FBC – Chapter 255 Desperate Struggle

The Xuan Yun Hall.

The Old Madam sat at the head seat, with Gu Hua seated to her left.

Behind the screen sat Mu Junyan.

The rest of the Mu family stood on both sides of the hall.

Mu An was dragged in.

His face was blackened, his clothes burned and tattered—he looked utterly wretched.

Gu Hua’s hatred toward him had already faded over time, yet this man dared to lay such a vicious hand on the very person she had vowed to protect in this lifetime—her resentment toward him doubled instantly.

Unable to bear it any longer, she shouted,

“Mu An! Why did you set fire to Duke Yong’s residence?”

Mu An retorted viciously,

“You’re slandering me! Why would I burn myself alive? Maybe you did it! You wanted to burn me to death so that the bastard in your household could inherit the Duke’s title!”

Gu Hua laughed coldly, anger burning in her eyes.

“Mu An, today is your last chance. If you sincerely admit your mistake, the Duke Yong’s residence that has raised you all these years will at least spare your life.”

Mu An glared at her venomously.

“Gu Hua! It’s all your fault! You seduced Father, fooled him with your sweet lies! You just wanted to climb into his bed, bear his child, and seize the Mu family’s wealth!”

“Impudent!”

The Old Madam could bear no more—she slammed her dragon-headed cane heavily on the floor.

“How dare you speak so insolently! You burned the Duke’s residence, invited traitors into the house—your crimes are monstrous, yet you show no remorse!”

Mu An’s bloodshot eyes widened; like a trapped beast, he roared,

“You old witch—!”

Smack!

A black shadow shot forward, and a loud slap cracked across Mu An’s face.

His head whipped to the side, blood spurting from his mouth.

The furious Mu Junyan turned his hand and struck him again.

Mu An’s head snapped in the opposite direction, his body rolling twice across the floor before stopping. Blood gushed from his mouth and nose as he lay motionless.

Mu Junyan trembled with rage, suppressing his fury. He turned, bowed deeply to the Old Madam, and said,

“Mother, I’m sorry. It’s my failure in discipline that allowed Mu An to be so insolent toward you.”

The Old Madam shook her head.

“It’s all right.”

Mu Junyan reached out and gently clasped Gu Hua’s hand, rubbing it softly. His eyes were rimmed red.

“Hua’er… I’m sorry.”

Gu Hua’s eyes reddened, her throat tightening until she couldn’t speak.

He must be the one hurting the most, she thought.

She squeezed his hand and gestured for him to sit.

He had clearly lost a lot of weight in recent days, making him look frail and heart-wrenching.

Mu Junyan’s expression hardened as he looked down at the unconscious Mu An.

“Wake him up—with cold water.”

A servant lifted a basin and splashed it over Mu An’s head.

Mu An shuddered violently, slowly regaining consciousness. His neck, however, was twisted stiffly to one side.

The servant dragged him a little so that he could face the dais directly.

When Mu An met that pair of deep, sharp eyes—like a hawk surveying its prey from above—his entire body trembled in fear.

His hoarse voice scraped out weakly,

“F-Father… you… you’re really alive!”

Mu Junyan’s gaze was cold as frost.

“Didn’t you already guess? You set fire to the estate to help the Jiang family lure me out—so they could accuse me of deceiving the emperor, didn’t you? What’s wrong? Are you disappointed to see me alive?”

Mu An’s face went pale. Ignoring his swollen face and twisted neck, he crawled forward on hands and knees, trying to clutch at his father’s leg.

Mu Junyan kicked him away.

Mu An rolled twice across the floor, his neck bending at a strange angle before he passed out cold.

“Lock him up.”

A servant wrapped him in a blanket and carried him out.

Mu Junyan stood, sweeping his gaze across the hall.

Everyone had just finished putting out the fire and cleaning up the aftermath. They hadn’t even had time to change.

Their faces were smeared with soot, their clothes in disarray—but in each pair of eyes burned a fierce flame.

The Jiang clan had gone too far. To dare strike in Bianjing, the capital itself—they clearly held the Duke Yong’s residence in utter contempt.

Everyone was waiting for their lord’s command—to strike back hard at the Jiang family.

Some of them hadn’t known Mu Junyan was still alive. Now, seeing their lord reappear like a god descending, their eyes burned with reverence.

“The Mu Army now faces the harshest reality. If even a whisper leaks that I am alive, those with ulterior motives will use it to accuse us of deceiving the throne—and wipe us out completely.”

Zhou Chunyu stepped forward, striking his left fist over his right chest.

“My lord, we once swore allegiance to the Mu Army—and that oath stands even now.”

Mu Junyan raised a hand.

“It’s not that I doubt your loyalty. But if anyone wishes to leave, I won’t blame them.”

Zhou Chunyu dropped to one knee with a loud thud.

The hundred-some men in the hall followed suit, kneeling in unison.

Their eyes shone like stars, as they struck their chests and shouted in deep, steady voices:

“We swear to serve the Mu Army till death!”

Zhou Chunyu pounded his chest repeatedly, his low, hoarse chant rising:

“Charge! Charge! Charge! Mu Army, charge!”

A hundred voices joined, their fists drumming against their chests.

“Charge! Charge! Charge! Mu Army, charge!
Charge! Charge! Charge! Mu Army, charge!”

The muffled thuds of fists echoed like the beating of a hundred hearts—steady, powerful, unstoppable.

This was the Mu Army’s battle call—their drumbeat of war.

The Old Madam and Gu Hua rose to their feet, trembling with emotion.

Gu Hua’s eyes were wet, her blood surging, fists clenched tight—her whole being filled with strength.

Mu Junyan’s eyes reddened. Since witnessing his father and brothers die in battle years ago, he had never shed another tear.

Now, he couldn’t hold back. Raising his left fist, he struck his chest hard and joined the chant.

Outside the doors, three small heads peered through the crack—eyes brimming with tears.

Suddenly, Gu Jinwen burst into sobs, pushing open the door and rushing inside. He dropped to his knees.

Gu Ruiwen and Chu Huai followed close behind, also kneeling, their young voices joining the cry:

“Charge! Charge! Charge! Mu Army, charge!
Charge! Charge! Charge! Mu Army, charge!”

Their call was like wild eagles tearing through the last chill of spring—soaring straight into the heavens.

Mu Junyan raised his arms, his voice trembling,

“Good! Everyone, rise. Since this is our resolve, hear me now.”

Everyone stood at attention, eyes blazing.

Mu Junyan lifted his arm and spoke in a deep, resonant tone:

“The Mu Army has fought in blood for a hundred years—not for any emperor, but for the people of this land. Yet now, those we once protected, those we called family, have driven us into a corner. The Mu Army stands at its most perilous moment. Ahead lies the flood and the beasts; behind us, ghosts and monsters.

This battle will not be one of blades and armor, but of power against power. Those with families outside may take their compensation and leave.”

The crowd roared in unison,

“We follow till death—live and die together!”

Mu Junyan nodded solemnly.

“Since all of you choose to stay, then I, Mu Junyan, swear this—I will return to you a world of peace!”

Gu Hua’s body stiffened.

Was it… that serious?

Could it be that Mu Junyan truly intended to—