Chapter 82: Qin Mu's Qin

Early the next morning, Ling Yuxiu arrived at the inn to find Qin Mu and bid him farewell.

As before, she used the hair by her temples to make her face appear thinner. She sat opposite Qin Mu, ordered a pot of clear tea, her eyes bright, and said, "The Great Ruins is a place of poverty, not somewhere to stay long. The world you see here is merely a remote and desolate land. Only by leaving the Great Ruins can you truly see the vastness of the outside world. Outside, magic and divine arts are advancing rapidly. The Imperial Preceptor and Emperor of Yankang have the ambition and ability to usher in a new era. The divine arts of Yankang are currently undergoing a major revolution! You have courage and potential, and I don't want you to waste your entire life in this backwater. Though I am a woman, I also wish to achieve great things. If you're willing to leave with me, we can depart today."

Qin Mu was taken aback. Should he follow this girl to Yankang?

He did want to leave the Great Ruins and gain experience in the outside world. The Great Ruins was too dangerous; he currently lacked the strength to explore it. Even someone like the Village Chief had not traversed the entirety of the Great Ruins.

What he needed now was more experience.

People from outside the Great Ruins came here for training, but he wanted to train outside. Ling Yuxiu's invitation was very tempting to him.

Although the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang greatly desired to rule and occupy the Great Ruins, Qin Mu harbored no ill will towards him. On the contrary, he greatly admired the Imperial Preceptor.

The Imperial Preceptor's ability to bring about such significant reforms, incorporate other sects, jointly create ultimate techniques, and advance magic and divine arts, demonstrated a breadth of vision and talent that was truly admirable.

He wanted to go outside and witness the new era created by such an extraordinary person, and the new ultimate techniques they had pioneered.

"Where do you live?" Qin Mu asked.

"The capital," Ling Yuxiu replied.

The young man thought for a moment and smiled, saying, "I will certainly go to the capital of Yankang. You go back to the capital first, and I will find you when I arrive."

Ling Yuxiu frowned. "You're not coming with me?"

Qin Mu rubbed his head. "My guardians have strict rules. I must pass their tests before I can leave home. I have nine guardians, and I need to pass nine trials before they'll allow me to go out and gain experience."

Ling Yuxiu was astonished. "With your abilities, you can't pass their tests?"

She found it unbelievable. Qin Mu, wielding a blade, had astonishingly cut down Fu Tingyue with a single strike. Fu Tingyue was known as the top martial artist in Xianglong City. While being 'first' in Xianglong City might not mean much in Yankang, Qin Mu's strength was already exceptional within the Spirit Embryo realm. In her opinion, making it into the top ten was absolutely no problem.

Yet, abilities like that couldn't pass his guardians' tests?

"My family's rules are quite strict."

Qin Mu said, a little ashamed, "I need to pass nine trials to be considered an adult, but I haven't passed a single one yet."

"Alright then, I'll wait for you in the capital. Oh, and there are watchful mirrors guarding Yanbian. You'll need to be careful if you pass through there."

Ling Yuxiu stood up, about to leave, but suddenly stopped, a playful smile on her face. "I gave you a scented handkerchief, aren't you going to give me something in return?"

Qin Mu quickly rummaged through his belongings, but couldn't find anything suitable to give. After a moment's thought, he unstrapped the large iron hammer from his back and offered it to her.

Ling Yuxiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, biting her red lip. "You're giving a girl a large iron hammer?"

Qin Mu scratched his head, took out his pig-slaughtering knife, then his bamboo staff, brush and ink, and a pouch of dragon coins. He stammered, "Pick something you like..."

"Never mind, never mind. The large iron hammer will do."

Ling Yuxiu, feeling exasperated, carried the large iron hammer and walked out of the inn. Outside the inn, many divine arts practitioners stood guard on either side of the entrance. Qin Feiyue stood there, holding a fine horse. Seeing Ling Yuxiu emerge, he glanced at the hammer in her hand with surprise and a hint of doubt, but found it inconvenient to ask further. He quickly said, "The longboat is ready. Please, Seventh Young Master... Seventh Princess, mount your horse!"

Ling Yuxiu swung herself onto the horse. She winked and stuck out her tongue at the dumbfounded Qin Mu inside the inn.

Qin Mu stared blankly, stammering, "You, you..."

"I am the 'chubby Seventh Young Master' you spoke of! Cowherd, we'll meet again in the capital!"

Ling Yuxiu giggled, her voice like a clear bell. Holding the large iron hammer in one hand and flicking her riding crop with the other, she rode away.

Qin Mu stood there, stunned, clutching the scented handkerchief, speechless. Qin Feiyue waved, signaling the Yankang divine arts practitioners to quickly follow Ling Yuxiu. He glanced into the inn, then walked inside and sat down in front of Qin Mu. He looked directly at Qin Mu, his eyes sharp and clear, and asked, "Your surname is Qin?"

Qin Mu composed himself, suppressing the shock of discovering Ling Yuxiu was the 'chubby Seventh Young Master.' He nodded and said, "General, your surname is also Qin. I've heard others call you Young General Qin."

"The world is vast; there are many people named Qin."

Qin Feiyue poured himself some tea and said indifferently, "Some people are born with humble destinies, originating from poverty. Others are born with noble destinies, from wealth. The surname Qin means nothing. Though your surname is Qin, you are a castaway, a lowly commoner from the Great Ruins. Young man, don't harbor excessive delusions; you're not in a position to climb higher." With that, he drained his tea, left a gold ingot, and turned to walk out of the inn.

"Young General Qin," Qin Mu said, "I don't understand what you're talking about."

Qin Mu stood up and also walked out of the inn. The innkeeper quickly came out, bowing respectfully. "Is Young Master leaving now?"

Qin Feiyue paused slightly, initially thinking the innkeeper was addressing him. To his surprise, the innkeeper was bowing to Qin Mu.

"No need for such formality in front of outsiders," Qin Mu said.

Qin Mu waved his hand and looked around. The grand Xianglong City, with its towering buildings, was bustling and prosperous.

This was his city!

He walked towards the City Lord's Manor. When he reached the entrance of a gambling house, a group of burly men bowed and said, "Young Master!"

He passed a brothel, where the madam and her girls bowed, saying in unison, "Young Master!"

He passed bookshops, flower markets, vegetable markets, butcher shops, taverns, antique stores, pottery shops, pharmacies, blacksmiths, and weapon shops. Figures emerged from each, bowing to him.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master!"

"Young Master!"

...

Qin Feiyue frowned, watching Qin Mu walk all the way to the City Lord's Manor in Xianglong City. The gates of the manor opened, and Fu Yundi, the City Lord of Xianglong, stepped out with a hearty laugh to greet him. He instructed those beside him, "You blind fools, why aren't you greeting Young Master?"

The divine arts practitioners guarding the gate quickly bowed, their voices booming, "Young Master!"

"From now on, this entire city belongs to us!" Fu Yundi exclaimed with a laugh, and walked into the City Lord's Manor with Qin Mu.

Qin Feiyue frowned deeply, bewildered by what was happening. He couldn't understand why Fu Yundi would be laughing and chatting so casually with the murderer of his son, as if Fu Tingyue wasn't his son, but Qin Mu was.

He also had no idea how Qin Mu had managed to gain such strong backing from Fu Yundi.

"A mere bumpkin, only fit to be a king in the marketplace, never to enter the imperial court," he muttered.

He turned to leave. As he reached the city gate, his body suddenly trembled slightly. He had realized the crucial point. He turned back, looking in disbelief at the City Lord's Manor at the end of the main street.

"Heavenly Devil Creation Art! The Matriarch!"

He composed himself and turned to leave. "Fu Yundi is dead, flayed. The Fu Yundi in the city is the Matriarch of the Heavenly Devil Cult! Xianglong City has changed hands. It's likely that all of Fu Yundi's divine arts practitioners have been replaced with those from the Heavenly Devil Cult. The entire city is filled with people from the Heavenly Devil Cult! Fortunately, the Imperial Preceptor was blocked by that large ship, otherwise..."

He couldn't help but shiver. The Matriarch, wearing Fu Yundi's skin, if the entire Yankang army were to enter the city, and she and her accomplices caused trouble, they could simply destroy Xianglong City's dragon pillars, and wipe out the Yankang army in one fell swoop, causing Yankang to suffer immense losses, perhaps even a complete collapse!

He looked back at Xianglong City. It had already changed hands. It was no longer a place where he or Yankang could exert influence.

This city now bore the surname Qin. Though it was the same surname, it was Qin Mu's Qin, not his Qin.