"Young friend, I wonder if you..."
Uncle Gong hesitated when he escorted Luo Mu to a courtyard, then asked.
"An academy mission to clear a Demon Path base. Although there were some unforeseen circumstances, it was fortunately no danger..."
Seeing Uncle Gong's gaze fall on his blood-soaked clothes, Luo Mu knew what he was asking. He briefly explained.
"These thieves from the Red Moon Demon Sect actually dared to make a move against the young miss, they are truly seeking death!"
After hearing this, a fierce killing intent flashed in Uncle Gong's eyes. Although it was just for a moment, Luo Mu's pupils constricted slightly. He almost instinctively reached for his sword.
Up until now, he had never encountered such an intense murderous aura.
In his mind, a vivid image of a sea of blood rose unbidden.
It seemed his guess had been correct. This old butler of the marquis' estate was indeed very powerful.
"Sorry, I lost control for a moment. Please rest, I will have hot water sent to you shortly."
Uncle Gong snapped back to his senses and gave a gentle smile. "Make yourself comfortable."
With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Luo Mu stretched his body. Though his body refinement was reaching a small achievement and he wasn't fatigued, his mind was beginning to feel weary.
"Tonight, I'll rest well," he thought to himself. He knew the importance of balancing work and rest.
——
The next day.
As the first light of dawn broke through, Luo Mu began practicing his sword technique in the courtyard.
He was very close to comprehending the sword momentum.
With just a little more practice, he could break through and understand it.
Even if it didn't happen today, with another day or two of practice, he was confident it would come.
His mind was filled with motivation.
Once he grasped the sword momentum, he believed that, within the True Aperture Realm, even within the Inner Academy, few would be his match!
Knock knock knock!
The sound of knocking echoed.
But Luo Mu, deeply absorbed in his sword technique, didn't hear it.
Outside the door stood Cheng Qingman.
"No one's here?"
Cheng Qingman frowned.
She jumped over the courtyard wall and saw Luo Mu, shirtless, completely engrossed in practicing his swordplay.
He was already in a state of complete immersion, indifferent to everything around him.
"Such a... martial arts fanatic."
"To start training so early."
"If Father saw this, he would surely like him very much."
She thought back to her father's previous training sessions.
He was the same, consumed by his practice.
When she was young, if it hadn't been for Uncle Gong's timely intervention, she would have almost been killed by her father's inadvertent elbow during one of his sessions.
Of course, she had been too immature back then, trying to sneak up behind her father to scare him.
Remembering this, Cheng Qingman carefully climbed down from the courtyard wall.
She had no intention of disturbing Luo Mu.
Some things were better left to be arranged on their own.
——
Outside Xunyang City.
A long procession approached in a grand and imposing manner.
Everyone in the procession wore dark clothing, making the group appear like a massive black serpent.
At the front of the procession, a flag fluttered in the wind, embroidered with the character "Nine."
"Your Highness, we could have ridden flying beasts or taken a cloud boat. With your status, no one in Xunyang City would dare to question it."
Inside a luxurious carriage at the center of the procession, a eunuch suggested after a moment of thought.
"We're not here to show off our power. Though Xunyang City is not the true heart of Chang Le's seven counties, many prominent families are established here."
"Especially that Blood-Valor Marquis, Cheng Tiancang!"
The speaker was a handsome young man, seemingly around seventeen or eighteen years old.
He wore a black and gold dragon robe, exuding a strong aura of nobility.
"If I can recruit the Blood-Valor Marquis to my side, it will be like gaining an extra arm."
The young man lifted a cup of tea and took a small sip.
Although still very young, his light golden eyes already carried a mature and calculating gleam.
"Your Highness is indeed wise."
The eunuch complimented him, "Among all the nobles of the empire, the Blood-Valor Marquis's strength isn't considered extraordinary, but his connections..."
The eunuch stopped mid-sentence as the young man glanced at him.
The eunuch realized he had spoken out of turn.
"Besides trying to win over the nobility of Chang Le's seven counties, we should also scout for exceptional talent. One cannot focus only on the older generation."
The young man put down his tea cup.
"With the ongoing border wars, many marquis have fallen. Their titles are now vacant. If I had an outstanding person under my command, I could directly request a marquis title from the Emperor."
"Your Highness is blessed with fortune. Surely you will encounter such a person soon."
The eunuch quickly reassured him.
"Yes, you may leave now."
The young man nodded.
After the eunuch left, the young man sighed softly. A trace of softness appeared on his handsome face.
"If only my maternal lineage were a little stronger..."
Otherwise, he wouldn't need to travel to the seven counties of Chang Le to expand his influence.
With that thought, the young man twirled a strand of his dark hair around his finger but quickly let go, restoring his imposing demeanor.
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