Chapter 1: The Scholar Seeks the Way
Chapter 1: The Scholar Seeks the Way
“A mountain gains spirit from immortals, not height; Water gains life from fish, not its deep tide…”
In the dim light of very early morning, the crisp sound of recitation echoed from a small courtyard built of blue bricks.
Inside the room, sitting upright, was a frail scholar. He had delicate, clear features and a thin frame, holding an ancient book. Through the window, distant rolling mountain ranges were veiled in white morning mist. A cold wind blew through, bringing a wave of chill that sharpened his mind. Perhaps his voice grew louder in the excitement of reading, triggering a fit of coughing. Looking down, he saw faint streaks of blood on his handkerchief.
“The Way of Immortals, the Buddhist Path, the Way of the Sorcerer, the worldly ways… what truly is the Way?”
With a silent sigh, Mu Feng placed the Guangling Miscellany down, lost in thought, his expression gloomy.
Since spring arrived, his health hadn’t improved; instead, it worsened. Perhaps, as that wandering physician said ten years ago, his days were numbered. The more this seemed true, the more precious time felt. He longed to read every book in the Mu Manor library within a single day. Though well-versed in classics, he still couldn’t grasp the true meaning of the Way.
The Guangling Miscellany in his hand was fascinating. It covered astronomy, geography – seemingly everything – said to be the travel notes of a man called Lord Guangling from long ago. It documented many customs and histories, including even the Sorcerer’s Gate, lost for countless millennia.
Though only briefly mentioned, phrases like ‘Towering above all, unwavering even in death’ seemed to capture the essence of the legendary Sorcerer’s Gate. Its truth remained unknown.
“Feng’er, today is the family’s decennial Blood Pool Baptism. Time to leave!” Amid Mu Feng’s contemplation, a woman lifted the door curtain and entered.
Around thirty-five or thirty-six, she wore a plain, worn gown of rough hemp cloth, patched in places. It looked simple, even shabby, yet couldn’t conceal her delicate features and graceful figure. Only her pale, weary face spoke of exhaustion and illness.
Mu Feng set the Guangling Miscellany aside, a bitter look on his face. “Mother, the Metropolitan Examination is soon. Perhaps… perhaps I won’t go today?”
The Tongtian Dynasty was founded on martial prowess, cultivating a fierce warrior culture. Powerful families especially prioritized nurturing the younger generation. Mu Manor was no exception. Sadly, Mu Feng had suffered a severe illness in childhood, severely damaging his meridians. Unable to cultivate, he remained frail and sickly. While the ten-year Blood Pool Baptism was a life-changing event eagerly awaited by most family youths, it held almost no meaning for Mu Feng.
“Useless!”
Situ Qing’s face hardened, sternly regarding her disheartened son. “A true man must have ambition, aspiration, and spine, just like your father did in life. Study to understand reason; train martial arts to build strength. Seize any chance, no matter how slim! This baptism, held once a decade, is far too important! If you shrink back for fear of mockery, don’t even read anymore! Even if you top the exams later, you’d still be useless!”
“You are right, Mother,” Mu Feng said, ashamed. He hesitated before mustering courage to ask, “Mother… what kind of man was my father?”
“To some clansmen, your father Mu Yuan was a criminal. But in my eyes, he was a great hero! A Grand Legalist with unyielding strength!” Situ Qing spoke resolutely. Mentioning her long-dead husband, a glimmer of happiness and tenderness stirred in her eyes.
A Grand Legalist?
Mu Feng murmured the words, only half understanding. Seeing his mother unwilling to say more, he dared not press. After bathing and changing clothes, he stepped out under his mother’s gaze, heading towards Mu Manor’s cultivation stronghold: the fiercely guarded Blood Pool, usually off-limits. Walking a short distance, he had to pause, short of breath and sweating heavily. Not long after, he saw the square outside the Blood Pool already packed with family youth gathered from near and far.
Though weakened greatly by a heavy blow over a decade ago, Mu Manor remained deeply rooted in its power base of Jianning, the border town, its strength still formidable.
At the square’s entrance stood rows of heavily armored guards to the left and right, imposing and intimidating. Every eligible youngster passing through received a solemn salute. Yet, when Mu Feng, in his coarse blue hemp robe, walked by, they purposefully or carelessly ignored him. Though a descendant of the family, an incapable scholar fallen on hard times held lower status than a mere guard!
“Well, well! Isn’t this the sickly little weakling, the little sinner? What’s he doing here? Coming for the baptism?”
A youth clad in rich silks suddenly stepped out, blocking Mu Feng’s path. After looking him up and down, he announced loudly for all to hear, “Knowing he can’t cultivate, yet still coming to crowd in! Is it shamelessness? Or sheer arrogance? Ha! Why doesn’t he piss and look at his reflection? Doesn’t he fear his filthy flesh and blood will sully the sacred Blood Pool?”
“Hahaha! Exactly! What gall!”
“Should’ve kicked him and his mother out ages ago! Still got the face to turn up? Disgusting!”
…
Behind the silk-robed youth surged a crowd of family followers and guards, closing in around Mu Feng, pointing fingers and roaring with laughter.
Him again!
Looking at the silk-clad figure deliberately causing a public ruckus, trying to shame him — the Second Young Master Mu Qingyuan — Mu Feng clenched his fists tightly. He yearned to charge forward, break that guy’s nose bridge, and rip out that venomous, shrewish tongue! But thinking of the consequences, of his mother’s sorrowful gaze, he forced himself to hold back. His chest heaved violently. Without a word, he walked coldly around the obstacle.
One day! When my name tops the golden list, when I hold high office! I will restore my father’s honor and avenge his disgrace! I will settle every score with scum like you!
Mu Feng swore inwardly!
True, the Tongtian Dynasty was founded through martial might, its society steeped in warrior culture. Yet, after founding, it governed through civil principles. The status of scholars far surpassed that of generals. A frail scholar who couldn’t cultivate, if only he topped the Imperial Exams one day, would surely receive high office and noble title. Then, crushing these noisy pests would be like stepping on a few bugs!
“Oh? Face all twisted, eyes all icy? Still not accepting it? Still seething?”
After publicly shaming him, the Second Young Master Mu Qingyuan smirked, stepping sideways to block Mu Feng’s path once more. Clearly, he wasn’t finished. “Doesn’t the book say a true man bends without breaking? Want to pass? Fine! Crawl between my legs right now, and you can join the baptism like everyone else! Otherwise, get lost! Farther you go, the better! Young master’s feeling generous today, won’t stoop to fussing with you. Or… I’ll just chuck you out! Hahaha!”
“Yeah! Crawl! Get moving!”
“Hahaha! Totally useless, a scholar! Crawl! Crawl!”
…
The moment Mu Qingyuan stopped speaking, many others loudly jeered, eager for the spectacle. Some clan members passing by frowned at the scene, looking uncomfortable, yet none stepped in. After all, why risk offending the Elder of Inheritance’s precious grandson over an ordinary, powerless boy?
“Move… aside…”
Mu Feng’s voice was hoarse, anger at its peak. Veins bulged on the back of his hand.
A scholar values death over humiliation!
Staring at the arrogant, triumphant Mu Qingyuan, his breathing grew rough. A fiery rage burned inside him, his blood boiling! Knowing he was no match, he still wanted to throw himself forward recklessly!
His foot shifted. But the next moment, he thought of his mother, exhausted from overwork and illness. To spare her more trouble and worry, he had to clamp down on his fury again. “Your grandfather and my grandfather were brothers. Now, saying you’ll be my grandfather? Well then… what does that make your grandfather? Your brother? Your father… does he become your son? Or your nephew?”
Hahaha…
Hearing this, many onlookers couldn’t help but chuckle. This Mu Qingyuan, barely literate, always acted so high and mighty in the manor. Who’d have thought he’d trip himself up this time? Always flaunting ‘young master this, grandaddy that’ like a bully, never seeing who truly stood before him.
“You…! You’re asking for death!”
Amid the mocking laughter, Mu Qingyuan’s face flushed purple like pig’s liver, shame twisting into rage. He lunged forward a huge step, murderous intent radiating! “Mu Feng! Last warning! SCREW OFF! The Blood Pool is sacred ground, no place for a sinner! Get out of here! Otherwise… I’ll tear you apart right now!”
Though still young, excessive wine and women had hollowed his body. Yet, as he stepped forward, Mu Qingyuan’s aura remained menacing. The power of the Middle Mortal Realm was undeniable, capable of tearing an ordinary, untrained person apart limb from limb. To reach even this level despite his indolence meant squandering mountains of priceless, precious elixirs.
“Torn apart?”
Mu Feng gave a cold laugh, staring fearlessly at the snarling Mu Qingyuan. “Clan Law of Mu Manor, Article 137: Those engaging in private brawling within the manor receive seven lashes. Disturbing rituals, baptisms, or ancestral sacrifices is grievous! Twenty-one lashes! Severity earns imprisonment! Mu Qingyuan! Think you can do anything just because you’re the Elder of Inheritance’s grandson? Think this manor is solely your family’s plaything?”
Mu Manor’s laws were severe. The whip used wasn’t a common riding crop, but the Tiger Bone Whip – forged from tiger bones!
A single lash tore skin and flesh, unbearable even for Mortal Realm experts! Decades earlier, a master of the Mortal Realm Peak was caught by the Punishment Elder attempting to force himself upon his sister-in-law. They flayed him alive in public with that Tiger Bone Whip. Since then, anyone who heard ‘whipping’ in Mu Manor felt sheer terror.
“You…! ASKING FOR IT! FINE! I WILL TEAR YOU APART! SEE WHO DARES PUNISH ME!”
The bolder Mu Feng became, the angrier Mu Qingyuan grew. Used to terrorizing others, how could he let a lowly, frail scholar defy him openly?
Rage boiled over! With a furious roar, he suddenly snapped his leg up, sweeping it directly towards Mu Feng’s head with tremendous force! As a Middle Mortal Realm warrior, not a master by any means, but his strength was shocking. If that kick landed, it could shatter heavy stone!
“Ah…! If that kick lands, he’s done for!”
“Quick! Inform the Stewardship Elder! Hurry! Trouble!”
…
Seeing Mu Qingyuan actually attack and going straight for the kill, the onlookers gasped in unison. Everyone knew little Mu Feng – born incapable of cultivation, frail and sickly. Even a burly man would likely crumple under such a blow. What hope did a weak scholar have?
Whoosh…!
Even before his terrifyingly powerful leg got close, a fierce gust of wind rushed at Mu Feng’s face! Standing completely still, he felt a sharp sting. His long hair suddenly whipped back as if caught in a hurricane.
“Scum!”
Mu Feng shouted, straightening his posture, chin held high, righteous indignation burning as he faced the bully. “You wretch! Dare you?”
While bystanders shrieked at the approaching kick, Mu Feng, directly in its path, betrayed no fear.
Mu Qingyuan was always a tyrant. If he truly meant to attack, why waste so much chatter? Clearly, today was different due to the baptism. He wouldn’t dare make a real mess! Posturing fiercely, but unlikely to follow through!
Whoosh…!
The harsh, whistling wind… stopped absolutely dead!
At the very last instant, the young thug’s ferocious leg halted inches away!
“Fine! Brat! Have guts, I’ll give you that! Walk away!”
Mu Qingyuan’s face turned ashen. He glared viciously at Mu Feng, then turned and stormed off resentfully, surrounded by his guards.
A mere frail scholar dared defy him? Wasn’t that seeking death?
Staring at this hard-boned Mu Feng, he longed to snap his neck! Murderous intent surged! Yet, exactly as Mu Feng predicted… he didn’t dare!
He genuinely dared not act today! Not with all the bravado in the world!
Before leaving home today, his grandfather had sternly warned: No trouble! Or face the manor law! The Punishment Elder’s Tiger Bone Whip wasn’t for decoration!
Today’s humiliation… I will repay it tenfold! One day!
Watching Mu Qingyuan stalk away, Mu Feng clenched his fists so hard they shook. A gentleman’s vengeance waits ten years – but he believed his day wouldn’t wait long. Taking a deep breath, he strode resolutely forward. In the distance, bloody vapors churned above the Blood Pool. Faint, deep rumbles like tiger roars or thunder echoed. The decennial baptism was about to begin.
“Good! Such spine! Exactly like his father!”
“Spine is good… but angering Second Young Master Mu Qingyuan is trouble. After today, he’s in big trouble. Who knows how many days he has left?”
“Exactly! What use is spine? Can you eat courage?”
“Sigh… if only Mu Feng’s father, Mu Yuan, were still here. Who’d dare act insolently before him?”
“Indeed! The Grand Tutor! Second only to the Emperor! If Mu Yuan were still here, how could our Mu Manor have declined like this? How could his only son fall so low?”
…
Watching Mu Feng’s stoic, unbending back, people whispered, frequently shaking their heads and sighing.