Chapter 3539: Sometimes Being Overbearing Is Necessary

Lin Mu returned toward the Three Union City with Little Shrubby cutting through the sky and the twins flanking them like twin streaks of black and white lightning.

The forest below grew quieter the farther they flew, as if even the land itself sensed that something irreversible had just occurred. With the army defeated and the nobles having fled, there was nothing left for them there.

Staying any longer would only give their enemies time to regroup or send trackers.

Lin Mu’s expression remained calm, but his thoughts were anything but. He understood exactly what his actions meant. What had happened was no longer a simple conflict or a misunderstanding born from greed.

By stepping in and crushing the combined forces sent after the twins, he had drawn a clear line. To the Golden Urn Sect, the Boundless River Sect, and the three kingdoms, this would look no different than a declaration of war.

He had tried to avoid it. He truly had. But some situations could not be resolved through restraint or patience. Greed, once allowed to fester, only grew bolder. If he backed down now, if he tried to negotiate from a position of perceived weakness, they would only tighten the noose around his neck later.

And Lin Mu knew something else as well.

What he would have to do next, he would not enjoy at all.

As they neared the edge of the city, Lin Mu spotted several familiar figures flying toward him. Daoist Chu was at the front, his expression grave. Cattaleya followed behind him, arms crossed, her aura calm but alert. Elyon moved like a shadow beside them, while Meng Bai lagged just slightly behind, his brows furrowed with worry.

Lin Mu slowed Shrubby down and descended. The twins curled closer to him, their bodies still faintly humming with residual Qi from the battle.

"You moved fast," Daoist Chu said as soon as they were within speaking distance. "Too fast."

Lin Mu nodded. "I did not have time to explain."

Meng Bai looked from Lin Mu to the twins and then to Shrubby. "I knew something was wrong when Shrubby vanished without a word," he said quietly. "What happened?"

Lin Mu did not sugarcoat it.

He told them everything. From the initial confrontation with the young nobles, to the escalation, to the attempted capture of the twins, and finally to the destruction of the army sent to surround them. He spoke plainly, without embellishment, but each sentence made the atmosphere heavier.

By the time he finished, no one spoke for several seconds.

Elyon was the first to break the silence. "The city is already in lockdown," he said. "I heard rumors spreading while I was moving through the outer districts. Patrols are being doubled. Transmission arrays are under scrutiny. The story going around is that an unknown powerhouse attacked the princes, princesses, and core disciples. They barely escaped with teleportation talismans."

Lin Mu nodded once. "That matches what I saw."

Meng Bai swallowed. "Will this affect our departure?"

Before Lin Mu could answer, Cattaleya snorted. "Of course it will," she said bluntly. "But this is still a small issue."

Meng Bai turned to her in surprise. "Small?"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "These people are foolish. And when fools are backed into a corner, they only understand strength. Fear is the fastest language to speak in situations like this."

Meng Bai looked uncomfortable, but he did not argue. He glanced at Lin Mu instead, clearly hoping for reassurance.

Daoist Chu stroked his beard thoughtfully. "There may still be room for diplomacy," he said. "If we explain that this was provoked, that your beasts were attacked first, perhaps the elders of the sects would at least listen. The Kingdoms might be difficult though."

Lin Mu shook his head slowly. "Even if diplomacy ends the conflict on the surface, it will not solve the real problem," he said. "They control the teleportation hall. They control the schedules, the justifications, the inspections. They can delay us for months or years without ever lifting a finger against us directly."

Elyon nodded in agreement. "That is how these powers operate. They never fight head on unless they are sure they will win."

Lin Mu turned to Meng Bai and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know what you are worried about," he said calmly. "You fear unnecessary bloodshed. I do too. But sometimes, being overbearing is the only option left. If we hesitate now, the more we will suffer later."

Meng Bai clenched his fists, then slowly nodded. "I understand," he said quietly, even if his heart was still uneasy.

With that, Lin Mu did something that surprised them all.

He did not sneak into the city.

He flew straight toward it.

They entered the airspace openly, without concealment, without illusions, and without attempting to avoid the patrol routes. Lin Mu wanted to be seen. He wanted everyone to know that he had returned.

The response was immediate.

Dozens of guards rose into the air, their armor gleaming, formation flags snapping as they spread out to block the approach.

"Halt!" one of them shouted. "The city is under lockdown. All aerial movement is prohibited!"

Lin Mu did not slow down.

"Identify yourselves!" another guard yelled, panic already creeping into his voice as he felt the pressure rolling off Lin Mu’s group.

Lin Mu stopped in the air just long enough to look at them. His gaze was neither angry nor dismissive. It was simply heavy.

He raised one finger.

And flicked it.

SHUA

A ripple spread outward, invisible yet undeniable. The Dao Skill born from his True Earth Heart Dao Embryo activated instantly. The Aspect of Heaviness descended like an unseen mountain.

Every guard froze midair. Their eyes widened as their bodies suddenly felt impossibly heavy.

In the next breath, they fell.

Not gently.

CRASH!!!

THUD THUD THUD THUD

They plummeted straight down, crashing into rooftops, streets, and plazas below. The impact shattered stone and cracked defensive talismans. None of them died, but every bone in their bodies screamed in pain, and none of them could muster the strength to fly again.

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