Chapter 401: The Cripple's Shocking Change
Returning from the Great Ruins, Qin Mu arrived at the Village of Elderly Disabled, only to find the village had become a domain of chicken dragons, noisy and ferocious, as if ready to wage war against the millions of Heavenly Feather Clan members.
Qin Mu killed the most troublesome chicken, roasted it, and only then did the other chicken dragons calm down and dare not cause trouble.
No one else was in the village, and Medicine Master had not returned either. Qin Mu had to leave a note, telling those who returned to the village to go to Granny Si's manor for the New Year, before continuing on his way.
At the Dense Water Pass, the garrison guarding this strategic fortress stared dumbfounded as millions of people approached. The defending soldiers numbered only a few tens of thousands—when had they ever seen such a spectacle?
Fortunately, Ling Yuxiu stepped forward and explained the intentions of these people, allowing the garrison commander to open the city gates and let them enter.
The food supply for so many people was a problem. The Heavenly Feather Clan only ate vegetarian food, no meat or fish, surviving on fruits, honey, and plant roots and stems along the way, with small appetites.
Even so, feeding millions of people was a huge issue.
Qin Mu inquired with Yu Zhaoging. These Heavenly Feather Clan members in their home world ate the fruits of the Dan Tree, a plant whose fruit was like a spiritual pill but rich in moisture, as clear and crystalline as crystal, while also possessing the benefits of a spiritual pill—eating one could sustain them for days without food or drink.
However, ordinary fruits could also fill their stomachs, though the taste was not good.
"Dan Tree... this kind of plant that bears spiritual pill-like fruits—neither the Great Ruins nor Yan Kingdom has it."
Qin Mu asked about the effects contained within the Dan Tree's fruit. Yu Zhaoging explained in detail. Qin Mu tried refining several batches of spiritual pills, and Yu Zhaoging tasted each one, shaking her head each time.
Finally, Qin Mu refined a furnace of Sky Void Pills. The pills were the color of the sky's blue, containing water vapor within, which took considerable effort on his part.
After tasting it, Yu Zhaoging praised, "The flavor is already about fifty to sixty percent there."
Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief and passed the pill formula to Yu Zhaoging, telling her to find a pharmacist among the Heavenly Feather Clan to refine it themselves, so they wouldn't have to forage for wild fruits everywhere.
"These Heavenly Feather Clan members are only suited to living in the warm southern regions. That's where they belong."
Qin Mu was troubled by how to arrange for these Heavenly Feather Clan members, and finally decided to leave the headache to Yan Feng Emperor, letting him worry about it.
At the Dense Water Pass, a tower ship slowly rose into the air, carrying Qin Mu's memorial and speeding toward the capital.
Qin Mu then summoned the Dragon Tamer Lord within the pass. The Dragon Tamer Lord revealed his true form, his massive body carrying millions of people on a leisurely cruise along the Surging River, a truly spectacular scene.
Yan Jingjing marveled in amazement. She had never seen such a colossal water creature like the Dragon Tamer Lord in the Sun Well, so she was naturally curious.
When they arrived south of Shu Province, Qin Mu had the Heavenly Feather Clan camp in the forests outside Shu Province City, while he himself took the girls directly to Granny Si's manor. Yu Zhaoging also followed him there, awaiting Yan Feng Emperor's decree.
When everyone arrived at Granny Si's manor, they were astonished. It was like a paradise on earth, every place like a fairyland, with spiritual energy so dense it could condense into droplets. Moreover, the place was unusually lively, with many palace maids bustling about, tidying this and that. Ling Yuxiu was surprised and called over two maids: "Jian Qi, Qin Qi, aren't you supposed to be serving the Empress Dowager? Why are you here?"
These two maids were the ones who had once escorted Qin Mu to prevent an ambush by Little Poison King Fu Yuanqing. They quickly bowed to her and Qin Mu, each revealing a dimple on their cheeks, one on the left and one on the right, complementing each other amusingly.
Jian Qi smiled, "The Empress Dowager is here, so naturally we are here too."
Ling Yuxiu was surprised, "The Empress Dowager is also here? Why would she come here?"
Jian Qi and Qin Qi exchanged glances, both showing troubled expressions. Qin Qi hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "She came chasing after Jade Lord... Princess, don't tell anyone, or the Empress Dowager will have our heads!"
Jian Qi leaned close to Ling Yuxiu's ear and whispered, "Jade Lord has many women. When Jade Lord revealed his true face, without any features, they were all startled, but none left. These women are fierce—all are renowned figures in the martial world, some even sect leaders. They caused quite a ruckus, and even the Empress Dowager couldn't suppress them. Finally, the Empress Dowager couldn't take it anymore and fought a great battle with these women, but still couldn't suppress them, so they all moved in..."
Ling Yuxiu looked worried and glanced at Qin Mu, "Is Jade Lord also from the village?"
"My Medicine Master grandfather, also known as the Jade-Faced Poison King."
Qin Mu was overjoyed, "Then Medicine Master grandfather must be here too! He's trapped by these women and can't escape!"
Yan Jingjing looked around and saw that besides the palace maids and servant girls coming and going, there were also some strange creatures. Some were mermaids with human heads and fish bodies but fierce faces, and others had human bodies and fish heads, terrifying and grotesque, bustling about in the manor preparing for the New Year.
There were also tree spirits, flower demons, and all kinds of strange monsters (yaoguai) covering the mountains. The tree spirits had full heads of branches with a few leaves, very irritable, often getting into fights with deer demons.
"You little brat, bringing so many girls home for the New Year?"
As they watched, suddenly a fragrant breeze swept over. Everyone followed the scent and was stunned. A beautiful woman walked toward them. This woman didn't seem like a mortal but rather like someone who had stepped out of myth and legend, with a divine beauty, flawless and without any blemish.
The girls were all stunned, feeling somewhat inferior, yet involuntarily feeling admiration and closeness.
"Auntie!"
Si Yunxiang stepped forward, hopping with joy, "You're here too!"
Granny Si smiled, "Xiang girl, stay away from my Mu'er."
Si Yunxiang's face darkened, and she said angrily, "Auntie, we're family, why are you siding with outsiders?"
Granny Si set her aside and walked straight toward the other girls, sizing them up, and laughed, "Mu'er was raised by me, much closer than you. Xiang girl, when you were little, I never held you. Mu'er, Xiang girl is a fox spirit, full of little schemes. You need to be careful of her."
Hu Ling'er jumped up and shouted, "I knew she was a fox spirit! Granny, I've been watching over the young master very well, not giving any outside little fox spirits a chance to get close to him!"
Granny Si came to Qin Mu's side and raised her hand to touch his head, then said angrily, "You've grown! Won't you bend down?"
Qin Mu quickly bent over, and Granny Si touched his head, sighing, "You're almost as tall as the butcher who slaughters pigs. How did you grow so fast? Already flirting and bringing a few little girls back to see me..."
Her eyes reddened, and she was about to cry again, "You've been away for a year or two, and now you're about to start a family..."
Qin Mu quickly said, "Granny, I'm not starting a family; it was Blind Grandpa who forced it! You've met Yuxiu before. This is the Sun Guardian among the Sun Watchers, the one who drove away the National Teacher on the sun ship back then—her name is Yan Jingjing! And this is the chieftain of the Heavenly Feather Clan from the Heavenly Feather World, Yu Zhaoging. I said I was coming here for the New Year, so they all followed."
Granny Si's tears turned into laughter, and she said, "It's good for the girls to meet their in-laws too. Come inside and sit!"
The girls all blushed. Yu Zhaoging, after all, was a clan chieftain, with strong cultivation and a top existence in the Heavenly Feather World. She said gracefully, "Senior Sister misunderstands. I am not the prince's concubine."
Granny Si looked at her, finding her appearance fresh and pleasing, liking her more and more, and laughed, "Call me Granny, no need to call me Senior Sister, that's too formal."
Yu Zhaoging hesitated for a moment, not knowing the customs of this world, so she had to call out, "Granny."
"Ah!" Granny Si responded sweetly, her heart blooming with joy.
Si Yunxiang stepped forward and said, "Granny..."
Granny Si immediately put on a stern face, "Call me Auntie!"
Si Yunxiang felt wronged and had to lower her head and call out, "Auntie." Granny Si led them to the palace where she lived, shooed Qin Mu out, and said, "Go to the side hall to find Cripple. That old man has suffered a loss and is crying and wailing."
Qin Mu quickly asked, "Which hall?"
"It's the same layout as in the village, the room Cripple usually stays in."
Qin Mu hurried out to look. Granny Si looked at the girls, growing happier and happier, and said to Yan Jingjing, "Sun Guardian, you're a bit thin. You need to eat more. But Yuxiu's physique is quite good, very sturdy. I've seen your father before, but I didn't speak to him. When should we invite the in-laws..."
Qin Mu found the hall where Cripple was staying. He saw Blind, Mute, Deaf, Butcher, and others all there, along with two Village Chiefs. Then he noticed that it wasn't two Village Chiefs—one lying on a recliner was the Village Chief without hands and feet, and the other in a wheelchair was Cripple, who had lost both legs!
Qin Mu rushed over and exclaimed, "Cripple Grandpa, what happened to you..."
Cripple had a mournful face and sobbed, "Mu'er, you're back? Your Cripple Grandpa has fallen!"
Qin Mu steadied himself, looked around, and showed a questioning expression. Blind said calmly, "The one who gouged out my eyes has appeared again and taken Cripple's divine legs. Mute went to the Great Thunderclap Temple to inform Old Horse and tell him to be careful. That person will likely go after him, aiming for his divine fists!"
Qin Mu's heart shook violently. He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Village Chief, who is this person?"
Before the Village Chief could speak, the burly Medicine Master walked in and said, "When I was fleeing for my life, I met Lingjing Daoist. Lingjing Daoist said there was a god-like existence hunting him, wanting to take his divine blood. He asked me to dissolve his divine blood to avoid death. I asked Lingjing Daoist, and he said that person was once a being on par with the Village Chief, calling himself a god."
The Village Chief exhaled a turbid breath and said, "His name is only one character, Han. His surname is very strange, Xing. He was a very arrogant person. But logically speaking, his age should be about the same as mine, and his lifespan should be exhausted within the next year or two."
"However, Lingjing Daoist said he looks very young, like a youth."
Medicine Master showed a worried expression and asked, "Based on your understanding of him, will he go after Old Horse? Old Horse is now the Tathagata, empty in all four aspects. He didn't come for the New Year and stayed alone on Mount Sumeru—there might be danger!"
Qin Mu couldn't help but ask, "Is this Xing Han really that strong? Can he break into the Great Thunderclap Temple?"
The Village Chief said calmly, "I don't know how strong he is now. But I know that if a person devotes their entire life's effort to train a certain part of the body to the divine realm, they can already match a false god. If they train all parts to the divine realm, they are not far from a true god. He will definitely go after Old Horse."