Lin Mu walked into an old restaurant that had a faded name board. There were a few villagers sitting around on the tables while chatting amongst themselves.

"What would you like?

" A tanned middle aged woman walked asked Lin Mu.

"Ah, I'd like some breakfast. Whatever you have.

" Lin Mu replied.

"I'll send some right over, you can take a seat with the others. We don't have private seats left now.

" The woman replied.

"Sure, that won't be a problem.

" Lin Mu said before sitting at a table that already had six people sitting on it.

It was evident that due to being the only restaurant, it was popular and the people who were too busy to cook would come here to have their meal. Things like these were common in villages where a majority of the population consisted of farmers.

They would need to work on the farm most of the time thus often wouldn't have time to cook. Those that had families wouldn't have to do the same as their wives would cook for them.

Lin Mu glanced at the appearance of the six men and found them to be relatively common looking.

"What's the current news around the region, brothers?

" Lin Mu questioned.

The men stopped talking and looked at the newcomer.

"It's the same mostly, but after the incident two years ago things have become a bit volatile. The northern tribes have become active again and the perpetrator of the incident is still at large.

" One of the men spoke with a sigh.

"Oh? I see. I saw the poster at the square while coming here, is he the perpetrator?

" Lin Mu asked.

"Yes. That is the person who has made the lives of us commoners difficult. We now need to pay higher taxes as the army has been deployed.

"

"Aren't the cultivation sects doing anything? I mean, isn't it their duty as well to stop the Northern Tribes?

" Lin Mu replied.

"We don't know much about that we are mere peasants. We can't deal with the matters of the immortals, perhaps only in the city you will find more information about them.

"

"I understand.

" Lin Mu said before his food arrived.

While eating his food, Lin Mu made some casual conversation and learned more things about what had happened. He also learned the exact time that had passed since he was sleeping.

It had been two years and three months since he fell asleep. During that time, a lot of changes had occurred in the kingdom and even in the rest of the empire. The Army had even started recruiting more and more men now.

They were not only recruiting for the position of soldiers but also for jobs such as cleaning, cooking and maintenance of equipment. Only the villages that majors did farming were spared, as food was an essential that no army could do without.

Even the rich were not spared, as their children were being called to work as well. The kingdoms had seen the horrors of the past war with the northern tribes and thus did not want to be careless. They were doing their 120% to ensure that everything would be fine when it eventually comes. For them, they would do over preparation rather than leave the response of the enemies to chance.

Lin Mu also verified the fact that no one could recognize his appearance now that he was looking older. He couldn't find out what was going on in Wu Lim city though, as all they said was that the entry there was restricted.

'Looks like I'll have to see it myself,' Lin Mu thought.

He finished his meal and then left the village. Calling Little Shrubby, he got on his back and continued his travel to the city. The next stop for him will be the eastern town, but he didn't want to stop there choosing to go straight to the city.

Since he was with little Shrubby he couldn't travel on the main road and went through the forested area. But he would only be able to travel up to a certain point before needing to stop.

After reaching the part near the Eastern town, the rest of the way was open plains and if he traveled with little shrubby, he would be easily spotted.

"Wait here, I'll be back in two days at the very late.

" Lin Mu instructed.

"I can't come?

" Little Shrubby asked.

"No, you are too big now.

" Lin Mu replied.

"But I can fight!

" Little Shrubby said with excitement.

"I know you can, but I am not going to fight there… at least not now. So wait here and stay out of sight. You can cook to pass time if you want to.

" Lin Mu explained.

"Okay, I'll wait.

" Little shrubby agreed.

Lin Mu flew away on the short sword and reached the Wu Lim City after an hour. He would have been able to reach it even earlier had it not been for the multiple outposts that had been set up in multiple perimeters.

It would have been fine if it was just normal soldiers, but there were cultivators mixed in there too. Lin Mu couldn't tell which sect they belonged to though, as all of them were wearing the same kind of uniform.

He avoided them by taking longer routes or where he couldn't do this, he used Fade to travel for short distances. But when he had reached the border of the city, Lin Mu found himself to have triggered a formation array.

"What is this, senior?

" Lin Mu asked, feeling anxious.

"It's a tracking and marking formation array. It is used to tell how many people are currently going in and out of the city and who is around it as well.

" Xukong answered.

~Sigh~

"This just gets more and more complicated…

" Lin Mu muttered.

It was evident that the formation was recently set up while he was gone. Lin Mu didn't know if it was done under the directions of Gu Yao or the kingdom, but whatever it was, it had only caused trouble for him.

Lin Mu came to an isolated corner of the city wall and phased through it to enter the city. He knew he was already discovered the moment he stepped into the formation array's range, but he was betting on the fact that they will not be tracking each and every person closely.

Besides, even if he was found out, he was simply going to escape after that.

Entering the city, Lin Mu could see the increased security everywhere. There were even checks at the entrances of the different districts. Lin Mu simply crossed them by either phasing through the ground or blinking past the guards.

His destination was the Ancestral temple which was the main site of the incident. But upon reaching there, Lin Mu found the area to be cordoned off and there was even a strong barrier formation surrounding it.

Lin Mu spotted some Tri cauldron peony sect disciples guarding the area. Lin Mu knew that he wouldn't be able to cross the barrier without causing a lot of commotion thus, avoided it for now.

He changed his aim and went to the Mayor's Manor instead. He also wanted to check up on Wu Hei but reckoned going to the manor would be better for now. Lin Mu knew it was likely that Wu Hei had been controlled too as there was no way Gu Yao would leave his nephew alone.

Appearing at the manor, Lin Mu discovered it to be empty. There were only some servants and guards left there.

Lin Mu spent some time gathering more information and learned that they all had moved from the city.

The Mayor was now in the capital and was given a high position due to his contribution of preventing the Red tide incident from spreading further.

The Red tide is what they were calling the Human controlling blood curse now. But they had been misled and made to believe the red tide was made for just killing, as the commoners that were affected by it had been killed. The mayor claimed that he and his family managed to suppress the red tide caused by Lin Mu.

The claim gained support from the Tri Cauldron peony sect and a few other minor sects as well. The shocking thing was these sects were none other than the ones that had participated in the tournament.

"Seems like they managed to get the sects over to their side as well. But to what extent are they being controlled, that is the question.

" Lin Mu muttered to himself.

"From what I've seen and analyzed. I doubt Gu Yao can control so many people like this multiple times. He is probably going to only control the stronger cultivators like the supreme elder. He didn't want to waste his power in controlling the commoners and thus killed them.

This also allowed him to make a narrative of the curse being used for killing instead.

" Xukong said.