Chapter 333

Chapter 333: A Sharp Blade Begets Bloodthirst

The disturbance to Mu Lin’s peace didn’t come from direct pressure by the southern aristocrats. Instead of coercing him to fight northern aristocrats under righteous pretenses, they chose subtle manipulation.

This storm first brewed within Yuzhou City.

—After discussions with Prince Liang, new reward and punishment measures took immediate effect in the city.

While defeat in battle remained forgivable, cowardice now meant losing status, privileges, and resources. This lit fierce fighting spirit among southern aristocrats, who clashed with northern scholars dozens more times in following days.

Yet as Prince Liang observed, the gap between southern prodigies and northern prodigies proved too vast for mere courage to bridge.

Facing this crisis, the south pursued two strategies: First, negotiating with foreign tribes by outlining mutual interests.

"You know the northerners’ ways – they slaughter first and ask questions never. Should they control the imperial court, all your kind face annihilation."

This convinced some tribes, even stirring the Eastern Sea’s dragon clan to consider intervention.

Secondly, southern clan youths launched propaganda praising Mu Lin.

Where defeated southern scholars once wallowed in despair, they now wielded Mu Lin’s name as shield under careful guidance:

"Enjoy your temporary victory! When Mu Lin finishes closed-door training, you’ll regret this!"

"Lord Mu Lin’s presence would wipe that arrogance off your faces!"

"All bark no bite – just wait till our Mu Lin returns!"

"Mu Lin…"

"Mu Lin…"

"Mu Lin…"

Through orchestrated efforts and Mu Lin’s past achievements, he became the southern prodigies’ symbol of hope. Many believed his mere involvement would crush northern arrogance.

Yan Yunyu and Si Ye alerted Mu Lin immediately when this campaign began.

"A setup for forced compliance through flattery?" Mu Lin wondered. But contrary to expectations, southern aristocrats made no demands. They publicly declared respecting Mu Lin’s choice, emphasizing cultivation advancement as life’s paramount goal. None disturbed his training.

The northern aristocrats, however, thought differently.

Though Mu Lin leaned northern, he understood their true nature – northern elites never served the people. Throughout history across civilizations, true people’s armies remained rare. Most soldiers were thugs in uniform.

Ancient China even said: "Bandits comb through villages, but soldiers scrape the scalp." Sometimes robbers showed more mercy than troops. People feared armies more than bandits.

This wasn’t merely a fleeing or broken army—even proper military forces terrified ordinary civilians. “Killing civilians to claim merit” wasn’t just an occasional phrase in ancient China; it occurred frequently. So often that the imperial court repeatedly forbade such acts, unable to tolerate them. Yet the very frequency of these decrees proved how commonplace the practice was. It happened in the past world, and now in this one too.

Soldiers from military households were never reasonable folk. The northern aristocrats who rose through battling foreign tribes and forbidden power grew increasingly domineering—or perhaps “boldly ambitious,” refusing to bow to anyone. Youthful vigor, like the dawn sun, could be admirable, but taken too far, it became a problem. Initially, the northern aristocrats hadn’t been this extreme. The southern aristocrats’ crushing defeats, however, fed their arrogance.

Thus, Mu Lin’s refusal to fight wasn’t interpreted by northern aristocrats as favoring their side. Instead, they saw cowardice—a fear of defeat. The southern aristocrats’ worship of Mu Lin and their post-defeat remarks further infuriated the northerners, like oil poured on flames. To many northern aristocrats, such talk implied their victories weren’t earned but handed to them by Mu Lin’s pity. How could northern scholars tolerate this? Especially while they dominated the southern aristocrats in every clash.

Naturally, they refused to endure it. Over the following days, challengers boasted openly, itching to confront Mu Lin. Some northern aristocrats even declared across the city that Mu Lin was a coward. The true spark between Mu Lin and the northerners, however, ignited at the Four Seas Tavern.

A lavish tavern expanded tenfold via spatial formations, it housed artificial mountains, gardens, and a small lake. Daily, young nobles gathered here to feast, drink, and revel. At its center lay a pristine arena, once used for casual entertainment like singing or beast fights. Now, with the northern aristocrats’ arrival, it became a battleground.

Today, another fight unfolded.

“Roar—Black Wolf Devours the Moon!”

Another clash among youths under eighteen, another southern aristocrat’s defeat. The losing noble’s face twisted with humiliation, mirrored by the grim expressions of spectators Blood Cherry, Tian Yun, and others.

“Lost again…”

Defeat stung worse when met with the victors’ smug grins. Injuries and the opponent’s clear superiority forced the southern scholar to admit his inferiority. Yet as the saying goes: lose the battle but not the dignity. Helpless, he grasped for excuses—and Mu Lin served perfectly. The defeated southern aristocrat promptly invoked Mu Lin’s name to salvage his pride.

“Don’t get cocky, cough… You only beat me! When Lord Mu Lin emerges, every one of you will fall!”

*Crash!*

The scar-faced boy’s words made the half-crazed youth snap. Fists shattered the railing as he roared:

“Mu Lin this, Mu Lin that! Enough!”

“Spare me your cowardly excuses! Even if that weakling comes out, my Black Wolf will shred him!”

“Fool! You know nothing of Lord Mu Lin’s power…”

“His power? Never seen it! But his cowardice? Clear as day! He’s a spineless worm!”

Their usual Mu Lin-fueled brawl was just noise—until today. Yan Yunyu descended the Four Seas Tavern stairs, fresh from negotiations, and caught every vile word.

Her blood boiled. Letting this public insult slide? Unthinkable. If Mu Lin heard she’d done nothing…

No risks. No hesitation.

*Whoosh!* A silver chain lashed out like a striking serpent.

*CRACK!*

The whip-like blow hurled Black Wolf backward, painting the air crimson. Only when he crashed did Yan Yunyu’s icy voice cut through the silence:

“Apologize.”

“Mu brother is beyond your filth.”

The tavern froze. Onlookers exchanged glances—they’d expected her reaction, but not this.

Since when did Yan Yunyu hit like a war goddess?

“She’s stronger than me now?”

“Impossible! She was dead weight!”

“Level 2 Spiritual Roots! The Yans abandoned her!”

“Mu Lin’s doing—he lifts others as he climbs.”

Murmurs rippled. Those who knew her gaped. The mouse had become a dragon.

Among them, Yan Zhanpeng fared slightly better. Having personally witnessed Yan Yunyu’s power within the clan before, he thought he could accept her current improvement… or so he claimed.

"How?! Her strength grew again in three days!"

Even Yan Zhanpeng, who had expected it beforehand, stared wide-eyed in shock.

Those who knew of Yan Yunyu but not her true strength were even more stunned.

The most shaken was Ji Xue, Yan Yunyu and Mu Lin’s former teammate.

Having reached the Spirit Pool stage herself, she stared blankly at Yan Yunyu’s Refining the Evil and Condensing Essence auras, her worldview crumbling. Blood Cherry and Tian Yun gaped in disbelief too.

"…She was at Spring Fountain months ago! How did she surpass me now?"

Many felt the world had gone mad from Yan Yunyu’s power. While some struggled to believe, others made resolute decisions.

"…I must grow stronger."

Blood Cherry clutched her bloodstained blade, fingertips brushing her blinded eye as she muttered.

Meanwhile in the Four Seas Tavern’s upper floors, someone frowned: "Yan Yunyu’s unexpected strength disrupts our plans."

"Let matters unfold. The northern aristocrats’ pride won’t allow retreat, and Mu Lin won’t back down. We need only wait."

*

*Crash!*

"Apologize? Hahaha…"

Though Yan Yunyu’s strike sent Black Wolf flying a hundred meters, it neither killed him nor destroyed his combat abilities. As the crowd gasped, Black Wolf shook off debris and emerged from rubble – marching toward Yan Yunyu with surging aura.

Hearing her demand, Black Wolf laughed wildly – a harsh, unhinged sound.

"Apologize? Call me useless? How amusing." His voice turned venomous: "Mu Lin’s woman, eh? Let’s see if that coward stays hidden after I take you!"

*Howl!*

A wolf’s cry erupted as his body twisted into hulking werewolf form, eyes blazing with heightened ferocity. His power spiked violently.

"Retreat! Fetch Mu Lin!" Blood Cherry urgently shouted. Despite Yan Yunyu’s display, none believed she could withstand Black Wolf.

Upstairs observers commanded: "Intervene if she falters. Letting her get captured risks Mu Lin’s wrath. Injuries may provoke him, but death or disgrace would bring endless trouble."

"Fear not, Elder You. She’s too shrewd to meet alone, always staying within Yan family territories like Four Seas Pavilion. Guards already approach."

Indeed, Yan family guards rushed toward the commotion. Old Yan Yunyu would have retreated, but current Yan Yunyu clutched the spiritual weapon Infinite Chains, fresh power coursing through her veins.

Blood Cherry and Tian Yun’s shocked faces filled her with intoxicating superiority. Like a youth brandishing their first sword, she stepped forward eagerly.

"You’re unworthy of Mu brother’s attention. I’ll handle this."

Silence fell.

"…Did she just?"

"Fight Black Wolf alone? Has borrowing Mu Lin’s power deluded her into thinking she’s a genius?!"