Today’s update is a combined entry, as my physical condition is quite poor. Low fever, body temperature down to 35 degrees Celsius… cough. I struggled through the day, managing to hammer out this chapter in fits and starts, my mind feeling like a total sludge. Apologies; I’ve taken medicine and only pray for a deep sleep tonight, hoping things will improve by tomorrow.

“First, find a place near the mountains and water. Set up camp and wait for the main force to arrive and rendezvous. Then we travel together.” Jun Mo Xie issued the calm order. Since they were nearing Blood Soul Manor, Jun Mo Xie certainly wasn't going to rush ahead like a fool looking for a beating.

If they had to go to their doom, they would all go together.

If conditions allowed, Young Master Jun would much prefer to lurk in the shadows and pick up scraps. After all, in his heart, Blood Soul Manor was not a respectable establishment. Even if everyone in Blood Soul Manor was wiped out, Young Master Jun wouldn’t feel even a shred of sorrow!

Besides, although this matter has now spun beyond anyone's control, I am the progenitor. The Heavenly Punishment’s torrent of Xuan Beasts, in a way, belonged to my side—at least as allies.

Wang Dong dispatched eight men, each to scout in one of eight directions for a suitable camping location. Finally, they settled on a perfect spot. Jun Mo Xie, Guan Qinghan, and Dugu Xiaoyi inspected it and immediately loved the location.

It was a gentle slope.

In front of the slope lay an open clearing, surrounded by dense woods. Just around one bend was the official road; posting a single scout here would give a clear view of every situation.

Behind the slope came the soft sound of water. Circling around, they discovered a stream, neither too large nor too small. It wound down from the mountain, its water so clear you could see the bottom. Not far downstream, around another bend, was a crystal-clear pool.

Upon seeing this pool, both Dugu Xiaoyi and Guan Qinghan felt a surge of excitement.

Girls are naturally concerned with cleanliness. During the arduous journey so far, they had stuck to military routes, offering no suitable opportunity to properly clean themselves. Even when forced to camp in the wilderness overnight, at most they could manage a quick wash—certainly nothing like the indulgent soak in a large tub of hot, fragrant water they enjoyed at home. Seeing this clear pool, Dugu Xiaoyi felt an immediate itch all over her body.

Guan Qinghan also eyed the pool with interest. However, she considered things more deeply. She understood her young brother-in-law’s character perhaps too well; it certainly wasn't impeccable. If she and Sister Xiaoyi bathed here, he might sneak a peek. She absolutely had to devise a way to ensure he wouldn't, otherwise, wouldn’t they be mortified to death?

Seeing the pool, Jun Mo Xie cleared his throat with an air of propriety, turned his head away, and pretended not to notice.

Along the way, Jun Mo Xie and his group frequently saw bands of Xuan practitioners from the Jianghu flash past them, all rushing south to provide aid. Yet, the attitude of these "comrades" toward Jun Mo Xie's detachment was unanimous: either they dismissed them outright or gave them a fleeting sidelong glance before moving on.

Clearly, the military held no status in the eyes of these Xuan practitioners. Naturally, Jun Mo Xie cared even less about them.

However, over the past few days, the number of Xuan practitioners they encountered had been steadily decreasing, making the road feel somewhat desolate.

Beyond this patch of woods lay a fork in the road, stretching windingly into the distance. Every path was empty, showing no sign of human life. Looking up at the sky, far removed from the cities, the blue was exceptionally clear.

While the two hundred-plus guards were setting up camp, Jun Mo Xie, Guan Qinghan, and the others walked toward the valley mouth, seeking refuge from the intense heat of the construction site.

They weren't the only ones out for fresh air; four others followed them—the Captain and Vice-Captain of the Remnant Sky and Soul Devourer squads.

Jun Mo Xie took a long, slow breath, sensing the surrounding emptiness, the deep quiet of the vast sky, and the chirping of insects amidst the trees. He felt his emotions drifting—perhaps chaotic, perhaps incredibly calm; his thoughts seemed complex, yet perhaps utterly simple. Finally, a wave of bewilderment washed over him.

Even a fleeting moment of confusion could be a fatal flaw for an assassin, and even a top-tier killer like the Great Assassin Jun was not exempt. But at this moment, the Great Assassin was genuinely lost, and it lasted for more than a moment...

Fate plays cruel tricks, transplanting a soul that utterly did not belong in this world into this one. It has been nearly half a year since then. Every day has been filled with the same kind of struggle as in his past life, yet he has expended far more mental energy than physical effort. There have been many instances of feigning idiocy, while the iron-blooded methods he excels at have rarely been employed.

In the blink of an eye, half a year has passed, still immersed in these utterly tedious affairs. So, what did I come here for?

Is it to dominate the world? To secure titles and prosperity for generations? Or perhaps just to wander freely throughout my life? What exactly is it for?

Jun Mo Xie clasped his hands behind his back and walked slowly forward, neither fast nor slow. But in the eyes of the six following him, there was nothing but astonishment! The Jun Mo Xie before them had shed the frivolous, dissolute countenance he usually wore. His entire demeanor had undergone a fundamental transformation; he seemed like an ascetic, detached from the mundane world. Although they clearly saw his feet treading firmly on the ground, they distinctly felt that every step he took was a stroll into another temporal space!

Another time, another space—somewhere profoundly mystical unknown to them.

In that moment, the group was struck by an intense feeling of unfathomable mystery: this enigmatic young master seemed... utterly not of this world, or perhaps he had never belonged here at all! This strange sensation, while utterly absurd, was undeniably real.

He walked step by step, yet it seemed as though everything in this world—including the people beside him, the earth beneath his feet, the trees flanking them, the dust motes in the air—had nothing to do with him.

Everything continued to coexist harmoniously. The only dissonance was the living, breathing man before their eyes.

It seemed as though, between heaven and earth, he alone existed, separate and singular, neither entangled with nor merged into anything. Jun Mo Xie—this person—was actually an independent entity!

Yet, this feeling was not the loneliness of being too high up! It was... transcendence! And an endless, bleak aura of ruthless killing intent!

Transcendently separate from all things, yet able to intervene at any moment!

Heaven and earth are not me, I am not heaven and earth; heaven and earth possess me, and I am entirely within heaven and earth!

Guan Qinghan and Dugu Xiaoyi had almost forgotten how to walk, staring blankly at the figure ahead. Only one thought occupied their minds: Could this be his true self?

After a long, long pause, Dugu Xiaoyi finally couldn't resist approaching Jun Mo Xie to speak. She suddenly felt a strange fear of this growing, sharp distance between them. But Guan Qinghan quickly pulled her back, stopping her.

Although Guan Qinghan didn't understand what Jun Mo Xie was doing or why he was acting this way, she keenly sensed that Jun Mo Xie, in this state, could not be disturbed, perhaps not even by the slightest sound, lest it interrupt this transcendent anomaly.

Hoo.

Jun Mo Xie suddenly exhaled a long breath, stopped walking, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked up at the sky, watching the white clouds drift lazily by. He shook his head with a bitter smile and stood still, feeling his mind completely empty, clear, pristine, and infinitely illuminated.

No thought, no desire, unattached to the dust.

His entire being seemed to suddenly return from the ethereal to reality. Jun Mo Xie clearly felt that while his spiritual power had advanced significantly, he had not broken through the bottleneck he was facing. It felt as though an indistinct, hazy veil was obstructing his vision, blurring everything. If he could break through this layer, his entire spiritual consciousness would surely leap forward in a great stride.

And the source of this obstruction, Jun Mo Xie could vaguely sense.

It came from within his own heart.

“Mo Xie, just now... what were you thinking about?” Guan Qinghan’s voice was still cool, but Jun Mo Xie clearly discerned an added layer of concern and care in it.

Guan Qinghan, being exceptionally intelligent, had felt the moment Jun Mo Xie fell into that wondrous state that he was on the verge of an unexpected breakthrough at a critical juncture. But seeing him remain immersed for a period before suddenly seeming like an immortal about to ascend who had been violently struck back to the mortal realm—the contrast between the two states was overwhelmingly obvious—she finally couldn't hold back the question.

“I was thinking about...” Jun Mo Xie’s state of mind was still somewhat hazy, as if one foot remained in that miraculous state. He murmured languidly, “What is the purpose of my life? Or rather, why exactly did I come here? Or... what is my goal? What can I do? And what can I achieve?”

“A goal?” Guan Qinghan hesitated. “Doesn't everyone who lives need a goal?” But she secretly asked herself: Then why do I live? Where is my goal?

This sudden thought brought a touch of melancholy to Guan Qinghan: My little brother-in-law must have his goals, but do I still have the right to pursue any goal? Do I truly have that qualification?

“Yes, there should be a goal; everyone should have one. I once held the idea of single-handedly bringing clear skies back to the realm; to use slaughter and iron will to rectify what I perceived as the dirty human world, achieving the age of peace and prosperity that I longed for, at least in my view, so that there wouldn't be so many injustices...” Jun Mo Xie smiled with profound bitterness.

“I never paid heed to others' perceptions, stubbornly following my own accustomed ways to do what I believed was right. I acted as I pleased, knowing full well it was like pouring water from a broken cup to fill the sea, yet my original intention never wavered! But... coming here, I have become lost—truly lost.”

Guan Qinghan naturally didn't understand what Jun Mo Xie meant by ‘pouring water to fill the sea,’ nor did she grasp what ‘coming here’ implied. But she could hear the deep sense of despondency in Jun Mo Xie’s voice.

This stirred a faint, subtle pain in her usually tranquil heart.

It was like watching a warrior who never admitted defeat, having exhausted every ounce of his strength and ability throughout his entire life, suddenly realizing that the enemy lying before him was still the entire world—an enemy impossible to defeat, thwart, or destroy...

The efforts and actions she had persisted in throughout her life were nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot, a butterfly trying to shake a tree. That helpless despair and bitter unwillingness were beyond words.

After contemplating for a moment, Guan Qinghan softly consoled him, “What one lives for, truly, is hard to define. For us women, it is simply managing the household and raising children, watching the days pass, the years age us, without feeling too much loss. I believe the vast majority of women in this world are like this. Moreover, countless women find happiness and contentment in this plain, predictable life. As for you men, especially those with power, strength, and capability, you all strive for fame, achievement, and dominance over a region, constantly competing and fighting. Even the most mediocre townsfolk strive for better clothing, food, shelter, and transport, trying to become what they consider ‘a cut above the rest’ in their eyes.”

As she spoke, Jun Mo Xie had turned around at some point, his bright eyes fixed on her. There was none of his usual flirtatiousness in his gaze, not even his habitual look of stunned admiration. There was only profound calmness, deep contemplation, and a flicker of responsive emotion.

In this near-feudal society, finding a woman as insightful as Guan Qinghan was rare. This surprised Jun Mo Xie slightly.

“Actually,” Guan Qinghan continued, her eyes showing confusion, yet also determination, and even a touch of disdain, “most men in this world live too exhaustingly. And it isn't necessarily truly worth it.” It seemed that the so-called pursuits of men in this world were barely worth mentioning in her eyes.

“Then, what do you think this world is for? Or rather, what should it be for?” Jun Mo Xie mused deeply.

“I don't know what others live for, nor do I have the right to speak for others, but I know myself,” Guan Qinghan slowly replied, her eyes shining brightly. “I, Guan Qinghan, am merely a weak woman, and as fate would have it, I probably have no right to pursue the life of a wife and mother. All I ask now is... if my heart finds peace, then this life is enough!”

Yes, I, Guan Qinghan, only seek peace in my heart.

Back then, I was betrothed to Jun Moyou for the sake of my family. Although I had never met him, for the sake of my family and parents, I had no choice.

Because, at that time, I was willing to sacrifice for my parents.

Therefore, my heart was at ease.

From beginning to end, I only met Jun Moyou twice. Although no real affection developed, I knew then that Jun Moyou was truly a man of iron backbone, a true hero among men! Furthermore, since the engagement was made, I accepted my fate.

When Moyou later died in battle, I felt that such a fine man deserved my devotion.

So, I was willing to devote myself to Jun Moyou, this hero of the empire, and live in the Jun family, claiming the title of his widow. On one hand, it was to escape my own family, which had grown disheartened at the time; but the most important reason was Jun Moyou’s heroic spirit. It made me, Guan Qinghan, feel that if I dissolved the engagement, I would be betraying my own conscience!

In fact, my choice was not wrong. At that time, though solitary and utterly lonely,

My heart was at profound peace.

This time, to ensure the safe return of Uncle Jun Wuyi and nephew Jun Mo Xie to their homeland, I ventured south to Tiannan with my frail body, prepared to undertake hardship—at any cost... to ensure that Jun Mo Xie and his uncle could return safely to the North. I was prepared to sacrifice myself for these two people.

This, too, was simply for the peace of my heart!

Beyond this, I desire nothing else! Nothing more!

The Jun family treated me with the affection of kin. If I watched Jun Wuyi and Jun Mo Xie perish because of me, would I, Guan Qinghan, not be worse than a brute?

Furthermore, there was a very private reason... Jun Mo Xie seems to harbor feelings for me. I could remain cold as ice and indifferent before, but lately, I’ve noticed faint signs of my composure slipping, especially when Jun Mo Xie recently helped me break through my limits and raise my Xuan Qi cultivation. The almost imperceptible contact between our skin during that moment stirred countless feelings in my dreams at night. These recent events deeply frighten Guan Qinghan. What if...

Therefore, it is best to use this trip to Tiannan to bring everything to an end. To sever the entanglements of the mortal world, repay the deep kindness of the Jun family with my pure and chaste body, and cut off my nephew’s persistent devotion!

With all these things severed, my heart will naturally find peace!

The Jun family’s reputation remains untarnished, the Guan family’s honor unsullied. Both families’ prestige remains high, and then I will be gone. As for myself... I need not consider that!

“Excellent! Well said! Perfectly said! Hahahaha!” Beside him, Jun Mo Xie suddenly burst into wild laughter. “To only seek peace in one’s heart! Who cares about right and wrong! Haha, people often say, one should seek peace in their heart and righteousness in their deeds; but who knows that peace in the heart and righteousness are fundamentally contradictory!”

“So whether killing or saving, just seek peace in your heart, and you will not have lived this tumultuous mortal life in vain! I, Jun Mo Xie, will not live for the nation, nor for the people, but for what my heart yearns for and where my heart finds peace! So long as I can face my own heart, that is enough! What peace and prosperity for the nation, what grand affairs of the world—that’s all bullshit!”

“In this life, I will act as I please, and I shall be unrestrained! No one shall dictate my thoughts, and no one shall bind my actions! The world’s praise or slander, the cold stares of others—what do they have to do with me? According to my true nature, I shall pursue gratification and settle scores; according to my own will, I shall roam the world! I only seek to have no regrets in my heart, and that is enough to stand tall! This life is fulfilled!”

Jun Mo Xie laughed heartily, feeling immense relief as Guan Qinghan inadvertently untied the knot in his heart.

Young Master Jun was feeling exhilarated, but Guan Qinghan and Dugu Xiaoyi on the side were utterly shocked. Even the four squad leaders behind them—Remnant Sky and Soul Devourer—clearly felt the transformation in Jun Mo Xie.

The Jun Mo Xie before them seemed to have completed an astonishing evolution in an instant!

From a somewhat flashy and dissolute young master of a noble family, he suddenly became a transcendent, secluded master. This change was undoubtedly abrupt, but it was followed by an even more sudden metamorphosis: from a detached master, he transformed into someone sharp, cold, and overwhelmingly powerful!

At that moment, he was like a keen sword just drawn from its scabbard, standing proud between heaven and earth, seemingly capable of reflecting all the rays of light. Though heaven and earth were vast, they could no longer bind him!

The inexplicable bewilderment in Jun Mo Xie’s chest vanished completely. He felt refreshed, and without conscious effort, his state of mind cultivation took another giant step forward.

Clear and comprehensive, untethered by material things.

How could my current life be satisfied with the status quo, trapped and slumbering in the Tianxiang residence?

I must roam the Jianghu, travel the world with my sword, look down upon all the heroes of the world, reach the pinnacle, and ask who reigns supreme?

Though I do not seek to dominate the world, no single person in this world shall dare to dictate my actions, dare to oppose me, or dare to harm my family!

My goal is finally clear!

I want the Jun family to become an existence that far surpasses Fengxue Yincheng and Blood Soul Manor! To become the absolute peak existence in this human world!

Even emperors, princes, or supreme beings shall not dare to meet my gaze directly!

And all of this is destined to be accumulated through countless drops of blood!

But, my heart finds peace in this!

This is where the direction of my life’s effort lies! I have... no regrets!

A hint of cold amusement curved Jun Mo Xie’s lips. He whispered softly, “Since that is the case, my journey of slaughter shall begin here in Tiannan!” An inexhaustible killing intent suddenly erupted from him, swirling and dancing, shooting straight towards the heavens!

This peerless aura stirred the robes of the six people beside him, causing them to flutter wildly. The late autumn leaves, already clinging on for dear life, were forced off their branches by the force of his heaven-piercing killing intent, spinning down with the wind.

It was as if a torrential rain of yellow leaves had fallen!

A few small birds left their branches, chirped mournfully twice after fluttering their wings a couple of times, and then dropped lifelessly to the ground, struck by the killing energy.

Far away, three figures rapidly traversing the mountain forest suddenly halted, looking toward this direction with solemn expressions. One of them said gravely, “What terrifying killing intent! Who is over there?”

The two beside him also looked serious, gazing from a distance. One of them mused, “Could it be... Chu Qi Hun has arrived?”

“That’s unlikely! While Chu Qihun certainly possesses murderous intent, his aura is exquisitely sharp and highly concentrated. If it were truly Chu Qihun, the aggression would be single-minded, directed straight ahead. But this person’s killing intent is vast, overwhelming the heavens themselves! Comparing the two, they are entirely different! We can be certain this isn't Chu Qihun, yet this person’s killing aura is absolutely no less than that of the Assassin Supreme, Chu Qihun! Perhaps it even surpasses it!”

“Whoever it is, let’s go take a look!” suggested another. “Even if the Assassin Supreme Chu Qihun is there, the three of us aren't necessarily afraid of him!”

“Agreed!” The leading black-bearded middle-aged man paused in thought, then decisively consented, his voice ringing with bold spirit:

“Indeed! When have the Three Swords of the East ever feared anyone? Even if Chu Qihun were present, are we supposed to tremble?”

“That’s right, Big Brother; word is that the third master of the Jun family is leading this time—surely we should...” one of the short, sturdy men ventured tentatively.

“Absolutely not! Mother still hasn't let go of that incident from years ago; it caused her injury, leading to blocked meridians! If it weren't for the Jun family, would she suffer like this? My little sister has been in a deep slumber for ten years, almost devoid of life force. What has all this been for? This time, if Jun Wuyi has the ability, he can return alive; if he doesn't, he can just die here—it has nothing to do with us!” The black-bearded man’s thick brows furrowed in anger as they galloped forward.

“But, even so…” the shorter middle-aged man pressed, unwilling to let the matter drop, “Jun Moxie is our nephew, our own blood! Even Mother once made pronouncements. Are you truly unmoved?”

“A twisted fate!” The black-bearded man sighed deeply into the wind, declaring firmly: “Of course, I won't allow anything to happen to Jun Moxie, but the Jun family’s affairs are none of our concern! I also know that Jun Wuyi is a fine man, truly commendable, but if it weren't for him, my brother-in-law and my two nephews wouldn't have met their fate! So, let’s drop this subject!”

The man sighed, and the three changed direction. They spoke no more, shooting forward like meteors toward the source of the killing aura, speeding as if pulled by an invisible tether. (To be continued)