A-Ning in Trouble? Profound Grade Internal Art

"Whoa—"

Chen Mu reined in his horse and rode over to Qin Tieya's side.

"Senior Brother Qin, what's going on?"

He asked, his expression somewhat tense.

Everlasting Prosperity Town lay in the northern lands, close to the border. Every deep winter, northern tribes would come south to harass and plunder.

Chen Mu had only been in this world for half a year. Until now, he had only heard such news passed from mouth to mouth.

But from the looks of things, he might truly be encountering it now.

"Don't panic. We'll know once we return to the city."

Qin Tieya did not know the specifics either. After seeking Liu Qingcang's instructions, he personally went forward to negotiate with the city defense soldiers.

"So it's Master Liu! It's wonderful that you've returned!"

"Commander Zhao gave orders long ago: if we saw you returning to the city, we were to invite you to his residence for a talk!"

The soldiers atop the gate tower were overjoyed and immediately waved them through.

Before long, the city gates swung wide open. Chen Mu and the others rode in at full gallop, not wasting a moment as they raced back to the Azure Dragon Martial Academy in the eastern part of the city.

Chen Mu had already noticed on the way that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the city.

The end of the morning hour had already passed; it was just entering the hour of the snake.

There was no snow today, and the sky was bright and clear. On days like this, West Street would certainly have been bustling with life.

Yet now it was bleak and deserted. The merchants had all hidden in their homes, not daring to show their faces.

It seemed something truly major had happened!

Chen Mu's heart tightened at the sight, and he began worrying about A-Ning in Bai Le Ward.

"Master, this disciple still has family outside. I would like to return and check on them first."

Chen Mu dismounted and went straight to Liu Qingcang to ask for permission.

When Liu Qingcang heard that Chen Mu's first concern upon returning was his family's safety, a trace of approval appeared in his eyes.

"Go. If it is inconvenient, have Second accompany you."

"No need to trouble Senior Brother. This disciple will take his leave first."

Chen Mu did not trouble Qin Tieya. After cupping his fists, he did not mount a horse, instead using his movement technique to race away.

Though Grass-Top Flight was an unremarkable movement technique, it excelled at long-distance running. Once Chen Mu got moving, he was truly as swift as lightning.

In less than half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had crossed the eastern district and arrived near the City God Temple by Grass River.

There had never been many people in Bai Le Ward to begin with, and today it was even more desolate.

Chen Mu entered the alleyways, turning seven times and winding eight, before quickly arriving at Granny Li's home.

"Knock, knock—"

He gently knocked on the door. "Granny Li, it's me."

He waited a moment, but no one answered from inside.

Chen Mu's heart lurched. Without another thought, he kicked off the ground and burst forward.

The old wooden door exploded on the spot. Chen Mu crossed the threshold in a flash and entered the courtyard.

Then his face darkened completely.

No one!

The pots, bowls, and utensils in the courtyard had all been smashed to pieces, while the doors to the thatched rooms had been violently broken down.

"A-Ning!"

Chen Mu's eyes instantly reddened as he rushed into the rooms to search.

No one!

Still no one!

He had been out of the city for no more than a day, yet A-Ning had already met with disaster?!

Who could it have been?!

Who could have found this place?

He had clearly been so discreet when he came here...

Eyes bloodshot, Chen Mu searched everywhere, but found nothing.

A-Ning's clothes were still in the side room.

Granny Li and Li Susu, grandmother and granddaughter, had vanished as well.

Chen Mu even saw the medicine he had personally bought for A-Ning!

The physician had warned him that A-Ning needed to take that medicine every day without interruption.

A-Ning had not taken either her clothes or her medicine, so she definitely had not left of her own accord. She had most likely fallen into the hands of criminals.

What sort of fate awaited women in the hands of criminals in this world? Just thinking about it made Chen Mu shudder with dread.

"A-Ning! It's all my fault!"

"No matter who hurt you, I'll make sure they die without a proper burial!"

He stood in the courtyard and punched the stone mill. His knuckles split open and bled, but he paid it no heed. Never had the killing intent in his eyes been so intense.

Chen Mu regretted it. Even more, he hated himself for not being stronger.

If he had possessed Liu Qingcang's cultivation, why would he have needed to hide A-Ning from place to place and bring such a calamity upon her?!

There was no use thinking about that now.

Chen Mu forcibly calmed himself and persuaded himself: the matter had not yet been investigated. It might not be the worst outcome.

There was also unrest in the city today. Perhaps A-Ning had merely gone elsewhere to hide with Granny Li.

After conducting one final search and finding nothing unusual, Chen Mu could only leave in suppressed fury.

Without delay, he swiftly returned to Rubble Ward.

He had a few leads in mind. There were not many people he had offended.

The most likely culprit was the Red Whale Gang!

Zhao Dong was second!

But Zhao Dong had already obtained the Waterway Map. There was no reason for him to target such an insignificant person as Chen Mu again.

Chen Mu needed to return and see whether his home in Rubble Ward had also been disturbed.

If the Red Whale Gang had truly made a move, they could not possibly have only taken A-Ning. They would surely have an ambush waiting for him too.

Thinking of this, Chen Mu forced down the fury filling his chest.

No...

The Red Whale Gang had already lost a hall master.

If they truly intended to move against him again, they would certainly strike like thunder. They would not send a few lackeys to their deaths.

If he let fury rush to his head and plunged straight into an ambush in Rubble Ward, Chen Mu knew that he might end up dead as well.

Having reached that conclusion, Chen Mu immediately stopped.

He could not just charge in like this.

Chen Mu's first thought was to return to the martial academy for aid, but he quickly suppressed it.

No. Liu Qingcang was indeed powerful, and even Qin Tieya could force the Red Whale Gang to keep their heads down.

But A-Ning's whereabouts were unknown. If she truly was in their hands, and they learned that he had the Azure Dragon Martial Academy behind him—

Then, given the ruthlessness and cunning of those martial world men, they definitely would not obediently hand her over.

Instead, they would bite down and insist that they had not taken anyone, while secretly seeking an opportunity to silence her forever.

He could not alert the snake in the grass. He had to investigate in secret, find A-Ning first, confirm that she was safe, and only then plan revenge and settle the score!

"Huff..."

Chen Mu slowly let out a long breath, forcibly suppressing the restless killing intent in his eyes.

He knew that panic would do no good now. Whatever had happened to A-Ning clearly had not occurred just moments ago.

Since he could not rely on the martial academy, then he would raise his own strength!

He had happened to accumulate a large amount of Karmic Slaughter during this trip out of the city, as well as nearly ten Bone-Strengthening Pills.

It was time to push his internal art to the next level. Then he would kill his way back, drag out the mastermind, and save A-Ning!

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Chen Mu did not stop moving. He turned back to Granny Li's courtyard and sat cross-legged in the side room.

He forcibly settled his mind and called up the panel to inspect it first.

[Slaughter Register · Chen Mu (Common Bone)]

[Realm: Martial Master · Body Tempering Third Tier (Bronze Skin Body)]

[Martial Arts: Rampaging Bull Force · Mastery (680/1000), Hundred-Slash Baleful Blade · Mastery (520/1000), Grass-Top Flight · Pinnacle (Complete)]

[Blood Essence: 2385/3000]

[Karmic Slaughter: 130]

Grass-Top Flight had already reached completion and could no longer be improved. He could only wait for an opportunity to fuse it.

One hundred and thirty points of Karmic Slaughter!

It was enough to cultivate one technique to completion!

Chen Mu merely swept his gaze across the panel once before taking out the two secret manuals in his hands.

One was the Yellow Grade Mid-Tier hard-body technique, "Iron Cloth Shirt"; the other was the Yellow Grade High-Tier mental cultivation method, "Black Tiger Baleful Heart Art."

Chen Mu knew full well that internal arts were the foundation of martial cultivation. Once his internal art broke through, his Blood Essence would increase accordingly.

Conversely, an increase in Blood Essence would improve his internal art cultivation. The two complemented one another.

If he wanted to become stronger quickly, fusing internal arts was the best option.

As for "Iron Cloth Shirt," it could only wait until next time.

Having made his decision, he did not hesitate and decisively gave the command:

"Add points for me. Fuse the Black Tiger Baleful Heart Art! Put everything into it!"

[130 points of Karmic Slaughter deducted. Beginning technique fusion and deduction...]

[Ding! Deduction complete. You have comprehended the Profound Grade Low-Tier martial art "Yin Extremity Profound Baleful Art." Rampaging Bull Force proficiency has been fused.]

[Internal Art: Yin Extremity Profound Baleful Art · Initial Glimpse (First Layer: 300/1000)]

[Karmic Slaughter: 130 → 0]

In an instant, Chen Mu's Blood Essence surged in reverse throughout his body, and the Mastery-level Rampaging Bull Force was worn away completely.

What followed was an icy, tyrannical Killing Intent coiling around him, accompanied by countless martial insights flooding into his mind.