Chapter 256: Chapter 253: Turning Pale at the Mention of a Pig

Mu He had always thought Mu Xue was just fiercely competitive, always striving for perfection, which was why she had developed such a haughty personality.

He never imagined, however, that her values would be so corrupted by reality.

Or perhaps, this was what she truly pursued.

After all, in the Martial Arts World, the strong were revered. Countless people shared this mindset.

Mo Qi had struck Mu Xue, so Mu He didn’t like him.

But Mu He had to admit, Mo Qi struck him as incredibly mysterious and unfathomable.

Logically, then, if Mu Xue could become Mo Qi’s partner, Mu He would be very supportive.

"The path I’m on is the right one, so I won’t have any regrets," Mu Xue said in a low, firm voice.

Just then, they both received a communication from the adorable Li Xuemiao.

"Brother Mu He, Sister Xue, this is bad! Mr. Qin the Good Man has been snatched away by Sister Kexin! It turns out he’s Master Liu’s grand-nephew. No wonder he’s supposed to be vetting suitors for Sister Ruyan!"

The siblings were utterly confused.

’Grand-nephew? Vetting suitors?’

"Miaomiao, please explain in more detail."

"Oh, okay! Just a moment ago, Sister Kexin announced to everyone that she’s Mr. Qin the Good Man’s woman. Mr. Qin the Good Man is actually Sister Ruyan’s older brother, so I’m guessing he must be Master Liu’s grand-nephew!"

"Also, the reason Father issued that imperial decree was because Mr. Qin the Good Man is supposed to vet the suitors for Sister Ruyan, not because he was being punished by Master Liu like the rumors say."

"Sister Xue, you’d better step it up! Everyone’s saying you’ve already lost to Sister Kexin."

"Alright, I’ve told you everything I know. I’m off to find Mr. Qin the Good Man now. The elixirs he makes are so delicious! Plus, I can watch all the drama unfold. Hee hee."

With that, Li Xuemiao cut the connection to the Communication Talisman, and her voice vanished.

The siblings, Mu He and Mu Xue, stared at each other, stunned by Li Xuemiao’s news.

’Qin Daye is Liu Ruyan’s brother?!’

They knew Li Xuemiao wouldn’t lie, and her information was bound to be reliable.

After all, she was the Second Princess of the Empire and was deeply doted on by His Holiness.

If that was the case, then Qin Daye truly might be Grandmaster Liu Hong’s grand-nephew.

That made a joke of all the talk about him offending Grandmaster Liu Hong and being punished.

And as for Mu Xue, her previous words and actions were the biggest joke of all.

Mu He’s words had come true. The man Mu Xue thought would hold her back was, in fact, far stronger and more exceptional than she was.

This was awkward.

Mu Xue’s expression turned foul.

A moment ago, she had vowed she would have no regrets. Now, her words had come back to bite her.

"What are you standing around for? Just forget what you just said and do what you need to do. You have to fight for your own happiness!" Mu He snapped out of it and urged her.

Although he was repulsed by Mu Xue’s worldview, she was his sister. No matter what, he would always be on her side.

Mu Xue’s fists clenched, loosened, and then clenched again.

Her expression was dark and unsettled.

Finally, she gritted her teeth. "Niu Kexin, I told you I wouldn’t lose to you. Qin Daye is mine!"

Was this genuine defiance, or did she have another scheme in mind?

No one knew but Mu Xue herself.

...

Qin Daye’s was arguably the only name in the last ten thousand years of the Mountain and Sea Empire’s history to become known throughout the land in just a matter of days.

He had gone from being the public enemy of every young man under twenty-six to the nation’s collective brother-in-law.

The transition from being hated to the bone to being desperately fawned over had taken less than three days.

Everyone knew that if you wanted to marry Liu Ruyan, you first had to get an "admission ticket" to even be considered a candidate.

And that "admission ticket" was in the hands of Qin Daye.

Only by presenting a Spiritual Object that satisfied him could one earn the qualification—and the possibility—of receiving that "admission ticket."

Immediately, everyone began scrambling, searching the world over for high-grade Spiritual Objects.

Mo Qi, on the other hand, was left in peace, completely undisturbed.

Although Liu Hong and Li Shimu had heard about this, they had neither the time nor the energy to deal with it.

Nangong An had brought them a message: agents from the Hall of Envoys were about to descend!

Li Shimu had to make preparations. He still remembered the devastation that group of so-called "Excellencies" had wrought upon the Mountain and Sea Empire eleven years ago.

Liu Hong, for his part, was busy standing guard for Liu Ruyan. She had reached the verge of a breakthrough, and he didn’t dare let his focus waver for an instant.

...

「A few more days passed.」

Once things seemed to have settled down, a pair—one old, one young—left the Imperial City and traveled north, heading for the Wolf Fang Sect.

These two were none other than the Young Prince of the Kaosan, Li Yuanhao, and the Wolf Fang Sect’s Leader, Zhang Shao.

The Zhang Shao of today had lost his former vitality. He had transformed from a middle-aged man into a decrepit elder. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

His full head of black hair had turned completely to silver.

Though he looked much older, he now seemed more somber and reserved—and far more dangerous.

「Meanwhile, at the Dragon Vein Within the Pass.」

After working nonstop day and night, Mo Qi’s main body finally completed the two-way Teleportation Array.

"OINK, OINK! This Emperor can finally leave this godforsaken place!" the Pig Emperor cheered, spinning excitedly atop Mo Qi’s head.

It had been bored to death these past few days.

All the experts Within the Pass turned pale at the mere mention of "pig" or "poetry."

The sight of the Pig Emperor was like a mouse seeing a cat. If the Pig Emperor came within a hundred zhang of them, everyone would scatter in an instant without a second thought.

As a result, the Pig Emperor’s bellyful of "erudition" had no outlet, and its heart full of "culture" went unappreciated, leaving it incredibly frustrated.

And Mo Qi, constantly busy with the array formation, had no time to pay it any mind.

Once, the Pig Emperor got so bored that it crawled onto an unsuspecting person’s shoulder, preparing to recite a poem for him.

The man immediately drew his sword and held it to his own throat, taking a stance that clearly said, ’If you recite a single line, I’ll die right here.’

The Pig Emperor felt insulted and was about to unleash a "Glare-and-Recite" two-hit combo.

In the end, Mo Qi had to intervene, taking time out to cook it a grand feast to finally calm it down.

"BWAHAHA, OINK! This Emperor has composed a special poem for Big Sis and another for that Ruyan girl. They’re going to love them! I can’t wait for our reunion!"

Mo Qi’s face fell when he heard this.

’What? That little menace wrote poems for Sister Kexin and Ruyan?’

’This is unacceptable!’

He grabbed the Pig Emperor by the ear and lifted it up to his face.

"Pig Emperor, don’t you dare cause any trouble."

The Pig Emperor retorted, thoroughly displeased, "How is that causing trouble? Just because you people can’t appreciate this Emperor’s talent doesn’t mean others can’t!"

"Oh, is that so?" Mo Qi asked nonchalantly. "Well, I’ve been thinking about a new recipe lately. Do you think braised pig’s head would be good, or maybe a nice pig’s trotter stew?"

The Pig Emperor’s expression froze. It then said with a grave and serious face, "Scholars are utterly useless! This Emperor despises those pretentious literati who show off their supposed talent. It’s all just whining about nothing!"

"Really? Weren’t you just saying you wrote some poems?"

"An illusion! It’s all an illusion!"

"You don’t have to force it. If you have talent, you shouldn’t suppress it."

"I’m not forcing it at all, really! This Emperor is just a pig. What talent could I possibly have?"

The Pig Emperor’s expression was sincere and earnest.