Chapter 85: The Plan

At this moment, Gu Xingyuan, who had been silently watching from the side, also tried to persuade him, “Haoran, my friend, he really is Chen Mu. You’re not hallucinating. You should be happy that Chen Mu is still alive. Don’t numb yourself like this anymore. Even as an old friend, I can’t bear to see you like this.”

Looking at his long-time friend, Chen Haoran began to realize that perhaps this was not a dream or an illusion, that perhaps it was all real, that his son Mu’er was indeed alive and had returned safe and sound.

Tears welled up in Chen Haoran’s eyes as he looked at Chen Mu and choked out, “Are you really Mu’er? You’re not an imposter? My good child, you’re not dead—thank heavens you survived.”

With trembling hands, Chen Haoran quietly embraced Chen Mu, afraid that if he let go, Chen Mu would vanish again, afraid that all this would turn out to be false.

Yet the warmth of life in his arms calmed Chen Haoran’s fears, for Chen Mu truly existed here—he had returned.

Father and son held each other in silent embrace. The sky that had seemed to collapse over Chen Haoran was lifted once more. Gu Xingyuan, his old friend, looked on with relief, knowing that the Chen Haoran he once knew had truly come back—not the weak man who drowned himself in drink to escape reality every day.

It had been a long time since Chen Haoran had slept. Chen Mu led him to the bedroom to rest, but Chen Haoran refused to let go of his son’s hand. So Chen Mu stayed by his side until he fell peacefully into sleep.

When Chen Haoran awoke at noon the next day, he opened his eyes and looked anxiously around. Only when he saw Chen Mu sitting beside the bed, watching over him, did he finally relax.

So it was all real. Chen Mu was truly alive and had come home. Ignoring the pounding headache left from days of drunkenness, he tried to get up to look at his youngest son.

Sensing that Chen Haoran had woken and saw him trying to rise, Chen Mu quickly supported him, saying, “Careful, you’re still very weak. Let me help you sit up.”

Hearing Chen Mu’s voice, Chen Haoran’s heart eased greatly. “I’m all right, son. Nothing matters more than your safe return. When I heard you’d died at the hands of Liu Zhongdao, it felt as if the sky had fallen. To see you back now, I’m truly happy. Today is the lightest I’ve felt in all these days—it feels like a dream, but I know it’s real, for my son is right here with me.”

With Chen Mu’s return, the dying embers of hope in Chen Haoran’s heart flared back to life. Heaven had shown mercy—he could not bear another blow like that.

Patting Chen Mu’s hand, Chen Haoran said, “All I wish for is your safety. As long as you and your elder brother are well, nothing else matters. Right now, your brother is still imprisoned in the Azure Path Sect—I don’t even know how he’s doing. Poor child… In the end, we are simply too powerless. I once thought of going to Azure Path Sect myself to exchange my life for your brother’s. But your Uncle Gu persuaded me not to. He said that if Azure Path Sect discovered the so-called 'Wooden Daoist' never existed, they would care even less for your brother’s life. So, enduring guilt and torment, I didn’t go. But to hope to rescue your brother—well, that’s just wishful thinking…”

“Father, it’s all my fault—I brought this upon you and my brother. But there’s still hope of rescuing him. Our side’s power now surpasses Azure Path Sect’s by far. Only, with my brother as a hostage, we can’t attack openly.”

Chen Haoran was stunned. “Our side’s power? You mean you’ve gathered other allies?”

“Yes,” Chen Mu replied. “Several third-level spirit beasts from the Xingluan Mountains now serve me. Each of them can match the early Nascent Soul stage, and you’ve heard of the little fox by my side—she can contend with three Nascent Soul cultivators at once. She’s the true spirit my birth father left for me, both my teacher and friend. And as for myself, I can hold my own against a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, at least for a time.”

Hearing of his son’s current strength, Chen Haoran was dazed for a moment. It seemed his child had truly grown up—grown strong enough to protect himself.

“Not long ago, I wiped out the entire Moonblade Sect without leaving a soul behind. As for the Seven Star Pavilion, it can wait. Right now, the key is to find a way to rescue my brother. Once he’s safe, destroying Azure Path Sect will be a simple matter.”

Listening to Chen Mu, hope for his eldest son kindled in Chen Haoran’s heart. He nodded. “Yes, we must find a way to save your brother. Child, you make the plans—I’ll follow your lead.”

After thinking for a moment, Chen Mu said solemnly, “Father, I believe the rescue must be carried out by me alone. Please don’t worry, and hear me out. I intend to let myself be captured by Azure Path Sect. For the secret of the Elixir of Rebirth, they won’t dare kill me. Once inside, I can act to rescue my brother. Don’t worry—they won’t be able to imprison me. I have the Spirit Beast Bracelet. If I release my beasts inside, Azure Path Sect will be reduced to ruins. Once it’s destroyed, I’ll bring my brother back to you.”

At first, Chen Haoran was anxious, but seeing his son’s determination, he chose to trust him. Still, he felt uneasy about Chen Mu going alone, afraid that disaster might strike again.

Sensing his father’s worry, Chen Mu comforted him, “Don’t worry, Father—I know what I’m doing. I won’t act rashly. You’re still weak, so I’ll stay with you for a few more days. When you’ve recovered a bit, I’ll put the plan into motion.”

Chen Haoran nodded and said no more. Chen Mu, having reassured him, prepared some food and fed his father, who asked about all that had happened to his son as he ate the medicinal porridge. Thus passed a period of warm, peaceful time between father and son.

When he heard that Chen Mu had gone to the Moon Empire and joined the Nine Nether Sacred Land—a demonic sect—Chen Haoran’s feelings were complicated. But it was his son’s choice, and he could not say much.

Listening to his son’s tales of wandering, of one fierce battle after another, he knew Chen Mu must have suffered greatly.

Yet one thing left Chen Haoran uneasy: that Chen Mu had acknowledged the Lord and Lady of the Nine Nether Sacred Land as his godparents. He himself was not Chen Mu’s birth father, and now there was a godfather who was a sect master—it made his own position as father seem ever more diluted.

Although Chen Mu considered him closer than his birth father, in reality, his relationship with Chen Mu was no different from that of the sect master—neither shared blood with the boy.

But he was confident that his bond with Chen Mu was beyond compare, even with Chen Mu’s birth father. After all, he had raised Chen Mu, taught him to read and write, taught him to be a man.

Every step of Chen Mu’s growth had happened under his eye, and for that he was proud.

Moreover, thinking further, if Chen Mu had acknowledged the Gongsun couple as godparents because of their daughter, did that mean his son and their daughter had a special bond? If so, the Gongsun couple would be his future in-laws. In that case, it would not be unreasonable for Chen Mu to call them godfather and godmother.

So Chen Haoran teased, “What’s your relationship with Miss Gongsun? How far have you two gotten?”

Chen Mu was startled by the question. “What relationship? I just said, she’s my sworn elder sister. How far? What do you mean, how far?”

Chen Haoran laughed and scolded, “Don’t pretend with me, boy. Are you saying you two aren’t sweet on each other?”

At last, Chen Mu understood what his father meant. He replied seriously, “Father, she’s several years older than me. How could she be interested in someone so young? I’ve always treated her as an elder sister, and she treats me as a younger brother. There’s nothing romantic going on, so you needn’t worry yourself.”

Chen Haoran eyed him suspiciously. Could his intuition be wrong? He felt a bit disappointed; he had thought the Gongsuns would make fine in-laws, and he rather fancied the idea of having grandchildren.

But with Chen Mu’s earnest explanation, it seemed he had been mistaken.

In this way, Chen Mu cared for his father for several days, only leaving once Chen Haoran’s health had improved.

Before departing, he shared his plan with Gu Xingyuan, asking him to stay and await news with Chen Haoran.

This time, Chen Mu set out to gather information about Azure Path Sect’s movements. Azure Path Sect was enraged that so many of their disciples sent abroad had been killed, and dispatched two Core Formation elders to investigate.

It would not do to simply offer himself up for capture—such a deliberate act would arouse suspicion and could lead to unwanted complications.

He decided to attack a business belonging to Azure Path Sect nearby, then intentionally let one or two disciples escape. These survivors would naturally seek help from the two elders, at which point he would feign defeat and allow himself to be captured, using them to gain entry to the sect and rescue his brother.

With this in mind, Chen Mu made his way to a commercial guild run by Azure Path Sect.

Striding into the guild hall, Chen Mu called out, “You have three breaths’ time to bring out all your valuables. Otherwise, I’ll kill without mercy.”

At first, the crowd found it laughable—a youth of only fifteen or sixteen trying his hand at robbery, swaggering about without regard for his own strength. Was he mad?

A guild steward’s expression darkened and he barked, “Boy, stop making trouble. If you offend Azure Path Sect, it’ll be far more than just a beating!”

But Chen Mu ignored him, raising his hand and blasting the man’s head to pieces with a sphere of fiendish essence.

The mocking laughter died instantly. The onlookers shivered and scrambled to flee, terrified Chen Mu might lash out again.

All the Azure Path Sect disciples stopped their work, turning cold, murderous gazes on Chen Mu, as if any move on his part would trigger a joint assault.