**Chapter 98: Misty Waters**
His hand plunged into the river but couldn't touch the woman's face.
"Why are you still here? Do you still wish to protect me?"
Qin Mu wept. He couldn't grasp the woman no matter how he tried. When he stopped, she stopped too, but they seemed separated by entire worlds, unable to touch.
"Are you my kin?"
"What happened to you?"
"Why did you bring me away? To the Village of Broken Elders?"
"Are you still here, waiting to see me?"
...
His questions went unanswered. The woman in the water could only gaze at him with eyes that seemed filled with tenderness and relief.
Feng Xiuyun used her spiritual power to drive the tower ship toward them, intending to attack the female corpse, but seeing Qin Mu kneeling on the water's surface, she hesitated and held back.
The female corpse in the water regarded the youth from the Village of Broken Elders. Fourteen years ago, she had drifted to this place where the current slowed, and instead of being carried away, she had sunk to the bottom.
An obsession had kept her there, waiting quietly, until Qin Mu passed by on the tower ship. The familiar jade pendant had awakened her obsession, drawing her upward to gaze at the boy above through the water's reflection.
"Look, I've grown up. I survived..."
Qin Mu looked at the woman in the water, tears glistening in his eyes as a smile touched his lips. "You can rest easy now. I will seek out my origins, find my homeland, learn about your past, and remember your name forever..."
The woman in the water seemed to offer a faint smile before slowly sinking into the depths, gradually disappearing from view.
Qin Mu remained kneeling on the river's surface for a long time before rising. He felt he had truly grown, no longer a bewildered boy.
He returned to the tower ship as the fog gradually dissipated from the river.
The woman below had vanished, and with her, the fog was gone. The river's surface cleared once more. In the distance, a mighty fortress stood sentinel, spanning the entire width of the Yong River. This fortress was constructed from countless ships joined together, forming an enormous encampment garrisoned by thousands of soldiers and horses.
Iron chains secured the river, leaving only a central waterway through which ships could pass from Mishui Pass into Yankang's territory.
"Young Master, this is Mishui Pass."
Feng Xiuyun urged the beast to tow the tower ship into the waterway. "At the center of the city is the Viewing Mirror. My people control it, so Young Master may proceed without worry."
Qin Mu looked around. Mishui Pass bristled with military might. Warhorses galloped between the ships at remarkable speed—the vessels were so closely packed with virtually no gaps between them, joined by interlocking joints. They didn't resemble ships at all but rather an incredibly complex architectural structure.
"Disengage the joints, and they become ships once more, ready to sortie at any moment," Feng Xiuyun explained.
Qin Mu marveled. "Whoever designed this is truly a master craftsman!"
Feng Xiuyun giggled. "Young Master, Mishui Pass was designed and built by our Cult's Master of the Artisan Hall."
Qin Mu's admiration deepened.
He finally understood why the Grand Tutor of Yankang was so determined to subdue the Heavenly Devil Cult. The cult's military strength couldn't match Yankang's armies, but the cult possessed countless skilled artisans across three hundred and sixty halls representing as many trades, deeply embedded among the common people with an unshakable foundation.
The tower ship reached the city center where merchant vessels queued for inspection, forming a long line in the waterway. Feng Xiuyun guided them into a side canal and docked, then led Qin Mu ashore.
Hu Ling'er hurried to follow, leaping onto Qin Mu's back and burrowing into his bundle until only her small head peeked out, eyes darting curiously.
"Young Master, that is the Viewing Mirror."
Qin Mu looked in the direction she indicated. A flying bridge arched over the waterway, with a brilliantly gleaming mirror mounted at its center. The mirror faced the waterway, reflecting everyone who passed beneath it.
All merchant ships had to pause under the bridge, each person passing under the mirror's light.
However, Qin Mu had already bypassed it by going ashore, so there was no concern about detection.
Mishui Pass had guards every few steps and checkpoints every ten paces, with strict inspections throughout. Fortunately, Feng Xiuyun's guidance meant they encountered no questioning along the way.
She led him to the merchant district. "Young Master, please stay in the city tonight. Tomorrow, a caravan will depart Mishui Pass when the lock gates open. You may travel with them."
She hesitated. "The State of Yankang has been unsettled recently. If Young Master travels alone, it may not be safe. It would be best to join the caravan."
Qin Mu was surprised. "Unsettled?"
The young woman glanced around cautiously, then leaned close to his ear. "Some powerful figures heard that the Grand Tutor of Yankang suffered defeat in the Great Ruins and attempted to assassinate him on his return. They say the Grand Tutor was gravely wounded and nearly died. This news has caused panic, and some sects refusing court authority have risen in rebellion—some carving out territories, others seizing land. There are many bandits about..."
Her hair fell against the youth's collar, tickling him, and his ear tingled with her breath.
Fing Xiuyun noticed his ear turn red and realized she had been too close. She quickly stepped back.
This young man was the future Holy Cult Master, a figure of great dignity. How could she behave so frivolously?
"There's one more thing."
Feng Xiuyun composed herself, looking Qin Mu over with a smile. "Young Master should change those clothes. Yankang is not the Great Ruins—there's no need for such sturdy garments."
Qin Mu's clothes were made of beast hide. Grandma Si, tired of his frequent clothing damage from daily practice and sparring, had dressed him in hide since childhood. Though made of beast skin, the materials were excellent.
His outfit used the pelt of a Snow Cloud Mink—a rare beast. The fur had been removed, leaving only the inner lining. It kept him warm in winter and cool in summer, practical in design but not particularly attractive.
After Qin Mu learned to make his own clothes, he continued using Snow Cloud Mink. His current outfit was self-made. Ordinary silk or fabric wouldn't last a day with his daily practice and sparring against the Blind One and the Butcher.
"Do you know where I might find good fabric?" Qin Mu asked.
Feng Xiuyun led him to a fabric shop, where they browsed together. After a circuit, Qin Mu called the proprietor. "Do you have this type of fabric?"
He produced the handkerchief Ling Yuxiu had gifted him. The shop owner nearly jumped in shock. "That's woven from Heavenly Fragrance Silk—a tribute material reserved only for the imperial family. How could my humble shop carry such premium goods?"
Feng Xiuyun smiled. "Fragrance Master Qu, this is Young Master."
The shop owner startled again, about to bow deeply. Qin Mu caught his arm. "This is Mishui Pass with many eyes about. No need for formalities."
Shop owner Qu laughed. "This subordinate didn't recognize Young Master and was remiss. Please wait a moment."
He hurried to the storeroom and returned with a bolt of cloth. "Young Master, while Heavenly Fragrance Silk is indeed a tribute material for the imperial court, some fabrics are no less remarkable. This is our shop's treasure—Golden Silkworm Silk. Our Cult's Gu Hall specializes in crafting Gu. The Hundred-Venom Golden Silkworm Gu, refined into the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm, is extraordinarily venomous. When these six-winged silkworms mature, they spin silk of incredible toughness—impervious to blades and spears, fire and water, immune to all poisons. This bolt was provided to me for sale by the Gu Hall Master. Please examine it."
Qin Mu gently touched the fabric. It felt silky smooth, with a cool touch, colored pale gold with strange patterns woven throughout. He tugged at it but couldn't tear it at all. Impressed, he nodded. "How much?"
Fragrance Master Qu hastily shook his head. "How dare I charge Young Master? This is a gift from this subordinate and the Gu Hall Master!"
Qin Mu smiled. "If you won't accept payment, I must still pay. Ling'er, find the money pouch."
Hu Ling'er had been nestled in the bundle on his back with just her head showing. At his words, she dove into the bundle and produced a money pouch. "This contains Dragon coins, which likely can't be used in Yankang. You may have them all."
Fragrance Master Qu accepted reluctantly. "Yankang uses Dafeng coins, which differ from the Great Ruins' currency. Young Master's pouch holds several thousand coins. This subordinate will exchange them for Dafeng coins—you may need them on the road."
Qin Mu considered, then nodded. "Very well. How would one cut this Golden Silkworm Silk fabric?"
The shop owner smiled. "Ordinary spiritual weapons can't cut it. I have a pair of Dragon Fang Shears that can manage. Please wait."
He went to the front hall, lit three sticks of incense, and bowed before a small shrine housing a pair of scissors. He then carefully removed them and presented them to Qin Mu. "This subordinate offers these to Young Master with deepest respect..."
Qin Mu laughed despite himself. "Fragrance Master, I can't possibly accept your scissors—wait, these are remarkable!"
His expression turned to surprise. The scissors felt warm and smooth, like fine jade. When he infused his vital energy into them, they responded as naturally as an extension of his own body. He could sense a terrifying power contained within, restless and potent.
This power was extremely fierce.
He tested the scissors on a corner of the fabric. The extraordinarily tough Golden Silkworm Silk parted with a crisp snip. Though it required some effort, the scissors' sharpness was evident.
"Truly excellent scissors," Qin Mu praised again.
Fragrance Master Qu brought thread—also spun from Hundred-Venom Golden Silkworm silk.
With a swift motion, Qin Mu waved his hand, channeling vital energy. The entire bolt of fabric floated into the air, draping downward. He then controlled the scissors with his energy, cutting the material while simultaneously directing a needle the shop owner had provided. The needle flew of its own accord, threading and stitching the cut fabric in midair.
This display drew considerable attention. Customers browsing the shop stopped to watch.
Before long, Qin Mu set aside the scissors and thread. A set of garments gently descended. The first was a cross-collared deep robe with narrow sleeves and bordered trim. The second, a belt. The third, an inner jacket. The fourth, undergarments.
Fragrance Master Qu gestured. "Young Master, please change inside."
Qin Mu entered the changing room. Outside, Fragrance Master Qu and Feng Xiuyun waited. Feng Xiuyun frowned. "How did Young Master learn tailoring from the Cult Master's Wife? This hardly seems befitting the Young Cult Master."
"Young Master's tailoring is already master-class..." Fragrance Master Qu began.
Feng Xiuyun scoffed. "Your flattery is shameless. This Hundred-Venom Golden Silkworm silk is precious—thousands of silkworms were needed to produce this single bolt, and you gave it to the Young Cult Master. The silk from just one Hundred-Venom Golden Silkworm is worth nearly the entire pouch of Dragon coins. Young Master's outfit is priceless..."
The changing room door opened. Qin Mu emerged, and both pairs of eyes brightened. Everyone in the shop turned to look, silently admiring what a striking young man he was.