers and horses stood in neat formation, exuding a chilling aura of solemnity. All eyes were fixed on the forest of karmic fire merit steles.

A moment later, Qin Mu emerged from the forest of steles. Amidst the clanking of weapons and the neighing of horses, Zhenhun's Left Envoy Mo Qimi galloped over, stopping some distance away, and bowed with cupped fists.

Qin Mu stopped and returned the salute. "I did not take Mother with me, so I have not inconvenienced the Left Envoy."

"Qin Fengqing, do you know what lies beyond the pass?" Zhenhun's Left Envoy asked solemnly.

Qin Mu shook his head.

Zhenhun's Left Envoy declared loudly, "Beyond Jade Lock Pass are your enemies: countless gods and demons, and numerous great powers from Youdu! Some are from the Celestial Heavens, possessing physical bodies, divine weapons, and immense magical powers. Others are primordial spirits of Empyrean and Emperor's Throne realm experts, whose cultivation pierced the heavens and earth in life, and who remain supreme overlords in death! Once you exit this pass, you will face a storm of blood and gore!"

Qin Mu bowed. "Thank you for the warning."

Zhenhun's Left Envoy smiled meaningfully. "Earth Lord has taken good care of you, and also of your mother. In return, shouldn't you do something?"

Qin Mu solemnly replied, "True courage for a gentleman lies in upholding righteousness, not bending to power, disregarding personal gain, valuing death over forsaking justice, and remaining unyielding!"

Zhenhun's Left Envoy's expression became solemn. He raised his hand and commanded, "Open the gate—"

The immensely heavy Youdu Jade Lock Pass, a mighty stronghold, creaked open.

"Righteous Qin, please enter—" Zhenhun's Left Envoy called out loudly, "Beat the drums! Sound the horns! Send off the righteous hero!"

Boom, boom, boom!

The drums thundered like thunder.

Toot, toot—

The horns blared, deep and resonant. Amidst the war drums and horn calls, Qin Mu walked out of the pass. Behind him, black steles stood like a forest, and karmic fire stretched boundlessly.