Mu Clan’s Fall from Grace
Five cultivator clans headed Clearwater City: Sikong Clan, Dongfang Clan, Yan Clan, Gu Clan and Mu Clan. Mu Rongxuan stated Sikong Clan only started to rise half a year ago, earning them the fifth spot in what was a lineup of four clans. Sikong Clan used to be a clan under Mu Clan’s administration until Sikong Qiwen ranked and climbed the ranks rapidly.
Sikong Clan declared independence after Sikong Qiwen’s meteoric rise and, to date, stole half of Mu Clan’s businesses and clients, triggering Mu Clan’s fall from grace. Sikong Clan hadn’t shown anybody a smidge of respect ever since.
“Mu Clan does have an ultimate immortal named Mu Qingfan, but he is only rank ninety-three,” lamented Mu Rongxuan.
“Don’t worry, Dad. When I grow up, I’ll put Sikong Qiwen in his place,” Mu Hao fumed.
“Rank ninety-three is pretty good, is it not? Did something happen?” Mu Yu inquired.
“Sikong Qiwen’s first opponent was Mu Qingfan. He wounded Mu Qingfan so badly that Mu Qingfan has yet to come to. None of us saw it coming; we have no idea when Sikong Qiwen gained so much power. I dare say we did not mistreat Sikong Clan, yet this is how they repay us. We tried to make amends but to no avail as our clients and whatnot decided to choose Sikong Clan.”
“My condolences.”
Mu Yu condemned Sikong Clan’s actions. Nevertheless, Mu Clan had to accept their fate if they didn’t have anyone who could dethrone Sikong Qiwen.
“I hope Tian Budai kills that ungrateful cur. When we were still influential, they were bowing to us, yet they’re now stepping on our heads. I’ll avenge Brother Qingfan when I grow up and exterminate their entire clan!” Mu Hao snapped.
“You’re getting way ahead of yourself. If Sikong Qiwen is challenging Tian Budai, that means he is a Spirit Severing Realm cultivator already. What are you going to do against him with your Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation? If you don’t have a second Mu Qingfan, focus on surviving instead,” Mu Yu chastised.
“We do have a second Mu Qingfan. We have Mu Yu!”
“Shut it, Hao!”
“Mu Yu? Where does he fit into this?” Mu Yu asked, blinking.
“Sorry, don’t listen to him, Feng Mu,” apologised Mu Rongxuan, acting perturbed.
“Dad, you know I’m not lying. Mu Yu is True God’s disciple and a member of our clan!”
“Huh?” Mu Yu blurted, confounded.
“That suave, cool, gentleman, True God’s disciple is a member of your Mu Clan? There must be some misunderstanding. He just happens to share your surname. I doubt he would be happy if you suddenly called him a fellow clansman.”
“We are not mistaken. He is our clansman!” Mu Xin declared.
What are these two kids on? How the heck would I be one of them when I grew up, yeah, I’m not doing the maths, all the way at Moyun Mountains, Mu Yu thought.
“It is a long story. It is true that one of our descendants went missing somewhere. He was not yet born at the time; however, if his parents adhered to the clan’s rules, the child would be named Mu Yu if he is a boy and Mu Yu if the child is a girl. In addition, True God’s disciples’ age coincides with the time the child was conceived. That is why our clan believes Mu Yu is our descendant. We, unfortunately, have no way of locating him to verify this.
“We keep this a secret as it is not something that we have confirmed. I think it goes without saying the troubles that could potentially arise if we were linked. To be honest, I believe our clan is grasping at straws at this point. I am not convinced Mu Yu is one of us. Please do not tell anyone else about this, lest our reputation sinks even further.”
“What do you mean trouble could arise? I heard he’s as handsome as they come,” Mu Yu commented without batting an eye, seemingly infected with a case of Xiaoshuai-tier narcissism.
“That’s the only thing you’ve said that makes sense,” Mu Hao praised, giving Mu Yu a nod. “True God’s disciple is what you call a true prodigy He escaped from Ku Mu Valley as a Golden Core Realm cultivator, whooped a bunch of Primordial Infant Realm cultivators at Floating Celestial Island and became a lauded alchemist of Pill Cauldron Set. I heard he beat a bunch of their young talents. Name one person who can hold a candle to him.”
“Don’t forget he helped White Ape Archfiend abscond and killed a fellow disciple at Pill Cauldron Sect,” Mu Rongxuan added.
“There was a good reason for that. White Ape Archfiend just misled him. Think about how strong the fiend king is. Mu Yu stood up for humankind and slapped the fiends back into line in the end, didn’t he? If it wasn’t for him, Sikong Clan wouldn’t be the only ones walking all over us. Mu Yu is the real hero!” Mu Hao disputed.
“What nonsensical truths are you spouting, kiddo,” Mu Yu slyly stated, finally unable to withhold his smile.
“We should strive to leave our mark just as Mu Yu did, or we would’ve lived a life in vain. Dad, don’t you always say, ‘A man should be like Mu Yu’? Mu Yu is my idol, so I’ll take pages out of his book,” Mu Hao pledged.
“I like kids like you,” Mu Yu complimented, whacking his thigh.
“Who cares about your opinion? You’re not even Mu Yu,” Mu Hao verbally jabbed.
“Eh? Wait, I… I…”
“Hahahaha, this kid, I can’t breathe. This kid is killing me.” Xiaoshuai was rolling around in Mu Yu’s shirt and gasping for air.
Mu Yu tapped Xiaoshuai for the latter to stop talking. Mu Yu took a liking to Mu Hao after listening to his fanboy’s arguments. One could never have too many supporters. Unfortunately, his praise for Mu Hao was reciprocated with a glare.
“Mr. Mu, you would need some form of proof, such as a birthmark if you wanted to have him accept you.”
“Mu Yu’s mother, I meant the Mu Yu from our clan, was pregnant with him when she left the clan. We would not know if he has a birthmark even if he has one. Furthermore, the child could be a girl. Anyhow, just consider it a joke,” Mu Rongxuan stressed with a smile.
Village Chief Bu told Mu Yu his mother arrived at Waterstream Village on her own and vanished after giving birth to him, which matched what Mu Rongxuan revealed thus far. The one thing that couldn’t be explained was how she crossed the mountains where fiend beasts roamed to reach Moyun Mountains. The only thing he had to prove himself was a green pendant that he couldn’t find anything special about and always wore around his neck.
Mu Yu wanted to pursue the topic further, but the carriage came to an abrupt halt.
“What’s the matter?” Mu Rongxuan inquired.
“Master, we’re under attack!” A-Lai yelled.