Chapter Twenty-Five: The Struggle for Loyalty

"Stop! Who are you?" At that moment, a servant dressed in livery shouted loudly.

Chen Mu's brows furrowed, then he replied, "We are disciples of Starwatch Valley, sent by Senior Brother Liu to fetch this group of children as instructed by our sect."

Hearing this, the servant became flustered and stammered, "So you are immortals—please wait a moment while I inform the master." With that, he hurried into the residence.

After a short while, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe strode out quickly. This man, steeped in cultivation, was at the peak of the Foundation Realm, showing faint signs of breaking through to the Core Realm.

As he approached the gate, the joy on the brocade-robed man's face gradually turned to confusion, no doubt surprised to see that those sent to receive the children possessed only Meridian Realm cultivation, and Chen Mu's aura, in particular, seemed utterly ordinary.

"You two are disciples of Starwatch Valley? My surname is Sima, Sima Guan. May I have your names?" Sima Guan concealed his sentiments well, presenting a respectful exterior while inwardly dismissing Chen Mu and his companion.

Chen Mu raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing something amiss, yet he chose not to expose it. He responded calmly, "Greetings, Master Sima. I am Chen Mu, and this is my junior, Lü Shi. We are both inner disciples of Starwatch Valley."

Chen Mu deliberately omitted his status as a direct disciple, instead presenting himself as an inner disciple; after all, the title of direct disciple was too conspicuous, and he feared unexpected trouble on the road if he revealed it.

Upon hearing Chen Mu’s name and that he claimed to be an inner disciple, Sima Guan’s brows knit together. He said, "Forgive me for doubting, but this is a serious matter. May I examine your sect tokens? I have been instructed by Starwatch Valley's esteemed disciples to conduct myself with caution..."

Chen Mu sneered inwardly; Sima Guan’s skepticism was clearly due to their low cultivation. Still, he could not fault him, for this was the truth. Chen Mu produced his jade identity token for Sima Guan's inspection.

After examining the token, Sima Guan’s frown deepened. Was Starwatch Valley’s strength so diminished that even Meridian Realm cultivators could become inner disciples?

With these thoughts, Sima Guan grew colder, merely instructing others to entertain Chen Mu and Lü Shi in a side hall before disappearing. Even as Chen Mu repeatedly urged the removal of the children, he was met with endless excuses and delays.

Chen Mu’s face darkened; he hadn't expected Sima Guan to stall so blatantly. A sense of foreboding took root in his heart.

Sure enough, after an hour’s rest, three men arrived at Sima Manor—disciples of the Bright Moon Blade Sect.

The leader of the trio was a mid-Foundation Realm cultivator; the other two were at the early Foundation Realm. As soon as the leader entered, Sima Guan greeted him with a beaming smile, "Young Master Hu Fang, you’re here! Please, take a seat!"

Standing in the courtyard, Chen Mu stepped forward with a cold expression. "Master Sima Guan, what is the meaning of this?"

Sima Guan’s face was impassive. "Chen Mu, as you can see, it’s not that I don’t wish to let you take the children, but Bright Moon Blade Sect also desires to accept them as disciples. Surely you see my predicament?"

"Ridiculous! Senior Brother Liu Qing of our sect found these children. What does Bright Moon Blade Sect have to do with this?"

It wasn't hard to guess—Sima Guan had secretly informed Bright Moon Blade Sect, allowing them to intercept the children and claim them for themselves. No doubt Sima Guan had received some benefit from the sect for this arrangement.

"Who do you think you are?" scoffed one of Hu Fang’s disciples. "A Meridian Realm nobody has no right to comment on Bright Moon Blade Sect’s recruitment."

"And who are you? I am an inner disciple of Starwatch Valley! What are you?"

Just as the disciple moved to attack, Hu Fang stopped him. Clearly, he didn’t want a direct conflict with Starwatch Valley, though his tone remained mocking: "Oh? When did Starwatch Valley’s standards fall so low that even Meridian Realm trash can become inner disciples? I suggest you leave now before you embarrass yourself. These children are ours, and that's final."

At this, Chen Mu became calm, his face cold. "How about this—we duel before the children. Loser leaves, winner takes the children to their sect. How does that sound?"

Hu Fang and his companions burst into laughter, as if they’d heard the world’s funniest joke. They sized up Chen Mu and Lü Shi, and upon noticing their storage pouches, a flash of greed flickered in their eyes. "A duel is fine," Hu Fang replied, "but that’s too boring. Let’s add a wager, shall we?"

"What sort of wager?"

"If you win, you take the children. If we win, you leave your storage pouches behind and we take the children. After all, these children rightfully belong to Bright Moon Blade Sect. If you demand a duel, show some sincerity."

Hearing such shameless words, Lü Shi clenched his teeth in anger. Chen Mu patted his shoulder and said, "Fine, I accept. You must guarantee that if you lose, the children will leave with us."

Hu Fang sneered, "Agreed."

Thus, both sides proceeded to the training ground. Nearby, seven juveniles, aged fifteen or sixteen, watched the proceedings with excitement. The news of a duel, one deciding their destinies, had stirred them deeply—this was a contest that would determine their path to cultivation, and witnessing a battle between immortals was a rare blessing.

Hu Fang stepped onto the arena and addressed Lü Shi, "Come, you’re the strongest among you two. I’ll give you three moves, so no one can accuse me of bullying the weak."

Chen Mu replied coldly, "I’m the one who will duel you, and I need no favors, because you will lose."

Hu Fang’s face darkened, killing intent seeping into his words. "Are you insulting me? Think carefully—fists know no mercy. Killing you may cause some trouble, but crippling you is well within my means."

"Are you frightened?" Chen Mu mocked.

Hu Fang’s expression grew sinister. "You asked for this. Make your move."

Without further word, Chen Mu lunged forward, his fist aimed directly at Hu Fang, unleashing the first form of the "Setting Sun Technique." Hu Fang, full of disdain, stood motionless, waiting for the blow.

With a resounding crash, Hu Fang’s expression shifted from disdain to shock, then to embarrassment and pallor as he was hurled backward, coughing blood, staring at Chen Mu in disbelief.

Everyone had expected to see Chen Mu humiliated, but the outcome stunned them all.

They stood dumbfounded and awkward, while the youths gazed at Chen Mu with awe; never before had they witnessed someone sent flying by a single punch. Such power naturally inspired their admiration.

"You...how is your energy so formidable? Very well! You’ve forced my hand—I’ll show you what I can really do." With that, Hu Fang drew a crimson war blade, its aura fierce and menacing—a fine weapon for the Foundation Realm.

Seeing the blade, Chen Mu grew cautious; he could not rely solely on his physical body against a Foundation Realm weapon. When Hu Fang slashed, Chen Mu instantly employed "Meteor Step," dodging aside.

Hu Fang grinned savagely. "Now taste the blade techniques of Bright Moon Blade Sect!"

"Let me show you the might of my 'Moon Severing Blade Technique.'" With those words, Hu Fang unleashed an unprecedented surge of power and brought his blade down upon Chen Mu.

A scarlet blade light streaked toward Chen Mu, swift as thunder. Unable to dodge, Chen Mu quickly drew his Blackgold Sword, holding it before him.

A clang rang out as blade met sword. Hu Fang stared in disbelief—Chen Mu possessed a Foundation Realm artifact as well! Greed surged within him as he licked his lips and unleashed the "Moon Severing Blade Technique" in a whirlwind assault.

Sweat began to bead on Chen Mu’s brow; though the Blackgold Sword held off the wild blade strikes, he was clearly struggling.

"No choice, I must use it." Chen Mu took a deep breath, steadied himself, and channeled his energy, slashing at the oncoming blades with all his might.