Chapter 260: Guarded by Both Big and Little Mu!
"Xiaolong? And you're named Dalong?" Yun Xiao blinked in surprise.
"Yes, that's the name of my little girl," Mu Dalong said with a slight embarrassment. "My father was a bit hasty in naming her."
He chuckled in amusement. "What a mother-daughter duo! One is the Big Mu, and the other is the Little Mu."
"This child, always slacking off!" Mu Dalong said, slightly annoyed, and stepped into Mu-Mu Hut first.
Yun Xiao followed suit, stepping into the residence. The Mu-Mu Hut was a haven of simplicity and elegance, bursting with flowers and plants. Though it lacked the osmanthus trees, fish ponds, and stone tables of his Zhao Xuanran's Little Cloud Residence, it shared a similar style. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and wood, and the place was adorned with corridors, rockeries, and seas of flowers. And, of course, large yellow lanterns were hanging everywhere.
"Nice place," Yun Xiao commented to himself. The Sword Ruins were vast, and ordinary people couldn't enter, so this kind of tranquility was quite rare. It was like stepping out of the mundane world. He could finally immerse himself in pure cultivation.
Yun Xiao strolled behind Mu Dalong along the corridor, his white clothes fluttering and mist swirling around him, looking impossibly dashingit couldn't be helped; he had the skin of the Creator Immortal!
"The South Pavilion is a bit larger. I've cleaned it up for you," Mu Dalong explained as they walked. "My daughter and I live in the East Pavilion. If you need anything, just call, and I'll be there."
"Thank you, Senior Mu," Yun Xiao nodded. Having someone meticulously arrange and schedule everything made his days quite carefree. Thinking about Ling Chen's situation, with two old men and a stern old lady hovering over him, he felt like he'd lucked out quite a bit.
"Exile Yun," Mu Dalong said with a smile and a hint of reproach, "Like I said before, you can just call me by my name. You are the reincarnation of a true Immortal, a noble being. Let's not confuse our statuses."
"Ah, okay" Yun Xiao nodded. Since she insisted so strongly, he could only agree.
"Mom, I'm hungry!" Just then, the door of a distant pavilion burst open with a bang, and a delicate figure appeared before Yun Xiao.
At a glance, Yun Xiao was dazzled by her youthful radiance.
"Ah" The figure, groggy and just having stretched in a yawn, suddenly saw Yun Xiao and let out a scream before darting back inside.
"Uh." Yun Xiao turned away, coughing and averting his gaze, only to meet Mu Dalong's eyes directly.
"Sorry about that, my daughter is a bit spoiled. She's treated you rudely."
"It's fine." Yun Xiao shook his head with a wry smile. Still, standing in front of her mother after having just caught an unintentional full view of her daughter was a tad awkward.
"Mom, who's outside? Why didn't you tell me we had a guest coming earlier?" A sweet, bell-like voice rang from the pavilion.
"It's Exile Yun. Mind your manners," Mu Dalong said softly.
"Wow!" the girl exclaimed excitedly. Soon after, she dashed out in a little yellow skirt, bustling with energy.
Yun Xiao took a good look. The girl was lively and charming, with big, kind eyes. Her hair was tied in two braids, wrapped with shiny hair ties, and she wore bells on her wrists that tinkled as she moved.
Perhaps in too much of a hurry, she hadn't even put on shoes and bounced over to Yun Xiao barefoot, blinking her big eyes at him.
"Hi, Big Bro! I'm Xiaolong, fourteen years old..." Her cheeks were flushed, and she seemed a bit nervous.
"Fourteen? You're young," Yun Xiao nodded slightly. Definitely young, even a year younger than Chen Xi.
"Don't call him that," Mu Dalong quickly cautioned, grabbing her daughter's arm. "You should address him as Exile Yun."
"That doesn't sound nice!" The girl pouted, her eyes lighting up. She grabbed Yun Xiao's arm and cooed, "Then can I call you, Fae?"
"Fae?" Mu Dalong was caught between laughter and tears at this nickname.
"Yeah, a fairy, just like an Immortal from a painting!" the girl gushed, completely forgetting the earlier door incident. She clung to Yun Xiao excitedly, "From now on, I'll be your loyal fan! Are you going to live with us? That would be wonderful!"
She twirled around happily, her skirt fluttering.
"I must say, compared to that other Exiled Sword Immortal, our Fae here really seems like the real reincarnation of an Immortal. That other guy looks like an oaf. Even if he were an Immortal, he'd be a horse keeper in heaven..." The girl babbled excitedly.
"Quiet!" Mu Dalong, terrified, quickly covered her daughter's mouth. "Xiaolong, you mustn't say such things outside."
"I know, I'm cute, not dumb," the girl said, sticking out her tongue.
Mu Dalong sighed. She knew her daughter was clever, but she still couldn't help but worry.
Yun Xiao, of course, wasn't offended by her words. In his heart, though, he reflected that Ling Chen was the true reincarnation of an Immortal, while he was merely a mortal given a second chance, quite the opposite of Ling Chen.
Afterwards, the mother and daughter led Yun Xiao to the South Pavilion, arranging his meals and accommodations.
Mostly it was Mu Dalong making the arrangements. Her daughter just sat beside her, resting her chin on her hands, gazing contently at Yun Xiao.
"Isn't he just a sight for sore eyes? How can someone be this good-looking..." She gazed at him, her eyes twinkling like little stars.
"You knew he was coming and you deliberately didn't dress properly?" Mu Dalong suddenly leaned in, giving her daughter a stern look.
"Mom, don't make stuff up. Am I that kind of person?" The girl gasped, almost hitting her chin on the table.
"I think you are. You don't usually sleep in just a baggy top!" Mu Dalong retorted with disdain.
"Okay, fine." The girl sneaked a peek at Yun Xiao and advised, "Mom, let's not make things hard."
"I advise you to keep your dignity. He's not so easily wooed," Mu Dalong thought. This upright, kind-hearted, high-taste Immortal was ethereal and detached, not easily mired in worldly affairs.
"I know." The girl pouted, mesmerized by Yun Xiao. "He's just so handsome, I just want to look at him a little longer, that's all." Mu Dalong saw her daughter's fan-girl expression, realizing she was at the age where hearts began to flutter, and decided to let her be.
Soon, the residence was all set up.
"Exile Yun, should we rest for a few days or go straight to the Ancestral Sword Tomb?" Mu Dalong asked respectfully, standing in the courtyard. Her only duty now, in the Sword Ruins, was to serve Yun Xiao, taking care of his security and cultivation.
"Let's head for the Ancestral Sword Tomb." Yun Xiao, having taken a moment to collect himself in the pavilion, stood up and declared.
"I'll protect Fae too!" Mu Xiaolong said with a hopeful smile, looking at Yun Xiao. Judging by her anxious demeanor, if Yun Xiao refused to let her tag along, she would probably burst into tears.
"Alright, that's fine," Yun Xiao nodded with a smile. After all, who could refuse a cute, charming, and endearing girl who knew how to act spoiled?
Before long, Yun Xiao and the mother-daughter duo traversed the misty valleys of the Sword Ruins, heading towards another part of this mystical area. In about half a morning's time, they encountered a more profound and solemn canyonthe entrance to the Ancestral Sword Tomb.
The Ancestral Sword Tomb, a sacred resting place of the ancestors, usually remained deserted except on the days of ancestral worship. Only on such occasions would the entrance see any signs of life. Usually, disciples and Sword Judges were strictly forbidden from nearing it.
Standing at the entrance of the Ancestral Sword Tomb, Yun Xiao gazed into its depths, seeing the entire area shrouded in a thick white fog. Inside this fog, winds, rain, thunder, and flames churned, clearly infused with a magical power stronger than the Primordial Array, guarding the entire tomb.
Within the mist, one could barely make out tombstones shaped like swords. These tombstones stood as if they were the venerable ancestors of the Sword Dao, upright even in death, watching over the 999 peaks of the Sword Ruins, blessing their descendants.
The spirit of the sword was eternal, undying!
"We've arrived," Mu Dalong announced solemnly as they reached the entrance of the Ancestral Sword Tomb. Upon arriving, even Mu Xiaolong grew serious, her laughter fading. Clinging to Yun Xiao's sleeve and looking around timidly, she dared not make a sound.
Ascending a flight of stone steps, they came upon a colorful array that formed a grand gateway. In front of this gateway stood a humble straw hut, which appeared to lack any door.
Inside, an old man sat cross-legged. His hair and beard were white, his body covered in pocks, his flesh withered, hunched over with dim eyes. This was the Withered Bone Keeper, the guardian of the tomb.
"Is Overseer Sikong also here?" Mu Dalong peered into the hut, noticing another elder standing beside the Withered Bone Keeper.
"Greetings, Exile Yun," Overseer Sikong greeted with a warm smile and a respectful demeanor.
Yun Xiao cast a glance at Overseer Sikong and the Withered Bone Keeper.
Overseer Sikong greeted him with a smile, while the Withered Bone Keeper sat motionless, head bowed, almost as if life had left him.
"Is Ling Chen inside?" Yun Xiao suddenly asked.
"Exile Ling came by but has already left," Overseer Sikong replied with a cheerful smile.
"Gone so soon?" Yun Xiao asked, puzzled.
"Yes!" Overseer Sikong's eyes flickered oddly. "True to his status as the reincarnation of an Immortal, Exile Ling just walked around the Ancestral Sword Tomb and said, 'Nothing of interest here,' then left."
"Oh?" Yun Xiao pursed his lips. This moment highlighted the difference between a Heavenly Sun Child and Ling Chen.
If a Heavenly Sun Child had entered the Ancestral Sword Tomb and dared to utter such arrogant, disrespectful words about the ancestors, he would've been sternly reprimanded. But as the reincarnation of a true Immortal, it was only expected that the legacy of the Sword Ruins would be beneath him.
"Clearly, Exile Ling must possess knowledge far surpassing the ancient swordsmanship of the Sword Ruins. His performance in the Immortal Sword Rankings is indeed something to look forward to," Overseer Sikong remarked wistfully.
Yun Xiao's eyes narrowed, his voice turning icy. "Overseer Sikong, are you trying to pressure me by praising Ling Chen and playing down the Ancestral Sword Tomb just as I'm about to enter?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Overseer Sikong was taken aback, not expecting Yun Xiao to so bluntly expose his underlying intentions.
In truth, that was exactly his aim! Ling Chen, being the reincarnation of an Immortal, dismissed the Ancestral Sword Tomb, possessing true skills that might even benefit the Sword Ruins in the future. And Yun Xiao, a mere pretender to the title of Exiled Sword Immortal, what did he have? These were the thoughts hidden in Overseer Sikong's heart.
"My relationship with Ling Chen is strong. Back in my homeland, I saved his life. If you're trying to sow discord, be prepared to face the consequences. Understand?" Yun Xiao said coldly.
With a thud, Overseer Sikong knelt down, his forehead beading with sweat as he hurriedly said, "Exile Yun, please forgive me! I won't speak carelessly again."
He knew better than anyone that as long as Yun Xiao didn't blow his cover as a fake Exiled Sword Immortal, he had the real power to sentence him to death!
Unlike Ling Chen, Yun Xiao hadn't publicly renounced his position and power as an Exiled Sword Immortal. Some things could be said, but not now.
"Ling Chen didn't tell you about how I saved his life?" Yun Xiao suddenly asked with a smile.
"Perhaps because I wasn't personally guarding Exile Ling, I wasn't aware," Overseer Sikong replied, glancing subconsciously at the Withered Bone Keeper beside him.
The Withered Bone Keeper remained silent, and Yun Xiao had ignored him from the start.
"I see," Yun Xiao said, then turned towards the Ancestral Sword Tomb. "Well, open the entrance to the tomb." As he spoke, the Withered Bone Keeper, in an oddly cooperative move, made the misty aura before them swiftly part, revealing an ancient and majestic tomb.
It was only then that the Withered Bone Keeper spoke in an aged voice, "To learn the way of the sword, first pay homage to the ancestors."
"Don't worry. I'll guide Exile Yun," Mu Dalong said respectfully. She was there for protection, to introduce Yun Xiao to the place, but not to learn swordsmanship. So, it would count as her breaking the doctrines of the Ancestral Sword Tomb.
"A woman's presence, marred by flaws, is not permitted in the Ancestral Sword Tomb," the Withered Bone Keeper stated.
Mu Dalong's brows furrowed slightly because she had entered before to pay respects, but back then, the tomb guardian hadn't made any fuss about it.
"I'm going in with Fae," Mu Xiaolong muttered, slightly displeased.
The Withered Bone Keeper fell silent at her words.
"Let's go, Xiaolong." Yun Xiao's movement was natural as he took Mu Xiaolong's hand.
This intimate gesture caused Overseer Sikong to frown subtly to himself.
"So the Sword Warden is so certain Yun Xiao is the real Exiled Sword Immortal, he's even resorting to using a honeypot?"
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