The Card Apprentice

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Originally wanting to ask about the background of the Southern Star Firm, Chen Mu realized that wouldn't be keeping with his new character. Arrogant and domineering—what a headache!

"Oh, we can give it a try. But I want to be clear at the outset that if any adversary's power is beyond mine, I won't just go off to die." Chen Mu spoke calmly. With Wei-ah there, what did he have to be afraid of?

Ah Sang was delighted. "Of course! If even you have no way to withstand someone, sir, it will be Ah Sang's fate."

By that time, the money card had been sent. Ah Sang was quite generous. Without thinking twice about it, she had put an additional 500 million Oudi on the card as an advance.

Soon, one of the servants led Chen Mu to the baths. Since he had been fighting in the forest for so long, Chen Mu's whole body was either bloody or covered in mud; he was as filthy as a savage.

Chen Mu was led to a separate small courtyard that had white walls, green eaves, and a bubbling, steaming hot spring. Even someone like Chen Mu, who wasn't interested in the pleasures of life, couldn't help but feel inwardly how wonderful it was. There were towels and clothes ready to the side of the hot spring, and the maid asked if he required any services. Seeing Chen Mu shake his head, she departed.

He took off his tattered clothes and jumped directly into the hot spring. The bottom was covered with a layer of smooth pebbles, and there were small indentations beside the pool suited for lying or sitting. The most wonderful thing was that whether you were sitting or lying down, the flow of water from the gushing spring would be like getting a massage.

With his whole body soaking in the hot water, both mind and body relaxed, and Chen Mu fell helplessly asleep.

He hadn't been able to relax in the least during that time because his nerves were like taught wires every day. The endless fighting and effort did raise his skill level, though he still hadn't dared to relax for even a moment. That was why his power had surged. In the end, however, a man was not a machine. He had limits.

The sweetly sleeping Chen Mu didn't notice that the perception in his body was strangely lively. Once he awoke, he only felt an unspeakable sense of refreshment over his whole body. He opened his eyes to see Wei-ah sitting not far away from him, with no notion of entering the water.

In a rare moment, Wei-ah opened his mouth. "You're awake."

"Mmmm. This is really nice! Do you want to come try it, Wei-ah?" Chen Mu had long since become used to Wei-ah disappearing and reappearing like a ghost.

Wei-ah shook his head. Chen Mu could only silently laugh to himself at Wei-ah's predictable response.

Then, Wei-ah suddenly had something to say. "I seem to have thought of a few things, Blockhead."

"Ah!" Chen Mu's eyes popped open as he said in surprise, "Has your memory been restored?"

"No." Wei-ah shook his head. "But I've remembered a few things."

"What did you remember?" Chen Mu asked excitedly, extremely interested. Wei-ah's background had always been a mystery. In Chen Mu's eyes, Wei-ah's power had already surpassed the category of human. Such an awesome cardless sect ace would certainly have some kind of background.

Just then, there was noise in the front yard. Wei-ah immediately closed his mouth and disappeared by flipping over the wall.

That same maid ran in, flustered, and cried out, "Mr. Qiao, Mr. Qiao! There's a fight up front. You have to rescue her quickly!"

To have someone stick a foot in front of him just as he had asked the critical question really disappointed Chen Mu. Still, one couldn't just take it easy when taking advantage of someone; having taken someone else's money, he had better do that person's work. Having no other choice, he just put on his clothes.

The maid's face went red with shame, and she quickly turned around.

The clothes fit him just right, which surprised him a bit. He put on the alternating deep blue and silver battle suit, which made him look as though he suddenly had a lot more spirit. Checking his apparatus, he went forward.

Chen Mu got there just in time to hear Ah Sang angrily reprimanding someone.

"Don't even think about it, Miao Xuan! I'm telling you that even if I have to die, I won't let scum like you get away with this. Among you and Uncle Xu and Uncle Wei, the one who has been with my father for the shortest time was still with him 15 years. Did he do you any disservice? Now that you see Ah Sang grown up, you are still like uncles in my heart. Are you worthy of Father, acting like this? Are you worthy of your own consciences?"

Ah Sang's delicate body was trembling, and even her black veil couldn't hide the fury of her gaze. There was a gang of card artisans groaning at her feet where they'd fallen, which were amazingly the ones who had detained Chen Mu.

In front of Ah Sang, a group of card artisans was tightly surrounding a princeling. Surrounding them were a few middle-aged people who looked rather ashamed. The card artisans looked haughty in their gaudy clothes.

The princeling was none other than the second son of the Southern Star Firm, Miao Xuan. He was handsome and had entrancing blue gemstones for eyes. He wore an unchanging expression as though he were smiling when he wasn't. Looking at the embarrassment of the middle-aged people, he laughed lightly to say, "Why should Miss Ah Sang be angry? When I saw your beautiful face that day, I found out I can't be without Miss Ah Sang in my heart. There must be some misunderstanding for Miss Ah Sang to call me scum. I am being sincere with you, as Heaven and Earth are my witness! These uncles of yours are doing this for your sake and for the sake of the business. Once we ally with Qin Jin, I can guarantee the trading company will certainly jump into the top spot in Zargan!"

The look of embarrassment on the faces of the surrounding firm directors dispersed, and they couldn't help but nod.

With a powerful note of sarcasm, Ah Sang said, "Who in Zargan doesn't know about the talents of Prince Miao? Why do you need to make this false show of empathy? This powerful joining of forces? I'm afraid the firm's name will be Miao when the time comes to become yet another pocketful of money for Prince Miao's dissolute talents."

Miao Xuan sighed lightly and said with a self-composed expression, "It looks like Miss Ah Sang's misapprehension of me has gone too deep! Miao Xuan can only be offended. In time, though, Miss Ah Sang will certainly understand my bitterness. I would be pleased if Miss Ah Sang would come to my humble residence to stay for a few days, so Miao Xuan can slowly resolve our misunderstanding."

He made a sign with his eyes to the card artisans with him once he finished speaking.

Ah Sang shouted severely, "How dare you, Miao Xuan!"

Miao Xuan shook his head with a sigh. "Why must you make it so difficult for Miao Xuan, Miss Ah Sang?"

Two card artisans, one from the right and one from the left, pushed their way over to Ah Sang.

Suddenly, a golden energy chain appeared behind Ah Sang from thin air, swiftly encircling and gripping her pretty waist. Ah Sang only felt a bout of energy as her whole body soared into the air and flew away.

Although Ah Sang panicked, she suppressed her desire to scream. A pair of rough, large hands held her by her waist, but just lightly. That was when she saw that ugly face, and her hopeless eyes suddenly lit up.

The turn of events had happened rapidly, and no one could react before Ah Sang was being protected behind Chen Mu.

"Who are you, sir?" Miao Xuan asked in a deep voice. He was long familiar with everyone in the firm and had never heard of such a top gun.

Chen Mu paid him no mind, which made Miao Xuan's face turn a few shades darker. There was no need for greetings. The two card artisans who had just seen their prey suddenly fly off were both shocked and angry.

One of them gave a cold snort. With a flash, several slightly green wavy blades cut toward Chen Mu. The wavy blades were different from ordinary wavy blades, each of them about 15 centimeters long and very thin, like a two-finger-wide sword.

The Crescent Moon Long Sword! How could a card master like Chen Mu not recognize that kind of card?

He took a look to see that there were about 20 of the adversary there. He immediately decided he couldn't get caught up in a group battle. He wasn't afraid for himself, but there was a woman beside him who needed protection. His gaze went cold, and his murderous aura blossomed!

The murderous aura from the bloody battles in the forest hadn't dwindled or dissipated in the least! The group was aghast, seeing in front of them that incredibly ugly fellow suddenly become a glinting sword pulled from its scabbard and filling the air with a chill!

The card artisan who had made the move was the first to be hit, and his face turned pale.

With eyes half-closed, Chen Mu suddenly made half a step forward. The energy chain he gripped virtually in his hand made a whooshing sound like a living spirit and moved about at high speed.

Facing those sharp and narrow wavy blades, he encircled them with the energy chain. The wavy blades hit the energy chain and exploded into starbursts with several pops.

The energy chain wasn't harmed in the slightest! Those looking on from nearby couldn't keep their expressions from shifting, knowing very well how sharp the wavy blades emitted by their colleague were! Miao Xuan stared firmly at the golden energy chain in Chen Mu's hands and seemed to have remembered something. His face then turned really ugly.

The card artisan who had used the Crescent Moon Long Sword was staring at the wandering energy chain with a look of disbelief!

How could that be? The Crescent Moon Long Sword was a close-combat card. The wavy blades it emitted had a small scope of attack and weren't fast, either. But they had the outstanding advantage of being sharp! He had been immersed in the card for as long as ten years, so he could exploit its power fully beyond any rival. It was by virtue of that very card that he had gotten Miao Xuan's deep appreciation.

Although he hadn't given it his all, it still surprised him that his adversary had so easily fended it off. That powerful murderous aura made his heart quake. If he were the least bit careless, he was afraid it wouldn't be so trivial as to lose face in front of the prince! Drawing in a deep breath, he was about to go all-out!

Chen Mu's gaze abruptly chilled!

Something lively flashed through Miao Xuan's brain, and his heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to open his mouth, the situation on the field suddenly changed.

The golden energy chain changed direction and went toward that card artisan in a flash. The onlookers only felt a golden flash, and the card artisan was wound up in the energy chain. The crowd was astonished!

"Stop!"

"Damn! He doesn't want to live!"

"Let's go, brothers! Fix him!"

* * *

A low-pitched "Bam!" could be heard amidst all the other noise and shouting, as though it had exploded from the bottom of Chen Mu's chest.

Hong! Pieces of flesh were flying, and blood was spurting! In the blink of an eye, the card artisan who had been wrapped tightly had exploded into pieces! The hall filled with the smell of flesh and blood, which covered the ceiling, the walls, and the floor.

Everyone was scared stiff!

Oh!

Chen Mu didn't know who started it, but quite a few people were bent over, vomiting. Those left standing had turned white, their gazes looking toward that ugly man in terror.

"Get lost!"

A domineering, cold, bitter voice swept the hall like a wild wind! The ugly man in everyone's eyes then seemed to be standing proudly on the peak of a mountain and looking down on his realm.