Chapter 61: First Meeting with Sun Jindong

"That's settled!"

Having made his decision, Chen Mu found Huang Feiyang and informed him he would be leaving for several days.

Then, he went to the External Affairs Hall's outpost and told his subordinates the same—he'd be away for a few days, but daily operations should continue as usual.

Before leaving, he picked up his notebook and reviewed the latest summary of information.

Upon seeing it, his original plan changed immediately.

He wouldn't go to the neighboring prefecture!

He would go to Liang County!

"The He family stronghold, Elder Master He, will host his hundredth birthday celebration in three days; martial artists will gather in droves."

A single short line, yet the information it conveyed was staggering.

The He family stronghold was one of the five top forces in Nan Yun Prefecture, outside the three great clans of Guo, Zheng, and Pan.

Elder Master He had entered the Primordial realm over fifty years ago, earning the title "Iron Fist Peerless"; his fame echoed not only throughout Nan Yun but also in neighboring prefectures.

Below the Primordial realm, ordinary people and martial artists shared the same lifespan: two cycles of sixty years, one hundred and twenty years.

Even with all other methods, one could extend it by at most ten years.

But upon entering the Primordial realm, one's lifespan increases by one cycle.

That is, one can live up to one hundred and eighty years.

On that foundation, using other methods, one can extend it to two hundred years.

Of course, "other methods" here refer to normal means—not the heretical arts of the Longevity Mo Sect.

Thus, Elder Master He's hundredth birthday celebration was a grand and joyous occasion.

Essentially, any Primordial martial artist who reached this age would hold such a celebration.

The He family stronghold was a first-tier power in Nan Yun Prefecture; Elder Master He's birthday naturally drew invitations from all corners, with forces large and small gathering.

Countless wandering martial artists would be no exception.

With so many martial artists present, conflicts were inevitable!

Where there were conflicts, there would be deaths—and cards to collect!

…

The decision was made.

Chen Mu immediately left the city and used the "Wind-Chasing Legs" technique to race toward Liang County.

On the way, he changed clothes and put on a human-skin mask.

The He family stronghold lay at the southernmost edge of Liang County, over seventy li from the county seat.

When Chen Mu arrived, it was already evening.

Beneath a crimson sunset, a vast fortress built against the mountains rose from the earth.

The fortress walls stood five zhang high, patrolled by guards clad in light armor.

Beneath the towering gate tower, the wide gate passage saw people coming and going.

Chen Mu followed the crowd into the inner walls; the paved cobblestone street was wide enough for four carriages to drive side by side, with shops lining both sides—inn, restaurant, tavern, pawnshop… everything imaginable.

The He family stronghold was, in effect, a small city!

At the end of the cobblestone street stood another wall, three zhang high.

This wall divided the He family stronghold into outer and inner fortresses.

The inner fortress housed He family descendants; the outer fortress housed their relatives and retainers.

Together, inner and outer fortress held over ten thousand people.

"No wonder it's the longest-standing force in Nan Yun Prefecture."

Walking the street, Chen Mu felt the atmosphere around him and sighed inwardly.

The He family stronghold had endured for nearly three hundred years!

…

Boom~!

A sudden thunderous crash came from ahead.

"Ding ding dang dang~"

The clashing of weapons followed immediately.

"Wang, today is your Doomsday!"

"Don't speak so soon—who's the one dying?"

"Rest assured, it'll be you!"

Thud~

Boom!

Muffled thuds and impacts rang out continuously.

Hearing it, Chen Mu quickened his pace, sprinted a hundred meters, turned down a street to his right, and saw two wandering martial artists fighting openly in the street.

From the internal energy fluctuations, their realm was not low—Postnatal Seventh Layer!

They fought without restraint, ignoring the pedestrians entirely.

As they battled, they moved, smashing everything in their path.

A boy, five or six years old, froze in terror, too stunned to run.

He was about to be caught in the crossfire…

Whoosh~

Chen Mu's form blurred; he shot forward along the ground, covering over twenty meters in an instant, scooped up the boy, and retreated far from the battle zone.

"Hold it!"

An angry shout rang out from behind.

A guard squad of over a dozen men pushed through the crowd and charged toward the two rogue cultivators locked in fierce combat.

The two fighters acted as if they hadn't heard, still throwing themselves into the exchange with abandon, each trying to kill the other.

The result was...

Thud~! Thud~!

Two muffled thuds—the guard squad's leader kicked each of them apart with one kick apiece, sending them sprawling to the ground.

"Private fighting is forbidden inside the fortress. If the two of you have a grudge, please take your slaughter outside the fortress."

The guard squad's leader, expressionless, said in a low voice, "This is your first offense, so it's only a warning. If it happens a second time, you'll be expelled from the fortress!"

"..."

The two rogue cultivators on the ground rose to their feet in silence.

"My apologies, I understand."

"Sorry about that, haha~"

The two cupped their fists in salute and each offered an apology.

The guard squad's leader's expression didn't change as he continued coldly, "Don't forget to pay for the things you've damaged."

"I'll pay, I'll pay!"

"Yes, yes."

The two rogue cultivators forced out smiles and painfully reached for their wallets.

Seeing this, Chen Mu shook his head and turned to leave.

The He Family Fortress is managed pretty strictly—private fighting is banned inside, so how could anyone die?

"Thank you, big brother."

The boy who had left together with Chen Mu looked up at him and called out his thanks.

Chen Mu smiled, patted the boy's head, and said softly, "Don't run around alone. Go on home."

"Okay." The boy obediently nodded and waved, "Goodbye, big brother!"

Chen Mu raised a hand and waved back, watching the little boy leave.

"Brother, you're a righteous man. I'm Shen Ge, from Mingzhou. Might I have the honor of treating you to a drink?"

A warm, mellow voice rang out. Chen Mu turned his head and saw a man in his twenties wearing a grey-white long robe, of medium build, with fair skin, not particularly handsome, but with an elegant bearing—even a touch of sanctity—who was cupping his fist toward him with a smile and a bow.

"Brother Shen flatters me. It was merely a casual act."

Chen Mu returned the salute with cupped fists. "I'm Nie Feng, a local of Hengzhou. Since Brother Shen is from another province, it should be Nie who buys the wine."

Wearing a fake handle is convenient for getting things done.

"So it's Brother Nie!"

Shen Ge stepped forward and said heartily, "Meeting is fate. Brother Nie is righteous—this first round of drinks must be on me, and the next time we'll switch to Brother Nie. How about it?"

"Very well." Chen Mu smiled. "Brother Shen, after you!"

"After you." Shen Ge gestured at the same time.

The next moment, the two exchanged a smile and walked together.

Human interaction is truly wondrous.

Though it was Chen Mu's first time meeting Shen Ge, the two of them talked as if they were old friends of many years.

Chen Mu didn't ask Shen Ge about his specific background, and Shen Ge didn't ask about Chen Mu's either.

The two were like old friends who hadn't seen each other in years, unexpectedly bumping into each other—delighted yet at ease.

They found a restaurant, picked a table by the window, ordered a few dishes, and ate while chatting.

Just as they were chatting enthusiastically, a sudden commotion rose from the street.

"What a grand procession—who's arrived? The He Family Head actually came out of the fortress in person to welcome them."

"It's Sun Jindong! The head of the Four Directions Martial Hall—he actually came too."

"It's really 'Qi Moves Cold Mountain' Sun Jindong, the great hero Sun!"

"..."

Sun Jindong, a great hero?