Locking the Gates, Sealing the City-The Strange Calamity Rises Again

Hearing Liu Qingcang's promise, Chen Mu's heart lurched, and he could scarcely contain his excitement.

This was a hidden Innate Realm expert!

Even with old injuries, the Meridian Opening strength he displayed in daily life was enough to keep everyone in Everlasting Prosperity Town from raising their heads.

Since he had promised that nothing would be refused, what should Chen Mu ask for?

Ask him to help remove his registered status?

Become a true disciple?

Or ask for that fist technique?

Every thought made Chen Mu's blood surge.

But after thinking it over, he suppressed them all.

After forcibly steadying himself, he clasped his fists solemnly and said:

"Master, there is no need for this."

"Since this disciple has already paid respects to the patriarch and entered the martial hall, giving my all and dying in its service is simply my duty. I dare not ask for anything else."

As soon as those words fell, the surroundings went silent.

The registered disciples looked at one another, all suspecting that the Baleful Poison had burned Chen Mu's brain.

"Hey! Are you stupid?!"

Liu Qingluo widened her bright eyes and kept tugging at Chen Mu's sleeve, anxious on his behalf.

She had never seen her adoptive father so accommodating. She wished she could step forward and demand benefits for Chen Mu herself.

Only Qin Tieya poked at the campfire and shook his head slightly, though the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

This junior brother was quite interesting. He looked honest on the surface, but this was advancing by retreating.

Liu Qingcang's expression turned somewhat helpless after hearing Chen Mu's words.

He had originally thought Chen Mu was loyal and honest. Who would have thought the boy had such a smooth tongue? Instead, Chen Mu had put him on the spot.

After a brief moment of thought, he made his decision. "Very well."

"Since you seek nothing, then first enter my branch and learn fist arts. Should you need anything in the future, my promise will still stand."

"Counting Qingluo, I currently have eight disciples under me. You are the last to enter, so you will be Ninth. How does that sound?"

The moment those words came out, the registered disciples around them turned red-eyed.

The master was actually taking this kid as a personal disciple?

What an incredible stroke of fortune!

Chen Mu's heart also skipped a beat, and he was overjoyed!

Without another thought, he immediately knelt and bowed.

"Disciple Chen Mu! Greets Master! From this day forth, I will brave boiling water and tread through fire for the martial hall!"

After shouting those words, Chen Mu could no longer even feel the pain of his injuries.

One had to know!

Liu Qingcang had taken him as a disciple of his own accord!

And that promise still remained!

"Get up and speak. There is no need for you to brave boiling water and tread through fire."

Liu Qingcang laughed as well, clapping his hands.

"However, Rakshasa Gate is watching us like a tiger eyeing its prey. Your cultivation is still shallow, so drawing too much attention would not be good."

"Do not spread the news of your apprenticeship for now."

"Once we return to the city, seek guidance from your Second Senior Brother on our sect's cultivation arts and train diligently."

"When your Body Tempering reaches completion and you cultivate inner qi, I will hold a grand apprenticeship banquet for you and publicly establish your name. How does that sound?"

Seeing that he had even considered all this so thoroughly, Chen Mu's utilitarian thoughts faded, and he truly began to feel a sense of belonging.

"Thank you for your consideration, Master. This disciple will obey all arrangements."

Seeing the matter settled, the others could only step forward with congratulations despite the sourness in their hearts.

"Ninth Senior Brother, congratulations!"

"Congratulations to the master for accepting such an excellent disciple."

For a time, the scene was lively, and even this remote ruined temple no longer seemed so sinister.

Liu Qingluo's delicate brows rose slightly as she stood nearby, unable to contain her delight.

"Junior Brother! From now on, you have to call me Senior Sister, got it?"

"Come on, call me once first!"

Chen Mu had still been immersed in his joy, but he froze upon hearing this.

She wanted him to call this fifteen- or sixteen-year-old little girl Senior Sister?

He would rather go fight another Corpse King.

Chen Mu found the words difficult to utter. His mind stirred, and he suddenly clutched his chest and cried out in pain.

"Oh no, this Baleful Poison is truly vicious! Allow me to treat my injuries first!"

As he spoke, he sat cross-legged on the spot, furrowing his brow as he genuinely circulated his blood and qi, putting on an appearance of great difficulty and suffering.

Liu Qingluo blanked for a moment, then realized that Chen Mu was deliberately refusing to call her Senior Sister.

"Father, look at him!"

She stamped her foot angrily and went to complain to Liu Qingcang.

"Enough. Ninth is much older than you. From now on, you may address each other as equals."

"We will rest here tonight. Do not make a racket. At dawn, we will return at once."

After hearing his arrangements, no one dared raise any objections. They ate and drank a little, then extinguished the fire and went to sleep.

The night passed without incident.

The following day, daylight shone bright.

After a night of breathing exercises, Chen Mu refined another Bone-Strengthening Pill. With the Yin Jade suppressing it, he finally managed to temporarily subdue the Baleful Poison.

He could feel several chilly currents still coiling within his chest, abdomen, and dantian.

Though they showed no movement for now, they clung to him like maggots on bone, impossible to dispel.

"What a vicious method indeed..."

He sighed inwardly, knowing this was likely some secret technique of Rakshasa Gate.

He had been marked. If he encountered that old Rakshasa ghost again, the yin-baleful qi within him might explode...

Once they returned to the city, he would ask Liu Qingcang about it. There should be a way to eradicate it completely.

With that thought, he looked into the temple.

Most of the disciples who had fainted the previous night had awakened after a night of recuperation with medicine and food.

The early-rising disciples were bringing over the horses one after another, and Liu Meng was among them.

"Ninth Senior Brother, this is your horse. Please take care of me from now on."

Seeing Chen Mu awaken, the fellow chuckled and led over the jujube-red horse, respectfully handing its reins to Chen Mu.

Then, with a pained expression, he took a banknote from his robes and quietly offered it over.

"Senior Brother, this is all my savings. I had originally planned to use it to marry a wife..."

"Before, this little brother had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai. Please do not take it to heart."

Chen Mu laughed dumbly. He had nearly forgotten that minor grudge. After all, with his butcher's background hanging over him, he had seen far too many cold looks.

He casually accepted the reins and said indifferently:

"Enough. Put it away."

He patted Liu Meng's shoulder, passed by him, and did not take the money.

After all, he now bore the name of Liu Qingcang's personal disciple. It would not do to be labeled as someone who bullied fellow disciples the moment he entered.

Chen Mu saw it clearly. With the Slaughter Register settling accounts for him every day, he did not lack a hundred taels of silver.

Liu Meng did not know where Chen Mu's confidence came from. Seeing that Chen Mu would not even take silver already within reach, he was immediately overcome with shame.

"This little brother was narrow-minded. Senior Brother's lesson is correct. If you have any orders in the future, simply give the word."

He was completely convinced.

Chen Mu could not be bothered with him and led his horse into the courtyard.

Liu Qingcang and Qin Tieya were there. Once everyone had prepared their gear, they all swung up onto their horses.

"Mount up, and move out!"

After tossing out those words, Liu Qingcang spurred his horse forward first.

Chen Mu and the others did not dare delay and galloped after him onto the official road.

Half an hour later, at Everlasting Prosperity Town's north gate.

The martial hall's party rode in at full speed, but the moment they reached the gate tower, they were stopped.

"Who goes there below? Report your names!"

The guards atop the gate tower shouted loudly. The city gates below were tightly shut, and the place was clearly under martial law.

"What is going on?"

"Why are the city gates locked? Could the northern barbarians have attacked?"

The martial hall disciples reined in their horses one after another, somewhat panicked as all manner of grim possibilities sprang into their minds.