Chapter 482 The One She Had Been Waiting for
Li Mu was supposed to be free of all constraints and attachments after he came to that world. But human contacts were inevitable like water. After all, men were social animals. Even though Li Mu deliberately averted attention, how could he really avoid having anything to do with that world?
At present, the most important question for him was whether to bring Qing Feng and Ming Yue to Earth as well.
Should he also take Hua Xiangrong, as well as the baby girl, Li Anzhi?
Li Mu was a little hesitant.
So, he came to the base of the imperial examination team first.
“What? You’ve found a s.p.a.ce-time crack?”
“G.o.d, are you serious?”
“That means we can go back?”
“Li, are you a G.o.d or what?”
After hearing the news brought by Li Mu, the 21 members of the science team fell into great shock and excitement.
According to their original calculations, it would take at least a few decades to find some clues with the collected data, but now…
The good news came so unexpectedly.
Even Su Cuo and Song Changlin were also stunned.
In private, they had discussed how to keep the s.p.a.ce-time crack a secret once they found one, how to verify Li Mu’s ident.i.ty, and how to be perfectly sure that nothing would go wrong. But now, it was Li Mu who found the s.p.a.ce-time crack first.
“Where is it?” Su Cuo asked, thrilled.
Li Mu said, “Just near the orbit of this planet… Don’t worry, I’ve checked it out. It’s indeed a s.p.a.ce-time crack that leads to Earth. There will be no problem. And there are some other stories about it… You should start packing. In one month, we will ride Vanguard and set off. I will take you to that s.p.a.ce-time crack.”
He did not mention the Path that the forefathers from Earth had developed.
Because after returning to Earth, those people would go back to their own countries. Once that kind of story spread on Earth, it would definitely cause a great disturbance. No one could predict what kind of shock and uproar it would entail.
“Great! Haha, I knew that you didn’t lie to us, Mu.” Song Changlin shouted jubilantly. The moment he blurted that, he realized that his words might have revealed something, so he quickly looked over his shoulder at Su Cuo, who was standing next to him.
That made the beautiful Miss Su speechless.
Li Mu smiled. Given his acute intuition, how could he not know what those people thought of him? Anyway, he did not take it to heart.
By that time, the good news had spread among the 21 members.
Everyone perked up and started celebrating. Some cried emotionally, some fell on their knees and prayed, and the others held the photos of their wives and children and placed many kisses on them while tears streamed down their faces!
After leaving the base, Li Mu returned to Taibai City.
···
In Knife Hut.
“I’ll be absent for a while.”
He summoned his confidants to him, including Ming Yue and Qing Feng.
“This time is different. I’ll go to a place very far away. I may come back before long, or after many years. But no matter what happens, in the upcoming days, I need you to guard Taibai City.”
Li Mu had made his final decision— not take any on that planet to go with him, not even Qing Feng and Ming Yue.
Because Jiang Qingluan had said that the Star Graveyard had an extremely strong rejection against the living beings and experts from the outside world. Back then, Fairy Emperor of Light and the owner of the white beast teeth had attempted to invade Earth through the Path, but they had both failed and paid a huge price. Therefore, he was afraid that Qing Feng, Ming Yue, and the others were probably no exception. They would be in danger if he took them with him.
That meant, in addition to w.a.n.g s.h.i.+yu and the Husky, Li Mu could not bring any other trusted subordinates back to Earth.
“Young Master, don’t worry. I will see to it.” Qing Feng rea.s.sured him. The attendant had always been like that, always unconditionally accepted all the arrangements Li Mu made and never pried.
So did he this time.
Qing Feng nodded earnestly and accepted Li Mu’s a.s.signment of “a heavy responsibility” at once.
That young man, who was almost heaven-defyingly clever, had always been the one Li Mu trusted most.
“I will tell the public that I’m entering closed-door training getting to the Void-breaking Realm. People outside won’t know I’ve left.”
Li Mu continued to make many arrangements.
“The four Knife Hut servants and Yuan Hou will stay here and take your orders. From now on, you will be the master of this Taibai City. Everything, big or small, will be decided by you. Make decisions with your best judgment, and no need to overthink them.” Li Mu added.
“Qing Feng got it.”
“Also, now that the Spiritual Qi is surging and the Great Age is coming, I’m afraid it won’t be long before this planet is upgraded to a ninth-cla.s.s star. When it happens, extraterrestrial cultivators can easily land and fight for the resources. Yet, it will take at least 100 years for the suppression the Taoist Principles impose on them to disappear completely. Therefore, in the next century, this planet will still be the home field of the local strong. With the protection of the four Knife Hut servants and the help of Yuan Hou, as well as the deployment in Taibai Mountain, Taibai City should not be facing any serious danger in the near future. Even so, you should still be careful to govern it. Regard the extraterrestrial cultivators as imaginary enemies and do not put your guard down even for a minute. Qing Feng, you haven’t let me down once. This time, it’s all up to you.”
Qing Feng nodded.
As he listened, his fingers clenched the armrests of the wheelchair, and his knuckles turned white.
With that kind of brain of his, Qing Feng had already heard a note of farewell from Li Mu’s words.
But Ming Yue, who had not noted anything, asked anxiously, “Young Master, where in the world are you going? Why don’t you take me with you? I love traveling most.”
“You stay and take good care of Qing Feng. Haven’t you sworn to protect your Brother Qing Feng?” Said Li Mu disapprovingly.
Qing Feng and Ming Yue could be said to have been extremely lucky.
They had both eaten the ginseng fruits, which turned their body const.i.tution close to that of an immortal. Also, they had read countless secret manuals on the martial arts on that planet, learned some extraterrestrial Cultivation Methods, and practiced with Li Mu’s guidance. Thus, their individual strength had soared to the Great Sage Realm. In just a few years, they would not be any problem to enter the Void-breaking Realm as the upward trend of the Great Age continued.
The power of the ginseng fruit was truly startling.
Even Yuan Hou, who had been practicing the Ultimate Yin and Yang Cultivation Method and the Somersault Cloud, had already reached the Great Sage Realm. His body was incredibly strong, and he was proficient in illusory deployment. His speed was also unbeatable. In terms of combat capability on that planet, he was already comparable to any of the four Knife Hut servants.
As a matter of fact, the current secret strength of Taibai City could already triumph that of any force on the Divine Land even without counting Li Mu’s.
After the first round of preparation, Li Mu summoned Feng Yuanxing, Ma Junwu, and other government officials of Taibai City and gave them some instructions.
“I need to do closed-door training to work hard on the Way of Celestial Immortality. The day I’ll come out from this training is very remote. So, from now on, until the day I finish it, the affairs in the whole city will be decided by Qing Feng. His orders are my orders. You are also old buddies in Taibai City. You should do your best to a.s.sist Qing Feng and don’t let me down.”
“Don’t worry, your honor.”
Ma Junwu and the others patted their chests and promised.
They were absolutely loyal to Li Mu.
Because Li Mu had changed their lives, allowing them to rise from nameless county officials to famous big shots of Taibai City.
By now, their strength had varied from the Natural Expert Realm to the Celestial Being Realm, which was actually the result of taking a large number of magical herbs and did not match their combat power. Even so, any of them could attract the attention of all the empires, sects, and renowned families when they walked out of Taibai City. Wherever they went, there would be many people coming to greet them. No matter what occasion it was, they would always be the distinguished guests.
And all that was attributed to Li Mu.
If without Li Mu, they were n.o.body at all.
Moreover, they also had bonded with Li Mu. He had gone through thick and thin with them, and had risked his own life several times to fight for the bright life they were now enjoying. They had endured all kinds of hards.h.i.+ps all the way and finally saw the rainbow. That kind of experience was even a tie more reliable than any other form of ingratiation.
Looking at those “old buddies”, Li Mu also felt a surge of emotion.
In the blink of an eye, five years had pa.s.sed since he came to that world. During the years, he had met many enemies as well as many friends. Although the strength of those people in front of him was average and they used to be n.o.bodies, they could all be considered friends of his by far.
In Knife Hut, Li Mu held a banquet to entertain all the officials in the city. After praising and rewarding them for their hard work, the banquet finally came to an end.
Then, when facing Hua Xiangrong alone, Li Mu became a little undecided.
Considering that he might never come back once he went to Earth, toward this woman totally infatuated with him, Li Mu felt quite guilty. But in the end, he still did not tell her the truth and just only said that he was going to do closed-door training, and it might take a long time.
“I will be waiting for you, Brother Mu.” Hua Xiangrong smiled, her exquisite and innocent face full of unhesitating determination, as well as 100% attachment and trust to Li Mu.
Li Mu nodded and could not help but bring her into his arms.
The most difficult thing was to accept a beauty’s love.
“When I come out of the closed-door training, I will marry you.”
As if behest of some supernatural existence, Li Mu said that to Hua Xiangrong.
A man who had steeled himself 100 times would still be softened.
Hua Xiangrong’s tenderness and unwavering love would melt even a hard stone. Over the past few years, Li Mu had been moved gradually by this tender and considerate woman.
Also, Li Mu knew that Hua Xiangrong was already deeply in love with him and could not bear to marry anyone else. If he did let her wait for him, it would make her waste her life. But if he did not, it would hurt her even more and make her spiritual pillar collapse, causing the beautiful woman to fall into despair.
Hence, he had made up his mind to return to that planet after the things on Earth were settled.
“Aye.”
Hua Xiangrong blushed a little. She bowed her head, and her eyes began to well with tears of happiness.
That was undoubtedly what she wanted to hear the most in her life. The proposal sounded like the sound of heaven to her.
Since she started practicing martial arts, her lifespan had been limitlessly extended. She could live for 400 or 500 years, or even several thousand years. No matter how long it was, she was willing to wait for Li Mu to come back. Sometimes, waiting for someone could also arouse happiness.
At last, Li Mu tenderly placed a kiss on Hua Xiangrong’s forehead and then left.
In Hua Xiangrong’s room, a voice came from Hua Xiangrong’s body. “Silly girl, your sweetheart may leave soon. What a bullsh*t of closed-door training is that? He was just comforting you.”
It was Bai Mochou’s voice.
With a smile on her face, Hua Xiangrong said, “Even if he leaves, he will come back.”
After a brief pause, Bai Mochou remarked, “Seems that you are not stupid after all. You’ve seen it as well. But have you ever considered this— what if he never comes back?”
In a calm voice but filled with a stirring power, Hua Xiangrong answered, “Brother Mu has said he would come back. Then, he will. Even if I have to wait until the seas are drained and the stones are rotten, I believe he will definitely come back.”
“My silly sister…” Bai Mochou sighed.
“You’re so smart and extremely pure, but you’ve met this nemesis of yours. Alas. Though this stinky man called Li Mu is not really a good person, he does care about you. But you know what? Sometimes, you’ll be much luckier to meet a heartless jerk than a true love who has promised you something that he can never deliver!”
However, Bai Mochou did not say those words out loud.
She seemed to have seen the shadow of her old self in Hua Xiangrong.
Yet, the man she had been waiting for, whether in the mortal world or the netherworld, would not come to her again.