Chapter 75 – I’m Going on Strike

For the first time leaving the capital, Mu Nanjin was brimming with excitement. Though her face remained calm and composed, her heart was practically singing with joy.

【Finally out of the capital! I’m free!】

【I’m going to taste every delicacy under heaven and see every mountain and river there is!】

The others couldn’t help but be affected by her cheerful mood, though none had the heart to shatter her illusions.

After all, they were heading out to suppress bandits, hardly a leisurely sightseeing trip.

【Uh… aren’t we going a bit too fast?】

【The scenery over there looks beautiful! Let’s go take a look!】

【Fine, if you all won’t go, I’ll go myself.】

Mu Nanjin slowed her horse to a trot.

At once, Captain Liu turned and roared, “Mu Nanjin! Keep up!”

【Eh? Does this Captain Liu have eyes growing out of the back of his head? I only slowed down a little and he caught me!】

【I finally got a chance to come out, and you all just want to rush. Hmph, I’m going on strike!】

Kan Chaoyan raised his voice and said, “We’ll stop to rest in one hour.”

【Now that’s what I call a comrade who understands me. Hehe.】

Kan Chaoyan: “…”

An hour later, they picked a scenic spot by the hills and streams to have lunch.

When Mu Nanjin saw everyone pulling dry rations from their packs, she instantly deflated.

【Wait, shouldn’t we be roasting meat out here? Why is everyone eating dry rations?】

Seeing her sitting idle, Captain Liu frowned. “Mu Nanjin, didn’t you bring any food?”

Everyone turned to look at her.

Mu Nanjin was silent for a moment before answering, “I did.”

“Then why aren’t you eating it?”

She slowly opened her pack, which was three times larger than anyone else’s, and took out a pile of seasonings.

Everyone: “…”

“You came out carrying that instead of food?”

Captain Liu was speechless.

【Aren’t we supposed to hunt for fresh game when we’re out in the wild?】

“I’ll be right back.”

Mu Nanjin started walking toward the forest.

Captain Liu quickly called out, “Where are you going? This is the wilderness. You can’t just wander off!”

Mu Nanjin replied calmly, “Answering nature’s call.”

Captain Liu’s warning caught in his throat.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Mu Nanjin returned, dragging behind her a massive wild boar. She dumped it right in front of Captain Liu. “I want to eat this.”

Everyone: “…”

Captain Liu tried reasoning patiently. “Let’s eat dry rations for now. We’ll roast it tonight.”

“No.”

Mu Nanjin’s tone left no room for argument.

And so, everyone spent an entire hour roasting the wild boar for her.

Only after she was happily eating her fill did they resume their journey, arriving at Shidong Town a full hour later than planned.

Because their group was large, they split up to rest so as not to attract attention.

Captain Liu lowered his voice and said to Mu Nanjin, “Mu Nanjin, we’re in a hurry. No roasted meat for lunch tomorrow, understood?”

“Oh.”

Her answer was perfunctory.

【Had roasted boar today… tomorrow I want roast pheasant.】

Captain Liu: “…”

Clearly, she hadn’t taken his words to heart at all.

Mu Nanjin followed Kan Chaoyan and the others into the inn.

The shopkeeper and the waiter, seeing so many guests enter, quickly greeted them with smiles. “Honored sirs, will you be lodging or dining?”

“Both,” Captain Liu replied, negotiating the rooms with the shopkeeper.

Mu Nanjin looked around the hall and noticed a group of martial artists eyeing them curiously.

Since the Jinyiwei were all dressed in plain clothes, the others didn’t recognize their identities.

【Wow! Real martial artists! This is the first time I’ve seen genuine people from the pugilist world!】

【They look so free and unrestrained… maybe I should quit the Jinyiwei and go roam the jianghu with them!】

The Jinyiwei: “…”

Mu Nanjin sat at a table next to the martial artists.

Seeing that she and her group bore no hostility or killing intent, the martial artists ignored them and continued their conversation.

“Did you hear? The Poison Doctor’s child isn’t actually the Immortal Doctor’s. He’s been raising another man’s child for twenty years!”

“Of course we heard! The Poison Doctor and the Immortal Doctor even fought over it.”

“Who would have thought that the pair everyone admired as celestial lovers would turn into bitter enemies.”

Everyone sighed.

“Fake.”

A clear female voice suddenly cut in.

“What do you mean, fake?”

The martial artists turned toward the only woman among them.

Su Mo quickly said, “I didn’t say that.”

“Then who did?”

Su Mo tilted her chin toward Mu Nanjin. “She did.”

Her companion Jian Piao frowned at Mu Nanjin. “Little girl, were you the one who said it’s fake?”

Mu Nanjin nodded.

“So you mean the rumor about the Poison Doctor’s child not being the Immortal Doctor’s is false?”

Mu Nanjin nodded again. “It’s fake. The rumor was spread by the head of the Medicine Manor because he resented the Immortal Doctor for refusing to treat his child. The Poison Doctor and the Immortal Doctor were never the perfect couple you think. They have long wanted to part ways. The Immortal Doctor wanted to divorce the Poison Doctor, but since the latter was skilled in poisons, he didn’t dare bring it up. Now that the rumor is spreading, it gave him the perfect excuse to break things off.”

Su Mo asked, “How can you be so sure it’s fake?”

“If you want to know, tell the Medicine Manor’s master that the Immortal Doctor wanted to leave the Poison Doctor long ago. Once he learns the truth, he’ll admit he started the rumor himself.”

Everyone: “…”

Su Mo studied her. Mu Nanjin didn’t look like she was lying. “You seem to know quite a lot, little girl. Then do you know about the stolen Divine Sword from the Sword-Burial Manor?”

Mu Nanjin nodded.

Su Mo’s eyes lit up. “Everyone says the thief known as the Thousand-Handed Bandit stole it. Is that true?”

Mu Nanjin shook her head. “No. The thief was the manor lord himself.”

“What?! The manor lord of Sword-Burial Manor? You mean he stole his own sword?”

Everyone stared at her in disbelief.

Jian Piao asked gravely, “Do you have proof?”

“He’s holding the Divine Sword right now.”

Jian Piao snapped, “That’s nonsense! The Divine Sword was stolen just last month, but the lord’s sword has been with him for thirty years. How could it be the same? Don’t slander him without proof!”

Mu Nanjin countered calmly, “Have you seen the Divine Sword yourself?”

Jian Piao paused. “No.”

“Then how do you know the sword at the manor isn’t the Divine Sword?”

He gritted his teeth. “My senior brother has seen it. The sword in the lord’s hand isn’t it.”

“The real Divine Sword was switched thirty years ago. Your senior brother only entered the sect after that. What he saw was already a fake. How could he tell the difference?”

“This…” Jian Piao was speechless. “Then why would the manor lord steal his own sword?”

“The manor only changed its name to Sword-Burial Manor after the Divine Sword descended from the heavens. But the sword never truly belonged to the manor. It was meant for whoever was destined for it. That person could be someone from the manor or someone else entirely. The lord couldn’t bear to let it go, so he took it for himself. But since he wasn’t the chosen one, it’s just an ordinary sword in his hands.”

“Even so, it’s tougher and sharper than any listed famous sword. The lord couldn’t part with it, so he staged the theft himself. The manor elders turned a blind eye because they wanted the sword for their own clan.”

“To verify if it’s truly the Divine Sword, drip a drop of blood on it. If it hums and follows you, it’s yours. If not, it’ll simply quiet down again.”

Jian Piao: “…”

Feng Mo, another martial artist, said, “If you doubt her, go back and try it yourself.”

Jian Piao stayed silent, but remembered her words.

Just then, Kan Chaoyan strode over and said sternly, “Mu girl, when traveling, talk less. Don’t stir up unnecessary trouble.”

Mu Nanjin: “…”

【But isn’t stirring up trouble what makes traveling exciting?】

【If all we do is rush on the road, how boring is that?】

The Jinyiwei: “…”

Su Mo, realizing Mu Nanjin was easy to draw into conversation, smiled. “Little girl, which sect are you from?”

Kan Chaoyan shot her a cold look.

Mu Nanjin replied seriously, “We’re from the Jinyi Sect.”

The Jinyiwei: “…”

Did she just say that out loud? Was she trying to blow their cover?

“Jinyi Sect?” Su Mo frowned. “Never heard of that one.”

Her companions agreed. It sounded like a small, unknown sect. Yet the aura from Mu Nanjin’s group was anything but small.

Su Mo asked again, “Who’s your sect master?”

Mu Nanjin said earnestly, “He’s called Commander.”

“Co… Commander?” Su Mo repeated blankly, not connecting the dots. “What a cute name! Is your master a young lady?”

“He’s a man.”

Su Mo: “…”

A man named Commander?

“Where are you headed, little girl?”

Kan Chaoyan set his teacup down. “Miss, that’s enough.”

Su Mo smiled lightly. “I’m just chatting. Right, little girl?”

Mu Nanjin nodded.

Kan Chaoyan: “…”

This girl really thought they didn’t have enough trouble already.

Captain Liu came over, exasperated. “And you still nod! Careful she sells you off and you thank her for it.”

Mu Nanjin looked curiously at Su Mo’s friendly smile. “Miss, what’s your name?”

Su Mo replied readily, “Su Mo.”

“Oh, from the Six Directions Sect,” Mu Nanjin said, turning to Captain Liu. “If she sells me, you all can go there to get me back.”

Captain Liu nearly spat blood. “We can’t beat the Six Directions Sect. How would we get you back?”

“Commander can. Commander will save me.”

Captain Liu: “…”

Su Mo blinked. “How did you know I’m from the Six Directions Sect?”

Kan Chaoyan said calmly, “Mu girl, go upstairs and pick any room you like.”

“Oh.”

Mu Nanjin stood up and headed upstairs.

Su Mo started to follow, but Kan Chaoyan plucked a chopstick from the holder and flicked it toward her back.

She couldn’t dodge. The strike froze her in place.

“Sir,” Su Mo protested stiffly, “I was just going back to my room. You’re not seriously stopping me, are you?”

Kan Chaoyan replied evenly, “Apologies, miss. Please wait until we’ve finished our meal.”

“…”

Su Mo called to her companions, “Well? Don’t just stand there. Come unseal me!”

They started to move, but the other Captains immediately blocked their way, making it clear no one would be unsealing her anytime soon.

Outnumbered, the martial artists dared not act rashly.

“Little gi—” Su Mo tried to shout toward Mu Nanjin upstairs, but Kan Chaoyan flicked a finger, sealing her mute acupoint.

She almost exploded in fury.

Mu Nanjin came back downstairs after choosing her room, completely ignoring Su Mo’s frozen state. After eating, she went upstairs to rest.

Kan Chaoyan kept his word. After the meal, he released Su Mo’s acupoints.

Her companions immediately surrounded her.

Jian Piao asked with concern, “Lady Su, are you all right?”

Su Mo rubbed her stiff limbs. “I’m fine.”

“They’re not people we can afford to provoke. Best we stay out of their way.”

“I was only curious about their identities, especially that little girl. She seems to know a great deal.”

Jian Piao frowned. “I just hope what she said isn’t true.”

Their companion Ye Song added, “I suspect they’re Jinyiwei.”

If that were true, they definitely couldn’t afford to offend them.

“Jinyi Sect… Jinyiwei?” Su Mo froze as realization struck. “Wait, that ‘Commander’ she mentioned. She meant the Jinyiwei’s Commander! Heaven help us, even the Martial Alliance Leader wouldn’t dare provoke him. And that little girl… who in the world is she, to have the Commander himself protect her?”

“Maybe she’s a princess,” Ye Song murmured, eyes glinting as though plotting something.

Su Mo shook her head. “Judging from how they treat her, she doesn’t seem like one. Forget it. Whoever she is, it’s none of our business. Let’s rest.”

The next morning, before dawn, Mu Nanjin was woken up.

With her hair a wild mess, she shuffled out of her room.

Captain Liu’s eyes widened. “You didn’t even comb your hair before coming out?”

Mu Nanjin yawned. “Don’t know how.”

Captain Liu: “…”

What kind of ancestor had they brought along this time?

“We’re all men. We can’t comb your hair. Even if we could, we wouldn’t.”

“Oh.” Mu Nanjin brushed past him indifferently and sat before Kan Chaoyan.

He looked at her tangled hair, speechless. “At least tie it in a ponytail.”

“It’s knotted. Can’t comb it.”

Mu Nanjin unsheathed Captain Liu’s sword and aimed it at her hair.

“Mu Nanjin, what are you doing?!”

Both Captain Liu and Kan Chaoyan shouted at once.

“Cutting it,” she replied matter-of-factly.

Captain Liu snapped, “Your body and hair are gifts from your parents! How can you cut it just because you can’t comb it?!”

Mu Nanjin: “…”

“I can comb it for her.”

The voice came from upstairs. Su Mo, holding a comb, descended with Jian Piao and Ye Song.

Mu Nanjin nodded. “All right.”

Kan Chaoyan and Captain Liu both looked at Su Mo with extreme caution.

Su Mo smiled unconcernedly. “Such beautiful hair. It would be a shame to cut it short.”

Mu Nanjin said seriously, “Short hair’s more convenient.”

Captain Liu grumbled, “Then shave it all off. You’ll save even more trouble.”

Mu Nanjin nodded thoughtfully. “That’s an option.”

Captain Liu: “…”

Just then, a dagger flashed and pressed coldly against Mu Nanjin’s neck.