Chapter 014: The Hidden Trump Card

“The wind sweeps the last clouds!”
A thunderous shout echoed across the heavens and earth. Mu Tianhen pressed his feet to the ground, and in a flash, his body shot upward, rising three feet into the air as his long sword left its sheath.

Swish swish swish...

Sword light flickered, sword flowers blossomed—like snow caught in the wind, blanketing the sky, surging forth to meet the oncoming deadly arrows.

Clang clang clang...

Amidst the dense clash of metal, every arrow was blocked, falling harmlessly to the ground. Not a single one came close to Mu Tianhen, let alone harmed him.

“What kind of sword technique is that?”

On the courtyard wall, Gu Lingyun stood dumbfounded, his face filled with shock, as if trapped in a dream.

He knew Mu Tianhen was strong—always had been, the foremost of their four prodigies. Yet he had never imagined Mu Tianhen possessed such terrifying power.

The archers were even more shaken, their hands trembling uncontrollably as they clutched their bows, eyes fixed on the descending Mu Tianhen.

Those bows had been specially modified—they could easily slay martial artists below the third layer of the Blood Ignition Realm. Even a master at the fifth layer would find it hard to escape unscathed when faced with a storm of arrows.

In a sudden ambush, even the strongest, like Mu Zihao, could be injured and collapse.

But now, Mu Tianhen had not only emerged unharmed, he had effortlessly knocked every arrow aside. Everyone understood what that meant.

Gu Lingyun, however, refused to accept it. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Let’s see if you can save everyone! Prepare, shoot the others—”

Swish swish swish...

Before Gu Lingyun could finish, the situation changed again.

From the shadows of the courtyard, arrows suddenly flew, striking the archers atop the wall unprepared, sending them scattering, wounded and fleeing.

Even Gu Lingyun himself took an arrow in the arm, retreating in pain and soon vanishing into the dark forest.

“Don’t chase desperate foes!”

Mu Tianhen waved his hand, stopping his archers from pursuing, lest they suffer losses.

He then turned to Mu Tianxiang, who had already risen, took out several antidote fruits, and instructed, “Crush them, mix with water, and give it to everyone. It will quickly neutralize the poison.”

Mu Tianxiang nodded, took the antidote fruits, glanced at Mu Tianhen, then turned to carry out his orders.

Meanwhile, the archers approached Mu Tianhen, forming two rows. All were clad in black, faces covered, their identities hidden.

Mu Tianhen looked at the masked figure standing front and center, stepped forward, and said, “You’ve finally returned.”

Bang!

The man hurriedly knelt on one knee, head bowed. “I am late, my lord, and have caused you distress. Please punish me!”

“Please punish us, my lord!”
The masked men behind also knelt to seek forgiveness.

Mu Tianhen waved his hand. “It’s good you’ve returned, there is no fault. Rise, all of you.”

With that, Mu Tianhen personally helped the leader to his feet, slipped a folded note into his palm, tightened his grip, and spoke no more.

The man grasped the note firmly, nodded deeply, then turned and led his group away.

This entire scene unfolded before the family, who watched in confusion, their eyes fixed on Mu Tianhen.

Everyone wanted to know who these masked men were, and why they called Mu Tianhen their lord.

If they were a hidden force cultivated by Mu Tianhen, why, during the past four years of humiliation—when Mu Tianhen was nearly killed—had they never appeared?

Mu Zihao and his son were especially puzzled, desperate to understand what was happening. They also realized how foolish it was to oppose Mu Tianhen.

Alas, their lives were nearly at an end, and even speaking was beyond them.

“Ugh... ugh...”
Mu Zihao used the last of his strength to call out to Mu Tianhen, blood spilling from his mouth, death drawing near.

Shhh!

A cold gleam flashed in Mu Tianhen’s eyes as he looked at Mu Zihao and his son. His voice, icy, floated from his lips: “You two have committed countless crimes; you deserve more than death!”

He then turned to Mu Tianyou’s mother, Yang Cui, and said coldly, “Take them away, don’t dirty the ancestor’s courtyard. From this moment, you are no longer part of the Mu family.”

Everyone understood his meaning—Mu Zihao’s line was being expelled from the clan.

Yang Cui, tears streaming, knelt before Mu Tianhen. “Tianhen, I beg you, save them! Please! They were blinded, that’s why they wronged you so many times.”

“No matter what, they are still Mu family—they are our own!”

Many felt sympathy for Yang Cui, for everyone bore the Mu bloodline.

But Mu Tianhen had no such thoughts. He would not show mercy to his enemies. They had tried, again and again, to kill him, to push his sister into ruin. How could such people be spared?

Not striking them down outright was already mercy.

Therefore, no matter how Yang Cui pleaded, Mu Tianhen ignored her and walked slowly toward Mu Tianxue and the others, who had recovered.

At this moment, whatever others might think, none dared speak. If they angered Mu Tianhen, they would be expelled as well.

Seeing her pleas fail, Yang Cui erupted in rage. “Mu Tianhen! How can you be so heartless, disregarding the ties of blood!”

“Ties of blood?” Mu Tianhen replied coldly. “You speak of blood now? When you acted against me and Xue’er, when you sought my death, did you ever think of blood ties?”

“Yang Cui, your family’s fate is your own doing; blame no one else! Now, take them and get out, before I change my mind!”

“You...” Yang Cui gritted her teeth, laughed bitterly through her tears, and rose. “Fine! You’ll see, you’ll see! I swear by heaven, I will make you pay a hundredfold for this!”

With that, she called her kin to carry Mu Zihao and his son away, hoping against hope to save them.

But the wounds were too severe; father and son died that very night, crossing the threshold into the afterlife.

Meanwhile, after drinking the antidote, the clan members recovered and, sensing the mood, bid farewell to Mu Tianhen and his group, returning to their own quarters.

Soon, only Mu Qianyuan, Mu Tianhen, Mu Tianxue, and Mu Tianxiang remained in the courtyard. They entered the house, sat around the table, and slowly drank tea.

For a time, the room was utterly silent; no one spoke.

The others glanced at Mu Tianhen, wishing to ask questions, but dared not.

Mu Tianhen, understanding their thoughts, took a sip of tea and smiled. “You need not ask—when the time comes, you will know. Tomorrow, I’ll go out to find medicine for the ancestor, to completely dispel the poison of winter.”

Mu Qianyuan nodded. “Little Hen, you are the most outstanding of our Mu family’s younger generation. Follow your plan—I support you.”

“However...”
Mu Qianyuan deliberately paused before continuing, “You must be prepared. Yang Cui will not let this go. She’ll ally with the Yang family, recall her eldest son Mu Tianfeng, and seek revenge for Mu Zihao and Mu Tianyou, to seize the position of clan leader.”

Mu Tianxue and Mu Tianxiang nodded emphatically, supporting Mu Qianyuan’s words.

Mu Tianhen smiled. “Thank you for your guidance, ancestor. I have already considered these things.”

“Better to be thorough,” Mu Qianyuan said. “Mu Tianfeng was the first in Shun’an City to become a disciple of the Heavenly Pavilion—his cultivation is not low.”

“Now, even I may not be able to handle him.”

At these words, Mu Tianxue grew anxious, clutching Mu Tianhen’s arm tightly.

Mu Tianhen gently patted his sister’s head, smiling affectionately. “Don’t worry, I’ll be ready. It’s late, ancestor, please rest early.”

“While I’m away, I’ll rely on you and Tianxiang to look after the family.”

With that, he led his sister away. Mu Tianxiang soon followed, bidding Mu Qianyuan farewell.

Watching Mu Tianhen depart, Mu Qianyuan lingered, gazing after him for a long time, murmuring, “Those masked men... are they your trump card? I hope you can withstand all that is to come.”