Chapter 18: Taking Advantage of a Crisis

Ling Tian’s injuries were extremely severe. Not only was there a half-foot-long gash across his belly that exposed his intestines, but the bone in his right arm was mostly broken. Several of his ribs and collarbones were also fractured, and even his internal organs had suffered extremely serious damage.

After examining Ling Tian’s injuries, Mu Xian couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

Mu Xian had not personally witnessed the battle before he rushed back to the family, but from Ling Tian’s wounds, he could fully imagine how tragic the fight had been.

One could say, given the extent of Ling Tian’s injuries, it was a miracle he had managed to hold on until Mu Xian returned to the family.

Thinking that Ling Tian had been injured entirely to protect his mother and himself, Mu Xian’s heart felt warm. He was especially careful while treating Ling Tian’s wounds, using his Spiritual Sense to scan every part of Ling Tian’s body to avoid leaving any hidden dangers.

It took a full hour for Mu Xian to finish bandaging all of Ling Tian’s wounds. By then, there was no color left in Mu Xian’s face. He wasn’t tired; he was terrified by the severity of Ling Tian’s injuries.

“Uncle Ling, the contents of this jade box are very helpful for your recovery and replenishing your vitality. It is yours until your injuries are completely healed.” Finally, Mu Xian took out the Divine Blood Jade Marrow from his robe without hesitation and handed it to Ling Tian, his expression grave.

“Xian’er, Uncle Ling has suffered so much for our mother and son. If you have any precious medicine to give him, just give it. How can you still think about taking it back?” As soon as Mu Xian finished speaking, Tang Qiluo muttered discontentedly.

Upon hearing this, Mu Xian’s face immediately fell. He couldn’t agree, but he couldn’t refuse either. After all, he was counting on the Divine Blood Jade Marrow to advance his cultivation and protect his life. Merely lending it to Ling Tian already pained him a little. Now, his mother actually wanted him to give it away directly.

Mu Xian really wanted to shout and question his mother, “Are you really my birth mother? Is this how you trick your own son?”

But then he remembered that he actually wasn’t Tang Qiluo’s biological son, and he immediately felt a bit guilty.

“Mother’s lesson is absolutely right. I was wrong, child, to speak such nonsense.” Under the gaze of Tang Qiluo, Ling Tian, and Ling Zhan, Mu Xian answered, his face flushed red.

Mu Xian only felt heartache for a moment before he thought it through. Although the Divine Blood Jade Marrow was precious, it was just an object, and there were many substitutes. Someone as loyal to the family as Ling Tian was one of a kind.

Without the Divine Blood Jade Marrow, his cultivation speed would at most slow down a bit. But disappointing his mother would plant an Inner Demon in his heart and might also cause Ling Tian to feel resentful. It was better to be generous and give the Divine Blood Jade Marrow away. After all, if Ling Tian and Ling Zhan’s cultivation improved, it would be beneficial for both him and the family.

Ling Tian didn’t know what was in the jade box, nor how precious it was. He simply thought Mu Xian was being childish, reluctant to give away something valuable. Seeing Mu Xian lower his head and admit his mistake to Tang Qiluo, he said a word in Mu Xian’s defense and then tucked the jade box into his robe.

Ling Zhan seemed quite happy to see Mu Xian embarrassed. He giggled nonstop on the side, looking very smug.

“Second Uncle, it’s been a month with no news from your elder brother. Do you think something might have really happened to him?” After exchanging some pleasantries, Tang Qiluo’s mood suddenly became low, and she asked softly.

Ling Tian opened his mouth upon hearing this, but didn’t know what to say. In the end, he simply closed his mouth and said nothing, though the look of pain on his face said it all.

“Mother, on the way back, I cast a divination for Father. The hexagram showed ‘Lamenting and weeping, no blame.’ This means although Father will encounter danger on this trip to the Poison Mist Swamp, his life will not be in peril. So you can rest assured.” Seeing his mother’s utterly grief-stricken expression, Mu Xian interjected at the right moment.

Mu Xian’s words were not groundless. In his past life, he had read extensively, drawing inferences from related topics. He had studied almost all the doctrines of the various schools of thought. Among them, what interested him most was Divination Studies, which he revered as a close relative and teacher. Whenever he faced a difficult decision, he would directly cast a divination. Over time, his skill in interpreting hexagrams grew higher and higher, with almost no mistakes.

If Mu Xian had said this at any other time, Tang Qiluo would certainly have scolded him impatiently. But at this moment, Mu Xian’s words were like the last lifeline, causing a flicker of light to flash in Tang Qiluo’s dim eyes.

“Xian’er, you can perform divination?” Tang Qiluo grabbed Mu Xian’s arm excitedly and asked, her voice trembling.

“Mother, I have only touched the surface. I could divine that Father encountered extreme danger, but was finally aided by a noble person and turned danger into safety. Beyond that, I cannot divine more.” Mu Xian nodded and answered softly.

“It’s fine as long as he’s okay. It’s fine as long as your father is okay.” Mu Xian’s words were like an anchor, instantly calming Tang Qiluo’s mood. She patted her chest and spoke.

Ling Tian and Ling Zhan looked at Mu Xian with great curiosity. They really couldn’t understand how Mu Xian, who had only been away for three short years, could have changed so much upon his return. Was Yunyang Academy really that miraculous?

“Brother, what exactly does Yunyang Academy teach? You’re so amazing; you must be the best student at Yunyang Academy, right?” Like his father Ling Tian, Ling Zhan was also a straightforward person who said whatever came to mind.

“Yunyang Academy? It encompasses everything. It teaches everything imaginable. There’s no subject it doesn’t offer. I just learned a little bit of the basics at Yunyang Academy; I’m hardly considered outstanding.” Seeing Ling Zhan’s intensely curious expression, Mu Xian smiled and answered vaguely, avoiding the important details.

Hearing this, Ling Zhan’s eyes widened, and a look of longing appeared on his face.

Tang Qiluo and Ling Tian, however, exchanged a smile. They instinctively took Mu Xian’s words as modesty. If someone as excellent as Mu Xian wasn’t considered outstanding, then Yunyang Academy would be too terrifying.

“Mu Xian, you do have some self-awareness, knowing you’ve only learned the basics.” As soon as Mu Xian’s words fell, a jarring voice came from outside the courtyard. At the same time, the sound of noisy footsteps reached the ears of everyone in the room.

“Do you think he doesn’t want to boast? The key is that boasting is easily exposed. What if the big dummy asks him to show off a few moves and he can’t? It’s better to tell the truth, so at least he won’t be embarrassed if found out, and he gets a reputation for modesty too.” Another voice immediately chimed in, also full of disdain for Mu Xian.

Hearing these two abrupt voices, the expressions of everyone in the room turned very ugly. They instinctively looked toward the door and saw over a dozen people crowding into the Mu Family’s main courtyard. Behind them were two battered Mu Family guards.

After clearly seeing the faces of these people, Ling Tian swiftly rolled off the bed. Ling Zhan directly grabbed the Long Halberd placed in the corner. The faces of Tang Qiluo and Mu Xian also turned extremely grim.

Because this group of people were clearly from the Wang Family of Shitang Town. Walking at the front were the Wang Family Head, Wang Xiangnan, and the Li Family Head, Li Qingyu. Behind them were over a dozen Elders from the two families.

Among this group, not only were Wang Xiangnan and Li Qingyu both True Essence Realm cultivators, but almost all of the dozen or so people with them were at the Condensed Essence Realm.

After entering the Mu Family courtyard, these people began scanning the area without restraint, wearing extremely arrogant expressions on their faces.

“Madam, the Wang and Li Families have come demanding repayment of debts. The two of us could not stop them no matter what. We beg for your punishment!” The two guards made a wide detour around the Wang and Li Family people, then immediately knelt in the courtyard with a thump, shouting loudly.

Seeing the direction the two guards were kneeling, the group that had been heading straight for the North Courtyard instinctively turned their gaze toward the East Courtyard, their faces full of confusion and doubt.

Shouldn’t the ones in charge of the Mu Family now be Mu Deyu or Mu Guitu? Why was it still Tang Qiluo?

“Family Head Wang, Family Head Li, coming uninvited like this shows you hold our Mu Family in far too little regard.” Tang Qiluo took light steps forward, swept a cold glance over the crowd in the courtyard, and spoke, her pretty face stern.

“Madam, you exaggerate. We simply heard a lot of commotion here and thought the Mu Family had encountered thieves, so we wanted to come offer some support.”

“A misunderstanding, absolutely a misunderstanding. Our three families in Shitang Town share a common breath and branches. We should support each other. As soon as we saw the surge of bloody air at the Mu Family, we rushed over to help.”

Seeing that the situation’s development seemed different from their anticipated outcome, and Tang Qiluo was both firm in attitude and seemed confident, Wang Xiangnan and Li Qingyu, who had been sarcastic earlier, immediately changed their tune, speaking with wide, ingratiating smiles.

As Wang Xiangnan and Li Qingyu spoke, their eyes were fixed intently on Tang Qiluo, trying to detect any weakness in her expression.

Wang Xiangnan and Li Qingyu’s purpose in coming to Mu Manor was naturally not as friendly as they claimed. In fact, they came with the goal of taking advantage of the crisis.

The Wang, Li, and Mu Families in Shitang Town were originally three evenly matched forces. But thirty years ago, the Mu Family produced a freak like Mu Yuanshan, who then brought back a Tang Qiluo from outside. The balanced situation in Shitang Town was immediately broken. Under the Mu Family’s strong suppression, the Wang and Li Families could only survive in the cracks.

Over a decade ago, although Mu Yuanshan’s cultivation was crippled and he was expelled from Xuanmen Palace, he did his utmost to conceal the news. By the time the Wang and Li Families realized what had happened, Mu Yuanshan had already cultivated back to the True Essence Realm, which frustrated the Wang and Li Families immensely.

Enraged and humiliated, the Wang and Li Families immediately united to deal with the Mu Family. After clashing, they discovered that after over a decade of development, the Mu Family’s strength had far surpassed their imagination. Even united, they could not overcome the Mu Family, only barely managing a mutually destructive outcome.

In the following years, the Wang and Li Families colluded and worked together, almost clashing with the Mu Family every year. Unable to withstand the constant harassment, the Mu Family took the initiative to surrender significant benefits to the Wang and Li Families in exchange for a ceasefire agreement.

After obtaining substantial benefits from the Mu Family, the Wang and Li Families’ offensive alliance immediately fell apart. On the contrary, they began fighting each other. While the Mu Family certainly played a role in stirring things up, their own selfishness and greed were also major factors.

When they suddenly heard the news of Mu Yuanshan’s accident a month ago, the Wang and Li Families’ minds became active again. They hadn’t dared to clash head-on with the Mu Family before because there was no benefit in doing so, and provoking the Mu Family would only lead to a bad outcome.

But if something had happened to Mu Yuanshan, then things would be different.

The Wang and Li Families initially worried this might be a trick by the Mu Family and hesitated to act. Only after discovering that several Elders like Mu Deyu and Mu Guitu had begun to force the issue and were fighting openly within the Mu Family courtyard did they immediately and decisively make their move.