Chapter 9: Young Mu Qing
Both humans and beasts possess energy within their blood, and for cultivators, this energy is even more abundant. Among this blood lies essence blood, the vital core of one's bloodline, containing a significant portion of life force and vitality.
In ordinary people, only one or two drops of essence blood exist, while cultivators accumulate more as their strength grows. Losing essence blood can lead to shortened lifespans at best or death from exhaustion at worst.
The Ancient Asura Sutra enables the refinement of essence blood and regular blood into blood qi, transforming it into Yuan energy to strengthen oneself.
Mu Feng stood up, dragging the dried corpse to the backyard. Pouring a bit of oil over it, he struck a match, and with a whoosh, flames roared to life. In moments, the body turned to ash, mingling with the soil as fertilizer.
This was a world where survival meant being prepared to kill or be killed. Mu Feng didn't see his methods as cruel; they were simply necessary. To survive, to walk the path of cultivation, battles and bloodshed were inevitable.
If the day came when he himself became a lifeless corpse, he would not regret it. The path was his choice.
In another courtyard, not as grand as Danxin Courtyard, a young man dressed in a blue robe with a golden belt casually fed goldfish in a pond. Around eighteen years old, he was handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and a straight nose. However, his eyes carried a cold, calculating glint.
This was Mu Qing, the son of Mu Feng's second uncle and his cousin.
Kneeling not far from him were the three servants who had fled from Mu Feng earlier. They recounted everything that had happened.
"Hmph, even though Kui San was a Tongmai Seventh Realm practitioner, he was killed by a cripple like Mu Feng? What a useless fool," Mu Qing said, his tone icy.
"Still, that boy is fatherless now, his cultivation crippled, yet he's still so arrogant. He doesn't even realize his situation and still thinks he's a genius," he continued, his expression darkening.
"Exactly, Young Master Qing," one of the servants said indignantly. "Killing Kui San was clearly meant to insult you!"
"Insult me?" Mu Qing scoffed, tossing the rest of the fish food into the pond. "If not for my uncle's protection, I would've already driven him out of the Mu family. Come, let's go pay a visit to my dear cousin."
Back at Danxin Courtyard, Mu Feng was sitting across from a burly boy dressed in black robes with hair cropped short like steel needles.
This was Mu Kuang, a fiery-tempered youth with impressive talent. With a Seventh-Grade Yuan Bone, he was of the same age as Mu Feng. Despite being a side branch of the family, Mu Kuang admired Mu Feng greatly for his early years spent in the army. At such a young age, Mu Kuang had already reached Tongmai Ninth Realm, earning a reputation as one of the Mu family's prodigies.
"Brother Feng, how's your health now?" Mu Kuang asked with concern.
Mu Feng smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I'll live. Though my Yuan meridians... well." He trailed off with a sigh.
"Don't lose hope, Brother Feng," Mu Kuang said earnestly. "The family head is working on a way to heal you. Your Yuan meridians will recover!"
Before Mu Feng could reply, a cold voice echoed from outside. "Mu Feng!"
The two turned toward the gate as Mu Qing strode in with his servants.
"Mu Qing, what do you want?" Mu Kuang growled.
"A side-branch mutt like you dares to address me by name? Know your place," Mu Qing sneered.
"You—!" Mu Kuang's face flushed with anger, but Mu Feng placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
"Enough with the nonsense, Mu Qing. What are you here for? Or are you really trying to claim Danxin Courtyard?" Mu Feng asked coldly.
"Claim a residence?" Mu Qing smirked. "I'm not interested in that. But Kui San was my servant. Killing him—what's the meaning of that?"
"You said it yourself—he was a servant. And I, Mu Feng, am a young master of the Mu family. A servant who disrespects his master deserves death. I was simply reminding him—and certain others—to understand the rules and stop scheming in the shadows," Mu Feng replied, his voice icy.
Mu Qing's face twisted in anger, but he smiled coldly. "I've heard the rumors. Yuan meridians shattered, Zifu destroyed. I didn't believe them at first, but since it's been a while, how about a little sparring match, dear cousin?"
Without waiting for a response, Mu Qing stepped forward. A wave of white energy burst from his feet, scattering dry leaves as he lunged at Mu Feng with a punch wrapped in crimson Yuan energy.
Mu Feng's expression darkened. Knowing he couldn't win in his current state, he stepped back to evade.
"Shameless!" Mu Kuang roared. White Yuan energy flared around his fist as he met Mu Qing's attack head-on.
Boom!
Their fists collided with the sound of muffled thunder, stirring up a gust of wind. Mu Kuang staggered back several steps, his arm numb from the impact. In contrast, Mu Qing stood firm, his expression calm and composed.
"Hahaha, Mu Feng! Hiding behind a side-branch mutt now? You've disgraced the direct line of the family!" Mu Qing taunted.
"Don't insult Brother Feng!" Mu Kuang bellowed, launching another punch at Mu Qing.
"Mu Kuang, stop!" Mu Feng shouted, but it was too late. Mu Qing sidestepped the attack and drove his fist into Mu Kuang's stomach.
Thud!
Mu Kuang spat blood as the force rattled his internal organs. Before he could recover, Mu Qing kneed him in the gut, sending him crumpling to the ground.
"Mu Qing, that's enough!" Mu Feng roared, fury overtaking reason. He charged, leaping two meters into the air to deliver a powerful downward kick.
Mu Qing deflected the kick with crossed arms, redirecting the force, and countered with a crimson fist projection that struck Mu Feng, sending him flying several meters.
As Mu Qing advanced, Mu Kuang crawled over, grabbing his leg. "Brother Feng, run! Get the family head!"
"Get off me!" Mu Qing snarled, stomping on Mu Kuang's head with a sickening crack. Blood poured from Mu Kuang's nose and mouth, but he held on tightly.
"You're dead, Mu Qing!" Mu Feng's eyes glowed faintly red as murderous intent surged.
"Stop!" A sharp voice cut through the tension. A whip lashed out, striking Mu Qing and leaving a bloody welt. Forced to release Mu Kuang, he fell to the ground in pain.