novelraw Chapter 771 greatly underestimated her
Chapter 771 greatly underestimated her
However, what Mu Chengxuan failed to understand was why his grandfather, whose relationship with the Mu Beichen family was as incompatible as water and fire, would speak on behalf of Mu Hanyan?"Chengxuan, your aptitude is not bad, and you are fortunate enough to be taken under the wing of the Supreme Elder, which is a great opportunity for you. But a young age and fame are not entirely good for you. This defeat at the hands of Mu Hanyan serves as a lesson for you, allowing you to understand that there are always people better than you and heavens beyond the skies. In the future, be less arrogant, more calculating, and never underestimate any opponent. This will only benefit your cultivation and do no harm," the Third Elder said with profound meaning.
"Great Elder, I understand. I will devote myself to cultivation and one day redeem my past humiliation," Mu Chengxuan, with his accomplishments at such a young age, was certainly not slow-witted. He quickly grasped his grandfather’s meaning and replied respectfully.
"Good, good. To be neither arrogant in victory nor disheartened in defeat, to find courage after shame, that is the true spirit of a descendant of Mu Fengchen," the Third Elder said with satisfaction.
"Great Elder, about the matter of the selection at Longyan Academy..." Mu Chengxuan looked somewhat ashamedly at his grandfather. He had thought he could easily defeat Mu Hanyan, denying her the chance to stand out in the Zong Family and the opportunity to join the Long Yan Academy. To put it bluntly, he wanted to prevent her from having a chance at the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate, but he hadn’t expected such an outcome and didn’t know what to do.
"I have my arrangements for that matter, you need not worry," the Third Elder spoke confidently, "Although I don’t know exactly what secrets lie within the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate, it is an undeniable fact that Senior Tian Lie soared to the heavens with its aid, reversing the desperate situation and saving the Mu Family from peril, while also driving the Zhao Family out of the Capital.
The situation of Mu Hanyan is strikingly similar to that of Senior Tian Lie. She was also deemed a born good-for-nothing from birth, spent over a decade in Heishi City, and yet attained the strength of a Sword Master. If I have not guessed wrong, she may have obtained the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate that Senior Tian Lie left in the Heishi branch of the Mu family."
"What!" Mu Chengxuan exclaimed in shock, knowing a bit of Senior Tian Lie’s secrets and having wondered how Mu Hanyan, with her lacking talent, could have possibly reached her current level of cultivation. He had not connected the two, but upon hearing his grandfather’s words, he was greatly surprised.
"Besides, what other possibilities could there be?" the Third Elder snorted coldly, "When Mu Beichen sent his descendants to Heishi City, I suspected he had some scheme in mind. But Senior Tian Lie’s lineage has nearly ten thousand years of inheritance without finding the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate, so I didn’t take Mu Hanyan, that good-for-nothing, seriously. Yet, it turns out that he has succeeded after all."
"That old fox, what deep scheming," Mu Chengxuan muttered under his breath.
"But what does it matter how deep one’s schemes are? A good-for-nothing will always be a good-for-nothing. Senior Tian Lie obtained the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate and soon ascended to the Sword Saint Realm. Meanwhile, Mu Hanyan only became a Sword Master, showing that her aptitude is indeed lacking. With your talent, as long as you obtain the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate from Long Yan Academy, keeping her under your heel will be an easy task," the Third Elder said dismissively.
No wonder he thought this way; for most cultivators in the world, the higher the aptitude, the quicker the cultivation, and with the help of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, one’s cultivation can improve by leaps and bounds.
And yet, Mu Hanyan, though she had obtained the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate, only advanced to become a Sword Master, not soaring as Tian Lie had, evidently due to inferior talent.
Regrettably, he was unaware that the reason Mu Hanyan’s strength didn’t improve as dazzlingly as Tian Lie’s was because she underwent meridian clearing and marrow washing, hiding boundless potential, making the difficulty of her cultivation advancement exponentially greater.
In the end, it wasn’t that Mu Hanyan’s aptitude was too poor, but rather too great, so great that even Tian Lie could not compare.
"Great Elder, rest assured, I will not let you down," Mu Chengxuan said with renewed confidence upon hearing this.
"That’s good. In the meantime, try not to provoke Mu Hanyan, especially Ye Lanfeng," the Third Elder said, nodding at his quick recovery, obviously relieved.
"Ye Lanfeng, what’s the background of that person, and what about that sword—what sort of sword is it?" Mu Chengxuan couldn’t help asking about Ye Lanfeng when his grandfather mentioned him.
If he still thought Ye Lanfeng was a mere servant of Mu Hanyan at this point, then he would truly be beyond help.
"What on earth could it be, I can’t quite understand, and that sword... Broken Sword, Broken Sword, could it be... no, it can’t be possible, or at least it shouldn’t be." The Third Elder pondered, murmuring to himself.
"Forget it, let’s not bother with him for now, just remember not to engage him head-on." After a moment of deep thought without arriving at an answer, the Third Elder spoke to Mu Chengxuan.
...
In the end, Mu Hanyan still returned the longsword to Ye Lanfeng.
She knew that relying too much on Ye Lanfeng would do her cultivation no good.
Before long, Aunt Xiu had finished tidying up the room. Mu Hanyan washed up briefly, changed clothes, and then went to pay respect to her grandfather. Naturally, Huayue and the others did not wish to disturb the grandfather and granddaughter, so they all stayed in the small courtyard.
"Ninth Tributor, why are you following me?" Mu Hanyan asked, noticing that Mu Yunshui was following her every step.
"I am showing you the way," Mu Yunshui said.
"I know the way; you can go back," answered Mu Hanyan to Mu Yunshui.
Mu Hanyan felt that, although this old fellow Mu Yunshui was somewhat mercenary and self-serving, his nature wasn’t bad, and he was somewhat similar to the Great Elder of the Heis—thus, she became somewhat more cordial towards him.
"It’s fine, it’s fine; I happen to be heading back, so I might as well see you on your way. Mu Zexian wants to invite you for a drink, and I’m afraid they’ll pester you until you can’t escape," said Mu Yunshui with a somewhat sheepish look.
"Ninth Tributor, you’re not worried that after a few drinks, I’ll be so confused that I won’t distinguish north from south and will blurt out things I should keep to myself, are you?" Seeing his hesitating manner, Mu Hanyan realized the implication and spoke.
Mu Yunshui looked even more awkward, neither admitting nor denying.
"Ninth Tributor, you underestimate me, Mu Hanyan. As the son of the City Lord of Heishi City, I can certainly differentiate what should and should not be said. I will definitely do what I promised you," Mu Hanyan said with a serious face.
"That’s good to hear, that’s good to hear. You may go see the Family Head yourself, then; I will return first," Mu Yunshui said, his heart finally at ease after hearing her reassurance.
"Rest assured, I, Mu Hanyan, am not a blabbermouth. I will not mention to anyone your pleading for mercy from Zhao Yuanji in Heishi City," Mu Hanyan declared with a spirited expression.
"Eh... Maybe I should still escort you there," Mu Yunshui said blankly, looking at the not-so-talkative Mu Hanyan, and after a long pause, he spoke disheartenedly.
"Ha ha ha ha." Seeing Mu Yunshui’s sullen face, Mu Hanyan couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
"Ninth Tributor, enough with the jokes. I won’t spread news of Heishi City; you have no need to worry. However, if any rumors reach the Capital, that’s not my affair," Mu Hanyan said, her laughter subsiding as she spoke earnestly.
Knowing that Mu Hanyan was joking, Mu Yunshui finally let go of his worries.