Volume One: The Awakening of All Things, Where All Seasons Are Spring Chapter 24: A Night of Murder Under the Cover of Darkness and Wind

Softly stepping into the bedroom, Mo Wen gazed at the sleeping beauty on the bed. Her lips were slightly parted, breathing gentle as orchids. Mo Wen pressed a tender kiss to Lin Xi’s forehead, summoned Sword Dog, and quietly slipped out the door.

Night descended; lanterns bloomed amidst the darkness. The moonless, windy night was the perfect cover for murder.

The Murong family resided in the famed Yushan Villa district in the new area of the Demon City. The villa was built against the mountain, halfway up its slope, evoking a sense of grand ambition and lofty vision.

At this moment, the Murong residence was ablaze with light. White mourning banners fluttered in the wind outside, and the air was thick with incense. Of course—the seven-day mourning period for Murong Xiuwo had not yet ended.

Cars streamed up the mountain road; the Murong clan, after all, was a distinguished family in Jiangnan, and mourners came in a steady flow. Mo Wen drove up the hillside, and as he approached, attendants directed the parking.

Sword Dog transformed into a sword; Mo Wen gripped the long blade in his hand, striding step by step toward Murong Xiuwo’s coffin. Soon, someone noticed the sword in his hand, blocked his path, and barked harshly.

“Who are you? No weapons are allowed in the Murong residence. Do you not understand the rules?”

Mo Wen smiled calmly and declared in a clear voice, “Congratulations to Murong Xiuwo for descending to the Netherworld today! Why don’t you devoted offspring follow this old dog to the afterlife?”

Everyone was stunned. Someone rushed out of the funeral hall, furious: “Who is this madman, daring to make trouble at the Murong house?”

Mo Wen glanced around. Amidst the shocked stares, he leapt onto Murong Xiuwo’s coffin and said quietly, “I, Mo Wen, have come today to invite the Murong clan on a journey to the Yellow Springs!”

His words struck like thunder out of a clear sky. The guests started murmuring, and those in the know whispered, “That’s the one who killed the Murong patriarch—so young! Remarkable!”

“How dare you! Though our patriarch has passed, the Murong clan is not to be trifled with by the likes of you. Kill him and send him to accompany the master in death!”

A woman in plain mourning robes shrieked, pointing at Mo Wen. In an instant, several people surrounded the coffin. Mo Wen didn’t hesitate—Sword Dog, already restless, swept out with a single strike, cleaving the attackers in two. The young man nearest Mo Wen stared in disbelief as his upper body separated from his lower half, his mouth unable to speak.

With a series of dull thuds, bodies fell to the ground. The funeral hall was plunged into dead silence. After a few seconds, the woman in mourning went pale and swayed on her feet.

“Chop this bastard to pieces!” she screamed hysterically.

Mo Wen leapt from the coffin and surveyed the hall. Five or six with divine cores, the rest spirit bodies or lesser cultivators.

The long sword swept across the room; wherever its blade pointed, there was only death or injury. In moments, the funeral hall was a scene of carnage, the living fleeing, the dead strewn everywhere.

The woman in mourning collapsed, staring in disbelief at the devastation, muttering, “It’s over… The Murong family is finished…”

Then she began to laugh madly—she had lost her mind.

Mo Wen frowned and searched carefully, but Murong Bo was nowhere to be seen. Ignoring the madwoman, he struck the coffin with his sword.

With a crash, the coffin split in two. Murong Bo had already turned to dust; inside were only clothes and burial objects. A brown bone token caught Mo Wen’s eye.

Hmm?

He lifted the token with his sword and held it in his hand.

“Ninety-six.”

Pocketing the token, Mo Wen strode away.

Half an hour later, a car pulled up to the villa. Murong Bo stepped out and saw blood flowing from the funeral hall, severed limbs everywhere. Overcome with grief, he seemed on the verge of madness.

“Who slaughtered my clan? I will never share the sky with you!”

Before dawn, news of the near-total extermination of the Murong family had spread throughout Jiangnan, shaking every quarter and stirring a storm of outrage.

Back at Ziyuan, Lin Xi had yet to wake. Fearing the scent of blood on him would disturb her, Mo Wen took a shower.

The sound of running water woke Lin Xi. Drowsy, she got up and slipped into the shower, not caring that her nightgown was soaked, and wrapped her arms around the dripping wet Mo Wen from behind.

“Little brother, I’m hungry!”

The soft sensation pressed against his back made Mo Wen’s heart thump. He pulled Lin Xi into his arms, instantly turning her into a little white rabbit.

As Lin Xi gasped in surprise, the shower glass slowly fogged up, behind which two entwined figures could be seen, their song sometimes soft, sometimes soaring.

Sword Dog lay on the balcony, covering his ears with his paws. “Those shameless lovers are at it again!”

When the sudden storm subsided, Mo Wen gently dried Lin Xi’s hair. Her face still glowed with the aftertaste of pleasure, temptingly flushed, and the air grew warm again.

Suddenly, the hateful phone rang. Lin Xi answered and froze.

“Murong family—was it you?”

“It was.”

She asked in a whisper, and Mo Wen answered just as softly, crisp and direct.

Lin Xi, obedient as ever, didn’t pry further. She knew too well the Murong family’s oppressive ways. Resting her head on Mo Wen’s chest, she gave him a playful bite.

“Dingdong!”

The doorbell rang. Lin Xi hurried to answer, a little nervous, half-expecting the police had come to question them.

To her relief, it was Mi Lu at the door.

Mi Lu gave Lin Xi a big hug, but noticed something was off—under the loose pajamas, Lin Xi wore nothing, her hair was wet, and her face glowed. She understood at once.

Mi Lu teased, “Looks like I came at the wrong time. Should I leave?”

Lin Xi shushed her, pulling Mi Lu inside. Mo Wen nodded by way of greeting.

“What about the Murong family?”

The same question again. Mo Wen had no desire to repeat himself, but before Mi Lu could finish, Lin Xi nodded. Mi Lu felt a storm of mixed emotions—this man had uprooted the entire Murong clan!

Mo Wen’s smile seemed to radiate danger. Mi Lu instinctively retreated behind Lin Xi.

As night deepened, Lin Xi made a few calls, then dragged Mi Lu into the bedroom.

“Don’t worry about a thing, I’ve taken care of everything. You sleep in the guest room, I’m sleeping with Mi Lu!”

The guest room was right next to Lin Xi’s master bedroom. Mo Wen’s spiritual sense drifted over; their laughter and teasing reached his ears.

“So damp—sis, could you please change the sheets?”

“Don’t move. You just ate; don’t start tempting me!”

Such wild banter made even Mo Wen blush. Embarrassed, he quickly reined in his spiritual sense and closed his eyes.

After the battle with Murong Xiuwo, Mo Wen found his spiritual sense had grown stronger, fine as silk and visible to his mind’s eye. As expected, only in life-and-death moments does one truly progress.

His spiritual sense swept through his body; wherever it passed, flesh, bone, and muscle felt refreshed, brimming with vitality. The power of spiritual sense differed from inner energy—inner energy was the foundation of an evolver’s body, while spiritual sense marked the threshold of true mastery.

The path of evolution began at the divine core—only then did one truly transcend the ordinary.

In the master bedroom, the women’s laughter faded; it seemed they had fallen asleep. Mo Wen, lost in thought, soon drifted off as well.

The next morning, Lin Xi brandished a spatula, forcing the sleepy Mi Lu out of bed. Once breakfast was ready, Lin Xi, like a devoted wife, carefully straightened Mo Wen’s collar.

The clothes were new. Ever since Mo Wen had stayed over, Lin Xi had prepared clothes for him—clearly, she had planned this all along.

No sooner had they finished breakfast than Su Qiang and Director You arrived. What was meant to come could not be avoided.