Chapter 62

A piece of trash like Sun Jindong deserves to be called a hero?

Chen Mu, listening to the conversation of the pedestrians outside the window, felt an instinctive revulsion.

But the next moment he regained his composure, recalling the news he had heard and collected about Sun Jindong over this period, and his mouth twitched slightly.

On the surface, Sun Jindong was indeed a hero who valued loyalty, kept his promises, was generous, and loved to help others!

If anyone was short on cash, they could get a warm meal at the Sifang Martial Arts Hall and even receive travel money when they left.

The entrance fee for the Sifang Martial Arts Hall was the lowest in Nanyun Prefecture; as long as one passed the minimum bone-structure test, they could enter and learn a few moves.

If he promised someone something, he would see it through to the end, even if they were thousands of miles away.

It was precisely because of Sun Jindong's noble character, famous across several prefectures, that the Sifang Martial Arts Hall, which had only risen to prominence a few years ago, was listed as one of the top powers in Nanyun Prefecture.

Every apprentice of the Sifang Martial Arts Hall who achieved success and met the requirements for graduation was welcomed by all parties.

Whenever he heard this, Chen Mu wanted to laugh.

A murderer who wiped out entire families, a butcher, had actually become a widely acclaimed hero.

No wonder the original owner's obsession wouldn't fade!

Looking through the window at the procession walking down the street.

The first person Chen Mu saw was the current master of He Family Fortress, He Xianglong.

This He family master, in his early forties, had been at the Postnatal Perfection stage for nearly ten years; his blood and energy were as vigorous as a furnace, and his aura was perfectly rounded. Walking in the crowd, he was like a burning torch, extremely attractive.

Walking side-by-side with He Xianglong was a man in his fifties: Sun Jindong.

This was the first time Chen Mu had seen Sun Jindong in person, and his first impression was: thin!

Sun Jindong, with his broad frame, had a thin, long face and thin, long limbs, but it wasn't the emaciation of malnutrition; it was lean muscle.

His finger bones, arm muscles, and facial contours all exuded an introverted sharpness, contained but not revealed.

Only in his bright eyes did a sharp glint occasionally flash.

"This Sun Jindong is afraid he's close to the Fifth Stage of Innate."

Shen Ge's voice sounded, and Chen Mu's heart skipped a beat.

Close to the Fifth Stage of Innate!?

Ten years ago, Sun Jindong wasn't even at the Ninth Stage of Postnatal. In just ten years, he had reached the perfection of the Fourth Stage of Innate?

One must know that every stage of improvement in the Innate realm is much harder than in the Postnatal realm.

Because the Postnatal realm cultivates internal energy, while the Innate realm cultivates true qi.

The resources required to condense and nourish the two are dozens of times different.

Where did Sun Jindong get so many resources?

Relying on one Sifang Martial Arts Hall was not enough, far from enough.

"Is Brother Shen also Innate?"

Chen Mu suppressed the agitation in his heart, withdrew his gaze, looked at Shen Ge, and asked, "If I have offended, please forgive me."

"What's there to forgive?"

Shen Ge smiled, "My Innate cultivation is thanks to my sect. Without the care of my master and sect, I would be at most at the Seventh Stage of Postnatal."

"I am honored!"

Chen Mu raised his cup to toast, "That Brother Shen can sit at the same table with a Postnatal like me while being Innate is truly admirable."

"Brother Nie, you are too kind. I also come from a commoner background and was only taken in as a disciple by my master due to a stroke of luck. I have no right to act like a noble family heir or consider myself superior." Shen Ge toasted back.

"That is also because Brother Shen has not forgotten his original intention." Chen Mu smiled, "How many people, the moment they escape the mud, immediately try to distance themselves from the past, wishing they could drape themselves in gold."

"Indeed."

Shen Ge sighed, "There are too few people who maintain their original heart. Brother Nie's phrase 'not forgetting one's original intention' captures the essence of life. Come, let's have a drink to 'not forgetting one's original intention'!"

"Good." Chen Mu filled his cup, and they toasted each other again.

This was the reason the two were chatting so happily.

Shared philosophy was one thing; Chen Mu was full of modern theories, which in an ancient feudal society made him a representative of broad knowledge.

He didn't know much about martial arts, but he could talk about all sorts of other things at will.

Shen Ge was shocked from time to time and would give him a thumbs up.

Over three days, the conversation never stopped.

Although he didn't press for Shen Ge's specific background, being Innate at twenty meant Shen Ge's sect must have a significant origin.

Chen Mu took this opportunity to ask Shen Ge about the state of the Innate realm.

Shen Ge didn't hide anything and told him everything he knew.

One sentence made Chen Mu's heart jump.

"Innate martial artists have sharp senses, and their bodies are perfectly integrated; the deeper their cultivation, the more 'leak-proof' they are."

At first glance, this refers to the physical characteristics of the Innate realm.

But upon closer reflection, it had an underlying meaning.

Perfectly integrated? Leak-proof?

Compared to Postnatal martial artists, Innate martial artists naturally have more powerful five senses and a deeper perception of aura.

Whether it is toward themselves or others.

If there is something unusual about someone else, those with deep cultivation can identify it.

What does this mean?

It means that even though Chen Mu was wearing a human-skin mask, Shen Ge had likely recognized it!

It's just that Shen Ge didn't point it out.

At this, Chen Mu was shocked, and he increasingly recognized the nobility of Shen Ge's character.

If it were anyone else, seeing someone wear a human-skin mask every day, they would have long since ignored them.

Over the three days, Shen Ge never showed any sign of it.

This was very rare.

Chen Mu guessed that he said this to remind him indirectly.

In the eyes of an Innate martial artist with deep cultivation, a human-skin mask is useless!

A few more looks, and they would recognize it.

This point was very important.

Until now, whenever Chen Mu had acted while wearing the human-skin mask, he had only encountered Postnatal martial artists.

But whether it was assassinating Guo family disciples or avenging the original owner by killing Sun Jindong, he would sooner or later encounter the Innate realm!

Since the human-skin mask was ineffective against the Innate, he would have to be faster and more swift when he struck!

……

……

Sun Jindong was not the only leader of a power to come to He Family Fortress to offer birthday wishes.

Xie Chenglin, the master of the Iron Spear Sect, which also belonged to the top powers of Nanyun Prefecture, had also come.

In addition, the Tyrant Sword Sect and the Three Absolutes Valley had each sent elders as representatives to offer birthday wishes.

The Zheng family, Guo family, Pan family, Gao family, Li family, Tang family...

As well as the Golden Blade Sect from the neighboring Huaiyang Prefecture and the Sword-Washing Sect from Changying Prefecture, all had representatives at the Innate realm who had rushed over.

For a time, He Family Fortress was gathered with Innate experts.

With so many Innate experts gathered in one place, no one dared to fight privately inside or outside He Family Fortress.

On the fourth day of Chen Mu's arrival.

Early in the morning, the gates of the inner and outer fortresses of He Family Fortress were opened, all shops on the streets were temporarily closed, and every street was filled with round tables.

To celebrate the old master's hundredth birthday, the He family opened a flowing banquet; anyone who entered the fortress could take a seat and eat and drink for free.

After Chen Mu had eaten in the morning and at noon, he went with Shen Ge to the entrance of the inner fortress at dusk to offer his birthday gift.

Although it was a flowing banquet, it was a major birthday after all, so the wandering jianghu martial artists who came all offered some kind of gift.

Ten taels of silver was not much, and five taels would also do.

Except for a small number of thick-skinned people, most people gave something.

Chen Mu put down one hundred taels of silver, just as meal money.

When it was Shen Ge's turn...

"Yaoyue Martial Sect, Shen Ge, on behalf of my master, offers a 'Divine Origin Pill' to wish the old master a life as long as the Southern Mountains and prosperous martial fortune!"

Shen Ge held an exquisite, small jade box in both hands and announced his sect's name in a clear voice.

The steward responsible for recording the names was stunned.

Everyone else around was also dumbfounded.

At the entrance of the inner fortress, there was suddenly a deathly silence.

Chen Mu was also a bit dazed.

Yaoyue Martial Sect?

This was a top power that had been passed down for over a thousand years and was famous throughout the Great Zhou, one of the seven great martial sects!

"Yao... Yaoyue Sect, Shen Ge? You... you are the 'Flying Rainbow Young Master' ranked seventy-eighth on the Hidden Dragon List, Shen Ge, Hero Shen!?"