Martial Star Ocean - Chapter 15 I Nearly Forgot Something Importan

Chapter 15 – I Nearly Forgot Something Important

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Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing walked forwards with lively steps. They were in extremely good moods.

The fear and awe that grew in their hearts as they surveyed the horror and destruction left behind by the battle was all swept away.

No matter how powerful a martial arts master, even if they were the sect masters of the nine divine sects, although they might command awe and dread while they were alive, they lost all prestige once they died. As they imagined that Li Mu died inside the cave, the two county heads felt as good as if they were eating icy cold watermelons beneath the shade of trees on a sweltering hot day.

From ahead, the cries of the young attendant Qing Feng intermittently passed out.

“Wuhuhu, Sir…”

The weeping wails wrenched at the heart.

But to Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing’s ears, these sounds were like a dazzling symphony of nature.

Their steps quickened.

“Huh? There seems to be some fragrance…”

“Yes, what is that smell? It’s so nice.”

Several county guards discussed in low whispers.

Finally, the group reached the depths of the rock cave. This was the deepest core position of the Divine Orchard Gang headquarters, and also where the great open courtyard was.

Zhou Wu and Zheng Long hastened their steps, almost running into the hall of the cave.

However –

“This…”

“What?”

As these two saw the sight before them, their eyes widened. They stared helplessly on, as if they had frozen where they were.

Looking into the great hall of the stone cave, they saw that the Li Mu who should have died hadn’t died at all. Rather, he was overflowing with exuberant energy as he sat on a stone chair, eating barbecue.

Yes, that was right – he was eating barbecue.

Li Mu had taken off the top half of his daoist robes, revealing his solid arms and tight chest and abs. His skin shined like white jade and a barbed arrow as thick as a thumb was pierced through his shoulder. The arrow had penetrated through his shoulder blades and out his back, bringing with it pieces of flesh and bone. It was a horrifying sight, but Li Mu seemed utterly composed as if it didn’t hurt at all.

A bonfire had been lit in front of him.

Li Mu had used another large barbed arrow to pierce through several pieces of unknown tender white meat, and was roasting it over the crackling fire.

A wonderful smell of cooked meat flooded the entire cave hall.

This sort of smell caused the entire atmosphere to feel even stranger and more bizarre.

How could this be?

Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing nearly bit off the tips of their tongues.

In that moment, they were no longer eating icy cold watermelons beneath the cool breezy shade on a hot day. Rather, they felt as if they were in the deep of winter and someone had poured a bucket of water over their heads as they ran naked outside. Their hearts chilled.

Li Mu…hadn’t died!

Not just that, but he seemed quite refreshed and leisurely.

He was actually here roasting meat?

This…what the hell was going on?

The two county heads felt as if they were going crazy.

“Oho, someone came. Ah, you look familiar, just who…yes, that’s right, it was you. What was your name again?” Li Mu was roasting the barbecue meat with an earnest expression. He casually glanced up towards Zhou Wu.

Zhou Wu felt a deep helplessness grow within him.

He had wracked his brains, plotting against Li Mu for all this time, taking Li Mu as the greatest obstacle in his way. But, this other person didn’t even place him in his eyes. In the past, Li Mu had already asked him his name once, but now this person didn’t even remember his name.

“Subordinate County Deputy Zhou Wu greets the lord.” He forced out a smile. “Congratulations My Lord for revealing your invincible might and trampling flat the Divine Orchard Gang, aweing the entirety of Alabaster County.”

Li Mu nodded, no longer paying attention to him. He picked up the roasted meat and then took a bite. He shook his head, unsatisfied. “This is missing seasoning; the flavor is a bit impure…oh, that’s right, and you? It looks like you are an official too? What’s your name?” He used the spiked barbecue arrow to point at Zheng Longxing.

“Subordinate is County Commander Zheng Longxing. I greet the lord.” Zheng Longxing bowed, a bitter taste in his throat.

Behind the two county heads, the hundreds of soldier guards fell to their knees. They loudly shouted, “We greet the Lord County Magistrate.”

Li Mu glanced up, not bothering to return any ceremonial greetings.

To allow such a cancerous tumor like the Divine Orchard Gang to infest a corner of the county for over 20 years and torment the citizens for all this time, everyone within the governing administration of Alabaster County was responsible. County Magistrate Li Mu already had his own deep opinions of these people.

Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing looked towards the young attendant boy Qing Feng in unison.

At the entrance to the rock cave, it had been this little fellow that had confused them.

If your young master was so lively and energetic inside, just why were you crying out as if you were mourning? You have harmed us…ha…we thought that your young master had died so we rushed in with such joy…now what do we do?

Little Qing Feng completely ignored the gazes of these two county heads. He continued to cry as he cleaned the fresh blood flowing from Li Mu’s shoulder. Then he took out bandages from somewhere, wanting to wrap up the wound. But, he couldn’t pull out the arrow, so it was simply impossible to bandage the wound. He cried and sobbed as he attempted it again, a completely heartbroken expression on his face.

The little girl attendant Ming Yue’s eyes were shining bright and wide as she stared at the barbecue in Li Mu’s hands. Drool dripped down her chin.

As for being sad because Li Mu was injured?

That didn’t exist at all.

For the slow and simple-minded Ming Yue, it was fine as long as her young master didn’t die.

What could be more important than eating meat?

The bonfire continued to crackle.

The fresh fragrance of cooked meat filled the air.

The entire atmosphere of the cave fell into a strange awkwardness.

After a moment, County Deputy Zhou Wu just managed to compose himself. Breaking the silence, he said, “My Lord, you should leave first. Recovering from your wounds is most important.”

“Yes, if Lord was injured then you should go and receive treatment from the medical hall as soon as possible. You can allow your subordinates to clean up the mess here for you.” Zheng Longxing was also looking forwards to Li Mu leaving posthaste.

He knew he had missed the best chance to kill Li Mu.

He was completely confused on how he should proceed with the following step. He no longer had any contingencies left. As for the masters from the Bloodmoon Gang that he arranged to assassinate Li Mu, that plan would also need to be cancelled. Even if all those assassins joined together, they still weren’t enough to withstand a single punch from Li Mu.

“There’s no need to hurry. After fighting for half the day, I’m a bit hungry now. I’ll think about it once I finish eating this barbecue.” Li Mu leisurely ate the barbecue on the barbed arrow. He pointed behind him and said, “It still has to roast for a while.”

At this time, Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing noticed the 30 meter long green python that was lying on the ground behind Li Mu.

This python had two gray horns jutting out from its head, and it faintly possessed signs of evolving into a dragon. But, this green python had died. Without any need to guess, one could tell that it had been killed by the young county magistrate. Around a meter of the python’s tail had been cut by a sharp saber and skinned to reveal jade-white flesh. Part of the flesh had been cut out and it was clearly the meat that Li Mu was roasting over the fire.

A green python that was showing signs of evolving into a flood dragon was actually butchered like this?

Zhou Wu and Zheng Longxing were stunned as they saw this.

They were both individuals with discerning eyes. They naturally recognized that this python was a variation species and was extremely rare; it was sure to be incredibly valuable. For martial artists, it was a precious medicine that they would long for in their dreams. The snake blood, snake gallbladder, snake skin, snake venom, and even the snake meat could enhance a martial artist’s physique and inner energy, and strengthen their blood vitality.

Such a creature was being raised in the Divine Orchard Gang?

Zheng Longxing’s face became even more ugly.

He thought that he had complete control of the Divine Orchard Gang, but now it seemed that…Sikong Jin had deceived him on many matters.

“Sir, I…I…I…I…” The little Ming Yue pointed at the barbecue, drooling as she spoke. “You shouldn’t just eat by yourself. How about sharing some with me?”

Li Mu tossed a bit of roasted snake meat to this little idiot, and then also handed some to the little Qing Feng. He said, “What is there to cry about, you’re a big boy now…eat some meat first! This is hundred-year old snake meat, hahaha, it’s extremely delicious.”

Little Qing Feng’s tears had yet to dry. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Li Mu shoved a piece of roasted snake meat right between his lips, stopping him from speaking.

Li Mu laughed.

In truth, in the depths of his heart, he was touched by these two young attendants of his.

There were so many people present, but the only ones who truly wished for him to be safe and well were likely just these two little children. As for everyone else…Li Mu was not a fool; he could guess what they were all thinking.

For a time, a faint bloody smell filled the cave. Li Mu and his two attendants chewed with great gusto. Besides the sounds of eating meat, there wasn’t much else.

The atmosphere became even stranger.

Zheng Longxing and Zhou Wu’s hearts raced. They were perturbed by what was occurring.

Suddenly, Li Mu lifted his head like he remembered something. He slapped his thigh.

Zheng Longxing and Zhou Wu were startled. They quickly bowed and looked towards Li Mu, “What is it, My Lord?”

Li Mu said, “Damn, I almost forgot something important.”

The two of them were filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Something important?

What did this young county magistrate want…?

But Li Mu continued to say, “Men, hurry and bring Divine Herb Hall’s storekeeper Huang Wei here.”

Zhou Wu was confused by this, but he still turned and immediately ordered people to do so.

After around an incense stick of time, the Divine Herb Hall storekeeper, Huang Wei, timidly entered the cave, led by two soldier guards.

“My L-L-Lord…” Huang Wei was frightened pale and his lips trembled.

Seeing Li Mu, the storekeeper nearly cried out loud.

Divine Herb Hall was one of the businesses of the Divine Orchard Gang and he could be considered one of their members. With everything happening all around him, how could he not feel fear?

An incense stick of time ago, Huang Wei had just received news of what occurred; the Divine Orchard Gang had been singled out and was being demolished. When he heard this he had rolled his eyes, thinking it was a joke. In his mind there wasn’t anyone who had appeared in Alabaster County City yet that could challenge the Divine Orchard Gang. But, he never expected that right after that, a team of county guards would appear at the doors to Divine Herb Hall and drag him all the way here.

Everything he heard and saw along the way here, the corpses scattered amongst the stone forest of the headquarters as well as the blood remains of Sikong Jin in the cave…all of this left Huang Wei shaking in fear.

In particular, when he saw Sikong Jin’s bloody corpse, Huang Wei felt as if the heavens had collapsed on him.

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