Da Xuan Martial Saint

"Sir, honored sir?"

Xiao Lian followed closely behind Chen Mu, looking very startled at the moment.

Chen Mu had taken her up to the third floor, where she was guiding him, thinking that her chance to buy back her freedom with silver coins was within grasp again. She was still wondering about the face that lay beneath Chen Mu's black cloth hat when suddenly, he changed direction, taking the lead.

He then broke off several flower branches from the side of the road and swiftly threw them in quick succession.

The delicate branches, in Chen Mu's hands, burst forth with the sound of breaking air, like crossbow bolts, piercing directly through a room ahead, giving the unsuspecting Xiao Lian quite a fright, and leaving her at a loss, stuttering as she watched Chen Mu open the door opposite to reveal a room in complete disarray.

She had realized.

She seemed to have gotten herself involved in a terrible mess.

"Chen Mu!"

Yan Wansi's expression was extremely ugly as he stared at Chen Mu. Read exclusive adventures at empire

He was indeed a household general cultivated by the He Family, who had survived by a stroke of luck – a sword had struck his forehead in a past battle, nearly penetrating his Heavenly Spirit without damaging his brain. The He Family then faked his death, plunging him into the shadows to deal with unsavory matters for them.

He later left Yu City, gathered the entire Black Cloud bandits to serve the family's needs.

Just over two months ago, a group of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, under the guise of chivalry, attacked the Black Cloud bandits. He and his men had to hide and suffered significant losses while the Heavenly Sword Sect relentlessly pursued them. With no other choice, he employed a deceptive tactic to lead the pursuers away while he secretly returned to Yu City.

This was something even the He Family was unaware of.

Because he knew that the situation in Yu County had changed and that the He Family could no longer act recklessly as in the past. They had become cautious in everything they did, and as someone who had dealt with their dark affairs, contacting the He Family at this time was equally dangerous.

Accustomed to ransacking and robbing outside, he couldn't bear to remain hidden in a corner of Yu CIty. After more than a month of safety, his boldness grew, and he found that it was easy to hide one's identity in Yu City, especially in places of pleasure where no questions were asked – an ideal place for concealment.

He never imagined.

That he would still invite trouble.

And it was none other than Inspectorate's Metropolitan Commander Chen Mu, a nemesis to the He Family!

"Chen... Mu?"

Xiao Lian, who had remained outside and hadn't entered the room, also heard Yan Wansi's words. At first, she was bewildered, then her eyes widened slightly. In recent months, this name had been known to everyone in the Outer City.

Was he the Chen Mu?

The Inspectorate's Metropolitan Commander who rose from the lower class, ascending meteorically almost like a legend?!

For a lowly prostitute like her, even a local Prefecture Chief from the Eastern City District was an incredible VIP, but Chen Mu was a figure who stood atop the clouds in Yu County, an entity that even the 'VIPs' she knew of revered and could only look up to.

She had actually accompanied such a distinguished person.

And even...

...accepted bounty money from him...

Xiao Lian felt her head begin to spin.

...

"Black Cloud bandit, Yan Wansi."

Chen Mu stood with his hands behind his back, looking indifferently at Yan Wansi across from him, saying, "Are you going to come with me obediently, or do you want to suffer a bit before coming along?"

Yan Wansi's face was unspeakably grim. He knew about Chen Mu and was well aware of the level of his capabilities – a formidable character that hadn't been seen in Yu City for decades. Rising from the bottom in a few short years to be the Inspectorate's Metropolitan Commander, one of the highest authorities in Yu County, and even mastering two Artistic Conceptions.

With just three flower branches, he had forced Yan Wansi to a dead end, like toying with him, far beyond his ability to confront.

But following Chen Mu was equivalent to a death sentence given his past deeds; there could be no possible way out.

At that moment,

Yan Wansi's courage surged from desperation, and a ferocious glint flashed in his eyes. Suddenly, with a violent thrust of his spear, he aimed for the back of a young girl in the center of the room, whose dance costume was torn and disheveled.

"Stubborn fool."

Chen Mu's detached voice echoed as he suddenly vanished from the spot, leaving behind a faint trace of a Thunder Arc in the air. In an instant, he appeared in front of the girl, reached from her waist, grasped Yan Wansi's short spear, then flicked and shook it.

Yan Wansi felt an overwhelming force he couldn't withstand; his hand split open, blood dripping down, and he staggered back several steps, feeling his Qi-Blood in turmoil, unable to move for a moment.

Swish.

Chen Mu casually crushed the short spear into a ball of iron and then moved beside Yan Wansi, placing his hand on his shoulder. Yan Wansi tried to resist, but felt his body go numb and completely limp on one side.

Only then did Chen Mu turn his head to look at the disheveled girl, his eyes devoid of pity, merely glancing at her before saying indifferently, "Hehuan Sect?"

The girl had been cowering there, feigning pitiful cries.

Upon hearing Chen Mu's words, she paused, then her crying abruptly stopped. She revealed a coquettish smile and giggled, "It seems I can't hide anything from Lord Chen's eyes. Do I count as having assisted you in capturing the criminal?"