Mu Shuqing took out a Qiankun bag. "There are spirit stones and self-defense talismans inside. Take them to use."
Mu Ran shook her head. "When I accepted my aunt's things back then, it was already enough. Now I can earn spirit stones myself, and rely on them to buy many life-saving magic treasures. Aunt, I cannot accept your things anymore."
If she didn't have the ability to be self-reliant, she might have actually had the thick skin to accept it. But since she could support herself now, she absolutely would not take it.
Seeing that Mu Ran firmly refused to accept it, Mu Shuqing took the bag back and instead brought out a bottle of pills. "High-grade longevity pills. Even with money, you might not be able to buy them. I think you will need this."
For life-prolonging pills, an ordinary person taking just one could increase their lifespan by several years.
Mu Ran was indeed tempted by this and did not refuse. She accepted the pills and sincerely thanked her, "Aunt, thank you."
Mu Shuqing had a cold personality, but looking at her niece, who was now no different from an ordinary person yet could still find joy in her own life, she inevitably felt a surge of emotion in her heart.
She reminded her, "Mu Zhizhi has returned to visit her relatives. It will probably be a few days before Li Mohan comes to pick her up. During these days, you should walk around less outside so as not to attract their attention."
Mu Ran knew that Mu Shuqing meant well, so she obediently nodded and said, "Mm, I know."
As Mu Shuqing was about to leave, Mu Ran couldn't help but say, "Aunt, about your marriage arrangement with Zhenyue Mountain City, if you are not willing..."
Mu Shuqing interrupted her, "I am not you."
Mu Ran moved her lips, but in the end, she had nothing to say.
Not everyone could have the same courage as Mu Ran, and not everyone could be as free of worldly attachments as she was. Everyone had different bottom lines and different pursuits.
Mu Ran could calmly accept being an ordinary person, but for other cultivators, having years of cultivation destroyed in an instant to become an ordinary person subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death would be more unbearable than killing them.
What's more, in this world, there were many men and women who came together purely for dual cultivation to improve their cultivation base, simply because their cultivation methods were compatible, without any actual feelings for each other.
Mu Ran watched Mu Shuqing's back disappear, her brows tightly furrowed, and finally, she could only sigh deeply.
Before Mu Shuqing even walked out of the city gates, she saw panicked disciples from Biyun Mountain and asked, "What happened?"
A disciple answered anxiously, "The young miss said she wanted to come play in the city. We followed behind her, but in the blink of an eye, she disappeared. Recently, there have been quite a few demonic cultivators refining demonic beasts active in the area. Could something have happened to the young miss!"
Mu Zhizhi was lively and cheerful, but she was also inherently lazy and loved freedom. Her cultivation was inconsistent, so her cultivation base was only average. However, the Mu family's cultivation method made their women the most suitable targets to be captured for dual cultivation. Perhaps someone really had the audacity to make a move on the Mu family's young miss.
Mu Shuqing frowned slightly. "Guard the city gates first. No one is allowed to leave the city. Then quickly send a message to Biyun Mountain to increase manpower. Do not overlook a single corner."
Mu Ran walked on the way back, looking at the medicine bottle in her hand, thinking about what kind of excuse she should use to coax Cangshu Bai into taking it.
High-grade longevity pills were hard to come by. Only those with connections could buy them from high-level apothecaries. She was just an ordinary, unremarkable person, so of course, she couldn't say she bought it herself.
Longevity pills were good medicine. She also wanted Cangshu Bai to live a few more years so that the two of them could be husband and wife for a few more years.
A reflection of light from something in a passerby's hand flashed into Mu Ran's eyes.
Disciples of the Evergreen Sect dressed in black clothes walked by in a group, muttering to themselves.
"Originally, I was the one who spotted this newly entered disciple today. I was even thinking of recommending him to the sect master to get a reward. Who knew that the eldest senior brother would suddenly rush out and forcefully snatch the person away."
Another person comforted him, "Anyone can see that the newcomer is very good, and perhaps he will gain the sect master's favor. That so-called eldest senior brother is only called that because he relies on his seniority to get the title. He still hasn't been chosen as a personal disciple by the sect master, so he must be anxious and definitely wants to make more contributions to gain the sect master's favor."
"But I was the one who took charge of that newcomer first!"
"Alright, what's the use of thinking about this now? You can't beat him anyway. Besides, the eldest senior brother also knows he didn't act honorably, didn't he specifically make the newcomer give you something as a tribute?"
"Just a jade pendant, how much could it be worth?"
As this person passed by Mu Ran, he shook the cloud-patterned white jade pendant in his hand.
Mu Ran stopped in her tracks and chased after them. "You two, please wait."
The two Evergreen Sect disciples stopped. Seeing a young and beautiful woman running over, their minds started to become active.
Mu Ran politely asked, "Excuse me, is the jade pendant you mentioned given by the disciple who newly entered the sect today?"
One man nodded. "Yes, why, do you know him?"
Mu Ran didn't dare to answer rashly and instead lied without blushing or skipping a beat, "The owner of this jade pendant owes me money. I want to find him."
The two men looked at each other and each revealed a friendly smile.
"That man looks quite righteous, yet he actually owes a woman money. He really brings shame to us men."
"Miss, you don't need to worry. Come with us to the Evergreen Sect, and we will help you seek justice!"
Mu Ran stepped back. "There's no need. It's enough that I know where he is. I will personally go to him to ask for the money later. Thank you both, farewell."
She turned around to walk back.
However, the two men didn't want to miss out on such a young and beautiful woman. If they brought her back to the sect, with her appearance, there would definitely be many clients fighting over her. By then, they would bring benefits to the sect, and their status would naturally rise. Would they still need to worry about the sect master not rewarding them?
They tacitly followed behind Mu Ran and entered an alley.
The old woman was still at the door studying how to break the restriction. Her current body was old. Even if she couldn't use Mu Ran's young and beautiful body, she could go find another woman's body, or even a man's body!
She had already reached the point where she was about to die of old age; she couldn't afford to be picky anymore.
It was just that she didn't know what methods that man had used. She couldn't even understand this restriction, let alone try to break it.
At this moment, she saw Mu Ran returning, followed by two disciples of the Evergreen Sect.
The old woman's eyes lit up, wanting to ask them for help, but then she saw the two disciples getting closer and closer to Mu Ran, reaching out their hands toward her with malicious intent.
She let out a loud shout: "Hey, stop!"
Before the two disciples' hands could touch Mu Ran's back, a bone-chilling soft sound suddenly rang out in the air.
No one clearly saw what it was.
It wasn't sword light, nor was it a magic spell. It was just that the seemingly ordinary cloth clothes around Mu Ran, the pearl hairpin in her hair, the thin bracelet on her wrist, and even an inconspicuous pearl on her embroidered shoes all lit up at that instant with a faint glow invisible to ordinary people.
Silently and without a trace.
Two streaks of spiritual light, nearly invisible to the naked eye, ensnared the two of them like a spiderweb. From their fingertips to their necks, from their flesh to their very bones, they were shredded layer by layer in a single instant.
Their screams were choked in their throats before they could even sound. Without kicking up a single speck of dust, the two were instantly reduced to a handful of fine ash. Swept up by the wind, they were scattered away, leaving absolutely nothing behind.
