novelraw Chapter 907: Targeting Mu Hanyan
Chapter 907: Targeting Mu Hanyan
Ever since that night when they couldn’t trouble Han Yan and instead got badly tricked by her, the Supreme Elder’s mood had been quite displeased. Occasionally encountering disciples of the family, his demeanor wasn’t as amiable as before, maintaining a stern face with a look that said to keep away from strangers, which made the younger generation of the family even more in awe of him.The atmosphere beneath the platform was silent, everyone as quiet as cicadas in winter, starkly contrasting with Mu Zexian and the other playboys’ high spirits.
Seeing Mu Zexian and others with bleary eyes from the hangover, along with some alcohol still lingering on their faces, the Supreme Elder frowned.
"Silence!" the Supreme Elder shouted in a deep voice.
Mu Zexian and the others were startled. Noticing the unfriendly gaze from the Great Elder, they quickly put away their laughter and appeared serious, standing obediently among the crowd.
Han Yan knew the old man was in a bad mood, so she avoided provoking him during this time and blended into the crowd.
"Today is the day our Mu Family distributes allowances. According to the rules, it should be determined by the completion of family tasks by disciples of the Zong Family. If it were before, this rule wouldn’t be a problem. However, given the current turbulent times, this rule should be adjusted." Seeing the crowd calm down again, the Supreme Elder continued.
Change the rules? The disciples of the Zong Family below looked at each other, confused.
The rules for distributing allowances in the Zong Family have been in use for thousands of years, and not just the Mu Family; many wealthy families in the Capital have the same rules. Why did the Supreme Elder suddenly think to change them now?
"Even if I don’t say it, you all should know that next year is the Family Ranking Competition of the Eight Great Families of the Capital. Whether the Mu Family can maintain its current status or rise higher depends on this event." The Supreme Elder cleared his throat and continued.
The people below were even more puzzled. Of course, they knew about the importance of next year’s family competition, but they didn’t understand what it had to do with changing the rules.
"To speak of it, our Mu Family’s history is far more ancient and profound than other families. Those other seven great families—how do they even compare to our Mu Family?
But over the years, our Mu Family’s strength has waned, no longer as glorious as it once was. Do you know why this is?" The Supreme Elder continued.
Everyone below was bewildered but immediately perked up, knowing that the Supreme Elder was about to get to the main point.
"It’s because our Mu Family’s past reputation was too great, causing all major wealthy families to dread us. While they engage with us on the surface out of courtesy, secretly they’ve teamed up against us, marginalizing us at every turn. With just our Mu Family, how can we compete against the many wealthy families of the Capital!" The Supreme Elder said sternly.
The audience was silent; as disciples of the Mu Family, they were well aware of the exclusion from other noble families.
Take cultivation resources, for instance. Due to different cultivation techniques, the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures needed also differ. Other noble families hold closely together, exchanging what they have, often obtaining the resources they most need at minimal cost, mutually benefiting each other, causing their family’s strength to grow day by day.
But as for the Mu Family, since they are ostracized by other wealthy families, they must figure out how to obtain all cultivation resources themselves. Much of the time, not only do they spend money with grievances and end with unsatisfactory resources, making Mu Family’s disciples, though overall strong, seldom produce outstanding elites. After all, the higher the strength, the greater and stricter the demands for cultivation resources.
These years, although the strength of the Mu Family hasn’t declined significantly, it hasn’t soared like families such as the Yan Family. This rise and fall have put their ranking among the Eight Great Families in jeopardy.
If this situation cannot be changed, sooner or later, the Mu Family will face deterioration under the combined suppression of other noble families, potentially being ousted from the Eight Great Families.
At this thought, the faces of the various family divisions’ disciples below turned exceedingly serious.
"Next year’s family competition is vital to our Mu Family’s future success or failure over the coming centuries. At such a crucial moment, our Mu Family must focus on strategic retreat and recuperation, avoiding further conflicts with other noble families.
However, I’ve heard that there are those in the Capital behaving recklessly, tarnishing our Mu Family’s longstanding reputation and offending other wealthy families everywhere. Such actions risk putting our Mu Family under universal condemnation!
To be enemies with the many noble families of the Capital at a time like this, are you trying to end our Mu Family’s legacy spanning tens of thousands of years!" The Supreme Elder fiercely slammed the table, angrily scolding.
Everyone was taken aback by the Supreme Elder’s slap, instinctively glancing towards Han Yan in the crowd.
Although the Supreme Elder’s words were righteous, anyone with any insight could tell that his words were directed at Han Yan.
Other families have been excluding the Mu Family for ages, so why wait until now to speak up? Isn’t it just because Han Yan is known for being a playboy and has offended too many people, thereby jeopardizing the family?
As for why they chose to target Han Yan, it couldn’t be simpler.
Regarding that token, both the Supreme Elder and the Third Elder were tricked badly by Han Yan, losing a significant amount of silver taels and their dignity. If they don’t find an opportunity to even the score, how could they swallow this and restore their face?
At first, they were envious of Han Yan for conniving a large allowance from Mu Chengyang. But seeing the situation now, they knew Han Yan would end up empty-handed.
"Alas, isn’t the Supreme Elder being a bit petty?" Understanding the Supreme Elder’s intention, many felt sympathetic towards Han Yan, while harboring silent complaints about the Supreme Elder.
But since he’s the Supreme Elder, even if he’s using this as an excuse to make things difficult for Han Yan, it’s justifiable, and these younger ones have nothing to say.
"The Supreme Elder speaks the truth. Some people take advantage of our Mu Family’s reputation but do not strive for progress or follow the correct path. They only know how to play clever tricks, deceive, and overbear, tarnishing our family’s reputation and making enemies everywhere for our Mu Family. If this is not thoroughly punished, it will ultimately ruin the family’s big picture." The younger generation understood the Supreme Elder’s intention, so how could the Third Elder not comprehend? He opportunely agreed.
Han Yan furrowed her brow. Although the two old men were speaking in hints, who didn’t understand it was referring to her, the Capital’s most notorious playboy? It seems they purposely don’t want her to obtain Mu Chengyang’s cultivation resources.