Chapter 269

"The... the list is in Bai Yun City," Zhu Jiuchuan gasped, slumped beside the rock, his chest heaving weakly.

Chen Mu crouched down, his gaze calm: "Tell me the exact location."

"I... I don't know the precise spot. I need to be there in person to recognize the way," Zhu Jiuchuan's eyes flickered.

"No matter. Just tell me the general area—like which street, which market district," Chen Mu's tone remained steady.

Zhu Jiuchuan panted heavily and shook his head. "No. That place... it's guarded. Only I can get them to let me through."

Chen Mu's lips curled into a faint, icy smile: "Guards? Doesn't matter. I can tunnel underground—no one will notice."

Zhu Jiuchuan fell silent.

That was true. Chen Mu could sink into the earth.

He had only heard of such Wu Gong—this was his first time seeing it with his own eyes.

With such ability, ordinary places were defenseless against him.

But Zhu Jiuchuan quickly stiffened his neck, weak yet resolute: "I... I must lead you there myself!"

Chen Mu said nothing.

Slowly rising, he looked down at Zhu Jiuchuan, sprawled on the ground, his gaze gradually turning cold and indifferent—like a frozen winter pond, utterly devoid of emotion.

Zhu Jiuchuan also fell silent, ceasing his pretense of weakness. He lifted his head, meeting Chen Mu's gaze without flinching.

He knew Chen Mu was plotting, forcing him to reveal the exact location.

He also knew Chen Mu knew he was plotting—that he intended to use the list's hiding place as a lifeline and bargaining chip.

But Zhu Jiuchuan was not afraid.

Because he was certain: since Chen Mu had gone to such lengths to rescue him from the Changsheng Jiao outpost, he would never kill him before obtaining the list.

This certainty gave Zhu Jiuchuan the courage to hold Chen Mu's gaze.

Huh~

Mountain wind swept through the tree gaps, carrying distant, muffled roars—the lingering tremors of a Tiangong cultivator's battle, truly terrifying.

Between Chen Mu and Zhu Jiuchuan, the air had solidified; only their eyes clashed in silent warfare.

Nearly half a day passed in tense, suffocating silence.

Finally, Chen Mu broke eye contact, abandoning his insistence on the list's precise location.

Without a word, he stepped forward and, like snatching up a chick, seized Zhu Jiuchuan once more.

Then, his figure blurred, and he shot off toward the southeast.

Zhu Jiuchuan froze for a moment, then secretly rejoiced—he assumed Chen Mu had conceded and was taking him back to Bai Yun City.

He gritted his teeth against the pain from the jolting motion, already planning how, once back in familiar territory, he could use the terrain and hidden allies to escape—or even turn the tables.

But.

As time passed, the surroundings grew increasingly desolate, far beyond Bai Yun City's borders—and Chen Mu's path remained relentlessly eastward, with no sign of turning back.

Only then did Zhu Jiuchuan truly panic.

"Y-You... where are you taking me?"

Zhu Jiuchuan's voice trembled; a dread foreboding settled over his heart. "And... who are you?"

Chen Mu did not slow. He spoke coldly: "Zhenwu Si Investigator."

Six short words—like six thunderclaps—crashed into Zhu Jiuchuan's mind!

"W-What?! I-Investigator?!"

Zhu Jiuchuan went pale as death, his whole body shaking uncontrollably—as if he'd heard the most terrifying title in the world.

Someone from Zhenwu Si's internal oversight body!

Falling into their hands was a hundred times worse than falling into Changsheng Jiao's!

"My lord! Spare me! My lord, spare me!"

Overwhelming terror drowned Zhu Jiuchuan. He forgot all calculations, weeping and sobbing: "I'm sorry! I'll hand over the list—right now! Just spare this dog's life!"

Chen Mu acted as if he heard nothing—and even quickened his pace.

Seeing pleading failed, Zhu Jiuchuan instantly switched tactics, beginning to bribe.

"My lord! I... I've buried vast amounts of gold, silver, and jewels overseas—and cultivation elixirs! If you spare me, they're all yours!"

"My lord, I know many secrets of Zhenwu Si! High-ranking officials' private scandals, their weaknesses! I'll tell you everything!"

"My lord! I'm sworn brothers with the boss of Nu Tao Bang! He's a Tiangong cultivator! Let me go, and I'll introduce you—he'll reward you handsomely!"

"..."

Throughout the journey, Zhu Jiuchuan never stopped talking, spilling out bribes, secrets, and connections like beans poured from a sack—all hoping to sway Chen Mu even slightly.

Yet Chen Mu remained expressionless, not even a flicker in his gaze.

He chose only remote forest trails, eating when hungry by snatching wild chickens or rabbits, lighting a fire to roast them.

When thirsty, he cupped mountain spring water or plucked wild berries.

He gave Zhu Jiuchuan no chance to contact outsiders or send messages.

Seeing bribery had no effect, Zhu Jiuchuan, in despair, shattered emotionally and began screaming curses.

He cursed Chen Mu himself, his superiors, Zhenwu Si, and the Da Zhou imperial court—his words filthy, vicious, and cruel.

Chen Mu ignored him at first—until Zhu Jiuchuan's insults turned to his family. Then Chen Mu stopped, glanced at him coldly, removed his shoe, pulled out his sock, crumpled it into a ball, and shoved it unceremoniously into Zhu Jiuchuan's mouth.

The world fell silent.

Only Zhu Jiuchuan's muffled "Ooooh!" and desperate eyes remained.

Chen Mu changed into a clean pair of socks, lifted Zhu Jiuchuan, and continued onward.

That day, just after noon, the two passed through a dense primeval forest.

The forest was dim, with only dappled spots of light falling through.

Suddenly—

"Shhh—Bang!"

A sharp, piercing whistle came from far above the sky, followed by the thunderous explosion of violently colliding Qi; even from afar, it made the leaves rustle violently.

Chen Mu's gaze sharpened; without hesitation, he seized Zhu Jiuchuan and darted like a lynx into a dense thicket beside him, completely concealing his form.

At the same time, he fully activated the "Listen to the Wind" skill; his invisible perception spread like liquid mercury across the surroundings, especially toward the sky.

Within his perception, two powerful auras were racing—one fleeing, one pursuing—speeding across the treetops toward the distance.

The fleeing aura was roughly at the Peak of Primordial, while the pursuer's aura was even more vast and ruthless—clearly a master of the Earth Altar Realm's Spirit Bridge layer!

Feuds and assassinations in the Jianghu were common occurrences.

Chen Mu had no desire to stir up trouble; he planned to wait until the two had passed before continuing his journey.

Yet just as the pursuer was about to fly over their heads, a furious shout infused with Qi rolled out like thunder.

"Di Chunlei! You can't escape!"

Di Chunlei?

Chen Mu's heart jolted.

He remembered that name!

It was the core disciple who had taken on a student in his master's stead and brought Huang Feiyang into the Giant Spirit Sect!

He had met Di Chunlei several times before; they had a certain degree of acquaintance.

If he hadn't encountered him, fine—but now that he had, and Di Chunlei was clearly in dire peril, being hunted by a Spirit Bridge master of the Earth Altar Realm, and he himself had the ability to intervene…