Chapter 194: Yu Family's Reaction

Yu Mugao sat on a high platform in the hall. Two peak Qi Cultivation guest elders stood respectfully by his side. No one dared to speak in the vast, empty hall. Yu Mugao looked slightly weary, clearly having endured much hardship recently. He spoke in a deep voice, "Mu Yuan, is there still no news of Mujian?"

The person below him was tall and thin, with features seven-tenths similar to Yu Mugao, though without his gloomy and ruthless demeanor. This was one of the two individuals who used to follow Yu Mugao. Upon hearing the question, he nodded and respectfully replied, "Fourth Brother said he was going north to find a place to sharpen his swordsmanship. He's been gone for several months now, and there's no sign of his return."

"That scoundrel," Yu Mugao cursed under his breath. However, he had no solution for his brother, who was entirely devoted to the sword path. He sighed softly, "Mu Yuan, it's fortunate you're here to oversee things. Otherwise, with all these troubles at home, I would surely be exhausted to death."

"I wouldn't dare. I merely wish to ease my brother's burdens," Yu Muyuan replied. Below, someone hastily approached, holding a letter, which he handed to Yu Mugao. He whispered, "Patriarch, a secret letter from Ma Haiji of Huaqian Mountain!"

Yu Mugao raised an eyebrow, his expression darkening. He took the letter, casually broke the wax seal, and pulled out the paper. After reading it twice, his face immediately became grim. He clenched his teeth and exclaimed, "What an An Jingming! I haven't paid attention to him lately, and he's actually reached this level..."

He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then handed the letter to Yu Muyuan below. Yu Muyuan took the letter with both hands, glanced at it, and for a moment couldn't control himself, crying out, "This! How is this possible! Only a few years have passed, and An Jingming has reached this cultivation level?!" He continued, "Level eight Qi Cultivation, how can that be? Is his cultivation speed that of a monster? Is this news from the Li family reliable? Our family has a very good relationship with the An family now. Could this be a scheme to sow discord, to make us target the An family?"

Yu Mugao closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Unlikely. The Li family has always been low-key, and Li Tongya is not one to cause trouble. According to the informant, obtaining this news was a near-death experience, so it shouldn't be a trick by the Li family."

Neither Li Yuanxiu nor Yu Mugao realized that Ma Haiji, to emphasize his own contribution, had exaggerated the process of obtaining the information in his letter, describing it as a near-death ordeal. This manipulation affected Yu Mugao's judgment, making him even more certain of the news.

Yu Muyuan cupped his hands and gritted his teeth, saying, "If that's the case, this child must not be allowed to live!"

Yu Mugao's face was terrifyingly grim. An Jingming's progress in cultivation far exceeded his expectations. He sighed deeply and whispered, "Of course, he cannot be allowed to live. Our family must kill this person. At his cultivation speed, he will likely break through to Foundation Establishment in just a few years. When that happens, there will be unforeseen variables. It would be best to suppress both the Li and An families simultaneously, so they both suffer a setback."

Yu Muyuan watched his brother still pondering, knowing that Yu Mugao was likely devising some sinister scheme. His brother's thoughts were always wild and unpredictable, yet ruthless and treacherous. He had never failed in his machinations against various figures to date. Thus, Yu Muyuan remained silent, simply waiting below.

Yu Mugao pondered for only a few breaths, a plan already forming in his mind. He whispered, "The An family revealed the locations of the Li family's towns and arranged for our infiltrators to go there, which is ideal. Now I have a way. First, we'll strip the Li family of their prestige, then catch the An family off guard. We've indulged these two families for too long; it's time to rein them in."

Yu Mugao smiled faintly, clearly confident of victory. He said softly, "Send for Guest Elder Jiang."

The servants below quickly went to make arrangements. Soon, they led in an old man with a full head of white hair and a face covered in wrinkles, appearing at least 150 years old. His cultivation was only at the third level of Qi Cultivation, and his aura was faint, yet he laughed heartily, cupping his hands in greeting. "Patriarch Yu, it's been a long time! How many people need to be eliminated today, I wonder?"

"Guest Elder Jiang!" Yu Mugao said, remarkably polite, clearly holding him in high regard. He smiled and said, "Indeed, there is one person who needs to be eliminated. I'll have to trouble you, sir."

Guest Elder Jiang casually sat on a nearby rosewood chair, propping his feet up. Yu Mugao showed no sign of annoyance; instead, he greeted Yu Muyuan, smiling, "I'll have to trouble Fifth Brother to accompany him on this trip!"

Ma Haiji lit a fire, carefully wrapped the paper letter, and placed it on the flames. Seeing the letter vanish, he breathed a sigh of relief. He looked around, gathered his belongings, and prepared to head home.

Ma Haiji walked a few steps, then turned back, stomped out the fire, and covered it with dirt. Only then did he nod in relief. After walking several dozen more steps, he suddenly felt something was amiss. He squatted down and murmured, "The Li family values this information so highly, they must have their own plan. I've already sent this news to my family, and Yu Mugao will surely act to disrupt it. Eventually, the Li family will realize the information has been leaked..."

"If Tian Zhongqing returns to the courtyard, sees the letter on the ground, and asks the servants, he'll surely know I was the only one who visited this courtyard. Wouldn't that expose me?!"

Ma Haiji's body trembled violently, and he was instantly filled with distress, his heart sinking into despair. He muttered to himself, "There's no turning back now! I absolutely cannot return to the Li family. My home is probably already a net waiting to ensnare me; going back would be a dead end."

With his satchel on his back, Ma Haiji was overwhelmed with dread. He mumbled, "I can't wait for a reply from home. I must leave now and escape to my family!"

Ma Haiji still had some presence of mind; he quickly grasped the situation. He picked up his satchel and plunged into the forest, heading north for the duration of an incense stick burning. He was covered in scratches from branches and thorns, but then, unexpectedly, a person descended before him.

The person was dressed quite simply, draped in a plain grey robe, with a sword hanging at his waist. He carried himself with an elegant demeanor, staring intently at Ma Haiji, and smiled, "Where are you off to, sir?"

Ma Haiji's heart pounded in terror, his legs trembling. He knew he had been exposed and cried out, "Who are you, sir?"

"I am Chen Donghe!" Chen Donghe smiled slightly, glanced at Ma Haiji, and said softly, "You are quite sharp, sir. If we hadn't been waiting nearby, you might well have escaped."

"Chen Donghe... a Qi Cultivator!" Ma Haiji had spent many years in the Li family; although he had always been an ordinary official, he certainly knew Chen Donghe's name. He pulled a dagger from his waist and immediately moved to cut his own throat.

However, Ma Haiji was merely a mortal. Chen Donghe simply flicked his finger, and the dagger in Ma Haiji's hand was struck by a surge of energy, flying out of his grasp to land by a nearby small river. With another wave of his hand, Ma Haiji softly collapsed to the ground.

Chen Donghe looked at Ma Haiji with pity, then lifted the man and rode the wind westward, towards Lijing Mountain.