Chapter 762: 762 wants to show Han Yan who’s boss
Huayue and Zirong also had expressions of sheer coldness on their faces. As guards, they were considered servants of the Mu Family, and Mu Chengxuan’s words were like slandering them as well.
Mu Hanyan’s heart chilled too. The Holy Court Continent had a strict social hierarchy, and the notion of rank was extremely strong, just as it was among swordsmen and among noble families. Compared to the Capital, however, Heishi City was located in a more remote area, and its local customs were much simpler. Mu Hanyan, who had been left to her own devices by her parents since she was young, didn’t have such a strong sense of class distinction.
Take Huayue and Zirong, for example; although they were officially guards, she regarded them as friends in her heart, and even as companions she could entrust with her life in dangerous times.
Mu Chengxuan’s words not only shamed Aunt Xiu and her daughter but also insulted Huayue and Zirong.
More importantly, Aunt Xiu had been her parents’ maid and had been managing their old home for many years. She was practically a family friend left behind by her parents in the Zong Family. Zhuang Chengjun’s intrusion into the courtyard with the intent of assaulting Aunt Xiu’s daughter was already a sign of disrespect to her parents.
After Mu Chengxuan arrived, he never mentioned this incident. Instead, he accused Aunt Xiu and her daughter of causing trouble, which clearly showed that he did not regard their family at all.
Mu Hanyan’s eyes narrowed slightly. She felt that Mu Chengxuan’s appearance wasn’t so much about standing up for Zhuang Chengjun as it was about trying to intimidate her.
But was it really so easy to intimidate her, Mu Hanyan?
"I am a servant of the house, but my daughter is not. She is a commoner," Aunt Xiu said, obviously filled with fear toward Mu Chengxuan, but seeing the color of shame on her daughter’s face, she still raised her head and spoke.
"Ha ha, what a joke. Do you really think a phoenix can fly out of a chicken coop? The lowly are lowly, born to serve for life, generation after generation. So what if your daughter is a commoner? With a mother like you, she’s still just a lowlife," Mu Chengxuan said coldly, laughing.
"No, I am not a lowly person!" Han Yunyun bit her lip, defiantly.
Aunt Xiu looked at her daughter with deep guilt in her eyes.
"Such a despicable person, daring to disrespect and rebel against her superiors. If this gets out, others will think that our Mu Family has no concept of hierarchy or discipline!" Mu Chengxuan completely ignored Han Yunyun’s words and spoke sternly.
Hearing his cold tone, both Aunt Xiu and Han Yunyun’s complexions changed drastically, their eyes filled with deep fear.
If Zhuang Chengjun caused them trouble, they could still ask the Mu Family to stand up for them. However, since Mu Chengxuan was not only the grandson of the Third Elder but also the sole disciple of the Grand Elder, if he decided to make things difficult for them, who else dared to stand up for them except for the Family Head? And how could the Family Head, the leader of the family, spoil the harmony within his own family for the sake of a servant?
Aunt Xiu’s gaze became sorrowful and helpless. If the Young Master were still there, perhaps he could have defended them, but alas, the Young Master was far away in Heishi City and couldn’t possibly stand up for them.
"Young Master, please spare her this time for the sake of Yunyun’s youth and ignorance," Aunt Xiu begged, kneeling on the ground.
"I’ll spare her, but only if she obediently goes to the Zhuang Mansion to become Zhuang Chengjun’s concubine. If she agrees to that, then as far as I’m concerned, today’s incident never happened," Mu Chengxuan said with a sneer.
Beside them, Zhuang Chengjun, clutching his lower body, glared viciously at Han Yunyun. His heart was set on revenge: You little wretch, daring to hurt me so severely, just wait until you’re at Zhuang Mansion, and I’ll show you what’s coming to you. With this thought, the pain in Zhuang Chengjun’s eyes was replaced with a sinister glint.
"No, no way, I won’t go!" Han Yunyun instinctively cried out, her face showing disgust.
Mu Chengxuan remained silent, only offering a cold sneer in response.
"Young Master, I beg you, please spare Yunyun." Aunt Xiu cried like rain, continuously kowtowing and pleading.
Mu Chengxuan’s face was indifferent, not even casting a glance her way.
"Mother, don’t beg him. If it comes to it, I’d rather die." Han Yunyun glared defiantly at Mu Chengxuan, her expression resolute, clearly not an empty threat but a true readiness to die rather than submit.
Mu Hanyan looked at her steadfast and determined demeanor, feeling an increased sense of admiration. Unintentionally, a blurry face came to mind, gradually sharpening into clarity—with the same firm and remorseless resolve, strikingly similar.
In her past life, the moment she faced death reappeared before her eyes.
Tang Bu Fan, once an insignificant figure whom Mu Hanyan had overlooked, hardly ever acknowledging him directly, yet when she was in danger, he stood in front of her without hesitation, not even managing a proper counterattack before being cut down by the cold edge of a sword.
To this day, Mu Hanyan couldn’t understand why he was willing to willingly sacrifice his life for her without regret.
If she remembered correctly, although she had treated him well, it was merely that—well. His talents were not extraordinary. Had it not been for his thick-skinned persistence, like a gummy candy sticking by her side, and her sporadic generosity when in a good mood, chances were he would never have reached the Sword Master Realm in his lifetime.
Was this the sole reason he was willing to sacrifice his life for her? Was his life really so worthless?
Reflecting on her various dismissals of Tang Bu Fan, as well as his remorseless determination in his final moments, a profound sense of guilt rose in Mu Hanyan’s heart. She became enveloped in her own thoughts, almost drowning in the emotion and guilt.
The next moment, Mu Chengxuan’s words disrupted her reverie, pulling her back to reality.
"Want to die? It won’t be that easy!" Mu Chengxuan said with a cold sneer.
An invisible pressure enveloped Han Yunyun, so heavy she couldn’t even move her fingers.
Han Yunyun bit her lip, her expression one of utter despair.
This was the divide between a swordsman and a commoner. In the presence of Mu Chengxuan, she didn’t even have the chance to end her own life.
"Mu Chengxuan, shouldn’t you also consider my opinion on this matter?" Mu Hanyan spoke up, her voice ice-cold.
"What, you want to stand up for her?" Mu Chengxuan glanced at Mu Hanyan, speaking disdainfully.
Mu Hanyan’s earlier guess was not wrong. Mu Chengxuan’s apparent defense of Zhuang Chengjun was false; his true intent was to intimidate her, If Mu Hanyan continued to remain silent while he tormented Aunt Xiu and her daughter, then he would be the one disappointed.
"Mu Chengxuan, have you forgotten something? This courtyard was my parents’ old residence, and Aunt Xiu was also an old acquaintance of my parents. Zhuang Chengjun daring to barge in here with ill intentions is a clear disrespect to my parents. Even if I taught him a lesson, it shouldn’t be too big of a deal, right?" Mu Hanyan said coolly.
"You’re not wrong, Zhuang Chengjun’s behavior was indeed inappropriate, and I will deal with him later to give you an explanation. However, the Zhuang Family is also a wealthy family of the Capital, and through marriage, they have a connection with our Mu Family. They are guests invited by our family nonetheless, and if someone needs to be taught a lesson, should it really be left to a few servants?" Mu Chengxuan spoke slowly.
