Chapter 7

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As for herself, back then, her father had died while saving Mu Hong on the battlefield. This was the reason she was adopted by Mu Hong to become the Second Young Miss of the Mu family.

In the past, Mu Qianyue had often used this matter to ridicule and embarrass her.

“Rou’er, although you’re not a lineal descendant of my Mu family, you’ve been raised by me since young. I’ve always viewed you as my own granddaughter. How can you do something like this? I am incredibly disappointed in you!” Mu Hong’s eyes were narrowed slightly as he voiced out his displeasure.

“Grandfather, I’ve never thought of snatching Brother Yu… I’m aware that I am only an adoptive daughter of the Mu family and that I am of lowly status. I know that Brother Yu is not someone I can dream of being with. Rou’er is merely content to stay by Brother Yu’s side…” When Mu Yurou looked up, she found herself meeting with Mu Hong’s scrutinizing gaze, causing her to quickly lower her head and weep as she put up a frail and pitiful facade. What astonished her was that in the past when Mu Qianyue would scold her like this, Mu Hong would always step out to berate the latter. Yet this time, Mu Hong actually didn’t take her side!

“Rou’er, don’t worry. I’ll never ever let you down!” Nalan Yu gazed at Mu Yurou with affection, then raised his head to stare at Mu Qianyue ferociously. “Mu Qianyue, I can’t believe you’re so vicious! Just you wait!”

“Noisy! Someone throw out this fickle and heartless cad.” Mu Qianyue dug at her ears impatiently. Two shadow guards instantly appeared, and Nalan Yu was pulled up and mercilessly tossed out of the Defender Marquis Manor.

“Ah, Brother Yu!” Mu Yurou hurriedly ran out after them. However, her heart was blooming with joy. This time Mu Qianyue didn’t only offend Brother Yu, but also the entire royal family!

After the duo left, quietness finally returned to the hall.

“Grandfather, why are you staring at me like this?” Mu Qianyue looked up and couldn’t help but say with a smile when she saw Mu Hong stare at her without blinking.

“Yue’er, Grandfather is really glad that you’re finally sorted out your thinking,” the heartened Mu Hong said.

“In the past Yue’er has been insensible and caused Grandfather a lot of worries. Yue’er won’t do something so stupid in the future again… But Grandfather, aren’t you afraid my actions would offend Nalan Yu and the Emperor?”

“Actually the Emperor has long had thoughts of dealing with the Defender Marquis Manor. This is going to happen sooner or later. So great are our achievements that the Emperor cannot help but feel uneasy.” Mu Hong let out a sigh.

Mu Qianyue’s eyes narrowed slightly. Actually she, too, realized this, and that was why she dared to treat Nalan Yu so impolitely.

“It’s been a long while since you visited your older brother. Go to find him and stop being mad at him. Your older brother only did that for your own good.” As though something suddenly occurred to Mu Hong, the vicissitudes of life were evident on his aged face, as though he had grown much older.

…

Mu Qianyue came to Maple Garden and saw a slim and tall figure standing next to the lake. His jet-black hair was done up with a jade hairpin, and the gentle sunshine was cast upon his exquisite side profile, perfectly outlining his mesmerizing silhouette. The man exuded a warm yet resolute aura.

“Yue’er, you’re here.” Mu Rufeng turned around and revealed a faint smile at the sight of the young lady approaching him.

“Older brother,” Mu Qianyue greeted.

“I’m glad that you’ve sorted out your thinking. Nalan Yu is not a good man for you.” Mu Rufeng reached out to touch her hair with a doting look in his eyes.

A hint of astonishment flashed across Mu Qianyue’s face. How did her older brother find out about what just happened in the front courtyard so quickly?

“You’re indeed well-informed, Brother. Even though you’re physically in the yard, you know everything that’s happening everywhere.”

“Stop teasing me. I’m a good-for-nothing like you now. Seems like the Defender Marquis Manor is on the road to decline.” Mu Rufeng mocked himself, an imperceptible sharpness and killing intent flickering across the depths of his eyes.

Mu Rufeng was her only biological older brother, and also the only male descendant of the Defender Marquis Manor. Born with an indigo soul, he was a rare talent to come by. He could condense True Essence at the age of ten and become a first-stage True Cultivator. At the mere age of 19, he had already reached the Venerate Cultivator realm!

His talent was unparalleled in the entire Phoenix Shadow Nation. Next to him, that Crown Prince Nalan Yu was a weakling through and through!

However, three months ago, her older brother was gravely injured on the battlefield, leading to his dantian becoming ruptured with his powers lost entirely. It turned him into a good-for-nothing completely devoid of Essence Energy. Over this period of time, Mu Rufeng had been staying in his residence and not left the house at all.

With their grandfather getting on in age, and their parents’ whereabouts unknown, despite looking powerful and influential on the surface, the Defender Marquis Manor was in fact in a precarious situation. It seemed that some planning ahead was in order.

Suddenly, Mu Qianyue grabbed Mu Rufeng’s wrist and placed her fingers upon his pulse, her brows slightly furrowed.

Mu Rufeng had wanted to retract his hand, but looking at the young lady’s serious manner, he didn’t have the heart to interrupt her.

Her older brother was in a terrible state—his dantian had been crushed into powder and there simply was no possibility of salvaging it. Suddenly, a bolt of light flashed across her mind. Right! There’s the Ring of Life!

Didn’t Tianshuo say that the Ring of Life had the ability to revive the dead? Then it shouldn’t be a difficult task to reinvigorate the destroyed dantian, right?

A moment later, Mu Qianyue opened her eyes, a serious and resolute look in them. “Brother, I will heal your dantian! You’re not a good-for-nothing! You will definitely be able to go back to what you used to be like and continue to cultivate and become one of the most powerful cultivators of our time, to stand at the peak and arrogantly peer down at the world!”

“Yue’er, since when did you learn the art of healing?” Mu Rufeng said with a smile. Clearly, he didn’t take Mu Qianyue’s words seriously. Once a person’s dantian was destroyed, there wasn’t a way to heal it. Even a master of alchemy didn’t have the means to do so.

“I know you don’t believe me now, but I will prove it to you!” said Mu Qianyue.

“Alright, I believe in you,” Mu Rufeng said, the affectionate smile still on his face.

The speechless Mu Qianyue pouted. It was obvious he didn’t believe her. But then, she knew that it was indeed very difficult to convince him of such a claim.

“Brother, don’t worry, you will definitely be able to cultivate again! I’m looking forward to you protecting me like you used to! Speaking of which, an older brother is like a father. Surely you won’t leave me to fend for myself, right?” When they were young Mu Qianyue and Mu Rufeng were very close, but later due to Mu Yurou’s intentional attempts to sow discord between the two of them, she gradually drifted apart from Mu Rufeng. The duo’s ties became quite terrible, to the point it was as if they were foes.

An older brother is like a father?

This was the first time Yue’er said something like this!

Upon hearing this, Mu Rufeng’s gaze turned warm. “Aren’t you scared you will be left on the shelf?”

“If I’m left on the shelf I’ll pester you for a lifetime! I’ll get you to provide for me for the rest of my life!”

“Okay!” Mu Rufeng scraped the young lady’s adorable and well-chiseled nose.

Looking from afar, Mu Hong was immensely heartened to witness this scene, tears welling up in the depths of his eyes.

“Eldest Young Miss finally sorted out her thinking! Although I don’t know what brought about this sudden change in her, it’s a good thing. Master, haven’t you been waiting for this day?” Next to him, the butler wore a similarly heartened expression on his face.

“Yes! Seeing the two of them get along harmoniously, my heart is put to ease. It’s a pity Feng’er…” Mu Hong sighed once again. The elderly man’s slightly hunched body exuded a weather-worn and sorrowful aura. He looked far ahead, as though reminiscing something. Only after a good while did he continue speaking, “Old Ding, how long has it been since you started working for me?”

“24 years,” replied Ding Hao.

“It’s been 24 years already? How time flies. Do you still remember us galloping in the battlefield back then? How free and happy we used to be. In the blink of an eye we have grown old… I’ve always felt bad that you never married. With your capabilities, it’s beneath you to be working as my butler,” said Mu Hong.