The Gold and Silver Merchant House was the foremost commercial enterprise in the world, with branches scattered across the continent, each more prosperous than the last.
In Yunji Town, Xu Mu found himself once again standing before its resplendent facade, shaking his head with a sigh. Past experiences had taught him that anything involving the Gold and Silver Merchant House rarely ended well.
The Wine Immortal, however, was unconcerned. Relying on his disguise, he swaggered into the establishment, letting out a thunderous burp that echoed like a wild bull. Countless distinguished guests, eager to avoid his boisterous presence, parted ways to let him pass.
"How uncouth," a young woman in an opulent long robe, with eyebrows like willow leaves, declared from twenty paces away, glaring at the Wine Immortal.
"Hush, speak softly," a man beside her advised with a gentle smile. "Nian'er, these are trying times; we must remain discreet."
"The people of this small town are accustomed to such boorishness. No need to concern yourself with them."
"But my perfume is entirely overpowered," the woman whined, looking at the Wine Immortal with disdain and stomping her foot. "If you're not angry, then buy me more flowers."
The man smiled and nodded. "Alright."
Xu Mu followed the Wine Immortal, casting a casual glance at the couple. The handsome man simultaneously looked at him, and their gazes met for a fleeting moment before they both looked away.
"Such a heavy killing intent."
Xu Mu's expression remained calm, but a flicker of surprise crossed his mind. In just that one glance, he had perceived a killing aura from the man no less potent than that of Zhou Jie. Undoubtedly, he had taken many lives.
"It's wise to be cautious," the man murmured, turning his back. His gaze lingered on Xu Mu's eyes, his brow arching slightly. "Such young age, yet his eyes are like a raging flood or a fierce beast."
"The Land of a Hundred Tribes truly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers."
The woman, hearing this, turned to look at Xu Mu before turning back to the man, her voice laced with curiosity. "Yan, what is it?"
The man smiled and shook his head. "Nothing, I just saw a rather promising young man."
The woman scoffed. "How promising can he be? Surely not as promising as the prodigies of my Bai family?"
The man's facial muscles twitched slightly as he thought of Xu Mu's gaze. "He is indeed somewhat lacking in comparison."
"Nian'er, let us proceed with preparing the congratulatory gift. We must escort Elder Li back this morning."
"If we delay further, Old Patriarch Bai Yun will likely grow anxious."
***
Ascending to the second floor, guided by guards, the Wine Immortal and Xu Mu were led into a secluded room. They sat opposite a mysterious figure through a thick iron door. A wrist-thick hole had been bored into the door, and a voice emanated from behind it.
"Esteemed guests, what is it you wish to know?"
Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal exchanged a glance. Xu Mu spoke, "I wish to know what truly happened between Bai Yun, the current patriarch of the Bai family, and Nangong Yu of the Nangong clan, all those years ago."
Upon hearing the question, the person behind the iron door fell silent for a period before responding in a hoarse voice, "Such as?"
Xu Mu elaborated, "For example, why did Nangong Yu suddenly abandon Bai Yun to marry Xi Lengxue? Why was she later injured, and why did she ultimately die in the forbidden zone?"
The individual behind the door was silent for a long moment before sighing. "Esteemed guests, I know nothing of your three questions."
Xu Mu, having anticipated this, pressed on. "Do you know who *might* know the answers to my questions?"
"One moment." With those words, the sound of rustling scrolls could be heard from behind the iron door. Time seemed to stretch endlessly. Eventually, the commotion subsided, and the voice spoke again.
"To the east of Yunji Town, at the foot of the mountain by the stream, there resides a teacher named Li Kun."
"He was once a guest elder of the Nangong clan, and Nangong Yu treated him as a brother. Later, due to family opposition to their marriage, Li Kun was secretly dispatched by Nangong Yu to protect Bai Yun."
"During this time, Li Kun saved Bai Yun's life on three occasions. She was deeply grateful to him, and Li Kun came to approve of her relationship with Nangong Yu, even clashing with the then Nangong family patriarch."
"Later, Nangong Yu suddenly changed her mind and married Xi Lengxue. After that, some undisclosed battles erupted. The specifics are unknown, but the result was that Li Kun voluntarily retired and chose to live in seclusion in Yunji Town, acting as a common school teacher, right at the border between the Bai and Nangong families."
"He might know more about what you are asking."
Xu Mu nodded slightly. "Li Kun, I understand."
The voice from behind the door stated, "As I was unable to fully answer your questions, the subsequent information comes at half price. Five thousand taels of gold will suffice."
Xu Mu raised an eyebrow, disbelief coloring his voice. "How much?"
From behind the iron door: "Five thousand taels."
The Wine Immortal clicked his tongue. "This tidbit of information alone is worth ten thousand taels of gold?"
The person behind the door paused for a moment before replying, "Whether it is worth it is for us to decide."
Xu Mu, disinclined to quibble, expressionless, tossed a money bag onto the counter and, with the Wine Immortal in tow, departed the merchant house.
On the streets of Yunji Town, the Wine Immortal quipped, "I suspect he recognized you. Otherwise, this piece of information would be worth at most a thousand."
"If that Li Kun knows something, then paying five thousand taels is acceptable. But if he knows nothing..." Xu Mu said, a faint smile gracing his lips. "In any case, the Gold and Silver Merchant House and I are now locked in an irreconcilable feud. It wouldn't be amiss to raze another branch."
The Wine Immortal feigned fear, waving his hand. "I cannot afford to offend them. You handle it."
Xu Mu shrugged. "I can't either. Let Qiongqi handle it."
The Wine Immortal smiled faintly. "She also needs to cultivate. There are many traditions in the Daoist temple, and she cannot come out for a while."
Xu Mu nodded, his expression calm. His current journey differed from previous ones. Qiongqi had been left at the Baiyun Daoist Temple, Charles was researching weapons at an inn in the Holy City, and Gray-White Eye was still in seclusion. Thus, he was accompanied only by the Wine Immortal. Or rather, only by himself. But that was of little consequence.
Xu Mu's face remained placid as they walked in silence. Yunji Town was small, and after the time it took two incense sticks to burn, a verdant, rolling mountain range of moderate height appeared before Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal.
Before the mountain, a small stream flowed, and beyond it lay a sparse forest. The ground was not muddy, but numerous footprints were visible. These were ordinary footprints. As they ventured deeper, the clear sound of reciting could be heard from within the woods.
A private schoolhouse was erected in a clearing within the forest, beside the stream flowing down from the mountain. By the stream, seventeen or eighteen children sat on rocks, listening to an elder with snow-white hair lecture.
He drew a ladle of water, took a drink, and said with a benevolent smile, "Mountain springs, river water, well water – drinking them in summer is like a cool breeze caressing your skin, making you almost forget the sweltering heat."
"After the Apocalypse, it has become rare to find such clear and pure mountain springs on the continent. There are only three such places in the world. Do you know what they are?"
"Teacher, I know..."
The elder and his students engaged in a question-and-answer session, the scene so serene that Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal, observing from afar, could not help but be taken aback. Could this be Li Kun?
The Wine Immortal gazed at the white-haired old man from a distance. After a careful inspection, he sighed. "I cannot be sure, but it should be him."
"I never expected that Li Kun, once known as the Jade Celestial Venerable in the martial world, would become like this."
Xu Mu was curious. "Jade Celestial Venerable? Why is he called that? Is he very powerful?"
The Wine Immortal sighed. "More than powerful."
"Li Kun was a renowned caravan escort in the martial world, skilled in using jade objects to kill. In an era when there were no awakened beings, Li Kun alone could protect an entire caravan, and he once single-handedly annihilated over sixty bandits."
"So strong..." Xu Mu exclaimed, clicking his tongue repeatedly. He knew that before the Apocalypse, the cultivation world was known as the martial world. At that time, people had some grasp of marvelous cultivation methods, but not the mysterious and potent powers of today. Being able to use Qinggong to scale walls was already considered exceptional martial skill. The strongest in that martial world might have been equivalent to today's Lords. In such a martial world, no one was impervious to blades and spears, nor could anyone kill so many people at once. Battles were fought with bare fists, and Li Kun's ability to defeat sixty bandits proved his immense strength. Now, Li Kun was over a hundred years old, a white-haired, benevolent school teacher.
At this moment, Li Kun noticed Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal observing him from a distance. Upon sensing the subtle aura emanating from the two, Li Kun's expression visibly tensed. He then immediately smiled and said to the children, "You children, go back inside and memorize the points I just explained. I'll be testing you later."
"Yes, teacher." The dozen children scampered back into the schoolhouse.
Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal exchanged a look and walked up to Li Kun, cupping their fists in greeting.
"Greetings, Teacher Li Kun."
"Greetings, Jade Celestial Venerable."
Upon hearing the latter title, Li Kun's expression clearly changed. His tone turned unfriendly. "Who are you two?"
The Wine Immortal clasped his hands and said earnestly, "I am the Wine Immortal from the Baiyun Daoist Temple. The person beside me is the second-ranked prodigy of this generation's Ten Thousand Races Assembly, named Mu Xu."
Li Kun glanced at Xu Mu and then asked warily, "Baiyun Daoist Temple? I don't recall any dealings with you."
"You didn't come here because of the Nangong family's affairs, did you? To ask me to come out of retirement?"
Xu Mu shook his head. "Yes and no."
"We have indeed come here regarding the Nangong family's affairs, but not to ask you to come out of retirement. Rather, we wish to uncover some of the truth from back then."
Li Kun frowned. "Such as?"
Xu Mu nodded. "For example, Nangong Yu, Bai Yun, and Xi Lengxue."
Hearing these three names, Li Kun's eyes suddenly turned icy. His benevolent facade vanished, replaced by a chilling murderous intent that sent a shiver down Xu Mu's spine.
"Little brats, has no one told you these names are not to be mentioned in my presence!"
The Wine Immortal smiled faintly and casually dispelled Li Kun's killing intent. He stepped forward, placing a hand on Li Kun's shoulder. "Senior, I know the events of that year were a great blow to you, but the Nangong clan is now facing a crisis of survival. We must find a way to prevent it."
"Therefore, if you know anything, please tell us."
Li Kun gazed at the Wine Immortal, his expression grave, then forcefully shook the hand off his shoulder. He suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahahaha, no wonder you two are not afraid of me. I didn't expect you to be a Half-step Human King from the Daoist Temple."
"However, if you think this will make me yield, you are gravely mistaken." Li Kun said, pointing to the deep wrinkles on his face, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. "To be frank, if I weren't burdened by guilt, I would have died long ago. And now, my lifespan is nearing its end. I fear no death!"
Xu Mu frowned, his voice tinged with helplessness. "Senior, no one wants you to die. We simply wish to help the Nangong family escape their predicament."
"After all, you were once a guest elder of the Nangong clan. The descendant of your close friend, Nangong Yu, has just achieved the supreme position in the Ten Thousand Races Assembly, and is now facing death. Can you truly bear to watch this happen?"
Li Kun glared at Xu Mu, his voice menacing. "I warn you, do not mention that name!"
"I will tell you the truth: expecting me to help the Nangong family escape danger is a pipe dream. Nangong Yu betrayed our friendship, betrayed himself and Bai Yun, and shattered my Dao heart, causing me to lose the trust of those around me."
"It is already a testament to my past feelings that I have not gone to the Bai family's gates to attack the Nangong clan!"
The Wine Immortal frowned and asked, "So, what exactly happened back then? Can you truly not tell us?"
Li Kun snorted coldly and turned to leave. "Hoping to extract anything from me is impossible."
"Now that my cultivation has fallen, you can kill me or flog me as you please. But if you are not going to kill me, I must return to my teaching."
With that, Li Kun walked back towards the schoolhouse along the stream.
The Wine Immortal looked at Xu Mu, a sense of helplessness in his gaze. "At his age, with no fear of death and no attachments, there is likely nothing that can entice him. This is difficult."
Xu Mu gazed at Li Kun's receding back, his expression thoughtful. Then, he suddenly spoke. "You are so gravely ill. If you truly did not care about death, why would you deliberately mention it?"
"My medical skills are comparable to the Domain Lord of the Medicine King Valley. Perhaps we can help each other."
Li Kun heard this, but did not stop or turn around. He let out a scoff. "Ridiculous. If I truly cared about death, how could I have neglected my cultivation for decades and lived in seclusion in the mountains?"
"Second place in the Ten Thousand Races Assembly, perhaps you are indeed comparable to a Domain Lord in medicine, but I have no need."
Xu Mu nodded and calmly asked, "Is that so?"
"You do not care about death. If those children were to die, would you be indifferent?"
Li Kun heard this and slowly stopped, turning to look at Xu Mu, asking earnestly, "Are you threatening me?"
"No."
Xu Mu shook his head and pointed towards the window of the schoolhouse, at the little girl in the red dress with a pale face. He said calmly, "She has a heart condition."
"She is dying."
"But I can cure her."
"Would you like to try?"