Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Misfortune Behind the Curtain

Upon returning to the tavern, Ye Shi began to pack.

Chen Da looked at Ye Shi, frowning, "Are you moving to the Mu residence?"

Ye Shi nodded, replying, "Indeed!"

"Shi, what made you change your mind? Did you listen to Young Master Chen?" Chen Da asked, puzzled.

Ye Shi smirked, "It's not about listening to him. I met his father, and he asked me to stay at the Mu's."

Chen Da, taken aback, exclaimed, "You met his father?"

Ye Shi confirmed, "Yes."

Anxiously, Chen Da inquired, "What does Elder Mu Yuanfeng think of you? Being a level-three alchemist and a nine-star martial artist, his opinion matters."

Scratching his head, Ye Shi replied, "I don't know. He didn't say."

Exasperated, Chen Da responded, "How can you not know? It's something you should perceive, not wait for him to say."

Ye Shi mumbled, "Well, I'm not good at that."

Chen Da: "..."

……

When Mu Yuanfeng returned with Mu Chen, Mu Ke, Mu Yuanhang, and several family elders were all gathered together.

Glancing at everyone in the room, Mu Yuanfeng remarked with a faint smile, "What's the occasion? A tribunal?"

Mu Ke frowned, "Yuanfeng, why did you sell the Spirit Breaking Pill to the auction house?"

"The offer from the young master of the Lan family, Lan Ruofeng, was too low. It didn't interest me," Mu Yuanfeng replied coolly.

"You could've chosen not to sell. Do you realize what another martial spirit in the family means?" Mu Ke questioned, visibly upset.

Squinting, Mu Yuanfeng answered, "Of course, I understand the value of having another martial spirit in the family. I didn't want to sell, but once the news got out, I had no other option."

Mu Ke sighed, looking at Mu Yuanfeng with resignation.

Mu Yuanfeng stood aloof in the middle of the hall. He and Mu Yuanhang were half-brothers, with Mu Yuanhang's mother being the favored one in Mu Ke's eyes. Consequently, Mu Ke had always shown partiality towards Mu Yuanhang.

With a soft sigh, Mukai cast a resigned look at Muyuanfeng and Muyuanhang, resting a hand on his temple in dismay.

Both his sons had exceptional talents. However, Muyuanhang had always harbored jealousy towards Muyuanfeng, secretly causing several problems. Thankfully, Muyuanfeng had always prioritized the bigger picture, avoiding drastic actions. This time, though, he acted quite out of character.

Mu Ke gazed downcast at Mu Yuanfeng, wishing that if the elixir had stayed, he might have had to compromise for the sake of the family.

"Younger brother, you've gone too far this time," Mu Yuanhang said, looking squarely at Mu Yuanfeng.

"Too far? It was my creation, I decide its fate," Mu Yuanfeng retorted coldly.

Mu Yuanhang sighed, "Even if you have a grudge against me, you shouldn't neglect the family's interests."

Mu Yuanfeng smirked, "I may not be as considerate as you when it comes to the big picture. If the elixir's information hadn't leaked, I might've been."

Mu Yuanhang clenched his fists. When did Mu Yuanfeng become so sharp-tongued?

Muyuanhang was unaware that Muyuanfeng, initially dejected by Muchen's reckless behavior, felt immense guilt for neglecting his son for so many years. His disdain for Muyuanhang, who he felt was a bad influence on Muchen, deepened substantially.

"Younger brother, I know you resent me, but..." Mu Yuanhang started.

Mu Yuanfeng interrupted coldly, "Resent you? Why would I? Unless you were the one who leaked the information."

Frowning, Mu Yuanhang warned, "You can't just throw around accusations."

With narrowed eyes, Mu Yuanfeng replied, "Neither can you."

Mu Yuanhang squinted, finding it hard to recognize this new side of Mu Yuanfeng, much like how Mu Chen had changed.

"Enough! Have you two finished arguing?" Mukai's stern voice echoed as he slammed the table, his expression icy.

Under Mukai's stern gaze, Muyuanfeng and Muyuanhang closed their mouths.