Chapter 389: Unexpected Blessing!

The waiting time always feels especially long.

Outside the window, the night deepened; in the second-floor room of the Cheng Family Restaurant, the oil lamp cast a dim, warm glow, yet could not dispel the growing anxiety etched into Long Tuti's brow and eyes.

"Why hasn't Second Brother arrived yet? It's already the third night…"

Long Tuti sat on the edge of the bed, her small hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress, her face taut, occasionally tilting her ear to listen for sounds from below or outside—only the whisper of evening wind through the alley and the distant, muffled beat of the night watch drum reached her.

"There's no need to worry so much."

Chen Mu soothed gently, "Since your second brother managed to break out and left a message waiting here, he must have his own plan and confidence. The situation in Dao City is now complicated—he may have encountered some urgent matter requiring his attention, delaying him. Let's wait a little longer."

His voice was calm and firm, radiating a steadiness that brought comfort.

Long Tuti glanced at him, softly murmured "Mm," and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly, though the worry in her eyes had not fully faded.

Chen Mu knew words of comfort had their limits, so he said no more and began slowly cultivating his main cultivation technique, the Duan Tianhe Scripture.

Since gathering most of the Sword Gear, the remaining helmet and Tianzong Yun Sword had remained silent; whenever Chen Mu arrived at a new place, he cultivated to sense their presence.

Tonight seemed different.

As the Duan Tianhe Scripture flowed slowly along his meridians, Chen Mu's spirit had just sunk into inner observation when a faint yet unmistakable "call"—cold, metallic, and razor-sharp—suddenly pierced his perception!

This feeling…

It was a Sword Gear component!

And it was nearby!

Chen Mu's heart jolted, but he steadied his spirit, carefully tracing and distinguishing the source and nature of the sensation.

Not the inward, profound, cutting-edge sharpness of the Tianzong Yun Sword, but a resonance of protection, solidity, and dominion.

It was the helmet!

The missing Sword Gear helmet!

The sensation was clear, but not close—the fluctuation came from roughly northeast of the city, at least several li away from Huaihua Alley.

Yet regardless, it was undeniably within Dao City itself!

This was truly an unexpected blessing.

He had never expected that coming to Dao City would reveal the helmet's whereabouts.

Immediately, Chen Mu made his decision. He looked at Long Tuti, still fidgeting restlessly, and said, "Tuti, I have an urgent matter that requires me to leave immediately. Stay here and wait. Don't come out no matter what sounds you hear outside. Cheng Yong will guard the door. I'll return soon."

"Huh? Old Chen, where are you going at this hour? Did you hear something about Second Brother?" Long Tuti blinked, quickly asking.

"No, it's another personal matter."

Chen Mu did not elaborate, "Rest assured, I'll keep an eye out for your second brother. Before I return, stay inside."

Seeing Chen Mu's serious expression, Long Tuti, though curious, understood the gravity and nodded.

"Then be careful, and come back soon."

Chen Mu nodded, wasted no more time, his form flickered, slipping soundlessly out the window like a shadow dissolving into the thick night.

He did not use any spectacular aerial technique, but moved swiftly between rooftops and alleyways like the most agile night bird, while cultivating the Duan Tianhe Scripture to sense the helmet's location, constantly adjusting his path.

Dao City enforced a night curfew; the streets were empty, save for night patrols and occasional swift shadows of Zhenwu Bureau covert agents.

Chen Mu suppressed his aura to its limit, moving with swift, concealed agility, avoiding patrol squads as he followed the sensation through the labyrinthine alleys.

After roughly a cup of tea's time.

Chen Mu halted on a broad, imposing street.

On both sides stood grand mansions with vermilion doors and bronze door rings, stone lions standing guard—clearly the residential district of the wealthy and noble.

In the middle of the street, a vast estate rose before him: towering walls, two ferocious stone beasts flanking the gate, and a massive gilded plaque hanging above the entrance.

On the plaque, two bold, swirling characters glowed faintly with golden light even in the night—

Liu Fu!

It was the Liu Fu of Liu Mingfeng and Liu Qihua!

Chen Mu's eyes narrowed slightly, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.

He had just accepted the Liu family's "apology gift" during the day—and now tonight, he sensed the missing Sword Gear helmet inside this very Liu Fu…

This fate was indeed deep.

He did not rashly enter through the main gate or over the walls.

The Liu family had established itself in Dao City; their mansion must have defenses and guards, especially after today's events—security would be even tighter.

Chen Mu retreated into a dark, deserted alley beside the mansion, confirmed no one was nearby, then swiftly formed several strange hand seals. The next moment, the ground beneath his feet seemed to turn to water; his body sank like a stone into liquid, slowly disappearing into the solid earth without leaving a trace.

Earth Submersion!

Beneath the ground, darkness and weight surrounded him, yet the Duan Tianhe Scripture's sense of the helmet grew even clearer, like a guiding lantern lit in the dark.

Chen Mu moved like a fish underwater, silently following the sensation.

Soon, the sensation became overwhelmingly strong.

The helmet was directly above!

Chen Mu controlled his form, slowly rising until he silently emerged from beneath a cluster of lush plants in a secluded corner of a courtyard.

A slight shift of his qi caused dirt and dust to slide off automatically—his clothes remained spotless, a true mark of refined cultivation.

This was a refined little courtyard, likely part of the Liu Fu's storage or treasure chamber, not the master's residence. Deep in the night, the courtyard was empty, save for a few paper lanterns hanging under the eaves, casting dim yellow light.

The Duan Tianhe Scripture's sense pointed clearly to a sturdy, windowless and door-sealed room on the northern side of the courtyard.

Chen Mu did not act immediately. Instead, he crept to the shadowed corner behind the room's dark wall and activated his "Listen to the Wind" skill.

Invisible perception spilled like liquid mercury, instantly covering the room's interior, exterior, and the surrounding dozens of zhang.

Inside the room: silence.

Outside in the courtyard: two guards near the entrance whispered quietly—their qi was weak, merely ordinary Post-Heaven cultivators.

Farther away, the rhythmic footsteps of a patrol passed by.

The timing is perfect!

Chen Mu slipped toward the door like a wraith.

A finely crafted brass lock hung on the door; within its keyhole, a faint glow lingered, clearly marked by a simple restriction.

But this posed no challenge to Chen Mu—he gathered a thread of pure, razor-sharp sword qi at his fingertip, like the most delicate key, precisely inserting it into the lockhole. With a light touch, both the internal mechanism and the core of the restriction shattered, emitting a nearly inaudible "click."

Grasping the door ring, he pushed gently—the heavy wooden door slid open soundlessly a crack. His figure flashed inside, then he turned and lightly closed the door behind him.

The room was unlit, pitch black—but to Chen Mu, it was no different from daylight.

This was a room resembling a display hall or treasure chamber, spacious and filled with numerous antique shelves and display stands, upon which lay an array of weapons, armor, antiques, and jade artifacts—abundant and dazzling, clearly testifying to the Liu family's rich collection.

The intense sensation came from a solitary redwood display stand at the far end of the room.

Upon the stand rested a helmet, entirely dark gold in color, with an ancient, simple design.

It was precisely the missing Sword Armor helmet!