Chapter 30: Countermeasures

Shun’an City, Main Residence of the Mu Family.

Mu Tianxue paced back and forth in the courtyard, her eyes fixed on the gate, her face clouded with anxiety.

A graceful figure emerged from the house and approached her, speaking softly, “Xue’er, don’t worry too much. Xiaohen will surely be all right.”

It was Mu Tianxiang, the eldest daughter of the Mu family. She had promised Mu Tianhen that, until he returned, she would take care of Mu Tianxue on his behalf.

So, on the second day after Mu Tianhen’s departure, Mu Tianxiang moved in to live with Mu Tianxue, not wanting the young girl to be lonely.

With Mu Tianxiang’s company, Mu Tianxue had been able to keep calm; after all, she knew her brother had gone on important business and would return soon.

But as the days slipped by and there was still no sign or word from Mu Tianhen, anxiety began to gnaw at her. Every day she waited in the courtyard, her gaze hopeful and desperate.

Now, hearing Mu Tianxiang’s comforting words, Mu Tianxue halted her steps, still staring outside. “Sister Tianxiang, my brother has been gone almost three months already!”

“In just three days, the family head succession ceremony will be held. If he doesn’t return by then, someone else will become the family head and drive us both out of the clan.”

Mu Tianxiang reached out to gently smooth Mu Tianxue’s hair and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. Xiaohen will certainly come back. He might even return today.”

“And even if something prevents him from returning in time, who would dare seize his position as family head? Remember, the old patriarch supports Xiaohen…”

“That may not be the case,” a voice interjected from outside the gate, cutting Mu Tianxiang off.

Who else could it be but the Mu family patriarch, Mu Qianyuan?

Mu Qianyuan strode quickly into the courtyard, closed the gate behind him, and approached Mu Tianxiang and Mu Tianxue. His expression was grim.

Seeing this, both Mu Tianxiang and Mu Tianxue felt a chill of foreboding. Something bad had happened.

Mu Qianyuan wasted no time. “I’ve received word: Mu Tianfeng has returned. He’s already passed through Blackstone City and will reach Shun’an City in at most three days.”

“What?” Mu Tianxiang and Mu Tianxue’s faces darkened, their eyes filling with dread.

They had feared this danger; after all, Yang Cui was not one to let things rest. With her husband and youngest son both indirectly killed by Mu Tianhen, she would never let the matter go.

She would surely summon her eldest son, Mu Tianfeng, to avenge the dead, seize the family headship, and slaughter Mu Tianhen, his sister, and any who aided them.

Still, they had hoped for a blessing: perhaps Mu Tianfeng would disdain to return, considering the Mu family beneath him, and continue his cultivation in the Celestial Pavilion.

If so, nothing in the Mu family would change. As long as they held out a little longer, Mu Tianhen would surely be able to join the Celestial Pavilion himself, and then they need not fear Mu Tianfeng.

But unexpectedly, Mu Tianfeng was coming back!

It was a perilous and crushing piece of news.

According to the old patriarch, Mu Tianfeng was likely already at the sixth tier of the Sky-Gazing Realm—second only to the patriarchs of the Dai and Gu families, making him one of the strongest in all Shun’an City.

Even the patriarch of the Huang family and Mu Qianyuan himself were only at the fifth tier; neither could match Mu Tianfeng.

Mu Tianfeng’s return nearly guaranteed earth-shattering changes for the Mu family. The position of family head would inevitably fall into his hands.

Thus, Mu Tianxiang and Mu Tianxue were not the only ones anxious; Mu Qianyuan was deeply troubled as well.

Though both Mu Tianfeng and Mu Tianhen were heirs of the Mu family, and it should not matter who became patriarch, Mu Qianyuan knew that with Mu Tianfeng at the helm, disaster would befall them.

His character was too rigid, his wisdom lacking. As head, he would surely provoke the other great powers to unite against them, erasing the Mu family from existence.

But who could stop this? The Shadow Hawk group Mu Tianhen had left lurking in the dark? They would be no match for Mu Tianfeng.

Now, their only hope was Mu Tianhen.

All hoped he would return in time, his cultivation at least on par with Mu Tianfeng’s, so they might preserve the current balance.

But everyone knew this was wishful thinking—too extravagant to believe.

When Mu Tianhen left, he was merely a fifth-tier Blood-Forging Martial Artist. Even if fate smiled upon him, even with his talent, it was impossible to break through to the sixth tier of the Sky-Gazing Realm in less than three months.

Mu Tianfeng, after all, had taken five years under the tutelage of the Celestial Pavilion to rise from the third-tier Blood-Forging to his current level—a speed already legendary in Shun’an City.

This was precisely why all aspired to join the Celestial Pavilion, seeking stronger techniques and more abundant resources to reach impossible heights in a short time.

No matter how gifted Mu Tianhen was, making consecutive breakthroughs in three months was highly unlikely.

But in their dire straits, what hope had they but Mu Tianhen?

Mu Qianyuan clapped his forehead in frustration. “It’s my fault! When Xiaohen set out, I didn’t give him our only transmission talisman. Otherwise, we’d know his situation now.”

“Patriarch, what should we do?” Mu Tianxue asked anxiously, more desperate than anyone.

First, she feared Mu Tianfeng would return, seize her brother’s position, and exile them. Second, she worried for her brother’s safety.

Mu Tianxiang looked at Mu Qianyuan with equal concern, hoping for a plan.

Mu Qianyuan blew out a breath, his beard trembling. “We must prepare for both possibilities. Let’s go inside and discuss in detail.”

With that, he led the two girls into the house to plan their next move.

What they did not know was that, at that very moment, Mu Tianhen—deep in a mountain gorge—was also preparing to return home.

Mu Tianhen had calculated the time; he could not allow a great upheaval to befall his clan.

He had anticipated from the start that Yang Cui would summon Mu Tianfeng back and attempt to overturn the Mu family.

However, based on his understanding, even if Mu Tianfeng returned, it would not be soon. Members of the Celestial Pavilion rarely ventured into lesser cities for training. Even as a registered disciple, one would remain in a major city, honing their skills and status.

The nearest tier-three city to Shun’an was ten thousand miles away; even at full speed, it would take over two months to reach.

Moreover, Mu Tianfeng would not travel day and night; his arrogant nature meant he would not rush for something as easily attained as the family headship.

Therefore, he would surely appear dramatically on the very day of the succession ceremony—making a high-profile entrance, seizing the family headship in one move, and avenging his father and brother on the spot to cow all of Shun’an City.

More importantly, with Little White by his side, Mu Tianhen need not fear sudden developments.

Following Mu Tianhen’s instructions, Little White had used her unique charm to befriend the animals beyond the thorn wall, becoming close despite never meeting face to face.

Thus, he entrusted her companions to monitor Shun’an City and its environs within a hundred miles, sending him daily reports, allowing him to search for spirit herbs in the gorge by day and cultivate in meditation by night.

Though this method was excellent, and there were still a few places left to explore, Mu Tianhen knew he must return.

So, taking Little White with him, he bid farewell to the small animals, left the gorge, and set out on the road home.