Chapter 370

Chapter 370: Escape? I Will Never Flee in Disgrace!

Yan Yunyu and the others agreed to the Head of the Yan family’s request.

This decision wasn’t about obeying orders—Si Ye and the rest simply wanted to prevent Mu Lin from acting rashly and getting himself killed in the East Sea Kingdom.

They believed any attempt at revenge would almost certainly end in Mu Lin’s death.

Even without confronting enemies directly, danger remained.

While Mu Lin wielded long-range curses, so did others.

Even non-cursed Grandmaster Level techniques posed threats. Any technique reaching that tier underwent fundamental changes—not just for Mu Lin, but for all Grandmasters. A wisp of aura could become lethal.

Sword cultivators at their peak could slash targets thousands of miles away using Sword Intent. Demon cultivators had worse methods: Thousand-mile Soul Pursuit, Soul Devouring Blood Curse, Soul Shifting Illusions. Multiple clones couldn’t guarantee safety.

Though reaching Grandmaster Level without an Attribute Panel proved brutally difficult, the East Sea Kingdom’s wealth attracted countless experts. Many had achieved it. Si Ye’s group estimated Mu Lin’s survival chances there as dangerously low—not absolute, but eighty to ninety percent. Never underestimate a millennium-old kingdom’s reserves.

This explained both the Yan family head’s urgency and the group’s pleas.

Yan Yunyu urged, "Mu brother, your talent needs time—we shouldn’t rush."

"Revenge tastes best cold," another added. "Retreating now isn’t weakness."

"Acting recklessly helps them," said a third. "But wait, and they’ll stew in fear. They know your potential. Let their dread fester—it’s crueler than any blade."

Their arguments held merit. Mu Lin had swallowed pride before when weak.

But past patience didn’t bind present choices.

After tonight’s Transformation advancement, his power would skyrocket—making him nearly unkillable. This justified retaliation.

As for East Sea’s Family Resources? First, kingdoms and clans hoarded such power for existential threats. Killing the King’s third son hardly qualified—the monarch had ample offspring. Royal affections thin with numbers, breeding internal strife.

Mu Lin guessed the King would care less about the son than wounded pride. Crushing a weak offender? Expected. Wasting Family Resources over personal feelings? No dynasty survives that way. Calculated clans endure; impulsive ones perish.

Second, even if deployed, those Resources might fail. Mu Lin planned to strike from the Grave Lord’s tomb—its natural defenses stacked with his skills and three hundred Substitute Paper Figures boosted survival odds.

Lastly, the East Sea King couldn’t act freely.

Since the East Sea King broke the rules first, Mu Lin’s revenge was justified, making it difficult for the East Sea King to retaliate against him.

The Southeast Province would pressure them.

Mu Lin saw through the Southeast Province’s true nature – their comfortable lives had softened them, making warnings ineffective.

But this world extended beyond the Southeast Province.

If Mu Lin hadn’t shown strength, others wouldn’t help. But if he hurt the East Sea King badly and proved his extraordinary worth while supporting the northern aristocrats, they’d surely intervene.

“They wouldn’t want direct conflict… The gap between me and East Sea Kingdom is huge. But they’d likely send powerful beings to guard East Sea King City and block forbidden methods.”

Even if northern aristocrats refused, Mu Lin remained unafraid. Forces like the Great Spirit Dynasty opposed East Sea Kingdom’s rise.

“The Great Spirit Dynasty knows East Sea King’s ambitions. Before, they had no chance to stop him. Now they just need to contain him while I strike. They’ll take this easy opportunity.”

Quick calculations showed proper preparations would reduce risks. This required Mu Lin becoming invincible after Transformation and surviving regular Earth Immortal assassins – only forbidden methods could threaten him then.

Without such value, neither northern aristocrats nor royal families would act. Forbidden methods and top Earth Immortals were rare and closely watched, allowing containment. Like nuclear weapons in his past life.

But ordinary Earth Immortals and High Mastery of Transformation experts were plentiful in East Sea Kingdom, impossible to monitor all.

“Just like how Lighthouse Nation feared attacking that eastern nation under watch, East Sea Kingdom won’t use full force against me under Great Spirit Dynasty’s gaze.”

Mu Lin resumed cultivation to achieve Transformation. Success meant no more assassination attempts after this revenge.

“Strike first to prevent endless attacks,” he muttered, recalling how his past world’s 17th Parallel became untouchable after one war. He’d deliver such a painful strike now.

…

While Mu Lin decided, Yan Yunyu and Si Ye kept urging caution. Knowing their concern, Mu Lin calmly countered: “Step back for peace? No – retreat lets enemies advance. Unless East Sea King pays a price, assassinations won’t stop.”

“If I were them, I’d keep trying until target’s dead. Better to counterattack than wait.”

Yan Yunyu fell silent. The Head of the Yan family objected: “We’ll warn East Sea King—”

Mu Lin coldly interrupted: “What if he ignores warnings? Would you fight them?”

After long silence, the Head muttered: “We’ll protect you.”

"Hehe, there’s wisdom in thieves plotting for a thousand days, but none in guarding against them for that long. Your protection won’t hold."

This time, Yan Yunlong offered no rebuttal.

Ordinary southern aristocrats would’ve spun sweet lies at this moment – empty promises to keep Mu Lin from joining the northern aristocrats temporarily. If Mu Lin died after this critical period, their losses would diminish.

Yet the Yan family’s heavy investment in Mu Lin meant his growth could bring them great benefits. After tense deliberation, Yan Yunlong clenched his teeth and proposed something no other southern aristocrat would dare suggest.

"You speak truth, Mu Lin. We lack the spine to confront the East Sea King. But the northern aristocrats fear no one. They’ll boldly move against him while seizing resources. The North Wilderness lies far beyond the East Sea Kingdom’s reach – their influence weakens there. You could build your power in the north."

"Or seek sanctuary with the Great Spirit Dynasty in the Central Continent if the wilderness seems too harsh."

Yan Yunlong’s counsel held genuine concern and logic, rooted in his belief that Mu Lin stood no chance against the East Sea Kingdom. Hence the escape plan – flee north or to the Central Continent.

By conventional wisdom, this made sense. A lone warrior against an ancient kingdom? Most would call it suicide.

But Mu Lin’s confidence burned bright. ‘I’ll go north, but not as some beaten dog.’ He kept this resolve hidden, simply stating: "I’ll consider your advice."

As Yan Yunyu escorted her relative out, Mu Lin faced the anxious women remaining. A faint smile played on his lips. "Worry not. My techniques prove how dearly I prize survival. I don’t act without certainty."

‘And I’m certain I can make the East Sea King bleed while walking away unscathed.’

Left unspoken, these words calmed their fears. Meanwhile, news spread through Yuzhou City – the assassination mastermind had been revealed as the East Sea King’s Third Son. Whispers of impending storm filled every street.