Dodging Debt

In the blink of an eye, most of the Guardians had left Emerald Cloud Valley, forming groups to head toward Cloud Dragon County.

Since the Origin Mulberry had been stolen, it was highly likely that people from within the city had organized to commit the crime in Emerald Cloud Valley. By heading into the city to investigate, if anyone were to sell the Origin Mulberry, they could follow the trail to find the culprit.

Shen Mu, however, remained completely unmoved. He returned to the Origin Mulberry Field he was assigned to guard and continued practicing the Army-Breaking Saber Technique to increase his blood energy.

Luo Tao felt somewhat conflicted. He first returned home, only to be scolded mercilessly by Luo Zhen.

"Investigating the thief who stole the Origin Mulberry?"

"You are only at the first stage of Boiling Blood; where do you get the ability to do that?"

"What you need to do right now is follow Shen Mu's example and strive to enter the ranks as soon as possible!"

"Don't even think about other matters!"

"How many times have I told you? When in doubt, look at what Shen Mu does. If you follow his lead, you'll learn, understand?"

"Don't think that just because you've reached the first stage of Boiling Blood, I wouldn't dare to beat you. How did I end up with a fool like you for a son?"

"..."

After taking a beating and a scolding, Luo Tao slunk back to Emerald Cloud Valley, focusing on body tempering to increase his blood energy.

Shen Mu was naturally unaware that Luo Tao had secretly returned home.

Of course, even if he had known, Shen Mu would not have felt any dissatisfaction.

In this life, everyone acts according to their own understanding; being able to manage oneself well is already a rare and commendable feat.

As the saying goes, a person can be taught a hundred times to no avail, but one experience will teach them everything.

At this moment, Shen Mu had sufficient food supplies, and for replenishing his strength, he had the Origin Mulberry Wine he had brewed himself. Every day, aside from sleeping, he devoted his entire heart and mind to body tempering.

"In about half a month, the scarlet mist on the branches of the Martial Dao Tree will be able to diffuse to the second leaf."

As the setting sun slanted, Shen Mu finished practicing the Army-Breaking Saber Technique once more. His mind drifted into his consciousness to observe the changes in the Martial Dao Tree.

At this time, the scarlet mist on the branches of the Martial Dao Tree was only a small distance away from the second leaf.

Shen Mu couldn't help but recall the night Zhou Xuan ambushed him. If he hadn't mastered the Army-Breaking Saber Technique, killing Zhou Xuan would have been impossible.

This made Shen Mu realize that on the path of a martial artist, while cultivation level is primary, the practice of martial techniques is equally crucial.

Once both sides are at the same realm, what determines the outcome—or even life and death—is the skillful application of their martial techniques.

It was precisely for this reason that Shen Mu did not cut any corners in practicing the Army-Breaking Saber Technique; every time he performed it, he did so with extreme focus.

He knew well that at a critical moment, a martial technique could decide his own life, or the life of his enemy.

"Brother Shen, practicing again?"

"I have to say, Brother Shen is truly diligent. Everyone else has gone out to look for clues, and only you and Brother Luo are still able to practice martial techniques with such single-minded focus."

Not far away, a light laugh drifted over.

Shen Mu put away his thoughts and looked toward the source of the voice.

"Brother Guo."

Shen Mu greeted him with a smile.

The person who arrived was Guo Jinchuan, another Guardian under the command of Hong Jingcheng.

In Emerald Cloud Valley, besides Shen Mu and Luo Tao, he was the only one left.

Before this, Shen Mu and this man hadn't had much interaction, and their relationship could only be described as a nodding acquaintance.

However, as most of the Guardians left Emerald Cloud Valley, Shen Mu, who stayed behind to practice, became the only person Guo Jinchuan could chat with while taking a break from body tempering.

Guo Jinchuan was a man who couldn't keep his mouth still, and he would come over at this time almost every day.

Because even if he came early, it was useless; until the sun went down, Shen Mu would not stop his practice just because of his visit.

Through his conversations with Guo Jinchuan over the past few days, Shen Mu vaguely realized that this guy didn't actually want to stay in Emerald Cloud Valley.

Yet, he seemed to have some unspeakable hidden trouble that forced him to remain in the valley.

Shen Mu was not the type to pry into others' secrets, so he didn't ask for the reason.

"When I heard that Brother Shen had successfully promoted to the second stage of Boiling Blood after only two months in Emerald Cloud Valley, I wondered if you were some kind of martial arts genius."

"Now it seems that Brother Shen's achievements are entirely due to your own hard work," Guo Jinchuan said, leaping onto the roof of the shed and taking a sip from his wine gourd with a sigh.

It wasn't entirely his own hard work... Shen Mu smiled: "My family background is poor, so I have no choice but to practice diligently."

Guo Jinchuan asked curiously upon hearing this: "Brother Shen, why didn't you join the investigation for the thief who stole the Origin Mulberry? Just one lead could earn you a hundred taels of silver, enough to sustain your cultivation resources for several months..."

Shen Mu laughed helplessly: "Five days have already passed. Has any Guardian found any relevant clues?"

"Rather than wasting a month of time, it's better to use it to improve my own blood energy."

"As long as I can improve by one more stage, the monthly salary I receive will increase significantly. Isn't that much easier than investigating a case?"

Guo Jinchuan shook his head: "Brother Shen, many Guardians are using the excuse of investigating clues to eat, drink, and gamble in the city. Do you really think they want to investigate?"

"They are just taking this opportunity to give themselves a vacation. After all, in this Emerald Cloud Valley, aside from this vast field of Origin Mulberries, there isn't much in the way of entertainment."

Shen Mu was silent for a moment, then smiled. "To each their own."

If not for the Martial Dao Tree, Shen Mu might have also sunk into depravity just like those people.

But precisely because he had the hope of reaching the pinnacle of the martial path and attaining eternal life, Shen Mu was unwilling to waste this hard-won opportunity in vain.

Hearing this, Guo Jinchuan gave Shen Mu a complex look and sighed, "Indeed, to each their own."

Some rise at the first crow of the rooster to practice, some indulge in the comforts of the flesh, and some rush through the night to reach the examination grounds.

It is impossible to say who is right or wrong; one only needs to live this short life to the fullest.

Shen Mu looked at Guo Jinchuan and asked with a smile, "What about you, Brother Guo? Why did you choose to stay and guard Emerald Cloud Valley?"

"Me?"

Guo Jinchuan was taken aback by the question, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "Better not to speak of it."

Just then, two figures in the distance began walking toward the Bamboo Shed where Shen Mu was staying.

"Guo Jinchuan, finding you really wasn't easy."

Both men were dressed in the attire of Firewood Gang members, and upon seeing Guo Jinchuan at the Bamboo Shed, one of them let out an insidious laugh.

"Tu Chuan, Cao Xingyang, how did you get in here?"

After seeing their faces clearly, Guo Jinchuan's expression changed abruptly, and he blurted out in shock.

Watching Guo Jinchuan lose his composure, Shen Mu frowned slightly and couldn't help but look the two men up and down.

Both men appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Although they wore the attire of Firewood Gang members, their faces were completely unfamiliar; he had never seen them before, and they did not seem to be Guardians of Emerald Cloud Valley.

"How did we get in?"

Tu Chuan sneered, "As long as you have money, you can naturally get in. You didn't think that just by hiding in Emerald Cloud Valley, we wouldn't be able to do anything about you, did you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Xingyang, who was standing to the side, said coldly, "Guo Jinchuan, you have exceeded the stipulated deadline by fifteen days. According to our previous agreement, for every day overdue, you must pay interest at one percent of the principal."

"You borrowed two hundred taels of silver, so now you owe two hundred and thirty taels. Pay up."

Shen Mu, standing to the side, felt his expression turn rather strange upon hearing this.

So, the reason Guo Jinchuan stayed in Emerald Cloud Valley was to dodge a debt?