Volume One: The Awakening of All Things, Where Every Season Is Spring Chapter Twenty-Eight: So You're the Bastard Called Mo Wen?-Eerie Revival: Beginning with the Mist(A Life Mired in Mud)

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Zhao Tiansheng, clad in white, looked more like a scholar than a swordsman as he walked unhurriedly to the main table. Lin Tianci and Zhao Tiansheng bumped fists, old friends reunited, joy overflowing. The Lin family greeted him respectfully, and the guests acknowledged him frequently. Though Zhao Tiansheng had no illustrious lineage and stood alone, the name "Sword of Longevity from Jiangnan" had shaken all of China over a decade ago.

That year, dressed in white, his sword's brilliance swept through the world, slaying so many in the Cloud Peak that the leaders were left headless; all ten of the Broken Illusion were annihilated, and of the Divine Core, barely one in ten survived. The Cloud Peak cultivators dwindled, and to this day, no Broken Illusion remains.

Zhao Tiansheng patted Mo Wen’s shoulder, eyes full of laughter. “Not bad. I’ve drifted half my life, thinking to spend my twilight years quietly at the academy. Who would have thought, nearing old age, I’d find a worthy successor? My life is not in vain!”

All were astonished. Years ago, Lin Tianci wished to entrust his eldest son, Lin Yaoheng, to Zhao Tiansheng as a disciple, but even with their close friendship, Zhao Tiansheng refused, saying Lin Yaoheng’s path lay elsewhere. Now, the Sword of Longevity was bequeathed to an obscure youth—curious indeed!

Lin Tianci smiled bitterly. With an old friend present, he had to give him face; he didn’t hesitate further, and said lightly, “Very well. Since that’s the case, I hand over this Ze Lin medicine. If you encounter hardship in the future, my branch of the Lin family will lend aid.”

“Father!” Lin Xi grew anxious. How had the situation turned into Mo Wen seeking the Lin family’s protection? Just as she was about to speak, Lin Tianci waved her silent.

Mo Wen smiled self-deprecatingly, placed Ze Lin medicine on the Eight Immortals table, and bowed slightly to Zhao Tiansheng. “Thank you, teacher, for your assistance. A student must walk his own path. I didn’t come here to seek the Lin family’s shelter, but to use Uncle Lin’s sixtieth birthday as a chance to warn those still pining for Lin Xi: I don’t care if you’re from the Great Freedom clan or the Broken Illusion clan, put those thoughts away. If you wish to compete with me for Lin Xi, be prepared to die and vanish!”

At first, Mo Wen’s tone was calm, but at the end, it turned fierce and resolute, making all present shudder inwardly.

“Little brother, you—!” Lin Xi saw the situation spiraling out of control and tried to intervene, but Mo Wen ignored her and stood with hands behind his back.

“A brat from Jiangnan, acting so boldly—do you look down on the heroes of Beidu?” Zhuo Yue seized the opportunity to provoke Mo Wen.

Mo Wen stared directly at Zhuo Yue. Zhuo Yue felt a chill, as if a wild beast had locked onto him, but he kept talking. “My Zhuo family has Great Freedom presiding, over a dozen Broken Illusion experts, and the five great families of Beidu are all formidable. How dare you behave so outrageously, you wild brat!”

Mo Wen chuckled. Zhuo Yue couldn’t speak three sentences without mentioning the Zhuo family, as if it gave him endless confidence. Mo Wen looked at him mockingly, with a hint of disdain. “If Great Freedom acts personally, I have nothing to say. If it’s just Broken Illusion, I don’t mind killing a few more.”

Gasps swept through the crowd. It was rumored Mo Wen had slain Broken Illusion experts from the Murong family in Shanghai; now it seemed absolutely true. Divine Core killing Broken Illusion—never before heard!

Zhuo Yue was momentarily speechless, furious and trembling, unable to retort. Lin Tianci frowned, feeling Mo Wen was too presumptuous, somewhat dissatisfied.

Zhao Tiansheng laughed heartily, growing fonder of his unofficial disciple. “Good! Reminds me of myself in my youth. Rest easy, kid. If Great Freedom shamelessly intervenes, I, Zhao Tiansheng, won’t mind stretching my limbs!”

Lin Tianci fell silent, unsure why his friend, low-profile for years, so firmly supported Mo Wen. But it wasn’t the main issue; from Zhao Tiansheng’s words, he realized that even if Zhao wasn’t yet at Great Freedom, he was close!

“Brother Zhao, you—?” Lin Tianci eyed Zhao Tiansheng suspiciously. Though Zhao’s fame was long-standing, their advancement to Broken Illusion was nearly simultaneous. Lin Tianci felt utterly lost on how to go further, but Zhao Tiansheng had already touched the threshold of Great Freedom!

Zhao Tiansheng looked at the stunned Lin Tianci with a trace of pride, raised his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and exclaimed, “Excellent wine!”

Seeing this, Lin Tianci, once full of spirit, suddenly felt dispirited. He sighed and turned to Mo Wen. “Ah! The world is changing. This is only the beginning. Three years from now, if you survive, do as you wish.”

Three years—again, three years! It seemed there was some tacit agreement among Broken Illusion experts; all pointed to a great change three years hence, in 2026. All Mo Wen had encountered set their timelines for that year.

Zhao Tiansheng’s smile faded; he coughed softly, reminding Lin Tianci, who took the hint and said no more.

Mo Wen’s expression turned grim. In the world of cultivators, the weak don’t even have the right to know! Lin Xi quietly took Mo Wen’s hand, squeezing his palm.

With the situation as it was, there was no point in lingering—better to leave.

Mo Wen clasped his fists to Zhao Tiansheng and Lin Tianci, speaking softly. “Your student takes his leave. Unless I reach Broken Illusion, I shall not set foot in Beidu again. Farewell!”

With that, he strode out. Lin Xi looked at Lin Tianci, saw her father’s expressionless face, then glanced at Zhao Tiansheng, who gave her a meaningful look, and she joyfully chased after Mo Wen.

“Brother Lin, as you said, three years from now both of us may lose our heads—why worry about such things? Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. The wine is good today; come, let’s drink more!”

Zhao Tiansheng, smiling, slung his arm around Lin Tianci’s shoulder. Two Broken Illusion experts, disregarding decorum, shoulder to shoulder, stunned the onlookers.

At this moment, Zhao Tiansheng looked like he’d raised a pig for twenty years only for it to root up someone else’s cabbage. Lin Tianci glared at him, vexed, and could only drink gloomily.

Outside the villa, the chubby Zhuo Xin seemed to have been waiting a long time. Seeing Mo Wen emerge, he stuck to him like glue.

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“Bro, you’re awesome! Let me follow you! You’re incredible!”

“Bro, you’re Divine Core and can slay Broken Illusion. I don’t ask for much—do you think I, at Spirit Soul level, could slay Divine Core? Teach me, please!”

Mo Wen smiled inwardly. Divine Core slaying Broken Illusion was just borrowing the power of the coal ball; now that the coal ball was dormant, it would be hard to do so again soon.

He ruffled the little fatty’s hair, smiled without speaking. Lin Xi caught up, called to the valet, “Prepare a car, I’ll drive myself.”

The valet quickly brought a Hongqi sedan; Lin Xi took the wheel and called Mo Wen, “Come on, little brother, where do you want to go? Big sister will accompany you today!”

Lin Xi masked her heavy thoughts with a playful face. Mo Wen couldn’t help but smile, took the passenger seat, and they drove slowly out of the villa district.

Mo Wen seemed weary, leaning back with eyes closed, resting. Lin Xi didn’t disturb him, just drove aimlessly. Suddenly, Mo Wen spoke. “Three years—what will happen then?”

Lin Xi grew despondent. “I don’t know. Whenever father and the uncles mention it, they won’t let us children listen. It must be something huge. Maybe ignorance is bliss.”

Unnoticed, the car had reached the highway. Mo Wen suddenly sat up, his lazy demeanor vanished, eyes sharp. “There’s a car following us.”

Lin Xi was startled, checked the rearview mirror. Sure enough, a black SUV was trailing them at a steady pace. At the next highway exit, Lin Xi abruptly changed lanes, darted onto the ramp, and, as expected, the black SUV followed.

Mo Wen chuckled. He didn’t sense the oppressive aura like Murong Xiu that day; whoever was following them wasn’t even at Broken Illusion.

“Let’s play along, find a secluded spot, and see who wants to test their sword against me.”

Sensing Mo Wen’s murderous intent, Sword Dog automatically emerged from the coal ball, transformed into a long sword, and Mo Wen gripped it.

After leaving the highway, Lin Xi found a deserted road. The black SUV followed openly, and after driving a few more miles, they stopped on an abandoned stretch of land, devoid of human presence.

From the SUV, five burly men got out, wielding batons, arrogantly rapping on Mo Wen’s car window.

“So you’re Mo Wen?”

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Lin Tianci remained silent, unable to fathom why his low-key friend of so many years would so staunchly defend Mo Wen, but that wasn’t the crux. From Zhao Tiansheng’s words, he realized that even if he hadn’t yet reached Great Freedom, Zhao was not far from it.

“Brother Zhao, you—?” Lin Tianci looked at Zhao Tiansheng with suspicion. Though Zhao had been renowned for years, the two had attained Broken Illusion around the same time. Lin Tianci felt utterly clueless about how to take the next step, yet Zhao Tiansheng had already touched the threshold of Great Freedom.

Zhao Tiansheng looked at the somewhat shocked Lin Tianci, a hint of pride in his expression. He raised his wine cup, downed it in one gulp, and praised, “Excellent wine!”

Seeing this, Lin Tianci, once full of vigor, abruptly felt his spirits wane. He sighed, turned to Mo Wen, and said, “Ah! The world is changing. This is merely the beginning. Three years from now, if you’re still alive, do as you wish.”

Three years—again three years! It seemed the Broken Illusion experts shared some tacit understanding; after three years, a great change would come. All Mo Wen had encountered set their timelines for 2026.

Zhao Tiansheng’s smile faded. He coughed softly, reminding Lin Tianci, who understood and did not continue.

Mo Wen’s expression turned solemn. In the cultivator world, the weak don’t even have the right to be informed! Lin Xi quietly took Mo Wen’s hand, squeezing his palm tightly.

With matters as they were, there was no point in staying. Better to depart.

Mo Wen clasped his fists to Zhao Tiansheng and Lin Tianci, and said softly, “Your student takes his leave. Unless I reach Broken Illusion, I shall not set foot in Beidu again. Farewell!”

With that, he strode out. Lin Xi, seeing this, looked to Lin Tianci, saw her father expressionless, then sought help from Zhao Tiansheng, who gave a signal. Lin Xi joyfully chased after Mo Wen.

“Brother Lin, as you said, after three years, who knows if either of us will still be alive—why care about all this? Children have their own fate. The wine is good today—come, let’s drink a few more cups!”

Zhao Tiansheng, smiling, hooked Lin Tianci’s shoulder. Two Broken Illusion experts, ignoring decorum, arm in arm, amazed everyone.

At this moment, Zhao Tiansheng’s demeanor was like someone who’d raised a pig for twenty years only for it to snuffle up someone else’s tender cabbage. Lin Tianci glared at him, annoyed, and could only drink gloomily.

Outside the villa, the chubby Zhuo Xin seemed to have waited a long time. Seeing Mo Wen, he stuck to him like glue.

“Bro, you’re fierce! Let me follow you! Amazing!”

“Bro, you’re Divine Core and can slay Broken Illusion. I don’t ask for much—think I, at Spirit Soul stage, could slay Divine Core? Teach me, please!”

Mo Wen smiled inwardly. Divine Core slaying Broken Illusion was just borrowing the coal ball’s power; now that it slumbered, it would be hard to repeat soon.

He ruffled the little fatty’s hair, smiled and said nothing. Lin Xi caught up, called to the valet, “Prepare a car, I’ll drive myself.”

The valet quickly brought a Hongqi. Lin Xi got in the driver’s seat, called to Mo Wen, “Let’s go, little brother. Where do you want to go? Sister will accompany you today!”

Lin Xi, hiding her worries behind a playful face, made Mo Wen smile as he got in the passenger seat, and they drove slowly out of the villa district.

Mo Wen seemed weary, leaning back with eyes closed. Lin Xi didn’t disturb him, just drove aimlessly. Suddenly, Mo Wen spoke. “Three years—what will happen then?”