Chapter 047: The Annihilation of a Family in a Single Night

“Brother, what’s wrong?” Seeing Mu Tianhen halt and lift his gaze toward the mountain peak, Mu Tianxue approached with a puzzled look and asked, “Is there some kind of fierce beast up there?”

At the mention of such creatures, both Mu Qianyuan and Mu Tianxiang felt a surge of dread. Recalling the terrifying beasts they had faced before, they wanted nothing less than another encounter. Even with Mu Tianhen at their side, fortune could not always be counted upon; not every crisis ended in miraculous breakthroughs and narrow escapes. Should they come across something even more formidable, death would be almost certain.

Thus, they were eager to know what Mu Tianhen had sensed, or rather, what exactly he had discovered. Among the four, Mu Tianhen possessed the highest cultivation and, naturally, the keenest perception. That he would sense danger before the others was only to be expected. If truly there was some ferocious beast upon the mountain, retreat would be their only option; even the idea of sheltering in a cave was out of the question, lest they end up as prey in their sleep.

Reading the expressions of his companions, Mu Tianhen understood their concerns. He shook his head slightly and said, “It’s not a beast. There’s something happening on the other side of the mountain.”

“This matter concerns us all. Come, we mustn’t rest here; if we delay, it may be too late.”

With those words, Mu Tianhen took the lead, striding up the mountain. As he advanced, he wielded his longsword, hacking open a fresh path through the undergrowth so that Mu Tianxue and the others could follow with ease.

All were practitioners of martial arts, and none were weak. Even traveling by night, their pace hardly slackened. In the time it would take to brew a cup of tea, the four reached the summit and looked down upon the far side of the mountain.

The sight that met their eyes left them all wide-eyed and slack-jawed, their faces a mask of disbelief. Fury kindled in their eyes, and a murderous aura erupted from within.

Was that not their homeland below, the city where they were born—Shun’an City? And in the easternmost quarter, was that not the very estate of the Mu clan?

Yet now, where once stood a thriving district, filled with homes and birdsong, lay a raging inferno. Flames leapt high into the night, illuminating a vast expanse, the crackle and pop of burning timbers echoing through the darkness. Shrieks of agony, wails, and wild laughter rose into the night.

There was no need to guess: the Mu clan had been assaulted in the dead of night, slaughtered without warning, their home engulfed in fire and blood.

Confronted with this horror, none waited for Mu Tianhen to speak. Instantly, each unleashed their full speed, heedless of how much energy they spent, leaping from treetop to treetop, racing down the mountainside.

They would rescue their kin trapped in the flames, they would destroy the invaders, and they would avenge their fallen family. This resolve sprang from the depths of their souls, from their very bones. None needed to be told to give their all—even death would not deter them.

Witnessing this, not only were the Mu Tianhen and his companions in the illusion shaken, but even those observing from reality felt a chill in their hearts, struck by the uncanny realism of the vision. Even Mu Qianyuan, who had initiated the trial, had not anticipated such a twist. The earlier encounter with wild beasts in the wilderness was one thing—such dangers were to be expected. But now, a whole city had been conjured, and such a calamity had unfolded within it. This was beyond comprehension, beyond anything Mu Qianyuan could control.

At the same time, a strange anger rose within him, tinged with killing intent. No matter if it was illusion or reality, the Mu clan was still the Mu clan. Seeing his family so attacked, even a saint would burn with wrath.

Only Mu Tianxue felt differently. Her concern was solely for her elder brother, hoping he would not act rashly and become ensnared by this illusion, defeated by a demon of the heart. She knew that as long as her brother lived, her life had purpose. As for the others, she cared not at all.

Thus, Mu Tianxue’s gaze never left her brother.

By now, in the illusion, Mu Tianhen and the others had reached the foot of the mountain, racing toward the sea of fire, now less than three miles away.

The flames roared higher, and the mingled sounds of agony, battle cries, and crazed laughter formed a dirge that filled the night.

At last, they reached the scene and saw the truth with their own eyes.

Within the blazing inferno, not a soul survived. No more screams were heard. Every member of the Mu clan had perished in the flames.

A wild laugh resounded from nearby, and figures began to emerge from the firelight—thirty-six in all.

Mu Tianhen, Mu Tianxue, and their companions recognized them immediately. They were the heads of all the prominent families in Shun’an City, thirty-five in total, great and small—all present except for the Dai clan.

At the forefront, the one who had laughed so arrogantly, was the current City Lord, Gu Yiming, head of the Gu family.

This man’s cultivation was profound; among his peers, he was unmatched, having reached the ninth tier of the Blood Ignition Realm, and at any moment could break through to the Heaven-Gazing Stage. Thus, all the other family heads followed his lead.

Yet Mu Tianhen paid him no mind, his attention drawn to a shadowed corner.

By now, Gu Yiming had spotted the four of them and fixed them with a cold stare. He started in surprise, then threw back his head and laughed, a sneer curling his lips as he jeered, “So there were a few fish that slipped the net. Surround them—let none escape!”

“After tonight, there will be no Mu clan left in this world!”

At his command, more figures swept forth from the darkness—thousands in all, swarming around Mu Tianhen and his companions, sealing every avenue of escape.

Despite the overwhelming numbers and the enemy’s formidable strength, not one of Mu Tianhen’s group displayed the slightest fear. On the contrary, their fighting spirit and rage only blazed higher.

Gu Yiming, seeing them so hopelessly outnumbered, felt certain they could not escape, even with Mu Qianyuan—who had reached the fifth tier of the Heaven-Gazing Stage—among them.

It was common knowledge that even a powerful warrior could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. No matter how strong you are, can one person defeat thousands? If nothing else, endless attacks would wear you down.

Thus, Gu Yiming stood atop a high vantage point, looking down at Mu Tianhen and shouting, “Mu Tianhen, I have done you a favor by killing these kin who wished you harm. Should you not thank me before you die?”

Mu Tianhen ignored him, turning instead to his companions. “Fight without restraint—slaughter them all! Remember, the three of you must stay together; do not let them separate you.”

He cast a cold, sweeping glance at the enemy, his words sharp as ice: “Matters of the Mu clan are not yours to meddle in! For daring to destroy my clan, you will all pay the price in blood!”

“When dawn breaks, only the Mu and Dai clans will remain in Shun’an City. Kill!”

With that, Mu Tianhen unleashed his martial skills and charged headlong into the enemy ranks.