505: If you like someone, go for it.

Murong Xuan raised an eyebrow and walked a few steps to stand before A Gu. Looking down at him, his eyes swirled with a sourness he hadn't even noticed himself. "Watching the spiritual wheat requires staring at the Laundry Room for an hour? I thought I was the one you cared about most, but what happened? These past few days, you wouldn't even practice swordplay with me. Turns out you were busy peeking at a girl."

Murong Xuan's tone carried a hint of grievance, making A Gu feel even more ashamed. He buried his head even lower. "Young Master, I didn't mean to..."

"You didn't mean to, so it was intentional?" Murong Xuan squatted down, reached out to pinch his chin, and forced him to look up. The sourness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a knowing smile. "Be honest, have you taken a liking to Green Grain?"

A Gu's face instantly turned red to the tips of his ears. His eyes darted around as he stammered, "N-no... Young Master, don't tease me."

"Still trying to hide it from me?" Murong Xuan let go and patted his shoulder. His tone shifted from playful to serious, though a trace of imperceptible bitterness remained in his eyes. "Every time you pass the Laundry Room, you slow down, and your gaze practically sticks to Green Grain. Do you think I'm blind?"

Having his thoughts exposed, A Gu stopped defending himself. He simply hung his head, his voice muffled. "I am a slave with nothing. I am not worthy of Lady Green Grain."

"So what if you're a slave?" Murong Xuan's voice rose sharply, his gaze firm and unquestionable. "You are upright, brave, and loyal to me. These qualities are more precious than anything. Lady Green Grain is gentle and kind; she is certainly not someone who values material things."

Pausing for a moment, Murong Xuan leaned closer to A Gu and encouraged him, "A Gu, if you like her, go pursue her."

"But..." A Gu hesitated.

"There are no buts." Murong Xuan interrupted him, his eyes shining with confident light. "The Murong Family never forbids slaves from marrying. As long as the feelings are mutual, I will speak to my father and have Uncle Fu preside over your wedding. Then I'll give you a house with a small courtyard where you can plant all the Spiritual Chrysanthemums you like. Lady Green Grain will surely love it."

Hearing this, A Gu suddenly stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and a bright smile spread across his face. He reached out and grabbed Murong Xuan's wrist. "Let's go, Young Master, let's go practice swordplay!"

Murong Xuan was taken aback by this sudden change. He raised an eyebrow and said, "What's this? You're not thinking about Lady Green Grain anymore? You were just lost in thought, and now you're so decisive."

A Gu's smile remained bright, but his eyes were more determined than usual. He looked at Murong Xuan, his tone serious and devoid of any jest. "Young Master, I've thought it through. I won't leave you, and I won't marry or have children. In this life, I just want to stay by your side and protect you."

"W-what are you talking about!" Murong Xuan's face turned beet red in an instant, his ears burning. He quickly shook off A Gu's hand and turned his face away, feigning impatience. "Who wants you to stay with me for a lifetime? Do you think I can't live without you? Go, go, get away! Even if you don't marry, I still will!"

Though his words were tough, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly. His heart felt as if it were soaking in warm water, cozy and glowing.

A Gu knew that coming from a slave background, receiving such high regard from Murong Xuan was already a heavenly grace.

Murong Xuan treated him like a brother, gave him a stable life, and gave him respect that others didn't. He could never repay this kindness in this lifetime.

If he truly married Green Grain and started his own small Family, he would inevitably be distracted. How could he then stay by the Young Master's side at all times?

The Young Master was the hope of the Murong Family and the person he would protect even at the cost of his life. Romantic feelings, compared to this friendship, ultimately had to take a backseat.

He quietly glanced toward the Laundry Room. Green Grain was still sitting by the river, the setting sun stretching her shadow long, looking as gentle as a painting.

A Gu's gaze softened for a moment, then became firm again. He said silently in his heart: Lady Green Grain, I'm sorry. I will always remember your kindness, but I cannot fail the Young Master.

This youthful affection was like a Spiritual Chrysanthemum quietly blooming in spring; before it could fully unfurl, he carefully tucked it away in the deepest part of his heart. In the years to come, he might occasionally think of it, but he would never easily touch it again.

"Let's go, Young Master!" A Gu withdrew his gaze and shouldered the Fine Iron Sword lying nearby, his tone lighthearted. "If we dawdle any longer, it'll be dark. Don't blame me if we can't practice then!"

Murong Xuan was pulled along by him, A Gu's hearty laughter ringing in his ears.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over them, overlapping their shadows into one long shape that didn't separate for a long time.

The wind at the Star-Gazing Platform blew gently, carrying the fragrance of Spiritual Plants, stirring the slight romance and conflict in the young man's heart... The morning mist of Cangwu Mountain had not yet dissipated when the black iron gates of Cangwu City buzzed from the vibration of heavy footsteps.

Tens of thousands of Cultivators surged like a tide, surrounding this massive city that spanned thousands of miles and housed hundreds of thousands of people. The glint of blades and swords reflected the dawn, and Killing Intent permeated the air nourished by the Spiritual Vein. Even the spiritual wheat in the city's fields hung its ears, steeped in an oppressive silence.

Deep within Cangwu Mountain lay a top-grade Spiritual Vein stretching a hundred miles. The Spiritual Qi was so dense it could condense into dew, not only nourishing the Murong Family's Cultivators but also making the land of Cangwu City exceptionally fertile. Even the spiritual wheat planted by slaves yielded thirty percent more than elsewhere.

This Spiritual Vein was the foundation of the Murong Family's standing in the south, and it was also the target three surrounding families—the Zhao, Sun, and Lin Families—had coveted for a hundred years.

The Zhao Family occupied Black Wind Ridge to the northwest of Cangwu Mountain. With a Legacy of three hundred years, they were famous for cultivating the evil technique 'Blood Soul Record' and were known for their ruthless and bloodthirsty ways. The current head, Zhao Lie, was already three hundred and fifty years old. By using the 'Blood Soul Record' to devour the essence and blood of over a thousand Cultivators, he had forced a Breakthrough to the Late Soul Transformation Stage, but he was now at the end of his rope and near death. Knowing his time was short, his only obsession was to seize the Cangwu Mountain Spiritual Vein for the Zhao Family so the clan could endure for generations.

The Sun and Lin Families were small clans dependent on the Zhao Family, occupying the Rocky Slope to the south and the Misty Forest to the east of Cangwu Mountain, respectively. Sun Tao, head of the Sun Family, was at the Early Soul Transformation Stage and specialized in setting up poison arrays. Lin Yue, head of the Lin Family, was also at the Early Soul Transformation Stage and cultivated the 'Mountain Crushing Fist,' which was fierce and overbearing.

For years, both families had been suppressed by the Murong Family and were unable to touch the Spiritual Vein resources. Already harboring resentment, they responded immediately when Zhao Lie proposed an alliance.

The three families knew the Murong Family's strength was formidable—the Family head Patriarch Murong Yuan was three hundred years old and at the Middle Soul Transformation Stage, his 'Golden Spirit Art' so perfected he could condense a Golden Spirit Divine Sword of infinite power. There were also three Elders in the clan, all at the Early Soul Transformation Stage, who managed the Family's punishment, cultivation, and resources. Coupled with tens of thousands of ordinary Cultivators and over a hundred thousand loyal slaves, a direct confrontation might not yield an advantage.

Thus, Zhao Lie devised a malicious scheme—to use the 'Slave Law' established by Han Fei of the Legalist school to launch an attack.

When Han Fei restored the slave system to stabilize order, he formulated a series of harsh laws. Among them, it was clearly stipulated that slaves were not allowed to Cultivate techniques or stand on equal footing with Cultivators. Violators were considered rebels, and their families would be held collectively responsible. The Murong Family's actions had crossed almost every red line of these laws.

The Murong Family not only allowed slaves to be literate and listen to the Elders' lectures on the Dao, but also taught them the 'Bone Strengthening Record' for physical fitness. They assigned houses to slaves, allowed them to grow Spiritual Vegetables and start families, and even let them participate in managing Family affairs. Uncle Fu, as an old slave, managed the matters of the Slave Courtyard, holding a status comparable to a managing Cultivator of the Murong Family.

What the surrounding powers found even more intolerable was that the Murong Family's leniency had led to serious 'slave escape' incidents.

Slaves from neighboring cities, noble houses, and landlords' estates heard that slaves in Cangwu City could eat their fill, wear warm clothes, be literate, and learn martial arts. They risked their lives to flee and flock to Cangwu City. Last year alone, over ten thousand slaves fled their original masters, including some domestic slaves carefully trained by noble families, causing heavy losses to all parties.

"Patriarch Murong Yuan! Come out and meet your death!" Zhao Lie's voice was like a thunderclap, piercing through the city gates and making the houses inside the city tremble. He was clad in blood-red battle armor, surrounded by a thick aura of blood-red Killing Intent. Though his face was as pale as paper, his aura was terrifyingly powerful. The pressure of his Late Soul Transformation Stage weighed down on Cangwu City like a mountain, making it difficult for the low-level Cultivators and slaves inside to breathe.