Chapter 181: Turmoil
Chapter 181: Turmoil
On the Bitter Boat.
The numerous villagers were also surprised by the passing members of the Heavenly Sword Sect, whispering amongst themselves.
"Who are those people? Are they also in trouble, with so many people on a single log..."
"What are you looking at? Those are clearly skilled martial artists. For so many people to stand on such a thin log, they must be of significant background, but they're probably not from the county government."
Someone secretly glanced at Chen Mu's back.
If they were officials from the county government, they would have greeted Chen Mu, and wouldn't have just passed by without acknowledging each other.
"Shh, I heard my father-in-law's distant nephew's fourth uncle mention that many martial arts sects from the stories have arrived in Jingyu County. Those people earlier, I think they were from... that's right, Blood Concealment Tower!"
"I've heard about them too, but I don't think you're right. They don't seem like that."
Several villagers whispered among themselves, keeping their heads low.
Chen Mu paid no heed to the villagers' discussions behind him until the log carrying the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples completely disappeared into the distance. Only then did he glance in that direction.
"Heavenly Sword Sect..."
He shook his head slightly.
He couldn't identify the other disciples at a glance, but Gu Hong was someone he could recognize instantly. Standing at five feet tall, he was relatively short, but he cultivated the Heart Sword Concept and had even encountered Chen Mu once in the streets.
However, at that time, Chen Mu had just entered the Bone Forging Realm, and his concept hadn't reached the second step. The gap between them was like a chasm, but now, facing Gu Hong, a true disciple of a major sect, Chen Mu remained calm.
Just then, he faintly sensed a sword intent probing across the river, but he didn't pay it any mind.
He had to carefully control this boat and ensure the safety of the over a hundred villagers on board. If he left the boat, it would immediately capsize and sink in the raging floodwaters, leaving him no time to deal with the Heavenly Sword Sect.
If the other party saw him alone and had malicious intentions, he would probably just retreat with a single strike and then focus on getting the villagers to safety.
However, the group from the Heavenly Sword Sect didn't make any further moves against him.
As long as they didn't cause trouble, Chen Mu didn't plan to pay them much attention. Although these sect disciples were here for the treasures of the earth's pulse, they would also eliminate some monsters while traveling on the river, which was slightly helpful.
"Yu Prefecture has two rivers and six tributaries, and all six rivers are actually branches of the two main rivers. Gu Hong from the Heavenly Sword Sect came to the Qingping River side, but I wonder where the other sect members went."
Chen Mu muttered to himself.
As long as the Harmony Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect didn't cause trouble, there was no need to pay them any mind. Regarding Blood Concealment Tower, Chen Mu still remembered the assassination attempt, but he couldn't settle the score with them at this moment. However, in his eyes, such a disruptive and destructive demonic sect shouldn't exist.
As for the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion, the conflict had already begun, and whether he paid attention or not didn't matter.
It seemed like He Wuyou's last strike was aimed at him, but in reality, the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion had targeted him twice, and their true objective was Yan Jingqing and the Seven Mysteries Sect behind him.
Currently, in Yu Prefecture, the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion was in direct conflict with the Seven Mysteries Sect, while the stance of the other sects was temporarily unclear.
Chen Mu didn't have many thoughts about this. It was simply a matter of facing challenges as they came.
Even Meng Danyun wasn't afraid of the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion, so how could Chen Mu be intimidated? With his current strength, it wasn't easy to assassinate him unless it involved schemes and ambushes. Among those in the Six Viscera Realm and above, he was no weaker than those in the Five Organ Realm. Even if besieged by many experts like Cheng Houhua, as long as his retreat wasn't blocked, he could still escape.
With his control over wind and thunder, not only those in the Five Organ Realm, but also those in the Six Viscera Realm, would find it challenging to catch up to him.
Ordinary people should have a reverent heart towards the vast heavens and earth.
However, one should respect the vast universe and fear the infinite cosmos!
Knowing one's insignificance, one should remain humble, calm, and composed, neither arrogant nor timid, and advance step by step along the martial path until reaching the highest echelon, thus embodying the demeanor of a Grand Master!
Of course, in the current Yu Prefecture, Chen Mu might be considered a notable figure. However, in the broader world, the term 'Grand Master' was usually reserved for those in the seventh realm, the 'Bone Washing' realm and above.
Finally,
Amidst the rolling floodwaters, the boat surged through the waves and reached the high shore that hadn't been submerged.
The numerous villagers rose from the boat and climbed onto the shore one after another. Once they had solid ground beneath their feet, some of them, including the elderly in their sixties like Zhao Laohan, couldn't contain their emotions. They knelt repeatedly bowed towards Chen Mu, who still stood at the boat's head, stabilizing the entire vessel. Some even wept with joy, having escaped death.
Chen Mu didn't stop the villagers' actions.
As the Director of the Inspector Bureau, even commoners and officials three ranks below him were required to kneel in his presence. Moreover, they owed him their lives, deserving such grand gratitude. If he didn't accept this courtesy, it might cause the villagers to overthink.
After the villagers expressed their gratitude, Chen Mu didn't immediately leave. Instead, he released another signal arrow, and soon, a team from the Inspector Bureau arrived.
"These are the villagers affected by the flood, and it's up to you to settle them. There are still hundreds of people in the flooded area, and I'll have to make a few more trips. Leave a few people here to keep watch. I'll stick to this route."
Chen Mu instructed the Inspector Bureau officials with a few words.
The numerous officials from the Inspector Bureau were all surprised. They never expected there to be survivors in the flood, let alone the chance for these people to be rescued, and even less so by Chen Mu, a prestigious Inspector General himself.
For a moment, the officials of the Inspector Bureau responded in unison, their eyes simultaneously falling on the muddy villagers. In their hearts, they couldn't help but secretly marvel at the good fortune of these people, who had encountered such timely luck.
Given Chen Mu's status, the lives of over a thousand villagers were not a significant matter. There was no need for him to personally rescue them, especially since everyone knew how perilous it was to save people in a flood. Perhaps only Chen Mu, the Inspector General, could rescue over a hundred people at once.
If any other Inspector General were here, they would likely abandon the rescue mission, even if they knew there were still villagers in need.
Soon, as Chen Mu departed once more in his boat, disappearing into the vast floodwaters, one of the Inspector Bureau officials turned to the villagers and scoffed, "Alright, follow us. You lot are truly blessed by your ancestors, to be saved by such a high-ranking official. Do you know who he is? In the entire Jingyu County, there are only a few who dare to defy him!"
Hearing the official's words, the villagers were even more shaken. They didn't quite understand the rank of an Inspector General, and they couldn't compare it to the county magistrate. But with the official's explanation, they realized that Chen Mu's status was far superior to the local elders.
Zhao Laohan, the old man, stood in a daze, then couldn't help but take a breath and pat his granddaughter's shoulder tremblingly, saying, "Hong'er, you must always remember the kindness of that official."
A little girl stood by his side, nodding in understanding.
The Inspector Bureau official shook his head at this scene, thinking to himself that Chen Mu was a figure of great importance, and there was no need for these commoners to remember him. Without saying a word, he quickly organized the group, leading them towards the county government while checking the names on the list, still not daring to neglect Chen Mu's orders.
...
On the Qingping River.
At a certain spot.
The swift current suddenly erupted, and a figure leaped out of the water, landing on the shore. It was Meng Danyu, a direct disciple of Ling Xuanfeng from the Spirit Profound Peak.
Just as she was about to reach the shore, the air around the shore rippled, and a short sword silently appeared, emitting a fierce killing intent as it slashed towards her.
"Hmm!"
Meng Danyu coldly hummed, showing no fear. With a wave of her sword, a whirlwind roared, wrapping around two streams of water and transforming them into water blades that crisscrossed and slashed towards the short sword, forcing its owner to reveal themselves.
It was a figure in black, wearing a blood mask, from the Blood Concealment Tower.
At this moment.
The attack was ineffective, and the Blood Concealment Tower figure immediately vanished into the shadows, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Meng Danyu coldly observed the Blood Concealment Tower assassin, then turned her gaze towards the distance, saying, "Hua Nongyue from the Hua Nong Sect, you're hiding over there. What's the purpose of your visit?"
From the nearby forest, not yet submerged by the flood, came the sound of silver bells laughing.
"I just happened to pass by. Don't misunderstand, Meng Shijie. During this flood disaster, you have the advantage of heaven and earth. Even with that, Ling Ling from the Blood Concealment Tower couldn't do anything to you, and I couldn't conceal my presence either."
As her words fell, she seemed to be getting farther and farther away, and by the time her last word was spoken, she seemed to be at the edge of the sky.
Meng Danyu focused on the direction of the forest, then gradually withdrew her gaze and looked towards the rolling river. Taking a step forward, she stood directly on the water's surface, her body floating above it without sinking. She then continued to stride along the river's surface.
Indeed, the flood disaster was one of the most suitable environments for her.
With the Whistling Wind Intention and the Water Hexagram Perception, she now had the perception of 'Mosquito Landing' as well. At this moment, even the true disciples from the Blood Concealment Tower couldn't hide near her.
As for her own strength, she was already formidable, and with the advantage of heaven and earth, she had no fear facing true disciples like Hua Nongyue.
"I didn't expect to encounter a flood disaster. Perhaps this is my opportunity."
Meng Danyu thought to herself.
After handling the Purple Mist Mountain incident, she had planned to return, but she hadn't expected to encounter the flood. Her perception in the flood was sharper than ordinary people, giving her a significant advantage in searching for earth pulse treasures.
However, this also attracted the envy of other sects' true disciples. The true disciple from the Blood Concealment Tower earlier seemed to be attempting an assassination, but it was more of a test to gauge her strength and see if they could take the earth pulse treasures from her. Of course, if her strength was insufficient, a real assassination attempt would be normal.
In any case, since she had encountered the flood, she intended to search thoroughly.
Speaking of which, according to Yan Jingqing, Chen Mu seemed to be in the Qingping River Basin as well. If she found any earth pulse treasures that were difficult to carry, she could go to Chen Mu for help, but thinking about it, she shook her head. It was best not to involve Chen Mu, as all the sects were currently in action, and the situation was dangerous and chaotic. She herself had to be cautious.
(End)
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