The fairy forced me to marry into her family, so I retorted by throwing myself into the Pool of Fate

"Brother Li!"

Mu Ming and the other two rushed over almost simultaneously.

Mu Junyi grabbed Li Ping's arm and patted him all over, asking, "Brother Li, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Mu Chengyuan also came closer, looking him up and down: "Is there any pain? I have some healing pills here."

Although Mu Ming didn't speak, the concern in his eyes was almost overflowing.

He stood to the side, carefully examining Li Ping. Seeing that he was indeed unharmed, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Completely bewildered by the three men, Li Ping pushed them away, both amused and exasperated, asking, "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" Mu Junyi sniffed. "We thought you were dead."

Li Ping was taken aback upon hearing this.

Mu Ming took a deep breath and recounted the whole story.

From their prolonged absence and the realization that something was wrong, to seeking help from Mu Fangxu and the subsequent sea search... he recounted everything in detail.

After listening, Li Ping fell silent.

Since marrying into the Mu family, he has been virtually a loner in the clan, except for a few acquaintances.

Others treated him with either polite respect or rudeness, some keeping their distance, others openly mocking and ridiculing him.

As a son-in-law who lives with his wife's family, he is always considered inferior wherever he goes.

Over time, he got used to it.

But this time...

Looking at the three people in front of him, Li Ping felt a warm current welling up from the bottom of his heart.

This was a sense of belonging he hadn't felt in a long time.

Li Ping took a deep breath and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "Gentlemen, I will remember this kindness."

After saying that, he turned to look at Mu Fangxu, who was standing not far away.

Under the moonlight, Mu Fangxu stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

But Li Ping knew that this leading figure of the younger generation of the Mu family had personally gone out to sea tonight to search for him, spending several hours in the dark.

They didn't have much of a relationship with him, but when something happened, they came without saying a word.

Even during their previous meeting, Mu Fangxu had a poor impression of him because he had heard rumors that he was abusing his power.

Li Ping knew perfectly well what was going on, but he never explained it; in his view, there was no need to.

People can say whatever they want.

But today, this person who was prejudiced against him is the first to stand up and look for him.

He acts with fairness and justice, and it is no wonder that the Mu family disciples regard him as the next head of the family.

Li Ping was deeply moved. He walked up to Mu Fangxu and bowed solemnly, saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother Fangxu."

Mu Fangxu nodded slightly, his expression softening considerably: "It's good that you're alright."

It was already late at night, and the group was unwilling to stay any longer, so they returned to the market.

On the way, Mu Ming couldn't help but ask, "Brother Li, what exactly happened?"

Li Ping pondered for a moment and said, "We've encountered a cultivator undergoing tribulation."

"A cultivator who has undergone tribulation?" Mu Ming's expression changed.

"Hmm." Li Ping nodded. "Three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators came specifically to target me."

From being ambushed with sabers on his way to Xikou Market to being surrounded and killed this time, Li Ping briefly recounted the whole story.

Of course, he omitted the details of how he escaped.

After listening, Mu Fangxu suddenly asked, "Were the cultivators who surrounded and killed you before the same group as today?"

"Exactly." Li Ping nodded. "The leader is called Ma Dao, and the other two are his henchmen, all of them are cultivators from the Great Black Sea."

Mu Fangxu remained silent for a moment, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.

He finally understood why Li Ping had been seven days late that day.

It wasn't intentional negligence, but rather an ambush by a treacherous cultivator.

However, he harbored resentment towards Li Ping because he believed the rumors.

During those seven days, he wondered if Li Ping was deliberately delaying and not taking the inspection seriously. Now that he thinks about it, he was really wrong to accuse him.

Thinking of this, Mu Fangxu said, "I misunderstood you before."

Li Ping nodded: "It's alright."

Mu Fangxu didn't say much, he just nodded. Some things don't need to be said too clearly, it's enough to know in your heart.

Mu Ming and the other two couldn't hold back any longer.

"Three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators surrounded you, Brother Li, and you still managed to escape?" Mu Junyi's eyes widened. "That's no ordinary skill."

"Yes," Mu Chengyuan added, "If it were me, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to handle one."

Li Ping shook his head: "It's nothing to mention. I was able to escape alive entirely because of the greed and infighting among the cultivators. If they hadn't fought amongst themselves, I wouldn't have had a chance."

Upon hearing this, Mu Ming and the other two burst into laughter.

"A cultivator who has been robbed is a cultivator who has been robbed; a leopard can't change its spots."

"They started fighting amongst themselves before they even made a sale; it's truly laughable."

The three of them talked amongst themselves, their words revealing their disdain for the greed of the Jiexiu.

Mu Fangxu, however, did not smile.

He glanced at Li Ping, his eyes flickering slightly.

He escaped from three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, supposedly entirely due to infighting among the Tribulation Cultivators. But why were the Tribulation Cultivators fighting amongst themselves? And why was the timing of their infighting so coincidental?

Li Ping didn't elaborate, but Mu Fangxu had a vague feeling that things weren't that simple.

It's not enough for a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining to survive against three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators; good luck alone wouldn't suffice.

Although this son-in-law's cultivation level was not high, he was meticulous and quite resourceful.

With this wisdom, and if given the opportunity to come along...

Perhaps, I can manage to reach the Foundation Establishment stage?

Without realizing it, the way he looked at Li Ping gradually brightened.

Li Ping didn't know what Mu Fangxu was thinking, but he did notice his gaze.

That gaze was different from before; it used to be scrutinizing, but now it held a hint of appreciation.

After a moment's thought, Li Ping walked over to Mu Fangxu and whispered, "Senior Brother Fangxu, when we encountered the Tribulation Cultivators earlier, I heard them mention the name 'Scholar.' I wonder what his background is? It seems that the Tribulation Cultivators in the Great Black Sea all listen to him."

Mu Fangxu smiled slightly: "Such a famous Tribulation Cultivator, you haven't heard of him?"

Li Ping said frankly, "I've heard some things before, but they're all rumors. The things about him eating hearts and lungs, or about him being in charge of the Great Black Sea, are all hearsay. As for the true background of the scholar, it's best to ask someone as close as you."

"Rumors?" Mu Fangxu suddenly gave him a strange look.

Li Ping was taken aback, then realized what was happening.

This senior brother Fang Xu probably doesn't think I'm secretly pointing out his belief in rumors.

He was about to explain when Mu Fangxu sighed softly and spoke up first.

"Actually, I also have doubts about this scholar."

Mu Fangxu's expression turned serious: "The rumors about the scholar have always been quite strange. Most of what's circulated outside revolves around his penchant for eating hearts and lungs. There are all sorts of claims that the scholar likes to eat human hearts and drink human blood. As for his strength, what spells he's good at, what methods he has... there's very little information about that."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping and the other three were all taken aback.

Yes, they had heard of the scholar's name countless times, knew he was the leader of the Great Black Sea Cultivators, and knew he liked to eat hearts and lungs... but what else?

What is this person's cultivation level? What techniques are they skilled in? What are their hidden strengths?

They knew absolutely nothing about it.