The Mistress of the Star Plucking Tower and the Head of the Seven Star Sect were openly enemies, but secretly close friends.
If this were made public, it would surely shock everyone.
As for why Lu Qian stopped Qin Mu from meeting Wang Yan’er, the reason was simple—she was afraid Qin Mu would go astray.
Unlike the Martial Arts Manuals in the Seven Star Sect, the ones in the Star Plucking Tower were truly all-encompassing.
Forbidden Secret Arts from various sects, Evil Cultivation Techniques—everything could be found here.
The Star Plucking Tower didn’t care about personal character or morality, only about individual KPI.
As long as the task was completed, the process didn’t matter; only the result was important.
Of course, techniques that went too far against the Heavenly Dao were not allowed to be stored in the Star Plucking Tower.
After all, such things easily entangled karma.
It was precisely because the Star Plucking Tower housed all kinds of people that Lu Qian feared Qin Mu might go astray, so she forbade Wang Yan’er from bringing him to the Star Plucking Tower.
“Wang Yan’er, listen carefully. If Mu’er goes down the wrong path, I won’t let you off easily!”
Hearing the threat in the other’s tone, Wang Yan’er wasn’t afraid at all.
She chuckled softly.
“Who knows? Maybe Mu’er is especially suited to my Martial Arts Manual.”
Lu Qian immediately shouted in anger.
“Impossible! Wang Yan’er, if you dare do that, I’ll come over right now!”
If a man could learn Wang Yan’er’s Martial Arts Manual, becoming Dao Companion with him would be nothing but beneficial for Wang Yan’er—her cultivation would soar.
Lu Qian absolutely would not allow such a thing to happen.
She and those two girls had schemed for a long time, and she wouldn’t let outsiders take advantage!
The next morning, Qin Mu woke up early.
By usual habit, Young Master Qin wouldn’t get up unless the sun was high in the sky.
As for why he was acting out of character this time…
A plump white mass was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
Wang Yan’er’s long legs were draped over Young Master Qin’s body, her arm tightly wrapped around him.
The tall and mature Elder Sister embraced the youthful boy in her arms.
Young Master Qin was forcibly “tortured” awake. He stretched out his hand, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t pry open the fair arm.
His body couldn’t move at all, held tightly like a body pillow.
“Yan’er Auntie…”
Qin Mu finally had no choice but to call out.
Long eyelashes trembled slightly.
Wang Yan’er opened her sleepy eyes, her bright red lips exhaling a breath of sweet air onto Young Master Qin’s face.
“Mm-hmm…”
Wang Yan’er rubbed her fair cheek against the boy in her arms.
She hadn’t slept like this in a long time.
“Ugh ugh!!”
Qin Mu hurriedly patted the arm holding him tightly.
For him, Wang Yan’er’s nuzzling was like a direct, face-to-face critical hit.
The white mass was simply overwhelming.
When Wang Yan’er had finished rubbing against him, she realized the boy in her arms had already fallen back asleep.
Not wanting to disturb Mu’er’s sweet dreams, Wang Yan’er, considering herself an elder, quietly tidied herself and left the room.
The flying boat was fast, and by the time Qin Mu woke up again, they had arrived at the mine he had visited before.
Since Qin Mu said he came to investigate the Disappearance Case with the Elder Sisters, Wang Yan’er followed the trail of the Great Yu Dynasty’s Spirit Mine Disappearance Case and quickly pinpointed the location.
Wang Yan’er brought only Qin Mu off the flying boat.
“Yan’er Auntie, why did we come here?”
To be honest, Qin Mu didn’t really want to come back. He’d been tricked here last time, and if it happened again, he doubted he’d be so lucky.
Wang Yan’er put on a veil and spoke.
“If we went directly to the Yamen to investigate, we’d have to wait for approvals, wasting time, and the information wouldn’t be firsthand. Coming straight to the Crime Scene might reveal some clues.”
Qin Mu nodded.
“Soga, I see.”
It seemed being an ornament on a big shot’s leg was the best option after all.
This time, neither Qin Mu nor Wang Yan’er entered the mine. Instead, they walked into a nearby village.
Because of the frequent Disappearance Cases lately, the people here were in a state of panic.
The authorities, fearing more would go missing, had relocated all the villagers to a safe place, leaving the village virtually empty.
This place had originally been a small village, but after the discovery of the Spirit Mine nearby, more and more people arrived, and the village expanded greatly.
Qin Mu followed Wang Yan’er, the surroundings silent except for the sound of their footsteps on dry branches and fallen leaves.
The atmosphere was particularly unsettling.
Circling the outskirts of the village, Wang Yan’er found no trace of the Demon Clan, but did make some gains.
A sweep with her divine sense revealed traces of life—meaning that in this supposedly deserted village, someone was present.
“Mu’er.”
Wang Yan’er called softly.
“Eh! I’m coming!”
Qin Mu ran over.
To be safe, Wang Yan’er grabbed Qin Mu’s hand and led him toward the source of the presence.
Inside a small house, three figures were sneakily hiding something.
“Big Brother, maybe we should stop. If the authorities catch us, we’re done for!”
“Hmph! Coward! After this job, our three brothers will never have to worry again!”
“That’s right, Third Brother, what are you afraid of? With the Talisman given by the master, no one can detect us. Even that Nascent Soul Realm expert almost couldn’t get out!”
At this moment, Qin Mu was hiding in the void, watching the trio’s every move.
“Yan’er Auntie, do you think if we catch them, we can trace the mastermind behind the scenes?”
Wang Yan’er shook her head.
“Unlikely. One Golden Core, two Foundation Establishment, and they’re carrying Talismans that can shield from Nascent Soul perception. The mastermind is at least Soul Formation Realm—someone at that level plans thoroughly. Even if we catch these three, they won’t say anything useful.”
Qin Mu scratched his head.
Fine, with my Qi Cultivation level, my job is to cheer for the big shots.
Another Golden Core, Nascent Soul, even Soul Formation bigwigs—if I, a mere Qi Cultivator, got involved, the enemy could wipe me out with a flick of a finger.
Before long, the three quickly left the house.
Once they were gone and their presence vanished, Wang Yan’er sliced through the void with her fingertip, pulling Qin Mu out.
Qin Mu went to where the three had hidden their stash, dug up a cloth, and upon opening it, saw several blood-colored blocks.
Wang Yan’er’s expression changed.
She hooked a finger, pulling one blood-red block into her palm.
“Bloodheart. It seems the Demon Clan is planning a big move.”
Qin Mu picked up a block and examined it closely, discovering it was full of blood threads that continued to writhe and shift.
“Yan’er Auntie, what is this?”
Wang Yan’er pursed her lips and explained.
“Bloodheart. A method of the Demon Clan—using a Secret Technique to refine living people into blocks of blood. For the Demon Clan, it’s a powerful tonic.”
A cold light flashed in Wang Yan’er’s beautiful eyes.
In the Demon Clan, only those at least of Nascent Soul Realm could enjoy Bloodheart.
And to refine cultivators into Bloodheart—the mastermind behind this must be anything but ordinary.
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