Drunken Dream Pavilion
Chu Canyuan was sitting on the bed couch recuperating from his injuries when the door was suddenly pushed open.
"Young Master Xu Pian? Why are you here?"
Xu Pian had a gentle expression mixed with a hint of apology.
"I apologize, Little Brother Chu. I was afraid of disturbing your recovery yesterday, so I thought I would come early today."
"Looking at your current state, Brother Chu... is it..."
"Thank you, Brother Xu, I am fine now."
Xu Pian was slightly surprised upon hearing this but did not show it. He walked to the side of the bed couch and also took out a wooden box.
"This is an Elixir I brought for you, Brother Chu. Although it is not a high-grade Elixir, it will still have some effect on healing your injuries."
Xu Pian placed the wooden box on the table and glanced at the box Qian Ge had brought.
"This is..."
"Oh, that is also an Elixir brought by a friend who came to visit me."
Xu Pian nodded in acknowledgment and then remained silent, appearing to be contemplating something.
"I noticed there is no incense burning in Brother Chu's room."
"I have an incense here that greatly promotes healing. Its fragrance is light and won't cause aversion, so I'll give it to you as well, Brother Chu."
"Such a precious incense is just being given to me?"
Xu Pian smiled and said, "You helped Guan Yi vent a great deal of anger. We are as close as brothers, so of course, I must express some gratitude."
Chu Canyuan seemed to have anticipated something and accepted with a smile.
"Then I will not disturb Brother Chu. Farewell."
After Xu Pian was far away, Chu Canyuan got up, picked up the sandalwood box containing the incense, and gently sniffed it after opening the lid.
"It is indeed God Devouring Incense."
Chu Canyuan already possessed a body immune to all poisons, so he knew lighting the God Devouring Incense would have no effect on him.
But to complete the act, he decided to light the God Devouring Incense anyway. Chu Canyuan wanted to see if Xu Pian was genuinely foolish or just pretending.
Time flew by like a white colt passing a crack, and the short span of a month vanished in a flash, catching everyone off guard.
As the grand day of the Young City Lord Contest approached, the atmosphere in the city grew increasingly tense, as if a storm was brewing.
During this past month, Chu Canyuan's life remained as regular and fulfilling as ever.
During the day, he focused entirely on healing his injuries and diligently practicing his cultivation techniques, striving for a better performance in the upcoming contest.
When night fell, he would accompany Guan Yi to the brightly lit restaurant to listen to music.
Although his daily activities seemed mundane and unoriginal, compared to the days spent with Mu Zuo in the quiet mountain forest, this lively and bustling life now held a bit more flavor.
As the time they spent together grew, the bond between Chu Canyuan and Guan Yi deepened day by day.
They were inseparable, intimately close, like biological brothers, constantly clinging to each other and sharing everything.
Whether it was a difficult problem encountered during practice or a unique insight into a piece of music, they would share it with the other without reservation.
This genuine affection made outsiders who witnessed it envious.
The night before the Young City Lord Contest, Guan Yi still dragged Chu Canyuan to the Drunken Dream Pavilion to listen to music.
"Little Young Master, tomorrow is the Young City Lord Contest. Shouldn't you rest well to prepare for battle?"
Guan Yi held Snow Cliff Dew and said with a relaxed expression.
"It's not me who needs to win this position; I'm just playing a supporting role. Besides, don't I have you, a powerful helper?"
Although Chu Canyuan felt a bit helpless, he knew Guan Yi wouldn't listen no matter what he said.
"Hey, did you hear? Mu Zuoshi, the Extreme Ice Lotus, is dead."
"Yes, I heard. It's said that Mu Zuoshi colluded with the Demonic Sect and was discovered by the Sacred Hall. The Palace Master of the Sacred Palace, Shangguan Qing'an, personally took action and killed Mu Zuoshi directly."
"Stop exaggerating. How many people in this world can easily defeat Mu Zuoshi? Shangguan Qing'an was also severely injured and is currently in Closed-door cultivation in the Sacred Hall."
"It's just that... Mu Zuoshi and Mei Aoxue had an extremely close relationship. Everyone knows Mei Aoxue perished in the encirclement by the Demonic Sect at Ten Thousand Bone Cliff, yet Mu Zuoshi actually colluded with the Demonic Sect."
Chu Canyuan abruptly stood up upon hearing this, leaning on the railing and looking down in disbelief at the people discussing Mu Zuoshi.
"Shocked, aren't you? I was also very surprised when I heard this news."
"Mu Zuoshi and Shangguan Qing'an can be considered two of the strongest cultivators in the world today. It's impossible to imagine what their battle scene was like."
"Moreover, their battle lasted for a full month."
Seeing Chu Canyuan's agitated reaction, Guan Yi walked over and leaned on the railing beside him.
"But I don't think things are that simple. Mu Zuoshi and Mei Aoxue were like brothers; how could he possibly collude with the Demonic Sect?"
"Even though there are many suspicious points, the Sacred Hall's influence is too great. Everyone is being led along and won't think too deeply."
Chu Canyuan shouted anxiously upon hearing Guan Yi's words, "He wouldn't do that."
"He wouldn't collude with a Person of the Demonic Sect."
Although Guan Yi didn't know why Chu Canyuan was so agitated, he still agreed.
"Mu Zuoshi helped Mei Aoxue suppress the Demonic Sect for years; I also believe he is not that kind of person."
"It's just a pity that the Sword Immortal Mu Zuoshi perished like this."
"A pity?"
"Rumor has it that even someone as powerful as Mu Zuoshi never took a single disciple, apart from Mei Aoxue. He was always alone. Looking at it now, he must have been very... lonely when he passed away."
Chu Canyuan asked tensely, "Then Mu Zuoshi's..."
Guan Yi pondered for a moment and said uncertainly, "I heard his body was kept within the Sacred Hall."
Chu Canyuan nodded silently, his eyes filled with tears, and then walked toward his room.
"Tomorrow is the contest; I need to rest first. Little Young Master should also make some preparations."
Dragging his heavy steps, Chu Canyuan slowly pushed open the door, collapsing onto the bed couch as if he had exhausted all his strength.
At this moment, his face was as pale as paper, his eyes vacant and lifeless, his entire being seeming as if his soul had been drained away.
The pain in his heart was like surging tides, crashing wave after wave against his already fragile mental defenses.
However, this pain was so profound that not even a single tear could escape.
"Strange Old Man, oh Strange Old Man, you truly are a big liar!"
"Back then, you swore to me that reaching the Eighth Realm would allow one to trade injury for death, but what about now?" Chu Canyuan muttered to himself, his voice filled with despair and resentment.
Recalling his parents, they too had met a tragic end under the butcher's knife of those villains in the Sacred Hall.
And the Strange Old Man who had accompanied him closely for three full years had also failed to escape the clutches of the Sacred Hall.
In this short period, the most important people in Chu Canyuan's life had passed away one after another. His once fervent heart shattered completely that night, ruthlessly strangled in its cradle by the Sacred Hall.
"Sacred Hall... you just wait! One day, I will make you pay in blood!" Chu Canyuan clenched his fists tightly, vowing silently.
Although he appeared incredibly weak at this moment, one could see from his determined gaze that a flame of vengeance was burning fiercely in his heart.
Guan Yi was slightly puzzled: "Why did he react so strongly when Mu Zuoshi was mentioned?"
"Forget it, let's go back to the mansion to rest."
Guan Yi brushed the dust off his clothes and also returned to the City Lord's Mansion to conserve energy for tomorrow's Young City Lord Contest.
At the Chen hour the next day, Guan Yi sent someone to pick up Chu Canyuan and take him to the outskirts of a Mountain forest outside Jade City.
After getting out of the Carriage, Chu Canyuan saw a group of people gathered at the edge of the Mountain forest.
"Greetings, Eldest Young Master."
"Little Young Master, what is this...?"
Chu Canyuan walked up to Guan Yi and Guan Xun and asked doubtfully.
Guan Yi explained with disgust, "Aren't they just waiting to see who becomes the Young City Lord so they can suck up to them? A bunch of fence-sitters."
"Third Brother! They are elders, don't speak so harshly."
Hearing Guan Xun's reprimand, Guan Yi waved his hand carelessly, unconcerned.
"Since everyone is here, let the Young City Lord Contest... begin."
Guan Lin waved his hand grandly, and Guan Yi and the others were led into the Mountain forest. The six participants were paired up, and their starting points were widely dispersed.
Once everyone was in position, a Barrier appeared around the perimeter of the vast Mountain forest.
Following that, Guan Lin's voice sounded: "The time limit is one week. Whoever slays the most Demonic Beasts in the Mountain forest will be the most qualified to inherit the position of Young City Lord."
"I have set up a Barrier for you; you cannot get out within seven days. During this time, you must rely on yourselves, although..."
"You can also win by eliminating others, but there is no need for the three brothers to go as far as taking a life."
"We will also be observing your every move from the perimeter using the Sky Crystal Mirror."