Moon Pavilion did not provide lodging. After agreeing to return the next day to formally begin studying, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er left Moon Pavilion.
After leaving Moon Pavilion, they stopped by a broker's office. Not far from Moon Pavilion, Mu Yang rented a small courtyard house as a temporary residence in Heaven Dou City.
On the other side, within the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Inside a side hall, Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, was perusing memorials to the throne. From time to time, she would jot down a handling suggestion, making it easier for Emperor Xue Ye to finalize decisions later.
Suddenly, a tall and sturdy woman stepped into the hall.
"Your Highness."
The burly woman, "Overlord Flower," gave a bow toward Qian Renxue, who was assisting with governmental affairs.
"What is it?"
Qian Renxue didn't even raise her head as she asked.
"Your Highness, the subject Mu Yang you instructed me to keep an eye on has arrived in Heaven Dou City. Accompanying him is Shui Bing'er from Sky Water Academy."
"Overlord Flower" replied.
Having held the position of Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire for nearly ten years, the influence of Qian Renxue's faction was not to be underestimated, extending throughout all sectors of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Moreover, Mu Yang had long been designated by her as someone to monitor closely. Therefore, not long after Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er entered the city, their whereabouts had already been reported.
Upon hearing that the subordinate she favored had arrived in Heaven Dou City, Qian Renxue immediately put down the memorial in her hands and asked urgently, "Where are they now?"
"When I received the report, the two of them had gone to Moon Pavilion."
"Moon Pavilion?"
At those words, Qian Renxue furrowed her brows.
What was going on? Why would Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er go to Moon Pavilion? Could it be that her future subordinate general was planning to pursue the arts?
At this moment, "Overlord Flower" added, "Oh right, Your Highness, according to the report, the two of them didn't seem to be in a good state. They gave off a feeling… like they were evil soul masters."
"Evil soul masters? That's impossible~"
Immediately, Qian Renxue's face was full of disbelief.
Not every soul master could become an evil soul master. The foremost requirement was to possess an evil-type martial soul of the "man-eating" class. Secondly, one had to commit major crimes in order to be recognized as a proper evil soul master.
Mu Yang's and Shui Bing'er's martial souls one being the food-type Ice and Fire Immortal Ginseng, the other the Ice Phoenix no matter how one looked at it, neither showed any potential to become an evil soul master.
Rather than believing the two could become evil soul masters, Qian Renxue thought her own mother, Bibi Dong, with the Death Spider Emperor and Soul Devouring Spider Emperor martial souls, or Gu Rong from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, who possessed a Bone Dragon martial soul, had a higher chance of becoming evil soul masters.
"Your Highness, it just looked that way. It doesn't necessarily mean it's the truth."
"Overlord Flower" quickly explained.
Qian Renxue nodded. She thought so too. How could the subordinate general she had set her sights on possibly become a notorious evil soul master?
Impossible—absolutely impossible!
However, upon learning this situation, Qian Renxue understood why the two of them had gone to Moon Pavilion.
She naturally knew that Moon Pavilion's head, Tang Yuehua, was of direct descent from the Clear Sky Clan. She also knew that Tang Yuehua possessed a domain power capable of purifying the soul.
Without surprise, the reason Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er had gone to Moon Pavilion was likely to find Tang Yuehua to dispel the strange change in their aura, which had arisen for reasons unknown.
"Send someone to find out where they are staying."
Qian Renxue gave an order to "Overlord Flower," intending to find time to reconnect with her "good little brother."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Overlord Flower" accepted the order and exited the hall.
The next day,Moon Pavilion welcomed two "not-to-be-messed-with" transfer students.
The students within Moon Pavilion were all young nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire's younger generation. Most of them had seen the previous Soul Master Tournament qualifiers and recognized who Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er were.
Upon identifying the two, the noble youths initially intended to approach and make conversation. However, under the cold and murderous aura the pair unconsciously emitted, they all backed off.
Something was clearly off with the pair's condition. Better not to approach and risk offending them instead.
With their identities, even if they beat someone to a pulp, the injured party's parents might have to bring them over to apologize.
The empire's most outstanding prodigies, future powerhouses of the soul master world, and with three Title Douluo backing them let alone ordinary nobles, even ducal families of the empire could not afford to provoke them.
By evening, the day's lessons had ended. After bidding farewell to Tang Yuehua, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er left Yuexuan.
"Bing'er, how do you feel?"
Mu Yang asked Shui Bing'er.
Shui Bing'er nodded. "Pretty good. Within Teacher Yuehua's domain, my heart feels serene so much so that I feel even better than before heading to Slaughter City for training! It's just that—"
"Just what?"
Mu Yang pressed.
"It's that damn harp! It totally refuses to cooperate with me, the sound was awful!"
Shui Bing'er said with a slight pout.
Mu Yang: "..."
Refuses to cooperate with you? You've got some nerve saying that out loud!
Still, with her slightly puffed-up cheeks, the lingering murderous air in her brows, and the pallor that hadn't yet faded from her face, Mu Yang felt that his future wife actually exuded a strange kind of morbid beauty.
'Ptui~'
Spitting inwardly, Mu Yang hurriedly shook his head. Morbid beauty or whatever best not to go down that path.
"Why are you shaking your head? You think I played poorly too?"
Seeing Mu Yang shake his head, Shui Bing'er said gloomily.
"No, no, we're just beginners. We've never touched these instruments before being able to get a sound out on our first try is already pretty good. It not sounding very nice is perfectly normal."
Mu Yang quickly waved his hand and explained.
To truly master the Killing God Domain, simply standing within Tang Yuehua's Noble Circle wouldn't be enough. Uh well, maybe it could be but it would take a very long time.
So, while releasing her domain power on them, Tang Yuehua was also teaching the two of them music theory.
Music could cultivate one's temperament, and when combined with the Noble Circle Domain's soul-purifying effects, it could undoubtedly help dissolve their inner bloodlust and killing aura. This would allow them to control it at will, ultimately mastering the Killing God Domain perfectly.
As for court etiquette?
Forget it. Why do Soul Masters on the continent work so hard cultivating soul power?
Isn't it precisely so that once they're strong enough, they don't have to be reasonable anymore?
Since they don't plan on being reasonable, what's the point of learning etiquette?
Besides, once a strong person learns etiquette, the chances of becoming a hypocritical double-standard dog greatly outweigh the odds of becoming a refined gentleman.
Take Tang San for example. His turning point into "Tang Buddha" came after he learned etiquette at Moon Pavilion and mixed in his own interpretations, eventually synthesizing a doctrine of "hypocrisy and double standards."
Five-ring Tang San (kneeling): Tang San is willing to atone for his father's sins!
Nine-ring Tang San (head held high, Sea God Trident in hand pointing straight ahead): My father did nothing wrong it's all your fault!
Lastly, and most importantly, Mu Yang knew that once he ascended to godhood, Confucian scholars would emerge to interpret his doctrine for him.
Under divine majesty, who cares if he's a human heck, even if he's a filthy rat in the gutter, plenty of people will whitewash him into a flawless white lotus.
Mu Yang: Etiquette? No one can make me learn etiquette!
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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