Mu Family.
In a flower-filled courtyard, a serene-looking young woman misted a pure white flower.
She was simply a little distracted.
Just then, a maid came to her side and whispered,
"Eldest Miss, Madam is here."
The young woman stopped, then stood up.
"Mm. I'll go now."
She handed her tools to the maid and walked straight toward the front courtyard.
Watching the eldest miss's back, the maid felt a little sad.
The eldest miss must have been under tremendous pressure. Otherwise, why would she come out to water the flowers in the middle of the night?
"Mu Xue, you're here? Sit down." In the front courtyard, a young woman looked at Mu Xue and spoke calmly.
Mu Xue nodded and politely greeted her.
"Aunt Tang."
Once Mu Xue had taken her seat, Aunt Tang spoke.
"Have you been feeling well lately?"
Mu Xue's expression didn't change in the slightest. She nodded.
"I'm fine."
"The Lu Family might arrive tomorrow. You know that, right?" Aunt Tang asked.
Mu Xue fell silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
"I know."
"You've been without cultivation for two years. The Mu Family hasn't withheld a single cultivation resource from you, nor have they taken away any of your privileges. That's all because you're engaged to the Young Master of the Lu Family. If the Lu Family really does break off the engagement, you can't blame Aunt Tang for what happens next. Your father will have a hard time dealing with it, too." Aunt Tang looked troubled.
Mu Xue remained calm.
"I know."
From the very beginning, she had known that to the Mu Family, she was merely a tool for a marriage alliance. Her father didn't care for her, and Aunt Tang didn't like her.
She had never befriended anyone in the clan, either.
Ever since she was little, all she had done was cultivate and live in this courtyard. She didn't like the outside world or talking to strangers.
In her previous life, she had lived like this for more than twenty years, until she got married.
Some things had changed in this life. She had returned three years ago and, for certain reasons, abandoned all her cultivation. Two years ago, after an accident during a test, the clan had found out.
She hadn't cared at first, but she had never imagined that losing all her cultivation would bring the Lu Family to break off the engagement.
"If the Lu Family breaks off the engagement, you'll be an ordinary person. Even as the eldest miss, you won't be assigned any resources.
"All Aunt Tang can do is find a way to help you keep your current residence." Aunt Tang looked at Mu Xue.
Mu Xue's residence was a very desirable place. Only a handful of young masters and misses were allowed to live there.
Ordinary people couldn't live there.
Mu Xue fell silent again, then asked,
"Aunt Tang, do you know who the Lu Family intends to form a marriage alliance with?
"Is it one of the other talented young women in the Mu Family?"
Mu Xue wasn't the prettiest in the Mu Family, nor was she the most gifted.
The Mu Family had plenty of others without her.
Aunt Tang shook her head. She didn't know yet, either.
Then Aunt Tang brought the conversation back to the courtyard.
"If you want to keep it, we'll need an excuse—something you've done for the clan. That way, your father and I can make sure you keep it."
Mu Xue gave a slight nod.
"Aunt Tang can send Yalin here. I'll take responsibility for teaching her the Heavenly Maiden True Scripture."
A look of delight flashed in Aunt Tang's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, making herself appear reluctant.
"Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate? The Heavenly Maiden True Scripture belongs to you alone. If you teach it to Yalin, your situation will become even more precarious.
"Don't worry about your residence. No matter what, Aunt Tang won't let you move out. After all, this is where your mother lived before she passed."
Mu Xue merely said softly,
"Don't worry about it, Aunt Tang. Just bring Yalin here."
Mu Xue understood why Aunt Tang was being so cordial and had repeatedly promised to secure benefits for her: Aunt Tang wanted something from her. At first, Mu Xue hadn't wanted to care. As for now, she was simply going with the flow.
The Heavenly Maiden True Scripture was a top-tier cultivation technique she had comprehended in the clan's Forbidden Land. Many people coveted it, but because she was engaged to Lu Shui, they couldn't force her to hand it over.
So plenty of people had their eyes on the technique now.
As for Yalin, she was Aunt Tang's youngest daughter, only five years old.
She was Mu Xue's younger sister, though they only shared a father.
Hearing Mu Xue's offer, Aunt Tang said with feigned reluctance,
"Well, well, then Aunt Tang can hardly refuse. Yalin's still mischievous, so if she doesn't listen, just give her a few smacks."
It was Yalin, but Aunt Tang didn't mind. Once one learned it, there would be two.
Before long, the Heavenly Maiden True Scripture would belong to their whole family.
Aunt Tang left soon after. Before she went, she swore that Mu Xue's residence wouldn't be changed in the slightest.
Mu Xue simply nodded without saying anything.
After Aunt Tang had left, Mu Xue sat there alone.
The breeze brushed her hair, setting her long locks swaying.
Mu Xue didn't pay it any mind. She lowered her gaze to the tabletop, the faintest murmur escaping her lips.
"I've already sharpened the blade."
Mu Family Hall.
"Third Brother, do you have anything to say?" A middle-aged man looked at the visitation letter in his hand and asked.
Mu Yuan was the current clan leader of the Mu Family. Unlike the Lu Family, the Mu Family was flourishing, and its clan leader could decide the vast majority of matters.
The Mu Family's elders were different from the Lu Family Elder. They hardly ever showed themselves.
Most were either in closed-door cultivation, never to emerge, or already dead.
Not everyone lived as long as the Lu Family Three Elders.
The Third Brother Mu Yuan spoke of was Mu Xue's father, Mu Ze.
Mu Ze shook his head. He had nothing to say.
Mu Yuan sighed.
"Forget it. I hope the Young Master of the Lu Family leaves us at least a little dignity.
"As for Mu Xue, cut off her supply of resources. The Mu Family doesn't support ordinary people, either.
"Make sure she's prepared.
"As for that courtyard, after tomorrow, transfer it to your second daughter, Mu Yayue. Find a way to get the Heavenly Maiden True Scripture from her."
Mu Ze nodded.
"All right."
"Then let's break up," Mu Yuan said.
The people in the hall filed out one after another.
After leaving, Mu Ze had planned to go home, but halfway there, someone suddenly called out to him.
"Third Brother, wait a moment."
Mu Ze stopped and glanced back. It was Mu Jiang, his second older sister.
"What is it, Second Sister?"
Mu Jiang looked at Mu Ze, who was no longer young, and asked,
"What are you planning to do?"
Mu Ze replied,
"I plan to ask her first."
Mu Jiang frowned, then said,
"Mu Xue is still just a young girl. I hope you aren't thinking of using force to make her hand over the scripture.
"And remember, even the fiercest tiger won't eat its cub. If you get the scripture, you'd best secretly send her away from the Mu Family.
"With your abilities, it wouldn't be hard at all to let her live as a wealthy young lady in the ordinary world, free from want.
"If you don't want to do that, or think it's too much trouble, you can leave her with me. I can swear a Daoist oath that I won't covet Mu Xue's Heavenly Maiden True Scripture.
"I know you don't love her, but she is still your daughter."
Mu Ze was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I know. I'll think about it."
Mu Jiang's brows knitted tightly. Mu Ze's attitude made her feel that he didn't care about Mu Xue at all.
After a pause, Mu Jiang said,
"If you can't think of anything, I suggest you ask Tang Yi."
Mu Ze left at last.
Watching him go, Mu Jiang sighed.
At least Tang Yi wasn't too bad.
Without the Lu Family as her backing, Mu Xue would have a miserable life in the Mu Family.
Secretly leaving was the best option.
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