Chapter 121: The Decision

Mu Qingxuan ordered his men to take his father and younger sister away. His sharp gaze pierced his eldest son, then dimmed slightly as his heavy hand slowly rose, weighing down like a thousand pounds.

Mu Yuqi felt as if struck by a heavy blow, his face turning ashen. He was unwilling to accept this fate. After barely escaping the grasp of the two old hounds of the Xiang family, and having taken over a body at the brink of death to be reborn, was he now to face death again? He no longer harbored any hope, nor dared to stir up trouble. In panic, he dropped to his knees and begged for mercy: “Don’t kill me! Father, cousin, I don’t want to die!”

Wu Shanshan, who had been holding Mu Yuqi hostage, was caught off guard and pulled sideways. The Second Elder of the Yu family struck her with a palm, sending her flying onto the rubble. She was shattered beyond repair, her life extinguished like a fallen jade.

By now, the Mu family could clearly see that Mu Yuqi’s hostage act was a sham. They hated him with gritted teeth and felt deep fear. If he managed to escape with the remnants of the Wu family, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains. Whether the Wu family would seek revenge on the Mu family was uncertain, but if the Yu family took offense, it could mean the annihilation of the Mu clan.

As Mu Qingxuan directed the Mu family to clean up the mess, the younger generation of the Yu family still clamored to investigate the Fourth Master’s death. Yu Youwei cut off their protests coldly, beheading the severely wounded but still alive Wu Yanqing and others, shouting, “My father was killed by the Wu family. The demoness from the Wu family wanted to pit the Yu family against the imperial court. Don’t you all see what’s going on? What fools!”

The three elders of the Yu family, tears brimming in their eyes, remained silent. They knew Yu Youwei, clever as she was, had surely uncovered the truth. They also understood the Yu family’s predicament, which explained her ruthless execution of the Wu family members.

Yu Youwei’s decisive actions quelled the unrest among the Yu family’s younger members. Under her cold gaze, they all bowed their heads. The family had endured great turmoil and matured swiftly, understanding that now was not the time for impulsiveness.

Only Yu Youwei could cut through the chaos with such swift resolution. Were she not the biological daughter of Yu Tianming, even the elders’ commands might not have carried such weight.

Her gaze swept across the gathering, finally resting on the Fifth Elder. Yu Youwei said, “Since remnants of the Wu family have appeared here, we should stay a few days and thoroughly search the nearby area for any who have slipped through.”

Among the three elders present, the Second Elder was the eldest by age, but decisions were made by the most powerful Fifth Elder. He nodded and said, “The decision is yours.”

The elders’ delegation of authority surprised Yu Youwei, though she showed no joy. In this life, she had trained hard not for power or fame, but simply to protect herself and her loved ones. She cared little for worldly status or immortal cultivation.

As she had told Luo Changfeng, the Master of Tianfeng Island, “A leisurely life without trouble, wandering with my husband beneath drifting clouds and the river’s moon. Even if I cannot cultivate to immortality, I shall live free and unbound like a deity.” What she sought was a carefree existence.

“Young Wei, you couldn’t possibly have a plan. Better discuss it with the elders and Uncle,” she smiled lightly, deflecting and giving a subtle nod to her uncle.

The Fifth Elder, Yu Youwei’s biological father, was willing to show face as well, forcing a stiff smile. “Then we shall trouble Young Master Mu. The Yu family’s disciples will follow orders, and you must ensure that any Wu family remnants roaming here are utterly wiped out.”

At the mention of “utterly wiped out,” an invisible killing aura surged from the Fifth Elder. The weaker present immediately felt their hearts race and some even knelt trembling. The Mu family disciples then truly understood that this one elder alone could crush the entire Mu estate. They were grateful for Mu Qingxuan’s wisdom and grew to loathe Mu Yuqi even more.

Mu Qingxuan had always managed the Mu estate’s affairs and was familiar with the local situation. He humbly offered a few words and began to dispatch his men in an orderly fashion. The three elders watched silently, nodding in approval, recognizing his talent.

The withered leaves of the osmanthus in Guilin rustled softly in the night, framing the Mu estate in a dark border. Shadows flitted across this boundary, vanishing into the distant void of night.

“Youwei!”

When Yu Youwei appeared outside the Qiyun Pavilion at the estate’s northeast corner, Ning Mofei’s joyful call shattered the tranquil air. Clear blue water curled like a ribbon around the pavilion, and the curved bridge snaked over the surface like a white serpent. As she stepped onto the bridge, the boy dashed over like a child, shouting excitedly and embracing her tightly.

Her mood inexplicably lightened. Yu Youwei lazily nestled in his arms, listening to his exaggerated recounting of the panic he felt being brought into the pavilion. When he confessed, “I couldn’t find you and was so afraid!” her heart fluttered.

Tilting her face up, she saw his eyes gleaming pure and clear beneath the moonlight, revealing his fear. She couldn’t help but rise on tiptoe and press her cool lips to his, her soft tongue probing gently.

“Mm…” Startled for a moment, Ning Mofei quickly recovered, sucking fervently. Their lips and tongues intertwined. His usually cold body warmed suddenly, a fire kindling in his abdomen as he pressed her against the railing, instinctively exploring her softness.

In her previous life, indulgent in passion, she had always encountered suave gentlemen or seasoned lovers, each skilled in the art of intimacy. She had never met anyone as awkward and clumsy as this boy, yet his fumbling touch stirred her springtime heart, coloring her cheeks with intoxicating blush and clouding her deep eyes with a dreamy haze.

“I’m sick again, it feels awful…”

A hoarse voice whispered near her ear. Yu Youwei was still dazed until a hard shape pressed against her through her clothes, stirring restlessly. She snapped awake, pushing him away and smoothing her clothes, feigning nonchalance. “A cold shower will fix it; it’s nothing serious.” With that, she hurried inside, feeling guilty.

The boy followed, dejected and unsuspecting.

The Qiyun Pavilion was reserved for esteemed guests. Besides Ning Mofei, the three elders of the Yu family were also accommodated there. Shortly after the young couple entered their room, the elders returned.

After a brief moment of affection, Yu Youwei sent Ning Mofei off to bathe in cold water and returned to the hall. The three elders sat around the table. As she approached, the Second Elder personally poured her a cup of tea, his expression dark. “Girl, you acted swiftly to quell the matter, preventing those brats from making it worse.”

Yu Youwei instantly sensed the unusual atmosphere and asked, “Oh? What happened now?”

“The girl is too sharp. Before my second brother could say anything, she had already guessed,” the Third Elder chuckled, then his face darkened again. “We caught a secret palace guard. The Qian Emperor has sent many experts searching nearby for the Wu family’s patriarch, who is said to be severely wounded.”

In terms of foundation, the Yu family was no match for the Wu family. Had Yu Tianming not married the sole daughter of the Sword Sect’s sect master, with the sect master’s covert support, the Yu family could never have edged out the Wu family to join the sect’s top ten estates.

The Wu family patriarch was the pinnacle of their martial power. That he was severely injured and fleeing showed the overwhelming might the imperial court had deployed. Without the Sword Sect’s backing, the Yu family, already precarious, would soon face destruction if they tried to investigate the Fourth Master’s death.

Yu Youwei puzzled, “How can the Fourth Madam bear the hatred of having her husband killed?”