Legendary Son-in-Law: The Man with Poison Talismans

[Magic Control: 43-67]

[Health Regeneration: 8 points per second]

The attributes haven't changed much, but Lin Mu noticed that the skeleton's minimap coverage area has increased to 300 meters.

Based on previous experience, the teleportation distance should have increased as well. However, Lin Mu tried to command the skeleton to teleport at will, but the skeleton did not change. It seems that the skeleton's teleportation ability was only effective for a short period of time.

He then turned to look at the mythical beast:

[Mythical Beast (Rest)]

HP: 4000/4000

Attack: 100-120

[Defense: 50-50]

[Magic Control: 40-40]

[Health Regeneration: 5 points per second]

The attributes all increased a bit. After all, the legendary beast was always used as cannon fodder and a source of fire in that battle, so it's already good that there was any growth.

Finally, there's Yue Ling:

【Moon Spirit】

HP: 3500

Attack: 220-440

[Defense: 20-20]

[Magic Control: 20-20]

[Health Regeneration: 3 points per second]

Although Yue Ling did not directly participate in killing the Crimson Moon Demon, she probably still benefited from it.

Lin Mu looked through them one by one and had a general idea of ​​what was going on. Just as he was about to lift his head from under the pillow, he heard Gu Qingyi say, "Oh dear, the great hero of Mafa is actually angry? His Majesty said that these things are only returned to the national treasury because you don't need them. You will not be shortchanged on the rewards you deserve."

Lin Mu turned his head from under the pillow, peeking out with one eye to look at her: "What reward?"

Gu Qingyi leaned against the door frame, loosened her arms that she had been holding, and shrugged: "I don't know. His Majesty didn't say. He only said to go see her when you wake up."

Hearing this, Lin Mu felt a little relieved, but he still wouldn't back down: "Then let me see the national treasury list first, just in case there's anything I can use..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chunxing interrupted, "Oh, son-in-law, you should take care of your health first before talking about these things. Your face is still pale!"

As she spoke, she pressed him back onto the pillow and pulled the blanket up a bit.

Unable to resist being pressed down, Lin Mu had no choice but to lie back down. The warm sunlight shone on his face. He closed his eyes and listened to the laughter and conversation of the people around him. His anger gradually dissipated.

At this moment, Madam Qin walked in carrying a tray with a bowl of hot porridge, two small dishes of side dishes, and three steaming buns on it.

She walked to the bedside and put down the tray, her tone full of concern: "It's good that you're awake. You've been asleep for three days, you must be hungry. Eat it while it's hot."

As soon as Lin Mu smelled the aroma of the porridge, his stomach growled loudly. He struggled to sit up, took the bowl, and took a sip. The warm porridge slid into his stomach, and he felt much warmer.

Over the next few days, Lin Mu enjoyed a rare period of leisure.

Chunxing would prepare different dishes for him every day. One day she would stew an old hen, the next day she would cook a pot of beef bone soup, and the day after that she would find a fish from somewhere, steam it, and bring it over. She would watch him eat it all before she would leave, while saying, "Young master, you need to eat more, your face is still so pale."

Chapter 316 Reward

Lin Mu's belly grew rounder and rounder every day as she fed him. Sometimes, when he really couldn't eat anymore, Chunxing would puff out her cheeks and glare at him, so he had no choice but to eat a few more bites.

Qin Yumo would occasionally sit by the window, holding a roll of battle reports in her hands, and read to him the movements on the other side of the city wall.

Which barrier has been reinforced? Which side's monster attacks have weakened? Which squad has retreated to rest?

At Lin Mu's request, he found a message from Bai Ri Men and read it to him: "Bai Ri Men has also sent back news. The daylight has returned there, and everything is fine now. Xue Gui is leading the Bai Ri Men guards to actively clear out the remaining monsters in the wild."

Her voice was calm and clear, without much variation, as if she was afraid that reading too loudly would disturb his rest.

Cai Ling would also come over, quietly helping with chores without saying much, like a cat that comes and goes silently.

Madam Qin would bring in a stew pot every few days, sometimes it was ginseng soup, sometimes it was white fungus soup. She didn't say much, just put it down and left, but every time she came she brought a sense of homely comfort.

Lin Mu was surrounded and served by several people in turn. Sometimes he felt embarrassed, but most of the time he felt comfortable, as if a string that had been taut for too long had finally been loosened.

But every time Lin Mu was with Gu Qingyi, he could always sense the worry and anxiety that she couldn't hide in her eyes.

As she sat by the bed peeling fruit for him, her fingers moved quickly, as if she was in a hurry to finish something first. The peels fell into the dish in fits and starts, breaking several times.

She would occasionally drift off, her gaze passing through the window and landing in the direction of the north city wall. The knife in her hand would freeze in mid-air, motionless for a long time, until she came back to her senses, then lower her head and continue slicing, pretending that nothing had happened.

Lin Mu knew what she was thinking. She had no idea what the situation was like in Mengzhong.

Her parents were trapped there and couldn't get out, Tucheng had already fallen, and she didn't know how much longer Shabak could hold out. These things were like needles pricking her heart. Just because she didn't say anything didn't mean they weren't there.

Lin Mu saw this, but didn't ask any questions. After all, the matter in Beech wasn't finished yet, and he couldn't leave for the time being.

Three more days passed, and the remaining scattered monsters outside Bichon City were finally almost completely cleared out.

The garrison on the city wall withdrew to rest, and people began to walk around the streets again. Although the whole city was still shrouded in a gray and weary atmosphere, at least the suffocating feeling of being besieged had dissipated.

Lin Mu's health had recovered to almost full strength. Chunxing stopped watching him drink soup, and Qin Yumo read the battle reports less and less. Life seemed to be slowly returning to normal.

That morning, an imperial edict was delivered to the Lin residence: His Majesty summons you.

Lin Mu changed into clean clothes and followed the messenger into the palace.

The main hall was much emptier than when I last came. Several civil officials stood on both sides, and Han Zhao stood at the front of the line of military officials. His armor was still covered with dust, indicating that he had just returned from outside the city.

Most of the other military officers were still in various places clearing out the remaining monsters.

There are still scattered stragglers in Woma Forest, Bai Ri Men, and Feng Mo Valley that need to be swept away. There aren't many people in the hall, but the atmosphere is heavy.

The empress sat upright above, with a twelve-tasseled white jade beaded curtain hanging down in front of her crown, swaying slightly and obscuring most of her face, revealing only her chin and thin lips.

Civil officials stood solemnly on both sides, while Han Zhao stood at the front of the military officers' line, his armor still covered in dust brought back from outside the city.

The Empress spoke first, her voice not loud, but clearly carrying throughout the entire hall: "In this battle against the Crimson Moon Demons, Lin Mu made outstanding contributions and protected Bichon, his merits are invaluable."

She slightly tilted her head in greeting, and a female official beside her picked up a scroll with a gold-edged imperial edict and began to read out the rewards item by item, her voice clear and bright:

"Lin Mu, who defended the city, repelled the enemy, and slew the Crimson Moon Demon, has rendered meritorious service that surpasses that of Bichon. Now, by imperial decree, he is hereby granted the following honors."

Lin Mu is hereby granted the title of Celestial Venerable, a rank comparable to the Imperial Preceptor, and the highest Daoist position in Bichon; he is bestowed the title of "Number One Male Daoist Under Heaven," and from this day forth, a full-body stone statue shall be erected in the central square of Bichon, at the site of the Red Moon Demon's execution, clad in a Celestial Venerable's robe, holding a carefree fan, with three summoned creatures—a divine beast, a skeleton, and a moon spirit—behind him; he is also granted the title of Honorary Head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, enjoying the privilege of permanent instruction. Furthermore, he is granted ten thousand acres of fertile land, a luxurious mansion in the south of the city, twenty million gold coins, five hundred million fully gathered spirit orbs, two billion empty spirit orbs, a protective ring, a defensive ring, and a Bichon teleportation stone. This is the imperial decree.

After the female official finished reading the last word, she closed the edict and bowed slightly to Lin Mu.

Lin Mu bowed and thanked the emperor for his grace. As he straightened up, another female official came forward with a tray, on which were two bulging Qiankun bags and a stone with blue patterns.

Lin Mu reached out and took it, glancing down at the stone.

The blue veins flowed gently in his palm, like a layer of shimmering light surging beneath the surface of water. He murmured a phrase, and the information surfaced in his mind:

【Bichon Teleport Stone, 5/5】.

It's alright. In the game, this is often a substitute for players' return scrolls.

At this moment, a low murmur arose in the hall, and the civil officials frequently glanced at him. Han Zhao also couldn't help but look at Lin Mu a few more times.

Lin Mu stood in the center of the hall, carefully accepting the rewards, but his heart remained calm.

What he really wanted was a necklace with high luck. He had even asked Gu Qingyi about it recently. Gu Qingyi said that the highest luck he could find in the world was 2, and there was nothing higher. He was a little disappointed after hearing that.

Does that mean my luck can only go up to 10 at best?

So right now, apart from that batch of Spirit Gathering Pearls, which are still quite useful, the other things are not very meaningful to him.

He turned his head slightly, his gaze passing through the curtains hanging in the hall and quietly landing on the Empress's face, which was half-hidden by a beaded curtain.

The beaded curtain was a twelve-tassel white jade crown, each bead polished to a perfect roundness and smoothness. It swayed gently with the empress's slight head-raising movement, like a layer of fine light shielding her in front of her.

But that couldn't block Lin Mu's view at all.

He stared at the empress's face for a long time and had to admit that she was indeed beautiful, with delicate features and an air of composure that came with long-standing power. However, at this moment, there seemed to be a hint of unease mixed in with that composure.

The Empress also noticed Lin Mu's gaze, her brows furrowed slightly, and she rolled her eyes at him.

Lin Mu didn't look away; instead, the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

He even looked quite handsome rolling his eyes. He winked at the Empress.

The Empress frowned even more, as if she wasn't sure whether the man was genuinely expressing his gratitude or was lost in thought.

She looked away and stopped looking at him.

After the bestowal of honors was read out, the atmosphere in the hall eased slightly, and the civil officials were about to step forward to offer their congratulations.

The Empress suddenly raised her hand to quiet the crowd, her tone shifting to a deeper hue: "In this demon tide, Bichon suffered heavy casualties. Especially around the central plaza where the Crimson Moon Demon descended, there were many mortals..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Master Cen was not spared either."

Chapter 317 The Desolate Earth City

The lively atmosphere inside the hall was instantly extinguished, as if a bucket of water had been poured on it.

Lin Mu withdrew his gaze from the Empress's face and lowered it for a moment.

He recalled the old man in the civil official's robe, with a kind face, speaking slowly and with a scholarly air, who had once invited him to his home for a chat.

Ugh!

Han Zhao stood at the front of the military officers' line, his head slightly lowered, his shoulders slumped under his armor, as if something was blocking his breath and he couldn't relax for a long time.

The civil officials in the hall remained silent. Some touched their sleeves, while others looked at the ground, as if they didn't know where to look.

Just as the silence was about to break, there was a gentle knock on the palace door, and a guard rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, Princess Gu Qingyi is requesting an audience outside the palace."

The Empress raised her hand, gesturing for him to come in.

The palace doors opened, and Gu Qingyi, dressed in a neat and tidy outfit, strode in quickly, her steps slightly hurried.

She walked to the center of the hall, bowed, and spoke in a clear and firm voice: "Your Majesty, the remaining monsters outside Bichon City have been largely wiped out, and the city's defenses have been reinforced. There will be no major problems for the time being. My parents are still trapped in Mengzhong. I am willing to lead a detachment of the Imperial Guards to Mengzhong to investigate the current situation in Shabak and to rescue my parents. If Shabak is indeed in rebellion, I request permission to lead a campaign against them and capture Gu Changfeng to uphold the law."

When she said the last sentence, her tone didn't rise, but she pronounced each word clearly, as if she had weighed the sentence in her mind many times.

The civil officials in the hall looked at each other, some wanting to say something, but seeing the Empress's expression, they swallowed their words.

The Empress remained silent for a moment, her gaze falling on Gu Qingyi, as if trying to read more from her tense expression. In the end, she only said two words: "Granted."