Individual in the Valley
“What’s our destination?” Lie Shang inquired.
“I want to return to Dad’s valley to put the five to rest there. I feel that’s the safest place around.”
Xiaoshuai no longer need to travel on his own in human form, enjoying extra naps and free rides in Mu Yu’s shirt instead. It was rather boring to him since neither Lie Shang nor Mu Yu said a word to each other for the entire day. Hence, Xiaoshuai either slept or snacked whilst feasting his eyes on the view from Mu Yu’s shoulder.
Noticing Mu Yu stand still and frown upon arriving above the valley the next morning, Lie Shang asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Someone’s in the valley.”
Mu Yu made it a point to forbid entry to Ku Mu Valley. If anybody dared to vandalise it, they had it coming.
Mu Yu noticed traces of someone setting up living necessities in the valley upon entering. By the time he could react, however, a sword was already by his neck.
“This is private property.”
“And it happens to be my property,” Mu Yu rebuked, turning around to see the owner of the cold voice was Leng Bingxue.
Leng Bingxue lowered her sword, then surveyed Lie Shang.
“How do you know this place?” Mu Yu questioned.
Leng Bingxue strolled over to the herb garden behind the celestial fiend tree to return to gardening. “I know now.”
Mu Yu concentrated on the interior of the celestial fiend tree, consequently picking up the aura of someone important lying on the bed. He ambled inside to find the bookshelf of herb books and cans on the table. He suppressed his cold demeanour, letting buried memories surface.
Ku Mu’s hands were particularly cold owing to the ice crystallisation Qiao Xue cast, yet Mu Yu found it warming.
“Sorry, Dad. I’ve been doing my absolute, absolute best to make up for your regrets,” expressed Mu Yu, unable to prevent his sorrow leaking from his eyes. “But even you oppose my decision; you don’t want me to revive you. The world of cultivation is so unsightly now that ‘ugly’ no longer does it justice. All I want is those who deserve a better life to attain it. I refuse to listen to you just as I refused to in the past. Haha, oh, man, I can’t believe I’m still crying at this age. I must say I miss you raging at me. I have no desire to be a saviour or hero. I want to be Mu Yu, your son and disciple.”
Xiaoshuai came in whilst eating a thigh. “Mu Yu, you’ve been sitting by Ku Mu’s bed for two days, reminiscing the fun days together in the past for two days now. You want something to eat? Elder Frost’s cooking isn’t bad at all, surprisingly.”
Mu Yu took one last look at Ku Mu and then went out to learn Lie Shang had been training at the foot of a mountain while guarding the five caskets. Mu Yu crossed onto the small bridge Leng Bingxue was standing on and, in a timid voice, expressed, “Sorry.”
“No need.”
“Why are you here?”
“Because I’ll kill him if I stay at Pill Cauldron Sect.”
“… I will kill him,” stated Mu Yu, referring to Shi Dengtian.
“They won’t let you. He’s a faction leader.”
“I’ll still kill him. And, I’ll revive Dad.”
“I don’t know what your plans are, but he trusts so you, so I trust you even more.”
For a while, all that was audible was their fluttering clothing and the current under the bridge.
“I want to borrow a block of land here,” Mu Yu requested.
“He always intended for you to inherit this place.”
“Thank you.”
Lie Shang opened his eyes once he sensed Mu Yu approach.
“I’ll be ready soon.”
Mu Yu took the five caskets through the valley Leng Bingxue renovated and stopped at the cave above ground in the space where Kumu cast Mirror Formation back in the day. He cleaved the cave to create enough room for the five caskets.
“I did say I would let those who deserve to live to live on. The formation I cast on your caskets will preserve your bodies.”
Mu Yu enclosed the cave behind a wall of lush trees and then rendezvoused with Lie Shang by the river bank.
“What’s next?” Lie Shang asked.
“Paying back some ‘favours’.”
“Where?”
“Celestial Star Sect. I’ll rip Third Heaven Palace’s fingers off.”
“… All of the eight great sects are not to be underestimated. They haven’t survived for millenniums thanks to pure luck.”
“It’s time their seven Divine Peaks crumble, then,” declared Mu Yu, walking to the edge of the bank to peer into the calm weather.”
“You been there before?”
“Yeah.”
“According to my knowledge there are at least, three Ascension Realm adepts and no less than forty-five Body Synthesis Realm adepts guarding each of the eight great sects’ headquarters. How will you defeat the three?” Since Mu Yu could not answer, Lie Shang continued, “You and I can defeat one each, but there’s no chance we’ll beat a third. If we’re up against their patriarch, Tian Yuehen, there’s no hope. From what I’ve heard, he’s already at Apotheosis Realm.”
Mu Yu turned to Lie Shang. “This isn’t your problem.”
“I’m out of things to do. The only viable tactic is to seek the aid of a third team member.”
“You have a candidate?”
“Xiang Nan.”
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