Chapter 461: Yearning, Forget-Me-Not
Mu Yingxue stood stunned, tightly clutching the sachet in her hands. This girl in the black dress suddenly burst into tears.
Her first encounter with Qin Mu had been a chance meeting. To speak of deep feelings would naturally be nonsense. At that time, she only had a favorable impression of him, thinking he wasn't bad-looking, had good bearing and temperament, and matched her aesthetic preferences.
As a poison master, it was difficult to find a man who could get along with her. Those men were either scared to death by her or poisoned to death by her.
And Qin Mu was someone who might possibly accept her.
In the Western Lands, people both respected and feared poison masters, but no one dared to love a poison master.
Throughout history, not a few poison masters had ended up alone. Poison masters were moody and ruthless in their methods, so naturally no one dared to love them.
The sachet she had given Qin Mu, that handful of red beans—Qin Mu had kept them, wearing them on his person as he came to Thunder Mountain City in the Western Lands to find her. Mu Yingxue had just said she knew Qin Mu hadn't come for her sake, but seeing this bag of red beans, the fragility in her heart was suddenly touched.
A chance meeting, yet yearning persists to this day.
Qin Mu hadn't come to the Western Lands entirely because of the emperor and the national teacher's schemes. She still had a place in his heart.
"Silly boy, traveling thousands of miles for a woman you met by chance—is it worth it?"
But Qin Mu seemed to be that kind of person. He had also met Xiong Xiyu and her daughter by chance, yet he still unhesitatingly rescued them, not hesitating to put himself in danger.
The affairs of Xiong Xiyu and her daughter had nothing to do with him, yet he still acted, even bringing Xiong Qi'er into the Western Lands, wanting to seek justice for this mother and daughter.
Although there must have been some intention from the emperor and the national teacher, Mu Yingxue was certain that this silly boy's purpose was to seek justice for this mother and daughter.
Decisions that seemed foolish to others were this big boy's code of conduct and unchangeable principles.
Investigate things to acquire knowledge, unite knowledge and action.
Studying a certain thing or a certain action to the extreme—that is investigating things to acquire knowledge.
But investigating things to acquire knowledge is also, perhaps, reaching the innate conscience within my heart.
Uniting conscience and action is also, perhaps, another form of uniting knowledge and action.
This is a grandmaster.
Mu Yingxue stood stunned. This was her second meeting with Qin Mu. The first time they met, they were enemies, rivals who appreciated each other. She had lost, her poison arts defeated by his. She admired this big boy, but although she gave him red beans and stole a kiss, it wasn't yet love.
This time, what she saw was not his poison skills, but his character.
Qin Mu's character had won her over.
The Xiong family's affair—she had done it. She had administered the poison, causing almost all the experts of the True Heaven Palace to be poisoned, their cultivation crippled, allowing the Yu family to seize power in one fell swoop.
The Xiong family had lost their backbone, which was why they were defeated. The tragic deaths of so many people were also greatly related to her.
"The Xiong family affair was caused by me. I can't let my little man bear it for me!"
Mu Yingxue lifted her head. The confidence of this black-clad girl surged back, and she revealed a smile. "In our Western Lands, women are in charge. How could we let our little man bear the trouble we've caused? Sisters of Thunder Mountain City!"
Her voice became bold, her demeanor captivating, her spirits high. "Pack your bags, prepare for battle!"
In Thunder Mountain City, countless poison-art cultivators packed their bags. Before long, they were ready and gathered together. The cultivators of Thunder Mountain City looked at their clan leader, seeing her unprecedented radiance, her beautiful face emitting a jewel-like luster, very charming.
"Sister, where are we going?" a girl asked.
Mu Yingxue leaped up. Green vines wound through the air, landing beneath her feet and lifting her up.
Her voice was full of charm, and her laughter rang out. "Of course, to catch up to your brother-in-law, to stuff this bag of yearning red beans into his hands, to make him keep them well, to make him never forget this yearning for the rest of his life, never forget me, Mu Yingxue—"
"Yes!"
The other girls burst into laughter. "Let's hurry! Such a good brother-in-law can't be snatched away by other little vixens! Take back our brother-in-law!"
"Take back our brother-in-law!"
Qin Mu returned the way he came, going to the Liu family's Divine Burial Valley. One by one, pitch-black coffins followed him as he left the Liu family. The coffins had grown legs and feet, marching in a mighty procession behind him.
In the sky, more black coffins drifted, forming a patch of dark clouds.
Within the clouds, chains bound a golden coffin, tall and large, extremely conspicuous. Many black coffins escorted this divine coffin as it drifted. Qin Mu was also puzzled as to why Liu Ruyin insisted on bringing this dangerous golden coffin, but when he heard from Liu Ruyin that it was her daughter's idea, Qin Mu didn't ask further.
That little girl Liu Zhenqing was a cunning, sly, and treacherous creature. If she wanted to bring the golden coffin, she must have her reasons. There was no need for him to inquire.
He was leading the main force of the Liu family toward Sword River Valley, planning to rendezvous with He Yiyi and the others, when suddenly a crisp voice came from behind: "Little man, wait for me—"
Qin Mu looked back and was stunned. He saw the cultivators of Thunder Mountain City riding all kinds of poisonous beasts and insects, bustling toward him. Spiders, centipedes, toads, giant snakes, poisonous birds, poisonous beasts, poisonous bees—they filled the sky and the ground, everywhere.
Various poisonous plants had also been awakened by these cultivators. Poisonous tree-men strode forward with large steps, vines were slender and graceful, flower maidens transformed from poisonous flowers fluttered their wings in flight, and some poisonous fish had grown legs, running swiftly.
At the forefront was Mu Yingxue. This girl was radiant, charging through the path cleared by the coffin army. Without a word, she jumped onto the head of the Dragon Qilin, stuffed the sachet embroidered with mandarin ducks into his hands, then hugged his face and gave him a big kiss.
Qin Mu was at a loss, but the girl was triumphant, shouting loudly: "I want you to keep this yearning pouch for a lifetime, never discard it, never forget me for your whole life. Can you do it?"
A surge of boldness filled Qin Mu's chest, and he shouted loudly: "I can!"
Mu Yingxue turned back, waving to her sisters of Thunder Mountain City, and shouted loudly: "He said he can! Sisters, aunties, grandmothers, let's go attack the True Heaven Palace and change the world!"
Cheers erupted from behind.
Beside the Dragon Qilin, the lid of a small black coffin flipped open with a clatter. Little Liu Zhenqing, dressed in black, sat on the coffin board, arms crossed over her chest, pouting unhappily.
"Little vixen." Liu Zhenqing glanced at Mu Yingxue and muttered.
Liu Ruyin's coffin flew to her side. The Liu clan leader whispered: "Don't let this little vixen be smug now. When she dies, we'll make her take the surname Liu!"
"Mm!"
At Sword River Valley, banners fluttered in the wind. Qin Mu was surprised to see that many forces from other major families and clans of the Western Lands had gathered here, setting up camps.
This was probably the first time the Western Lands had seen such excitement. The banners of the He family, Fang family, Gong family, Xi family, and Fu family were raised high. Besides them, there were other large and small families, all invited by He Yiyi.
Each of these families had their own specialties. The He family was skilled in controlling formations, the Fang family in controlling mountains and rivers, the Gong family in controlling waterways, the Xi family in controlling plants, and the Fu family in controlling weather phenomena.
Other families also had their own abilities.
But most of those who had gathered here for the alliance were women. The sheer number of women was truly astonishing.
Hundreds of thousands of female soldiers—it really made Qin Mu stare.
Although the Yan Kingdom was quite enlightened, with women allowed to be officials and join the military, women in the army only made up about twenty percent, with men still the majority. However, in the Western Lands, women made up eighty percent, with men only twenty percent, and men often did auxiliary work.
"This is a rare opportunity for the other Western Lands families. If they overthrow the Yu family and the Xiong family weakens, they can gain greater power through the True Heaven Palace. That's why they've come to join the alliance."
Qin Mu took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and looked toward the direction of the True Heaven Palace.
On this trip to the Western Lands, he had only brought the Dragon Qilin and Xiong Qi'er—alone, one mount, one weak girl, not a single soldier. Yet he had gathered an army of hundreds of thousands of women, preparing to attack the strongest sacred land in the Western Lands, the True Heaven Palace!
Thinking about it, he felt excitement that made his bones tremble and his primordial spirit soar!
He took Xiong Qi'er's hand and, together with Liu Ruyin, her daughter, and Mu Yingxue, entered Jun City. Here, the leaders of the major families had already gathered, waiting eagerly for his arrival!
Qin Mu bowed deeply and said loudly: "Qin Mu, Sect Leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect of the Central Lands, greets all sisters!"
The many women hurriedly returned the greeting: "Lord Qin need not be so polite."
Qin Mu tugged at Xiong Qi'er, who quickly bowed and said, "Qi'er greets all aunties!"
Everyone quickly returned the greeting: "We dare not accept this. Little princess, please rise!"
Qin Mu straightened up and laughed heartily: "Only women have great ambitions, daring to make the sun and moon shine anew! Sisters, I have come from afar in the Central Lands. I wish to see your skills at the True Heaven Palace! Sister Yiyi, can we set out?"
He Yiyi activated Jun City, and the entire city rose into the air. At the same time, the leaders of the other major families also gave their orders. The earth shook, colorful clouds drifted, and the mighty army of hundreds of thousands of women marched toward the True Heaven Palace!
The Dragon Qilin looked back and couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "Even the founder wasn't this impressive. The Sect Leader is the Sect Leader. He came to the Western Lands, took a stroll, and hooked tens of thousands of girls..."
In the distance, amidst the misty clouds, the Yan Kingdom National Teacher and Xiong Xiyu stood on a cloud, watching this scene from afar.
Xiong Xiyu was dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time.
The Yan Kingdom National Teacher was also speechless for a while.
"National Teacher, did you foresee this?"
Xiong Xiyu finally came to her senses and curiously studied the middle-aged man beside her, saying: "Even I, the former Milk Kui, don't have the prestige and energy that Lord Qin has. He calls out and ten thousand respond, with countless followers. Lord Qin is simply too terrifying!"
The Yan Kingdom National Teacher exhaled a breath of turbid air and murmured: "I knew he would stir things up, that he would definitely attract the attention of the True Heaven Palace. I just didn't expect him to be so good at it. This time, the True Heaven Palace will truly feel the pressure. That's even better. That Ba Gou will have no choice but to show himself. Once Ba Gou is thwarted, the god hidden in the True Heaven Palace will also have to appear, giving me a chance for a killing blow..."
He looked at the mighty army of women and couldn't help but shudder, shaking his head: "Too terrifying. Such cohesion is truly too terrifying. But then again, Lord Qin was born for this line of work. Even I was fooled into joining the Heavenly Saint Sect. If this little rascal wanted to rebel..."
——Second chapter! End of the month, if you have monthly votes, please cast them!