Watching the Drama

As one of the top three powers among the nine domains of the Northern Spiritual Realm, Mu Domain's main city was exceptionally grand.

Though it still could not compare to that Guardian Land, it was better than South City, which Lin Suchou had entered for the first time.

The main city stood dozens of zhang high. Beneath its broad gates, imposing guards in fine equipment stood watch as a constant stream of people passed through.

After entering the city and asking a roadside vendor for directions, Lin Suchou followed the guidance to a massive residence.

The plaque above its gate prominently bore the words "Mu Mansion," while heavily armed guards stood watch outside.

Lin Suchou explained his purpose to one of the guards, who went inside to report it.

Before long, Mu Chen emerged. When he saw Lin Suchou beneath the steps, delight appeared on his face. "Brother Lin, it really is you!"

"Hehe, I, Lin, have always kept my word."

After walking over and embracing him, Lin Suchou followed him into the residence.

Sure enough, although Mu Chen was also a young master like Xiao Yan and Lin Dong, his starting point was far better than theirs.

He encountered opportunity after opportunity and suffered no major setbacks. In the end, he even surpassed Xiao Yan and Lin Dong by leaving his name on the Firmament Ranking first.

He was practically the standard protagonist of a power fantasy. Just the family estate his father had built gave him a head start far beyond most others.

Passing artificial hills and flower beds, then turning past red pillars and gray walls, Mu Chen brought him to a pavilion in the middle of a lake.

"Chunhua, Qiuyue, go to the kitchen and bring some good wine and food. Today, I'm going to drink heartily with Brother Lin!"

After having the two pretty maids fetch wine and food, Mu Chen continued catching up with Lin Suchou.

"Ah, Brother Lin received Spirit Road Empowerment, yet I can no longer even sense your cultivation..."

Mu Chen discovered that he could not perceive Lin Suchou's exact cultivation and sighed.

"Hehe, I believe that even without Spirit Road Empowerment, Brother Mu could surpass both me and those people from the Spirit Road through your own abilities."

Lin Suchou was not merely comforting him. Mu Chen truly possessed that ability.

Not only did he have the Great Pagoda Art, he also had a page of the Immortal Divine Codex. Who knew how many crises those had resolved for him?

"Ah, Brother Lin, don't tease me. Yesterday, I broke through to the Spirit Movement Realm. As soon as I returned, I entered my father's Spirit Art Chamber, but I couldn't even cultivate the Spirit Art scroll I found afterward."

Mu Chen seemed to recall something painful, and his expression instantly dimmed.

"Brother Mu, don't joke around. With your talent, how could you possibly be unable to cultivate it?"

Lin Suchou smiled, though surprise flashed through his eyes. Mu Chen's expression did not look as though he were joking.

"Ah, it's this Spirit Art. My mother left it for me. I originally thought I could cultivate it too, but when I followed the incantation, I found that I simply could not circulate my spiritual energy..."

As Mu Chen spoke, he took a black scroll from his robes.

Lin Suchou accepted it and unrolled it, only to discover that this Spirit Art was actually the Great Pagoda Art!

Then how could that be...

"Hmm!?"

A bold conjecture suddenly arose in Lin Suchou's mind!

The Yang Scroll of the Great Pagoda Art could only be cultivated by those with the bloodline of the Futuo Ancient Clan. If Mu Chen could not cultivate it... didn't that mean Qing Yan Jing was not his biological mother!?

Once that conjecture formed in his mind, it refused to fade away.

"Young Master, the wine and food have arrived."

At that moment, the two maids returned carrying the dishes and wine, placing them on the table.

"You two, step aside for now."

Mu Chen dismissed the two maids, but as Mu Chen's personal maids, they did not dare go too far and instead stood by the wooden bridge over the lake, watching him.

"Hehe, you can't get this in the Spirit Road. And eating it with anyone else just doesn't taste right. Brother Lin, today we'll drink in great gulps and eat meat in big bites!"

Mu Chen lifted the red cloth from the wine jar and directly filled a large bowl to the brim.

"Clang."

The two clinked bowls and drained them in one go.

After drinking, Lin Suchou savored the taste.

He found that although it was inferior to Wen Qingxuan's Spirit Wine and Monkey Wine from the Spirit Road, it was still better than the wine at the inn where he had stayed a few days ago.

It could be considered a fine wine.

"Then Brother Mu, you must have guessed something as well, right?"

After returning the Yang Scroll of the Great Pagoda Art to Mu Chen, Lin Suchou did not say it outright, instead allowing Mu Chen to speak first.

"Mm."

Mu Chen nodded heavily, then raised the wine jar and took a large gulp. With a bitter smile, he said, "I can't cultivate the Spirit Art my mother left behind. It's probably because I'm not her biological son."

"Have you asked Uncle about it?"

Lin Suchou filled his own cup and pressed further.

"No. I plan to ask tomorrow."

A trace of desolation flashed through Mu Chen's eyes. "Hehe, luckily you came today, Brother Lin. Otherwise, I wouldn't even know who to vent my frustrations to."

"Mm, you should get this matter cleared up. Otherwise, if it becomes your Inner Demon, that would be bad."

Lin Suchou clinked bowls with him again and finished another bowl.

As they ate beef and picked at the dishes, the wine loosened their tongues.

"My father said that when I was very young, Mother left in order to protect us. But if she wasn't my biological mother, why would she do that?"

Looking at the bright moon surrounded by stars in the sky, Mu Chen said sadly, "Whenever I felt lonely as a child, I would often look up at the moon and think of her as my mother, while the stars beside her were all her children.

"Later, I imagined that I was one of those stars and that the moon was my mother. But now, I've discovered that my mother isn't my biological mother. So where is my real mother?"

By the time he finished, Mu Chen was already drunk, his eyes reddened.

"I believe Uncle Mu will give you an answer tomorrow. Then you'll be able to reunite with your biological mother."

Lin Suchou clinked cups with him. Though he appeared to be drinking, he was inwardly shocked beyond measure.

Sure enough, there was drama to watch everywhere, but he was the only one who knew about it now.

Those readers from his previous life had all been kept in the dark by Tudou. What a pity...

But then Lin Suchou noticed a middle-aged man in splendid robes approaching from the bridge behind Mu Chen. His temples were slightly graying, and his face was stern and resolute.

When he reached Mu Chen's back, the man reached out and patted his shoulder.

"Little Chen, you've suffered these years."

Hearing this, Mu Chen turned his head groggily. Once he saw who it was, he sobered up at once. "Father!? Why are you here?"

"Hehe, I was afraid you might take things too hard, so I came to explain the reasons to you."

The middle-aged man sat on a stone stool and greeted Lin Suchou as well. "I am Mu Chen's father, Mu Feng. You must be the good friend my son often mentions, Lin Suchou?"

"Greetings, Uncle Mu. That is indeed me."

Lin Suchou nodded and greeted him.

"Since you are Mu Chen's friend, it does no harm for you to know about this matter."

"Rest assured, Uncle Mu. I guarantee I won't tell anyone else!"

Lin Suchou nodded solemnly.

"Same here."

Within his Qi Sea, Jiu You and the little mare also pricked up their ears, curious about just how juicy this gossip was.

"This is someone else's family matter, so you two had better not spread it around."

"I promise!"

Jiu You and the little mare exchanged a glance and answered in unison.