novelapdf Chapter 270 The melon is ripe and has been picked.
Chapter 270 The melon is ripe and has been picked.
After reprimanding the two girls, Jiang Mu coldly told them to go back to their rooms.
He originally intended to take advantage of the situation to establish his authority from "another angle," but reason told him that he couldn't rush things.
Today, the fire must be heated to its fullest extent.
We need to give them enough space and time to reflect on their own.
There's no rush right now.
However, Jiang Mu had only been lying down for a short while after taking off her clothes.
The door was gently pushed open again.
A familiar, delicate fragrance wafted into my nostrils, and then the bed dipped slightly.
It is Shui Miaozheng.
Jiang Mu simply rolled over, turning to face away from her.
Shui Miaozheng was not annoyed.
She gently embraced the man from behind, her soft, warm skin lightly caressing his shoulders, and asked:
"Xiao Jiang... are you really angry with your aunt?"
Jiang Mu kept her eyes closed and didn't say a word.
Shui Miaozheng pressed her cheek against his back, her voice filled with sadness and self-reproach:
"It's Aunt Shui's fault. Auntie used to be arrogant, always feeling that the person she liked should belong entirely to her, and she wouldn't allow anyone else to share even a little bit. But after lying down for a while, Auntie figured it out..."
It's common for men to have multiple wives and concubines. But you're destined for the pinnacle of success, and at that time, I'm afraid I won't even have the right to stand beside you anymore.
Instead of worrying about the future, we should cherish the present.
"As long as Xiao Jiang still has a place for her aunt in her heart, it's fine if she doesn't become the legal wife, she can be a concubine, a nameless mistress, I'll accept it." Jiang Mu turned over and forcefully pulled the woman's mature and alluring body into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, smelling the faint fragrance: "I said, there is no distinction between big and small."
"Aunt Shui is Aunt Shui, she's one of a kind to me. Actually, what makes me happy is that you've let go of your resentment and agreed to be my woman." Shui Miaozheng's face flushed slightly.
If I couldn't let go of my resentment, you would probably have been snatched away by some other older woman long ago.
The two embraced and cuddled on the bed for a while.
Just as Jiang Mu was about to mount his horse and make his move, Shui Miaozheng suddenly gently pushed against his chest.
"Xiao Jiang, your aunt had a fight tonight and her spiritual energy was depleted. She's feeling a bit tired, so she's going to rest now."
She gave Jiang Mu a coquettish peck on the lips.
She then got out of bed, tidied her clothes, and gracefully departed.
Jiang Mu was speechless.
However, Shui Miaozheng had barely walked for the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.
The door was pushed open again.
Ling Ye, dressed in a white inner robe, walked in expressionlessly, exuding a cold and aloof aura.
Jiang Mu was taken aback.
Did these two plan this beforehand?
There's even a queue for prison visits?
Ling Ye walked to the bedside, her beautiful, cold face still tense, her voice carrying a hint of grievance and resentment:
"No one has ever hit me since I was a child. Not even my master."
Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow:
"So, Sister Ling, do you think I shouldn't have hit you tonight?"
Ling Ye did not answer, and lay down next to the man just like Shui Miaozheng.
She gently rested her head against the man's chest and said softly:
"I've figured it out. Since you don't care about my age, why should I care about it?"
It's your freedom to like whomever you want.
As long as I like you and can stay by your side, that's enough.
Little Jiang, from now on I'll be your junior.
You can come find me anytime you miss me. But if one day you get tired of me and don't miss me anymore... then just forget about me.
I will never interfere in your life or anyone else's.
Hearing these words, Jiang Mu felt a sense of helplessness.
Why are these two women so concerned about titles and ranks?
He turned to the side and leaned in to give Ling Ye a light kiss on the lips.
As soon as he touched her, Jiang Mu noticed that her cheeks were a little cold.
Looking up, I was surprised to see a few glistening water droplets clinging to Ling Ye's long eyelashes.
His heart skipped a beat. He bent down and kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes, whispering softly:
"Sister Ling, don't talk nonsense. How could I forget you? In my heart, you are unique, and no one can replace you..."
Ling Ye buried her head in the man's chest again, listening to his heartbeat, and murmured:
"Xiao Jiang, I'm willing to give up everything for you."
The two embraced tightly and lingered tenderly for a long time.
Just as Jiang Mu felt the atmosphere was right and was about to transform into a "giant baby" and demand some late-night snacks, Ling Ye also sat up.
She blushed, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and whispered:
"You just broke through and then had a big battle with someone. You should rest early tonight to consolidate your realm. I'm going back now."
After saying that, without waiting for Jiang Mu to stop her, she hurriedly fled the room.
Jiang Mu's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Are you all just messing with me?
Ling Ye walked out of Jiang Mu's room and gently closed the door.
Turning her head, she saw Shui Miaozheng leaning against a wooden pillar at the end of the corridor, waiting for her with a half-smile.
"You've been inside for a while."
Shui Miaozheng Dao.
Ling Ye's expression returned to its usual coldness.
She took out two crumpled pieces of paper from her sleeve and spread them out in her palm:
"This method is good. From now on, we will use this lottery method to decide who goes first and who goes last."
Hopefully, the Water Master will accept his loss and not try to renege on his bet.
As for the titles of principal wife and concubine, I don't care.
"Doesn't matter?"
Shui Miaozheng said with a hint of sarcasm, "You're even squeezing out tears, aren't you just trying to gain sympathy?"
Ling Ye's expression remained unchanged; he simply retorted coldly:
"Isn't the Water Master the same? He deliberately acts like he doesn't care, just to make Xiao Jiang feel guilty towards you."
"Hmph, same to you."
Shui Miaozheng didn't say anything more and turned to go into her room.
Ling Ye watched Shui Miaozheng's figure disappear, muttered something under his breath, and then turned and went into his room.
The following day, the three of them officially embarked on their journey back to Huzhou City.
This time, Jiang Mu specially sought out two top-quality demon horses, plus a spacious carriage.
The demonic horse is intelligent; once a direction is set, it can travel on its own.
In this way, Jiang Mu and the other two could play cards leisurely in the carriage without being disturbed by the outside world.
Jiang Mu also deliberately slowed down the speed of the demon horse.
In this way, one can enjoy the scenery along the way while fully experiencing the rare bliss of having multiple wives.
After being slapped by Jiang Mu, the head of the family, last night, the two wives did indeed behave much better on the surface, at least they no longer dared to openly draw their knives and attack each other.
But the rivalry and jealousy behind the scenes never stopped.
Or they'll just exchange a few sarcastic and sarcastic remarks.
Either they try to outshine Jiang Mu.
Even occasionally, when the carriage stopped to rest, the two women would spar a few moves and exchange techniques in a small area where Jiang Mu couldn't see them. Jiang Mu was quite helpless about this.
These two older women haven't even been completely dealt with yet, and they're already all rolled up like this.
If we were to bring the Demon Girl, Little Doctor, and even that arrogant Bai Xiang into the harem in the future, wouldn't the household be in constant turmoil? The harem is tough.
"Little Jiang, come on, open your mouth and eat some fruit to soothe your throat."
Inside the carriage, Shui Miaozheng leaned against the soft couch and placed a plate of washed wild fruits in front of Jiang Mu. "Auntie picked these for you while we were resting in the woods. They're so sweet."
The woman plucked a pearl with her slender, jade-like fingers and gently brought it to Jiang Mu's lips, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Sitting to the side, Ling Ye, with a cold and pretty face, handed a leather water bag to Jiang Mu:
"This is fresh goat milk that I specially bought before leaving Xiyun Town. It's good for nourishing the spleen and stomach. Little Jiang, don't eat wild fruits indiscriminately in the wilderness. Many of them are poisonous and might make you sick."
Jiang Mu knew that Ling Ye liked to drink milk to supplement his nutrition.
Those watermelons didn't grow for nothing.
Hearing this, Shui Miaozheng didn't get angry but smiled instead; her voice was gentle but contained a hidden knife:
"What are you saying, Sister Ling? This milk has been bumpy all the way here; it's probably sour and rancid by now. It's fine if you drink it yourself, but aren't you worried that giving it to Xiao Jiang will upset his stomach?"
Ling Ye glanced sideways and retorted calmly:
"Something sour is better than being poisoned. If you lack common sense, you shouldn't be harming people."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Jiang Mu snatched the wild fruit from Aunt Shui's hand and popped it into his mouth. He then took Ling Ye's water bag and gulped down two mouthfuls, mumbling indistinctly.
"Everything is delicious, everything is great!"
He wiped the milk stains from the corner of his mouth, feeling a deep sense of emotion.
Sure enough, once this older woman sheds her usual aloof facade and lets go of her reserve and inner turmoil, her fiery passion becomes irresistible.
If it were a young girl just beginning to experience romantic feelings, she'd probably be shyly tugging at her clothes right now.
However, continuing to fight like this is not a solution.
Although the two women appeared intimidated by his authority as the head of the family, their possessiveness remained strong, and neither was willing to submit to the other. It was necessary to make them understand fundamentally how dangerous and unrealistic their idea of possessing him, Jiang, was.
They need to deeply understand that unity and mutual assistance are the only way to survive.
How can I make them understand?
It's very simple; we can solve it using traditional pile driving.
The thought arose, and Jiang Mu sat up straight, saying calmly:
"Aunt Shui, Sister Ling. Now that we've decided to be husband and wife, we can't keep putting off fulfilling our responsibilities as husband and wife, can we?" Both women were taken aback.
Jiang Mu continued in a serious tone:
"Once we return to Huzhou City, there will be many trivial matters and cases to investigate. There won't be much time left for peaceful and intimate moments."
"Aunt Shui, now that we've consummated our marriage, why don't you set an example?"
Before he finished speaking, he stretched out his arm, put his arm around Shui Miaozheng's waist, and pulled her into his embrace.
The woman's voluptuous body crashed into his chest.
Both women were stunned.
Getting close to them is no problem; they were actually prepared for it.
But the problem is...
There's another person watching over this carriage!
Both of them were proud and arrogant; how could they possibly engage in marital relations while the other was watching?
Shui Miaozheng was the first to react, her ears turning bright red, and she frantically struggled to break free from his chest:
"Xiao Jiang, stop fooling around... Let's wait until we get back to Huzhou City to talk about it. Right now we're all in the carriage, it's not convenient."
"Is there anything inconvenient?"
Jiang Mu smirked. "The demonic horses know the way, let them run on their own. With the carriage curtains drawn, no one can see them. We can do our own thing and treat it as a pastime."
Shui Miaozheng was filled with shame and indignation.
She is, after all, a traditional and dignified person at heart.
You can flatter me however you like in private, but to do this kind of thing in front of your love rival, in a bumpy carriage in the wilderness...
She simply couldn't bring herself to do it!
"No... Xiao Jiang, please spare your aunt..."
Shui Miaozheng gripped her clothes tightly with her jade-like hands, her eyes filled with pleading.
Seeing her hesitation, Jiang Mu suddenly sighed, slumped onto the soft pillow, and said softly:
"Fine, I won't force you if you don't want to. It's just that I'm young and hot-blooded, and some things are bad for my health if I keep them bottled up for too long."
"I'll pass through the town ahead in a bit, then I'll find a brothel to satisfy my urges."
"No!"
"You dare!"
The two women shouted in unison.
What a joke! With two such beauties by your side, how could you let your man go to a brothel?
If word gets out, where will they, as the head of the department and the inspector, put their faces?
Jiang Mu turned her head to the side:
"What should I do? I can't let myself get sick from holding it in."
Shui Miaozheng bit her red lips, her mind in turmoil.
In the end, Jiang Mu's indulgence triumphed over the shame.
She turned to look at Ling Ye: "Sister Ling...why don't you go out and avoid the area for a while?"
Ling Ye's usually cool and aloof face was now flushed with a deep blush.
Her instinct was to retort, "Why should I leave?", but the thought of what they were about to do filled her with apprehension and fear. "I wish..."
Ling Ye gave a muffled reply and prepared to get up and become a coachman on the carriage shaft.
"stop."
Jiang Mu spoke calmly, adopting the authority of the family head, "You stay here. You're not going anywhere!"
After saying that, he pulled Shui Miaozheng back into his arms and covered her with his body.
The woman remained frozen at first.
But the moment his palm touched her lower back, she softened, like a handful of snow falling into warm water.
Ling Ye stood frozen in place.
Leaving is not an option, nor is staying.
In the end, she could only shrink into a corner at the edge of the carriage, turn her head away, and force herself not to look.
As time went on, the train carriage shook more and more violently.
Ling Ye initially just turned his head quietly and stole a couple of glances.
After glancing at it a few times, I couldn't take my eyes off it.
Gradually, she stared intently at the carriage, her beautiful eyes widening as she swallowed repeatedly.
Ling Ye was not an innocent young girl who knew nothing.
I've also browsed through several scrolls of erotic illustrations.
But what she saw before her completely overturned her understanding.
If calligraphy and painting depict the refined pleasures of women in their boudoirs, then Jiang Mu is a ferocious giant bear awakened from an ancient battlefield.
Every muscle was taut with fierce power.
It carried a terrifying aura of wanting to tear its prey to shreds.
It is full of primal masculine tension.
They really don't treat the other person like a human being.
At times, she even thought that Shui Miaozheng had already died.
so horrible.
She tried to stop it, but couldn't get up and could only watch helplessly.
Her face went from flushed to deathly pale, then back to a flushed red, and finally, not a trace of color remained.
The watermelon was really scared.
Boom!
A thunderclap exploded in the sky.
In the night sky, lightning, like a silver snake, tore through the heavens.
Then a torrential downpour began, creating a thick curtain of rain between heaven and earth.
The demon horse continued to travel smoothly on the muddy official road.
The carriage, however, was like a lone boat in a raging storm, tossing and turning incessantly.
Rainwater poured down the eaves of the car, forming trickles of water beside the ruts.
The water meandered across the road like tiny, transparent snakes, chasing the tracks left by the wheels.
Eventually, it seeped into the soil along the roadside.
Inside the train carriage.
It also seemed as if it had been through a torrential rain.
I don't know how much time passed.
In a daze, Ling Ye vaguely realized that he had left that safe corner without even noticing.
She lay on her back on the soft, plush floor.
The longsword had long since rolled away and disappeared.
Ling Ye opened her rosy lips, as if to say something, but no sound came out of her throat; she only clenched her fists.
The carriage curtains fluttered loudly in the cold wind outside.
She peered through the gap in the carriage curtain, which had been lifted by the wind, at the night sky outside, her gaze inexplicably lost in thought.
The torrential rain seemed to gradually subside because of someone's departure.
But thick, dark clouds still churned in the sky.
Only scattered remnants of rain seeped down from the edges of the clouds, "drip, drip," pattering against the car body.
At that moment, a distant image suddenly flashed through Ling Ye's mind.
It was a late autumn night.
At that time, she was not yet an inspector, and Shangguan Luoxue was just a little kid.
They sat on the edge of a cliff on a solitary peak.
Beneath my feet was a surging sea of clouds, and above me was a cold moon.
Nine-year-old Luo Xue lay on her lap, blinking her large, clear eyes, and asked in a crisp voice:
"Master, you always say that all men in the world are bad, so why did our grandmaster like men in the first place?"
Ling Ye stroked the little girl's hair, his eyes filled with hatred and sorrow:
"Your grandmaster didn't believe it at first either. But she was too soft-hearted and was ultimately harmed by a man."
Xue'er, promise your master that you will never fall in love with any man in this lifetime.
You are absolutely forbidden to have any dealings with them, do you understand?
"Xue'er understands!"
The little girl nodded emphatically, then looked up at herself and asked, "And what about you, Master? Do you like men?"
Ling Ye smiled slightly, his smile full of disdain:
"Of course not, Master. Not in this life, and not in the next."
"Master will always uphold our path of slaying demons and will always be by your side. From now on, if any man dares to harass you, Master will kill him!" "Master, me too!"
Xiao Luoxue suddenly stood up, holding a wooden sword in her hand, and awkwardly struck a "pointing the way" pose.
"If any stinky man dares to bother Master again, Xue'er will stab him with a big hole!"
"Okay, come on, let's pinky swear."
Ling Ye smiled and extended his little finger.
The little girl also stretched out her small hand, her two fingers, one big and one small, intertwined tightly in the cool moonlight…
Memories are gradually fading from my mind.
Ling Ye's eyes were misty and filled with tears. Her nails dug hard into the wooden planks of the carriage. Just as her consciousness was about to be completely swallowed by the violence, she murmured to herself:
"I'm sorry, Xiaoxue."
"Master, I'm going to break my promise..."
Inside the underground palace of Huzhou City.
Purple mist hangs in the air, and frost falls like snow.
Shangguan Luoxue, dressed in a long purple dress, did not meditate or cultivate as usual.
Instead, he sat alone atop the dome of the main hall, gazing intently at the hazy night sky above.
Scattered raindrops fell intermittently.
The rain dampened the upturned eaves and corners, and also dampened a stray strand of her dark hair at her temple.
Jiang Mu and her master Ling Ye have been away from Huzhou City for quite some time now.
These days, her Dao heart has been somewhat restless.
She often reflects on herself.
Perhaps I have gone too far on the path of spiritual cultivation, abandoning all emotions and desires.
Eventually, even her master began to question her and even became dissatisfied with her.
But isn't this the way of the universe?
She remembers how, when she was a child, her master repeatedly instilled in her the idea that "all men in the world are like floods and beasts, all heartless and ungrateful." She firmly believed this throughout her life.
Even later, in order to repair the foundation of his Dao and stabilize his star position, he had to engage in forty-nine Dao discussions with Jiang Mu.
She also consistently suppressed her inner emotions.
But now?
Her master, who once deeply despised all men, surprisingly got angry with her over a mere young boy.
He was even willing to fall out with her.
Could it be that Master has really fallen for that boy?
impossible.
It is absolutely impossible.
Shangguan Luoxue immediately shook her head, rejecting this absurd idea.
How could a man of such a proud and aloof nature as Master be bewitched by a scoundrel in his early twenties?
"perhaps·……"
Shangguan Luoxue gently twirled a strand of hair hanging down her chest with her fingertips, finding a more reasonable explanation for herself.
"My master truly believes that the path I chose was wrong. She feels that I not only lost my body, but also dragged down the future of a brilliant young man."
She was afraid I would suffer the consequences of karma in the future, so she wanted to make amends for me, right?
Shangguan Luoxue's head was throbbing with worry.
I shook my head to clear my mind of the jumbled thoughts.
But then again...
If we set aside the principles of cause and effect, and focus solely on the relationship between men and women, it is indeed quite wonderful in a certain sense.
Although her proud pride would never admit it.
But Jiang Mu did give her an unprecedented peak experience.
In the past few days, whenever she entered a meditative state, the images of the two of them entangled in the divine realm would involuntarily surface in her mind. This inexplicably gave her an urge to find Jiang Mu and discuss the Dao again.
Even in the deepest, most secret corner of her heart, a dark thought once took root.
Why not just bring that kid Jiang Mu back and raise him like a canary?
It is for her sole use only.
Of course, this was just a thought fueled by inner demons.
Shangguan Luoxue was just a little regretful.
My master is a renowned beauty who has captivated the world, yet he has spent most of his life practicing swordsmanship and slaying demons, never experiencing such blissful pleasures in this world, which is somewhat regrettable.
And she was also quite curious.
What would my master, who is always aloof and arrogant, be like if he really let go of his reserve in bed?
Will it be just as unbearable as that Water Master?
Recalling the appearance of Shui Miaozheng when she went to the post station, Shangguan Luoxue snorted disdainfully.
The governor of a prefecture is truly an eyesore.
If it were my master, he would definitely be able to uphold the bottom line and wouldn't be so shameful.
Just like her.
After all, during the time she discussed Dao with Jiang Mu, she had that kid firmly under her control.
They, master and apprentice, must be very skilled in this area.
"Boom!"
Just as Shangguan Luoxue was lost in thought, a deep rumble of thunder came from the sky.
The raging lightning, as thick as a bucket, transformed into a blinding silver electric dragon, tearing through the thick, leaden clouds.
Then, a crimson halo, like the glow of sunset, slowly spread through the gaps in the split clouds.
Like the final cry of blood before a phoenix's rebirth, it is breathtakingly beautiful.
Shangguan Luoxue was stunned when she saw the glaring crimson stain.
For some reason, her first bright red blush suddenly flashed through her mind.
It's like...like the sunset in the clouds before my eyes.
"call out"
Just then, a glowing origami crane fluttered its wings, passed through the underground palace's restrictions, and slowly floated to her.
Shangguan Luoxue snapped out of her thoughts and raised her jade-like hand.
The origami crane landed lightly on her fair fingertips.
She unfolded the paper crane, her gaze sweeping over the cryptic text on it, and was immediately struck dumb, frozen on the spot.
"Seven Realms?!"
She stared wide-eyed, momentarily thinking there was something wrong with her eyes.
The above is the latest intelligence.
It is said that Jiang Mu killed Shen Hufei, a seventh-realm cultivator, in Xiyun Town and successfully obtained a star position, officially breaking through to the seventh realm.
Shangguan Luoxue's face was filled with disbelief.
I read those few lines over and over again, making sure I wasn't seeing things, and my brain was buzzing.
How is this possible?!
He had already cultivated the "Purple Mansion Covenant" with me, so his Dao foundation should have been completely locked up long ago, preventing him from making any further progress in his life.
How could he possibly break through?
Could the rumors be wrong?
Or perhaps when Grandmaster Jiang Ruoxi was revising this cultivation technique, she accidentally removed the negative effects?
For a moment, Shangguan Luoxue felt a mix of emotions.
Originally, she felt a little guilty and pitied Jiang Mu for "losing his future" because of dual cultivation.
But seeing this information now, I feel a strange sense of anger and frustration.
After all that, this guy not only didn't fail, but actually took off?
What about all that guilt she felt before?
I feel like I've been taken advantage of.
Although she managed to stabilize her collapsing star position and repair her Dao foundation thanks to Jiang Mu, she had gained a lot.
But something just feels off.
Overall, Shangguan Luoxue was happy.
She turned her gaze toward the location of the Demon Slayer's Office in Huzhou City.
One person is probably going to cry.
Shangguan Luoxue already knew that Ran Chun'er, who was temporarily in charge of Huzhou, was trying to get rid of the burden of being a useless person.
Jiang Mu's transfer order has already been packaged and sold to Shui Miaozheng of Yunzhou City.
Judging by the time, the news of Jiang Mu breaking through to the seventh realm should reach Huzhou City by tomorrow or the day after at the latest.
I wonder what kind of expression that self-proclaimed clever woman, Ran Chun'er, will have on her face then?
Humans are always accustomed to measuring the height of the future with the perspective of the present.
But they forgot that the reason why geniuses are geniuses is precisely because they never play by the rules.
The carriage sped along, and a large-scale shopping spree was underway late at night.
Jiang Mu never expected that Sister Ling, who appeared aloof and arrogant, would be so open to conversation.
This inexplicably reminded Jiang Mu of the Lady Peach Blossom.
The next two days of travel were arguably the most severe test of overloading this carriage had ever endured since its inception.
The three of them engaged in a very unfriendly exchange inside.
Jiang Mu fully mobilized his terrifying physique, comparable to that of an ancient Vajra.
He perfectly demonstrated to these two arrogant women what a truly invincible man is.
Shui Miaozheng and Ling Ye were completely defeated, both physically and mentally.
At least, after countless cycles of fainting and waking up, they learned a painful lesson.
One person alone cannot fulfill the role of a wife in the face of this monster.
You really can die.
We absolutely cannot do this without help to share the firepower!
Even at times when Jiang Mu was in high spirits, they discovered with despair that even the two of them working together couldn't withstand the opponent's relentless bombardment. Thus, the previously confrontational atmosphere took a dramatic turn.
At first, the two of them could exchange sarcastic remarks while vying for the prize.
Later, it evolved into mutual respect and deference.
"Sister Ling... cough, Sister Ling, your cultivation is profound and your foundation is deep, so why don't you serve me first?"
"No, no, no! Master Shui, you are the elder, you should go first."
"You do it."
"Come here, come here, I'll rest for a while first."
Jiang Mu nodded in satisfaction as she looked at their sisterly affection.
You little punks, you think you can't be dealt with?
Of course, during the long journey home, Jiang Mu didn't spend all her time talking in the train carriage.
In addition to "eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path", they will also truly eliminate demons and protect the righteous path.
Whenever they passed through deep forests and pools, if Jiang Mu detected a demon's lair nearby using his divine sense, he would pull the two women out of the carriage and head out to slay the demon. Whether it was a first-tier or second-tier demon, they would kill it one by one.
As Jiang Mu watched the magic gauge experience bar slowly rise, he felt a secret sense of satisfaction.
Shui Miaozheng and Ling Ye were both puzzled by Jiang Mu's behavior of slaying demons and monsters along the way.
With Xiao Jiang's current seventh-realm cultivation, what's the point of killing these minor demons?
Until Shui Miaozheng couldn't help but ask, Jiang Mu sheathed his sword, stood with his hands behind his back, and spoke with a tone that exuded righteous indignation:
"Aunt Shui, Sister Ling. As demon slayers, they are meant to protect the people and keep watch over them."
These demons roam this place; if they are not eliminated today, they will wreak havoc on the people tomorrow. Now that I, Jiang Mu, have taken on this role, I cannot stand by and watch the common people suffer.
The Great Way should bring peace and prosperity to all people under heaven.
If you don't even have this much sense of responsibility, what are you doing cultivating the Dao, or trying to become a star?
Shui Miaozheng and Ling Ye were stunned upon hearing this.
Looking at the young man standing in the sunset, seemingly radiating a sacred glow, the two women felt a new layer of reverence in their eyes.
They thought that after being abandoned by the court, Xiao Jiang would become extreme and bloodthirsty.
Unexpectedly, he harbored such a pure sense of patriotism in his heart.
Sure enough, the men they set their sights on were different.
Beijing.
A towering tower reaching to the sky, located in a forbidden area on the outskirts of the city.
Like a sharp sword plunged upside down into the earth, it pierces straight into the lead-gray sky.
This is the innermost high-level seclusion place of the Daqing Demon Slaying Division.
The tower is made of black jade rock, with runes flowing on its surface.
At the base of the tower is a spirit-gathering array, where spiritual energy from within a ten-mile radius converges.
It was then purified by the formation and poured into the tower.
If viewed from above, a giant projection of a starry sea can be seen floating on the top of the tower.
The stars twinkle and shimmer, vast as an inverted universe.
"boom!"
With a deafening roar, the tower suddenly burst forth with a blinding emerald light.
Ripples of starlight spread outwards from the tower.
The birds and beasts within a radius of several miles were so frightened that they scattered and fled.
This sudden surge of spiritual energy instantly alarmed the high-level experts from all sides who were diligently cultivating nearby.
"Hahaha……"
"It's done!"
"I, Lao Ran, have finally succeeded!"
A loud, energetic laugh echoed from the top of the tower.
The figure swiftly descended from the top of the tower.
The crowd, who had been alerted and gathered around, felt an overwhelming pressure wash over them. Those with weaker cultivation even lost their footing and staggered back several steps. The newcomer was none other than Ran Qingshan, the magistrate of Huzhou City.
He stood in mid-air, surrounded by a layer of starlight.
A faint phantom of a wooden xiezi (a mythical creature) appeared behind them.
It stands alone, majestic and solemn.
Seeing this, everyone present understood.
Ran Qingshan successfully obtained the Ninth Realm Star Position, officially entering the ranks of experts at the [Venerable One] level.
In an instant, all sorts of gazes converged.
Some were envious, some were jealous, and some were genuinely happy for him.
"Brother Ran, congratulations!"
An elderly man with white hair quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and smiled.
The others also put aside their own thoughts and gathered around with smiles on their faces to offer their congratulations.
Ran Qingshan landed, his face glowing, grinning from ear to ear.
He waved his hand modestly and said:
"Elder Xiang, it's purely good luck. You know my background, Elder Ran. I was tormented by hidden injuries before, so I didn't have much hope for this seclusion."
Unexpectedly, fate smiled upon me, and I actually succeeded in obtaining the [Doumu Xie] star position.
Once you reach the level of a Ninth Realm Venerable, there's no need to hide your abilities like a Seventh or Eighth Realm cultivator.
The white-haired old man, referred to as "Old Xiang," stroked his beard and smiled:
"Brother Ran, you are too modest. While luck certainly plays a part in the path to greatness, it is mostly due to your own profound inner strength."
"Now that you have successfully attained star status, the Great Dao has shown you favor. The imperial court will likely issue an edict soon, appointing you as a regional garrison commander."
Upon hearing the words "garrison commander," those around him were filled with envy.
However, Ran Qingshan's joy faded slightly, and he wasn't as excited as expected.
He's a sentimental person at heart.
Having run this business in Huzhou City for many years, he knows every blade of grass and every tree like the back of his hand.
He certainly hoped to stay in Huzhou City as the garrison commander.
But he also knew in his heart that Huzhou City was located at a strategic point and had extremely heavy fortune.
Without Shangguan Luohui in charge, the imperial court would not feel comfortable entrusting this important prefecture to him.
If he were to become a garrison commander, he would only be assigned to a more remote area.
More importantly, he couldn't bear to part with Jiang Mu, his precious darling.
He watched him grow up step by step, just like his own son, a unique treasure in Huzhou City.
Ran Qingshan stroked Shang Ba's stubble and pondered:
"Elder Xiang, I plan to decline the appointment as garrison commander for now and will not consider it further."
I'll go back to Huzhou City and stay as the chief administrator for a few more years.
After all, I've spent half my life in that place, and I really can't bear to let go of those brothers and their hard work just like that.
"Once I, Old Ran, truly reach the threshold of the tenth realm, it won't be too late to become a leisurely garrison commander in a remote place."
Ran Qingshan has already planned out the future of Blue Well.
He wanted to go back and properly nurture Jiang Mu, investing all his resources into that kid.
We aim to help Xiao Jiang successfully enter the seventh realm within one or two years.
At that time, he would write a joint letter of recommendation to the chief commander, and help Jiang Mu to take up the position of chief commander of Huzhou City.
What's this called?
This is what is meant by keeping the good stuff within the family.
Then Old Ran can finally retire in glory.
Delicious.