Volume One: All Things Awaken, Spring Reigns in Every Season Chapter Twenty-Three: The Coal Briquette Shatters Delusion, Disaster Looms Over the Murong Clan

Sword raised, the winds gather!

A fierce aura surged from within Mo Wen's heart; his sword intent was clear as crystal, as if he and Sword Dog had become one.

“Strike!”

With a thunderous shout, Mo Wen lifted his long sword. Sword energy soared into the heavens, piercing through the massive hand in an instant!

“Agh! You little wretch, you’ve destroyed my treasured artifact!”

Murong Xiuwo screamed in agony as his giant hand was shattered and crumbled into dust, a cloud of debris swirling. But the sword energy quickly swept it away, revealing an elder in Tang attire, standing atop the clouds and holding a staff wreathed in radiance.

Though Mo Wen had crossed blades with Murong Xiuwo twice before, this was the first time he saw the man’s true form. It shocked him to the core—this old fiend had come in person, all to kill him!

Murong Xiuwo said in a deep voice, “I did not expect Zhao Tiansheng to pass the Heavenly Sword Technique to you. Whelp, not even the Great Free Spirit could save you today!”

“Bind!”

“Execute!”

With each incantation, Murong Xiuwo swung his staff. Mo Wen and Sword Dog found themselves immobilized, unable to move a muscle. Then, a destructive aura arose from all sides, crushing Mo Wen. He could not withstand it, bracing himself on his sword, half-kneeling to the ground.

The suffocating force only grew stronger. Despair welled up in Mo Wen’s heart. Was this the power of Shattering Delusion?

Between Divine Pivot and Shattering Delusion lay a chasm as wide as the heavens—so hopeless that all resistance seemed but the dying struggles of a fly.

“I refuse to yield!” Mo Wen roared inwardly.

At that moment, the silent coal ball within him suddenly spoke—a young girl’s voice echoing through Mo Wen’s mind.

“Let go of your mind. Let me try!”

With no other options, Mo Wen withdrew deep into his consciousness. The little sphere shone with unprecedented brilliance, its light flooding Mo Wen’s mind. Suddenly, Mo Wen stood up, heedless of the overwhelming oppression.

“Old fiend, I did not wish to act, but you have gone too far. Die!”

The coal ball’s voice came from Mo Wen’s mouth—a proud, cold shout. Sword Dog cheered, “Coal Ball, if you didn’t come out now, I’d be a goner!”

Mo Wen’s right hand formed a seal, pointing at Murong Xiuwo in the sky. The youthful voice was icy as frost: “Slay the god! Destroy!”

Three simple words, uttered softly, left no time for response. In the sky, Murong Xiuwo’s body exploded with a loud bang, dissolving into nothingness—not even ashes remained!

A Shattering Delusion master, just like that, died soundlessly, even ignominiously.

Murong Xiuwo was annihilated. The coal ball seemed to have exhausted all its energy; unable to control Mo Wen’s body any longer, he collapsed, falling to the ground. As Mo Wen’s consciousness reclaimed his body, he felt searing pain all over, as if his body had fallen apart.

The coal ball retreated to his chest, its voice now faint: “I must sleep for a long time, perhaps never to awaken again. Sword Dog, stay by his side.”

Like a final testament, the little sphere’s words faded as it urged Sword Dog to be loyal—and then fell silent.

Sword Dog, sorrowful, reverted to his canine form and lay whimpering at Mo Wen’s feet.

Bitterness filled Mo Wen’s heart; he hadn’t foreseen this ending, nor that Coal Ball would again exhaust itself to save him.

He was lost in grief when a familiar voice reached his ears: “Mo! Why is it you?”

Mo Wen turned with difficulty; it was Su Qiang. His heart eased, and his exhausted body slumped to the floor.

He didn’t know how much time had passed before he opened his eyes again. Familiar furnishings greeted him—the police dormitory in Shanghai.

His throat burned with pain. He coughed dryly, every movement tugging at his wounds. Lin Xi was at his side, holding his hand in delight when he awoke.

Lin Xi’s eyes were swollen, her tears barely dried, clearly having cried recently. Mo Wen rasped, trying to comfort her, “See? I’m alright, really. Don’t worry, I won’t die—we haven’t even gotten our marriage license yet!”

At the mention of marriage, Lin Xi seemed to recall last night’s madness and, through her tears, managed a smile so lovely it pained Mo Wen’s heart.

Soon, Su Qiang came in, a middle-aged man of about fifty in a white police uniform following behind. Olive branches adorned his shoulder boards; his presence was commanding, the air of authority unmistakable. Mo Wen could not discern his cultivation, but recognized another Shattering Delusion expert.

Su Qiang introduced him, “This is Director You. Mo Wen, there are some questions you must answer honestly.”

Mo Wen nodded, signaling Director You to begin.

Director You wasted no time: “You’re at the Divine Pivot stage—how did you kill Murong Xiuwo?”

Mo Wen gave a crooked smile, answering hoarsely, “Sorry, I can’t say.”

Director You’s expression darkened, but he pressed on, “Where did you learn the Inner Buddhist techniques? This you must answer!”

Mo Wen was taken aback. Why did every Shattering Delusion expert react so strongly to these Buddhist arts? What was so problematic about them?

After a moment’s thought, Mo Wen recounted his journey up the Tibetan mountains. Director You listened in disbelief, his aura flaring, his face agitated.

“Impossible! The Buddhist sects have no true heirs hidden away. Boy, you speak nonsense!”

By the end, Director You was almost hysterical with anger.

Seeing his attitude, Lin Xi could no longer remain silent. She rebuked him sharply, “Director, I trust Mo Wen unconditionally. If you have doubts, investigate yourself. Don’t bully him here!”

Lin Xi’s commanding side emerged. Director You’s face flushed red and white by turns at her words, and, voiceless, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Mo Wen hadn’t expected Lin Xi to stand so fearlessly before a Shattering Delusion master. Her resolve was unyielding. He thought to himself that the Lin family must be formidable indeed—a colossus beyond even the Murong family of Suzhou.

This meant that the upcoming trip to the northern capital on March 1st would be anything but peaceful.

He could only wait and see. Sighing inwardly, Mo Wen forced a smile and greeted Su Qiang, “Chief, I never imagined I’d return to the police in circumstances like these.”

Su Qiang returned a bitter smile, shook his head, and said sadly, “I didn’t expect it either, Mo. You were right—I’m not your equal.”

Mo Wen did not wish to dwell on this and added, “Chief, once I recover, I’ll wipe out the entire Murong clan—to eliminate any future threat!”

His casual tone belied a murderous intent. With Murong Xiuwo, their only Shattering Delusion master, dead by his hand, the remaining Divine Pivot practitioners were no threat at all.

Su Qiang drew a sharp breath. The youth he had once guided into the ranks of the evolvers now felt like a stranger, deciding the fate of a century-old family as if in idle conversation.

Unsure how to respond, Su Qiang left quietly, excusing himself with a phone call.

Lin Xi watched Mo Wen, unblinking, and said softly, “Rest a while longer. I’ll stay with you.”

Mo Wen circulated his internal energy. After several cycles, he felt much restored and tried to get out of bed, but Lin Xi insisted he stay, so he lay back obediently.

That night, Lin Xi never left his side—never closing her eyes, never removing her coat, feeding him water and food tirelessly.

After another few cycles of internal energy, Mo Wen’s meridians felt clear, the lingering ailments gone. After composing himself, he stopped by Su Qiang’s office to say his farewells, and, under the gaze of many colleagues, carried the exhausted Lin Xi away.

His former colleagues regarded him with complicated expressions, especially after hearing he had slain a Shattering Delusion master. They could only look up to him as one might admire a towering mountain.

Back at Lin Xi’s home, Sword Dog heard the commotion and opened the door himself. Seeing Mo Wen, excitement flashed across his face, though his words remained cheeky.

“Well, Calamity Star, how come you’re not dead yet?”

Mo Wen didn’t answer. He gently laid Lin Xi on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and sat silently on the sofa for a long time. “Sword Dog, thank you.”

The sudden gratitude left Sword Dog at a loss. Remembering Coal Ball, he growled, “If Coal Ball never wakes again, Calamity Star, I’ll skin you myself!”

Mo Wen did not respond to the threat—he truly felt indebted to Coal Ball. After a pause, he asked Sword Dog in a heavy voice, “I’m going to annihilate that old fiend’s entire clan. Will you come with me?”

Sword Dog let out a howl, as if injected with new vigor. “Of course! Damn right I will!”