Chapter 3: Bodyguard

Cultivators not only practiced Qi Refining and martial arts but also studied the ways of spells and magic. Matters of gods and ghosts were mysterious and unpredictable, making mortals fear them like divine beings. In the eyes of cultivators, everything in the world could be controlled—summoning spirits and commanding ghosts were ordinary feats!

This was a battlefield. Countless soldiers and mounts had died in an instant, making it a place where lingering battle souls and resentful spirits roamed freely. Even during broad daylight with the bright sun overhead, many recently slain terrified souls had not yet been dispersed by the sunlight. Mu Yuan used his spirit-summoning and ghost-commanding technique, causing the souls on the field to quickly gather together!

Mu Yuan’s spellcasting immediately revealed the extraordinary nature of his magic. A rolling mass of black smoke condensed in midair, from which came sharp, piercing wails and cries. There was also a soaring sense of battle intent, resentment, and indomitability… all kinds of thoughts were transmitted out, rushing frantically toward Gai Tiancheng!

No matter how capable Gai Tiancheng was, he was still only a worldly martial artist. Through years of arduous training, he surpassed younger generations like Mu Yuan in combat power, but when faced with magic, he was utterly helpless! He was a general of a nation, mighty and domineering. Such people revered combat power and mostly scoffed at tales of gods and ghosts, not believing in them at all. So even though there were occasionally wandering Taoists and solitary monks in the Tianlong Kingdom, he paid them no mind, viewing their teachings as heresy. Now, suddenly confronted by rolling black smoke and ghostly wails, he felt a bit uneasy inside!

Gai Tiancheng was not entirely unfamiliar with magic; some Taoists and monks had visited his residence before, performing spells as a means to gain entry. However, their tricks were mostly things like reviving withered flowers or making dead trees sprout again. He regarded these as mere sleight of hand. Although he did not expel them, he treated them indifferently, and they slowly drifted away over time!

Those Taoists and monks who had no choice but to seek patronage were certainly not disciples of famous sects. Almost all genuine methods and lineages were preserved within established schools, and many were passed down through single lines of succession. If the number of disciples dwindled, or if the lineage was interrupted due to the master’s premature death, the tradition would be lost—this was the fate of the vast majority!

Over the years, countless magical arts and methods had been lost, vanishing into the river of time. As a result, many wandering Taoists only knew some obscure techniques and had no access to the path of longevity and Qi Refining. They could only seek lifelong wealth by attaching themselves to government officials or wealthy merchants.

As for the method of reviving dead wood, Mu Yuan, a disciple of the Longevity Palace, was certainly no exception. The pursuit of eternal life was about cultivating vibrant vitality, but such spells were useless in combat. However, they were top-tier for healing and curing illnesses, far more effective than most worldly physicians!

Encountering such magic for the first time, Gai Tiancheng couldn’t help but feel panicked. He swung his halberd fiercely, the powerful gusts scattering the black smoke only for it to coalesce again. But souls were entities with substance yet no form—ethereal and unaffected by mortal strength. They continued to claw and pounce at him, leaving the great general struggling to cope, flustered and in disarray!

Seeing this, Mu Yuan grinned and leaped up, borrowing momentum repeatedly as he swiftly darted out of the enemy formation! He knew very well that these souls only appeared fierce because of the thick killing intent on the battlefield, preventing them from dispersing immediately. In the end, they were just ordinary souls, good only for intimidation. Moreover, his own cultivation was only at the Second Layer of Qi Refining. Gai Tiancheng had fought all his life, his blood and Qi were intense, making him a natural bane to ghostly entities. While he couldn’t repel evil spirits or demons, ordinary souls couldn’t harm him either—they could only confuse his senses. Seizing the moment while the general was in disarray, Mu Yuan swiftly fled the scene.

Once outside the Tianlong army’s battle formation, Mu Yuan looked around. Everywhere was a scene of clashing soldiers and horses, all clad in identical armor. There was no way to find Chu Fei. Sighing to himself, he headed back to the city alone.

This border city of Tiandu was called Juyong City. Its walls were sturdy and thick, standing three zhang high and one zhang wide, with a swiftly flowing moat. It could be considered a strong fortress. Amid the ongoing battle, chaos reigned everywhere, but Mu Yuan, being clever, found it very easy to enter the city.

Outside the city, a great battle raged, while inside, the soldiers and civilians were restless, running back and forth. Witnessing this scene, Mu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh at how war brought harm to people.

As he wandered the main street, a group of soldiers on sturdy warhorses came galloping down the bluestone pavement. Spotting Mu Yuan, the leader shouted loudly, “Hey, young man! A life-and-death battle is happening outside the city. How can you loiter here with no sense of patriotism or duty to protect the nation? How infuriating!”

Without stopping his horse, as he passed by Mu Yuan, he made a “swish” sound and harshly cracked his whip toward Mu Yuan’s face!

At first, hearing the man’s shouts, Mu Yuan felt a wave of shame. But when the man actually struck out with his whip, Mu Yuan became furious. He accurately gauged the whip’s trajectory, keeping his right hand holding the Iron Sword still while his left hand shot out, grabbing the tip of the whip. With a powerful yank, he dragged the man off his horse, then channeled his Zhenqi to forcibly hurl him away. The man crashed into a pile of firewood by the roadside, clattering and rolling all over the ground!

The other soldiers were enraged, drawing the Iron Swords hanging at their waists. Seeing the man thrown into a daze, Mu Yuan’s anger subsided. Faced with so many drawing their swords, he laughed heartily and chose not to argue further. Not wanting to cause more chaos during the battle, he exerted strength in his feet, leaped onto a rooftop, and swiftly bounded away, leaving the soldiers staring in astonishment.

He landed on another street, which was a broad road. Not far from Mu Yuan stood a lavish mansion covering ten mu of land, with golden-lacquered gates and two stone lions crouching imposingly at the entrance.

At that moment, four or five carriages drawn by two horses each were parked in front of the mansion. People were flowing in and out, and many servants and maids were carrying redwood boxes of various sizes out of the house, loading them onto the carriages. Several dignified-looking women were being helped into the carriages, clearly preparing to leave the city.

Mu Yuan ambled slowly closer. A portly middle-aged man, sweating profusely, was directing others at the entrance, alternating between shouting and stamping his feet. Suddenly noticing Mu Yuan approaching with an Iron Sword, his face brightened. Ignoring the busy servants, he hurried over, cupped his hands, and said, “Young warrior, seeing you with that Iron Sword, you must be skilled in martial arts, right?”

Mu Yuan was slightly surprised and replied instinctively, “I’m alright, but someone like General Gai Tiancheng could take on two of me without a problem!”

Hearing the name Gai Tiancheng, the man’s fat trembled all over. But after listening, his expression brightened, and he quickly asked further, “Then, if I may ask, where are you from, young warrior, and why are you here?”

Only then did Mu Yuan come to his senses and thought, “Looking at this guy, he’s either a wealthy merchant or an official’s family. With the battle ongoing, he’s surely trying to leave the city. Could he be looking to hire me as a bodyguard or something?”

He then said, “I am from Fengzhou. I came here to visit a friend serving in the army a few days ago, but I didn’t expect to run into such a huge battle. Really unlucky.”

“Fengzhou?” The fat man’s face lit up with joy. “I am also from Fengzhou! I’m just about to return home. How about traveling together, young sir? If we encounter any bandits on the road, I’d appreciate your assistance. I’ll cover all food and lodging, and if we arrive safely, I’ll give you twenty taels of silver. How does that sound?”

Fengzhou was about six hundred li from Juyong City. With carriages and horses, the journey would take about half a month at a slow pace. Twenty taels of silver was a generous reward—enough to support a middle-class family for a year.

Mu Yuan’s heart was slightly moved. With the war raging in Juyong City, he didn’t want to stay any longer. He promptly agreed, “Very well. When do you plan to depart, sir?”

The fat man beamed with joy. “We’ll leave as soon as we’re packed. May I ask your name, young sir? Do you have any luggage to gather?”

Through their conversation, Mu Yuan learned that the fat man was named Jia Bu, a cloth merchant. Although not one of the wealthiest, he had substantial assets. Trading in a border city was highly profitable, and since the previous garrison commander of Juyong City was exceptionally brave, the city had not fallen for years, so he had settled there comfortably. Unexpectedly, the former commander died in battle and was replaced by the incompetent Wang Dachuan. As soon as the war broke out, Jia Bu hurriedly prepared to move his entire family. Merchants naturally sought profit and avoided harm; this move was simply risk avoidance.

After settling the matter with Jia Bu, Mu Yuan excused himself to pack his belongings. He hurried to a house on a nearby street where Chu Fei was temporarily staying—it was the home of Chu Fei’s distant uncle. Mu Yuan explained his intentions, asking the uncle to bid farewell to Chu Fei on his behalf when he returned. After clarifying everything, Mu Yuan leisurely walked out, gathered a few pieces of clothing, and followed Jia Bu’s carriage out of the city, heading straight for Fengzhou in Tiandu.