Zhao Mu suddenly understood.
Bu Yanhuan had once told him about the Dark Race uprising around the Blood Bone Mountain Range ten years ago. That incident had triggered a catastrophe that swept across the entire southeastern region of the Empire.
More than half of Lujiang City had been destroyed.
Every Spirit Power User capable of fighting had been sent to the front lines.
Even the Garrison Commander of Lujiang City had died in battle three times before the war finally ended.
It had been an era drenched in blood.
During those years, surviving required more than strength.
It required luck.
At the time, Shao Tianyi had only been a company commander in the garrison.
During one desperate battle, Bu Yanhuan had saved his life almost by chance.
A thought suddenly crossed Zhao Mu's mind.
Could I borrow General Shao Tianyi's influence to resolve my current crisis?
He carefully considered the idea.
His enemy was the Beitang Royal Clan.
Dragging Shao Tianyi into this conflict might only create unnecessary trouble for him.
Still, with Zhao Mu's current strength, borrowing someone else's power seemed to be his only option.
After thanking Shao Tianyi and saying goodbye, Zhao Mu decided not to rush his decision.
He would think it through more carefully.
---
After leaving, Zhao Mu wandered outside alone for quite some time.
The blazing summer sun continued to shine overhead, filling the world with vibrant life.
Yet...
Life itself was incredibly fragile.
Outside Qingfeng Camp, someone might already be waiting to kill him.
Zhao Mu simply lay down on a patch of grass.
There was no reason to waste time.
After all, cultivating the Turtle Breathing Technique only required him to breathe steadily.
Meanwhile, the Demon Clown's panel continued updating.
[Turtle Breathing Technique]
Life Skill
Proficiency: 486
He remained there until evening.
Only after receiving a message from Meng Qiuqiu inviting him to dinner did he finally get up.
---
The four of them gathered in the cafeteria as usual.
Each picked up a tray before sitting at their regular table.
Meng Qiuqiu immediately noticed Zhao Mu's unusually small portion.
"It's such a good day."
"Why are you eating so little?"
Zhao Mu glanced around to make sure no one was listening before lowering his voice.
"I've gotten myself into some trouble."
"I offended someone from the Beitang Family."
"I suspect Beitang Qiushui wants to deal with me."
The other three were visibly shocked.
Meng Qiuqiu quickly leaned closer.
"What did you do?"
"How did you manage to offend someone from the royal family?"
Naturally, Zhao Mu couldn't reveal the truth.
So he made up another explanation.
"They wanted to recruit me to Iron Ridge City."
"They expected me to become their loyal servant."
"I rejected them to their faces."
"They lost face..."
"And now they're angry."
Meng Qiuqiu slammed the table.
"Damn!"
"Being recruited is one thing."
"But expecting you to become their dog?"
"That's crossing the line!"
Suddenly remembering something, Zhao Mu turned toward Lu Yan.
"Huohuo."
"Didn't they approach you?"
"Huohuo" was the nickname everyone had given Lu Yan.
Originally it had been "Huohuohuo," but everyone agreed that was too awkward, so it was shortened.
Lu Yan quietly shook his head.
"No."
Zhao Mu frowned.
"That's strange."
"They even tried recruiting me."
"There's no reason they wouldn't approach someone with your talent."
Lu Yan lowered his head and silently continued eating without answering.
Looking at him, Zhao Mu couldn't help feeling that everyone around him seemed to be hiding secrets.
Mo Guanguan's identity remained a complete mystery.
What kind of background could make even a member of the Beitang Royal Clan pursue her?
Lu Yan was equally mysterious.
Despite possessing an A-grade talent that any noble family would treasure...
He seemed strangely unwelcome.
Even the Beitang Royal Clan hadn't tried to recruit him.
Then again...
Zhao Mu himself carried plenty of secrets.
So he never asked questions that others clearly didn't want to answer.
Zhuo Yun looked worried.
"The Beitang Family is still part of the royal clan."
"They wouldn't really stoop to something like assassination... would they?"
Meng Qiuqiu crossed his arms and sneered.
"Who told you noble families are honorable?"
"They're only respectable on the surface."
"What they do behind closed doors can be far uglier than you imagine."
Then his tone softened.
"But Xiao Mu..."
"You don't need to panic."
"Jiangnan Province is far from Iron Ridge City."
"This isn't the Beitang Family's territory."
"They can't simply do whatever they want here."
He continued confidently.
"Besides..."
"The Beitang Family has been declining for years."
"Otherwise, they wouldn't be desperately trying to recruit talented people."
"Their younger generation simply isn't strong enough."
"If they actually sent assassins across half the Xuanfeng Empire to kill an elite student from Qingfeng Camp..."
"Their political enemies would immediately seize that opportunity."
"That alone could seriously damage the Beitang Family."
Growing up in the Meng Family, Meng Qiuqiu had been exposed to politics from childhood.
He understood how noble families operated.
Sometimes...
An enormous family could collapse because of a single mistake.
Some matters appeared insignificant.
Yet once exposed...
They could weigh as heavily as a thousand pounds.
Zhao Mu sighed.
"I'm still worried they'll try to assassinate me."
Meng Qiuqiu looked at him strangely.
"Seriously?"
"You only refused their offer."
"Is that enough for them to send killers after you?"
Zhao Mu smiled bitterly.
This kid is too smart.
If I mention Mo Guanguan, everything will become even more complicated.
So he simply smiled.
"I'm just being cautious."
"It's always better to be safe than sorry."
Meng Qiuqiu nodded.
"I've got an idea."
"For the time being..."
"Don't leave Qingfeng Camp."
"The semester has only just begun."
"Focus on your classes."
"Continue forging Ember Remains."
"And expand Tiangong Hall."
"If you absolutely have to leave..."
"Use one of my family's airships to travel directly to another city."
"That way..."
"Even if someone wants to assassinate you..."
"They'll never know where you've gone."
His reasoning was perfectly logical.
Zhao Mu nodded.
After finally sharing the burden that had been weighing on his mind...
He felt considerably more relaxed.
"Alright."
"I'll do that for now."
Eventually...
The storm would pass.
The Beitang Royal Clan couldn't possibly remain in Lujiang City forever just to kill a mere Rank-6 Cadet Soldier.
---
The following morning...
Zhao Mu went out for his usual run before dawn.
The Beitang Royal Clan still hadn't left the city.
As expected...
Mo Guanguan was nowhere to be seen.
However...
Standing beneath the sycamore trees was another familiar figure.
Shen Moran.
It was only four o'clock in the morning.
The eastern sky had barely begun to brighten.
Ordinarily, no one except Zhao Mu would be exercising at such an hour.
She stood quietly beneath the trees.
It looked as though she had been waiting for quite some time.
Zhao Mu intended to walk straight past her.
But before he could...
She called out.
"Zhao Mu."
He stopped helplessly.
"What is it?"
Looking at the tall young man dressed in a black tracksuit, Shen Moran's emotions became incredibly complicated.
"I'm leaving."
"I came to say goodbye."
Zhao Mu paused for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Iron Ridge City?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"It was arranged a long time ago."
"Shao Han introduced me."
"He has always wanted to build connections with the royal family."
"Introducing me to one of the royal descendants counts as a small achievement for him."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)