Chapter 166: Chapter 166: The Mu Family’s Reaction
With Mu Wanjun’s assurance, Chen Ping’an left the South Town Garrison Command, quite satisfied.
As a legitimate daughter of the Mu Family, Mu Wanjun’s cultivation had just broken through to the Second Stage of Inner Qi. He figured her status within the family was bound to rise again.
With her vouching for him, and the Mu Family’s own reputation on the line, he believed they would surely take measures to curb the Fang Family’s repeated provocations.
Chen Ping’an was in a good mood, but not long after walking into the South City Prison, he ran into a pesky fly.
"Well, well, if it isn’t Lord Chen, gracing us with his presence! A little later and it would’ve been time to clock out!" Wang Changxu said sarcastically, looking at Chen Ping’an.
Chen Ping’an stopped in his tracks and retorted, "Supervisor Wang, you’re here to inspect my South City Prison. One would think you have heavy responsibilities to bear. So why are you meddling in my trivial affairs all day? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were just idle with nothing to do!"
"You!"
Wang Changxu’s expression changed, and he looked ready to lash out. But then, as if remembering something, his composure gradually returned.
"So Lord Chen knows I have heavy responsibilities! Rest assured, I will certainly bring the lawless to justice and give the entire Garrison Command a proper account!"
"Then by all means, go for it!"
Chen Ping’an walked past Wang Changxu, leaving him with those words, and went straight on his way.
A venomous look flashed across Wang Changxu’s face.
’I’ll let you be arrogant for a few more days!’
’Soon, it’ll be useless even if you come crying and begging to me!’
His coming to the South City Prison wasn’t simply for an inspection. The reason he was here was, of course, that he had received a hint from his superiors.
Chen Ping’an of the South City Prison: all ambition and no talent. Find a way to strip him of his post!
During his inspection these past few days, on top of the problems that already existed within the South City Prison, he had added plenty of his own fabrications! When the time came, with his connections up top, he would turn these matters into an ironclad case!
’Chen Ping’an, if you aren’t the one to be taken down, who is?!’
Hmph!
Wang Changxu sneered, as if he could already see the day Chen Ping’an would be weeping bitterly.
...
After Chen Ping’an left the South Town Garrison Command, Mu Wanjun didn’t dally. She immediately called for a carriage and headed toward the Weishui Inner City.
The Weishui Mu Family estate was located in the heart of the Inner City, a magnificent and sprawling complex of pavilions, an incomparably grand sight.
"Seventh Great-Uncle!"
Upon returning to the clan, the first thing Mu Wanjun did was go to the small courtyard of a Mu Clan Elder with whom she was relatively close.
"Ah, Wan Jun! It’s been a while since you’ve been back! Is there something you need from me today?" The Mu Family’s Clan Elder spoke nonchalantly, swaying back and forth comfortably in his rocking chair.
"Seventh Great-Uncle, I’ve broken through!" Mu Wanjun said calmly, standing to the side.
"What!?"
The Mu Clan Elder known as Seventh Great-Uncle immediately stopped his rocking chair and sized Mu Wanjun up from top to bottom.
"Purification and Rejuvenation! You really have broken through!"
Seventh Great-Uncle was slightly startled as he sensed the incomparably pure Inner Qi emanating from Mu Wanjun.
"Come, Wan Jun, let’s go to the Clan Elders Hall! Everyone needs to know about this!"
"Mm."
Mu Wanjun nodded.
This had been her intention in revealing her new Realm.
...
Inside the Mu Clan Elder Hall, a group of Clan Elders was seated on high, while Mu Wanjun stood in the center of the hall.
"Wan Jun, this is truly excellent!"
"To reach the Realm of Purification and Rejuvenation before the age of twenty-five... you are truly worthy of being called a prodigy of our Mu Family!"
"There are still five years. It seems Wan Jun has a chance to make a run for the Rising Star Chart!"
"We should tell Feiyu about Wan Jun’s breakthrough later. He’d better step up his efforts! He’s been stuck at that bottleneck for a while now. Why can’t he seem to get past it?"
"Exactly, tell him that if he doesn’t break through his bottleneck soon, Wan Jun is going to catch up to him!"
"Indeed! With all the resources the family has poured into him, we need to put more pressure on him!"
"You lot are getting sidetracked! We’re here to talk about Wan Jun."
"Oh, right, right. Wan Jun, for this breakthrough, what reward would you like from the family?"
"Yes, little Wan Jun, just say the word. As long as it’s not too excessive, we can agree to it!"
"..."
Listening to the Clan Elders’ praise and discussion, Mu Wanjun felt a dull ache in her heart.
In terms of natural talent, she was in no way inferior to Mu Feiyu.
But Mu Feiyu enjoyed double, even several times the family’s resources. With this disparity, her Martial Arts Realm gradually fell behind his. Later, she became bogged down by worldly affairs while he focused solely on his cultivation, and the gap between them grew even wider.
’If she and Mu Feiyu had been on the same starting line, who knows who would have come out on top!’
Mu Wanjun shook her head slightly, clearing away these unrealistic thoughts.
"To be honest with all the Clan Elders, there is indeed something I wish to ask."
"Oh? Let’s hear it," a curious Clan Elder said.
"Previously, when our Mu Family was contending with the Fang Family, there were many entanglements between us. Our Mu Family held many cards, one of which was the Fang Family’s Legitimate Son, Fang Rui, being held in the South City Prison. The South City Prison Chief, Chen Ping’an, was diligent in his duties and imprisoned Fang Rui under strict supervision. This benefited our Mu Family greatly.
But now... the Fang Family is retaliating... and Chen Ping’an of the South City Prison is suffering from their constant harassment. I request that the family lend a helping hand to bolster our clan’s prestige!"
"Chen Ping’an? Is that the young man you mentioned before?" one of the Clan Elders asked, a trace of doubt on his face.
Mu Wanjun’s expression turned serious as she replied, "The very same! This man is exceptionally talented and has a chance to make the Rising Star Chart. In the future, he could very well become a true Martial Arts Master! If our Mu Family doesn’t act now, I’m afraid we will alienate him. In the future, even a thousand gold pieces won’t be enough to win back his loyalty."
"Wan Jun, I think you’re exaggerating," one Clan Elder refuted. "Setting aside the matter of the Rising Star Chart, do you have any idea how difficult it is to become a true Martial Arts Master!?"
"Clan Elder, Wan Jun understands. However, this whole affair started because of our Mu Family. Even if this man fails to achieve greater things in the future, shouldn’t our Mu Family still help him out of this predicament? Otherwise, if others see our Mu Family remain indifferent, wouldn’t that damage our reputation?"
Mu Wanjun’s words were logical and well-reasoned.
In the hall, a small number of the Clan Elders nodded slightly in agreement. But the majority remained unmoved.
"Wan Jun, what you say is reasonable! It’s just... the family’s current situation, the difficulties we’re facing... you don’t know the whole story..."
Mu Wanjun stood in the hall, listening quietly to the Clan Elder’s explanation.
The predicament the Mu Family faced was more serious than she had imagined.
The reason they had lost this round against the Fang Family was, in reality, more complicated.
The interests of Weishui’s Four Great Noble Families were deeply intertwined and couldn’t be explained in a single sentence.
But looking at the bigger picture, the Mu Family was the second most powerful noble family in Weishui, surpassed only by the Liu Family.
The Liu Family would not just sit by and watch the Mu Family rise. If the Mu Family had defeated the Fang Family in this struggle and carved out a piece for themselves, it would not have been in the Liu Family’s interest.
Therefore...
The Liu Family had made a move!
