Chapter 70: Demons and Monsters

Qin Mu, holding her hand, felt the girl's soft and smooth skin, which made his heart flutter. However, Fu Tingyue's ruthlessness still made him extremely uncomfortable.

He looked back at the platform in the lake. Fu Tingyue had cut off his opponent's ten fingers and still hadn't stopped, now moving on to sever the wrists, more excited than any beast.

"This is a madman!" Qin Mu thought. "But then again, this Young Master Tingyue seems to be connected to me."

Qin Mu pondered. Back when Granny Si found him by the river, fearing he would die young, she secretly entered Xianglong City and abducted the City Lord's wife, who had just given birth. Granny Si then transformed into a milk cow to feed Qin Mu, helping him survive the vulnerable early period of his life.

The child born to the City Lord's wife at that time must have been Fu Tingyue.

Qin Mu grew up on his mother's milk; their connection lay in this.

Qin Mu turned away. The young man on the platform in the lake was beyond saving. For a hundred dragon coins, he had entered the City Lord's mansion to compete in a challenge, and daring to enter meant he possessed some skill, but he hadn't anticipated losing his life.

Inside Zhenjiang Tower, music and dancing filled the air. Qin Mu followed Ling Yuxiu into the building, where he saw dancers performing. As their fingers swept through the air, they created crisp, jingling sounds, which were produced by their vital qi. Every tilt of their head and stomp of their foot was accompanied by the rhythm of the music.

They could both dance gracefully and use their vital qi to play beautiful tunes, leaving Qin Mu utterly amazed.

On either side of the hall, there were numerous low tables, where many distinguished-looking individuals sat on the floor, enjoying drinks and entertainment. Some watched the singing and dancing, while others looked towards the platform in the lake, admiring the duels.

The scene on the platform was utterly gruesome; the young man with copper bones and iron tendons had been tortured beyond recognition, yet no one in the hall spoke up to stop it.

Ling Yuxiu pulled Qin Mu directly to a low table and sat down cross-legged, appearing completely at ease and unreserved.

The people seated in Zhenjiang Tower were all powerful and imposing figures from various regions. They were surprised to see the young boy and girl arrive, but none spoke to question them.

They assumed these two young jade-like individuals must be disciples of some esteemed master, attending the Zhenjiang Tower gathering to join the excitement and broaden their horizons.

The low table before them was laden with rare fruits, delicacies, and various exotic creatures cooked in an array of vibrant colors and flavors, making Qin Mu's mouth water.

He had been pulled by Granny Si to sell cattle and sheep and buy goods, and hadn't eaten dinner yet, so he was already very hungry.

Qin Mu tasted the food before him, his eyes lighting up. He felt as if his tongue would melt and couldn't help but focus entirely on the delicacies. Ling Yuxiu, who had said she was a little hungry, instead only took two bites before putting down her chopsticks, watching him devour the food with amusement.

Sitting at the low table next to Qin Mu was the Cult Mistress, whose beauty captivated the entire city. She, too, watched Qin Mu and the girl beside him with interest.

"Is she really Granny Si?" Qin Mu wondered.

Besides her, there was another person who occasionally glanced towards Qin Mu. Qin Mu noticed the gaze, looked up, and was slightly startled. This person, clad in full armor even for the banquet, was none other than the young general Qin Feiyue, whom he had met twice on the Surging River.

"Qin Feiyue is here too? Hasn't he returned to Yankang?"

Qin Mu was surprised, then lowered his head to continue eating. Ling Yuxiu chuckled, "That young general keeps looking at you. Does he know you?"

Qin Mu swallowed his food, thought for a moment, and said, "We've met twice. He was with a plump Young Master Fatty Qi, but I don't know where he is now."

Ling Yuxiu pouted in annoyance and pinched his arm.

Qin Mu didn't understand why the girl was angry. He thought, "This girl is really strange, and General Qin Feiyue is strange too. When she pinched me, he almost jumped up but managed to hold back. I'm the one who got pinched, not him, so why would he feel pain..."

Suddenly, an elder spoke, "City Lord, is that your son outside? What remarkable skill. I've long heard that Young Master Tingyue is the strongest martial artist of the younger generation in Xianglong City, and it certainly appears true now."

Fu Yundi smiled, "Elder Baishan, you flatter him too much. My son has only learned some crude methods, hardly worth mentioning."

Elder Baishan smiled genially, "Not at all. It's well-known that Young Master Tingyue is the foremost martial artist within a thousand-mile radius. Last year, he underwent 352 challenges and killed 352 martial artists from various places; not a single one escaped his grasp. To possess such combat power at such a young age is truly impressive."

Qin Mu raised an eyebrow, then continued to focus on his meal.

Fu Yundi quickly chuckled, "My son only killed the Abandoned People from the Great Ruins. If they were from other regions, he would still show mercy."

Elder Baishan smiled, "Even among the Abandoned People, there are strong individuals. Young Master Tingyue's skill is indeed formidable." He finished with a sigh of admiration.

Fu Yundi chuckled, "My son is an honest person. He never forces anyone to spar with him. He goes to the streets to invite these Abandoned People from the Great Ruins to challenge him, offering them money. Alas, people die for wealth and birds die for food. These Abandoned People still came in an endless stream to challenge my son, and all ended up losing their lives. My son has never spent a single one of those hundred dragon coins. Truly, he is good at managing money." He then burst into laughter.

Everyone else also began to laugh.

Just then, a dark-faced elder abruptly stopped smiling. His voice boomed like thunder, overpowering the laughter of the others: "Cult Mistress, you have studied the Grand Creation Demonic Scripture for many years. Isn't it time you allowed us to feast our eyes upon it?"

This gaunt, dark-faced elder sat opposite Qin Mu, looking withered and lifeless, like a burnt piece of charcoal. Yet, his voice was remarkably loud.

The moment he spoke, everyone in the hall turned their gaze towards the enchanting Cult Mistress seated beside Qin Mu.

Qin Mu quickly put down his ivory chopsticks, remained still, closed his mouth, but couldn't help secretly chewing the food already in his mouth.

After swallowing the food in his mouth, the young man hesitated for a moment, then couldn't resist. He picked up his ivory chopsticks and swiftly popped a slice of stir-fried fish lung into his mouth.

The charcoal-like elder was furious, glaring at Qin Mu, "Stop eating!"

The Cult Mistress beside Qin Mu chuckled, "So it's Venerable Hei. Why get angry, Venerable Hei? The City Lord invited us here to dine, so why can't we eat? City Lord, isn't that right?"

Fu Yundi cleared his throat and smiled, "This grand gathering is also a banquet. I've invited everyone to taste the delicacies of my Xianglong City, and naturally, we must ensure everyone enjoys themselves to the fullest."

The Cult Mistress gave a light laugh, picked up a crimson fruit and put it into her mouth, then slowly wiped her slender jade-like hands. Afterward, she watched Qin Mu continue to gobble down his food with interest.

Ling Yuxiu was also surprised, completely astonished that Qin Mu could still eat under such circumstances.

Not long after, Qin Mu was half-full. He thought for a moment, then took out an oil-paper package from his bosom, removed the dried food inside, and carefully selected some soft and delicious items from the low table to place into the package, meticulously wrapping them up.

The charcoal-like Venerable Hei opposite him couldn't help but scold, "Youngster, you can't eat it all, so you're taking it away?"

Qin Mu said sheepishly, "Granny and Blind Grandpa just entered the city today. We only ate some dried rations on the way and haven't had a proper meal. The food here smells delicious, and Granny and Blind Grandpa have bad teeth, so I'm picking some to take back for them." After saying this, he looked at the Cult Mistress, wondering, "Is she really Granny Si? Wait, isn't this the same rouge scent that Granny Si and I bought together?"

A soft light flickered in the Cult Mistress's eyes. She seemed quite moved and smiled, "You are still a filial child. The more I look at you, the more I like you."

Everyone in the hall looked on with amusement, yet also with pity for Qin Mu. "The Cult Mistress was originally a notorious witch. She despises elaborate rituals like filial piety. This boy is surely going to die a miserable death!"

The charcoal-like Venerable Hei waited until Qin Mu had finished wrapping the food, then coldly asked, "Are you full now?"

Qin Mu honestly replied, "Half-full."

Venerable Hei choked with anger and let out a cold snort. The sound resonated, causing the hundreds of window lattices in Zhenjiang Tower to rattle loudly.

Qin Mu couldn't help but admire him, praising, "Senior, your cultivation is truly profound. I could never achieve that."

Veins pulsed twice on Venerable Hei's forehead. Suppressing his anger, he quietly waited for Qin Mu to finish eating. The always-smiling Cult Mistress also put down her ivory chopsticks and stopped eating.

Venerable Hei exhaled the turbid breath he had held in his chest for a long time and said coldly, "Now that everyone's full, can we talk about important matters?"

The eyes of everyone in the hall lit up, all turning towards the Cult Mistress.

The Cult Mistress smiled, a smile that seemed to brighten the entire hall. She laughed, "Venerable Hei, even if I gave you the Grand Creation Demonic Scripture, do you truly believe you could walk out of Xianglong City alive? I'm afraid the City Lord would be the first to claim your life, and indeed, none of those present would likely allow you to leave the Great Ruins alive."

Venerable Hei stood up. Behind him, his vital qi suddenly turned pitch black, condensing in the air behind his head to form a four-armed fiend, terrifying and ferocious!

To wield vital qi to such a peak level, even manifesting it as a demonic god, was a technique no less impressive than Fu Yundi's Eight Phases Heavenly God Art!

Venerable Hei swept his gaze around and coldly said, "If the sacred scripture of the Demonic Cult falls into my hands, it will be mine. Who dares to covet it, unless they wish to be slaughtered by me?"

Everyone in the hall smiled but remained silent.

The Cult Mistress giggled, "There are esteemed guests from Yankang Nation in this hall, and hidden masters from the Great Ruins. Which one could you eliminate? This young general, for instance, is from Yankang Nation, isn't he?"

She pointed at Qin Feiyue and smiled, "I've long heard of the Imperial Preceptor, the foremost person under the gods. His disciple must surely be extraordinary."

Qin Feiyue bowed slightly and said, "I am Junior General Qin Feiyue. My master is indeed the Yankang Imperial Preceptor. However, I am not here for the Cult Mistress or the Grand Creation Demonic Scripture. Although the Cult Mistress is the world's most beautiful woman, and the Grand Creation Demonic Scripture is renowned as a method to achieve godhood, the Imperial Preceptor does not concern himself with such things."

His words carried a natural arrogance. As the foremost person under the gods, the Imperial Preceptor disregarded any martial art, even a demonic scripture purported to lead to godhood!

Suddenly, a voice sneered, "This is the Great Ruins, not Yankang Nation. What does the Imperial Preceptor's concern have to do with us?"

Qin Feiyue's eyes flashed with killing intent as he looked towards the source of the voice. The speaker was seated opposite him: a burly, bearded man with his robes half-open, casually sitting on the floor. With one hand, he grabbed food to eat, while with the other, he rubbed something in his bosom. In a few rubs, he produced a pitch-black spherical pellet, which he flicked away, its destination unknown.

Qin Feiyue frowned, a look of disgust on his face. "These ruffians from the Great Ruins are truly vulgar. There's no need to be provoked by him. Once the Imperial Preceptor's army arrives, all demons and monsters will be forced to submit!"

He then looked at the girl beside Qin Mu, feeling utterly restless and truly having a headache. "Why has Princess Seven run off to mingle with that boy from Crippled Elder Village? Just now, the princess even pinched him; that's far too intimate. If word of this gets out, what will become of the imperial family's reputation...?"