Beastmaster of the Ages

”Qitian Muchen.”

Qitian Muyue leaned close to his ear and said softly but solemnly, ”You mustn’t speak a word of what you saw today. Don’t say anything like corpse water, much less bathwater. It’s extremely disrespectful. Although the Source Progenitor has passed, her body is still the fount of the greatest beings! Remember that!”

Qitian Muchen shook his head; he didn’t have such thoughts. Perhaps it was strange at first, but the feeling quickly disappeared at the thought of the Source Progenitor’s frightening power.

Besides, what kind of corpse water would have such a fragrance?

If the fragrance from a bath in springwater was level ten, the fragrance from being next to the Source Progenitor was at least level ten thousand! Qitian Muchen felt like he was in paradise. At all times, every part of his body absorbed the gift of the Source Progenitor.

”Will the springwater be used up one day?” Qitian Muchen asked.

”Not for the time being, but the springwater produced in each period of time is indeed limited, so we must exercise control. This might look a lot to you, but in fact, Houses Yumo and Suishen are both monitoring it. As our ancestors decided, the basic rules must be followed, no matter who the valley lord is. Of course, exceptions can occasionally be made,” Qitian Muyu said.

”Can you make one today?” Qitian Muchen asked.

”Just this once. The springwater here can help this little thing recover faster. Luckily, its physical body wasn’t completely destroyed. Otherwise, the springwater would be useless,” said Qitian Muyue.

”That’s great! Thank you, big brother! Thank you, big sister!” Qitian Muchen was a little excited.

”There’s no need to thank us. If there’s someone you should thank, it’s our father. Of course, the one that most deserves your thanks is the Source Progenitor,” Qitian Muyu said.

”Yes!” Qitian Muchen immediately kowtowed to the Source Progenitor once more. He didn’t dare to directly look at the body, except for the first glance.

After kowtowing, he asked, ”By the way, where’s Father?”

As soon as the words left his lips, the waters of the ‘progenitor lake’ roiled. In an instant, a man with white eyebrows and hair emerged and landed in front of the three youths.

The man was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe and jade belt, his head adorned with a gold crown. His robe had a fine gold trim and was covered in embroidery depicting lifelike flying dragons, as well as intricate needlework. He was exceptionally handsome, with distinctive features that made up his sculpture-like face. Although his hair and eyebrows were white, he looked very young, perhaps just a little older than Qitian Muyu. Those who didn’t know him might assume he was Qitian Muyu’s brother.

The siblings were considered prominent figures, but were nothing compared to the man who had just appeared. At first glance, he seemed mellow and calm, but a second glance would shake one’s heart. The sense of transcendence contained in his eyes, movements, and demeanor was unmatched in all of Myriadpath Valley. The man seemed completely at one with the lake and world of white jade.

”Father!” the siblings quickly greeted.

It was clear that he was the valley lord.

Although the valley lord and old patriarch of House Suishen were of the same generation, the valley lord looked much younger and was full of vitality, which was proof that he surpassed ordinary people.

He remained silent, taking the little beast, Yazi, from Qitian Muchen’s hand. Afraid to move in front of the valley lord, the little beast allowed him to toss it into the lake. As soon as Yazi sank into the water, its eyes lit up. Naturally, it knew the miraculous effect of the rich springwater. As its weak flesh began absorbing the springwater, its wounds began healing and its vitality rose.

Rubbing Yazi’s head, the valley lord looked at Qitian Muchen and said in a slow and deliberate voice, ”Tell me what happened.”

”Yes.”

Qitian Muchen couldn’t fight back the nervousness in his heart. He had never lost in his life, so he felt embarrassed. However, he repeated what he had said to his brother and sister. Of course, he failed to mention the kneeling and kowtowing, and at the same time blamed the death of the seven women on the mistrunner.

The valley lord slightly raised his head, calmly stared at Qitian Muchen, and softly said, ”You killed those women.”

Qitian Muchen was struck by a bolt from the blue. He didn’t expect his father to immediately see the lie. His heart a mess, he wanted to deny it, but was reminded by Qitian Muyue who tugged his sleeve.

Finally regaining his senses, he bowed his head and replied, ”Yes, Father.” There was no doubt in the valley lord’s words, only certainty.

Qitian Muyu smacked his brother’s head. ”You little bastard! You even lied to your sister and me? I knew it didn’t add up. How could the mistrunner allow you to escape if he killed all your companions and dealt with your strongest beast?”

Qitian Muchen’s words had appeared watertight, but were in fact riddled with flaws after careful scrutiny. Despite his miserable loss, he wanted to elevate himself.

”So you silenced them. You must’ve miserably lost.” The valley lord stared at Qitian Muchen.

He had no choice but to tell the truth. Keeping up the lies would only require making up more. ”Father, he said he would only spare my life if I kowtowed and called him grandfather.”

Calling him grandfather had made him the valley lord’s father. Since Qitian Muchen had been humiliated and insulted, he might as well pass the insult to his father in hopes that the valley lord would be angry enough to help him deal with the hateful mistrunner.

”You did as he asked?” Seething with fury, Qitian Muyu smacked his brother on the back of his head, making him dizzy.

”Big brother, I didn’t want to die. It was the only way to survive. There aren’t many people who are strong enough to be your opponent, so you don’t know what it’s like to stand before the gates of hell.” Throwing caution to the wind, Qitian Muchen vented his anger and unhappiness without fear of repercussions.

Qitian Muyu froze; he had to admit his younger brother was right. As the son of the valley lord, he had never experienced the fear of death. Myriadpath Valley was unrivaled, so their only opponents were Houses Yumo and Suishen, but even that was just friendly competition.

“So he knew who you were,” said the valley lord, ignoring the insult as if he hadn’t heard their conversation.

”Yes, I told him who I was to scare him,” Qitian Muchen admitted in shame.