**Chapter 82: Qin Mu's Qin**
Early the next morning, Ling Yuxiu came to the inn to find Qin Mu and bid him farewell.
She was the same as before, using the silky strands of hair at her temples to make her face appear a little slimmer. She sat across from Qin Mu and ordered a pot of clear tea, her gaze bright and clear. "The Great Ruins is a poor, desolate place. It is no land to linger in. The world you see here is but a remote, barren corner. Only by stepping beyond the Great Ruins can you witness how vast the outside truly is. Beyond these borders, divine arts evolve with each passing day. The State Preceptor and the Emperor of Yankang possess both the ambition and the ability to forge a new era. The sorcery of the State of Yankang is undergoing a great revolution! You have courage, and you have potential. I do not wish to see you waste your entire life in this impoverished backwater. Though I am a woman, I too wish to accomplish something of significance. If you are willing to leave with me, we can depart today."
Qin Mu paused. Follow this girl to the State of Yankang?
He very much wished to step beyond the Great Ruins and gain some experience in the wider world. The Great Ruins was far too dangerous. In his current state, he lacked the strength to explore it thoroughly — even someone as powerful as the Village Chief had never traversed the entirety of the Great Ruins.
What he needed now was experience.
People from outside the Great Ruins came into the Ruins to gain experience, but he wished to go outside and broaden his horizons. Ling Yuxiu's invitation tempted him greatly.
Though the State Preceptor of Yankang clearly wished to dominate the Great Ruins and claim this territory, Qin Mu bore him no ill will. On the contrary, he greatly admired the man.
The State Preceptor had initiated such sweeping reforms, absorbing other sects into a single unified tradition, jointly creating supreme techniques, and driving the progress of divine arts forward. Such vision, such talent — it was truly admirable.
He wished to go outside and witness the new era and the new supreme arts forged by such an extraordinary figure.
"Where do you reside?" Qin Mu asked.
"The imperial capital," Ling Yuxiu replied.
The youth thought for a moment and smiled. "I will certainly visit the capital of the State of Yankang. You may return first, and when I arrive, I will find you."
Ling Yuxiu frowned. "You won't leave with me?"
Qin Mu rubbed his head ruefully. "My elders have strict rules. I must pass their tests before I am permitted to leave home. I have nine elders, and I must pass nine trials before they will allow me to go out and gain experience."
Ling Yuxiu was astonished. "Even with your abilities, you cannot pass their tests?"
She found it somewhat incredible. Qin Mu had drawn his blade and slain Fu Tingyue in a single stroke — a truly stunning feat. Fu Tingyue had been the foremost martial artist of Xianglong City. Though being the best in Xianglong City meant little in the broader State of Yankang, Qin Mu's strength already placed him among the very best in the Spirit Womb Realm. In her estimation, he could easily rank within the top ten.
Yet even such ability could not pass his elders' tests?
"My family has rather strict rules," Qin Mu said with a touch of shame. "I must pass all nine trials to be considered an adult, but as of yet, I haven't passed even one."
"Then I will wait for you in the capital. Oh, and be careful if you pass through Yanbian — there are Viewing Mirrors guarding the border."
Ling Yuxiu rose, about to leave, when she suddenly paused. A playful smile touched her lips. "I gave you a scented handkerchief. Won't you give me something in return?"
Qin Mu hastily patted himself down but could not find anything worth gifting. After a moment's thought, he unslung the great iron hammer from his back and offered it to her.
Ling Yuxiu did not know whether to laugh or cry. She bit her red lip. "You're giving a girl an iron hammer?"
Qin Mu scratched his head and took out the pig-slaughter knife, then the bamboo staff, a brush and ink set, and a pouch of dragon coins. "Pick whichever you like..."
"Forget it, forget it. I'll take the iron hammer."
Ling Yuxiu shook her head, picked up the great iron hammer, and walked out of the inn. Outside, a host of divine-art masters stood guard on either side of the entrance. Qin Feiyue held the reins of a fine horse and stood waiting. When he saw Ling Yuxiu emerge, he glanced in puzzlement at the hammer in her hand but thought it best not to ask too many questions. He called out quickly, "The towered boat is ready. Please, Your Highness — mount up!"
Ling Yuxiu swung herself into the saddle, winked at the gobsmacked Qin Mu in the inn, and playfully stuck out her tongue.
Qin Mu stared, stammering. "You... you..."
"I'm that fat, plump Seventh Young Master you kept talking about! Oxcart boy, we'll meet again in the capital!"
Ling Yuxiu laughed, the sound bright as a bell. With one hand gripping the great iron hammer and the other flicking the reins, she galloped away.
Qin Mu stood stunned, clutching the scented handkerchief, unable to find words. Qin Feiyue waved his hand, ordering the Yankang divine-art masters to follow Ling Yuxiu at a quickened pace. Then he turned to glance at the inn, entered, sat down before Qin Mu, and fixed him with a gaze as sharp as snow. "Your surname is Qin?"
Qin Mu composed himself, forcing down the shock of learning that Ling Yuxiu was the "fat, plump Seventh Young Master." He nodded. "The General's surname is also Qin. I've heard others call you Young General Qin."
"There are many in the world who bear the surname Qin," Qin Feiyue said lightly, pouring himself a cup of tea. "Some are born to humble station, lowly from the start. Others are born to noble status, distinguished from the beginning. A surname alone means nothing. Though you bear the name Qin, you are an outcast — a commoner of the Great Ruins. Young brother, do not harbor too many fantasies. You could never ascend to such heights." With that, he drained his teacup, left a gold ingot on the table, and turned to leave the inn.
"Young General Qin, I don't understand what you're saying."
Qin Mu rose and walked out of the inn as well. The innkeeper hurried out and bowed respectfully. "Young Master, are you leaving?"
Qin Feiyue blinked, momentarily expecting the innkeeper to be addressing him — only to realize the bow was directed at Qin Mu.
"No need for formalities in front of outsiders."
Qin Mu waved a dismissive hand and surveyed his surroundings. The vast city of Xianglong spread before him, its towering structures resplendent, its streets thriving and prosperous.
This was his city.
He walked toward the City Lord's Manor. As he passed the gambling house, a crowd of burly men bowed. "Young Master!"
He passed the pleasure quarters, where the madam and her daughters bowed in unison. "Young Master!"
He passed the bookshops, flower markets, vegetable stalls, butcher shops, restaurants, antique dealers, ceramic shops, medicine stores, blacksmiths, and weapon shops. Figures emerged from each, bowing as he went.
"Young Master!"
"Young Master!"
"Young Master!"
...
Qin Feiyue frowned as he watched Qin Mu walk all the way to the City Lord's Manor. The great doors swung open and Fu Yundi, Lord of Xianglong, emerged laughing heartily, striding forward to welcome him. He turned to those around him and barked, "Are you blind? Greet the Young Master at once!"
The divine-art masters at the gate bowed deeply, their voices ringing out. "Young Master!"
"From this day forward, this entire city belongs to our family!" Fu Yundi roared with laughter as he and Qin Mu walked into the City Lord's Manor.
Qin Feiyue's frown deepened. He could not fathom what had gone wrong here. Why was Fu Yundi on such jovial terms with the very man who had killed his son? As though Fu Tingyue had not been his son at all — and Qin Mu had been instead.
He had even less idea of how Qin Mu had managed to secure Fu Yundi's backing.
"A rustic bumpkin, fit to play king in the streets — never fit for the halls of power."
He turned and left. But when he reached the city gates, his body suddenly trembled. He had seen through the truth of it all. He looked back in disbelief toward the City Lord's Manor at the end of the main avenue.
"The Celestial God Creation Art! The Cult Master's Wife!"
He steadied himself and turned to depart. "Fu Yundi is already dead. Skinned. The Fu Yundi in the city is the Cult Master's Wife of the Heavenly Demon Cult. Xianglong City has changed hands. It's likely that every one of Fu Yundi's divine-art masters has been replaced with cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Cult. The entire city is crawling with them. Fortunately, the State Preceptor was blocked by that great ship, or else..."
A chill ran through him. The Cult Master's Wife wearing Fu Yundi's skin — if the full might of the Yankang army entered the city, and she and her cohorts chose to stir up trouble, all they needed to do was destroy Xianglong City's dragon pillars. The entire Yankang army would be caught in a devastating trap, crippling the State of Yankang — perhaps even destroying it entirely.
He cast one last look back at Xianglong City. It had changed masters. It was no longer a place where he or the State of Yankang could hold sway.
This city now belonged to the name Qin. The same Qin — but it was Qin Mu's Qin, not his.