Chapter 116: Soul Seizure

The Mu Family Manor was in a state of uproarious excitement, more festive than the Lunar New Year. Old Master Mu had brought out his most precious spirit tea to entertain guests, and families with marriageable daughters arrived in swarms, decked out in their finest, hoping to catch the eye of Ning Mofei—even if it meant settling for the position of a concubine.

Watching his grandfather and clansmen groveling with such ugly sycophancy, Mu Yuqi felt waves of jealousy churning within him.

Noticing Ning Mofei yawn, Old Master Mu quickly urged, "Yuqi, take your brother-in-law to rest. Dinner will be served as soon as your cousin returns."

"I'll go urge my cousin," Mu Yuqi refused decisively. He was afraid he might lose control and butcher this fool, bringing a calamity of annihilation upon his clan.

"Cousin, I'll go with you!" Ning Mofei perked up, jumping to his feet and dragging Mu Yuqi along as he ran. Surrounded by the house full of chattering young women, the thick scent of perfume made him want to retch. He preferred the scent of his wife!

Not even bothering to entertain Ning Mofei, Mu Yuqi walked to the stone bridge outside the manor gate. "Wait here," he said coldly, leaning against the stone railing and ignoring him entirely.

Ning Mofei was guileless but highly sensitive. Realizing Mu Yuqi disliked him, he didn't care to make a fool of himself.

Yu Youwei emerged from the bluestone path in the osmanthus grove and called out, "Mofei, why aren't you waiting inside?"

"Youwei, why did you take so long? It’s so crowded and noisy in there!" Ning Mofei sprinted over, hugged her, and complained, "Cousin seems to hate me; he won't even talk to me."

Glancing at Mu Yuqi, whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, Yu Youwei pursed her lips and smiled. "Did you rob him?"

"Of course not. I only rob my own family and my master."

"Oh, then since you didn't rob him, he probably thinks you treat him like an outsider."

"Is that so?" Ning Mofei studied Mu Yuqi suspiciously, considered it carefully, and said, "Forget it, I don't like Cousin, so I won't rob him." His words made Yu Youwei giggle uncontrollably.

Suppressing the urge to beat the Ning fool to a pulp, Mu Yuqi turned and stormed into the osmanthus grove without a word.

Knowing his cousin's temperament, Yu Youwei didn't try to persuade him and led Ning Mofei into the manor.

Mu Yuqi ran recklessly all the way to the banks of the Egret River and plunged into the water. In the late autumn, the water was bone-chilling, yet it could not extinguish the fire in his heart. He drifted like a corpse until the current pushed him into a cove, where he became wedged between a pile of foam and rotten branches. Just as he was about to leap out, he heard a low voice on the bank: "Ancestor, drink some water. Third Uncle will be back soon. There is a Mu Family Manor ahead, a small cultivation family. We will surely find a suitable body there."

The few words revealed shocking information. Mu Yuqi, hidden in the foam, held his breath, fearing discovery.

Someone called "Ancestor" must be at least at the Nascent Soul stage. This ancestor was in bad shape, and his descendants had come to Mu Family Manor to find a vessel for soul possession. He hoped the Yu family could help the Mu family withstand this disaster.

As various thoughts flooded his mind, Mu Yuqi found the wait agonizing. Dusk had fallen, and his body, soaked in the river, began to stiffen. He dared not circulate his spiritual power to warm himself, gritting his teeth to endure.

A black shadow swept low and landed on the bank.

"Third Uncle is back!"

A soft, sweet female voice sounded joyous. Soon, she cried out with a sob, "Third Uncle is injured." The voice had a seductive charm that made Mu Yuqi curious about her appearance.

A deep, powerful male voice spoke: "There are people from the Yu family in the Mu Family Manor. It seems they are hunting us. We cannot stay here; we must leave at once."

"What about the Ancestor?"

"Hold on a little longer. If we can't find anyone else, we'll have to choose from among ourselves. Carry the Ancestor; let's go."

Hearing this, Mu Yuqi breathed a sigh of relief. These deadly stars were leaving; if he just held on a little longer, he would be safe.

"Wait? There’s someone in the water, and he’s alive!"

The soft female voice suddenly said, scaring Mu Yuqi out of his wits. He leaped from the water to flee, but a powerful suction force pulled him back.

Dragged onto the bank, Mu Yuqi gazed back at the Mu Family Manor in the twilight with infinite longing. *Cousin, I will see you in the next life!*

Accepting his death, he felt strangely calm in his final moments. The old man who intended to possess his body said approvingly, "Your spiritual roots are a bit poor, but your character is commendable. Lad, if you have any unfulfilled wishes, I can complete them for you."

The old man’s body looked like a charred wooden stake, a horrific sight. Yet, there was no sign of pain on his face. This toughness earned Mu Yuqi's respect. Though he hadn't wanted to answer, he said, "My greatest wish is to snatch my cousin back."

Licking his cracked lips, the old man smiled evilly. "I will certainly help you fulfill that wish. Lad, I am Wu Longhai. My old friends like to call me the 'Wu Family Killing Star'." With that, a translucent little figure emerged from the crown of his head, spun around, flew toward Mu Yuqi, and dived inside.

The three men and one woman standing nearby formed a circle, casting a barrier to ensure the Ancestor's possession was not interrupted.

"The Ancestor's Nascent Soul is severely damaged. Will he be alright?"

"A tiger's prestige remains even when it falls. That brat is just a rookie at the Qi Refining stage; how could the Ancestor's Nascent Soul fail?"

"Why doesn't the Ancestor cultivate as a Loose Immortal? This boy's spiritual roots are so poor; it will limit the Ancestor's potential."

"The Loose Immortal tribulation is doubled in power. Throughout history, how many have survived it? Even seven-tribulation Loose Immortals are pitifully rare. The Wu family has been set up this time; even with our deep foundation, we must be frugal. Supporting a Loose Immortal is no easy task."

Suddenly, Mu Yuqi's body trembled violently, and the Wu clan members grew tense. Only when his expression smoothed and his eyes slowly opened did they exhale in unison.

The middle-aged man standing before Mu Yuqi asked cautiously, "Ancestor, do you recognize me?"

"Wu Yanqing, my grandson, third in line," Mu Yuqi said without hesitation, then pointed to the others: "Wu Yanming, grandson, sixth in line. Wu Hongwu, Yanming's grandson. Wu Shanshan, Yanqing's granddaughter."

"Congratulations on your rebirth, Ancestor." Wu Yanqing knelt and kowtowed, and the other three followed suit.

Moving his arms and legs, Mu Yuqi said with satisfaction, "It feels good to be young. This boy is the grandson of the Mu Family Manor's master, so we don't need to run anymore; we can just settle down in the Mu Family Manor. The Yu family members at the manor aren't hunting us; they are remnants from the Dongling Prefecture, hidden in the back mountains by this boy's sister until now."

"The Yu family has been hiding in the Mu Family Manor this whole time?" Wu Yanqing asked in disbelief.

"Those bastards really know how to hide," Wu Yanming spat bitterly.

"The back mountain of the Mu Family Manor is somewhat unusual; we must investigate it thoroughly." Tapping his forehead, Mu Yuqi said with some regret, "I was in a hurry and shattered his soul, only absorbing some fragments; his memory is incomplete. No matter. Let's head to the Mu Family Manor to settle in first, then we can discuss the rest."