Chapter Twenty-Nine: Mu Feng Is Dead!?

"Everyone is gone, why are you still standing there in a daze? Were you mesmerized by how pretty she was?"

The fairy spoke with a huff, forcefully tapping Mu Feng on the skull. Unfortunately, being a spirit, she could not inflict any real damage on him.

"No, the name sounds very familiar. I feel like I've heard it somewhere before."

"You've heard of every pretty girl, haven't you?"

"Tch."

Too lazy to argue with the fairy, Mu Feng hung his long sword back on his earlobe and headed toward the edge of the Snow Moon Mountain Range. He had been away for quite a while; he wondered how things were faring at the Alchemy Hall.

At this very moment, a somber atmosphere enveloped Yellow Sand Town. White funeral gauze hung over the entrance of the Alchemy Hall. Many passersby on the street cast helpless looks as they witnessed the scene.

"It’s truly a pity. The young master of the Mu family had just begun to make a name for himself, only to die like this."

"I heard the Xiao family sent people to do it."

"Hey! Don't spout nonsense! If someone hears you, we’re both finished!"

It turned out that during the time Mu Feng had vanished without a trace, the Xiao family assumed their Great Elder had succeeded. They had loudly proclaimed the news of Mu Feng’s death, aiming to crush the rising morale of the Mu family. The Mu family initially refused to believe it, but after a full half-month had passed without a single scrap of news about Mu Feng, they were forced to accept the reality.

As the Mu family gradually declined, the Xiao family seized the momentum to rise. With Jiang Wuying, a genius of the Sword Sect, as their backing, the Xiao family was like a fish in water in Yuanzhou City. They soon monopolized most of the city's business.

Looking at the Mu family now, countless high-ranking members were gathered in the Alchemy Hall, all silent. In the center of the main hall stood an empty coffin. For a great family, the death of a young master with no remains to be found was a profound humiliation, and for the Mu family, it was an unspeakable agony.

Mu Qingcheng walked with heavy steps toward the empty coffin, looking at Xiao Yutong, who sat there pale and speechless. After a long time, he finally spoke.

"Yutong, we will do everything in our power to recover Mu Feng’s remains. You should take care of your health during this time; don't stay here any longer."

A flicker of sorrow crossed Mu Qingcheng's eyes as he spoke. Since the incident with Mu Feng, Xiao Yutong had spent every day guarding the empty coffin, sitting motionless without saying a word. She hadn't eaten or slept, and hadn't even had a drop of water.

Xiaoyu, looking anxious, also tried to persuade her: "Young Mistress, no matter what, please eat something. If you keep starving yourself like this, your body won't be able to take it."

Despite their words, Xiao Yutong remained unmoved, keeping her vigil beside the coffin. Suddenly, loud arguing erupted outside the door.

Jia Zhuangxian was out on the street, his expression ferocious as he shouted: "The Young Master is not trash! Take back what you said!"

"Hmph, a piece of trash young master abandoned by his family, whose wife is a blind woman—what is there to take back? Get lost!"

"Our Xiao family came to pay respects to your young master; that’s us doing you a favor. Don't be ungrateful!"

The man looked at Jia Zhuangxian with disdain, dusting off his clothes as if he found the surroundings repulsive. A large character for "Xiao" on his chest was particularly glaring.

"If you don't apologize to the Young Master, you aren't stepping foot inside this door!"

Jia Zhuangxian’s neck turned red, and the veins on his face stood out. He gripped the long blade at his waist tightly, his entire body trembling.

"Apologize? A piece of trash like him deserves my apology? You, a mere outsider in the Mu family, get lost and stop being an eyesore!"

Facing Jia Zhuangxian’s persistence, the man grew impatient and prepared to step into the Alchemy Hall. Unable to contain his rage any longer, Jia Zhuangxian drew his blade and swung it at the man.

"Damn you! You Xiao family scum, I’ll kill you for this today!"

Suddenly, a thunderous roar rang out.

"You’re courting death!"

Before the words faded, a foot landed firmly on Jia Zhuangxian’s chest.

*Pfft!*

The sudden, immense force sent Jia Zhuangxian vomiting blood as he crashed straight to the ground. Looking up, he saw a figure approaching. It was none other than Xiao Jue of the Xiao family.

"What is going on?"

Mu Qingcheng had just walked out of the room and bumped into Xiao Jue. Seeing him arrive, Xiao Jue smiled hypocritically.

"What a coincidence, Brother Qingcheng. I didn't expect to find you here. I came today to pay my respects to my unfortunate son-in-law, but I didn't expect this person to be so ungrateful, actually refusing to let us in."

Watching Xiao Jue’s fake display, Jia Zhuangxian struggled to climb up from the ground despite his pain. "You’re full of crap! What respects? Everyone in Yuanzhou City knows it was your Xiao family who played dirty!"

"You, and you! You even dared to call the Young Master trash!"

"What right do you have to pay respects to the Young Master..."

"Silence!"

Before he could finish, Mu Qingcheng roared. But Jia Zhuangxian, unwilling to stop, continued with all his might: "Family Head! I, Jia Zhuangxian, may be an outsider, but I know the Young Master is absolutely not trash!"

"Not only has the Young Master recovered his cultivation, but he has also mastered the art of alchemy."

"Look, Family Head, this is a flawless pill refined by the Young Master. He is not trash!"

With that, Jia Zhuangxian pulled a pill from his robes. The pill shone with a bright luster and emitted a faint medicinal fragrance. It only made Mu Qingcheng feel even more heartbroken. He knew better than anyone that Mu Feng was never trash. He understood Mu Feng’s potential more than anyone, but now, no matter what was said, it could not be undone.

The members of the Xiao family sneered at the sight. So what if he was a genius? If you provoke the Xiao family, you end up dead all the same.

"Come in."

Mu Qingcheng suppressed the murderous intent in his heart and turned to walk back into the Alchemy Hall. It wasn't that he didn't want to strike, but today was the funeral; he didn't want Mu Feng to be disturbed on his final day.

Stepping into the hall and looking at the spirit tablet in the center, Xiao Jue smiled knowingly. Xiao Ruoxin, standing to the side, noticed the withered Xiao Yutong and couldn't help but feel a flash of disgust, though she put on a pathetic expression and stepped forward.

"Yutong, Mu Feng is dead. There is no point in you staying in the Mu family. Why not come with me to the Sword Sect?"

Go to the Sword Sect?

Hearing these words, everyone looked on in surprise. Those on the street outside heard it too, and their eyes were filled with envy.

"She’s his sister after all. Being able to enter the Sword Sect is a blessing many can only dream of."

"Indeed. If she hadn't married that guy Mu Feng, Xiao Yutong might have been a disciple of the Sword Sect by now."

Xiao Ruoxin was immensely satisfied. This was exactly the result she wanted. The Sword Sect cared deeply about their reputation and always prided themselves on being a righteous sect. Her gesture would surely boost her own standing. As for Xiao Yutong, she would just find a place to kill her later. After all, she was the final piece of the proxy marriage; once Xiao Yutong died, there would be no proof left.

However, facing Xiao Ruoxin’s invitation, Xiao Yutong merely shook her head faintly.

"I’m not going anywhere. I just want to wait here for Mu Feng to come back."

Hearing this, Xiao Ruoxin’s expression changed instantly. Her gentle facade was swept away, replaced by boundless anger. "To be so unhinged over a piece of trash... where does that leave the reputation of the Xiao family?"

"What a pathetic woman."

"Xiao Ruoxin! Have you no shame? This is the Mu family! Yutong is my daughter-in-law; it is not your place to speak of her like that!"

Mu Qingcheng could no longer contain his fury and erupted. His surging aura shook the surroundings, and the terrifying pressure of the Xuanhuang Realm swept toward Xiao Ruoxin.

Suddenly, a spiritual energy of equal strength burst forth in response.

"Brother Qingcheng, Ruoxin is just looking out for her sister. There’s no need to get so worked up."

"It’s not a wise decision to completely offend the Sword Sect and my Xiao family over a dead man."

Xiao Jue spoke with immense smugness. When he first received reports from his subordinates that a Heaven Realm expert had appeared at the Mu family’s Alchemy Hall, he had worried that Mu Feng might have hired some formidable help. Now, it seemed he had been overthinking.

Just as the Xiao family members were reveling in their triumph, a voice quietly broke into the hall.

"Sending only a piece of trash from the Xuanhuang Realm to kill me... that doesn't seem like a very wise decision either."

"Family Head Xiao!"