Da Xuan Martial Saint

"I heard that this list of newcomers is being sold in other prefecture cities and state government offices as well. Brother, you have become famous all over the world this time."

Chen Yue stood by, looking at the list of newcomers in Chen Mu's hands, observing the page that recorded Chen Mu's achievements, then looked up at him, admiration gleaming in her bright eyes.

That was her elder brother, unparalleled in elegance, who not only dominated the vast Yu County in a short period of time but now was considered a prodigy across the entirety of Yu State and even the Eleven States of Cold North Path.

"Famous all over the world might be an exaggeration. In Yu State, I have gained a bit of a reputation, after all, it's only the twenty-seventh place,"

Chen Mu said nonchalantly.

He didn't actually care about these empty honors. He didn't even think it was such a good thing to have his name ranked and spread across all the Eleven States of Cold North Path—after all, the more attention it attracted, the more trouble it brought.

But on the other hand, a true Martial Arts master doesn't care about empty honors, nor do they fear them. Without that spirit to look down upon the world, one would question their own abilities; without the courage to shoulder even this empty renown, how could one aspire to become a Martial Arts Grandmaster or a peerless Martial Saint?

The Five Viscera and Six Viscera Realm might not count for much.

But to step into the Six Viscera Realm and break through the 'Mysterious Pass' of the human body requires not just foundation but also the Martial Arts Artistic Conception cultivated through one's journey, along with the resolve of Martial Arts. Body, mind, and technique are indispensable; the unification of these three, harmonious as one, is essential to breaking through the human 'Mysterious Pass' and apprehending all mysteries, reaching towards the grandmaster level."

"That's the twenty-seventh rank across the entire Eleven States of Cold North Path!"

Chen Yue blinked her eyes.

Just the area around Yu County is thousands of miles wide; a trip to and from An Yu County alone takes her half a month, and the entirety of Yu State is even vaster, covering tens of thousands of miles. The Cold North Path encompasses a vast eleven states—imagine how many people live there. Find your next read on empire

"Right, in such a vast Yu State, there is only one person ranked higher than Brother Mu,"

Yu Ru nodded as she spoke, her gaze towards Chen Mu also filled with sparkling admiration.

Chen Mu smiled and continued to flip through the list of newcomers, turning to the last page before closing the booklet and saying, "This list of newcomers only includes those under thirty years of age and below the Six Viscera Realm. While it's true that everyone listed has some talent, it's nothing compared to the Wind Cloud List."

In times of turmoil, great talents emerge like sand being sifted in the waves.

The list of newcomers needs to be completely updated every three to five years. The next generation of martial arts geniuses will not be much less impressive than this one. In comparison, those at the top of the Six Viscera Realm on the Wind Cloud List, even if not grandmasters, almost possess the capabilities of one and often go many years, even decades, with little change.

A bit of renown from the list of newcomers, in Chen Mu's eyes, really isn't much; at least it has to be a ranking on the Wind Cloud List like Yan Jingqing, who could truly be called a hero renowned across the Eleven States of Cold North Path.

Having said this,

he handed the booklet to Chen Yue.

Then Chen Mu turned and went to his inner room, changing into a simple commoner's outfit, and then he made his way towards the eastern courtyard.

In the residence where Xu Hongyu lived, there was a small courtyard in the center where Xiao He, dressed in a gray outfit for martial arts practice, was executing a set of boxing techniques designed to temper the body.

"Hoo, ha."

With each inhalation and exhalation, every movement and posture was precisely controlled.

Though her waist was slim and seemingly boneless, her limbs generated power that brought about gusts of wind. Each punch was stable and forceful. While she appeared a delicate woman with a curvaceous figure, in reality, she could squat and rise while shouldering hundreds of pounds and support her entire body weight on a single delicate finger.

Xiao He focused on her martial arts practice, continuously swinging and stretching her arms. Then, one leg lifted from behind, stretching upward until it pressed tightly against her spine, balancing on one foot. Her body remained remarkably steady without a trace of shaking; even if a cup of tea were placed on her head, not a ripple would disturb the water. A faint mist, visible to the naked eye, began to rise from her body.

But at that moment,

Xiao He suddenly felt a tickle behind her ear, as if a fallen leaf had landed on her nape.

Her reaction was swift—her body contracted forward, maintaining her leg pressed against her spine, but with a burst of power from her other leg, she spun mid-air, aiming a kick at the "fallen leaf" at her nape.

However, what she kicked was not a leaf but a piece of foxtail, plucked from somewhere, held in Chen Mu's hand as he watched with a smile and admired her mid-air kick, then said, "Your martial arts have improved well; you must be close to achieving Tendon Changing Major Achievement."

Xiao He kicked off the end of the foxtail and landed stably before turning to Chen Mu with delight and asked, "When did you come back, sir?"

"Just now."

Chen Mu replied amiably, "Is Hongyu not here?"

"Miss went to the Demon-Slaying Office."

Xiao He replied cheerfully, her eyes rippling as she whispered, "Miss has been longing for your return, thinking of you day and night. You have really made a name for yourself across Yu State this time."

She remembered the first time she met Chen Mu; she only thought that Xu Hongyu's judgment was correct, recognizing Chen Mu as a capable and somewhat talented person. However, as Chen Mu rose step by step, her opinion of him changed repeatedly until now, she even felt a bit restrained in his presence.

After all, Chen Mu was no longer the minor official who once needed her care but had become a towering tree that even the Yu Family could no longer overshadow. And this tree had not yet reached its fullest growth.

Noticing the restraint in Xiao He, Chen Mu smiled lightly to himself. Although he was used to countless people treating him with utmost respect outside, he did not want those closest to him—Chen Yue, Yu Ru, including Xiao He—to feel constrained around him.

"Hongyu is looking forward to my return…"

"What about you?"

As Chen Mu spoke, he leaned slightly closer, observing the fine beads of sweat on Xiao He's forehead from her practice and softly asked her.

"Sir, sir…"

Xiao He, watching Chen Mu so close, felt her cheeks immediately flush a deep red. Her delicate skin was suffused with a light blush, and for a moment, her usual sharpness vanished, leaving only her racing heart and a sense of being at a loss.

She had watched Chen Mu rise step by step from a humble beginning to the present, where not even the vast Yu County could conceal his brilliance. Every time she thought about it, it felt unbelievable, as if it were a dream. She herself came from a low background and now looked up to Chen Mu with admiration, love, and respect... a mixture of emotions that left her with no resistance against him.

Every day, just thinking about Chen Mu sweeping through the True Successions at Qingping River and becoming famous across the Eleven States of the Cold North Path, and thinking about her duty as Xu Hongyu's personal maid to accompany her through marriage, she felt her body become warm and sticky.

Now, gently teased by Chen Mu, her mind suddenly lost all its thoughts.

Looking at Xiao He's reaction, Chen Mu also found it amusing and chuckled, "I remember you used to be quite good at teasing me, why have you become like Yu Ru now?"

Xiao He looked up at Chen Mu, her cheeks flushed and her eyes watery, and said, "That was before, now... how dare I tease you, my lord."

Now.

She only feared that Chen Mu would ignore her or not want her, how could she dare to be presumptuous? In front of Chen Mu, she was even more well-behaved than in front of Xu Hongyu, and she would even dare to joke with Xu Hongyu.

Chen Mu looked at her and smiled warmly, saying, "Come here."

Xiao He, already standing close to Chen Mu, moved a tiny step forward upon hearing his command.

"Closer."

Chen Mu said again.

With hesitance, Xiao He moved a bit closer, slightly flustered as she looked up at Chen Mu and said, "My lord, I'm all sweaty... Uh-huh..."

Unlike Xu Hongyu's coolness, Xiao He was much warmer. Her eyes were half-shy and half-joyous, and after a brief moment of timidity, she actively and enthusiastically responded to Chen Mu.

After a moment.

Chen Mu, looking at Xiao He's somewhat dazed eyes, softly said, "Hongyu treats you like a sister. After you accompany her through marriage, everything will be just like usual."

"Yes, yes... I will follow your instructions," Xiao He responded while looking at Chen Mu.

Just then, Chen Mu's gaze shifted slightly as if he noticed something, and he looked at Xiao He with a hint of a smile, suddenly asking, "After that, if my orders conflict with Hongyu's, whose will you follow first?"

"...Er."

Xiao He was momentarily stuck.

Right at that moment, Xu Hongyu, dressed in the official uniform of the Deputy Governor of the Demon-Slaying Office, stepped into the courtyard.

Xiao He also heard Xu Hongyu approaching, and she instantly regained her usual alertness, saying, "My lord and Miss Hongyu are meant to be together, sharing one heart. My Lord's orders are Miss's orders, Miss's orders are my Lord's orders, listening to my Lord is listening to Miss, listening to Miss is listening to my Lord... Miss is here, I'll go prepare some tea and snacks for my Lord and Miss."

Saying this, she somewhat guiltily slipped past Xu Hongyu.

Xu Hongyu did not notice anything amiss and looked at Chen Mu with a slight reproach in her eyes, saying:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Are you teasing Xiao He?"

Although she was also curious who Xiao He would listen to first.

Chen Mu chuckled and retorted, "Are you feeling sorry for her?"

"Xiao He probably can't wait to be teased by you, why would I feel sorry for her."

Xu Hongyu walked closer, gazing at Chen Mu, a bit of concern showing in her elegant eyes, saying, "You are handling the affairs of the Qingping River basin, I've heard that there have been many twists and turns..."

"Just some minor setbacks, nothing serious. You've been promoted to Deputy Governor?"

Chen Mu looked at the official uniform of the Deputy Governor Xu Hongyu was wearing, which didn't quite match her temperament—even though it was tailored for a woman, it didn't fit as well as the Prefecture Chief's white flying fish uniform or the White-Clothed Guard's uniform.

"After demonstrating the Kan Water Artistic Conception, Bureau Head Meng promoted me to Deputy Governor,"

Xu Hongyu nodded slightly, noticing that Chen Mu was examining her clothes, and she couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"

Chen Mu said, "Nothing much, the Deputy Governor's uniform is a bit too stern. Light-colored garments suit you better."

Xu Hongyu glanced at Chen Mu, her cheeks slightly red as she averted her gaze, whispering:

"Then, I'll change into something lighter for you to see..."

Watching the lovely figure nearby, sensing Xiao He peeking from outside the courtyard, recalling his sisters Chen Yue and Yu Ru, Chen Mu felt a surge of warmth rather than desire in his heart.

This was his only sanctuary in a chaotic world.

No matter what the future held or what might happen next, he hoped this small sanctuary would remain unspoiled.

But now, to protect this, he had no choice but to rely on Yan Jingqing and the Seven Profound Sect, just as he had previously relied on the Yu Family's ship, now merely boarding a slightly bigger ship in the Seven Profound Sect to drift along with the tides of time.

Having surpassed figures like Han Guang and Gu Hong and other True Successions of various sects, his heart had never harbored any arrogance.

However, years ago, he was just a minor official struggling to survive at the bottom. Now, his fame had spread beyond Yu County, and he remained modest and dignified, advancing steadily on his own abilities.

The path ahead was the same. In a chaotic world with no foothold, he would carry his sword forward and continue onward.