Chapter 168 – Heaven and Earth Shift, People Return; Seeds Are Sown, Living Ghost - Part 3

Early spring arrived.

In the manor courtyard, Li Yuan trained shirtless under a heavy load, gripping his Dragon-Fanged Spear as he thrust repeatedly. Each strike was like a venomous serpent lashing out from thick undergrowth—fast, vicious, and perfectly uniform in angle and trajectory, every single time.

The air crackled with each jab.

He unleashed six thrusts in a row, all converging on the exact same spot in midair, angles overlapping precisely. Then, with a mere shift of thought, he launched another onslaught of stabs, each blow landing in a new location. But once again, all strikes converged on a single pinpoint.

This was a seventh rank technique he had acquired called Lock-Throat Spear. He was close to mastering it. Aside from spending one skill point at the final bottleneck, all his progress had been honed through personal training.

Compared to the continuous onslaught of the Dark Grasp Linked Spear he had learned before, Lock-Throat Spear emphasized pinpoint accuracy. If Li Yuan set his sights on a fly’s left wing, he would never so much as nick its right.

After finishing his Lock-Throat Spear practice, the young man flipped his palm, and the Dragon-Fanged Spear suddenly turned lithe in his grasp. What had once been the venomous thrust of a snake erupting from the brush transformed into a graceful bird dancing through his fingertips.

The spear tip pecked like a bird’s beak, darting in all directions—each attack appearing in a flash, then vanishing just as fast, leaving no trace. It was as though the spear had come alive, flitting from east to west in a single heartbeat.

This new skill was Five-Fingers Darting Through the Forest Spear, a seventh rank spear skill Li Yuan was also cultivating. Rather than endless, flowing strikes or pinpoint accuracy, it emphasized agile, unpredictable maneuvers.

Once he had finished this routine, the spear changed again, taking on a heavier, more powerful feel. Moments later, it shifted yet again, swirling like a wandering dragon, its attack angles as varied as waves on the sea. Then, in another instant, the spear became utterly simple. There were no flashy flourishes, yet every unassuming move hid a deadly trap.

These three subsequent spear arts were respectively called Connecting Staff, Offering the Plum Blossom, and Origin Parent-Child. All were seventh rank skills.

Despite being at the peak of sixth rank, Li Yuan was training in seventh rank skills. He cultivated both spear and blade, and because he did so in reverse order—having practiced the blade first, then spear—his progress came swiftly. Working on all five spear styles at once hardly slowed him down.

By the time he finished his practice, the sky was completely dark. But tonight proved different from any before.

A letter had arrived and been placed at his side.

It was from Yan Mu.

Its message was simple; he was coming back.

Li Yuan handed the letter to Yan Yu, who read it and smiled. “Husband, you’re going to be an uncle now.”

Li Yuan shook his head in mild protest. “He and I have always been like sworn brothers. I’ll go meet him personally.”

Yan Yu corrected him with a laugh. “He’s your nephew, not your brother!”

Li Yuan just grinned. Still, he took precautions. That very night, he went to his secret chamber and prepared a fake life chronicle, just in case. He had his suspicions about Yan Mu’s connections; eight years earlier, Yan Mu had left for the Jade Capital, and Li Yuan was certain he wasn’t traveling alone. It stood to reason that Yan Mu hailed from a major power; how else could he have survived the constant turmoil in the Jade Capital, especially at such a young age?

Even so, Li Yuan would welcome Yan Mu as both nephew and friend, with genuine warmth. But if Yan Mu’s powerful backers got involved, Li Yuan intended to be ready.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Late spring.

After grueling study and countless practice sessions, Li Yuan fused his six different spear styles into one overarching skill, which he named Six Convergences. Like City Toppler—an ultimate seventh rank blade skill—Six Convergences was similarly an ultimate seventh rank spear skill.

Where City Toppler could cleave mountains in a single, overpowering strike, Six Convergences allowed Li Yuan to launch spear attacks from all angles, arriving in the blink of an eye and packing tremendous piercing force. Though these newly fused moves didn’t greatly increase his raw power, they substantially boosted his combat versatility.

Just then, a message arrived via carrier pigeon from disciples, who had been on standby to welcome Yan Mu. He had reached the Eternal Rest River crossing and would spend a night on the road, arriving at Antelope Pass in two days.

Li Yuan shared the news with Yan Yu and Xue Ning, then saddled a fast horse, grabbed two pots of fine wine, and sped off through the north gate.

Two days later, he reached the border region leading into the three counties. All around him, wildflowers were in full bloom, their vibrant colors drifting on the breeze, perfuming the air for miles.

Dismounting casually, Li Yuan settled at the edge of Antelope Pass, sitting in the soft grass beneath an ancient tree to wait. An hour passed before a slim figure in white rode through the pass, surrounded by Blood Blade Sect disciples. Li Yuan recognized him instantly—Yan Mu.

Yan Mu, now 25 years old, was two years older than Li Yuan. This was the age when a man’s ambitions burned brightly, especially for someone who had spent years in the Jade Capital. Yet to Li Yuan’s eyes, Yan Mu looked utterly exhausted and crestfallen, his face lined with hardship beyond his years.

Scanning him briefly, Li Yuan glimpsed a combat power of 500~530, with a faint 600~630 at peak condition. That confirmed Li Yuan’s earlier suspicions. Clearly, Yan Mu carried major connections. Otherwise, there was no way he could have survived in the Jade Capital all these years with only that level of cultivation.

Still, Li Yuan pushed those thoughts aside, hoisted the wine jars, and strode forward, arms spread in a welcoming embrace.

Yan Mu saw Li Yuan and froze. He almost didn’t recognize the friend he’d left behind—a once-slight, earnest teenager now standing tall and imposing, exuding a commanding aura before he even got close.

Meanwhile, Yan Mu himself had changed just as much. Once so full of pride and purpose, he now sported stubble, weariness, and a haunted look in his eyes.

Eagerly, Yan Mu leapt down from his horse and shouted, “Uncle!”

Li Yuan took a few steps, pulling him into a quick embrace. Laughing, he teased, “My sword brother, looks like you didn’t get enough to drink in the capital!”

“Uhh...” Yan Mu stared, momentarily dazed.

Li Yuan gave a hearty laugh. “If you’d really had your fill, you wouldn’t look so worn-out, would you?”

Yan Mu forced a smile, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before lamenting, “No matter how grand the capital may be, there’s no place like home. This place really is better.”

Li Yuan tossed him a jar of wine. “I’m not bragging. This stuff’s brewed at my other wife’s tavern. Its reputation travels far and wide.”

Yan Mu returned a small grin. He was used to fine wines and doubted anything from such a remote corner could measure up. Still, the worries he’d had about coming back seemed to vanish. His friend was still the same friend.

After all, years ago, he had entrusted his young aunt to Li Yuan in the hope they might form a match. Even calling Li Yuan

uncle

felt surprisingly comfortable.

With a flourish, Yan Mu broke the seal on the wine jar, bringing it to his lips. Pausing briefly, he saw Li Yuan lift his own jar in a distant toast. Yan Mu laughed. “This first drink isn’t really about the wine but rather our reunion as sworn brothers!”

The two exchanged smiles and took hearty swigs. The moment the liquor hit his throat, Yan Mu blinked in surprise. “This wine tastes wonderfully... sweet—”

“Sweet as hell!” Li Yuan crowed.

Yan Mu faltered for a second, then laughed along. “Sweet as hell!”

Li Yuan clapped him on the shoulder. “Now that you’re home, stick around a while. Better yet, make this place your permanent home. What’s so great about the Jade Capital, anyway?”

Yan Mu’s expression darkened, as if recalling something, then he let out a long sigh.

Li Yuan asked, “Come on, a grown man like you. What’s with all the sighing?”

A self-mocking look flickered across Yan Mu’s face. “I was too young and naive. I truly believed I was escorting a decent official, someone who cared about the people. But he turned out to be just another self-serving fraud. His upright official act was a disguise, a mask. He tricked me!”

Anger overtook him. Fueled by wine, Yan Mu threw back his head and let out a howl of frustration. “Where have all the ancient sages gone, the ones who truly served the common folk? Where?!”

Li Yuan gave his

nephew

a curious glance.

Is he really so worried about the fate of the realm?

Gesturing to the Blood Blade Sect disciples nearby, he said, “You all head on first.”

They bowed respectfully and rode off. Before long, the wide-open road was left with only Li Yuan and Yan Mu, their horses side by side.

Li Yuan asked quietly, “That so-called upstanding official...did he die?”

“No...” Yan Mu’s voice sounded bitter. “He was never some frail administrator needing my protection. He was actually an inner disciple of a powerful faction, stronger than me the whole time, just playing weak. He went to the Jade Capital because he’d heard the Red Lotus Prince would soon rise up. He wanted to report that to his sect in advance.”

“What sect was it?”

“Holy Tree Temple,” Yan Mu replied, tilting his head back. “Do you know why he was so eager to inform them?”

Li Yuan played along, giving a slight shake of his head.

“I only discovered it recently...” Yan Mu clenched his fists. “That bastard didn’t warn them so they could unite to stop the Red Lotus Prince and save the empire from chaos. He wanted all the major factions to step back and let the rebels overrun the capital. Once the rebels had done most of the dirty work, then they’d swoop in to reap the benefits.”

Yan Mu practically roared the words, then let his anger drain away with a self-deprecating smile. “I was such a fool. Truly.”

Li Yuan sighed, patting him on the shoulder. “You’re not a fool, Yan Mu. In your place, I’d have done the same.”

Eyes reddening, Yan Mu glanced over, tears threatening to spill. “Good brother...”

They rode on until nightfall, stopping at the northernmost county of Southsky to find an inn. Over another round of drinking and talk, Yan Mu filled Li Yuan in on the rest of his story.

Years ago, he had gone off to seek a master, learning the Return-Willow Technique and climbing to the seventh rank. While traveling, he became friends with that supposedly upright official. The man, impressed by his talents, invited him along on the journey to the Jade Capital, supposedly for

protection

.

In truth, there were others in the party too, but Yan Mu got special treatment because his Return-Willow Technique turned out to be the fundamental technique of Holy Tree Temple. With Yan Mu’s promising talent, it was only a matter of time before he’d be asked to acknowledge the sect as his own.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

The next day.

Li Yuan and Yan Mu set off again in the early morning, arriving at Gemhill County by sundown. As soon as they entered the county, Li Yuan headed straight for Hundred Lotus Manor with his

nephew

in tow.

Waiting outside was Yan Yu, holding Sheng'er by the hand. A single crow perched on Sheng’er’s shoulder as she looked up and called, “Papa!”

With a smile, Yan Yu pointed to Yan Mu. “Sweetheart, that’s your cousin.”

"Cwuh-shun?” Sheng'er repeated, staring at the young man.

However, Yan Mu’s face suddenly froze. With a startled gasp, he blurted, “She...she’s a

natural undying husk

?”

Li Yuan’s gaze sharpened. Yan Mu realized he’d slipped up, grabbed Li Yuan’s arm, and pulled him aside to whisper urgently, “Uncle, you

can’t

let anyone see this child. If you do, it’ll bring disaster!”

“And why is that?” Li Yuan’s voice grew cool.

Yan Mu glanced around nervously. “You’ve been on the frontier. You don’t realize how bad things have gotten outside. Undying husks and martial sects are practically at war. But this child, her eyes are like jade.

“According to old records, that’s the mark of an extremely rare natural-born undying husk... Actually, I can’t even call her that. This is a

living ghost

. If any big sects see her, they’ll execute her on the spot. If the undying husks discover her, they’ll whisk her away, far from here, never to return!”