Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
“A scroll of a manual. A woman left it here,” Yang Dingtian responded.
Mu Liancheng’s expression instantly changed. He immediately turned to close all the windows and doors, he stopped for a moment to listen if there were anyone around. He then walked in front of Yang Dingtian and knelt down. “Cloud Heaven City’s Mu Shun pays his respects to Young Lord!”
Yang Dingtian was alarmed as he quickly went forward to help Mu Liancheng up, he quickly said, “No, no, no. Please stand up. Why is Owner Mu behaving so respectfully?”
Mu Liancheng insisted on kneeling and wouldn’t get up. “Young Lord might not know this, but I was originally City Lord Ximen’s personal servant. But I committed a grave sin and was sent to this place to serve a penal sentence. Would Young Lord please listen to what I am going to say?”
Subsequently, Mu Liancheng spoke about past events with detail.
Mu Liancheng’s original name was Mu Shun and he was Ximen Wuya’s sword servant. He was the closest and most trusted individual to Ximen Wuya. He had been following Ximen Wuya since he was just over ten years old. They might have a master and servant relationship on the surface, but Ximen Wuya treated him like an elder brother. (Sword servants have a lower status than sword attendants. However, with Ximen Wuya’s status when he was still younger, he wasn’t qualified to have a sword attendant)
More than ten years ago, Mu Shun fell in love with a woman and was obsessed with her. Who would have expected her to be the enemy’s sexual entrapment? She got together with Mu Shun just because she wanted to harm Ximen Wuya. One day, she took the chance when Mu Shun didn’t notice and actually coated the ‘Extinguish Black Poison’ on Ximen Wuya’s sword.
Back then, Ximen Wuya wasn’t the Cloud Heaven City Lord yet, but it was the almost time for the Grand Martial Duel for the position of the city lord. Because of the contaminated sword, Ximen Wuya’s strength suffered a huge decline and nearly failed when he was just about to succeed in the strive for the city lord position. However, Ximen Wuya was a heavenly genius, thus, despite being inflicted with poison, he still defeated everyone and obtained the position as the city lord. Afterwards, his body was severely injured and his cultivation had declined and reversed for several years.
On the day of the Grand Martial Duel, the woman who was in a mutual affection with Mu Shun had suddenly vanished. Mu Shun was astonished and enraged, he felt extremely remorseful and guilty. He knelt in front of Ximen Wuya and was about to draw his sword to commit suicide. However, Ximen Wuya stopped him and said, “I trust that you will never try to hurt me. Death is easy, living on is the challenging part.”
Mu Shun immediately dispelled the thought of dying. Even if he was going to commit suicide, he had to find that woman first and kill her.
After spending eight months, Mu Shun finally encountered that woman again. The woman who captivated him, the woman whom he hated to the bones. However, she was drenched in blood at that moment and was being pursued, someone else had wanted to kill and silence her.
Most importantly, it seemed that she was pregnant. From the calculation of dates, it was evident that it was Mu Shun’s child.
Hence, Mu Shun wielded his sword and rushed to rescue the woman. But as there was an endless stream of pursuers, the duo had to continue fleeing. Mu Shun was originally there to kill her but ultimately rescued her. He was ashamed to return back to Cloud Heaven City, thus he brought the woman along and fled all the way to the northwest continent’s beach which was located in the extreme south. As he was about to travel on the boat and conceal themselves on the southwest’s Savage Lands, she unexpectedly gave birth.
Therefore, the two of them were delayed since she had to give birth to their child on the beach, this was his daughter now, named, Mu Lianyi.
Mu Shun didn’t even have time to snip his child’s umbilical cord before the enemies arrived. He desperately tried to fight against them, but it was too difficult to do it all by himself. He was truly desperate at that time, he didn’t even mind if he had to die, however, he didn’t want his child who was just born to fall into the vicious hands of the enemy.
Just as the family of three was about to be slaughtered, Ximen Wuya appeared and immediately killed all the enemies. As it turns out, Ximen Wuya had been searching for Mu Shun for a month now, he happened to hear the sound of fighting from a few miles away. He was actually able to hurry over in time.
Mu Shun was truly overwhelmed with emotions and wanted to die from guilt. He knelt in front of Ximen Wuya and said that he and the woman could die, however, he pleaded Ximen Wuya to spare his daughter and bring her back to Cloud Heaven City, even if she had to become a slave or a servant.
Ximen Wuya let out a light sigh and tossed a bag of money to Mu Shun, he said, “You aren’t suited for a blood-filled life. Bring the woman and child to live a regular life on the Savage Lands.”
Finishing his statement, Ximen Wuya left gracefully. He left behind Mu Shun, the woman, and the wailing baby on the beach. Consequently, Mu Shun came to this place and relied on the bag of gold he got from Ximen Wuya to build this family business, the Mu Clan Docks. He had since changed his name to Mu Liancheng.
At this moment, Mu Liancheng was trembling while crying, he spoke with a sobbing voice, “There were countless times that I wanted to bring the child up north and visit the City Lord. But I didn’t dare as I was too ashamed.”
“It was only until the recent months that the Young Lady riddled with wounds appeared in front of me and told me that City Lord was no longer around… This was shocking news for me and my innards nearly burst out… If I didn’t have a daughter to take care of, I would have immediately followed the City Lord. However, the Young Lady handed this scroll to me and said that a few months later, maybe a half a year or even a year later, a man would come to retrieve this scroll. She said that man is her husband and the future Cloud Heaven City Lord.”
“I have been longing and expecting your arrival every day, I have finally waited long enough for Young Lord’s arrival.”
After finishing his words, Mu Liancheng had completely crumbled onto the ground as he was crying and unable to get up. It was at this moment that Yang Dingtian finally understood why Yanyan would leave the invaluable Pig Slaying Sword Art’s scroll in this place. Mu Liancheng was definitely a person that was worth trusting, if he couldn’t be trusted then there was no one else that could be trusted in this world.
“Uncle… Uncle Mu, please get up,” Yang Dingtian went forward to help Mu Liancheng to his seat.
“This old servant doesn’t dare to…” Mu Liancheng quickly said, “Young Lord, please wait a moment, I will immediately go bring the scroll here.”
“No hurries Uncle Mu, please take a seat first.” Yang Dingtian asked, “I have things to ask you. What is this martial contest for marriage about your daughter?”
Mu Liancheng waved his hand and said, “You don’t have to bother with such trivial matters. You have more important things to do. My daughter will be fine, you don’t have to worry.”
At first, Yang Dingtian really didn’t want to be involved in this, but he didn’t expect for Mu Liancheng to be in such a close relationship with Ximen Wuya, so close that he couldn’t just ignore them.
“I must bother you about this matter.” Yang Dingtian said, “Our Cloud Heaven City might have encountered a great change, but the unruly forces of the Savage Lands are something that we cannot disregard. How powerful is the Raging Flames Castle? What is the cultivation class of their master? If I cannot deal with them, I will immediately send a letter to the northwest continent and get Big Brother Ximen Lie to lead the Black Blood Cavalry and eradicate this Raging Flames Castle. Our ladies from the Cloud Heaven City must not be bullied.”
“With Young Lord’s statement, this old servant would die feeling everything was worth it.” Mu Liancheng said, “However Young Lord, this matter isn’t so simple. The Raging Flames Castle isn’t trying to forcefully marry my daughter because of her looks. It’s because of a treasure.”
“Treasure? What treasure?” Yang Dingtian asked.
Mu Liancheng explained, “Young Lord should know that our Mu Clan Docks make a living by harvesting pearls. I don’t know if it’s a fortune or misfortune when one of the past days, my daughter, Lianyi, actually harvested a rare treasure during her dive. This treasure is priceless and is enough to support ten… no even a hundred Mu Clan Docks.”
“It’s actually so valuable? What kind of pearl is it?” Yang Dingtian asked with astonishment. This was a world where martial prowess ruled supreme, hence the value of treasures were highly regarded, not much lesser than at modern-day Earth.
“Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl!” Mu Liancheng replied.
“Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl!” Yang Dingtian’s body shivered. It was unbelievable, the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl was the thing he needed the most right now.
The Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl is formed by the extreme cold of heaven and earth. It would normally grow ten thousand meters under the sea within the Icy Mystic Jade. However, when there was an earthquake under the sea, the solid Icy Mystic Jade shattered and the Fire Immunity Chilling Jade was released, it floated in the vast sea. This Mu Lianyi was truly fortunate to actually harvest this treasure which could only be found once in a century in this vast sea.
Mu Liancheng was right. This Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl was more valuable than one hundred Mu Clan Docks and was even considered priceless to others. As the name implied, the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl could withstand almost all types of powerful fire attribute attacks. If a Mystic Martial Warrior had a Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl, even if the opponent was a Grandmaster class expert, the pearl bearer wouldn’t suffer any damage if the attack was of fire attribute. Hence, if anyone possessed this Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl, it would be equivalent to having a few more lives.
To some people, this might just be an absolute treasure. Yang Dingtian was one of the people that needed this Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl the most. Because after he obtains the second rank of the Pig Slaying Sword Art, he would have to move to the Fire Cloud Devil Cave, where there was a ninth-grade coal-seam fire. This was where Yang Dingtian was going to forge his own sword soul’s young blade.
(TL note: 地火 was previously translated as earth fire, but I realized that it should be coal-seam fire)
(TL note: The direct translation for 雏剑 = Chick Sword, which I find weird, hence I shall name it as young blade first)
He had been unconscious and recuperating for nearly more than the past two months in the Sea of Hades. Yanyan took around a month to bring him to the Sea of Hades. Hence, there were less than twenty days before the ninth-grade coal-seam fire was going to blossom, once he missed it, he would have to wait for another decade before its next blossom.
This place was several thousands of miles from the Fire Cloud Devil Cave, hence the time that was given to Yang Dingtian to find the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl was extremely pressing. He never would have expected to effortlessly find the thing that he needed the most here since it was also the hardest to find if not for this chance. How could he not be pleasantly surprised?
In order to defeat Dongfang Bingling, Yang Dingtian had to cultivate a sword soul in the shortest amount of time possible. Despite the fact that only Grandmaster class experts were able to cultivate sword souls in history, Yang Dingtian wanted to create a miracle.
It could be said that forging the young blade and cultivating the sword soul was the most important thing to Yang Dingtian now. It was also the most important segment for Yang Dingtian to grow stronger. This young blade was the first step and also the most crucial step for the sword soul. Even though it was merely a young blade, its power would be astonishing and enough to make Yang Dingtian’s combat strength rise by a few classes.
However, the Fire Cloud Devil Cave was guarded by a demonic beast, the Heaven Flames Phoenix. It was a formidable demonic beast that wasn’t inferior to that Abyss Overlord which guarded the ten thousand years blood black gold.
Twenty years ago, Dongfang Niemie once ventured into the Fire Cloud Devil Cave and was completely helpless against the Heaven Flames Phoenix. On the contrary, he nearly perished at the time even though he was already close to being a Grandmaster class expert.
Thus, if one wanted to kill an unsealed Heaven Flames Phoenix, it was like a lunatic’s dream. But with the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl, all the problems would be easily solved. That was because, with it, Yang Dingtian could resist against the fire attribute attack for a split moment and enter the Fire Cloud Devil Cave.
It was as though everything was destined. Just as Yang Dingtian had to go forge his young blade in the Fire Cloud Devil Cave, the Mu Clan Docks actually had the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl.
For him to successfully obtain this Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl, there was going to be trouble. The influential Raging Flames Castle within this thousand miles radius had their eyes on the pearl. They even wanted both the woman and the treasure.
Yang Dingtian asked, “This Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl is such a rare treasure. The Mu Clan Docks should be trying to keep it a secret. Why did information about this spread?”
“Who are we to blame?” Mu Liancheng said, “We knew that an innocent man would be guilty if they tried to hide a treasure, hence when we obtained the treasure pearl, I immediately hid it and gave the order for everyone involved to seal their lips. I wanted to wait for Young Lord to come and retrieve the scroll and hand it to you at the same time. This would represent my trifling intentions, but who would have thought that my clan had a traitor…”
Mu Liancheng clenched his teeth and continued, “Due to the fact that I had been living with guilt all this time. I felt that I wasn’t worthy for such a wonderful life, this was why I had been doing generous everywhere to make up for my sins. So, my clan adopted many orphans as our adoptive sons, among them was Mu Ze, he was clever and quick-witted. I liked him the most and even treated him as if he was my own birth son despite the fact that he was an adoptive son, Mu Ze was already considered half the owner of the Mu Clan Docks.”
“When Lianyi harvested the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl, there were only three individuals who knew of it. Me, Lianyi and the… traitorous son, Mu Ze. Ever since a long time ago, Mu Ze had always admired Lianyi and wanted to marry her. While I was glad to see it happen, Lianyi didn’t like Mu Ze that way and even said that he was frivolous and crafty. Mu Ze had requested for Lianyi’s hand in marriage, I was willing in my heart but how could I violate Lianyi’s will. Hence, Mu Ze harbored a grudge. He said that I was only kind to him on the surface and actually didn’t treat him as my own son, that I was treating him like an outsider.”
“One day, Mu Ze wanted to forcefully violate Lianyi, however, he wasn’t a match for her. Due to her anger at the moment, Lianyi beat him up so much that he vomited blood. Mu Ze had resentment in his heart and immediately left the Mu Clan Docks to pledge allegiance to the Raging Flames Castle. He gave out the information that the Mu Clan possessed the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl. Hence, the Raging Flames Castle sent a marriage proposal for Lianyi and even asked for the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl as the dowry, they even told the Mu Clan Docks to reply in ten days.”
“Hmph, such an ingrate. He must be ripped into pieces,” Yang Dingtian sneered and said.
Mu Liancheng said, “To be honest, I have come to acceptance after living half my life, I don’t even want to bother about treasures like the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl. If the Raging Flames Castle wants it, I can give it to them, however, I am unwilling to push my daughter into a living hell. That Young Lord from the Raging Flames Castle is a brute, but that wasn’t a good enough reason to reject their marriage proposal. Hence the reason why I arranged for this martial contest for marriage. I hope to find a good man for Lianyi to marry within ten days, this would give me the reason to reject them.”
Immediately after, Mu Liancheng looked at Yang Dingtian and said, “But now that Young Lord is here, everything is settled. I will hand the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl and scroll to you. You should take it and leave immediately.”
“What about the Mu Clan Docks?” Yang Dingtian asked.
Mu Liancheng laughed and replied, “I’m not afraid of death, However, I’m afraid I would die without any purpose. Furthermore, I should have died long ago. Now that I can repay the City Lord a favor, I would be able to die a happy man. But if Young Lord is willing and not afraid of a burden, please take my daughter and leave this place. It doesn’t matter if she is going to be a servant or slave, it would be her blessing.”
“I will not agree to it.” Yang Dingtian spoke resolutely and decisively, “I will not look on without doing anything for the Mu Clan Docks’ trouble. If I don’t solve the problem here, I will not leave.”
“Young Lord…” Mu Liancheng spoke loudly, “Cloud Heaven City is more important.”
“If I can’t even solve a small problem, am I even qualified to talk about a bigger one?” Yang Dingtian said, “I’m not afraid to speak honestly. I really do need the Fire Immunity Chilling Pearl, however, if I don’t help the Mu Clan Docks solve their trouble. I will not take the pearl.”
“The Raging Flames Castle has great power and we truly are not a match for them,” Mu Liancheng stated.
Yang Dingtian said, “I mentioned it before. If I cannot handle it, there is still Big Brother Ximen Li and the others. Our Cloud Heaven City might have experienced a drastic change, but it would still be an easy task to extinguish the Raging Flames Castle.”
“There isn’t enough time Young Lord.” Mu Liancheng said, “Tomorrow, the Raging Flames Castle’s Young Lord is going to come here and personally take Lianyi.”
“What is that Young Lord’s cultivation?” Yang Dingtian asked.
“The Raging Flames Castle’s Young Lord might be licentious and brutal, however, he is still a martial genius within this thousand miles radius. He’s 25 years old this year and doesn’t have a match against all the youths around here. I think he’s at least a nine-star Mystic Martial Warrior,” Mu Liancheng informed.
Nine-star Mystic Martial Warrior… this meant he was six classes above Yang Dingtian. Now that Yang Dingtian couldn’t use the Night Owl Giant Blade, it was indeed hard to guarantee his victory. Moreover, to prevent exposing his identity, he had to use a lance instead of a sword as his weapon, making it even more difficult for him to defeat his opponent. However, Yang Dingtian had another chance at advancing his class, this would be the second rank of the Pig Slaying Sword Art. If he was able to advance to five-star Mystic Martial Warrior, then Yang Dingtian would have the confidence to defeat the Raging Flames Castle’s Young Lord.
“Father…” At this moment, there was a clear and pleasant voice that came from the outside.
“It’s my daughter, Lianyi. She’s just in time to pay her respects to Young Lord,” Mu Liancheng spoke with delight.
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