C6 Three Years

Jie Mu rose early as usual and began his daily training in Fragrance Light Valley, following Chenmu's plans. Yet, the mood that morning was starkly different. A palpable tension hung over the valley, sapping the vibrancy from the normally resplendent flowers.

Jie Mu noticed the change but didn't dwell on it. He pressed on with his cultivation, encouraged by the sight of Yu Wen diligently continuing her practice, which suggested that no major events had occurred.

On the balcony of the central wooden house in the valley, Chenmu stood beside the railing, his expression dark and troubled, his brow deeply furrowed with solemnity. Behind him, a beautiful and graceful woman stood, her pallor betraying her unease.

Gazing down at Jie Mu, who was practicing the Qi Drawing Technique, Chenmu murmured, "Should we inform Jie Mu about this now? He is Guan's only kin and deserves to know of his passing. Perhaps the news will spur his cultivation."

The woman let out a soft sigh, moving closer to place her hands on his shoulders. "In principle, he should be told. But it's not the right time. Your research is in its infancy; the initial data isn't even collected. The necessary safeguards are still being set up, and Soong Qi and the others aren't ready."

"If there's a mishap, we'll have squandered our efforts, and you don't have the luxury of time," she added.

Chenmu's frown deepened. "We have no choice then. We'll have Zhao Tailong take care of Guan's burial and have the Enforcer investigate the perpetrator..."

His words were interrupted by a violent cough, so severe it seemed to wrack his entire body. The woman soothed his back, channeling a gentle stream of Vital Spirit into his meridians.

"Calm yourself. The stress is too much for you lately. Rest is what you need," she advised. "The academy's enrollment can be managed by Ji Jingming and the team. With the Essence Tide just beginning and the world not yet in disarray, the Dragon Group has the capacity to keep the martial world in check."

"Typically, we don't have to worry about strong warriors causing trouble, especially with Soong Qi holding down the fort. She's more than capable of handling the riffraff."

"Just focus on resting for now. I'll go prepare a couple of medicinal concoctions to help you recover."

Chenmu took a deep breath, managing to quell his cough, though his complexion had grown significantly paler. He made his way to the rocking chair behind him and reclined.

He gazed at his partner and then at her abdomen, a wry smile on his lips. "Muxue, you've really been through a lot these years."

She offered him a tender smile in return but remained silent. In a blink, she vanished from Chenmu's view.

Such mastery of the Lightness Skill was virtually unheard of!

Yet for Chenmu, it had become commonplace. He simply shook his head and closed his eyes.

...Three years later...

"Yu Wen, with that fiery temper, you're going to scare off any potential suitors!"

Fragrance Light Valley remained as it always was, with flowers blooming in profusion and undiminished beauty.

This picturesque scene had been a constant over the past three years.

In the heart of the valley, a twelve-year-old boy was gently rubbing his face, trying to soothe his bruises.

It was Jie Mu. With time, he had grown even more handsome, his youthful features now marked by a sense of valor and astuteness.

Facing him were two young girls.

One was Yu Wen, now twelve and more beautiful and composed than she had been years ago, yet her fiery spirit remained unchanged.

Beside her sat her lifelong best friend, a girl named Han Han.

Jie Mu had become close friends with both of them.

For the past three years, Jie Mu had lived exclusively within Fragrance Light Valley, never venturing out.

The valley was a secluded haven, frequented only by his Master, Mistress, and Yu Wen.

Han Han, on the other hand, was a frequent visitor, often dropping by every few days.

Her regular presence was due to the strong friendship between her teacher and Jie Mu's master, allowing her easy access to Fragrance Light Valley.

Her master was a physician, a fact that remained unknown to Jie Mu, who was oblivious to the doctor's esteemed capabilities.

The doctor in question was renowned throughout the entire martial arts community.

The reason for the doctor's frequent visits wasn't due to illness, but rather a joyous event—a cause for celebration that filled Fragrance Light Valley with happiness.

Zhang Muxue, the master's wife, was expecting a child!

Jie Mu felt genuine joy for his master and mistress. Over the past three years, the couple had cared for him in every way, from daily needs to martial arts training, with great attention to detail.

The valley had become a hive of activity, likely due to the mistress's pregnancy.

The doctor was a constant presence, and the master often wore a serious expression, bustling about both inside and outside the valley.

It had been several weeks since Jie Mu had a proper conversation with Chenmu.

Jie Mu might have been clueless about many things, but he was aware that his mistress was an exceptional medical practitioner, and yet they still needed to seek external medical help. This indicated that her pregnancy was not quite ordinary.

But without any medical knowledge and no one to enlighten him, he could only guess so much.

When it came to Yu Wen, any time Jie Mu crossed her, he was in for a thrashing.

His first encounter with the mistress was a result of being beaten to a pulp by Yu Wen, necessitating urgent care from Zhang Muxue to save him.

After meeting the mistress, Jie Mu understood why a man of his master's stature would be so devoted to his wife.

Despite mastering a significant level of martial arts and Machine Arts, Jie Mu was no match for Yu Wen and was soundly defeated by her.

Strangely enough, Jie Mu found himself enjoying these beatings. He would provoke Yu Wen every so often, only to be soundly thrashed in return.

His mistress had even sought him out, concerned he might be developing a psychological issue.

Yet, it was this constant sparring that rapidly improved his combat abilities.

Perhaps it was Han Han's presence today that made Yu Wen's punch particularly harsh.

It took a good while for his injuries to heal, prompting him to remark, "Yu Wen, if you keep up this level of violence, how will you ever find someone to marry?"

Yu Wen was so infuriated that she swung her fist, ready to strike again.

Han Han, however, covered her mouth, giggling, "If Wen can't find someone to marry, you're still here, aren't you? You seem to enjoy a good beating, so why not just marry her and be done with it?"

At those words, both Yu Wen and Jie Mu's faces flushed with embarrassment. They exchanged glances, neither shy nor as brash and careless with their words as before.

The mood turned awkward, and Han Han rose to her feet, looking for a chance to slip away unnoticed.

Just then, Chenmu appeared beside them. "Jie Mu, Yu Wen, come over here. I have something to discuss with you. Han Han, your master is about to leave."

Han Han stood up, stretching lazily, and extended her hand toward Chenmu. "Uncle, can I have another one? I'm sure you've got a few more Fragrance Pills stashed away."

"Otherwise, I'll spill the beans to Aunt Zhang about how you sneak smokes and drinks at my master's place instead of working!"

"Hey, you're getting cheekier by the minute," Chenmu chided, pointing a finger at her, but he relented and tossed her a small bottle.

"Here are three Fragrance Pills. I'm giving you two, and the other is for you to take to your mother, a gift from Aunt Zhang."

Han Han grabbed the bottle, grinning, and hopped away with a bounce in her step.

Yu Wen and Jie Mu approached Chenmu.

Jie Mu gazed at Chenmu, pondering, "It's been a while since Master called for us. Is he checking on our martial skills progress, or is there something else?"

Chenmu pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to Yu Wen.

"Yu Wen, Jie Mu, you've both been here for a while now—five years and three years, respectively. You're practically half-students of the Ninth Department by now."

"Students of the Ninth Department are expected to undertake missions regularly. This paper outlines your first assignment from the academy."

Yu Wen eagerly took the paper, examining it closely.

Jie Mu, on the other hand, was somewhat dazed.

Academy? What academy? And a mission? He still had to go on missions?

After Yu Wen finished reading the paper, she expertly took out a lighter and reduced it to ashes. "Please rest assured, teacher. I will certainly complete the mission."

Chenmu nodded, "The details of the mission are minor, but your safety is paramount. Be cautious and avoid reckless actions."

"Regarding the academy and the mission, Yu Wen, you and Jie Mu can fill each other in."

"The mission arose quite unexpectedly, and the assessment was straightforward, which is why you two were chosen."

"I can't go into the details now. You can discuss them further once you're on your way."

"The carriage is ready for you. This time, avoid using a car—it's too noticeable and could lead to complications."

Yu Wen acknowledged with a nod. Jie Mu, though less informed, also agreed, ready to follow Yu Wen's lead.

They quickly packed their belongings and descended Fragrance Light Mountain to board the carriage.

Since Jie Mu was not adept at driving, Yu Wen took the reins while Jie Mu sat by her side.

Atop Fragrance Light Mountain, Chenmu stood at the summit, his lips curling into a subtle smile as he watched the pair depart.

A surge of Vital Spirit energy rippled, and Zhang Muxue appeared beside him in an instant. Despite being a few months pregnant, her condition had yet to impact her martial prowess.

Chenmu rushed to assist her, conjuring a blue light barrier with a wave of his hand to shield them from the mountaintop's chilly winds.

Zhang Muxue gave him a tender smile, her gaze following the distant figures. "You seem quite at ease, entrusting such a task to those two youngsters."

Chenmu returned the smile warmly. "It's a basic mission. Ordinary folks could handle it, not to mention these two with their martial skills."

Zhang Muxue shook her head, "You've always been this way, able to deceive others but never me."

"The mission might appear straightforward, but they're headed to Duross City, a place rife with complex factions and mixed company."

"If they mishandle the situation, they're bound to stir up all sorts of trouble. And knowing Yu Wen's volatile temper, it's easy to predict the outcome."

"Youngsters who haven’t yet mastered the Acquired Dark Strength tend to be rather arrogant. A moment of inattention could be fatal."

"Besides, over the past three years, the Dragon Group's control over the martial world has weakened. Currently, it's likely that those active in the martial world aren't just the avatars of the prominent figures."

Chenmu maintained his smile, yet his voice took on an icy tone. "We simply don't have the luxury of time to let these two youngsters mature at their own pace."

"It's time to force their growth. I've also made additional preparations, so if something does go wrong, we'll have a contingency in place."

"However, if our last resort fails to save them, then we're out of options. We'd have to start all over again."

Zhang Muxue gazed at Donglin with a look of sorrow. "Start from the beginning? Where would we find the time for that? We're not getting any younger, and I fear our child might not make it through!"

Chenmu looked up at the sky, his laughter echoing with a mix of desolation and hubris. "I reserved the final remedy for our child. Eventually, we will return to the great path, but before we do, I intend to challenge the heavens to one last game."