Nine mornings later, at the northernmost edge of Misty Forest.
Before a valley planted with peach blossoms stood an Octagonal Pavilion amid a Peach Grove.
Inside the pavilion, two Daoists were playing chess and chatting.
Chen Mu hurried into the valley and arrived beside the pavilion.
His clothes were scorched and torn in many places, two strands of hair at his forehead damp with sweat. He looked utterly bedraggled.
"Stop! Which sect are you from?"
"Show me your sect Jade Token." The Middle-aged Daoist in the pavilion barked a reprimand.
But the old Daoist across from him smiled. "No need to ask. He's from the Hundred Illusions Sect."
"Elder Mao, you know him?" the Middle-aged Daoist asked curiously.
"Heh! Of course I know him. He nearly became your junior brother."
The White-Haired Old Man looked at Chen Mu with amusement. "After all those twists and turns, you still came to Taoshan Temple."
Chen Mu gave an awkward smile and clasped his fists in salute.
A year ago, he had still been at Dingyou Tianhe Water Mansion. The two had met when he went to the Hundred Illusions Sect outpost to inquire about Dao Soldiers.
Back then, this Elder Mao had spent quite some time trying to persuade him to join Taoshan Temple.
But Taoshan Temple trained Combat Soldiers, which were far less safe than the Hundred Illusions Sect's auxiliary soldiers. Naturally, Chen Mu had not chosen it.
"Do you still think the Hundred Illusions Sect's Dao Soldiers are safer?" Elder Mao teased cheerfully. "Five Thunder Strike doesn't feel too good, does it?"
"I was short-sighted." Chen Mu clasped his fists again and bowed, revealing a bitter smile.
"We're fated to meet. Pass through the Peach Grove to the south and go to the Hundred Illusions Division yourself." Elder Mao waved