Chapter 167: Chapter 167: A Pawn Can Be Discarded
The series of retaliations the Fang Family carried out afterward were all done with the Liu Family’s tacit approval. With the Liu Family suppressing them, the Mu Family appeared rather isolated and weak.
In the process, the Mu Family also tried to join forces with the Fu Family, but in this particular game, the Fu Family chose to remain spectators, happy to see the Mu Family suffer a loss.
In such a situation, how could the Mu Family dare to make a move!
If they did, they would be suppressed by both the Liu and Fang Families, likely suffering even greater losses!
At this, a Clan Elder sighed. "And so, Wan Jun, it’s not that we don’t want to act. We simply can’t!"
Mu Wanjun looked at the many Clan Elders present, her expression resolute.
"When the family’s interests are at stake, I understand and wholeheartedly support the Clan Elders’ decision. I can ignore all other matters. However, Chen Ping’an saved my life. I am willing to forgo any family rewards; I only ask that the Clan Elders lend a hand to help him out of his predicament!"
Mu Wanjun’s voice echoed in the Clan Elders Hall, as if to display her determination.
’She would give up the family’s rewards just to save that young man?’
"Foolish!"
A Clan Elder berated her loudly.
"As a legitimate daughter of the Mu Family, how can you act so foolishly!? Our disciples must put the family’s interests first. How can you go against the family’s interests for an outsider? Let’s not even discuss whether this is possible or not—even if it were, an outsider is not worth all this!"
Facing the Clan Elder’s scolding, Mu Wanjun’s expression did not change.
"Chen Ping’an saved my life. Since I was young, the family taught me that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring! Since I have received his grace, I will not stand by and do nothing! I implore the Clan Elders to grant my request!"
A Clan Elder’s face turned ashen. "Are you talking back to me because of an outsider?"
"I have no such intention. I just ask that the Clan Elders grant my request and save him from his predicament!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Wan Jun, calm down, don’t be hasty."
"That’s right, why damage our harmony over a mere outsider."
...
The Clan Elders in the hall all started talking at once.
Feeling indignant, Mu Wanjun looked toward one of the Clan Elders in the hall.
"A promise is worth a thousand gold pieces! Seventh Great-Uncle, this is the principle you taught me! I have already given my word to a friend on this matter. Seventh Great-Uncle, are you telling me to break my promise to my friend?!"
Before Seventh Great-Uncle could speak, another Clan Elder beside him rebuked her harshly.
"How dare you speak to your Seventh Great-Uncle like that!"
"Wan Jun, let me tell you, this is the decision of the entire family. Don’t even think about changing it! Not only that, but since that Chen Ping’an person has been drawn into the whirlpool of this Noble Family conflict, I see no reason to continue with the marriage alliance we discussed!"
The words of the Mu Family Elder echoed in the hall, like a bucket of cold water dumped viciously on Mu Wanjun, chilling her to the bone.
...
When Mu Wanjun walked out of the Clan Elders Hall, she seemed to be in a daze.
A chill went through Mu Wanjun’s heart. She seethed with indignation over Chen Ping’an’s plight!
’He clearly only got mixed up in all this because of the family.’
’The family...’
"Sister Wan Jun, what a coincidence."
A pleasant voice sounded by Mu Wanjun’s ear.
Mu Wanjun looked up and saw Mu Zhixuan in a long red dress. The fiery red color accentuated Mu Zhixuan’s sizzling figure.
"Oh, it’s Zhi Xuan."
Mu Wanjun forced a smile.
"Sister Wan Jun, what’s wrong? Are you upset about something?"
"It’s nothing." Mu Wanjun didn’t answer Mu Zhixuan’s question. "Zhi Xuan, what are you doing here?"
Mu Zhixuan looked puzzled. "A servant just passed on a message, saying the Clan Elders wanted to see me."
’The Clan Elders wanted to see her?’
Mu Wanjun’s expression tightened.
"What for?"
"I don’t know either. The servant who passed the message didn’t say."
"I see. Zhi Xuan, you should go see the Clan Elders then."
Mu Wanjun nodded, a bad feeling rising in her heart.
Deciding not to leave, Mu Wanjun found a nearby pavilion, sat down, and waited for news from Mu Zhixuan.
She had been resting with her eyes closed for less than a quarter of an hour when Mu Zhixuan emerged from the Clan Elders Hall.
"Sister Wan Jun, you’re still here."
Mu Zhixuan had a smile on her face. Compared to when she went in, she looked like a completely different person.
Mu Wanjun looked at Mu Zhixuan. "Zhi Xuan, why did the Clan Elders want to see you?"
"It was about my marriage."
Hearing this, Mu Zhixuan blushed slightly and said, "The Clan Elders said the marriage that was mentioned before has changed. They’ve arranged another marriage for me."
"Arranged another marriage? With which family?"
Mu Wanjun felt her indignation reach its peak.
"It’s the young master of the Gu Family..."
Mu Zhixuan was truly satisfied with this marriage.
Although the Gu Family wasn’t considered a major clan, they were still a Noble Family from the Inner City. And while the Gu Family’s young master wasn’t being groomed as a successor, he was still a Legitimate Son of the Gu Family.
Compared to marrying a young man from a Lower Class background in the Outer City, who had no family connections and had to struggle on his own, marrying the young master of the Gu Family was undoubtedly a much better choice.
’After getting married, she could just manage the servants and the accounts, without having to worry about worldly affairs at all.’
"You agreed?"
Mu Wanjun’s beautiful eyes stared intently at Mu Zhixuan.
"Mm..."
Mu Zhixuan lowered her head coyly.
Compared to a so-called "prospect with potential," Mu Zhixuan preferred someone like the young master of the Gu Family.
’She had seen that Chen Ping’an person. He was handsome enough, but...’
’His family background was just too poor!’
’Forget that the Clan Elders had arranged it this time; even if both men were placed before her and she had to choose, she would still pick the young master of the Gu Family.’
"Sister Wan Jun, do you know about the young master of the Gu Family’s situation? I heard he has his own private garden outside the city!"
Seeing Mu Zhixuan’s expression, Mu Wanjun knew she couldn’t blame her for this and just sighed helplessly.
...
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
Chen Ping’an’s palms shifted through the air, looking like phantoms. The incomparably powerful force made the air crackle with explosive sounds.
Though the Palm Technique was fast, every strike was incredibly fierce and powerful, imbued with a Vajra Aspect!
Great Vajra Palm!
+1!
A line of Experience Points floated before Chen Ping’an’s eyes.
’The Experience Points are enough!’
A look of joy spread across Chen Ping’an’s face. He immediately let out a long breath, ceased his practice, and stood up.
Name: Chen Ping’an
Realm: Inner Qi - Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Public Door Thirteen Blades Perfect, Thirteen Grand Protectors Cross Training Perfect, Golden Bell Shield Perfection, Gale Blade Technique Perfection, Eight Steps Chasing Cicada Perfection, Flying Star Swordsmanship Minor Achievement (0/160), Great Vajra Palm Entry Level (60/60)
...
Not long ago, he had broken through with his Flying Star Swordsmanship to the Minor Success Realm. Now, in one concerted effort, he had also pushed the Experience Points for his Great Vajra Palm to the brink of a breakthrough.
Reaching Minor Achievement in Flying Star Swordsmanship had already pushed Chen Ping’an’s Inner Qi to its absolute limit.
One could imagine that if he also pushed his Great Vajra Palm to the Minor Success Realm...
...he would reach the Celestial Rain Descending Realm Perfection!
Looking across the entire Inner Qi Realm, he would truly stand at the very peak!
