TRWSB – Chapter 115 Mu Yueshan’s Visit

Mu Family

“Young master, you’re back?” A servant of the Mu family looked at Mu Huai, who entered the house in a daze, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Mu Huai headed straight to the main hall and found Mu Yue Shan.

“Father.”

“Where have you been?” Mu Yue Shan asked sullenly.

“I went to see Qi Shao Rong.”

Mu Yue Shan frowned and asked, “Why did you go looking for him?”

“I wanted to ask him why he’s targeting the Mu family and whether there’s some sort of misunderstanding between us,” Mu Huai replied.

“And did you get an answer?”

“Father, how did the two Wood Spirit Hearts in my body come to be?” Mu Huai asked, his voice filled with agitation.

“They’re naturally yours,” Mu Yue Shan’s eyelid twitched as he turned his face away and replied unpleasantly.

Mu Huai stared at Mu Yue Shan. “Father, at this point, are you still trying to deceive me?”

“Who have you been talking to?” Mu Yue Shan asked in a low voice.

Closing his eyes, Mu Huai took a deep breath, his face pale. “Father, the second Wood Spirit Heart in my body—it belonged to cousin Mu Ting Xuan, didn’t it? You took it from him and implanted it in me.”

Mu Huai’s voice shook with emotion. “I remember when I was young, I only had one Wood Spirit Heart in my body. But after I got seriously ill once and recovered, I suddenly had another.”

“You’re remembering it wrong,” Mu Yue Shan dismissed with a wave of his hand.

“Father, taking something that isn’t mine will only hinder my growth,” Mu Huai said through clenched teeth. “What you did harmed both me and my cousin.”

“Who’s been filling your head with such nonsense? Was it Mu Ting Xuan or Qi Shao Rong? They’re trying to scare you. The Wood Spirit Heart is a gift; you grew two, and Mu Ting Xuan had none. He’s just jealous of you,” Mu Yue Shan retorted coldly.

Mu Huai shook his head. “No, Father. After I advanced to level seven, I felt that the Wood Spirit Heart in my body was preventing me from advancing further.”

“Advancing from level seven to level eight is not the same as before. It’s naturally more challenging; you’re probably just imagining things,” Mu Yue Shan replied.

Mu Huai shook his head again. “That’s not it. I truly feel something is wrong. Qi Shao Rong is right—what doesn’t belong to me will never truly be mine.”

Mu Yue Shan glared at Mu Huai, his voice rising. “You’re listening to Qi Shao Rong’s nonsense! He’s in league with Mu Ting Xuan!”

Mu Huai fixed his gaze on Mu Yue Shan. “So, it’s true then? Mu Ting Xuan is really my cousin, the one everyone said died years ago?”

Mu Yue Shan felt a wave of exhaustion. “Cutting weeds without removing the roots allows them to regrow in the spring breeze.”

Years ago, the people tasked with dealing with Mu Ting Xuan claimed the matter was resolved. These incompetent fools left behind such a huge problem. And now, Mu Ting Xuan has allied himself with Qi Shao Rong. Why must Qi Shao Rong meddle in something that has nothing to do with him?

“This is none of your concern. Leave now,” Mu Yue Shan ordered.

Mu Huai chuckled bitterly, an indescribable weariness seeping from his very bones. He’s supposed to be the pride of the Mu family, born with two Wood Spirit Hearts, a heaven-blessed prodigy. But what “heaven-blessed”? Everything was calculated from the start.

Qi Shao Rong

Qi Shao Rong strolled along the street, accompanied by Zhuang Hao.

“What are you looking at?” Zhuang Hao asked.

“What do you think? What do you see?” Qi Shao Rong replied.

“Shops,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shao Rong glanced at him and scoffed. “Shallow.”

“Then what do you see?” Zhuang Hao was used to Qi Shao Rong’s jabs and felt no offense.

“Opportunities. Feng Yuan wants to invest in the Allure Cosmetics Shop and collaborate with me,” Qi Shao Rong said.

Zhuang Hao looked at him and asked, “Are you planning not to return to Yuan Country?”

Qi Shao Rong shook his head. “Of course not. My roots are in Yuan Country. But for now, I’ve disobeyed the Emperor’s orders and betrayed his expectations. He must be upset. I’ll wait for him to calm down before I return.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

“When do you think he’ll calm down?” Qi Shao Rong asked Zhuang Hao.

Zhuang Hao sighed. “Knowing that you sacrificed his grand ambitions for a discarded child of the Mu family, I’d say he’ll never calm down in this lifetime.”

Qi Shao Rong shook his head. “You underestimate the Emperor’s magnanimity. Just because you’re narrow-minded doesn’t mean others are too.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

As Qi Shao Rong and Zhuang Hao walked, a child ran up and bumped into Qi Shao Rong, stealthily taking his money pouch.

The child darted away before Qi Shao Rong could grab him.

Watching the child’s retreating figure, Qi Shao Rong frowned. “That child stole my money.” He thought to himself, Kids in this realm are truly something else. This little one’s pickpocketing skills could make him a master among thieves in my past life.

“Chase him! Why are you standing there?” Qi Shaorong turned to Zhuang Hao with displeasure.

“That child is suspicious,” Zhuang Hao replied.

Qi Shaorong rolled his eyes. “Whether he’s suspicious or not, chase him! That pouch had a lot of money in it.”

“Fine, I’ll go after him, but stay close to me,” Zhuang Hao reminded.

Qi Shaorong huffed impatiently. “Alright, just hurry up!”

Zhuang Hao grabbed Qi Shaorong’s hand, and under the effect of wind magic, the two figures moved forward rapidly.

“That little thief sure runs fast,” Qi Shaorong remarked.

Zhuang Hao glanced at him. “That ‘little thief’ is definitely not ordinary. His speed is too remarkable.”

“Well, duh! If he weren’t unusual, how could he have stolen from me?” Qi Shaorong retorted.

“He’s likely at the seventh level, and he might have contracted a beast skilled in escape techniques. He probably isn’t just after your money pouch. The area is getting more and more secluded,” Zhuang Hao said.

“Are you trying to suggest,” Qi Shaorong narrowed his eyes, “that he lured us here to ambush me?”

Zhuang Hao landed on the ground with Qi Shaorong.

“Not chasing anymore?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“No need. They’re already here,” Zhuang Hao replied calmly.

Qi Shaorong’s gaze sharpened as he spotted the newcomer. “Mu Yueshan!” A flicker of amusement danced in his eyes.

“Senior Mu, if you wanted to meet me, you could’ve just said so. Why the theatrics of stealing my belongings?” Qi Shaorong crossed his arms behind his back with a slight smile.

Mu Yueshan’s face was dark as he spoke. “Young Master Qi, my Mu family has neither wronged you in the past nor recently. Why must you press us to the brink?”

Qi Shaorong chuckled lightly. “‘Press to the brink’ is a bit much, isn’t it? All I did was suppress the Mu family’s business a little—it’s hardly a big deal.”

Gritting his teeth, Mu Yueshan snapped, “Young Master Qi, don’t you know that cutting off someone’s livelihood is like killing their parents?”

Still smiling, Qi Shaorong quipped, “Oh, really? That’s new to me. Thanks for the enlightening saying!”

Mu Yueshan’s tone turned urgent. “Young Master Qi, whatever Mu Tingxuan can offer you, my family can give you more.”

Qi Shaorong’s expression chilled. “Tingxuan is mine. If he’s wronged, I’ll stand up for him. What you can or cannot offer is irrelevant, especially since I doubt the Mu family has anything worth my attention.”

Mu Yueshan’s face darkened further. “It seems negotiations are off the table.”

Qi Shaorong nodded nonchalantly. “It would appear so.”

With a sigh, Mu Yueshan muttered, “A person of your stature—why ruin your future for an ill-fated individual?”

Qi Shaorong’s smile vanished. “Who are you calling ill-fated? If anyone is cursed, it’s you!”

“When Mu Tingxuan was born, a fortune-teller predicted that he would bring ruin to his family—cursing his parents and relatives alike. For your own good, you should distance yourself from him,” Mu Yueshan warned.

Scoffing, Qi Shaorong sneered. “Mu Senior, you’re supposed to be a man of status, yet you cling to such superstitions? My fate is so strong, I don’t fear anyone bringing me down!”

Mu Yueshan’s expression twisted. “Attack!”

Zhuang Hao immediately pulled Qi Shaorong behind him, shielding him. A flick of Zhuang Hao’s hand released dozens of scrolls into the air, detonating high-level magic all around them.

Qi Shaorong winced at the spectacle. “What a waste! Do you know how expensive those scrolls are?”

Zhuang Hao retorted, “These are my own creations. The cost is minimal.”

Qi Shaorong’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “You can craft magic scrolls too? Truly, you have a bright ‘financial’ future.”

Despite Mu Yueshan’s confidence, Zhuang Hao’s relentless attacks soon left him battered and frustrated.

Mu Yueshan snarled, “Zhuang Hao, my target is Qi Shaorong. This has nothing to do with you!”

Zhuang Hao responded coolly, “Shaorong and I are engaged. His affairs are my affairs.”

Mu Yueshan tried to bargain. “Qi Shaorong is nothing special. If you like, the Mu family has many outstanding young men and women for you to choose from!”

Qi Shaorong, standing off to the side, muttered under his breath, “Rumors about this guy being a shameless matchmaker are apparently true.”

Zhuang Hao ignored Mu Yueshan’s attempts at persuasion, focusing his attacks with renewed intensity.

Although Mu Yueshan initially underestimated Zhuang Hao, the drawn-out battle revealed Zhuang Hao’s overwhelming magical prowess. His seemingly endless energy left Mu Yueshan exhausted and increasingly desperate.

Meanwhile, the lackeys Mu Yueshan brought with him targeted Qi Shaorong. Though none were particularly strong individually, their sheer numbers overwhelmed Qi Shaorong.

Amid the chaos, the battlefield turned into a dazzling display of clashing magic and swirling combat energy, painting the forest sky with a kaleidoscope of colors.