The Mo Clan Will Fall!

"How could this be?" Yun Yun looked at Nalan Yanran in disbelief.

Nalan Yanran said, "When I first found out, I found it hard to believe too. But my grandfather told me himself, and he wouldn't allow me to refuse!"

"So you came to the Misty Cloud Sect and trained so desperately just to break off the engagement?" Yun Yun asked, her expression complicated.

Nalan Yanran nodded, then shook her head. "Coming to the Misty Cloud Sect and becoming your disciple was my own wish. I didn't come because of the engagement. Even without this matter, I would still have come to the Misty Cloud Sect and become your disciple!"

"I trained this desperately in order to break off the engagement!" Nalan Yanran said.

"Besides, I heard that my fiancé used to be a cultivation genius, but now he seems to have contracted some strange illness. His cultivation talent is gone, and he'll probably just become an ordinary person in the future!" Nalan Yanran said.

Then Nalan Yanran wrapped her arms around Yun Yun's arm. "Master, give me another two years. Once my cultivation advances further and I become the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, can I go to Wu Tan City and break off the engagement as the Young Sect Master?"

Yun Yun hesitated before asking, "Do you know what your fiancé's current situation is?"

"Not really, but it's true that his cultivation talent is gone. Anyone can find out just by asking around in Wu Tan City!" Nalan Yanran said.

Yun Yun sighed. "Fine. If you can truly become the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, then do whatever you want. Your master will support you!"

"But remember this: since you are the one breaking off the engagement, you must observe proper etiquette. Do not humiliate him. Bring some valuable gifts as an apology, then settle the matter properly!" Yun Yun instructed as she looked at Nalan Yanran.

Nalan Yanran nodded and smiled happily. "Don't worry, Master. I won't let the Misty Cloud Sect lose its manners!"

"By the way, Master, why did you come here so late? Is something the matter?" Nalan Yanran asked.

Only then did Yun Yun remember why she had come.

"I just went to the Imperial Capital and met your grandfather. He said he missed you. Tomorrow, Fama, the president of the Alchemist Association, is holding a banquet. Several major powers of the Imperial Capital will be gathering, and he wants you to attend," Yun Yun said.

Nalan Yanran nodded. "Sure. Will you be going too, Master?"

Yun Yun shook her head. "You know I prefer peace and quiet and dislike lively occasions, so I won't be going. You can attend on behalf of the Misty Cloud Sect!"

Nalan Yanran said hesitantly, "But if it's a banquet hosted by the president of the Alchemist Association, wouldn't it be inappropriate for you not to attend? Isn't it a little too casual for me to represent the Misty Cloud Sect?"

At that, Yun Yun frowned slightly. Nalan Yanran was only her disciple now, not even the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. It did indeed seem inappropriate for her to represent the sect alone.

"Then I'll have Gu He accompany you," Yun Yun said.

Nalan Yanran said innocently, "But Master Gu He isn't from the Misty Cloud Sect. Wouldn't that be announcing to the whole world that Gu He and the Misty Cloud Sect have an inseparable relationship?"

Yun Yun immediately felt somewhat irritated. Seeing this, Nalan Yanran shook Yun Yun's arm and pleaded coquettishly, "Oh, Master, just come with me. Then we can come back together too. Please?"

With Nalan Yanran clinging to her arm and acting spoiled, Yun Yun could only say helplessly, "All right, all right. I'll go with you tomorrow evening!"

"Really? Thank you, Master!" Nalan Yanran said in delight.

Yun Yun patted Nalan Yanran's head. "What are you thanking me for? It's late. Go back and rest!"

Nalan Yanran nodded. "Mm, I'll head back right away, Master. Goodbye!"

Yun Yun watched Nalan Yanran skip down the mountain, then left the cliff herself.

The next day.

Yaoye issued a decree that instantly stirred up a wave of unrest in the Imperial Capital. For the cities that had to enforce it, it was nothing less than a tidal wave!

The imperial decree stipulated that every city in the empire had to hand over forty percent of its annual tax revenue. Major cities like Salt City, in addition to the forty percent, also had to make supplementary payments for the previous three years.

This decree did not affect ordinary people much, but it was entirely different for those merchant families.

Across the entire empire, aside from the Mite'er Family in the Imperial Capital, a large portion of the families that controlled marketplaces had never paid taxes.

Some merely sent gifts to the city lord, and their taxes would be waived!

Salt City, Mo Clan.

Within half a day, the Mo Clan branch in the Imperial Capital had sent the decree back.

At that moment, the Mo Clan's main hall was packed with people. Many of the clan's key figures had been summoned back at once.

An elderly man sat at the head of the hall, his face grave. He was the Mo Clan's First Elder, Mo Cheng!

After slowly sweeping his gaze around the room, Mo Cheng asked in a deep voice, "Tell me what you think. How should we deal with this decree from the Imperial Capital's royal family?"

Mo Yan, an elder of the Mo Clan, looked at Mo Cheng and said angrily, "First Elder, of course we cannot accept this decree. Forty percent of our taxes, plus three years' worth of back payments? Even if the Mo Clan has money, we can't possibly hand over so much all at once!"

"That's right. The Misty Cloud Sect is backing the Mo Clan now, and we've already greased the wheels with every government office in Salt City. Even City Lord Bo'er supports us. What does the royal family amount to?"

"Exactly. The royal family can't just issue one decree and make us hand over a massive sum of money. If we do that, where will the Mo Clan's dignity stand in Salt City?"

The Mo Clan elders all voiced their opposition.

Mo Cheng nodded slightly. "You all have a point. The royal family has indeed gone too far. Over the years, the Mo Clan and the empire have stayed out of each other's way. We've taken care of the empire's officials from top to bottom. Asking us to bleed even more now is naturally impossible!"

As he spoke, Mo Cheng suddenly paused before continuing, "But this time, I can't shake this feeling of unease. It feels as though this decree was specifically aimed at the Mo Clan."

"Besides, while the Mo Clan has the Misty Cloud Sect behind us, we have not yet put down deep roots in Salt City. Our foundation is unstable and our strength is insufficient. We cannot confront the royal family head-on!"

Mo Cheng's words plunged the Mo Clan members present into thought.

However, someone quickly suggested, "Then let's do this. The royal family doesn't know how much tax revenue we should have paid over the years anyway. Why not make up a number, put together four years' worth, and give it to the city lord? Wouldn't that count as paying it?"

Hearing this, Mo Cheng's cloudy old eyes lit up. He nodded and said, "That is a good idea. We'll do that. As for the amount, let's set it at one million gold coins. Including the previous three years, we'll give them three and a half million gold coins. After all, the Mo Clan has built itself up step by step!"

At Mo Cheng's words, the Mo Clan members broke into laughter.

Meanwhile, at the Salt City Lord's Residence, City Lord Bo'er looked at the letter in his hand, stamped with the imperial seal.

This was a letter Yaoye had personally sent to City Lord Bo'er. Its contents instructed him to keep an eye on the Mo Clan, while also hinting that the empire would send people to Salt City for a secret inspection!

"Why would the royal family suddenly move against the Mo Clan? Have they discovered something? What should I do? If they find out that I've been abusing my authority for personal gain, wouldn't I be doomed?" City Lord Bo'er sprang up from his chair.

His expression shifted constantly. More than a decade ago, City Lord Bo'er had already formed ties with the Mo Clan.

Over the years, the Mo Clan had made a fortune in Salt City, and City Lord Bo'er had also pocketed plenty of benefits. The two sides were tightly bound together!

But just as City Lord Bo'er was at a loss, someone from the Mo Clan arrived!

The Mo Clan elder bowed to City Lord Bo'er. "I assume the city lord has also received the imperial decree directed at us?"

City Lord Bo'er nodded. "I received it. Has the Mo Clan decided what to do?"

"Forge the accounts. Change all of the tax records from Salt City over the past years into false ledgers, then send them to the Imperial Capital. The Mo Clan will pay forty percent of four years' taxes, totaling three and a half million gold coins. What do you think?" the Mo Clan elder said with a faint smile.

City Lord Bo'er immediately frowned. "Will that work? Over these years, the Mo Clan has earned far more than three and a half million gold coins. Even thirty-five million would be more than affordable for you, wouldn't it? Aren't you afraid of being exposed?"

The Mo Clan elder smiled disdainfully. "So what if we are exposed? Does the royal family truly dare move against the Mo Clan? Don't forget, the Misty Cloud Sect stands behind us!"

Upon hearing the name Misty Cloud Sect, City Lord Bo'er's heart stirred. Naturally, he understood the strength of that colossal force within the empire!

City Lord Bo'er then yielded. "Fine. Since you have made your preparations, I will reply to the empire immediately!"

The Mo Clan elder nodded. "Good. I'm sure I don't need to tell the city lord what to say. Rest assured, once this decree has passed, the Mo Clan will not treat you poorly, City Lord!"

City Lord Bo'er waved a hand. "Let's get through this first."

The Mo Clan elder then turned and left.

Very quickly, the city lord's reply was delivered back to Princess Yaoye of the Imperial Capital's royal family.

"Hmph! They truly don't know when to quit!" Yaoye snorted coldly. The letter she had sent City Lord Bo'er had been a warning in itself.

Yaoye had long possessed intelligence on everything concerning the Mo Clan. She simply had not acted before because she had been constrained by various forces, and because of the Misty Cloud Sect's deterrence.

"Xiao He was right. Only thunderous measures can deter others. The empire's prestige has faded considerably over the years. I'll reclaim it starting with your Mo Clan!" Yaoye said coldly.

Afterward, Yaoye summoned Mu Chen of the Mu Clan, along with several Mu Clan generals serving in the military.

Mu Chen asked, "Your Highness, the Eldest Princess, have you made your decision?"

Yaoye said, "Make your move. Ten thousand Imperial Guard soldiers will accompany you to Salt City. Since the Mo Clan refuses to appreciate kindness, wipe them out. As for Salt City's officials, handle them as you see fit!"

"Yes, Your Highness, the Eldest Princess!" After receiving the military order, Mu Chen left the royal palace with several generals.

At that moment, a maid's voice came from outside the hall. "Your Highness, the Alchemist Association's banquet is about to begin!"

Yaoye said flatly, "I know."

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