"Aiden Starr?"
Qin Mu put on a look of confusion, thinking hard before leaning in and quietly asking Lynn Ling and the others, "Have you ever heard of anyone named Aiden Starr?" His tone was gentle, warm—a touch of village intimacy.
The girls quickly shook their heads. "Never heard of him. That surname 'Starr'—so flashy, so rare!" one remarked, her tone playful and a little sharp.
Serena Yunxiang chimed in, "Cowherd, why not ask him which Divine Doctor Qin he wants? Maybe we know them."
Qin Mu nodded and said to Starr, "My junior asked me to ask you: which Dr. Qin are you seeking?"
Aiden Starr smiled, urbane and composed. "His reputation is legendary—the capital's most celebrated young divine physician, Qin Mu. He's also the Heavenly Demon Cult Master, but he's earned the title of Divine Doctor. My own medical arts aren't lacking, but my illness is terminal. Over the years, the more I treat it, the more off-kilter things become—my body turns on itself, the grafted organs rebel and war with each other, refusing to coexist. Not long ago, I ran into the Grand Venerable of Loulan Golden Palace, an old friend, who recommended Dr. Qin, saying his medical arts are godlike. So I came to seek him out."
Qin Mu was furious inside: "Ben Coates causing trouble for me again! That bastard is always making things difficult! The Imperial Preceptor flattened Loulan Golden Palace—why didn’t he finish Ben off instead of letting him escape?"
"So, the Heavenly Demon Cult Master."
Qin Mu suddenly understood. "I’ve heard of him—his reputation is extraordinary," he said, deliberately keeping his tone dignified. (He knew the Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra was powerful, and that Creation Art could even alter species, but he himself hadn’t mastered that level.)
Aiden Starr looked at him with a smile. "I’ve heard the Heavenly Demon Cult Master has many tricks—helping the Imperial Preceptor rebuild the rune warships and wipe out the grasslands, subduing the khan, flattening Golden Palace. He even helped Emperor Evan forge a god-cannon that killed a High Heaven god in one shot. Such a dangerous man—I have no choice but to seek him out, because the Jade-Faced Poison King is even more dangerous."
He smiled and said, "After all, this Heavenly Demon Cult Master is only at the Six Directions realm—easy enough to control. But the Jade-Faced Poison King is ruthless, far trickier to handle. By the way, I heard them calling you 'Cowherd.' Is your surname Niu?"
Qin Mu quickly laughed, "No, it’s not. I used to herd cattle, so my senior sisters and junior sisters just tease me and call me 'Cowherd.'"
"So that's how it is."
Aiden Starr glanced around and said, "There was a god-slaying battle here, I heard the Heavenly Demon Cult Master showed up too, so I came looking for him. Since I ate your fruit, I can’t leave you empty-handed. Watch this!"
He pointed with a finger, and the pits he’d just buried in the soil instantly took root and sprouted, growing at a frantic pace. In moments, each became a towering tree, blossoming and bearing fruit, the branches heavy with crimson fruit.
"Creation Art!" Serena Yunxiang whispered in awe.
Aiden Starr glanced at her, waved his hand, and the fruits dropped to the ground, rolling everywhere. Wherever they landed, they rooted and sprouted, branches shooting up. In moments, the entire mountainside was blanketed with fruit trees, blossoms bursting open, then wilting, as green fruit swelled and ripened until the trees were hung with ripe fruit again.
"Go on, have a taste. See if it’s any different," Aiden Starr said with a smile.
Crystal Blaze reached for a fruit, but Qin Mu shook his head: "Don’t pick it, Crystal. These aren’t good to eat."
Crystal Blaze let go, blinking, and peered at the fruit. They were bright red, exactly like the ones they’d picked before—nothing seemed different at all.