The Gu tribe guards around Qin Mu were pointing their spears at him. The atmosphere was tense, and everyone had a fierce expression on their faces.
“Wait! What’s going on?”
‘I haven’t done anything. I was just sitting here waiting. I didn’t go out to cause trouble—I haven’t even gone ten steps from this table. Could it be… was my identity exposed as fake?’
‘But the jade bracelet I gave earlier was made by a great sect in the Western Regions. It matched perfectly. Impossible!’
Seeing Qin Mu’s unrepentant expression, the green-clad man took out the token Qin Mu had given earlier and said coldly,
“Kid, you really think our Gu tribe is easy to fool? This jade bracelet was a gift for the Eastern Domain Seven Stars Sect. Yet now, how did it end up in your hands?”
Sure enough, he had been recognized. But Qin Mu wasn’t flustered. He quickly forced a smile and said,
“Haha, I was just hiding my identity while traveling. Please understand, everyone. I am actually a disciple of the Seven Stars Sect.”
Qin Mu took out his disciple token and showed it to those around. However, the green-clad man only glanced at it briefly, and his gaze turned even colder.
“Fine, fine. No wonder you could steal this jade bracelet—you also stole a Seven Stars Sect disciple token. A petty thief like you coming here must have his eyes on our Gu tribe’s supreme treasure!”
This time Qin Mu could only cry without tears.
‘If I had known it would come to this, I would have honestly stated my background from the start.’
“Brother, you really have to believe me. If I, Qin Mu, am lying this time…”
“Good! Even your name is fake!”
The green-clad man’s True Qi surged. It was clear at a glance that he was at the Late Foundation Establishment stage.
“Will you come with us willingly, or do we cripple your cultivation and take you by force?”
Qin Mu looked around at the spearmen surrounding him.
‘It seems I’ve gotten myself into trouble again.’
“I naturally choose to leave on my own, but sorry—not with you!”
‘Just a few Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Stage cultivators, and they want to stop me, Young Master Qin?’
‘Ridiculous! What storms hasn’t Young Master Qin seen?’
“Since that’s the case, don’t blame us for being ruthless!”
The green-clad man took a step forward and immediately attacked as his words fell.
“Hehe, human boy, I didn’t expect you to cause trouble again. How about it? Want this old man to lend a hand?”
Qin Mu heard the voice of Divine Dragon Senior echo in his mind.
“No need. Just a few haven’t even reached the Golden Core realm. If that’s enough to catch me, then they’ve greatly underestimated me.”
After all, he had seen the Tribulation Stage, fought hard against the Golden Core Stage, and just faced the Soul Formation Stage. A mere Foundation Establishment Stage—he could easily handle it!
Talisman in hand, Qin Mu used his movement technique to dodge the green-clad man’s attack, seized the opening, and immediately activated the talisman.
“Thunderclap!”
With a loud shout, Qin Mu gathered lightning in his palm and struck out. A bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl slammed into the green-clad man.
“Ugh!”
Taking Qin Mu’s attack head-on, the green-clad man spat out a mouthful of blood, retreated a dozen steps, and his aura became slightly sluggish.
After driving back the green-clad man, Qin Mu hurriedly summoned the Danfire left by Miss Mengyu.
Boom!
Flames coiled around his body, and the spears instantly melted upon contact with the Danfire.
Then Qin Mu gathered his True Qi, locked onto a guard who was only at the Qi Refining Stage, and with the stone slab beneath his feet cracking, his figure shot out.
“Ora!”
Qin Mu was extremely fast. Before the guard could react, his fist was already enlarging in the guard’s vision.
“Ah!”
With a miserable cry, the guard was sent flying backward.
The encirclement was torn open by Qin Mu. Seizing the moment, without any hesitation, he pasted on a Talisman of Divine Movement, and in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished from the spot.
In just a brief instant, he had repelled the green-clad man, blocked the guards’ spear attacks, torn open the encirclement, and escaped.
By the time those around recovered, Qin Mu was already gone from the scene.
After stabilizing his breath, the green-clad man’s eyes darkened.
“Good, good, good! As expected of a thief who could steal the Seven Stars Sect’s treasures, your strength is indeed extraordinary. But let’s see if you can escape our village!”
Looking at the surrounding guards, the green-clad man issued orders.
“Spread the order: apprehend that thief! Lock down the village, especially the Holy Altar!”
“Yes, sir!”
In a certain corner, a figure quietly appeared.
“Huff… huff…”
Qin Mu panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He had run with all his might, thinking he could dash out of the village in one breath, but he encountered too many guards along the way. After going around in circles, his True Qi had bottomed out.
Having run here, he just looked around and saw no guards. For now, it was safe.
“I’m really speechless. No matter where I go, I end up in trouble…”
‘I’m really frustrated. It seems I should get a fortune-telling session when I have the chance, to find a way to break this bad luck.’
“Human boy, not bad. Quick and accurate, and you kept your restraint.”
“Thank you for the praise, Divine Dragon Senior.”
Qin Mu had naturally held back. After all, if someone died, things would blow up. Moreover, he had no grudge against them. They tried to catch him because his earlier false identity was exposed; it was just their duty.
‘But how should I get out?’
Earlier, Qin Mu had roughly assessed the situation. The air was no good—too conspicuous, easy to spot. And with his Qi Refining Stage cultivation, he definitely couldn’t outrun a Golden Core cultivator. Burrowing underground would cause too obvious a True Qi fluctuation. It might fool a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but not someone above that. The only option left was to find a way to disguise himself and get out.
‘Sigh, I wonder where Miss Ruoshuang and Miss Mengyu are now.’
***
Under Lu Shuanger’s guidance, the three arrived at a particularly open area that stood out from the dense trees around.
“Please wait a moment, Sister Mengyu.”
Lu Shuanger took out a whistle, channeled her True Qi, and blew it.
Pee—
The whistle was clear and loud.
In less than ten breaths, the space in front of them rippled.
“Hehe, what an honor to have Miss Shuanger grace us with her presence. I’m sorry for not greeting you properly. How has the High Priest been lately?”
An old man with white hair and a long beard walked out.
Lu Shuanger bowed and then said,
“Greetings, Elder Kumu. My master has been the same as usual lately.”
“Hehe, is that so? May I ask why Miss Shuanger has come to our village this time? Is it on the High Priest’s orders?”
“No, Elder Kumu. A friend of mine from outside the Wildlands accidentally triggered a mechanism and should have ended up here. So we have come to find this friend of mine.”
Hearing this, Elder Kumu glanced at the two tall young women beside her. From the aura on them, they didn’t seem like people from the Wildlands. But as long as the High Priest didn’t cause trouble for their village, the matter of these outsiders entering was not his concern.
“Since Miss Shuanger says so, then follow me inside. I will have people search.”
Elder Kumu traced a line in the air with his finger, and a space rift appeared.
“Miss Shuanger, and the two guests, please!”