Chapter 10: Tenderness and Hidden Killing Intent
A woman entered the courtyard.
She wore a blue martial dress that hugged her well-developed figure, her curvaceous chest drawing attention. The knee-length skirt revealed her long, slender legs, the proportions of her body reaching golden perfection.
Her jet-black hair was tied into a single ponytail that swung as she walked, complementing her almond-shaped eyes that were large and spirited, now flashing with anger. Her skin glowed with a healthy wheat tone, and her graceful hands held a blue leather whip.
Upon seeing the woman, Mu Qing's arrogance evaporated. He stiffened and respectfully called out, "Sister Mu Ling."
This was Mu Ling'er, Mu Chen's daughter. At nineteen years old, she had entered the Royal Academy of the capital a year ago and had already reached the fourth level of the Zifu Realm. She was widely regarded as a genius of the Mu family.
Her beauty was extraordinary, matched only by her formidable cultivation talent. Many suitors visited the Mu family each year to propose marriage, but her fiery personality had scared off even the boldest. One infamous incident involved her whipping a persistent admirer until he was covered in bruises. Within the Mu family, she was a little princess that no one dared to cross.
"Brother Ling'er!" Mu Feng greeted her warmly, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
Mu Ling'er strode toward Mu Qing, pointing the whip at him like a tigress on the attack. "Mu Qing, what are you doing?" she snapped.
"Sister Mu Ling, I was just joking around with Cousin Mu Feng. It's nothing serious. I'll take my leave now," Mu Qing stammered, quickly explaining before hurrying away with his three servants in tow.
Mu Kuang struggled to his feet, his face battered and bruised. Mu Feng rushed to support him, anger flashing in his eyes as he saw his friend's injuries.
"Are you alright, Mu Kuang?" Mu Ling'er asked with concern.
"I'm fine, thank you, Sister Mu Ling," Mu Kuang replied gratefully. Mu Ling'er took out a small white jade bottle and poured some green liquid onto his wounds. A cooling sensation spread across his face, easing the pain significantly. The efficacy of the medicine was evident.
"Why have you returned?" Mu Feng asked, surprised. She should have been cultivating at the Royal Martial Academy.
"What, am I not allowed to check on you?" Mu Ling'er retorted, glaring at him. Mu Feng could only smile helplessly in response.
The two shared a close bond, akin to siblings.
"Apply this Green Spirit Elixir for a while, and the swelling will go down," Mu Ling'er said, wiping her hands with a handkerchief before smiling.
"Thank you, Sister Mu Ling. I'll leave you two to talk," Mu Kuang said bashfully, scratching his head before leaving. Mu Feng saw him off, then returned to the courtyard.
"I heard your Yuan meridians and Zifu were shattered. Is it true?" Mu Ling'er asked softly, biting her lip.
Mu Feng nodded calmly. Upon hearing this, Mu Ling'er's eyes reddened with tears as she approached and embraced him.
Feeling the warmth of her soft body and the faint fragrance of her youthful scent, Mu Feng's heart filled with a comforting warmth.
Mu Ling'er began to sob softly, her grief spilling out. The death of her second uncle, Mu Feng's shattered cultivation, and the recent news of the Yun family seeking to annul their engagement weighed heavily on her. Her heart ached for her cousin, the pain as sharp as a blade.
"Alright, stop crying. I'm fine," Mu Feng said, attempting to lighten the mood. "You look so ugly when you cry. If your admirers saw you like this, they'd run away."
Thud!
Mu Ling'er punched him on the shoulder and pushed him away, her eyebrows furrowing. "What did you just say? Ugly? Are you saying I'm ugly?"
"Who said that? Tell me, and I'll teach them a lesson! My sister is a beauty beyond compare. Anyone who says otherwise must be blind," Mu Feng said mock-seriously, glancing around as if searching for the culprit.
Mu Ling'er couldn't help but laugh, her tears giving way to a smile.
"Alright, let's be serious," Mu Ling'er said, her expression growing somber. "I heard about your shattered meridians at the academy. Is there really no way to recover?"
The strange methods of the Ancient Asura Sutra, which required blood sacrifices to restore his meridians, were too bizarre for Mu Feng to share. He merely replied, "The healer said only a Sixth-Grade healing elixir or the intervention of a Sixth-Tier alchemist could save me. Otherwise, there's no hope."
"Sixth-Grade elixir!" Mu Ling'er gasped, nearly fainting. Even Third- or Fourth-Grade pills were rare and expensive, let alone Sixth-Grade. The entire Southern Ling Kingdom might not even possess one.
"Don't worry," Mu Feng said with a sunny smile. "I believe there's always a way. I can feel it—my meridians will recover. Your brother is a genius, after all."
His warm, unyielding optimism pierced Mu Ling'er's heart, filling her with sorrow. Heaven had denied him a mother as a child, taken his father from him, and now stripped away his hope for strength.
"Wait!" Mu Ling'er's eyes suddenly lit up with determination as she thought of someone who might help. She bit her lip, glancing at Mu Feng, and silently resolved to take action.
Changing the subject, Mu Feng chatted with her about other things, steering the conversation away from his injuries to ease her worries.
Meanwhile, in the Capital's Northern King's Manor
In the heart of the capital, where land was worth its weight in gold, stood a luxurious estate guarded by armored soldiers. The towering gates bore the inscription Northern King's Manor, marking the residence of Prince Nan Hao.
In the rear garden, Nan Hao, dressed in a loose silk robe, was playing with a rare golden silk finch in its cage. Beside him stood a middle-aged man in green robes with a long mustache and high cheekbones.
"Qianmou, have all loose ends from the Battle of Nine Springs City been dealt with?" Nan Hao asked casually as he teased the bird.
Nan Hao's strategist, Duan Qianmou, replied with a smile, "Rest assured, my lord. Only our men know the truth. However…"
"However, what?" Nan Hao's brows furrowed slightly.
"There is one survivor from the Mu Family Army—a boy named Mu Feng, Mu Tian's bastard son."
"Mu Feng?" Nan Hao's eyes darkened. "I've heard of him. A genius once personally chosen by the Royal Martial Academy. His talent is exceptional despite his youth. Such a person cannot be allowed to live."
"Indeed, my lord," Duan Qianmou agreed. "But rest easy. According to reliable sources, the boy survived the battlefield only to have his Yuan meridians and Zifu shattered. He's a cripple now, his path as a cultivator forever closed."
"Shattered Yuan meridians and Zifu?" Nan Hao sneered. "It seems Heaven itself seeks to destroy the Mu family. But remember, even a crippled snake can still bite. Dead men are far safer than broken ones."
"Understood, my lord."
"Good. Handle it cleanly. The Mu family may be a tiger with no teeth after losing Mu Tian and their 200,000 troops, but even a toothless tiger can still claw."