"Chen Xuan, think carefully. If you marry into our Demon Sword Sect, the position of Sect Master may one day fall to you."
Xia Chuan's eyes flickered with amusement, and he could barely suppress the smirk tugging at his lips. "You have only one chance to decide."
"Uncle Xia, I refuse. I wouldn't even agree to a normal marriage, let alone marry into your sect," Chen Xuan said firmly.
"Fine! I'll give you ten days to reconsider. If you change your mind before then, it's not too late."
With that, Xia Chuan ended the call.
"Well, that's settled," Chen Xuan said with a grin. "Didn't think it'd go this smoothly, Brother Mu."
Xu Mu smiled faintly but said nothing.
From the video call, he had noticed how Xia Sihan's father seemed to be holding back laughter.
Even though he tried to maintain composure, Xu Mu still caught the subtle details.
That reaction made perfect sense.
Not everyone was like Jiang Sheng—honorable to the end.
Xia Chuan had arranged this engagement mostly because of Chen Xuan's late master.
Now that the master was gone, there was no reason for him to give his daughter to Chen Xuan.
Xu Mu had seen this kind of plot countless times.
If Chen Xuan actually went to the Demon Sword Sect to marry, Xia Chuan would probably come up with every excuse to stop it.
"Miss, it's time to go."
At that moment, a dark-skinned man in a short-sleeved shirt approached from a distance.
He looked about twenty-five, with a buzz cut and muscular arms, carrying a massive hiking pack on his back. His wary gaze swept over Xu Mu and Chen Xuan.
"Junior Brother, we'll be off first," Xia Sihan said, waving lightly.
"Alright. See you," Xu Mu nodded.
After watching her group leave, Xu Mu and Chen Xuan set off as well.
They didn't drive but proceeded on foot into the distant forest.
Xu Mu spread out his perception and found very few people around—apparently, not many knew of this place.
"Brother Mu, this forest is huge. Finding the entrance will be tough, huh?" Chen Xuan asked.
"Indeed. We must be cautious. The sect's experts have clearly located this area too," Xu Mu replied, glancing at him. "They're dangerous as well."
"I know."
Chen Xuan nodded. His master had once told him—sect disciples often thought of themselves as superior, especially compared to ordinary people.
By now, they had been wandering the forest aimlessly until noon and still hadn't found anything.
"Brother Mu, where to next?" Chen Xuan asked, leaning against a tree.
"Where do you think the ruin's hidden? I'll trust your instincts this time."
Xu Mu's real reason for bringing Chen Xuan was to see if his high Fate Level could lead them there.
"I don't know!" Chen Xuan said helplessly. "Don't trust me—my luck's always been terrible."
"Then we'll just wander. Everyone else is doing the same," Xu Mu said, patting him on the back.
"Alright."
Following his intuition, Chen Xuan began searching again through the dense forest, while Xu Mu stayed alert, scanning their surroundings for clues.
After ten minutes of walking, a loud explosion echoed from ahead.
They exchanged a glance and hurried toward the sound.
Xu Mu expanded his perception—two people were fighting within two hundred meters.
One man and one woman. The woman was clearly losing and retreated frantically in their direction.
Moments later, she dashed past them, brushing shoulders as she fled.
The man chasing her, however, suddenly changed course and went elsewhere.
"This forest's full of danger," Xu Mu murmured.
"Definitely. Let's change direction," Chen Xuan suggested, veering left.
But after barely five minutes, another fierce battle erupted in the distance—
even stronger this time. Trees were snapping in half from the force.
They rushed toward the noise again.
Xu Mu's perception told him that this time, several people were attacking one opponent.
And he recognized one of them immediately—
it was Miao He, the second-in-command of the Mourning Love Clan.
She wiped blood from her lips, clearly wounded.
"Hey! Bro… I told you to find the ruin's entrance, not injured women!" Xu Mu said helplessly.
"One would be fine, but now it's two in a row!"
Chen Xuan scratched his head. "Brother Mu, you'll get used to it. Last time I went herb picking, I found three injured women in a row."
"Impressive!" Xu Mu gave a thumbs-up, then sprinted toward Miao He. "That one's a friend—come on!"
Chen Xuan nodded and followed.
In the distance, a square-faced man in a leather jacket and jeans approached Miao He, sword in hand.
"Are you from the Poison Cave or the Black Earth Village?" he demanded, stepping closer.
Miao He glared at him and kept retreating.
"Forget it. Whichever you're from—you deserve to die! I can't stand you damn Gu cultivators."
The man sneered, and several young men behind him grinned.
"Third Senior Brother, she's beautiful. Would be a waste to kill her," one said.
"Yeah, Senior Brother, you hate Gu users—I don't," another laughed.
Zhou Xing turned cold eyes on them. "You idiots know nothing. You wanna know why I hate them? Because you can't play with them!"
The younger disciples immediately stopped laughing.
"These women usually carry guardian Gu insects. Try to touch them, and those bugs will crawl into your body and eat your flesh alive."
He smirked. "If you want to test it, be my guest."
The group quickly shrank back. Gu cultivators were indeed terrifying.
"Witch, die!"
Zhou Xing lunged, sword flashing.
"Overlord Butterfly!"
Two golden butterflies flew out from Miao He's body and shot toward him.
He sneered as green light shimmered across his exposed skin.
Clang!
He struck one butterfly down and swung again. "Falling Leaf Slash!"
A blast of green sword energy swept toward Miao He, carrying a powerful wind that sent fallen leaves swirling.
They obscured her vision completely.
One remaining golden butterfly darted in front of her to block the blow—
Zzzzt!
The sword energy and butterfly collided, sparks flying.
Crack!
But the butterfly couldn't hold and split apart.
Miao He looked down at her wounded leg—she could no longer run.
Seems she'd have to use that move.
"What's going on?"
Xu Mu's voice came from the distance.
Everyone turned. When Miao He saw him, her eyes lit up with relief.
"Xu Mu!" she shouted.
[Favorability +10]
Zhou Xing eyed Xu Mu and Chen Xuan calmly. "Who are you two? Friends of this witch?"
"Not exactly—let's say we're acquaintances," Xu Mu replied with a smile, spreading his hands. "I'm Xu Mu. Could you give me some face and let her go?"
"And what the hell are you?" Zhou Xing scoffed. "You think my Heavenly Sword Sect should give you face?"
Heavenly Sword Sect?
Xu Mu frowned slightly.
Wasn't Dai Xingluo an outer disciple of that sect?
She had once mentioned getting into trouble there—that must've been related to this.