"The upright official was just his disguise, his mask, I was deceived by him!"
With that, he grew even more furious, fueled by the alcohol, and howled towards the sky in sheer anger and grief, "Where are the ancient sages who worried about the country and its people? Where are they?!!"
Li Yuan glanced at him in surprise. Was his nephew truly concerned about the country and its people?
He waved his hand behind him and said to the surrounding Blood Saber Sect disciples, "You all go ahead."
The Blood Saber Sect disciples cupped their fists, saluted respectfully, and then, following the Ancestor’s order, rode off on their horses.
In just a moment, on the long road, only two horses were left traveling side by side.
Only then did Li Yuan ask, "Is that upright official dead?"
"Not dead..."
Yan Mu said, "He wasn’t someone I needed to escort as an upright official at all, but rather an Inner Sect disciple of a major force. He was stronger than me but pretended to be weak.
The reason he went to the Jade Capital was that he knew the Red Lotus thieves were rising and wanted to inform his sect about it ahead of time."
"Which sect?"
"Divine Wood Hall," Yan Mu said, then looking upward, "Do you know why he rushed to report this news to the sect?"
Li Yuan shook his head cooperatively.
"I only found out recently..." As he spoke, Yan Mu clenched his fist, "That scoundrel told Divine Wood Hall not hoping for Divine Wood Hall to unite with other forces to suppress the Red Lotus thieves to prevent devastation.
He... he... he’s actually planning for the major forces to hold back, letting the Red Lotus thieves attack all the way to the Jade Capital City.
When the Red Lotus thieves have almost taken down the Royal Family, they plan to swoop in and reap the benefits."
Yan Mu almost roared out these words, and then, like a deflated ball, he laughed at himself, "I’m really stupid, truly."
Li Yuan sighed, patted Yan Mu’s shoulder, and comforted him, "Brother Yan, you’re not stupid; I would have done the same."
Yan Mu, emotionally turning his head, his eyes reddened with tears, said, "Good brother!"
The two rode on for a while, and as it got late, they stayed over in the northernmost Tian Nan County.
In the inn, the two drank freely again, then returned to their rooms.
Only then did Li Yuan learn some information about Yan Mu.
Back then, young Yan Mu went out to seek a master, learned the Willow Return Technique, and advanced all the way to Seventh Grade, then roamed the social world and unintentionally befriended an upright official.
The official, seeing his skills, invited him to travel together before heading to the Upper Capital, hoping for his escort.
Others from the social world traveled with them, but the official particularly looked after him.
Later, Yan Mu found out the reason.
This Willow Return Technique was actually a foundational cultivation skill of the "Divine Wood Hall," his talent was exceptional, and having reached Seventh Grade, he was to acknowledge his origins.
...
The next day, early morning, the two set out on their journey again and arrived at Shanbao County by dusk.
Entering the county, Li Yuan led his nephew straight to Baihua Manor.
In front of the manor, Lady Yan was already waiting with Xiaozhao.
The two dismounted, and Xiaozhao, with a crow on his shoulder, called out "Dad."
Lady Yan, pointing at Yan Mu, smiled and said, "That’s your cousin."
Xiaozhao pouted and was about to try saying "cousin," but Yan Mu frowned and suddenly exclaimed, "This is... Innate Corpse?"
Li Yuan slightly turned his head.
Yan Mu realized his slip, then pulled Li Yuan aside and whispered, "Uncle, this child must not be seen by others, or disaster will ensue."
"Why?"
Li Yuan’s expression started to turn cold.
Yan Mu said, "You’ve been in the borderlands, so you don’t know, but outside, corpses and Martial Artists are already irreconcilable.
This child’s eyes are like jade, described in ancient books as an extremely rare Innate Corpse.
No, it can’t even be called an Innate Corpse anymore.
This is a living Evil Ghost.
If any major faction’s Martial Artists see her, they will definitely kill without mercy.
If corpses see her, they’ll surely think of kidnapping her away, to travel thousands of miles, never to return!