Assessment Begins

As the first ray of dawn streaked across the horizon, the atmosphere in Mu Family Village gradually began to grow lively.

Following Mu Yun and Mu Lingsha to the entrance of the assessment Trial Hall, Mu Zi was a little surprised as she looked at the crowded scene.

"Why are there so many people?"

Mu Lingsha, beside her, explained, "After all, it's the annual assessment. Of course it's lively."

On ordinary days, most members of Mu Family Village were busy making a living. Sometimes, while carrying out different tasks, they had no choice but to scatter to various places.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the people of the village could rarely gather together. As long as they were not especially reclusive, they would at least come to be spectators.

The three stepped through the main doors, and the bustle inside was even greater.

Sitting in the seat of honor was a man dressed in a long white robe. However, the man's powerful, bulging muscles made a perfectly good white robe look swollen and awkward.

Mu Zi was a little surprised. "Even the Village Chief came?"

The burly man in white was none other than Mu Tao, the only Heavenly Yuan Realm expert in the family.

At this moment, he looked at the lively atmosphere inside the Trial Hall and nodded in satisfaction. It seemed Mu Family Village's cohesion was growing stronger and stronger.

Seeing Mu Yun's family arrive, Mu Tao nodded at the three of them, doing his best to put on a refined and easygoing air. But combined with the white robe that looked ready to burst, there was no telling how strange the posture looked.

Mu Yun had long since gotten used to his Village Chief's behavior. Ever since Mu Tao had once met the Flame City City Lord years ago and been won over by his refined bearing and powerful strength, he had begun deliberately imitating him.

Leading the two sisters toward the main seats in the hall, Mu Yun politely responded whenever clansmen called out respectful greetings to him.

Suddenly, a hearty voice rang out. "Haha, Brother Mu Yun, you're here too!"

Mu Zi looked toward the source of the voice and saw a burly man with a face full of coarse flesh stand up happily from the main seats.

"Haha, Brother Mu Tian, haven't you also come to join the fun?"

The burly man greeting him was precisely Mu Tian, whom Mu Zi had met before in the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Mu Tian's enthusiasm did not diminish. "I really can only join in the fun, but you're different, Brother. Lingsha received a Middle Excellent evaluation in last year's assessment, breaking Mu Family Village's record. With such an outstanding junior, you have no idea how envious we are of you!"

Mu Yun acted modest on the surface, but hearing his Old Friend praise his daughter, his heart was already blooming with joy.

After a while, someone else walked toward the main seats.

It was an old woman, followed by a youth about sixteen or seventeen years old.

Seeing the old woman, Mu Yun and Mu Tian hurriedly rose to greet her. Even Village Chief Mu Tao stood up.

Seeing this scene, Mu Zi was a little surprised and asked, "What is this granny's background?"

Mu Lingsha answered quietly, "I'm not too sure either. I only heard Father say she is an elder of Mu Family Village, one generation older than the Village Chief and Father."

After a pause, she added, "Right, this granny's cultivation is at the Earth Yuan Realm Late Stage."

Mu Zi understood. Mu Family Village had three people at the Earth Yuan Realm Late Stage. Previously, she had only known Mu Yun and Mu Tian; today, she had finally seen the last one.

"How could such a small Family Assessment trouble you, elder?" Mu Yun was very surprised.

The old woman smiled gently, looked at the youth beside her, and said with a smile, "Ye Er has achieved something in his cultivation, so this old woman brought him here to broaden his horizons."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, everyone looked toward the youth following beside the old woman.

Mu Yun had some impression of this youth. He was an orphan the old woman had adopted a few years ago.

The old woman's seniority was very high, and because she was old and her combat strength had declined, she did not manage specific family affairs. However, everyone present knew that she was the widow of the first-generation Village Chief and had founded Mu Family Village together with him decades ago. It could be said that without the old woman, there would be no Mu Family Village.

Therefore, even though the old woman could no longer cultivate, the clan had still left some cultivation resources for her over the years.

Those resources had probably all been used by her to nurture juniors she favored. So the sixteen-year-old youth before them might not be weak.

"Mu Ye, come and pay respects to your clan uncles!" the old woman ordered.

The youth named Mu Ye walked to the two men and bowed. "Greetings, two clan uncles!" His bearing was quite proper.

Nodding, the two commented, "Truly, heroes come from the young!"

The old woman smiled. "He cannot compare to granddaughter Lingsha. Lingsha won the Fire Python Tiger for our Mu Family Village. This old body thanks you here."

Mu Lingsha waved her hands repeatedly. "The Village Chief already rewarded me."

The old woman nodded, then turned her gaze toward Mu Zi at the side, her eyes showing admiration.

"Nephew Mu Yun, this adopted daughter of yours is truly very pretty."

Mu Yun was just about to thank her when he heard the old woman say, "Half a year ago, Ye Er once saw your daughter, and he fell in love with her at first sight. From then on, he could not think of tea or food, and his heartfelt devotion can be witnessed by heaven and earth."

"I wonder if this old body may take charge and propose a marriage to you on Ye Er's behalf?"

Mu Zi, who had originally been feeling a little bored, was dumbfounded when she heard this. Uncertainly, she pointed at herself.

"Me?"

The old woman nodded again.

Mu Yun's expression changed, and he declined, "Zi Er is still young. Isn't this rather inappropriate?"

The old woman smiled. "Hehe, Ye Er is quite a good husband. Why not ask the young people themselves what they think?"

"I don't agree!" Mu Zi immediately refused.

What a joke. How could she possibly accept it? What kind of trope was this?

As a Reincarnator, I got caught in an arranged marriage?

Mu Zi had originally still had a favorable impression of this family senior, but at this moment, it all vanished like smoke.

Turning her head, Mu Zi glared angrily at Mu Ye. This hypocrite actually dared set his sights on her?

Being glared at by Mu Zi, Mu Ye was also somewhat ill at ease at this moment. He tugged at the old woman's sleeve. "Granny, why don't we just forget it!"

Looking deeply at the youth, the old woman slowly said, "There is no need to rush to refuse. After the assessment ends, young lady, you will see Ye Er in a different light."

You want to show off his strength through the assessment and make me submit? Mu Zi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Hehe, I'm afraid you've miscalculated!

Mu Zi calmed down. Looking at the youth who kept sneaking glances at her, she suddenly developed a wicked sense of mischief.

"Then I'll have to properly broaden my horizons later, Brother Ye!"

She suddenly gave Mu Ye a radiant smile. For a moment, it was like a hundred flowers blooming, intoxicating the heart and mind.

Mu Ye was a little dazed. Having always lived in seclusion, when had he ever seen such a bright and beautiful smile? Especially since the girl had a pair of lively eyes, making him somewhat unable to pull himself free as he stared fixedly at her.

Mu Zi seemed startled by his unrestrained gaze and suddenly hid behind Mu Lingsha.

Snapping back to his senses, Mu Ye was extremely embarrassed. Being stared at by Mu Zi with a look as if she were looking at a pervert, he wished he could find a crack in the ground and crawl into it. He opened his mouth to explain, but not a single word came out. Having always lived in seclusion, he lacked experience in communicating with others.

Left with no choice, he could only hide behind the old woman, lowering his head and not daring to look at Mu Zi.

"Pfft!" Seeing him like this, Mu Zi almost burst out laughing. She secretly curled her lip and muttered, "Little brat!"

The atmosphere around the main seats was somewhat heavy, and it even affected everyone in the hall.

The lively atmosphere that had lasted for some time began to cool. As everyone took their seats, the Trial Hall also gradually fell quiet.

Gazes locked onto Mu Tao in the seat of honor.

Mu Tao unhurriedly set down the teacup in his hand, stood up, and announced:

"The Family Assessment officially begins!"

For a moment, the atmosphere at the scene boiled over. Mu Zi glanced at Mu Ye, who was eager to give it a try.

"Hehe, let me see just what your confidence is."

"I'll play with you properly. I hope you're not too weak and bore me."

She was someone who held grudges very well.