Chapter 383: Returning to Yu Prefecture

Chapter 383: Returning to Yu Prefecture

Time flows like a stream, fleeting and elusive.

Bamboo Pavilion.

"Brother?"

Chen Yue's figure appeared outside the house, calling out to the interior, but there was no response.

Her gaze hesitated slightly, and then, feeling a little flustered, she rushed into the house. Inside, she saw that the room was empty, with no one in sight. The bamboo bed and table were spotlessly clean, and there were no other belongings.

Staring at the empty bamboo house, Chen Yue stood there in a daze for a moment.

Had he left?

During his stay at Spirit Profound Peak, Chen Mu had mostly been cultivating, but in the past few days, he had been spending time with her, Xu Hongyu, and others, guiding their cultivation.

Chen Yue was an intelligent girl, and she knew that Chen Mu's departure was approaching. However, since Chen Mu didn't mention when he would leave, she didn't ask. Instead, she would come to look for him every day. At this moment, looking at the bamboo bed and table, she could almost see Chen Mu's gentle face, smiling faintly and calling out, "Yue'er is here."

Chen Yue stepped into the room.

She slowly caressed the empty bamboo table, and her reflection appeared on the clean and polished surface. Her black hair cascaded down, framing her charming face, which had lost its youthful innocence and gained a touch of wisdom.

In the southern part of Yu City, the girl who had relied on Chen Mu for survival in a humble house had now grown into a graceful and mature young woman. Her martial arts cultivation had reached the Five Viscera Realm, and she had become a formidable figure in this remote area.

Chen Yue walked past the table and sat down on Chen Mu's bed, gazing out the window in a daze.

Six years.

She had always remembered the day Chen Mu left Yu Prefecture, and it had been over six years since then.

After Chen Mu left Yu Prefecture, their meetings became fewer and partings more frequent. Even after she and Xu Hongyu moved to the capital of Jade Prefecture, Chen Mu still spent most of his time away.

She knew that Chen Mu's status and position had changed; he was now a prominent figure in Jade Prefecture and a highly respected senior member of a powerful sect. Therefore, she diligently cultivated, never slacking off, so as not to become a burden to Chen Mu. However, she still missed the days they spent together in Yu Prefecture.

Especially after Chen Mu's rise to prominence, their family no longer lacked food or clothing. When she went to the inner city of Yu Prefecture to practice martial arts, she eagerly awaited news from Chen Mu every day. She would send him letters, and he would visit her.

But those days were gone forever.

If possible, she wished they could be together as a family, living out their lives in a peaceful corner of the world. However, the world did not bend to her will, and this era was filled with chaos. No matter how remote the place, one could not escape conflict.

On her first trip with Chen Mu, leaving Yu City, she had asked him what the 'Jianghu' was. Chen Mu had replied that they were already in the Jianghu, living within it every moment. At the time, she had been confused, but now she understood the meaning of those words.

In the Jianghu, one's fate was not their own.

Chen Mu, blessed with exceptional talent, rose step by step to shake the world. However, this also meant that there was no turning back. Once he embarked on this path, he had to see it through to the end, especially after the battle at Ice Prefecture's Ground Abyss, which shocked the world. There was no going back after that.

As the youngest Grandmaster of Heaven and Earth, and the most promising candidate to dominate the world, even if he secluded himself at the ends of the earth, troubles would still find him. Even a powerful sect like the Seven Profound Sects could not guarantee peace. Therefore, Chen Mu had to leave, departing from the Seven Profound Sects and Jade Prefecture, to take that final step towards his ultimate goal.

Success would bring universal silence.

Failure would leave a mark in the annals of history.

At that moment,

Chen Yue's thoughts drifted, and as one of Chen Mu's closest companions, who had grown up with him, she felt a sense of unreality about the past decade. The Chen Mu she remembered from the first half of her memories was vastly different from the Chen Mu of the latter half, as if his illness had bestowed upon him a newfound spirituality.

She had once read about 'enlightenment' in a book, and perhaps it was during that time that the vast and unpredictable destiny fell upon Chen Mu, awakening his wisdom. From then on, he rose steadily, like a dragon soaring through the heavens.

Suddenly,

As Chen Yue's thoughts wandered, another figure entered the bamboo house.

"Yue'er?"

Xu Hongyu, seeing Chen Yue sitting on the bamboo bed, was slightly startled. Her gaze swept across the empty bamboo house, and she understood what had happened. Chen Mu had left quietly to avoid trouble.

"Sister Hongyu."

Chen Yue snapped out of her reverie and turned to Xu Hongyu. Although she should have been calling her 'Sister-in-Law' by now, old habits died hard, and she hadn't changed her address in years. Standing up from the bamboo bed, she asked softly, "Do you think Brother will be back soon?"

Xu Hongyu looked out the window, gazing at the distant, hazy mountains, and said,

"It might be a long time, ten years, or maybe twenty..."

Although she wasn't a grandmaster, she had already entered the Six Organs Realm. She knew how difficult it was to pass the barrier between Marrow Washing and Blood Transformation. Marrow Washing was known as the 'Ascension to Heaven Realm', indicating its extreme difficulty, while Blood Transformation was the 'Life and Death Realm', representing the challenge of overcoming life and death.

For ordinary grandmasters, the journey from Marrow Washing to Blood Transformation typically took at least twenty years. As the saying goes, the martial world is a vast and uncertain place, and twenty years can pass in the blink of an eye.

However, Chen Mu cultivated the Way of Heaven and Earth, and his talent and understanding were unparalleled in a millennium. Therefore, the time it would take was impossible to predict. It might be ten years, or perhaps twenty or thirty; no one could say for sure.

As she spoke,

Xu Hongyu gently caressed her belly. The coldness she once had was gone, and her eyes now held a hint of gentleness.

Chen Yue watched Xu Hongyu's actions, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She pursed her lips and turned her head again, looking out the bamboo window at the distant Seven Profound Mountains.

What would the world be like when Chen Mu returned?

...

In the hills,

A figure strolled leisurely.

He wore a simple, unadorned garment, and there were no belongings on his person. He appeared like an ordinary villager living a mundane life, but with each step, his figure vanished silently, traversing a hundred zhang with ease.

This figure was none other than Chen Mu.

In the world, countless eyes were focused on the Seven Profound Sects. He had stayed longer for Xu Hongyu, increasing the risks, and naturally, he didn't reveal his departure date. That night, he concealed his aura and followed the Earth Pulse of the Seven Profound Sects, disappearing into the distance.

He was not heading straight for the Outer Sea but instead moved southward, covering thousands of miles. Now, he had quietly entered the domain of Yu Prefecture, currently within Anyu County, on his way to the Prefecture City.

The journey to the Outer Sea was uncertain in duration.

In Yu Prefecture, there was someone he wanted to see before leaving, the old man Yu Jiujiang of the Yu Family.

Time had passed, and the cycle of life and death had turned. Although Yu Jiujiang was a Five Viscera Realm expert, he had long reached the end of his natural lifespan. If not for the emphasis on health preservation in the Kan Shui Lineage, he might have already passed away.

When Chen Mu's cultivation was still shallow, Yu Jiujiang had been very supportive of him. This journey to the Outer Sea was of unknown duration, and when he returned, Yu Jiujiang might already be gone. Therefore, before he left, he decided to visit him once more.

"Hmm?"

Wandering through the hills, Chen Mu took large strides, each step covering a great distance. However, as he passed a mountain range, he suddenly stopped, then took a step to the side and stood atop a rock, gazing into the distant forest.

In the distant forest, shouts and the sounds of battle echoed.

A group of people in official robes was engaged in combat with a group of bandits dressed in various attire. Both sides had dozens of people, and the battle was somewhat intense. The leader of the officials was a young man in his early twenties, possessing a considerable strength at the Sinew Transformation minor completion stage. The bandit leader was also at the Sinew Transformation stage.

The officials slightly outnumbered the bandits, but the bandits were slightly stronger. The bandit leader was fighting three opponents: the young official and two Deputy Commanders at the Perfect Muscle Training stage, yet he still held his ground.

Swish!

A flash of the blade, and one of the Deputy Commanders assisting the young official let out a cry, stumbling backward. His leather armor split open, revealing a long, bloody gash on his upper arm, blood gushing out.

The young official frowned.

The bandit leader, having injured one of his opponents, now exuded a fierce aura, grinning widely. "Officer Song, with your skills, you can't seem to do anything to me. You officials are just as weak. I'll spare your life today, but go back and practice your blade skills for another two years before you come after me again. If you keep fighting, you'll lose your life here!"

He Xuan stared at the young man, his eyes filled with killing intent, trying to force the young official to retreat.

He had been entrenched in the Wutong Mountains of Anyu County for many years and was well-versed in the people of Anyu County and Yu Prefecture. For instance, the young man before him was named Song Zhou, not only outstanding in martial talent but also with deep connections. Even though He Xuan was not afraid and believed he could injure or even kill Song Zhou, he did not dare to do so.

He knew very well that if he killed Song Zhou, he would face immense trouble, with no place to hide in the entire Yu Prefecture!

It was said that Song Zhou's family was originally an ordinary household in Anyu County, but somehow they had connections with a great figure from Yu Prefecture. Of course, this was just a rumor, and the truth was unknown. However, Song Zhou's sister, Song Miao, had married into the first family of Yu Prefecture, the Yu Family, making her a true relative of the Yu Family.

Putting aside the rumors, just the connection to the Yu Family was enough to make He Xuan unwilling to offend them to the death. Therefore, he always held back in his blade skills, intending to force Song Zhou and his men to retreat rather than fight to the bitter end.

Song Zhou kept defending with his blade, his brows furrowed.

This group led by He Xuan had been hiding in the Wutong Mountains, acting with great caution, and had never been caught despite their years of lawlessness. This time, it was a rare opportunity to finally track them down. If he let them go now, it would be hard to find them again. However, if he didn't let them go... He Xuan's strength was indeed stronger than expected.

According to intelligence, He Xuan was only at the minor completion stage of Sinew Transformation, but in reality, he was at the major completion stage, the Body Tempering stage. His blade skills were flawless, and he had mastered both the Light and Heavy Mountain Ranges techniques. It was indeed difficult for Song Zhou to defeat him, as he had only mastered the River-Cutting Blade Technique.

"..."

Seeing Song Zhou's hesitation, He Xuan's face darkened, and he coldly snorted. He swung his blade fiercely, forcing back another of Song Zhou's subordinates, then leaped forward, delivering three powerful strikes.

Clang! Clang! Clang!!

Song Zhou had no choice but to parry the three strikes. The last blow was as heavy as a mountain, causing his hands to go numb and his tiger's mouth to split open. He staggered backward, blood dripping down.

"Ha ha ha..."

Seeing this, He Xuan laughed maniacally, his face twisted with malice. "Still not running?"

Despite his grim expression, Song Zhou's eyes did not show any intention of retreating. However, the nearby officials, seeing Song Zhou at a disadvantage, were all shocked, their morale plummeting, while the bandits were greatly encouraged.

"He Boss's blade skills are not something you officials can match!"

"With your skills, you dare to fight us? If you don't run, you'll all die here!"

Some of the bandits even started to taunt loudly.

Song Zhou's face was grim, not because he was no match for He Xuan. He could at least hold his own for a while without being easily defeated. However, this was not a one-on-one fight but a battle involving dozens of people. The morale of the officials and bandits was fluctuating, and continuing the fight would result in uncontrollable casualties on the officials' side.

Just as Song Zhou saw the situation turning unfavorable and was about to order a retreat, his movements suddenly paused.

He was not the only one.

He Xuan, the officials, and the bandits all slowed their actions, their gazes shifting to a direction in the forest as if drawn by some unseen force.

There, Chen Mu's figure had appeared, clad in a simple hemp robe, standing under a locust tree. He seemed to have been watching for a while but was only noticed at this moment.

"Who?!"

He Xuan's pupils constricted, instantly pointing his blade at Chen Mu.

Despite the chaos around him, with his bandits and the officials in a fierce battle, the sudden appearance of an unknown person had not escaped his notice. This was clearly unusual, even though Chen Mu did not exude any martial blood energy and looked like an ordinary villager who had come to cut wood. He Xuan's heart instinctively grew wary.

Countless officials and bandits turned their gazes towards Chen Mu, their faces filled with bewilderment.

Only Song Zhou remained.

He stared at Chen Mu's face, momentarily stunned before his eyes revealed a hint of disbelief, and his face showed an uncontrollable excitement... How could it be him? How did he end up here?!

Chen Mu remained silent, standing there as a gentle breeze blew by, causing a dry leaf to fall from an ancient tree, landing beside him. Chen Mu casually raised his hand, gently pinching the leaf between two fingers, his gaze shifting to Song Zhou as he spoke in a calm tone:

"The essence of the River-Cutting Blade lies in its ability to sever and harness the power of water to benefit all things, not to attack. This blade technique, though belonging to the Gua Water Lineage, actually opposes its principles. Your practice is decent, but if you delve deeper into this path, you will only drift further from the Gua Water Intention."

As his words fell, Chen Mu casually flicked the leaf towards He Xuan, who was some distance away.

He Xuan, who had been pointing his blade at Chen Mu with utmost vigilance, now felt a sense of foreboding upon hearing Chen Mu's words. When he saw Chen Mu casually flick the leaf towards him, his entire body tensed as if facing a formidable enemy!

Oh no!

Even though there was almost no sense of power emanating from the leaf, He Xuan, with his many years of experience in the world of martial artists, had once witnessed a Five Viscera Realm expert's move, which was seamless and unfathomable.

Chen Mu's silent appearance, his assessment of the blade technique, and his casual gesture all made He Xuan's heart tremble. Despite it being just a leaf flying, he still retreated, not daring to take it head-on.

In that instant, the speed and agility he displayed were not even that of Sinew Transformation Perfection, but rather Muscle Training Perfection!

"This guy has been hiding his strength."

Song Zhou noticed He Xuan's movement, and his heart also felt a chill. No wonder He Xuan had been running rampant for so long without being brought to justice. The level of strength described in the intelligence reports was completely different from his actual level. If he were to fight with all his strength, he would definitely not be able to block three blades!

But in front of that person...

A thought rose in Song Zhou's mind, and the next moment, he saw the ordinary-looking leaf silently catch up to He Xuan. In an instant, it made He Xuan's entire body feel dizzy.

In his vision, it was as if a silver river was falling from the heavens, covering the world, and the leaf silently flew towards this river, bursting out a vast and boundless blade intent, indescribable in its grandeur.

Hiss!

A white silk thread appeared in his vision, and in an instant, the vast river was split in half!

As Song Zhou's vision returned to normal, he still saw the vast mountain forest, but He Xuan's figure, which had been leaping away, was now frozen in mid-air.

Then, a scene unfolded that would leave an indelible mark on everyone present.

In Song Zhou's vision, a silk thread appeared, slicing through the air, passing through He Xuan's leaping figure, and extending through the vast mountain forest until it reached the edge of his sight. Instantly, He Xuan's body, along with the ancient trees behind him, was split in half, as if a heavenly river had been cut in two!

All the officials stood frozen, witnessing this breathtaking scene, their faces showing a daze, feeling as if they were in a dream. Even the bandits seemed to be frozen in place.

"..."

Song Zhou's eyes were filled with awe. Initially, he wasn't entirely sure of Chen Mu's identity, as the Chen Mu of today looked quite different from the Chen Mu of years ago. Although his appearance hadn't changed much, his demeanor had matured significantly. Back then, upon meeting him, one could sense the aura of a great figure, and even his calm demeanor exuded a sense of authority.

However, the current Chen Mu seemed ordinary, appearing like a common villager, plain and unremarkable. This was in stark contrast to the countless legends he had heard over the years, and he no longer resembled the figure of legend. But with the leaf as a blade, demonstrating the River-Cutting Blade technique as if it could split the heavenly river, Song Zhou's doubts vanished.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the distance, He Xuan's upper body remained frozen in mid-air, his eyes wide with disbelief. After a brief pause, he finally fell, along with the countless ancient trees that had been cut in half.

Amidst the booming sounds, Song Zhou respectfully bowed to Chen Mu.

"Uncle."

"Is Miao'er doing well these days?" Chen Mu asked, his gaze still on Song Zhou, his tone calm.

Years ago, when he was in Anyu County, he had sought out the Song family as relatives. At that time, he had only made arrangements for the young Song Zhou and Song Miao's future, and had not taken further care of them. Now, upon seeing Song Zhou again, he was pleased to find that Song Zhou had reached the Sinew Transformation Realm in his cultivation.

"Thank you, Uncle, for your concern. My sister has married into the Yu family and is now living in the prefecture city, leading a happy life." Song Zhou replied respectfully.

Chen Mu couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia upon hearing Song Zhou's response. He remembered that when he had found the Song family in Anyu, Song Miao was only twelve or thirteen years old. In the blink of an eye, she was now eighteen or nineteen, married, and had given birth to a child. Time had passed by without him realizing it.

He and those close to him, Xu Hongyu and Chen Yue, all practiced martial arts. Even in their twenties or thirties, after shedding their youthful immaturity, they showed no signs of aging. If they didn't tie their hair up, they still looked like young girls. But for those who didn't practice martial arts, getting married at fifteen or sixteen was the norm. After all, in this world, living past fifty years old was considered a long life for ordinary people.

"That's good," Chen Mu responded with a slight sigh.

After saying this, he turned and left without saying much more. After a few steps, his figure silently disappeared into the dense forest, leaving behind Song Zhou, who was slightly disappointed at not being able to listen to more of Chen Mu's teachings, as well as the officials and bandits who remained frozen in place.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end