Zhao Mu frowned slightly.
His impression of Beitang Qiushui was terrible.
In fact, he held no goodwill toward anyone from the entire Beitang Family.
Yet the man before him gave off an even more unsettling feeling—like a cold, venomous snake lurking in the shadows.
Simply being stared at by him was enough to make anyone uncomfortable.
"I don't believe I'm obligated to answer your questions."
They were standing inside Qingfeng Camp, a military zone.
Even members of the royal family couldn't act recklessly here.
Ever since the Empire established the Military Martial Specialization School, Qingfeng Camp had enjoyed a unique status protected by military law.
Furthermore, the Beitang Royal Family's influence didn't extend into Jiangnan Province.
Although Beitang Qiushui possessed royal status, he was still an outsider here.
Zhao Mu didn't believe he would dare cause trouble inside Qingfeng Camp.
Unless...
He had completely lost his mind.
Of course, Zhao Mu wasn't naive enough to rely solely on hope.
Two guards stood silently behind Beitang Qiushui.
There was no need to question the strength of royal guards.
Fortunately, wherever members of the royal family went inside Qingfeng Camp, personnel from the Discipline Inspection Department always followed from a distance.
As Bai Meimei had once told him—
The Discipline Inspection Department existed to uphold the iron rules of Qingfeng Camp.
Military discipline.
Absolute law.
---
Beitang Qiushui's eyes widened unnaturally until they looked almost inhuman.
His pale face slowly leaned closer to Zhao Mu.
Tilting his head, he smiled coldly.
"So..."
"You insignificant commoner..."
"Are you really this arrogant?"
"I'd love to twist every bone in your body one by one..."
"Then crush your corpse into minced meat and feed it to the snakes."
Zhao Mu narrowed his eyes.
Without showing the slightest fear, he met Beitang Qiushui's gaze directly.
"Think carefully."
"This isn't Iron Ridge City."
"If you attack me here, you'll offend both the military and the Imperial Capital."
"Heh..."
Beitang Qiushui let out a contemptuous snort.
He slowly stepped back.
His voice remained calm...
Yet every word carried terrifying killing intent.
"I really do want to kill you."
"I was merely playing with you."
"The same way someone toys with a stray cat... or a dog."
"A low-born commoner like you could never have any connection with my Guanguan."
He turned to leave.
Yet strangely...
His head remained twisted toward Zhao Mu until the very last moment.
His posture looked bizarre.
"Live well..."
Those were the final words he left behind.
Then he walked away.
However, the look in his eyes left Zhao Mu feeling deeply uneasy.
---
Zhao Mu wasn't normally an impulsive person.
Only when facing members of the Beitang Family did he struggle to control his emotions.
Every time he saw the Black Tortoise Family Emblem...
He remembered that rainy night ten years ago.
The night Zhao Family Town became a sea of blood.
The night countless innocent lives were slaughtered.
The memories surged through his mind like a nightmare.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Mu immediately activated the Turtle Breathing Technique, suppressing the murderous intent rising inside him.
Without another glance...
He turned around and left.
---
The two walked in opposite directions.
As Zhao Mu disappeared into the distance...
The warmth vanished from Beitang Qiushui's eyes.
Only icy killing intent remained.
He turned toward one of the guards behind him.
"You stay behind."
"Find an opportunity..."
"...and kill him."
"Bring me his head afterward."
The guard immediately lowered his head.
"Yes, Young Master."
After a brief pause, he asked,
"Is it really necessary for me to personally eliminate someone at his level?"
Beitang Qiushui answered without the slightest emotion.
"Anyone I decide to kill..."
"Must die."
"I allow no accidents."
"He defeated Shao Han despite fighting above his own Combat Level."
"That alone proves he has some ability."
"I never underestimate my enemies."
"With you handling it..."
"He won't survive."
The guard, Chang Lian, secretly sighed.
His young master truly lived up to the reputation of the Border Royal Family.
His caution bordered on obsession.
Sending a Dou Level 285, Third-Tier Sharp Edge Ability User to assassinate a mere Dou Level 6 freshman...
That wasn't caution anymore.
It was excessive.
Still...
Chang Lian felt absolutely no pressure.
The moment Zhao Mu stepped outside Qingfeng Camp...
He could kill him within a hundredth of a second.
---
Only now did Zhao Mu truly understand something.
Pride...
Had a price.
Inside Qingfeng Camp, Beitang Qiushui couldn't openly violate military law.
Otherwise...
The guards accompanying him alone could have killed Zhao Mu instantly.
Whether it was preserving his dignity...
Protecting his life...
Or seeking revenge...
Everything depended upon one thing.
Strength.
Real strength.
Zhao Mu quietly clenched his fists.
His cultivation speed was already astonishing.
Yet...
Compared to the colossal force known as the Beitang Family...
It wasn't nearly enough.
His enemy wasn't an individual.
It was a towering mountain.
A seemingly insurmountable giant.
---
"To stay alive..."
"I absolutely cannot leave Qingfeng Camp for the time being."
After reaching that conclusion, Zhao Mu headed straight for the Training Hall.
He rented a private training room, locked the door behind him, and sat down.
After thinking for a while...
He opened his communicator.
Then he placed a video call.
To Mo Guanguan.
---
A short while later, the call connected.
Mo Guanguan appeared on the screen.
She wasn't inside Qingfeng Camp.
Instead, she seemed to be standing in a wide-open area where fierce winds blew constantly.
Her long hair fluttered wildly before strands settled gently across her fair face.
She brushed them aside with one hand before smiling in surprise.
"Zhao Mu?"
"You're calling me?"
This was the first time Zhao Mu had ever initiated a video call.
Normally...
The two only met during training.
After all, Zhao Mu spent over ninety percent of every day cultivating.
He rarely had time for anything else.
Zhao Mu smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"I wanted to ask you something."
Mo Guanguan nodded.
"Go ahead."
Zhao Mu asked directly,
"Do you know someone named Beitang Qiushui?"
He paused briefly before continuing.
"I know you don't seem to like him."
"But I need some information about him."
The moment she heard that name...
Mo Guanguan's expression darkened.
Anger burned in her eyes.
"Did he threaten you?"
Zhao Mu shrugged helplessly.
"He did."
There was no point pretending otherwise.
He wasn't foolish enough to act like some fearless hero.
Without sufficient strength...
Showing off one's courage only led to an early grave.
Mo Guanguan clenched her fists.
"That lunatic..."
"That disgusting pervert!"
"I'll go tell him to leave you alone!"
Zhao Mu couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
"Young Miss..."
"You really don't understand men."
"The more you interfere..."
"The more determined he'll become to kill me."
He rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"I can already guess the relationship between the two of you."
"So..."
"You don't need to speak to him for my sake."
After a brief pause, he smiled warmly.
"I don't want you asking him for favors because of me."
Mo Guanguan hurriedly shook her head.
"Don't misunderstand!"
"I have absolutely no relationship with him!"
Zhao Mu smiled.
"I know."
"I understand."
"So this is something I'll have to deal with myself."
He looked directly into the camera.
"What I really want to know..."
"...is what kind of person he is."
Only by understanding his enemy...
Could he prepare accordingly.
Mo Guanguan's expression filled with disgust.
"He's insane."
"A complete psychopath."
"A cruel, bloodthirsty monster."
"Especially toward ordinary people beneath the royal family."
"In his eyes..."
"They're nothing more than ants."
Zhao Mu slowly lowered his gaze.
Then...
He smiled softly.
"I understand now."
That answer told him everything he needed to know.
Beitang Qiushui would never let him live.
No matter what it took...
The prince would eventually come for his life.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)