Zi Hanyue's True Goal

As long as he cultivated with Mu Qingxue, he could obtain the Nine Nether Cold Qi.

Because he had received only a limited amount of this body's memories, Su Chen knew little about the Nine Nether Cold Qi.

But judging by its name, it sounded like something extraordinary.

Still, it required dual cultivation. His gaze turned involuntarily to Mu Qingxue, and he seemed to feel a chill emanating from her body.

Does she expect me to sleep while hugging a block of ice? Wouldn't that be a little cold?

Su Chen thought to himself.

Meanwhile, he led the three of them into Su Mansion.

They passed through the gate and went straight to the main hall.

Inside the hall,

he invited the three to sit and had a maid serve them tea.

"May I ask what brings you here, Elder Mu?"

Without giving them a chance to exchange pleasantries, Su Chen asked.

"Su Chen, your father came from the Mu Family and founded Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower here in Qingcheng."

"In truth, you can be considered one of the Mu Family. Would you be willing to return to the Mu Family and become a disciple of Zitan Palace?"

Elder Mu looked at Su Chen as he spoke.

"Return to the Mu Family and become a disciple of Zitan Palace?"

Su Chen hadn't expected them to come all this way to ask him to join the Mu Family and become a disciple of Zitan Palace.

"Elder Mu, I've already joined Mountain River Sect. I'm one of its disciples, so I can't switch to another sect."

Mountain River Sect was a sect in Lingnan Commandery, and one of the orthodox sects.

It had a fine reputation throughout Lingnan Commandery.

Zitan Palace was a demonic sect beyond the frontier. Though powerful, it was confined to the lands beyond the frontier.

He might as well stay with Mountain River Sect and build his strength.

Hearing Su Chen's words, Mu Qingxue said, "Su Chen, if you join the Mu Family, we can help you reclaim some of Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's interests."

"Given your status as an ordinary disciple of Mountain River Sect, I'm afraid you'll have nothing to do with Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower in the future."

"Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower was your father's life's work. Do you really intend to lose all of it?"

So they've set their sights on Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower's profits.

As soon as Mu Qingxue spoke, Su Chen understood what she was after.

Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower was already under his covert control.

The profits all went to him.

Why would he share them with anyone else?

"Elder Mu, Miss Mu, I've avenged my great enemy, and I've also realized how limited my strength is. I plan to leave Qingcheng and return to Mountain River Sect to cultivate in seclusion."

"As for Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower, I've already let it go."

Su Chen said.

At his words, Elder Mu, who had been fairly calm, looked displeased. He hadn't expected Su Chen to reject his offer.

But the displeasure on his face quickly vanished.

Mu Qingxue, however, looked at Su Chen with a cold expression.

He was so ungrateful.

They had personally come to invite him into the Mu Family, and he had actually turned them down.

"Su Chen, don't decide too hastily. Take a few more days to think it over."

"The truth behind your father's death isn't as simple as you imagine. I'll investigate it over the next few days, then we can talk again. Let's leave it here for today."

Elder Mu rose to his feet.

It wasn't time to threaten Su Chen yet. When the time came, they wouldn't speak to him so gently.

"There's more to it?"

Hearing Elder Mu's words, Su Chen feigned surprise. He sat in his chair, looking utterly bewildered.

Mu Qingxue watched him with disdain in her eyes.

Then she followed Elder Mu out.

Steward Fu, the butler waiting outside, hurriedly bowed as he saw them off.

"I imagine you know quite a bit. Tell your young master that this may keep him safe, but as a child, how can he take revenge without seeing it through to the end?"

Elder Mu said to Steward Fu.

"Third Master, the young master's strength..."

Steward Fu lowered his voice.

"If he joins the Mu Family, then he becomes the Mu Family's concern. And this is the Mu Family of Zitan Palace."

Elder Mu said gravely.

"This servant understands!"

Steward Fu's face lit up, and he hurriedly replied.

After the three of them had left,

Su Chen sat there with a bewildered look for a while before recovering. He waved for the maids in the hall to leave.

After the maids had left the hall,

a cold smile appeared at the corner of Su Chen's mouth.

"I'll kill them, of course. But I'm very curious to see what you'll do."

Su Chen said coldly.

At that moment, in the rear courtyard,

"Miss, the people from Zitan Palace have left. They wanted Su Chen to join the Mu Family. It seems they've got their eyes on the profits Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower brings them."

"Su Chen played dumb and refused. He said he was planning to leave Qingcheng and return to Mountain River Sect!"

"Miss, do you think Su Chen will leave now?"

Xiao Lan asked.

"Su Mengbai was loyal to the Mu Family, but Su Chen isn't. He absolutely won't leave Qingcheng and return to Mountain River Sect right now."

"Just keep an eye on this matter. How long until the terrain of the surrounding mountains has been mapped?"

Zi Hanyue asked.

"Progress has been slow. It'll probably take another half month to finish."

Xiao Lan replied.

"That's a long time, but secrecy matters most. Make sure no one notices."

"Also, have all the people who came into contact with the group Su Mengbai arranged been dealt with?"

Zi Hanyue said gravely.

"Those willing to leave have gone. Those who weren't willing will stay here forever."

Xiao Lan answered.

"Good. Once the mountains outside Qingcheng have been mapped, we'll have a complete map of the mountains throughout Lingnan Commandery. Then we can return to the sect."

Zi Hanyue said.

"Then, Miss, should we get that gold foil back from Su Chen?"

"No need. Leave it with him. If something goes wrong in the end, it could still help draw other people's attention elsewhere."

"It's completely useless in his hands."

Zi Hanyue said calmly.

From their conversation, it was clear that Zi Hanyue's earlier words to Su Chen were untrue except for the Five Great Secret Sites of Great Chu. Her claims that secret sites lay around Qingcheng were pure fabrication.

Her deal with Su Mengbai had been for a group of mapmakers.

Sometimes, you really couldn't trust a woman's words.

Qingcheng, Eastern District.

In front of a secluded courtyard beside a street near the city lord's residence,

a man in a gray robe warily surveyed his surroundings, then pushed open the door and entered.

He crossed the courtyard and went into the house.

Inside, a man in a blue robe stood with a gloomy expression. It was Yan Shu of the Northern Commandery in Lingnan Commandery.

"My lord, the squad led by Centurion Du Yuan has disappeared without a trace. I investigated along their route and found signs of a fight in a ruined temple!"

"Judging by the traces, it didn't happen recently."

"Your subordinate found no bodies nearby, and the scene had been cleaned up. It's difficult to tell how many people were involved, but it seems likely that my lord and the others have already met with disaster."

The man bowed as he spoke.

"So it really happened!"

By rights, Du Yuan and his men should have sent him a message by carrier pigeon as soon as they reached Qin Cui Mountain.

But after waiting a whole day without hearing anything, he had swiftly left the estate where he'd been staying and come straight into the city.

He had also sent people to investigate Du Yuan and his men's whereabouts.

"Du Yuan was at the peak of the Spirit Refining Realm, and some of his men were in the Innate Realm. To make sure none of them escaped, just how strong must their opponent have been?"

"If the enemy was that powerful, there'd have been no need for a fight. It seems their movements were exposed."

Yan Shu said gravely.

The ruined temple lay along the only road to Qin Cui Mountain. If the enemy had struck there, they must have known where his men were headed.

"But only a handful of people knew he was coming to Qingcheng. Could it have been that old Cheng Yang?"

"Investigate Cheng Yang's movements over the last two days. Record in detail where he went and whom he met, down to the exact time."

"Cheng Yang, if I find out you were the one who leaked this, I'll have your entire family buried with you!"

Yan Shu's tone was calm, but his words carried unspeakable cruelty and bloodlust.

The gray-robed man in front of him hurriedly bowed. "My lord, I'll investigate at once."

Yan Shu waved him away.