Inside Castle Villa, at the tea table.
Mu Zhuoyun, dignified and heroic with graying temples, looked at the tightly clasped hands before him, his thoughts churning.
He was happy that Qin Yuan had become "family."
But seeing the "padded jacket" he had painstakingly raised being worn by someone else still left him somewhat uncomfortable.
Mu Zhuoyun wrestled with his thoughts for a long while before finally sighing. "Qin Yuan, treat Ning Xue well."
The moment those words came out.
Not only was Qin Yuan stunned, but even Mu Ning Xue froze for a moment.
"Don't worry, Uncle Mu. I absolutely will not let Ning Xue down."
Qin Yuan stated his position with a solemn expression.
Though he liked teasing Mu Zhuoyun from time to time, there were occasions when jokes were inappropriate. Basic respect had to be shown.
Mu Ning Xue, seated beside them, was filled with delight as well.
She and Qin Yuan had always been in an ambiguous relationship. Holding hands, hugging, kissing—they had done everything except the final step.
Yet Qin Yuan had never given her a clear, straightforward statement, which had left her feeling inexplicably uneasy.
Now, Qin Yuan had stated his position, and he had done so right in front of Mu Zhuoyun.
Qin Yuan's declaration, and her family's blessing.
Nothing today could have brought her more joy than those two things.
"Mm."
Mu Zhuoyun nodded slightly, refilled the tea, and said, "Qin Yuan, since we're family now, I'll speak frankly about a few things."
"Please, Uncle Mu."
Qin Yuan nodded.
"Qin Yuan, I believe you know that my branch is merely a collateral branch of the Mu Clan. By all rights, we should not receive much attention."
"The reason we are valued now is because the Mu Clan values Ning Xue's talent."
"But Ning Xue is alone. She cannot gain a foothold in the enormous Mu Clan, and she has few people she can truly trust."
"So if you and Ning Xue are together, you must face the pressure from the Mu Clan."
Mu Zhuoyun felt it necessary to tell Qin Yuan about the pressure resting on Mu Ning Xue's shoulders, so Qin Yuan could bear it with her.
For no other reason than that they were family.
Compared to the Mu Clan's Main Clan, he naturally trusted Qin Yuan, his future son-in-law, far more.
"Please rest assured, Uncle Mu. Ning Xue told me about this long ago. I know what to expect." Qin Yuan smiled as he replied softly.
"Mm, it's good that you understand."
Mu Zhuoyun nodded in relief, then suddenly seemed to remember something. "There is one more person—today's main character, Yu Ang. He is my adopted son... in name only."
"It may sound cruel, but Yu Ang truly is just a 'sharp blade' I have cultivated, a sharp blade that you two can use with ease."
Everything he did, aside from Qin Yuan, was merely to pave the way for Mu Ning Xue.
It was heartless, but it was also reality.
For his daughter, Mu Zhuoyun was willing to do it.
"Mm."
Qin Yuan responded but said nothing more.
Yu Ang?
Sorry, but after today's Earth Sacred Spring competition, he would promptly disappear "reasonably."
Mu Ning Xue, beside him, had shown no expression from beginning to end. Or rather, she... had drifted off.
She thought of the word "marry" Qin Yuan had said outside the door earlier.
It was strange, yet perfectly natural.
No matter how cold and aloof Mu Ning Xue was, she was still a woman, capable of feeling such things.
The manor's grand banquet hall.
All kinds of delicious food were laid out here. Most of the invited guests were conversing with one another, only occasionally sampling the delicacies.
Amid the crowd, a roguishly handsome young man was eating and drinking heartily, while a stubbled middle-aged man stood beside him.
Mo Fan and Zhan Kong.
It was unmistakably the two of them.
Though Zhan Kong was surprised that Mo Fan was sparring with Yu Ang, he did not think much of it. He pulled Mo Fan aside and chuckled. "Mo Fan..."
"Damn it, Chief Instructor, I'm not into that." Mo Fan said quickly.
Zhan Kong: "..."
Did he really look like he had that kind of preference?
Bang!
"Get lost!" After fiercely smacking the back of Mo Fan's head, Zhan Kong said, "I came to see you about something serious."
"Something serious? What is it?"
"It's nothing much. When you spar with Yu Ang later, pay more attention."
"Pay attention to what?"
"Just pay more attention."
Seeing that Zhan Kong would not explain, Mo Fan was thoroughly confused. "I don't get it."
He was about to ask further when several middle-aged men and women approached. Zhan Kong immediately went over to greet them with a smile.
Seeing this, Mo Fan found it even more baffling.
"Forget it, I won't worry about it. Better fill my stomach first." Mo Fan grabbed a fragrant roasted whole leg and began gnawing on it in huge bites.
Soon, the Magic Sparring was about to begin.
Principal Zhu, Yang Zuohe, Deng Kai, and other important figures had all arrived. In Bocheng, these people carried considerable weight.
Principal Zhu was the principal of the Magic High School and one of Bocheng's few High-level Mages.
Yang Zuohe was the president of the Mage Association, holding an exceptional status.
Deng Kai was the foremost decision-maker of the Hunter Alliance, wielding immense authority.
The military's representative was naturally Zhan Kong, a High-level Mage and Bocheng's strongest combat force.
Mu Zhuoyun was the representative of the family faction.
Qin Yuan sat beside Mu Ning Xue, giving him a clear view of the entire venue. Many familiar faces came into view.
Several instructors from Wilderness Training, Xu Dahuang and the others from the Monster Hunting Squad, classmates from the Elite Class...
"Qin Yuan, why aren't you the one competing for the Earth Sacred Spring?" At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind him.
Qin Yuan turned and discovered that it was Zhan Kong.
"Senior Zhan Kong, I've already broken through to the Intermediate Level. An Earth Sacred Spring spot would not be very effective for me, so why not give it to someone else?"
Qin Yuan smiled and replied quietly.
"What? You're already at the Intermediate Level???"
Zhan Kong's pupils contracted, and he nearly cried out.
Fortunately, he was a refined man, and he still had that much ability to accept the news.
Zhan Kong was deeply moved and sincerely praised him. "Qin Yuer has a genius little brother. With your talent, even I was far inferior back then."
"Times are advancing. Senior Zhan Kong, weren't you also the most dazzling genius of your generation?"
Qin Yuan said with a smile.
"Hahaha, you brat." Zhan Kong laughed heartily, clearly delighted.
The more he looked at Qin Yuan, the more he liked him.
He was polite, understood propriety, and knew how to speak well.
The two chatted a little longer before falling silent and focusing on the Magic Duel that was about to begin below.
On the dueling ground.
Mo Fan's clothes were neither luxurious nor shabby, merely ordinary and proper.
Yu Ang, on the other hand, looked as though he had specially dressed up. He wore a fitted custom-made outfit that exuded nobility... like a dressed-up mongrel.
"Mm?"
The many bigwigs frowned.
At a glance, they could see that Yu Ang wore several expensive magic tools.
Before it had even begun, this was already an unfair match.
But no one said anything.
"Friendship first, competition second. You two, shake hands first." Deng Kai, acting as the referee, said.
Crack, crack...
Whether the two were simply born to clash or not, even a simple handshake had ice and blazing flames intertwining.
"You ants should have stayed below. Why insist on jumping out to court death?" Yu Ang sneered coldly.
"Ants?" Mo Fan looked casual as he shot back, "More than enough to bite you, you idiot."
He had originally intended to hold back a little and give Yu Ang a tiny bit of face, but it seemed the other man was shameless beyond measure and refused the face offered to him.
There was no need for him to hold back anymore. He just had to go all out.
Today, he would thoroughly shock everyone!
Before you continue