Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

"I've heard about the Black Heaven Cult, but I never imagined that something like this would happen after we parted ways at the post station."

"It's all my fault. I clearly heard you and Senior Lin talking, but I didn't take it seriously. If I had been more careful, perhaps my second uncle and the others wouldn't have died in Heshan Village..."

"The weather is unpredictable, and fortune can change in an instant. Not to mention you, even I did not know that such a change had occurred in Taizhou at that time."

Besides, you told your second uncle about it at the time, so what happened afterward can't be blamed on you.

Seeing Mu An comfort her, Yang He forced a faint smile, but the smile looked bitter no matter how you looked at it.

She picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and her voice carried a hint of melancholy.

"What you say makes sense, senior. But everyone else is dead, and only I survived. So you can only blame yourself."

"The Black Heaven Cult has been destroyed, and the revenge has been taken. Why are you still so attached to it?"

"Senior, the imperial court has not completely eradicated the Black Heaven Sect. Many of their high-ranking members have escaped, and many of them have joined the Soul Severing Pavilion. They are still causing trouble in the martial arts world all these years."

Seeing Yang He's reaction, Mu An pondered for a moment but ultimately did not try to persuade her further.

Kind words are hard to persuade a damned devil; compassion cannot save someone who has killed themselves.

Judging from Yang He's current state, you can tell that some things are simply impossible to get over, and only time can gradually dilute these feelings.

Things tend to turn into their opposites when they reach an extreme. Perhaps one day, she will suddenly realize that she has simply gone to the other extreme.

Or perhaps, on her path to extremes, in some unpredictable accident, Yang He also went to another world with her former caravan.

High pressure can forge willpower, but it can also cost a person their life.

Anything is possible; no one can say for sure.

However, the Soul Severing Pavilion actually dared to recruit people from the Black Heaven Sect; they certainly have some nerve!

Another crime has been added to the list of crimes committed by the Chu family. Write it down in your little notebook!

Yang He drank cup after cup. Before she even reached the Yang family's door, she had already finished two jugs of wine, looking completely drunk.

Yang Tianshui, who was waiting to the side, wanted to pull her, but dared not approach because of Mu An's presence.

Seeing this, Mu An raised his hand and placed it on Yang He's shoulder. Pale blue spiritual energy emerged from his hand and turned into a cloud of mist in the air.

The mist washed over Yang He's body from top to bottom, and as the water shimmered, the smell of alcohol on her body completely dissipated. Even her dirty clothes looked brand new, and she felt much more refreshed.

"Thank you, senior. I was a little rude just now. Please don't take offense."

"It's alright, just tell me more about the Chu family later."

Yang Tianshui, who had been struggling to find a way to join the conversation, finally found a breakthrough. He leaned forward, looking like he knew everything.

"Senior, you mean the Chu family? I know them well! The Chu family members are in my house right now, why don't you just ask them?"

Before Yang Tianshui could finish speaking, Yang He had already grabbed his ear and twisted it forcefully.

"Did I tell you to interrupt? Apologize to your senior right now."

"No need for that, young man. Tell me in detail, what's going on with the Chu family in your house?"

Seeing that Mu An was on his side, Yang Tianshui immediately perked up. He winked at Yang He and then respectfully told Mu An about his understanding of the Chu family.

"The Chu family of Qingjiang is no good. They're a bunch of beasts. They've done all sorts of things like murder, arson, and wiping out entire families..."

And then there's the Chu family in Qingzhou City. If you ask me, they're no good either. They're always pretending to do good deeds, opening schools and clinics all the time.

They kept promoting themselves and calling on other groups to join them in doing good deeds, acting as if they were some kind of great philanthropists. It all seemed so hypocritical…”

Throughout the entire ordeal, Mu An remained silent, simply listening quietly as the young man from the Yang family complained about various matters related to the Chu family.

The image of the Chu family had taken shape in his mind, but it was still somewhat incomplete.

He didn't think Yang He and Yang Tianshui would deceive him, but he felt that their statements were likely tainted with obvious bias.

We're already prepared to exterminate their entire clan, so we can't wrongly accuse them.

The biggest problem is that, while Chu Tiankuo is indeed stupid, he only appears stupid when he is pushed to the limit. If he were not strong enough, an ordinary bureaucrat would probably have already colluded with him.

Oppressing ordinary people is really not a big deal.

In fact, if he hadn't happened to appear, Chu Tiankuo could have lived a life of tyranny in Shanling County.

After all, in this era, the cries of ordinary people are so powerless, and can be easily silenced in a corner where no one knows.

The fact that Chu Tiankuo was able to integrate the forces of the entire Shanling County is enough to show that he is not lacking in ability.

As for harboring gangs and bullying the weak, that's really nothing to worry about; the Great Qi Dynasty has its own national conditions.

In the eyes of most bureaucrats, Mu An was probably the "outlier".

If the Chu family is truly as foolish as Yang Tianshui claims, it would be somewhat inexplicable that they have survived to this day.

……

At the same time, in the Yang residence, in the reception room.

Yang Mingxiu, the head of the Yang family, sat at the head of the table. To his left sat several guests from the Chu family, and to his right sat several key members of the Yang family.

The old steward bent down and stepped forward, whispering a few words in the ear of Yang Mingxiu, the head of the Yang family.

As you can see, Yang Mingxiu's expression suddenly changed, but he regained his composure when the Chu family members looked over.

He whispered a few instructions to the old steward, then smiled and looked at the Chu family members.

The leader of the Chu family was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. He was holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand and spoke in a gentle voice, "Patriarch Yang, what have you thought about what we just discussed? Cooperating with our Chu family will certainly not treat your Yang family unfairly."

Yang Mingxiu looked troubled. He sighed, seemingly helpless, "Young Master Chu, this matter is of great importance. Although I am the head of the Yang family, I cannot make a decision on my own."

Before the young master of the Chu family could speak, he added.

"I want to let Young Master Chu know that I just received news that a distinguished guest has suddenly arrived. The timing is unfortunate, so I must apologize to Young Master Chu."

Hearing Yang Mingxiu's words, Chu Wen showed no anger. He politely stood up, bowed, and laughed loudly.

"Now that we have distinguished guests, I wonder if Master Yang would be so kind as to introduce us?"

His words suggested he was completely unconcerned about whether the cooperation could be finalized.

Yang Mingxiu's expression darkened considerably. He didn't even know who the visitor was, only that the news came from He Yatou, the girl in charge of the caravan, his brother's daughter.

The Chu family was powerful, and he didn't dare to directly refuse Chu Wen's request. In the end, although the Yang family had some wealth, it was far inferior to the Chu family.

Cooperation or not, it's just empty talk.

The Chu family clearly wanted to get something for nothing, taking 20% ​​of the profits from the Yang family's business for free.

However, he dared not agree to Chu Wen's request without authorization, because Yang He never made wild claims; if she said he was a distinguished guest, then he must truly be one.

He can't afford to offend either side.

Under Chu Wen's ambiguous gaze, Yang Mingxiu hesitated for a long time.

Chu Wen twirled the prayer beads faster and faster, then tapped the table with his hand, his voice somewhat displeased. "Does Patriarch Yang perhaps think that I, Chu Wen, am unworthy to know this distinguished guest?"

"No, no, that's not true at all, Young Master Chu, please don't overthink it, it's just..."

"Just what?" Chu Wen narrowed his eyes, his tone becoming increasingly oppressive.

Yang Mingxiu grew increasingly anxious. Everyone knew that the Chu family was unreasonable, and if they didn't agree soon, things would really get complicated. Now, he could only hope that the distinguished guest invited by He Yatou would be understanding.

Just as Yang Mingxiu was about to agree, a voice, devoid of emotion, came from outside.

"Yes, of course. It just so happens that I'd also like to get to know the Chu family's prodigy."

Along with the sound came a figure stepping into the reception room. Mu An, with a faint smile on her face, walked straight to Chu Wen.

"I have long admired the Chu family of Qingjiang. I wonder if I, as the Grand Commander of Qishan Road, would have the honor of paying them a visit?"

"Commander of Qishan Dao?" Upon hearing this title, Chu Wen stood up and respectfully bowed to Mu An.

Given Mu An's speed of traveling thousands of miles a day, the events in Shanling County naturally did not reach Qingzhou, and Chu Wen was unaware of what had happened to his uncles.

All he knew was that the person in front of him was a high-ranking official of the third rank in the imperial court, a real regional governor.

Although the Chu family is not afraid of such a person, it would never be wrong to be on good terms with him.

Chu Wen stood up and bowed respectfully, performing the proper etiquette for a junior flawlessly.