Chapter 3131: Meeting The City Lord And Grand Elder Huo

The streets leading to the City Lord’s personal mansion were quieter than usual, the clamor of merchants and wandering cultivators fading with each step Lin Mu took.

The sprawling residence stood apart from the rest of Ash Crown City, its towering walls and shimmering protective arrays marking it as a place of prestige and power.

The guards at the gate stiffened when they saw him approach, their initial composure slipping in an instant.

They bowed deeply, but their eyes betrayed them... wide, glimmering, almost trembling. It was the look of men who had trained all their lives, only to suddenly find themselves face-to-face with a living legend.

"Senior Lin Mu!" one of them greeted, his voice filled with awe. "The City Lord has been awaiting your arrival. Please, this way!"

The other guards and servants in the mansion chimed in respectfully, every word carrying reverence.

Even Meng Bai, standing at his master’s side, noticed the way the guards almost glowed with pride just for being near Lin Mu. To them, he was no longer simply a visitor or even a powerful cultivator.

He was a name that would be etched into their city’s history forever: the man who fought a Transcendent Immortal to a draw.

Lin Mu gave a simple nod, neither dismissive nor prideful, and followed as the guards led him into the mansion.

The residence itself was elegant but not ostentatious.

Marble floors shimmered with faint qi light, tall pillars etched with protective formations stretched toward ceilings painted with immortal landscapes, and the air itself carried a fragrance of sandalwood incense.

The pathways twisted through lush gardens and courtyards, filled with flowing streams and artificial waterfalls.

Eventually, the guards brought him to the grand meeting hall. The heavy doors opened with a low creak, spilling warm light and laughter into the corridor.

Lin Mu stepped inside and froze for just a fraction of a moment.

Seated at the head table was none other than Grand Elder Huo Jianyang.

The old man was supposed to be bedridden, bones shattered from their duel. Yet here he was, laughing like thunder, slamming the table with one hand while holding a wine cup with the other.

His face was ruddy, his arm, once broken and bloodied, looked as though it had never known injury.

Opposite him, the City Lord himself, a man usually known for his calm authority, was red-faced with joy, wine spilling from his cup as he clinked glasses with the Grand Elder. Judging by the empty jars scattered about the table, the two had been celebrating for quite some time.

"Hahaha! Another round, City Lord! I tell you, this wine is nearly as good as the brews of the Immortal Court!" Grand Elder Huo roared, throwing back the drink in one gulp.

The City Lord chuckled heartily. "Only nearly, Elder Huo. For wine to match the Immortal Court’s treasures, I’d have to bankrupt Ash Crown City itself!"

The two erupted into laughter again, the sound echoing off the high stone walls.

Then the doors shut behind Lin Mu.

The merriment paused just long enough for both men to turn their heads. When their eyes landed on him, their laughter only grew louder.

"Lin Mu!" they shouted in unison, voices booming like they had rehearsed it.

"Come on in, come on in!" Grand Elder Huo waved his cup, sloshing wine across the table. "Don’t just stand there like some solemn statue. Sit, boy! Have a drink. We’ve much to celebrate!"

The City Lord beamed. "Indeed! Today is not a day for brooding, but for joy!"

Lin Mu blinked once, then glanced at Meng Bai and Ashy.

His disciple looked utterly baffled, his jaw slightly open.

To Meng Bai, the Grand Elder had always been a figure of awe; calm, severe, radiating sword intent like a frozen blade. But now the old man was grinning like a drunken youth in a tavern. Even Ashy tilted her head, as if trying to reconcile this sight with the fearsome swordsman from before.

Regardless, Lin Mu stepped forward calmly and accepted a seat at the table. Meng Bai followed suit, still wide-eyed.

Before any wine was poured, Lin Mu’s gaze went to the Grand Elder’s arm. "Grand Elder Huo, your injury... You seem fully recovered. How fares your health?"

The old man threw his head back and barked a laugh. He slapped the once-shattered arm hard enough to make the table rattle.

"This old thing? Hah! I’ve broken it more times than I can count. Once, it was even hacked clean off in battle. Healed back stronger every time. Compared to those days, this was nothing! I’m tougher than I look, boy."

Lin Mu gave a slight nod, though inwardly he noted the absurdity of the elder treating a shattered arm as trivial. He also noticed the openness of the old man. He was no longer as reserved before him like he used to.

It was almost as if his entire persona of a Grand Elder was a mere facade and this was what he truly was.

What Lin Mu didn’t know was that, this side of the Grand Elder was only known to a scant few in the entire immortal realm.

The City Lord, more sober than his drinking companion, added with a smile, "We made sure of it as well. The best healers of the city were summoned, and rare pills from the vaults were used. Grand Elder Huo’s recovery was never in doubt."

Satisfied, Lin Mu leaned back slightly.

His tone turned steady again. "Then tell me, City Lord. What did you wish to discuss? Has the Ephemera Sect stirred at last? Or has some other threat arrived?"

At that, the Grand Elder smirked knowingly and jabbed the City Lord with his elbow. "See? Didn’t I tell you? He’d worry about enemies before anything else."

The City Lord laughed loudly, raising his cup. "Hah! You win the wager, Grand Elder. I thought he might at least ask about rewards first."

Lin Mu frowned faintly, confusion flickering across his face.

"What wager?"

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