Chapter 006: Looming Storm
“Damn it! Damn it!” In the lavishly decorated grand hall, Mu Zihao roared in anger, his face contorted with fury. He seized the teacup on the table and hurled it down with all his might.
Crash!
The teacup shattered on impact, fragments scattering in all directions. The startled maidservant trembled, stepping back a few paces. Then, fearing punishment, she hurried forward to clear away the shards.
Mu Zihao, however, did not vent his anger on the maid. He waved her away, signaling for her to leave the hall.
Now, only the father and son remained, along with a handful of trusted confidants. The words spoken here would go no further.
Bang!
Mu Zihao slammed his fist onto the wooden table, gritting his teeth. “It was a flawless plan. I never expected that whelp Mu Tianhen would ruin everything! The clan headship was within my grasp, now lost—damn it!”
Mu Tianyou’s face was equally twisted with rage. He added, “And I’ve lost my position as heir! I must get it back. Not only that—I want to seize his fortune as well!”
“Fortune?” Mu Zihao looked at Mu Tianyou with a hint of puzzlement, but then realization dawned. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes. He nodded. “That wastrel must have obtained some great opportunity. Otherwise, how could he have made such rapid progress in just a few days?”
“He was supposed to be a dead man! What right does he have to be favored by the heavens? You’re right, my son. We won’t just take back control of the clan; we’ll also take Mu Tianhen’s fortune for ourselves!”
“If I could make him die once, I can do it again! And this time, there won’t be any chance for survival!”
Upon hearing this, Mu Tianyou lowered his voice. “Father, now that Mu Tianhen has the protection of the Patriarch, how can we kill him and seize his fortune?”
A chilling glint shone in Mu Zihao’s eyes as he replied coldly, “If that old man refuses to see reason and insists on protecting Mu Tianhen, then he’ll be dealt with as well! No one will stand in my way to the clan headship!”
“My son, you’ve just awakened the bloodline of a Warlord. You must cultivate with all speed to make a breakthrough. Remember, our rivals aren’t limited to that wastrel Mu Tianhen—other prodigies will vie with us as well.”
“Six months from now, you must, like your elder brother before you, be chosen by the Celestial Pavilion and become a disciple. It would be best if you could enter as a full disciple straight away.”
“By then, not only this insignificant Shunan City—even Blackstone City itself—will hold no threat for us, no matter the power we face! Tomorrow morning, I’ll seek out those who can help us advance this matter.”
“Even if we must make some concessions for now, we must secure the clan headship. Once you’re a disciple of the Celestial Pavilion, we can reclaim what is ours in due time!”
These words filled not only Mu Tianyou but also the other confidants present with hope for the future. Confidence surged in their hearts, and they awaited that day with eager anticipation.
Mu Tianyou nodded firmly, then turned and left the hall to return to his quarters for cultivation. He was determined to become a disciple of the Celestial Pavilion, to become a figure of formidable renown!
He was, after all, a peerless genius, newly awakened to the Warlord’s bloodline—a dragon among men, destined for greatness. How could the paltry Mu Clan, or this small Shunan City, ever be worthy of his gaze?
After instructing his confidants, Mu Zihao too retired to his room, beginning to lay out his plans. Every detail had to be meticulously considered; there was no room for carelessness.
Elsewhere, Mu Tianhen, having just sent his sister to rest, returned to his own chamber. He seated himself cross-legged on a meditation cushion and began his breathing exercises.
After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Mu Tianhen finished his cultivation, slowly opening his eyes. He gazed out the window and said, “You’ve been here long enough—won’t you come in?”
A hearty laugh rang out as a figure slipped through the window. It was none other than the Mu Clan’s Patriarch, Mu Qianyuan.
Mu Qianyuan scrutinized Mu Tianhen with both eyes and nodded approvingly. “Truly a genius of my Mu Clan! To sense my presence even when I deliberately concealed my aura, and to remain silent—very impressive!”
Mu Tianhen demurred modestly, though inwardly he was quietly delighted.
He hadn’t expected that after cultivating the Infinity Heart Technique, not only had his strength grown rapidly, but his spiritual perception had also significantly improved.
Mu Qianyuan withdrew his gaze and sat down at the table, asking directly, “Tianhen, how did you know I was poisoned by the Frostbane Toxin?”
Mu Tianhen smiled. “Just a guess, but I dare say it wasn’t wrong.”
A guess?
Mu Qianyuan didn’t believe that for a moment. It was impossible to deduce not only the exact poison but even the fact that he had been poisoned at all.
Of course, if Mu Tianhen didn’t want to say more, he wouldn’t press the issue. Some matters should remain unspoken for the sake of both parties.
Mu Qianyuan laughed again. “You guessed right! So, do you truly have a way to rid me of the toxin?”
This was his greatest concern, the matter most urgent to resolve.
Whether warrior or commoner, all feared death and yearned to live. Especially martial artists who had attained a certain level—they wanted to live ever longer, to pursue even higher realms.
Though Mu Qianyuan had lived for over a hundred and twenty years, death still terrified him. He longed to be free of the poison, to increase his cultivation, to touch greater heights.
Mu Tianhen didn’t hide anything. He nodded. “There is indeed a way to purge the poison, but for now I lack sufficient medicinal ingredients. I can only suppress the toxin temporarily.”
As he spoke, Mu Tianhen drew from his robe a detoxifying fruit he had picked at Poison Shark Bay and handed it to Mu Qianyuan. “Patriarch, take this fruit first. It will suppress the toxin for a month.”
“In that month, I will gather all the necessary herbs outside and refine an antidote pill. Then, I’ll be able to eliminate the poison from your body completely.”
Having lived for over a century, Mu Qianyuan was a wily old fox. He knew better than to sit idle and reap benefits without offering anything in return.
So he looked at Mu Tianhen and said, “Don’t worry, Tianhen. I’ll look after Xiaoxue for you and let no one bully her!”
“Thank you, Patriarch,” Mu Tianhen replied courteously, after which he fell silent.
Mu Qianyuan rose at once and leaped out through the window, his voice drifting back, “Beware of Mu Tianyou and his father. They’ll surely play tricks behind your back.”
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Mu Tianhen’s lips as he closed the window.
If those two simply gave up, they wouldn’t be who they were. The question was, what form would their revenge take? That, even Mu Tianhen couldn’t quite pin down.
They would never attack openly—they dared not. It would have to be something done in secret. And if they wanted to do it cleanly, there would be no trace left behind.
In that case, they would surely seek out outsiders as allies, using some excuse to stir up trouble, then colluding inside and out to seize power in one swoop.
“Whom will they choose?”
Mu Tianhen pondered. “The Yang family is in Baling City, nearly a hundred miles away. Travel and communication would be difficult—not their first choice.”
“They’re bound to approach one of the other major powers in Shunan City. Will it be the Huang family, the Dai family, or the Gu family from the City Lord’s manor...?”
He carefully analyzed each possibility, finally arriving at the most likely candidate. He decided to settle this matter before venturing out in search of medicinal herbs—he could not leave his sister exposed to future harm.
With his decision made, Mu Tianhen resumed his meditation, circulating the Infinity Heart Technique, quickly entering a deep trance.
The night passed uneventfully. As the sun rose again, its light painted the world in hues of pink, as if draping the land in a delicate veil—truly a lovely sight.
People bustled about as always, each living their lives as usual.
No one knew that a plan with the potential to alter Shunan City’s balance of power was quietly unfolding.
PS: I have no idea how many readers are following this story, nor how many of you are enjoying it. If you think it’s decent, or have suggestions for improvement, please leave a comment and let me know, will you? My thanks in advance (^～^).
By the way, the contract has been signed. Barring any surprises, the status will be updated tomorrow. Thanks again for all your support!