Chapter 226 Comrades in Arms

Ling Xiaoning leaned in closer, staring at Chen Mu as if he were looking at some rare treasure.

"Chen Mu, you... how long have you actually been Cultivating? I was curious the other day, so I made an excuse to check the files at the General Affairs Division and secretly flipped through your resume. From the moment you first encountered the Martial Dao until now, it hasn't even been a full year, right? This... how is this possible?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent for a moment. Even Feng Qing raised his eyes to look at Chen Mu, his gaze complex.

He prided himself on his precise archery and cold, hard Heart-Nature, but recalling the scenes that unfolded in Youxu Valley, the decisiveness Chen Mu displayed in desperate situations and his precise grasp of timing still made him feel a sense of trepidation.

That wasn't recklessness; it was turning life-and-death combat into instinct.

Yet, in just one year, Chen Mu could go from an ordinary person to being able to slay a Demon King and achieve a Breakthrough to the Heart-Awakening Realm mid-battle? I fear that the word 'talent' alone cannot explain this.

Chen Mu slowly opened his eyes and scanned the group. Facing their incredulous gazes, there was no ripple in his heart.

The System was his greatest secret and the Foundation for him embarking on this path of plundering longevity. Whether others were amazed or suspicious was meaningless to him; what he pursued was never empty fame, but tangible strength and Lifespan.

"It's just luck. In a desperate situation, if you don't want to die, you have no choice but to fight with your life."

Chen Mu spoke calmly, his voice somewhat hoarse, yet it caused Lu Dachuan and the others to feel a jolt in their hearts.

If you don't want to die, you have to fight with your life.

These few short words described the most realistic situation for them, the lowly Demon Suppressing Soldiers. Which mission didn't involve them hanging their heads on their belts? The only difference was that some people fought with their lives and survived, while others fought with their lives and still died.

"Well said! 'If you don't want to die, you have to fight with your life!'"

Lu Dachuan excitedly slapped the bed frame heavily, then winced in pain, yet he still heroically echoed the sentiment.

"That's the truth; what we do is a damn job of risking our lives! Brother Chen, your words suit my temperament! From now on, Team C... sigh, now it should be Deputy General Bai... from now on, our group of remnants will have to rely on you to look after us!"

Feng Qing also rarely gave a slight nod, acknowledging Lu Dachuan's words, while Ling Xiaoning scratched his head and muttered softly.

"I fought with my life too, but I was almost smashed to pieces by a single tail swipe... It really is true that comparing people leads to death, and comparing goods leads to throwing them away..."

As they were talking, the door was suddenly pushed open gently. Shen Suning walked in carrying a wooden tray, on which sat several bowls of black medicinal liquid, emitting a thick, bitter smell.

Her right arm was suspended in a sling against her chest. Her complexion was better than it had been in the past few days, but there was still weariness between her brows. Seeing Lu Dachuan's state, and then catching a glimpse of the wine gourd dangling in Ling Xiaoning's hand by the bedside, her willow-leaf eyebrows immediately stood up.

"Lu Dachuan! Have you turned a deaf ear to Medical Officer Duan's words? You're injured like this and still thinking about wine? Ling Xiaoning, take that wine gourd away!"

Ling Xiaoning stuck out his tongue and quickly hid the wine gourd behind his back.

Lu Dachuan sheepishly shrank his neck and said with a fawning smile.

"Sister Shen, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! It's this brat who is deliberately trying to anger me. I didn't drink, I didn't touch a single drop! Not a single drop!"

Shen Suning glared at him irritably, then distributed the medicinal bowls to everyone one by one.

"Drink it all. Medical Officer Duan specifically added herbs to calm the mind and replenish essence; it's good for recovery."

When it was Chen Mu's turn, she gently placed the medicinal bowl on the low table beside him, her tone softening significantly.

"Your injuries are mainly internal organ trauma and blood loss; the rib fracture is actually the least of it. This medicine can consolidate your Foundation and nourish your essence, drink it while it's hot."

"Many thanks."

Chen Mu picked up the medicinal bowl and drank it in one gulp.

Shen Suning watched him drink the medicine, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"Chen Mu, you received an Upper-B Grade Meritorious Service this time. When converted into merit points, it's a significant amount. You haven't been to the Demon Archive Division yet, have you?"

Chen Mu put down the medicinal bowl and nodded.

"I took a quick look around last time, but didn't examine it closely."

Shen Suning continued.

"Upper-B Grade Meritorious Service, according to the division's regulations, can be converted into two hundred merit points. Adding the ones you accumulated from the Shi Town mission previously, you should have at least two hundred and eighty-five points on hand now. Among colleagues below the Heart-Awakening Realm, that is considered quite wealthy."

Two hundred and eighty-five points!

Ling Xiaoning clicked his tongue in amazement upon hearing this. He had fought with his life, and combined with his gains from Shi Town previously, he had less than two hundred points in total.

Lu Dachuan and Feng Qing also had slight shifts in their expressions. They had accumulated for many years, so their wealth was naturally more substantial, but it was rare to see someone like Chen Mu who had saved up such merit so soon after arriving.

"The Demon Archive Division has a rich collection; Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, weapons, Talismans, and even some strange artifacts—everything is there. Two hundred and eighty-five points are enough for you to exchange for a decent high-level Cultivation Technique, or several bottles of Medicinal Pills that assist in breaking through Realms."

Chen Mu nodded slightly and mused, "The Demon Archive Division..."

Shen Suning noticed his intent and said softly.

"Mm, you should rest well today, digest the medicinal power, and stabilize your Realm. If you have enough energy tomorrow, I... I will accompany you. You are new here and unfamiliar with the ins and outs, so I want to avoid you being swindled by those old clerks or exchanging for substandard goods."

She said this naturally, with the care of a teammate. Lu Dachuan was making faces on the side, but was glared back by Shen Suning.

Chen Mu nodded: "I will trouble you."

Shen Suning smiled slightly, said no more, collected the empty bowls, checked on Lu Dachuan's condition, instructed Ling Xiaoning to feed him medicine on time, and then left the barracks.

The door closed, and Lu Dachuan immediately chuckled lowly.

"Sister Shen is really attentive to you, Brother Chen..."

Chen Mu glanced at him, didn't respond, and closed his eyes again. He circulated the Cultivation Technique of the "Hunyuan Wuji Calamity Body" to repair his injuries bit by bit. When fighting the Python Dragon, he had forcibly comprehended the third level, Ten Thousand Transformations Return to Void. Now, he had some insights that were slowly becoming clear in his mind.

Ten Thousand Transformations Return to Void: transforming the external into the internal, controlling objects to return to the void.

This path seemed broader and more difficult than he had imagined.

...

The next morning, at the first light of dawn.

Chen Mu slowly opened his eyes. The Hunyuan Calamity Astral Qi within his body flowed ceaselessly, already more solid than it was yesterday.

His broken ribs felt slightly numb and itchy under the nourishment of the Calamity Astral Qi, and the lingering pain in his internal organs had mostly disappeared. The Early Stage of the Heart-Awakening Realm was finally completely stabilized.

Zhuifeng was curled up by his pillow. Sensing his master waking up, it immediately nudged over to rub against his palm. In the barracks, snoring rose and fell. Lu Dachuan was lying sprawled out, snoring thunderously, while Feng Qing and Ling Xiaoning were each regulating their breathing, steady and calm.

Chen Mu rose gently and pushed open the wooden door of the barracks. Shen Suning was already waiting in the courtyard. She had changed into a clean black official uniform, and her right arm was still suspended in a sling. The morning breeze blew, causing a few strands of hair at her temples to flutter slightly.

"Morning."

Shen Suning nodded slightly.

Chen Mu nodded in response. Zhuifeng squeezed out from the crack in the door, circled around his feet twice, seemingly wanting to follow, but was gently pressed back inside by Chen Mu.

The two walked out of the barracks, one after the other.

The Demon Suppression Division office was already awake in the early morning. Teams were drilling on the training ground. The clerks and officers they encountered along the way would, more or less, let their gazes linger on Chen Mu for a moment, carrying curiosity, inquiry, and even a faint sense of awe.

Chen Mu turned a blind eye, his pace calm and composed, as if none of this had anything to do with him.