Sunlight streamed through the window as a pair of eyes slowly opened.
Li Mu frowned, a chill crawling over his skin. He glanced down and froze. He was half-naked.
With a quiet breath, he pulled the covers higher and scanned his surroundings. The room was simply furnished—clean lines, muted colors, nothing excessive. A small pot of flowers rested beside the bed, releasing a faint, calming fragrance.
Hrgh—hrgh!
Li Mu's brow creased. He turned his head and realized he was not alone.
A little girl stood nearby, snow-white hair cascading down her shoulders, dressed in a light, flower-patterned gown.
"Hello, young warrior," she said softly. "Are you alright?"
Li Mu stared at the chimp in front of him for a long moment before turning away and closing his eyes, ignoring her completely.
"HEY! Can you hear me? He@#$%—"
Silence.
Li Mu's consciousness sank inward as he entered a profound state, observing his own soul.
Countless tiny threads crisscrossed it—a deeply disturbing sight.
"Sigh… so this is the price."
The damage was the cost of his experiment—trying to grasp what the book had classified as a shallow truth.
"So shallow nonsense isn't allowed, huh?"
A cruel smile twisted across his face, his eyes glazing over slightly.
"Hahahaha! Then how am I supposed to solve this?"
He pondered briefly before nodding.
"Mm. That should work."
His awareness snapped back to reality.
Cold steel rested against his throat.
Li Mu's eyes flicked upward to meet the gaze of a red-haired girl. Her expression was sharp, filled with undisguised disdain, as if she were moments away from tearing him apart.
"Get up. Now," she snapped. "And put these on."
She tossed a set of clothes onto his chest.
Li Mu smiled faintly. "Young miss, would you like to see—"
His gaze dipped downward suggestively.
The girl's face darkened further.
"You have five minutes," she said coldly. "If you're not done by then, you're dead."
She turned and left, dragging the white-haired girl along.
"Sis," the little one asked innocently, "what did he mean?"
Li Mu snorted softly and looked away. He had already pieced most of it together. He had been searched—stripped of his possessions.
Brushing his hair aside, his fingers brushed against his ear.
His earring was still there.
Relief flickered across his face.
Within it, a tiny black-and-white turtle rested quietly in the corner.
At least Xian Wu is still here.
"Now I'd better get dressed before my head comes off."
The sound of rustling filled the room.
Minutes later, Li Mu stepped into the hallway. A maid stood waiting, dressed neatly in uniform.
She bowed. "Young sir, please follow me."
They passed through numerous corridors, each decorated in a different style. Along the way, Li Mu noticed something odd—every maid radiated strength far beyond that of ordinary women. One even carried a massive boulder with ease.
"Why is everyone here so strong?" Li Mu asked.
The maid didn't turn around.
"Cultivation."
The rest of the journey passed in silence.
After several minutes, they arrived at a quiet courtyard guarded by two spear-wielding figures who stood as motionless as statues.
The maid opened the door.
A cherry blossom tree bloomed at the center, petals drifting gently through the air. Beneath it sat a rocking chair—and upon it, an elderly woman with a sharp glint in her eyes, as though she saw everything.
"Madam," the maid said respectfully, "he is here."