What Have You Come Here For

Gedo Chizuru had originally wanted to say something else, but after seeing the look in her father’s eyes, she continued, “I shouldn’t have been rude to you, and I shouldn’t have threatened you without investigating anything.”

“All right, I forgive you.”

Xu Mu waved his hand with a smile.

“You may leave first.”

Gedo Kazuya spoke to Gedo Chizuru.

Gedo Chizuru was eager to leave as soon as possible. She gave a cold snort, turned around, and walked away.

“I’m sorry. I failed to discipline my daughter properly.”

“Heh, I wasn’t angry in the first place. I thought you had returned long ago. I didn’t expect you to come back only now.”

Xu Mu spoke indifferently.

“I let a few experts go earlier. I chatted with them for a while on my way out.”

Gedo Kazuya smiled and asked, “What brings you here this time?”

“I wanted to learn about the Snow Woman clan’s current situation.”

Xu Mu got straight to the point.

According to what Zhang Wei had said, Juukiya Touka had been sent here six months ago.

Six months was more than enough time to completely overturn an entire race. The information provided by the Environmental Sanitation Office was surely inaccurate.

As a member of the oni race who lived here, Gedo Kazuya would naturally know more reliable information.

“The Snow Woman clan can be said to have been ruined.”

Gedo Kazuya sat across from Xu Mu. “I happen to know about this matter because I have a few informants among them.”

Gedo Kazuya told Xu Mu everything he knew about the Snow Woman clan’s general situation.

A long time ago, the Snow Woman clan had merely been a minor race. At that time, it was a matriarchal society.

Their purpose in life was simply to rely on their beauty and marry into the families of other powerful individuals.

That was why the Snow Woman clan was never truly united. Their bloodlines had originally been extremely mixed.

After a long period of development, a powerful individual emerged among them. Of course, this so-called powerhouse was not a pure-blooded Snow Woman, but a hybrid of several races.

At the time, he was dissatisfied with his territory and wanted to annex the lands of other races.

But he needed a reason. Otherwise, the other races might unite against him.

So he declared that anyone who possessed Snow Woman blood was part of the Snow Woman clan.

And as the king of the Snow Woman clan, he had the legal right to enslave them.

The other races were naturally unwilling to accept this, but that Snow Woman was simply too powerful. In a short period of time, he annexed several races.

The various races that possessed Snow Woman blood had no choice but to unite.

They fought among themselves for a very long time, until the Tenyu clan descended.

The powerful Tenyu clan arrived in this inner realm and completely overwhelmed the natives.

When those who possessed Snow Woman blood saw this, they began discussing the situation. The outside enemy was the more pressing concern, so they joined forces.

Their battles against the Tenyu clan claimed countless lives. As the deaths continued to mount, their original hostility gradually disappeared, and everyone began helping one another.

At that point, the powerful Snow Woman started using the women of his clan to marry into other races, further strengthening their alliance.

In the end, the various races completely merged together, although the other races’ surnames were still preserved.

Only then did Xu Mu nod inwardly. “So that’s the relationship between the main family and the branch families?”

“That’s right. The Tenyu clan was too powerful, and continuing to fight them was not an option. Eventually, negotiations began. The Tenyu clan was willing to negotiate as well. Although they were very strong, they had also lost many people in the great war.”

Gedo Kazuya shook his head. “Although the war eventually came to an end, the truth was that we native races had lost. We ceded vast stretches of land and were required to pay tribute every year.”

“Then what exactly happened to the Snow Woman clan this time?”

Xu Mu was filled with curiosity.

“The Yusheng family is the strongest among the branch families. Its head reached the third rank a long time ago. He had always been unwilling to submit to the Tenyu clan, but the main family was extremely loyal to them.”

Gedo Kazuya explained, “So the Yusheng family contacted the Dragon Kingdom’s Environmental Sanitation Office, hoping that the office would help them replace the main family.”

“But there was a traitor within their family, and the information was leaked. When the news reached the main family, the two sides didn’t actually engage in a major battle.”

“What happened, then?”

Xu Mu asked.

“I don’t know. In any case, the head of the Yusheng family disappeared after that, and a new head took his place.”

Gedo Kazuya shook his head. “I suspect he may have been killed. With their clan leader dead, the Snow Women naturally wouldn’t dare harbor any thoughts of rebellion.”

Xu Mu pondered silently. He had a feeling that things were not so simple. He would have to go to the Snow Woman clan and investigate in person.

If the head of the Yusheng family had died, why was the Tenyu clan still trying to sow discord between the Snow Women and the Environmental Sanitation Office?

There had to be a deeper secret.

“Senior, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back.”

Xu Mu rose to his feet. He intended to go to the Snow Woman clan and see how Chen Xuan was doing.

“It’s already so late. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

Gedo Kazuya stepped forward and grabbed Xu Mu by the arm. “Why not have a drink with me?”

“No need.”

“Just a few drinks. Relax a little. You saved my life, so I have to repay you somehow.”

Gedo Kazuya pulled Xu Mu out of the cave.

Unable to resist his enthusiasm, Xu Mu went with him toward the mountain peak.

At the top of a mountain, the two of them had just entered a building when the surrounding scenery changed once again.

Xu Mu saw a hot spring ahead of them, surrounded by woods. The scenery was exceptionally beautiful.

“This place is an illusion formation, but the hot spring is real.”

Gedo Kazuya patted Xu Mu on the shoulder. “Wait here for a moment. I’ll go get the liquor.”

With that, he left first.

Xu Mu sat there quietly and waited. About ten minutes later, Gedo Kazuya returned.

“Hahaha! Sorry to keep you waiting!”

He came in front of Xu Mu and immediately stripped off his clothes, leaving only a loincloth.

His body was covered in scars. His muscles were well-defined, though he was not nearly as bulky as a professional bodybuilder.

“Don’t be shy. Come on in.”

Gedo Kazuya entered the hot spring first, splashing up a large wave of water.

Once the surface became calm again, he took out a wooden board from his spatial ring. Its edges curved upward on all four sides. He placed it on the water, then took out the liquor and set it on the board.

Xu Mu did not hold back either. He took off his clothes, leaving only his underwear, and jumped into the spring.

He took a deep breath. “This really is comfortable.”

“Of course it is. Whenever I returned from battle, I would always soak here for a while.”

He picked up a fist-sized jar of liquor from the wooden board and tossed it to Xu Mu.

Xu Mu caught it, opened it, and sniffed it first. He found no poison.

Instead, it had been brewed from a few low-grade heavenly treasures mixed with fragrant flowers.

He took a sip and nodded inwardly. “Not bad!”

“Hahaha! There may be plenty of things our clan isn’t good at, but when it comes to liquor, we never disappoint!”

Gedo Kazuya laughed as he took a sip. “Brother Xu Mu, you saved my life. If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word.”

“Senior, you’re too kind.”

Xu Mu raised the small liquor jar and took another drink.

“I’m not just being polite. If I die someday and something happens to our clan, I hope you’ll lend us a hand. Don’t worry—the clan’s entire collection of treasures can be yours.”

“Senior, what are you saying?”

“I’m just preparing for the worst.”

…

Before long, the two of them had finished their liquor.

Gedo Kazuya cursed under his breath. “Damn! We’re out already? I’ll go get more!”

“That was the last jar! I still have things to do after I finish drinking!”

Xu Mu reminded him.

“Fine.”

With that, Gedo Kazuya left.

Xu Mu narrowed his eyes slightly and leaned back against the rocks, thoroughly enjoying himself.

If he ever retired with his wives, they could build a hot spring too.

Everyone soaking together… the scene would definitely be—

Splash!

A figure dropped into the hot spring.

Xu Mu glanced over and nodded to himself. Yes, this was exactly what the scene would look like in the future.

That curvaceous body, that fair skin…

“What the hell?”

Xu Mu looked at Gedo Chizuru. “What are you doing here?”