Chapter 39: The Battle in the Forest
Mu Feng decided to let Mu Kuang practice the Breaking Waves Nine Cuts, as its energy consumption and balance were perfect for his brother's style. While Mu Kuang lacked Mu Feng's explosive energy, the technique's steadiness complemented his strengths.
Mu Feng marveled at the wealth of techniques stored in the Shura Divine Jade. The rarity of a Yellow-Grade high-level Yuan technique in the Mu family made the casual abundance within the jade even more impressive. Techniques of even higher grades, such as Mysterious Grade, were exclusive to the Royal Academy and royal powers, further explaining the academy's allure.
Mu Feng memorized the details of the two blade techniques and the finger technique shared by Xi Yue. He and Mu Kuang continued their cultivation within the depths of An Nan Ridge. Their progress over the last half month had been significant, yet the lack of concern from the Mu family's branch about their extended absence struck Mu Feng as peculiar.
Advancing Deeper
Two days later, the duo ventured near the inner edge of An Nan Ridge. By then, most of the nearby beasts had been hunted down, pushing Mu Feng and Mu Kuang further into the forest. The progress was undeniable. Mu Feng had finally completed the condensation of his twelfth blood spiritual meridian, while Mu Kuang teetered on the edge of breaking into the Purple Mansion Realm. His physique had grown notably robust due to the Blood Refinement Body Art.
With their combined strength capable of handling standard Purple Mansion-level beasts, the pair pressed deeper into the forest, venturing several dozen miles further. Mu Feng's aim was clear: to repair all twelve meridians and, if possible, his shattered Purple Mansion Dantian.
Their journey was interrupted by the sounds of intense combat. The clash of weapons rang through the trees, drawing their attention. They moved cautiously toward the source.
Observing the Combatants
Hidden behind dense foliage, Mu Feng and Mu Kuang saw a skirmish unfold among a grove of towering pine trees. Two groups clashed fiercely, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight.
One side consisted of six men dressed in black martial robes, while the other had four warriors clad in leather armor, their demeanor unmistakably mercenary. Both sides featured powerful fighters, with each group boasting a Purple Mansion-level cultivator. The remaining combatants seemed to be at the ninth level of the Meridian Unblocking Realm.
The combat's intensity peaked as the leaders of both sides exchanged blows. The black-clad leader, a cold-eyed man wielding a pristine white longsword, faced off against a burly man with a thick beard and a hefty broadsword. Their battle unleashed bursts of energy, sending shockwaves through the grove.
The black-clad man's sword flicked out, forming three illusory blossoms mid-air. The strikes seemed to target his opponent's throat, shoulder, and chest simultaneously. The bearded man instinctively defended his throat, swinging his broadsword to intercept. However, the move was a feint. The real strike pierced his shoulder, drawing a deep wound.
"Coward!" the bearded man bellowed, retreating while slashing horizontally with a blade imbued with golden energy. His opponent deftly sidestepped, the attack cleaving a pine tree cleanly in two.
Meanwhile, the other combatants continued their brutal skirmish. One mercenary cried out in agony as a blade pierced his chest, dropping him into a pool of blood.
"Dogzi!" the burly man shouted in rage, forcing two black-clad attackers away with a wide slash. He rushed to his fallen comrade, who lay unmoving, and pulled him back to the group.
The four mercenaries regrouped, retreating to form a defensive circle. One of their number was grievously injured, while the rest bore minor wounds.
The black-clad leader sneered. "Zhao Chen, hand over the Azure Essence Fruit. If you do, we might let you walk out of here alive."
The bearded mercenary, Zhao Chen, glared. "Wang Liu-ping, you've killed one of my men already. Aren't you afraid of sparking a feud between our Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps and your Yellow Tiger Mercenary Corps?"
"Hah! Your Wild Wolves are nothing to us," Wang Liu-ping retorted. "Cut the nonsense. Hand over the fruit, or none of you leave alive."
A young woman among the mercenaries, dressed in a short beast-skin skirt that revealed long, slender legs, spat back, "The Azure Essence Fruit is ours! We risked our lives to get it. Why should we give it to you?"
Wang Liu-ping's gaze lingered on the woman, his eyes alight with predatory interest. "Hah, she's feisty. Tell you what—hand over the fruit, and maybe we'll let the men go. But the girl stays."
Zhao Chen roared, "You shameless dog! If you want it, you'll have to kill me first."
A Moral Dilemma
From their concealed vantage point twenty meters away, Mu Kuang whispered, "That Zhao Chen seems like a righteous guy. Feng, should we step in?"
Mu Feng admired Zhao Chen's loyalty but weighed the risks carefully. The black-clad group included a Purple Mansion expert, and he couldn't recklessly endanger himself and Mu Kuang.
Before he could respond, Wang Liu-ping signaled his men forward. "Enough talk. Kill the men, but leave the girl intact for some fun later," he said, leering at the woman.
Mu Feng's eyes narrowed as he watched the black-clad group advance. His hesitation was gone. "Let's do it, Kuang. But we must be smart. We'll strike from the shadows and aim to tip the scales quickly."
Mu Kuang grinned, gripping his blade tightly. "Understood. Let's teach these bastards a lesson."
Preparing to Strike
As the black-clad men closed in on Zhao Chen's group, Mu Feng and Mu Kuang silently moved into position. The time for hesitation had passed; it was time to act.