Early winter had arrived. The biting wind had already swept over the mountains of the Northern Spirit Plains and into the Mu Domain, stripping the last withered leaves from the trees.
The people who lived there piled the fallen leaves beneath the trees. When spring returned the following year, they would return to the soil, nourishing another season of growth.
After the battle with Liu Jingshan, most of the Mu Domain's main city had been wrecked by the shock waves of combat. Broken walls and ruins lay everywhere, yet even amid the cold winter wind, the city showed no air of desolation.
Bustling crowds went about their work beneath the warm sun, repairing the wounded city and displaying its ceaseless vitality.
Inside the Mu Estate, Mu Feng sat at a desk, occasionally lifting his cup for a sip of tea as he frowned in thought.
During that battle, Liu Jingshan had gravely wounded him and knocked him unconscious. When he awoke, he saw Zhou Ye and Mu Chen, who had returned, along with a flaming flower bud standing atop the city wall.
"Uncle Mu!"
A graceful figure stood in the study doorway and called out in a clear, bright voice.
"Oh? Qian'er, it's you."
Mu Feng put down the letter in his hand and looked toward the doorway. A slender girl stood there in a white fur coat that outlined her shapely curves.
"Uncle Mu, how is Su Qing?"
Tang Qian'er asked anxiously.
"Ah..." Mu Feng sighed. "I'll take you over to have a look."
Tang Qian'er stood on the city wall, gazing at the fire lotus swaying in the wind. The worry in her eyes seemed ready to spill over, and she unconsciously bit her lip.
Standing behind her, Mu Feng could not help shaking his head at the sight.
Just then, a streak of light approached from afar and landed on the wall. It was Zhou Ye and Tang Qian'er's father, Tang Shan, the Domain Lord of the Tang Domain.
"Brother Mu!"
"Domain Lord!"
As soon as they landed, both men cupped their hands in greeting to Mu Feng.
Mu Feng turned and returned their greetings with cupped hands.
Tang Shan looked at the swaying fire lotus and asked, "How is Su Qing?"
Mu Feng shook his head. "We don't know either. Now, it's all up to him."
Tang Shan sighed as well. He knew what was in his daughter's heart, and he was rather fond of the lad himself. It would be such a pity if Su Qing died like this.
Everyone sighed together before changing the subject.
"Domain Lord, Chen Xiong has been killed," Zhou Ye said.
Mu Feng froze for a moment, then asked, "What happened?"
"Mangyin Mountain launched a surprise attack on Bear City when the Liu Domain invaded. City Lord Chen Xiong died in battle, and Deputy City Lord Chen Yong was gravely wounded and fell unconscious."
"After learning of the Liu Domain's defeat, the forces of Mangyin Mountain withdrew to their stronghold, fortified their defenses, and cleared the surrounding countryside."
"Mangyin Mountain's slopes are steep, and only a handful of major routes lead to their stronghold. All of them are now heavily guarded. The Mu Domain can't afford the cost of a frontal assault at present."
Zhou Ye finished his report, then shook his head with a sigh.
A gust of cold wind blew past. Mu Feng could not help coughing several times, and his face grew a little paler.
The injuries he had sustained in the battle against Liu Jingshan had left even this lionlike Domain Lord of the Mu Domain weakened.
None of them felt like remaining on the wall any longer. Mu Feng invited his guests inside, then turned and headed toward the Mu Estate.
Tang Qian'er followed her father. After a few steps, she could not resist looking back, but nothing had changed.
Yet not long after Tang Qian'er turned and left, a gap slowly opened in the flower bud.
As the bud bloomed, lotus petals drifted down without a sound, revealing Su Qing seated cross-legged within.
When the lotus had fully opened, Su Qing opened his eyes. He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, then stood and stretched.
The falling petals did not reach the ground. Instead, they transformed into blazing white-gold flames in midair and flowed into Su Qing's body.
Su Qing lowered his gaze to his raised hand. It was pale as ice, yet also resembled jade. When he held it up against the sunlight, a glimmer of gold shone through the sinews and bones beneath his skin.
Su Qing turned his translucent arm back and forth, studying his palm and the back of his hand. Only when he tired of looking did he lower it, turn his hand, and draw the Kunwu Sword.
Cracks still covered the Kunwu Sword, but many had healed, and much of the rust had flaked away.
To restore it completely, he would probably need to find a considerable quantity of rare metals and unusual stones and slowly nourish it with them.
Or refine it through sacrifices of living beings' vital essence.
Su Qing gazed at his reflection in the blade. Black hair and black eyes framed his pale face, which showed neither sorrow nor joy. A trace of cold light gleamed deep in his eyes.
Su Qing put away the Kunwu Sword, then directed his awareness into the qi sea in his dantian. The Nine Nether Sparrow lay asleep atop his spirit wheel, a hint of exhaustion in her features.
Su Qing did not disturb her. Carrying his sword, he descended from the city wall and entered the Mu Estate.
Inside the Mu Estate, Mu Feng and Tang Shan were discussing something.
Beside the rockery in the courtyard, Tang Qian'er wandered aimlessly with her head lowered, staring at the ground and occasionally nudging the withered yellow wormwood with the tip of her foot.
Before long, perhaps tired, Tang Qian'er sat down against the rockery with her knees drawn up, her hands unconsciously toying with a blade of grass.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of someone entering the courtyard-blue robes stained with blood, a treasured sword cold as frost. She stared blankly, then rose to her feet.
Su Qing did not notice Tang Qian'er when he entered the Mu Estate. Instead, he walked straight toward the council hall.
Within the fire lotus, he had heard everyone's conversation and learned what Mangyin Mountain had done. He also remembered the burly man who used to bring him sweets when he was little.
Fury filled his chest.
A single meal's kindness must be repaid; even the slightest grudge must be avenged!
Just then, a girl threw herself at him. Instinctively, he released the sword in his hand, dispersed the killing intent enveloping him, and caught her in his arms.
"Su Qing!" the girl cried, her voice choked with tears. "Thank goodness you're all right!"
Su Qing gently rubbed her head through her silky hair and said softly, "I'm fine. Don't worry. I'm Su Qing, after all."
"Su Qing," the girl murmured sweetly, still curled up in his arms.
"Hmm?"
"Nothing."
"Mm."
"Su Qing."
"Hmm?"
"You bastard! You made me worry for so long! Don't ever do that again!"
With that, Tang Qian'er viciously bit Su Qing's shoulder, only to cry out in pain and release her bite.
"Why are you so hard?" Tang Qian'er complained, covering her mouth as she sprang out of his embrace.
Su Qing looked at Tang Qian'er helplessly, as though looking at a silly little sister-or a muddleheaded cat he had raised.
"Whew." Su Qing stepped forward and rubbed her head, then climbed the steps and entered the council hall.
At that moment, the gentleness vanished from Su Qing's face, replaced by a calm expression and the fury concealed beneath it.
"Su Qing?" Mu Feng and Tang Shan froze at the sight of him. Then a delighted smile spread across Mu Feng's face, and he asked, "How are you feeling?"
"I've mostly recovered. I'm just a little anemic. I'll need to replenish my blood."
Su Qing pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke.
Then Su Qing took the initiative and asked, "Dad, what are you planning to do about Mangyin Mountain?"
Mu Feng shook his head helplessly. "We'll have to plan for the long term. The Mu Domain isn't in any condition to attack them right now."
"We have to take over most of the Liu Domain's territory. It's what we're owed, and most of our manpower and energy are tied up in that."
"Mangyin Mountain will have to wait a while. In any case, I've asked your Uncle Tang to keep an eye on them. They won't get away."
At this point, a shadow crossed Mu Feng's face as well. Of course he wanted to avenge his friend immediately, but as the Domain Lord of the Mu Domain, he had much more to consider.
"I'll go. I hear there's a Nine-Whisker Blood Ginseng in their treasury. I need it."
"Besides, he's only at the early stage of the Divine Soul Realm."
The corners of Su Qing's mouth tugged upward slightly, revealing stark white teeth as he spoke.
"He might as well have stuck a price tag on his head."