CHAPTER 46: MU FAMILY

The journey began smoothly. None of them asked about his origin or what exactly he did to kill the snake. They only knew that, despite Kyrian’s cultivation, he was someone whose strength was far beyond theirs.

One of them carried the injured youth, while the others carried parts of the snake that Kyrian had divided. After all, he had stolen their prey.

Kyrian did this thinking it would leave them in better spirits, and thus he would get what he needed more easily, they would serve as proof of his more than successful hunt.

The rest of the violet snake, Kyrian stored in the spatial ring. He would sell it in the city when he arrived.

Kyrian followed not far behind them, walking in silence while he listened to them talking about many random things. Sometimes, speaking a word or two.

It was on the way that he began to extract information. He discovered that Misty City was an important center of a great territory. Surrounded by forests full of beasts. Three families ruled the place, the Mu family being one of them.

Still, on the scale of the northern region, they were only a local power.

Kyrian absorbed the details calmly. He knew nothing of the geography of the Northern Region beyond what Wei Feng had told him. But the old man was right. The northern region was absurdly vast.

Even respectable forces were nothing but grains of dust before the entire region.

But one piece of information caught his attention.

"The greatest power around here, which one did you say it was again?" Kyrian suddenly asked in a low voice as they all sat around a campfire.

The young man beside him replied.

"That would be the Verdant Sword Sect. A 5° grade sect. They rule dozens of countries in every direction. They are the uncontested number one force."

Kyrian noticed that the youth spoke with a gleam of desire in his eyes, showing deep reverence.

Kyrian remained silent after listening. But inside, a flame burned. A 5° grade force meant a cultivator of the Spiritual Awakening Realm commanded it. It was the perfect place to start.

Wei Feng had explained a little about the forces of the northern region. They were divided into five grades. The old man belonged to a 4° grade force that ruled over a large territory. And that was the place he knew best in the entire northern region.

But after asking Mu Ning, she had never heard of that force or place.

Along the way, Kyrian noticed Mu Lin and Mu Ning glancing at his eyes several times. This began to bother him.

Narrowing his eyes at them, breaking the silence, he spoke in a low but firm tone.

"You two, I see you’re curious about my eyes."

The two looked at each other, clearly caught off guard. Mu Ning averted her gaze, while Mu Lin cleared his throat and answered with a slight, uncomfortable smile.

"It’s just that... we’ve never seen anyone with a special physique before."

Mu Lin’s words immediately echoed in Kyrian’s mind.

’Special Physique... so that’s it.’

Immediately, he understood. For them, who could feel the pressure of his cultivation at the 1° stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm, it was impossible to consider him a mortal who could not cultivate. And they could see no further than that, unlike Wei Feng.

To them, his different eyes, the power he displayed beyond the realm, and especially the confirmation after seeing the snake’s skull frozen when it was divided, if they had doubts before, now it was certainty.

That could only mean one thing to them. In their limited perspective, Kyrian possessed a special physique.

He recalled the books he had read for years with Wei Feng. There was a brief section about bloodlines and special physiques.

Bloodlines were hereditary traits passed down from generation to generation. Usually present in beasts and other races. Special physiques, on the other hand, were considered blessings from the heavens.

When one was born with a special physique, they were considered a true chosen one. A genius in practically any force.

There were classifications for both, but the book only said basic things about bloodlines and physiques, so Kyrian didn’t know much either. But he knew enough to use it as a good disguise. A good explanation for his eyes.

Others would not look at him strangely. After all, almost every cultivator had heard of it. This would benefit him greatly at first.

And it wasn’t entirely wrong, after all.

’Is innate talent considered a special physique?’ Kyrian wondered.

But now the way they looked at him made complete sense.

Kyrian did not answer immediately. He just let out a light sound. Something between a sigh and an affirmation. Enough to end the subject.

Two days later, the seemingly endless journey through the forest was coming to an end.

At midday, the enormous walls of Misty City rose before them. Tall and covered in moss due to the constant mist throughout most of the year, which gave the city its name. There were countless beast claw marks around the wall.

They served as protection when the beasts attacked.

At the entrance, there was a large crest with the symbol of a gray cloud above the already open gates.

Guards in light armor watched from the towers, vigilant of those entering and leaving.

Kyrian observed in silence. His breathing is steady. After several months trapped in the mountains and forest, he finally saw civilization before his eyes.

"We’re home." Mu Ning suddenly said, making the others laugh. This mission had been far too dangerous.

The entry was quick. The guards, upon recognizing the cloud crest on the youths’ shoulders, immediately opened the way. Kyrian passed with them without being questioned.

In the city, the wide stone streets were already full of life. But, unlike mortal cities where there were common people doing their daily work, everyone here was a cultivator.

The vast majority are only in the first realm. But it was something at least. Even so, it didn’t seem so different. Except for the many people walking around carrying beast corpses or weapons.

There were still merchants and children running freely about.

Kyrian, in the middle of the way, engraved something of extreme importance in his mind.

’There are seven restaurants I need to visit in the coming days...’ Kyrian, who had only eaten animal and beast meat in recent times, wanted to eat all kinds of food he hadn’t yet experienced.

He smelled the unknown delicacies as he walked through the city. And felt compelled to try them all.

Following the youths, he crossed several streets until arriving at a vast estate surrounded by high walls. The property was absurdly huge.

The main gate was ornamented with cloud patterns carved into the dark wood. Guards of the Mu family, standing firmly, opened the passage, bowing slightly upon seeing the group approach.

"Welcome to the Mu family residence." Mu Ning said in a tone heavy with pride.

Upon entering, Kyrian observed attentively. The family’s territory seemed like a small world of its own.

Spacious courtyards were connected by stone paths, wooden pavilions rose among carefully maintained gardens. Servants hurried by carrying trays, weapons, and documents.

The moment they saw the youths returning with parts of the snake, they ran to help, while others went to call more important figures.

Soon after, a middle-aged man with a firm gaze and a gray robe appeared, accompanied by two elders and a girl.

The man’s face lit up upon seeing the group return whole.

"Lin, Ning, you’ve returned." His voice was hoarse and firm. But he seemed relieved. Yet it quickly changed upon seeing Mu Shan injured.

At that moment, he noticed Kyrian. His eyes fixed on the stranger walking behind the youths.

The man assessed him fully. His upright posture, the cold calm with a trace of arrogance, and the spear strapped to his back. A stranger, but one impossible not to notice. Especially because of his eyes.

The Mu family patriarch did not stop staring at Kyrian for even a second once he noticed him. With surprise gleaming in his gaze.

Mu Lin then stepped forward.

"Father, this is Kyrian. If it weren’t for him, none of us would have returned alive this time."

The words fell like stones in the silent courtyard. The patriarch seemed to wake, raising his eyebrows. The elders behind him exchanged quick glances.

Kyrian remained silent. Just observing. And noticing, especially, the quiet girl behind the patriarch who had been watching him since she came out of the pavilion, Kyrian also noticed her. Her cultivation was the highest among all the youths there. She was at the 5° stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm.

Her expression shifted from momentary astonishment to fixation the moment she noticed him. And most of all. He understood she seemed to want to fight him right then and there.