Chapter 2645 Grateful Dou Qi and Doumen
Chapter 2645 Grateful Dou Qi and Doumen
With Chiji Ou out of the fight, Teng Yi and his minions were utterly shocked.
They didn't breathe for several seconds, their eyes darting between Chiji Ou's crumpled form and Lin Mu's unyielding stance. The ease with which Lin Mu had defeated the young master was nothing short of terrifying. What made it even more chilling was the realization that Lin Mu didn't have so much as a scratch on him.
What caught their attention next was even more unsettling—the unmistakable Immortal Qi fluctuations now radiating from Lin Mu. His cultivation base was revealed to be at the Third Tribulation Stage of the Immortal Realm, the same level as Teng Yi. Yet, Lin Mu had effortlessly overpowered Chiji Ou, an Inner Disciple of the River Bending Axe Sect, who stood at the Fourth Tribulation Stage.
"He defeated Young Master Chiji Ou, someone above his cultivation level, so easily… Who is he?" whispered one of Teng Yi's subordinates, their voices trembling with fear.
'This man can't be just an itinerant cultivator,' Teng Yi thought, his mind racing. 'He must be a genius from a hidden clan or a prestigious Immortal Sect!'
Lin Mu's voice broke through their chaotic thoughts like a cold blade.
"Now then... will you leave peacefully, or do I need to teach you the same lesson?" His calm yet commanding tone made Teng Yi shudder involuntarily.
"Damn you! You'll pay for this!" Teng Yi spat, his face contorted in fury. Yet, his actions betrayed his words as he turned and began retreating at full speed.
His subordinates scrambled to pick up Chiji Ou's unconscious form, hastily feeding him a couple of healing pills before fleeing in panic. Teng Yi led the way, putting as much distance as he could between himself and the mysterious Lin Mu.
Once they had gone, Lin Mu descended gracefully to the ground, his expression neutral but his senses still alert.
Doumen, visibly relieved, approached him cautiously.
"Are you unharmed, Sir?" the old man asked, his voice tinged with concern. "You took a direct hit…"
With a soft shun, Lin Mu's armor dissolved into a wave of searing energy before fading entirely. His unharmed form stood revealed, his robes pristine, not a speck of dirt marring their immaculate fabric.
"I'm fine," Lin Mu said simply.
Dou Qi walked a slow circle around Lin Mu, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Not even a scratch… Wow," she murmured, awe evident in her voice.
"Sir, thank you for your help." Doumen bowed deeply, his gratitude genuine. "If not for you, things could have turned much worse."
"Yes, thank you so much," Dou Qi chimed in, before realizing something. "Oh… we don't even know your name."
"Lin Mu," he replied with a small nod. "I am Lin Mu."
"Lin? There's no clan with that name around here," Dou Qi said, tilting her head in confusion.
"As I mentioned, I'm not from any clan. I'm not even from this world," Lin Mu reiterated.
Doumen nodded thoughtfully. "You might be fortunate because of that, Sir Lin Mu. The Teng Clan and Chiji Ou won't have as much leverage against you."
"Why did they do this in the first place?" Lin Mu asked, his tone genuinely puzzled.
"That Teng Yi has been harassing my granddaughter for over a year now," Doumen explained with a weary sigh. "He's been persistent, but until now, we've managed to fend him off. It seems he's grown more reckless by involving Chiji Ou."
"And the River Bending Axe Sect tolerates this kind of behavior?" Lin Mu asked, his frown deepening. "Shouldn't they be a righteous sect? Their members reflect their reputation."
Doumen sighed again, shaking his head. "The sect has been a mystery for the last two thousand years. They closed their gates entirely during that time and only reopened a few months ago. Since then, their influence in the city has waned, and perhaps they're trying to assert dominance once more."
"All the disciples were called back for two thousand years?" Lin Mu asked, raising a brow.
"Yes. Even the supply chains to the sect were halted," Doumen replied.
"What could make a sect shut itself off so completely?" Lin Mu mused, his curiosity piqued.
"That's beyond what common folk like us would know, Sir," Doumen admitted.
"And the Teng Clan?" Lin Mu continued. "Do they condone Teng Yi's actions?"
"The Teng Clan has always been… difficult," Doumen said carefully. "Other clans and city guards kept them in check until recently. But their new patriarch, Teng Zhu—Teng Yi's father—has been more ambitious. The clan's influence is growing, and they've been aggressively expanding their businesses."
"What's driving this sudden rise?" Lin Mu asked.
"There's talk of an Immortal Stone mine. The Teng Clan recently acquired mining rights, granted by none other than the River Bending Axe Sect," Doumen revealed.
Lin Mu's eyes narrowed. "So the sect is involved after all."
Doumen nodded. "It's only a rumor, but if you're curious, the local taverns are brimming with gossip. You might find more there."
"I'll consider it," Lin Mu said, sensing a group of people approaching.
Moments later, a squad of armored guards arrived, their spears glinting under the sunlight. The leader, a tall man with a stern expression, stepped forward.
"What happened here?" the guard demanded, his tone sharp.
"Brother Ru!" Dou Qi cried, relief flooding her face.
"Little Qi?" the guard said, his tone softening. "Grandpa Doumen, are you all right? We heard reports of a fight and came as quickly as we could."
Doumen smiled faintly, though his face still showed traces of fatigue. "We're safe now, thanks to Sir Lin Mu."
Guard Ru turned to Lin Mu, his sharp gaze scrutinizing the stranger. "Sir Lin Mu, is it? It seems we owe you thanks for protecting my family."
Lin Mu nodded. "They were in trouble. I did what anyone should do."
"Can you tell me what happened in detail? I'll file the report." Guard Ru said.
"It's like this." Doumen gave a proper account of it all, making the guard become angry.
"Damn that Teng Yi!"