87: Chapter 87 The Demon-Sealing Formation is Broken

"You arrived at the Zhou Family with Mu Xue."

"The members of the Zhou Family had long been waiting outside the main gate; they had learned of your arrival from Marshal Ye before you even got there."

"As for why this news traveled faster than you..."

"It is because they have mobile phones and know how to make calls."

"An elderly man with graying hair, dressed in casual clothes, stood in front of the crowd."

"You saw Zhou Ze among them, and he looked surprised when he saw you."

"The elderly man with graying hair, dressed in casual clothes, stood in front of the group. His hair was somewhat gray, but he was full of vigor, his cultivation reaching the Peak Realm of a Martial Saint."

"It seemed that he was the Head of Zhou Family, Zhou Zheng Tian."

"Seeing you and Mu Xue, the Head of Zhou Family straightened his clothes: 'Mu Xue, welcome home.'"

"His voice was very soft, like an ordinary grandfather seeing a granddaughter he hadn't seen for a long time, but there was a complex emotion in his eyes, the specifics of which you could not discern."

"'Greetings, Head of Zhou Family!' Mu Xue said. Her tone was very casual, and she didn't even take the lollipop she was sucking on out of her mouth."

"However, the Head of Zhou Family didn't say anything about Mu Xue's attitude, instead looking at you: 'You must be the Young Martial God, Mr. Lin Heng!'"

"'I truly did not expect that there would be such a Prodigy in this world!'"

"You actually wanted to say that you were no longer a Martial God; the Martial God was only the third Realm, and you had already made a Breakthrough to the fourth Realm, but you didn't say it."

"You didn't know what the fourth Realm was called yet, but Master Wu Suanzi had said that there had never been a fourth Realm in history, so you could name this fourth Realm yourself, but you hadn't thought of one yet."

"You were stunned when you heard the Head of Zhou Family's words because he called you 'Mr. Lin Heng.' Usually, when Mu Xue was teasing you, she would call you that."

"'Hello, Head of Zhou Family.' Your expression remained calm, but you subconsciously pulled Mu Xue closer."

"Mu Xue glanced at you and whispered in your ear: 'What, do you want to sleep with me?'"

"You didn't speak and walked into the Zhou Family residence with the Head of Zhou Family. Mu Xue giggled, followed you, held your hand, and secretly pinched it."

"You had actually thought about your relationship with the Zhou Family many times. Looking at the simulation with Prisoner 5, you were actually quite satisfied with the attitude of the Head of Zhou Family; at least he had placed the decision-making power in Mu Xue's hands."

"But this time, the people from the Zhou Family clearly wanted to force Mu Xue to leave."

"The Head of Zhou Family apologized to you solemnly, saying that the incident a few days ago was purely due to the Grand Elder of the Zhou Family acting against her wishes and wanting to force Mu Xue."

"Your gaze turned to the Grand Elder of the Zhou Family. The Grand Elder stood in front of the crowd, his back straight, and there was not a trace of fear on his wrinkled face, only a calmness that showed he was already prepared."

"After learning of your cultivation as a Martial Arts Myth, he had placed a coffin in his room."

"In the world of Martial Artists, strength is the absolute truth."

"'Young Martial God. This matter was done by this old man alone and has nothing to do with the others in the Zhou Family. Whether you want to kill or slice me, it is up to you.' His voice was hoarse as he spoke slowly, possessing the determination of someone ready to die."

"You didn't speak, just turned your head to look at Mu Xue."

"Mu Xue knew you were looking at her. She raised her head to look at the Grand Elder, her wrist flipped, and a pale blue longsword appeared."

"This was Mu Xue's sword, Blue Snow; it was said that she had carried it with her since she was five years old."

"'This sword was given to me by you, Grand Elder, and you were the one who taught me how to hold a sword back then,' Mu Xue said, gently stroking the blade."

"'That was the sword of our Zhou Family Empress; letting you learn swordsmanship was just so that Her Majesty the Empress could better adapt to your body after the Possession,' the Grand Elder said slowly, his voice calm and emotionless."

"The Head of Zhou Family's expression changed, and he secretly poked the old fellow. It was clear that the old fellow's fate was now in the hands of this girl, Mu Xue."

"Judging by Mu Xue's attitude just now, this old fellow would likely survive, but this old thing just had to go and say that!"

"Mu Xue didn't have any emotion after hearing the Grand Elder's words; she just flicked the blade with her fingertip, making a 'ding ding' sound."

"She placed the longsword on her lap and took the lollipop out of her mouth, twirling it in her hand twice."

"Finally, Mu Xue put the lollipop back into her mouth and looked at the Grand Elder calmly."

"You couldn't see any emotion in Mu Xue's eyes, but when you two were alone, if she made this expression, she would usually bite you the next moment."

"'Kill him.' Mu Xue said softly."

"The three words fell into the cracks of the bluestone floor of the Zhou Family courtyard without an echo."

"The moment Mu Xue finished speaking, an attack condensed from spiritual energy was released from your hand, like a beam of light, instantly piercing through the Grand Elder's brow."

"The Grand Elder's cross-legged body toppled over."

"The Head of Zhou Family sighed, stood up, and cupped his hands to you: 'Thank you, Martial God Lin, for leaving my younger brother with an intact corpse.'"

"Mu Xue looked at the Grand Elder's fallen corpse and lightly flicked the longsword Blue Snow in her hand again."

"'Ding—' This sound echoed for a long time."

"The blade of the longsword reflected Mu Xue's face, and she looked up at the Head of Zhou Family."

"'Head of Zhou Family, you once said that I could decide my own fate, is that right?' Mu Xue said."

"'Yes.'"

"'Then from today on, I, Mu Xue, am withdrawing from the Zhou Family!' Mu Xue said. She took the lollipop out of her mouth; her voice was not loud, but very clear. You felt that Mu Xue had used spiritual energy when she said this."

"The Head of Zhou Family's lips moved, and finally, he helplessly spat out the word 'Fine.'"

"You walked out of the Zhou Family; on the way, Mu Xue didn't say a word to you until you had completely stepped out of the Zhou Family's gate, and only then did Mu Xue look up at you."

"Her eyes were slightly red. This was the first time you had seen this expression on her, and for a moment, you didn't know what to do."

"Your hand hovered in mid-air, wanting to wipe her tears but afraid of touching the wrong place."

"'Mr. Lin Heng.' Mu Xue gently hugged you and pressed her face against your back. Her voice was muffled, traveling all the way up your spine, 'I want to cry a little, can I borrow your back?'"

"'Of course you can, Miss Zhou Mu Xue!'"

"Mu Xue hugged you from behind, resting her forehead between your shoulder blades, her arms wrapped around your waist, without crying out loud."

"You felt the fabric on your back slowly getting wet, warm, spreading from a small patch into a small area, like night dew quietly seeping into cotton cloth."

"You didn't speak, just stood there letting her lean on you. The wind of the Sacred Realm blew from the mountains, carrying a bit of the coolness unique to the evening. You kept your back straight, letting her lean more steadily."

"You didn't know how much time had passed when you felt her rub against your back twice, as if she were using your clothes as a towel to dry her face."

"Then her voice came from behind you, her tone having returned to that lively cadence you were too familiar with."

"'You just said it wrong, you know? Little Lin Heng!!'"

"You blinked, not knowing what was wrong."

"Mu Xue moved from behind you to the front and looked up at you. Her eyelashes still had a trace of the moisture she hadn't wiped clean earlier, but the curve of her eyes had already bent up again."

"'From now on, I am no longer called General Zhou Muxue, just Mu Xue!' She stood on her tiptoes and poked your chest with a finger twice: 'Use your surname, call me Lin Mu Xue, how about that?'"

"'Lin Mu Xue?' You looked at her and laughed: 'I don't think much of it.'"

"'Is that so? I think it sounds very nice!' She also laughed, looking very beautiful. You walked side by side on the stone steps of the Sacred Realm, your figures stretched long by the setting sun. The pale yellow light spread over the bluestone slabs, merging the two shadows together, like two pieces of candy melting in warm water."

"The years are peaceful!"

"At this very moment, a harsh cracking sound suddenly came from the sky of the Sacred Realm. The sound was not thunder, nor an explosion, but like a whole sheet of glass being struck from the inside by something. After the first crack burst open, countless cracks spread simultaneously. Immediately afterward, the light of the entire Sacred Realm dimmed a little."

"A shrill cry pierced the sky; it was a Martial Saint flying in mid-air, their voice cracking from fear."

"'The Demon-Sealing Array is broken!!!'"