Zhao Jingyan neither confirmed nor denied but, after looking at the material in hand, turned and asked, "Have you asked your brother and Tian Ling about this?"

Tian Zhen confidently said, "My brother will definitely agree; the main issue is that girl Tian Ling, who's a bit picky. But it's not easy to find someone with conditions like Lu Yuan's."

"That girl, Tian Ling, is quite picky. Even though Lu Yuan is talented, he's not particularly handsome. Tian Ling might not take an interest in him. I think you should stop trying to meddle."

Zhao Jingyan let out a sigh of relief. As they heard footsteps approaching, he abruptly turned to see Xiao Mu, quickly cutting himself off, "Brother Mu is back. How was today's haul?"

"I roamed the village all day with nothing much to show for it. I marked off a new area and plan to explore it tomorrow. Just now, I saw Brother Zhao and sister-in-law talking, so I didn't go in. Please excuse me!"

Xiao Mu bowed politely to Zhao Jingyan and Tian Zhen to apologize before entering the Zhao Family home.

"Brother Mu is back. I'll cook some food. Is there anything you'd like to eat?" Tian Zhen shifted the conversation away from her earlier topic with Zhao Jingyan and looked toward Xiao Mu.

"Sister-in-law, please don't trouble yourself. As a Mutated Being, I normally don't eat."

Xiao Mu tactfully declined and thanked Tian Zhen, his fondness for her increasing. Both of the Old Zhao couple were kind, but Tian Zhen, as an ordinary villager, was exceptionally hospitable and warm-hearted.

While talking, he took the opportunity to glance at the incense fire swirling above Tian Zhen's head, which had grown noticeably thicker compared to when he had left in the morning.

Xiao Mu understood that Tian Zhen must have been worshipping the Divine Spirits, and feigning nonchalance, casually asked, "Sister-in-law, did you pay homage to the Divine Spirits?"

"Yes, everyone in the village who hasn't undergone Mutation has this habit," Tian Zhen replied with a smile. After glancing at Xiao Mu, she added casually, "Brother Mu, as a Mutated Being, you must find our practices strange, right? You probably think we're overly superstitious and foolish?"

Indeed!

Xiao Mu mentally responded but could only verbally offer, "You're overly modest, sister-in-law. Everyone has the freedom of belief, and while I am a Mutated Being, I wouldn't interfere with others' faith."

"Brother Mu, you're truly enlightened!"

Tian Zhen praised him with a smile, then excused herself to grab vegetables from the car trunk to cook, leaving Zhao Jingyan and Xiao Mu in the courtyard.

"Brother Zhao, what are you planning to craft?" Xiao Mu glanced at the Mutated Black Iron in Zhao Jingyan's hands, as well as the several large pieces of Mutated Bronze material piled on the ground.

Zhao Jingyan explained, "Per the deputy captain's request from the Village Protection Team, I'm preparing to forge a Guillotine first."

"Brother Zhao possesses the Artifact Refiner heritage, so forging a Divine Treasure for the Village Protection Team should be no problem," Xiao Mu casually complimented Zhao Jingyan.

"You flatter me too much."

Zhao Jingyan suddenly chuckled bitterly, "This time, the Village Protection Team's requested Treasures are of a higher caliber. The Guillotine is manageable, just a Ding-ranked Treasure, and not too difficult for me to forge. But the Execution Stake is also Ding-ranked, and I have never crafted that before – I might not succeed this time."

He shook his head as he spoke, appearing genuinely troubled.

"Brother Zhao, ah, Brother Mu is back."

At that moment, Zhu Ping's voice echoed from the direction of the gate, and upon turning, Xiao Mu noticed Zhu Ping and Li Gujian appeared at the entrance.

"Old Zhu, Xiao Li, how did it go?"

Zhao Jingyan placed the Black Iron Material down and inquired about Zhu Ping and Li Gujian's day out exploring with concern.

"Forget about it!" Zhu Ping sighed, frowning, "Only after personal exploration did we realize that it's not easy to find the Mutant Beings from the Life and Death Sect."

Li Gujian pitched in, "We should have realized this sooner; if the whereabouts of the Life and Death Sect's Mutant Beings were easy to find, the Mutant Beings from our village would have fought them countless times already."

"It looks like you have an idea," Zhao Jingyan probed, sensing there was more to Zhu Ping and Li Gujian's words as his gaze swept over them.

Zhu Ping declared, "Xiao Li and I have decided that we'll join the Village Protection Team tomorrow and work alongside them."

"Congratulations to Brother Zhu and Brother Li."

Xiao Mu congratulated Zhu Ping and Li Gujian with a bow.

He had hoped the two would join the Twilight Forest Village's Village Protection Team because now Zhu Ping and Li Gujian could occasionally provide him with Information.

"Brother Mu, don't you plan to join the Village Protection Team?" Zhu Ping looked at him curiously, and Li Gujian also turned towards Xiao Mu, puzzled.

"I have some private affairs that I haven't yet settled, so I can't afford to join the Village Protection Team for the time being. Maybe after I handle my affairs, I will join you and Brother Zhu and Brother Li in the Protection Team," Xiao Mu explained his reasons for not joining with tact.

"Private affairs are indeed important."

Zhu Ping nodded, without probing further into Xiao Mu's personal matters.

Zhao Jingyan and Li Gujian did not inquire further either.

After chatting a bit more with the three, Xiao Mu returned to his room.

Once back, he continued his Cultivation, taking out Energy Fruits and consuming them one after another, transforming them into Power that coursed through his body.

The night quickly passed, and Xiao Mu stopped Cultivating early the next morning.

Today, he planned to follow Tian Zhen to see what the common villagers of Twilight Forest Village's Divine Spirit worship was truly about and hoped to find Information related to the Mutant Beings of the Life and Death Sect or Cultivators of divine resemblance.

He listened for movements in the courtyard, ready to leave his room when Tian Zhen departed.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock on the door broke the silence, and Xiao Mu opened his door.

Zhu Ping had just come downstairs and was standing at his door, extending an invitation, "Brother Mu, I'm off to report to the Village Protection Team today. If you're free, would you like to come along and have a look?"

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