After a few faint sounds of explosions from the direction of Peng Yue Mountain, a streak of emerald green light flew over from the horizon.
Song Wujie landed in the camp, sitting in front of the bonfire with a strange look on his face.
He didn’t pay any attention to the others and just frowned, muttering a series of “shouldn’t be,” “impossible,” “this isn’t the Qing Liu I know,” and the like.
Chen Mu didn’t dare to ask for details.
Seeing this behavior, it was clear that Director Song didn’t win in the fight he picked.
Asking now would be rubbing salt in the wound, wouldn’t it?
What if he decided not to repay the debt?
Resting for one day, Song Wujie flew back to Peng Yue Mountain for another fight.
After returning again, his face still bore that peculiar, disbelieving look.
Chen Mu, on the other hand, wasn’t worried anymore.
Even though Director Song couldn’t beat the snow demon Qing Liu, at least he could save his own life.
As long as the creditor was alive and well, Chen Mu would just let him be.
He only activated the Seven Souls Return to Origin every night, carefully observing his surroundings, afraid of being deceived again.
The Wu siblings didn’t complain at all. In fact, they were quite cooperative.
They too were scared by the experience of falling into the Illusion Realm before.
…
Two days later.
Director Song seemed to have found a solution.
Taking the Cold Moon Toad, which had always been hiding underground sleeping, he set out for Peng Yue Mountain.
Before long, they heard resonant croaking sounds.
His plan was very effective.
By that afternoon, more than a dozen people had arrived at Low Mountain.
All wore gray, with short tunics and gaunt faces.
Chen Mu didn’t recognize them. But from their attire and appearance, he could tell they were disciples who worked the fields in the Lower Courtyard.
“I heard they’re all disciples from the foot of the mountain.”
In the evening, by the bonfire, Wu Ruo shared the information she gathered.
“Because they were short on resources, they didn’t go to the daoist hall.”
Because they were far from Cold Moon Pond, were they the first to break free from the Illusion Realm due to less influence?
Chen Mu understood in his mind.
…
In the following days, accompanied by the thunderous croaking sounds, more people gradually arrived near Low Mountain.
They even saw Shang Huan and Old Hao.
They appeared together with Mo Wuzhou.
“Chen Mu, you’ve escaped too, how wonderful!” Old Hao had grown much thinner, his eyes bloodshot with excitement as he looked at Chen Mu.
“Fortunately, I escaped.” Chen Mu also looked moved.
He had thought he wouldn’t see his old neighbor again.
“It’s thanks to Xiao Mo,” Old Hao said with relief. “He’s the one who spotted the problem and saved us. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have lasted until Director Song took action; we would have already perished on Peng Yue Mountain.”
Chen Mu couldn’t help but look towards Mo Wuzhou, who wasn’t far away.
Around him were dozens of Lower Courtyard disciples, all of whom had been saved by him.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but admire him.
To be able to preserve oneself and save so many others within the snow demon’s Illusion Realm truly required some skill.
Looking at those around him, who all regarded Mo Wuzhou with a gaze full of respect, following his lead unquestionably.
Chen Mu raised an eyebrow.
“No wonder he’s been the number one talent of the Lower Courtyard for decades, a real main character indeed.”
…
In the evening, clusters of bonfires were kindled on the waist of Low Mountain.
The campsite beside the pond expanded once and then again, with seventy to eighty people around the pond.
Chen Mu gave up his original spot to Song Wujie.
Mo Wuzhou and several other escaped Lower Courtyard Prefects also gathered there.
After all, Chen Mu was an introverted person by nature, not accustomed to staying with too many strangers.
So he found a spot on the edge near South Mountain to set up camp.
Unnoticed, he was at ease.
In front of the bonfire, Chen Mu closed his eyes to rest his spirit.
The flickering light of the fire danced on his face, intermittently bright and dim.
He looked regretfully at the gray wall that appeared in the empty space before him.
Spirit Nourishing Curse: Perfection;
It had been over a month since the last upgrade.
While at the daoist hall, he spent most of his time cultivating the Spirit Nourishing Curse, and the experience gradually filled up.
“It’s a pity it’s only Third Rank.”
“If it were like the Five Ghosts Bag, with more Ranks and abilities, that would be even better,” Chen Mu greedily thought.
But there are benefits to simplicity.
The first two Ranks of the Spirit Nourishing Curse claimed to nourish the spirit, but it was more like summoning, invoking the innate spirit within the Magic Artifact.
Only when the Spirit Nourishing Curse reached Perfection did it truly have the ability it claimed to have—nourishing the spirit.
A secret technique to nurture accidentally obtained spirit properties. The stronger the spirit properties, the more powerful the Magic Artifact.
It seemed that the Magic Artifact had this upgrade path predetermined from its inception.
“Considering this potential for growth, this Magic Artifact is also quite extraordinary.”
“Its future is immeasurable.”
…
“Seeing all the older brothers and sisters escape safely, my heart is so happy.”
Just as Chen Mu opened his eyes, he saw Shang Huan—who had now grown to two meters tall, towering and robust—cozying up to the six Wu siblings with a sycophantic air.
He leaned in close to them and whispered covertly.
“Mr. Gongsun contacted me just now,” said Chen Mu, “he has successfully escaped and is hiding somewhere in our camp.”
“He also wants us to gather together first, so it will be easier for him to coordinate our actions,” Chen Mu continued. Your journey continues with empire
“Our last cooperation was very pleasant. Mr. Gongsun knows and is very satisfied.”
“He said that we should work together sincerely, and there’s money for everyone to make,” Shang Huan said naturally and confidently.
The Wu Mountain siblings glanced at the self-important Shang Huan.
Then they looked over to Chen Mu by the bonfire not far away.
Their faces were filled with bemusement.
Does this fatty not know that the man before him is Gongsun Sheng?
His skill in bluffing is truly profound!
They almost believed him!
Noticing their gazes, Shang Huan feigned realization.
“This is my little brother, very close to us, knowing about our affairs is no problem,” Shang Huan said as he sat down next to Chen Mu, draping an arm around Chen Mu’s shoulder with an expression that said they were well acquainted.
“He’s the friend I mentioned before, whose cooking skills rival those of a chef from the Eight Treasures Restaurant.”
“Let him show off his skills for dinner tonight, and you’ll see I wasn’t lying,” Shang Huan said, slapping Chen Mu casually on the shoulder.
The six of them couldn’t help but give side-eye.
You’re really daring!
“I’m not hungry!” Ai Ji immediately shouted, his face expressionless as he looked at Chen Mu, and sweat immediately broke out.
“We just had two breakfasts today, it’s already late, how could we not be hungry!” Shang Huan retorted with burning enthusiasm.
He then whispered to Chen Mu, “Brother, you’ve got to help me out here.”
Chen Mu gave the deadweight a side glance.
I used to let you freeload off my information, but now you expect me to help you save face?
“I’ll pay you!”
This… this is kind of difficult now.
Shang Huan laughed sheepishly, extending three fingers, “Three White Jade Coins!”
Chen Mu immediately gave Shang Huan a sidelong look.
It seems you really want to be taken for a fool!
I’m charging thousands to tens of thousands of White Jade now, and you’re trying to fob me off with just three White Jade Coins?
“We’re really not hungry!” Ai Ji cried out in terror.
If they really ate this meal, would he be drained of his spirit to the point of death?
“Three coins each!” Shang Huan said through clenched teeth.
Chen Mu turned his head and gave Ai Ji an expressionless look.
“No, you’re hungry!”
Ai Ji: “…”
“You go hunting, slaughtering, and cleaning, I’m only responsible for roasting the meat,” Chen Mu said, turning back to Shang Huan.
It wasn’t for the sake of those few White Jade Coins, mainly because I had achieved Perfection in the Spirit Nourishing Curse today, so I must celebrate with a good meal!
“Okay!”
…
Night fell.
By the bonfire, Chen Mu held up a roasted deer leg, carving off a whole wooden plate of roast slices for himself.
While he ate methodically, he reached out to take the grey cloth bag handed over by Shang Huan.
“You’re three short,” Chen Mu said flatly.
“Eight people, twenty-four coins, that’s right,” Shang Huan said, confused.
“Nine people,” Chen Mu stated flatly.
“You’re including yourself too?” Shang Huan couldn’t believe it.
“What do you think?”
Shang Huan had no choice but to pull out three more White Jade Coins with a pained expression on his face.
Three years ago, his entire net worth wasn’t even twenty-seven coins. Now one meal had brought disaster upon him. His heart ached.
Chen Mu pocketed them with satisfaction.
Even a mosquito is still meat.
Last year when I sold Calming Pills, I only made sixty White Jade Coins in a month. Now I’ve earned almost half a month’s income from one meal; not bad.
And lately, I’d just lent out about fifteen or sixteen thousand White Jade Coins, so I was really feeling a bit anxious.
I wonder if Director Song will try to weasel out of paying…
…
The Wu Mountain siblings were devouring their meat without daring to look up.
After a long while, Wu Ruo gathered the courage to speak, sharing the intel she had gathered just like the previous days.
“There’s a snowstorm on Peng Yue Mountain, it has passed Cold Moon Pond and is starting to spread down the mountain.”
“There’s still no news about Prefect Song. Some say he fell into the storm, others say he ran off ahead of time.”
“The disciple of Oversight Courtyard, Liang Yi, still hasn’t come out.”
“Maybe…”
Chen Mu’s expression turned less pleasant.
Two Condensing Aperture… Could this Qing Liu be that formidable?
He looked up again at the camp of nearly a hundred people and couldn’t help sighing.
Looks like it’s over for the Lower Courtyard of Peng Yue Mountain, I don’t know if it will disband now.
“There are rumors that Director Song plans to dismantle the Lower Courtyard,” Wu Ruo said softly.
“The only reason it’s still here is to save his disciple,” she murmured.
Chen Mu frowned.
If Song Wujie truly just drops everything and leaves.
These hundred plus people, it would be difficult even to get out of these deep woods alive!
“Stock up more supplies, and prepare for the worst,” he said.