Chapter 166

Hu Rui'an and the other two had just returned when they saw Shen Anran seeking martial advice from Li Mu in the courtyard's pavilion.

The four wooden pavilions at the courtyard's corners hung plain silk lanterns, their dim yellow light illuminating the lotus pond and flowered walls.

Under the deep night, Shen Anran and Li Mu sat facing each other; a evening breeze swept by, stirring the bronze bells at the eaves into gentle sway—this scene appeared profoundly peaceful and beautiful.

Hu Rui'an and the other two halted at the courtyard gate, unwilling to disturb them.

Moreover, after overhearing a few phrases, Hu Rui'an's face instantly revealed an unusual expression.

Seeking martial advice was one thing, but he never expected Shen Anran was asking Li Mu about the "Slaying Deer Blade Scripture."

Who ever seeks martial instruction using their own family's ancestral blade technique? What's the difference from handing over your family's core martial heritage?

Hu Rui'an immediately dared not listen further and prepared to lead Wu Shang and the other away—stealing martial arts was dishonorable and taboo; he truly feared the Shen family would seek retribution.

But just then, Li Mu turned his head and glanced at Hu Rui'an and the other three, then asked from afar, unexpectedly:

"How did your affairs go, my lord?"

Hearing this, Hu Rui'an instantly stopped his departure, paused to speak—yet then saw Li Mu wave his hand and say:

"If you didn't succeed, don't bother telling me. And as a friendly reminder, your time is running short."

Hu Rui'an was instantly silenced by Li Mu's words, mutely retreating without another word.

He exchanged a glance with Wu Shang and the other two, then returned to his room.

Yet rest tonight was impossible—they all knew that from this night until tomorrow, they must remain constantly vigilant and ensure they stayed within a certain distance of Li Mu.

Meanwhile, Shen Anran sat seated in a green robe, her raven-black hair loosely tied, a blue hairpin slanted through it.

Her brows arched like distant mountains veiled in ink, her skin like ice and jade; her dark eyes shimmered with amber glows under the courtyard lights, and the night wind brushing past her carried a faint floral scent from her bath.

"Miss Shen, the martial art you're asking about is barely passable—for instance, your 'Hanging Mountain Gazing at the Moon' slash contains over a dozen flaws…"

In response to Shen Anran's martial inquiry, Li Mu did not withhold knowledge—he taught earnestly.

It was like being a top student in school, when the campus beauty brings her notebook and past exam papers to ask you for help.

Unless you're a complete stoic, even just for her beauty, you'd have no reason to refuse.

But Li Mu understood: this girl's intent was not the martial art.

For instance, while he meticulously dissected the blade technique for her, her eyes never left him, fixed on his person without shifting.

This wasn't martial instruction—it was outright lusting after his looks!

Li Mu rubbed his chin and gave her a slow, thoughtful look.

Many girls lusted after his looks; Shen Anran was certainly impressive, but she couldn't cut in line.

At that moment, seeing Li Mu's gaze, Shen Anran blinked gently and quickly looked away.

Then she slowly rose, bowing her head:

"Thank you, Prince, for your guidance—I've gained much. The night is deep; I won't disturb your rest."

She bowed slightly, then took her leave.

Li Mu watched her retreating back and frowned slightly.

Gained much? Her attention was never focused—did you even learn any of what I said?

Meanwhile, Shen Anran walked briskly, her heart soaring:

"Too much is as bad as too little—everything must proceed step by step. Tonight he guided me in martial arts, proving he holds no ill will toward me. Yes, I have a chance!"

As she thought this, Shen Anran's mind replayed Li Mu instructing her in the blade technique—then, finally, she gently furrowed her brows:

"Is the Slaying Deer Blade Scripture truly so weak? My grandfather once wielded it to dominate the martial world, defeating the Tianhedao Sect's patriarch with his blade."

Upon returning to her room, Shen Anran sat before a table lit by an oil lamp and began recalling every word Li Mu had spoken.

Simultaneously, following Li Mu's corrections, she began practicing a small portion of the Slaying Deer Blade Scripture.

As she trained, Shen Anran sank into it unconsciously—and so the night passed swiftly.

When the rooster crowed and a pale sliver of dawn appeared on the horizon, Shen Anran opened her eyes; her gaze carried a sharp blade-like edge, so tangible it sliced through the air with a faint whistle.

"So powerful!"

Shen Anran's red lips parted slightly, her eyes filled with astonishment.

She had merely practiced a few blade forms for one night, correcting only the few flaws Li Mu had pointed out.

Now she clearly felt: the power of these few slashes had at least quintupled since before.

Moreover, her understanding of the blade path had deepened noticeably!

"I thought he was merely profound in martial cultivation and unmatched in fist technique—never expected his mastery of the blade was equally terrifying."

"My grandfather studied the Slaying Deer Blade Scripture for decades and found no flaws—he glanced at it once and identified dozens. This is truly unbelievable…"

Shen Anran was stunned, sitting motionless before the table, dazed.

Soon after, she slowly rose from her stool, her eyes now filled with unwavering resolve:

"I, Shen Anran, will surely obtain him."

…

Meanwhile, Li Mu, lying in bed, suddenly opened his eyes and frowned slightly.

He rose, walked to his door, and pushed it open.

The sky was half-lit; the courtyard outside his room floated in a thin morning mist, dew-dampened, greeting him with a crisp, cool breeze.

But Li Mu's attention was not on the mist—he looked toward the steps before his room.

There sat three figures, their clothes and hair coated in dew—Hu Rui'an, Wu Shang, and Cheng's burden.

"What are you doing?"

Li Mu glanced at the three, squinting:

"I've noticed you for a long time—you've been sitting motionless before my door since midnight, and haven't moved a single step since."

At these words, Hu Rui'an and the other two straightened their stiff bodies and turned to look at Li Mu.

However, the three exchanged glances and began to stammer.

After all, the ghostly disturbances at the Tianjinwei branch office had nothing to do with Li Mu, but were their own doing.

To be honest, had Li Mu's martial cultivation not already towered beyond their reach, they would rather have destroyed themselves than dragged him into this mess.

And their doing this was truly born of the desire to cling to a powerful leg—after all, Li Mu was now their direct superior.

In this Shengzhou capital, when faced with an unsolvable problem, who else could they turn to but their formidable superior?

At this moment, Hu Rui'an's expression twisted in indecision.

But he still cleared his throat a few times, gritted his teeth, and glanced at Li Mu, saying:

"Your Highness, you once said that if we encountered a problem truly beyond resolution, we could come to you…"

Yet before Hu Rui'an could finish, Li Mu raised a hand to stop him, raised an eyebrow, and said:

"You caused trouble outside?"

At these words, Hu Rui'an's old face flushed red instantly—he was years older than Li Mu.

Yet now, facing him, he suddenly felt an inexplicable sensation—as if he'd been misbehaving outside and had returned home to stand and accept punishment.

Still, he forced his face to stay calm and nodded reluctantly.

Seeing this, Li Mu swept his gaze over the three, then narrowed his eyes and said with sudden understanding:

"So you're truly terrified—you've been lurking outside my door all night."

At this, before Hu Rui'an could speak, Wu Shang and Cheng Zhong immediately nodded vigorously.

After all, even the Shengzhou Commandant Mei Yan had fallen victim to the ghostly disturbances at the Tianjinwei branch office—and he had the aid of a Wu Saint's daughter.

They had neither Mei Yan's martial strength nor any such help; without Hu Rui'an and the Eighth Imperial Prince, they would meet the same certain death as the others at the Tianjinwei branch.

Of course, Hu Rui'an himself was now somewhat unreliable—he seemed barely able to save himself. The three of them now had to cling tightly to Li Mu's leg, or they might not survive this crisis.

At this moment, Li Mu shook his head, glanced at Hu Rui'an, and the corner of his eye twitched slightly:

"I did say that once—but I never imagined you'd cause trouble so quickly, within just a few hours."

I must say, this Magistrate Hu truly acts with lightning speed on this matter!

Though Li Mu was not afraid of trouble, he had no desire to go around stirring it up.

Still, he did not intend to let them die. After a moment's thought, he said:

"First, tell me what happened. But let me make one thing clear—if it's something that can be solved by force, then it's no problem at all—I'll help you without hesitation."

"But if it's something else, then I'll have to think carefully."

At these words, Hu Rui'an and the other two instantly brightened.

Hu Rui'an no longer hesitated—he immediately recounted, in full detail, the ghostly disturbances at the Tianjinwei branch office and his own encounter with the specter last night.

After hearing Hu Rui'an's account, Wu Shang and Cheng Zhong suddenly looked at him with strange expressions.

Hu Rui'an had never told them of his experience inside the Shengzhou Tianjinwei mansion last night; now, hearing the truth—that he'd been driven out by the ghostly shadow and laughter—

both felt a chill crawl up their spines, as if they'd been innocently caught in the city's calamity. Their gaze toward Hu Rui'an now carried a faint trace of resentment.

At this moment, after learning the full story, Li Mu's expression turned thoughtful, and he said:

"You're all cultivators—don't believe in this superstitious ghost nonsense."

Yet as soon as he spoke, he shook his head to himself.

If even cross-realm reincarnation could happen, then actual ghosts wouldn't be so surprising.

Still, according to Li Mu's understanding, this world did not truly contain ghosts or spirits.

So the disturbances at the Shengzhou branch were most likely the work of someone faking supernatural phenomena.

The ghostly shadow and laughter Hu Rui'an saw, or the silent strangulation method—these were almost certainly some special Wu Gong or an unknown technique.

At this moment, Hu Rui'an and the other two stared expectantly at Li Mu; after he finished speaking, he kept shaking his head.

Uncertain of his meaning, Hu Rui'an ventured cautiously:

"Your Highness, what should we do next?"

Hearing this, Li Mu pulled his thoughts back, glanced at the three before him, and waved his hand:

"I have no time to hunt ghosts for the Tianjinwei. Today, stay by my side. Wait for the 'evil spirit' to come for your lives—I'll see what kind of thing it really is."

With that, Li Mu no longer paid them any attention and turned to return to his room.

Hearing this, Hu Rui'an and the other three collectively exhaled in relief.

With Li Mu's approval and the protection of this immensely powerful Eighth Imperial Prince, the shadow of death hovering over their hearts instantly lifted by half.

At that moment, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the courtyard.

Then, a servant from the Lady Murong Fu arrived at the courtyard gate, bowed, and reported:

"My master invites all the officials to the hall for breakfast."

Hearing this, Hu Rui'an's eyes narrowed slightly, and he murmured:

"The head of the Lady Murong family has finally decided to meet us."

Not long after, Hu Rui'an and the other two followed Li Mu closely, guided by the servant to the breakfast hall.

Cao Gaoshan and Shen Anran also followed behind the three, but Shen Anran's expression was clearly unusual.

She had originally intended to walk beside Li Mu, but Hu Rui'an and the others had beaten her to it; even if she tried to squeeze in, she could not.

She had even secretly approached Hu Rui'an, asking to swap places—but he had sighed strangely and said:

"Little Anran, it's not that your uncle wants to compete with you—just endure it a little longer. It'll be over after today."

Hearing this, Shen Anran could only reluctantly give up.

Upon arriving at the Lady Murong Fu's breakfast hall, Li Mu sat down at the long huanghuali wood table, and Hu Rui'an and the other two sat beside him.

At this moment, when Hu Rui'an and the others arrived, three generations of the Lady Murong family had already filled two long tables.

Li Mu's group sat at the upper table; across from Li Mu sat a middle-aged man with half-gray hair.

The middle-aged man was about fifty years old, his face like cold iron tempered in fire, his high cheekbones resembling a sword pavilion; he sat upright with strict decorum, his figure standing like a solitary peak.

Since Li Musheng and the others arrived, the man had been sizing them up.

"Lady Murong Hong greets the Eighth Imperial Prince."

At this, the middle-aged man opposite stood up, clasped his hands, bowed, and offered a salute.

Li Musheng glanced at the man, then waved his hand, signaling that the salute was unnecessary.

Lady Murong Hong straightened slightly, then turned to look at Hu Rui'an and clasped his hands, saying:

"My lord Hu has looked after my daughter throughout this journey; I am deeply grateful."

Hearing this, Hu Rui'an clasped his hands and returned the salute, saying:

"I was entrusted by the Commander-in-Chief; this was merely my duty."

(End of this chapter)