Chapter 16: Leaving the Mu Family
"Master Feng, the family head has summoned you," a servant called from outside the courtyard.
Mu Feng was standing in the early morning sunlight, drawing in the fresh spiritual energy of dawn. Hearing the servant, he opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and resolute. "Understood. The family head is looking for me," he murmured, wondering what this was about.
Following the servant, Mu Feng made his way to the family head's residence. Along the way, the servant couldn't help but glance at him in surprise. Despite the rumors of his shattered meridians, Mu Feng's steady steps, radiant energy, and piercing eyes betrayed none of his supposed frailty.
The Mu family head, Mu Chen, lived in a spacious six-courtyard residence, tastefully adorned with rare flowers and a serene training ground in the back. As Mu Feng entered the front hall, he saw Mu Chen seated with a graceful woman in a yellow gown, his aunt Zhang Shi.
"Uncle, Aunt," Mu Feng greeted warmly.
"Feng'er, sit down. Have you eaten? I made your favorite dumplings," Zhang Shi said with a gentle smile.
"I've been craving Aunt's dumplings!" Mu Feng replied, grinning.
Zhang Shi laughed. "Then wait a moment. They're almost ready."
As she left to prepare the meal, Mu Chen turned to Mu Feng, his expression turning grave. "Feng'er, I need to discuss something important with you."
Mu Chen's tone carried weight as he began. "You've faced life and death on the battlefield, so I won't treat you like a child. I've decided to send you back to our ancestral home."
Mu Feng blinked, startled. "Why?"
The Mu family's ancestral home wasn't in the bustling Southern Ling capital but in the quieter town of An Nan. It was a distant memory of their origins before the family's rise in prominence during the reign of the first emperor.
Mu Chen's voice grew heavy. "You saw the assassination attempt the other day. Someone wants you dead. Staying in the capital is too dangerous. The Mu family itself is in peril, and I need to ensure the survival of our direct bloodline. Sending you and the younger disciples away is the only way to preserve the family's legacy in case the worst happens."
Mu Feng clenched his fists. "Uncle, is the family in such a dire situation?"
Mu Chen sighed. "You're old enough to hear the truth. Do you know who truly controls the court?"
"The court? Isn't it the king?" Mu Feng asked, puzzled.
"No. Since the late emperor's passing, the young king has had no real power. The court is effectively controlled by the Northern King, Nan Hao."
Mu Chen's face darkened as he continued. "You know how your father and the Mu family army fell. Nan Hao orchestrated it. He feared your father's loyalty to the royal family and the power of the 200,000-strong Mu army. When Nan Hao attempted to win your father over, he was met with a firm refusal. That refusal sealed his fate."
Mu Feng's heart sank. "Is Nan Hao... planning a coup?"
Mu Chen waved his hand, shutting the doors with a gust of energy. He nodded grimly.
"What can the Mu family do against him?" Mu Feng asked, his voice filled with urgency.
"We will stand by the royal family, no matter what. That is why I need to send you away. I hoped that the Royal Academy could shield you, but circumstances have changed. The ancestral home is your only refuge."
"No," Mu Feng protested. "I won't leave. I want to face this with the family."
"Don't be stubborn!" Mu Chen's tone turned sharp. "What can you do now? Your cultivation is gone, your strength limited. Even if your powers returned, what could you achieve against someone like Nan Hao? Your father's legacy depends on your survival."
Mu Feng fell silent, his fists trembling with frustration. He hated the helplessness that came with his lack of power. His father's death, the betrayal of the Mu army, and the injustice surrounding his family all screamed for vengeance. Yet, his current weakness shackled him.
Mu Chen softened slightly. "Tomorrow evening, you and Mu Kuang will leave for the ancestral home. I'll assign Mu Zhong to protect you."
Mu Feng clenched his fists but nodded reluctantly. The decision was made. Zhang Shi returned with steaming bowls of dumplings, her warmth attempting to lighten the heavy mood. However, the delicious food tasted bland to Mu Feng as he wrestled with his thoughts.
After breakfast, he left the residence, his heart weighed down by the impending separation.
"Feng'er has endured so much," Zhang Shi murmured as she watched his retreating figure. "Without a mother from a young age, now without his father, and burdened with shattered meridians... why must the heavens be so cruel to him?"
Mu Chen sighed. "The storms of life forge men of steel. Perhaps this is the trial the heavens have set for him and the Mu family."
The following evening, Mu Feng and Mu Kuang stood outside the family estate's back gate, their hearts heavy as they gazed at the familiar silhouette of the Mu household.
"Feng-ge, do you think we'll ever return?" Mu Kuang asked, his voice tinged with sorrow.
"We will," Mu Feng replied resolutely. "We will definitely return."
Mu Zhong, a tall man clad in black armor, approached. "Young Master Feng, it's time. We must reach the ancestral home before dawn."
"Let's go," Mu Feng said, mounting his white unicorn steed. With a final glance at the Mu family, he whispered a silent vow:
**"One day, the heavens will no longer obstruct my path. One day, every petty conspirator will meet their end. One day, all shadows of deceit will vanish beneath my blade.
If I must die, it will be while scaling the peak of martial power, not languishing in a life of insignificance."**
The trio rode into the night, their figures gradually swallowed by the faint glow of the city's distant lights. The resolve in Mu Feng's heart burned brighter than ever, a beacon guiding him through the coming storm.