Over the next five days, Chen Mu put out a paperman at Kui Tuo’s house each day.
The other party was from the Startling Swan Gang, and since he was already in conflict with them, he couldn’t help thinking more about it.
Fortunately, everything was as usual.
Kui Tuo was just a Jianghu wanderer who had been recruited by the Startling Swan Gang. It was pure coincidence that he lived nearby.
Chen Mu even went out of his way to find the original occupants of Kui Tuo’s house, changed his appearance, and indirectly inquired about why they moved.
The result was that they bought a bigger courtyard and simply rented out the old one.
Among the courtyards Chen Mu was renting, two belonged to them.
Chen Mu: “…”
Local homeowners? Nothing to mess with at all.
Who would have thought that even after crossing over, he still had to face the sting of a rentier, truly… enviable!
Chen Mu thought back on his cautious behavior over the past few days and couldn’t help but laugh. He really had been frightened. Nearly turned into a scared bird. The world was not kind, but not everyone was a bad person, either.
To say the least, Kui Tuo was a neighbor who had met by chance.
“Can’t think too badly of people.”
“Don’t get paranoid.”
“There aren’t so many people out to get me.”
Chen Mu shook his head and comforted himself.
…
With all calm, he then began to practice the Shape Cultivation Technique at home again.
Kui Tuo came by every so often, each time bringing gold cakes as a gift.
Chen Mu hinted several times that he didn’t want to be disturbed.
Then Kui Tuo’s gifts doubled to two gold cakes.
Chen Mu: “…” That’s not what I meant.
“Fan Tower is quite famous, but the chef’s skills are just so-so, while Brother Chen, you are amazing.”
Kui Tuo wasn’t stingy with money.
Having become a Helmsman, money came easily to him, so he didn’t mind spending it extravagantly.
By day he went to the Startling Swan Gang to practice unknown formations, and by night he went to Chunfeng Tower to enjoy himself.
Every three days, on his day off, he’d run to Chen Mu’s place to eat, casually giving away gold cakes.
“Next time I eat, who knows when that will be,” Kui Tuo said, holding his bulging belly, hesitantly eyeing the last stuffed bun in the bamboo basket.
“Big movements in the Startling Swan Gang?” Chen Mu was curious.
“They say we’re going north with a big shot to take care of some business. Half of the Helmsmen from each hall have been dispatched. I have to go too.”
Chen Mu’s heart tightened.
North? Wasn’t that region in chaos?
Local forces in Nanyang Prefecture are going to get involved in the strife?
Unfortunately, Kui Tuo was a rash and muddled fellow. Only good for spending money to get things done, he never cared about other news. There was no point in asking him for details.
“Safe travels,” Chen Mu wished.
Hopefully, they wouldn’t bring the war to Nanyang Prefecture.
…
Feeling down, Chen Mu decided to go out for a walk to clear his mind.
As he wandered, he found himself under the corridor of Fan Tower.
Glancing at the Four Seas Tower on the left and then at Chunfeng Tower on the right, Chen Mu curled his lips.
The dishes are the same, yet they charge such a high price, extortioners! Utter extortioners!
Chen Mu severely criticized Chunfeng Tower and then turned to walk towards the right.
“To get information about the Startling Swan Gang, spending a bit of money is just fine.”
Luckily Kui Tuo had given several gold cakes. His income had surged. No fear in spending!
He found his usual secluded corner booth and ordered a whole table of delicacies.
“Oh, is it He Lu dancing tonight? It’s a pity it’s not Yu Tao.”
Watching her enchanting performance, Chen Mu’s mood lifted.
“The sky won’t fall without a tall person to hold it up. I’m just worrying over nothing.”
“Time-travel and now I’ve developed a persecution complex too?” Chen Mu shook his head with a wry smile.
The world is tough, but not everything is bleak. Just the other day, he had suspected Kui Tuo. In reality, the man was just a commoner from Jianghu.
“It’s important to go out for good food, beautiful scenery, and to appreciate beauties. Staying at home for too long can cause psychological issues.”
“Sure, there are bad people in the world, but not all of them are out to get you,” Chen Mu said, cheerfully eating his meal and watching the dance.
…
On the third floor of Chunfeng Tower, in the innermost room.
Sikou Yu sat majestically, sipping his wine with unabated excitement on his face: “Is that young boy taken care of?”
“Ten for Bone Transformation, two for Marrow Transformation, ever ready to ensure his safety.”
“Five beautiful maids to attend to his every need.”
“Five chefs proficient in various delicacies, ready to prepare food at any time.”
One of only two people in the room, a gaunt man in his forties dressed in black, bowed and said.
“Not enough, find five more chefs. Those born with an Innate Taoist Bone eat a lot,” Sikou Yu ordered cheerfully.
“It’s just a shame about that Bell Instrument.”
“With Soul Strength added to his body, he was just a head away from achieving Shell Soul. For you to repel him and successfully snatch the Taoist Bone child is quite an accomplishment,” the man in black flattered.
Sikou Yu suddenly burst into a hearty laugh.
As long as he delivered the child to Shouyang Mountain on time, he would receive a Thousand Mechanism Token. This was way easier than fighting to the death for it!
“Make sure to seal the news tight,” Sikou Yu warned sternly.
“What about… the seventh lady?” the man in black hesitated.
“When my sister heads north and comes back, I’ll tell her myself,” Sikou Yu thought for a moment and said.
He might have snatched the Taoist Bone away, but whether he could keep it would depend on his sister.
They had managed to fend off that Daoist this time purely with the protection of the Family Law Instrument’s Spiritual Light.
If that man came back to snatch the child, he might not be able to hold him off.
“That man has a Magic Artifact, the Taoist Bone boy, and is on the verge of achieving Shell Soul. It seems unnecessary to kill Lin Que? Could he have been after the Ebony Wood? But how would he know Lin Que had Ebony Wood?” The man in black carefully reminded Sikou Yu that someone else had killed Lin Que.
“Haha. Of course, I know he wasn’t the killer,” Sikou Yu waved a hand dismissively: “I accused him just because I coveted his family’s Magic Artifact.”
“I didn’t expect him to be a treasure-delivering boy. Not only does he have a Magic Artifact, but he also has a child with an Innate Taoist Bone.”
“You’re brilliant, young master,” the man in black smiled: “Your servants will look for that scholar, Chen Mu, tomorrow.”
“Luckily you came,” Sikou Yu said with a smile: “The Startling Swan Gang is only good for running errands; they’re otherwise useless.”
The man in black smiled: “The Soul Locking Bug is miraculous, but it’s not a secret. Perhaps the other party already knows its weaknesses.”
“Good thing I brought the Treasure Seeking Cicada,” the man in black chuckled: “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a person or not. We’re just after the Ebony Wood.”
Sikou Yu pointed at the man in black and laughed heartily: “You really get me!”
“I couldn’t care less about Chen Mu’s life or death, I just want the Ebony Wood. Whoever has taken it from me, I’ll make sure they’re dead!” Sikou Yu said viciously.
He had always suspected that the Ebony Wood was taken by Zuo Sheng.
Otherwise, why would he be so eager to silence Sun Fu?
“Whoever stands in the way of you finding the Ebony Wood, show no mercy! If anything happens, I’ll take the blame!”
“Yes!”
…
In a corner booth on the first floor.
Chen Mu silently choked on a slice of pork ear he was holding with his chopsticks.
Ghosts made of paper materialized beside him.
“I was finally letting go of my guard, ready to face the world with a positive outlook,” Chen Mu said, feeling deflated.
But reality dealt him a harsh blow.
“Listening to the conversation between those two, their accord in murder and treasure snatching suggests it’s not their first time,” Chen Mu was shocked. Who knows how many innocent people they’ve killed for their treasures.
Swish!
A gray Sleeve Sword appeared in his hand.
“To kill indiscriminately just for a piece of wood?” Chen Mu felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and anger.
Chen Mu suddenly stood up.
“This is unreasonable!”
Continue reading at m|v-l’e m,p| y- r
“I need to have a talk with them!”