Chapter 760: Where Righteousness Lies (Please Subscribe and Monthly Votes!)

Chapter 760: Where Righteousness Lies (Please Subscribe and Monthly Votes!)

"How could Mu Ping die?"

His mother still hadn't come back to her senses, still grieving over Aunt Ping'er's death, and hadn't clearly heard what Qin Mu was saying.

During the time Mu Ping had taken Qin Mu from the Netherworld into the Great Ruins, no one knew what had happened. Si Popo and the others were also in the dark. They only knew that when the woman delivered Qin Mu to the riverbank, she had already been dead for some time. It was only through her lingering obsession that she had insisted on bringing Qin Mu to a safe place.

When Qin Mu saw her again at Mishui Pass, she had transformed into a female corpse in the water. Hearing him say, "I've grown up, I survived," her obsession finally faded. She sank to the riverbed, completely free of all attachments.

From the Netherworld to the Great Ruins, Qin Mu had been a mere two or three months old at the time, with no memories. The journey wasn't particularly long, but there must have been an unknown struggle along the way. Someone had tried to snatch him away or eliminate him in a place where Tu Bo couldn't see.

Unfortunately, Mu Ping could no longer recount what happened during that time.

"Mother, I will personally find Aunt Ping'er's soul. No matter where her spirit is, I will bring her back."

A smile appeared on Qin Mu's face as he comforted his mother. "Your son now has some skills and knows many people. Even if Aunt Ping'er's soul has been scattered, even if her spirit has been suppressed, I will definitely be able to save her. Mother, Brother is also here. He really wants to see you."

"Brother?"

Consort Zhen was puzzled, looking at Qin Mu with concern. Qin Mu chuckled. "It's Brother. When I was born, Brother protected Mother in the Netherworld. I'll call him out."

Suddenly, Qin Mu's body went still. He stood there motionless.

"Feng Qing?"

Consort Zhen panicked, calling out repeatedly: "Feng Qing? What's wrong with you?"

Inside the Qin Continent, the big-headed baby had his arms crossed over his chest, his head twisted to one side, and his chubby little legs crossed together. "I'm not going! Mother is afraid of me!"

Qin Mu circled around to face him, smiling. "You're the older brother, but you're still acting like a child. Stop messing around. Haven't you wanted to see Mother again for a long time? This is a rare opportunity."

"I'm not going!"

The big-headed baby twisted his head to the other side. "Mother likes you more. She doesn't like me. I was adopted, and you're her biological child! I'm not going!"

Chi Huang's consciousness said, "Hey, fatty, if you're not going, then fine. But can you get off me first? You've been suppressing me for long enough!"

He was sitting under the big-headed baby's bottom, face-down on the ground, unable to move.

In the distance, the white-browed, white-bearded Heavenly Duke's clone was hiding behind the Qin Mountains, peeking out.

"We are one and the same," Qin Mu said with a smile. "Why would you be adopted and I be the biological one? Stop fooling around. Go see Mother. She's getting anxious. If you don't go, I'll go out myself."

The big-headed baby hurriedly got up and rushed toward the sky, saying, "Fine, I'll go!"

Seeing him leave, Chi Huang's consciousness scrambled to his feet and brushed the dust off his clothes—there was no dust, but it was a habit.

The Heavenly Duke's clone on the other side rushed out, glanced at Qin Mu, and shook his head. "You're finished, you're finished. You've let the big demon out. You won't get your body back! You're done for, kid!"

Qin Mu chuckled. "Heavenly Duke, that's my brother. We're connected in spirit..."

The white-bearded old man stomped his foot in anger. "That big-headed kid has already learned to be bad, you know? Who did he learn it from? From you! Once he gets out, he'll definitely seal you up and trap all three of us in here!"

Qin Mu's expression shifted slightly. "My brother wouldn't do that..."

Outside, Consort Zhen was feeling uneasy. Suddenly, Qin Mu exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. His body crackled and expanded, growing taller and larger, but his age seemed to reverse. Before her eyes, he gradually turned into a plump, chubby little boy.

Qin Mu's clothes were treasures refined by Yu Zhao Qing, so they grew with his body. But on this chubby boy, they looked puffy and a bit ridiculous.

Consort Zhen was utterly bewildered, staring blankly at her son's transformation, unable to process it.

"Mother, wait a moment!"

The chubby boy excitedly took off his two Taotie pouches, rummaged through them, and suddenly his three eyes lit up. He pulled out a willow leaf, slapped it onto his forehead with a *smack*, and grinned. "Bad little brother, you can't get out now!"

Inside the Qin Continent, Qin Mu was trying to fly out of this realm to reclaim his body. Suddenly, the patterns of the willow leaf appeared in the sky. The great Buddha radiated brilliant light, its aura connecting with the willow leaf, sealing the entire realm.

Qin Mu stood frozen. "I... Brother..."

"You're finished!"

The white-bearded old man fumed. "You taught him to be bad, and now you're finished, and we're finished too!"

Qin Mu blinked, his eyes full of confusion.

Chi Huang's consciousness said gloomily, "I think it's okay. At least Qin Mu won't randomly beat us up."

"Mother! I'm back!"

The big-headed baby excitedly patted his chubby little hands at Consort Zhen, asking for a hug. But realizing his body was too big to hold her, he quickly shrank down.

Consort Zhen held this infant, who looked only two or three months old, in a daze. This baby was the same age as when she had hung the jade pendant around Qin Mu's neck and sent him out of the Netherworld.

But all of this seemed so absurd.

A tender expression appeared on her face. She felt that this moment was a gift from heaven, a compensation that allowed her to see her son's childhood.

Just then, Zuo Shilang and the others, who had gone fishing and catching frogs, returned. They stared blankly at the infant in Consort Zhen's arms.

Seeing the fish and frogs they were carrying, the big-headed baby got excited. He jumped down from his mother's arms and, with his short legs and arms moving together, crawled toward them at lightning speed.

"Delicious!"

The baby grew larger and larger. He grabbed Zuo Shilang, opened his mouth to the size of half the sky, and prepared to shove Zuo Shilang, along with the fish and frogs, into his mouth.

Outside, some village girls arrived, carrying vegetables and fruits, and even a chicken-dragon. They stared dumbfounded at the scene.

"Cluck!" The chicken-dragon fainted.

Just as Zuo Shilang was about to be swallowed, Consort Zhen's gentle voice came through. "Feng Qing, no eating."

The big-headed baby hesitated, then put Zuo Shilang down. He looked reluctantly at the petrified Zuo Shilang and said in a crisp voice, "Twenty years no see, Uncle. You look strong. Must be chewy... Aunt Juan'er, hug—"

He pounced into the arms of one of the village girls. Aunt Juan'er held him stiffly, her body trembling.

The big-headed baby secretly licked Aunt Juan'er's face, a fierce glint in his eyes. Aunt Juan'er dared not move. But then, the big-headed baby felt himself being lifted and snatched away by Consort Zhen.

Qin Feng Qing blinked slyly, looked at his mother, and stuffed his thumb into his mouth, babbling and waving his short arms and legs.

Consort Zhen showed a look of affection, kissed his forehead, and said to the terrified crowd, "Our reunion is a joyous occasion. Go prepare some food."

Though they were all deities, they were still terrified of this little tyrant of the Netherworld. Trembling, they went to prepare the meal.

Consort Zhen played with the baby in her arms, mother and son enjoying each other's company.

After a while, the food was ready. The others didn't dare sit at the table to eat and stood trembling on the side.

The big-headed baby glanced at them, and they hurriedly took their seats. The baby smiled again.

Consort Zhen fed her son. Qin Feng Qing ate obediently, very happy, and said, "No taste of souls, not very fragrant, but Mother's feeding is delicious."

After the meal, Consort Zhen held him, humming a soft lullaby to coax him to sleep. The big-headed baby babbled and waved his limbs, then gradually fell into a deep sleep.

Consort Zhen raised her hand and gently stroked her son's face, gazing at him in a trance.

She hesitated repeatedly, but her fingers still rested on the willow leaf covering his third eye.

Just then, the baby in her arms opened his eyes, staring at her with dark, shiny orbs.

"Mother, don't take it off."

The baby looked at her with pleading eyes, pouting, his voice trembling with tears. "Don't take it off. Feng Qing misses Mother. Mother, please don't take it off..."

Consort Zhen rocked him, humming the lullaby. "Feng Qing is Mother's good baby. Don't fuss, go to sleep..."

"Mother, don't take it off..."

Consort Zhen removed the willow leaf. The baby closed his eyes, tears sliding from the corners of his three eyes. He turned his head away and whispered, "You don't like Feng Qing. You like Little Brother..."

Consort Zhen kissed him. "Mother loves you. I just don't want you to cause any more disasters. I only hope you can live well. You can't control yourself, but Little Brother can... Mother only hopes you both live..."

She picked up the baby and placed him on a small bed.

Qin Feng Qing sighed, returned to the Qin Continent dejectedly.

His body gradually grew. After a moment, Qin Mu opened his eyes, got up from the bed, knelt before Consort Zhen, and gently rested his head on her lap.

Mother and son were silent.

Two days later, Consort Zhen urged him, "Feng Qing, you should go. This is no place for you to stay long."

Qin Mu stood up, a smile on his face. "Mother, I will come back. When I return next time, I will take you away from here and let you enjoy life outside."

Consort Zhen saw him to the village entrance. Qin Mu hesitated, then said softly, "I've seen Father. He's still alive."

Consort Zhen's body trembled. She shook her head. "You don't have to lie to me. With injuries that severe, he couldn't have survived..."

"Father is really still alive."

Qin Mu's tone was firm. He said solemnly, "I saw him. He's in the Netherworld, still on that treasure ship that carried us. He's been searching for Mother. He turned into a tree man, and because of Zhen Xing Jun, he swore an oath to Tu Bo. When he met me, he said he would tell Zhen Xing Jun the location of Carefree Village. When we reunited, he didn't open his eyes to look at me... But he's really still alive."

Consort Zhen was stunned.

"Mother, I want to know how to get to Carefree Village."

Qin Mu hesitated. "I want to see the Opening Emperor."

Consort Zhen was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't go back."

Qin Mu was taken aback. "Why?"

Consort Zhen shook her head. "Don't go back! I forbid you to go back!"

Qin Mu was dumbfounded.

"Mother, please stay."

At the village entrance, he turned and knelt down, kowtowing three times heavily, then rose and left.

Consort Zhen watched him walk into the dark forest of steles. Qin Mu looked back and saw her still standing there.

At the Netherworld Jade Lock Pass, the camp of gods and demons was now filled with thousands of troops in orderly ranks, an air of solemnity. All eyes were fixed on the forest of Karma Merit Steles.

After a moment, Qin Mu emerged from the stele forest. Amid the clatter of weapons and armor, the Left Soul Suppressing Envoy, Mo Qi Mi, galloped over, stopped at a distance, and saluted with cupped fists.

Qin Mu stopped and returned the salute. "I did not take Mother away, so I have not put the Envoy in a difficult position."

"Qin Feng Qing, do you know what lies beyond the pass?" the Left Soul Suppressing Envoy asked solemnly.

Qin Mu shook his head.

The Left Soul Suppressing Envoy declared loudly, "Beyond Jade Lock Pass are your enemies—countless gods and demons, the great powers of the Netherworld! Some come from the Heavenly Court, with physical bodies, divine weapons, and vast abilities. Others are the souls of Lingxiao and Dizuo level experts, whose cultivation in life reached heaven and earth, and who remain overlords even in death! Once you leave this pass, it will be a storm of blood and slaughter!"

Qin Mu bowed. "Thank you for the guidance."

The Left Soul Suppressing Envoy smiled, a meaningful look in his eyes. "Tu Bo has taken good care of you and your mother. As repayment, shouldn't you do something?"

Qin Mu said solemnly, "Where righteousness lies, one does not bow to power, does not consider personal gain, and values death while upholding righteousness—that is the courage of a true knight!"

The Left Soul Suppressing Envoy's expression turned serious. He raised his hand. "Open the gates—"

The heavy gates of the Netherworld Jade Lock Pass creaked open.

"Sir Qin, please—"

The Left Soul Suppressing Envoy shouted, "Beat the drums! Sound the horns! See the knight off in style!"

*Thump, thump, thump!*

The drums rumbled like thunder.

*Toot, toot—*

The horns sounded deep and clear. Amid the drumbeats and horns, Qin Mu walked toward the outside of the pass. Behind him, black steles stood like a forest, and the flames of karma stretched into the distance.

—The sound of the horns rings out. Please subscribe, please vote for monthly tickets!