Shanglin Neighborhood, Chen Residence.
Early in the morning, Chen Mu was startled awake by the banging on the door.
Ghosts in paper form quickly appeared in the large willow tree outside the door.
More than a dozen impatient officers stood at the entrance.
“Has there been an issue with Sikou Yu?” Chen Mu’s mind tightened.
But looking at those few officers, they were just ordinary people who practiced some boxing, not like a team that came to arrest someone.
Chen Mu quickly went to open the door.
“Gentleman Officials, having to start work so early in the morning must be tough,” said Chen Mu with a beaming smile as he slipped the leading officer some silver pieces and warmly welcomed them into his home.
In his sleeve, his right hand gripped a handful of Iron Lotus Seeds, subtly glancing over the expressions of the officers.
If there was even a hint of trouble, he was ready to take them down immediately.
“Stranger from outside? What’s your name? Where are you from? Why did you come here?” the leading government official asked, pinching the silver pieces, his expression now easeful.
“I am Chen Jia from Liangpu County. With the chaos of war outside making it unsafe, didn’t I just sell my property and flee to Nanyang?” Chen Mu smoothly recited the new identity Jie Jia had prepared for him.
“You’re not hiding anyone in your house, are you?” A few officials stared at Chen Mu.
“Hiding people? No, not at all,” Chen Mu replied, shaking his head in feigned confusion.
“Let’s take a look inside!” commanded the head officer with a nod of his head.
Two young officials quickly rushed into the room. They meticulously checked every corner before coming out.
The silver had done its job. The officials rummaged through boxes and drawers in their search but did not recklessly destroy or toss the contents around.
“Boss, there’s only evidence of one person living here.”
The head officer nodded, “Come, take a look at these two individuals.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a double portrait from his chest. The picture depicted two people, a middle-aged daoist and a seven- or eight-year-old daoist boy.
“If you see these two, report immediately to the prefecture city’s government office. There will be a substantial reward, understand?”
Chen Mu acted as if he was committing the faces to memory, nodding repeatedly.
The officers then hurriedly left to check the next household.
The ghostly paper figure hid inside the big willow tree, watching the officials knock on every door.
Even if a door was locked, someone would jump in to inspect.
Chen Mu frowned tightly, “Is the search always this rigorous?”
…
Five days later, after waving off another group of unfamiliar officers,
a glint of worry flashed in Chen Mu’s eyes.
More than a month had passed, and the search efforts in Nanyang Prefecture not only hadn’t slowed but seemed to be intensifying.
It appeared that even Zhu Yi Pavilion was involved behind the scenes.
“Is Sikou Yu that important?” Chen Mu felt there was something amiss.
“A few more thorough searches, and it might not be safe.”
After all, his identity was a sham. If they decided to investigate thoroughly, they could likely discover inconsistencies.
Run? But where could he go? Nanyang Prefecture was chaotic, but it was even more so outside.
Walking into the pavilion, Chen Mu began to ponder.
After all, Sikou Yu was killed by him. If one day the truth came out, given the current involvement of forces in Nanyang Prefecture, his survival was doubtful.
The Five Ghosts Bag was strong, but it had its limitations and could only be used for self-preservation.
“Still, it’s better to run,” decided Chen Mu.
He didn’t leave right away, though. The search was at its peak now, and scrambling out carelessly would only draw suspicion.
Moreover, his Blue-eyed Golden Ape Shape Cultivation Technique was at a critical juncture.
Chen Mu summoned the grey wall.
Blue-eyed Golden Ape Shape Cultivation Technique: 9789/10000/Third Rank;
“Today’s the day,” he declared.
Immediately casting aside all distractions, he adjusted his breathing and began to diligently practice the Shape Cultivation Technique.
Having proficiency gave him insight. At his current level, the complex breathing method felt almost instinctual.
He began smoothly, in an established rhythm, guiding his movements to be fluid and adaptive, skillfully coordinating each gesture with his breath.
The proficiency numbers rose steadily, a sensation that could easily become addictive.
Body changes brought tangible experiences.
All morning, Chen Mu had entirely immersed himself in the Shape Cultivation Technique.
At noon, he hastily ate three jin of braised beef, accompanied by one jin of cold mixed vegetables, and wolfed down a basin of white wheat rice before plunging back into his practice.
…
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The setting sun cast a fiery red glow on the clouds.
Chen Mu stood quietly under the pavilion.
His body seemed to have a will of its own, with skin and muscles rapidly writhing, bones cracking, and internal organs gurgling softly.
All the major muscle groups swiftly expanded, and in almost no time, his upper body took on a strangely inverted triangular shape. His two legs were even more like the pavilion’s sturdy, thick columns.
A faint white smoke emanated from his body.
Hiss!
Chen Mu slowly exhaled, like a kettle boiling over, as scalding white fog sprayed from his mouth and nose.
As his long breath continued, his drastically changed body slowly shrank, and in a short while, he reverted to his slender, scholarly appearance.
“Seems like I’ve grown a bit taller,” Chen Mu touched his head and made a comparing gesture.
Even though it was his second Marrow Transformation, Chen Mu couldn’t help but marvel at the magic of the Shape Cultivation Technique.
The body type just now was powerful but could affect agility and speed.
The current final form could be described as robust, maintaining strength while considering speed, completely defying Chen Mu’s past-life understanding of muscle training.
“Muscle Transformation, Bone Transformation, Marrow Transformation, this is true transformation,” he said.
Chen Mu suspected that his body’s structure was no longer the same as that of an ordinary person.
“This is probably the true essence of the Shape Cultivation Technique,” Chen Mu had a moment of enlightenment.
Humans have their limits.
…
In the evening, Chen Mu prepared a large table full of dishes.
Jie Jia, holding a white handkerchief, meticulously wiped the utensils, glanced at the table filled with delicacies, and asked confidently, “Something on your mind?”
“Just trying to find out which places around here are safer,” Chen Mu said with a smile.
Since coming to this world, Chen Mu either stayed at home or was on his way to stay at home.
He was familiar only with the area where he lived, and everything else was a mystery to him.
Jie Jia looked at Chen Mu with complicated eyes: “I have never seen anyone as, how should I put it… composed as you.”
“Not composed enough, still not enough,” Chen Mu said modestly.
You’re already competing with a tortoise, and you think you’re not composed enough? Jie Jia ignored Chen Mu’s comment.
“Da Liang is undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation. Nowhere is safe. Even if you run out of the country, out to sea, it’s still not safe.”
“Right now, Nanyang Prefecture is considered the safest place.”
“Nanyang Prefecture is the safest?” Chen Mu sneered, “If it’s so safe, why does Qingshan County keep suffering from disasters and calamities?”
The fog on the day they left was peculiarly eerie, with those ignorant of it dying. On the way, they even encountered a long-haired woman.
If this is what’s considered safe, how do people in the heartland of Da Liang survive?
“Head south,” Jie Jia finally advised.
“About sixty li to the south, there’s a Guard City belonging to Nanyang Prefecture, and it’s reachable in one day by following the river.”
“If you’re afraid of being swept up in searches and being implicated, you can go there to hide for a while.”
Chen Mu’s eyes lit up.
The Guard City was good. Not far from Nanyang Prefecture City, and if there really was a problem with the Evil-warding Artifact, he could seek help from Nanyang at any time.
Plus, there were no search events triggered by Sikou Yu. It was perfect for finding some peace and quiet.
…
Having made a decision, Chen Mu began preparations.
He hadn’t given up the residences surrounding Shanglin Neighborhood; he still planned to return once the commotion subsided.
With the evil spirits causing trouble outside, the evil-warding power of a large city like Nanyang Prefecture City was more reassuring.
Food, Silver Coin, and medicinal materials for practice were all in the Five Ghosts Bag, so there was no need to prepare for that.
He mainly prepared for the Shape-shifting Technique.
Shape-shifting Technique: 6060/10000/First Rank;
“When traveling, it’s safer to change my face,” he reasoned.