Mu Zhan's Plan

The Nalan Family's good-for-nothing hadn't died?

He'd even come back?

And the moment he made a move, he knocked out one of the Mu Family's captains!

What a slap in the face!

Even Mu Chen felt his face burning!

He had just said that Nalan Chaoge was doomed. Not even the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, yet the man had returned openly and unscathed.

Nalan Chaoge had returned, so what about Mu Tong?

What about the Dou Ling?

"Se-Second Brother, why do I feel that Tong'er is likely in grave danger?" Mu Xing said with a mournful expression.

He only had five sons, yet two had already died. It was a blow he could not bear.

"Eldest Brother, please calm down. Even if the Nalan Family's good-for-nothing has returned, it doesn't prove anything. Perhaps Tong'er spared his life..."

"Ah, I hope so." Mu Xing slumped into his chair, seeming to age several years in an instant.

"Father, I have an idea that can kill Nalan Chaoge!"

Seeing the Mu Family's meeting hall fall into silence, Mu Zhan rose to his feet.

Mu Zhan had gone to Jia Nan Academy for training last year, where he had built up a considerable force of his own.

"Zhan'er, you... have a way?" Mu Chen gave Mu Zhan a doubtful glance, while repeatedly signaling to him with his eyes.

Mu Tong and Mu Lu were only Mu Chen's nephews. Their deaths were one thing, but Mu Zhan was different—he was his own son. Mu Chen had already sensed how troublesome Nalan Chaoge was. If anything happened to Mu Zhan...

"Father, these days are Jia Nan Academy's recruitment period. Nalan Chaoge returned at this time, so he must be here for Jia Nan Academy as well. As long as he enters Jia Nan Academy, I have a way to ensure he never returns!" Mu Zhan made a slashing motion through the air.

"You mean..."

"Jia Nan Academy is located in the chaotic Black Corner Region, the most disorderly region on the entire continent. In the Black Corner Region, there are no laws or restraints. There is only one rule: the law of the jungle. In other words, the strong prey upon the weak. The weak have no right to survive there."

"Besides, Jia Nan Academy is not somewhere a little Young Master like him can call the shots. I've spent a year building connections at Jia Nan Academy and already have forces of my own!"

"How certain are you?" A burning desire flashed in Mu Chen's eyes.

"I am currently a Two-star Dou Shi and will soon advance to a Three-star Dou Shi. Dealing with a mere good-for-nothing, I have absolute confidence!"

Mu Zhan was brimming with confidence.

"Good..." Mu Chen smashed the teacup powder in his hand onto the floor and slapped the table heavily. "Remember, you must leave the Nalan Family's good-for-nothing in the Black Corner Region. First, avenge your dead brothers. Second, cut off the Nalan Family's path to survival!"

"I understand, Father. As long as Nalan Chaoge dares enter Jia Nan Academy, I'm confident I can deal with him!" Mu Zhan declared confidently. "But what if that fellow is wary and refuses to go to the academy?"

"Haha, isn't that what you're best at? You've already studied at the academy for a year. Our Mu Family and the Nalan Family have been friends for generations, so naturally, you can persuade him to go!" Mu Chen reminded him kindly.

This was followed by a string of sinister chuckles.

"I understand, Father. I will definitely complete the mission!" Mu Zhan cupped his fists toward Mu Chen, then returned to his seat.

Marshal's Mansion of the Lionheart!

Guo'er wore a floral cotton dress that revealed her alluring collarbones and fair neck.

Tall and long-legged, her calves were unrestrained by any fabric, smooth and dazzling beneath the sunlight and exposed before the eyes of the Nalan Family's young men.

On her feet was a pair of simple, plain cloth shoes that perfectly wrapped her delicate feet.

Her face was lightly made up, beautiful without being gaudy.

It accentuated her beauty where she was beautiful and her charm where she was charming.

Guo'er was Nalan Chaoge's bedwarming maid, actually two or three years older than him. A tender, lovely bedwarming maid like her was, plainly speaking in ancient times, merely a plaything for wealthy young masters.

Yet at such a young age, she had already grown so tender and lovely, like a freshly ripened peach that made one's mouth water.

But everyone in the Nalan Royal Mansion knew that although Guo'er was a maid, the Young Master had never treated her poorly.

Everyone tacitly regarded this maid as half a mistress.

"Sister Guo'er, the Young Master has been out training for a month now, hasn't he? When will he come back? Have you missed him?" a servant maid quietly asked while tidying the room.

Guo'er was holding some clothes that Nalan Chaoge did not usually wear, intending to wash and store them away. Hearing the maid's question, a blush rose to her cheeks.

"Xiao Huangli, if you keep teasing me, just see how I deal with you! We're both servant girls. What is there to miss?"

"Sister Guo'er, that's different. Everyone in the entire mansion knows you like the Young Master. You even cried when he left!" the maid named Huangli teased.

As if recalling the scene when Nalan Chaoge left, Guo'er became lost in thought.

Huangli seized the chance to lean close to Guo'er's face, giggling as she examined the maid completely immersed in girlish longing.

As though sensing something, Guo'er came back to herself. Seeing a face suddenly appear before her, she jumped in fright.

"Ah! Are you trying to scare me to death? What are you doing?"

"Hehe, I'm watching Sister Guo'er get lovesick. You don't even know how beautiful you looked just now. No wonder the Young Master took a liking to you!"

"Don't talk nonsense. When did I..." Guo'er froze, then her face reddened even more. "You wicked Xiao Huangli, you're the one who's lovesick!"

Seeing Guo'er grow embarrassed, Huangli boldly circled the room, inspecting Nalan Chaoge's chamber.

"Sister Guo'er, tell me, have you and the Young Master... done that?"

"Done what?"

"That."

"Come on, how am I supposed to know what you mean by that?"

"Come on, that..." Huangli made a gesture with both hands.

The moment Guo'er understood, her face flushed crimson!

"Xiao Huangli, how dare you make fun of me! I'll beat you to death!" Guo'er raised her hand as if to strike, frightening Huangli into scrambling away.

Just as she tried to dash out through the door, there was a bang, and Huangli was knocked back by a figure that suddenly appeared in the doorway.

Huangli staggered back several steps and fell onto the floor.

Looking up, Huangli stared at the figure in the doorway with a terrified expression.

"Y-Young Master Su!"

Nalan Su's Adopted Son, Nalan Chaoge's nominal Eldest Brother, had entered from outside at some point.

"Why are you panicking? Is the sky falling?"

Seeing Huangli get knocked down, Guo'er hurried forward to help her up, then gave her a meaningful look.

Trembling, Huangli apologized to Su Han. "I'm sorry, Young Master. Huangli was being careless!"

Su Han ignored Huangli and turned his gaze toward Guo'er.

"Sister Guo'er, look what gift I brought back for you!"

As he spoke, Su Han took a light-blue bracelet from his robes.