Chapter Twenty-Two: The Mu Clan Patriarch

“Thank you very much, my friend, for showing mercy and not harming them. However, if you refuse to come with us, I shall have to best you myself. Forgive me.” With these words, the middle-aged man’s aura surged dramatically. Li Xingyu could tell that his vital energy had grown thick and dense, nearly reaching the threshold where it would condense into true essence—a sign of an innate master.

Li Xingyu understood the man’s intentions. He said nothing, only nodded. Seeing this, the middle-aged man slowly raised his palm to attack. Though his movements appeared slow, there was no flaw to be found—his opponent had nowhere to escape. Li Xingyu furrowed his brow, then calmly raised his arm, channeling true essence into his palm not to strike, but to defend. He met the man's palm, and a muffled sound echoed as their hands pressed together.

The middle-aged man felt his inner strength, unleashed with vigor, was utterly unable to penetrate his opponent’s defenses. As his energy waned, suddenly Li Xingyu’s power surged forth, flooding into the man’s arm in an instant. He nearly lost consciousness, but the force quickly withdrew and left him unharmed. Li Xingyu had returned to his original spot, standing quietly, smiling at him.

After composing himself and regulating his true energy, the middle-aged man spoke, “Thank you, friend. My name is Mubatt, eldest son of the current patriarch of the Mu Clan. I handle most family affairs on behalf of my father. Farewell.” With that, he departed, his subordinates following.

Li Xingyu glanced at the crowd of onlookers, then left as well. He intended to travel to another city. Though he wasn’t afraid of trouble, he disliked unnecessary complications. The Mu Clan was powerful; he did not wish to make enemies of them.

Yet, after walking a few streets, he changed his mind. He entered a hotel with a restaurant below and rooms above, ordered a guest room, and instructed the attendant to bring his meal upstairs. The reason for his change was practical: the Mu Clan, ancient and strong, would not be managed by rash men. Now that they had a sense of his strength, they would likely avoid further conflict. Though their clan boasted martial artists, they would not lightly oppose a top-ranked master. The clan’s true leaders surely recognized that he was at least at the innate level, so he decided to stay and investigate the Mu Clan’s actions. If possible, he wished to befriend their upper ranks. Some secrets could only be known by the great families or the empire’s high officials, while written records were always filtered and edited—necessary tools of rule.

When the attendant brought his food and wine, Li Xingyu tipped him a gold coin and easily learned what he wanted to know. It turned out that three months prior, the clan patriarch’s eldest granddaughter—likely Mubatt’s daughter—had fallen ill. The sickness was strange: at first, just weakness, but it worsened, and now she often suffered fevers and passed out. The Mu Clan had searched all the renowned physicians in Grass City and nearby towns, but none could cure her, nor even find the cause. The young lady, named Mu Xueqing, was clever, gifted in martial arts, and at just twenty-two was among the clan’s top ten fighters. Her beauty was remarkable, and she was adored by the patriarch. Rumor had it that the clan recently found a spiritual medicine that could cure her, but that very morning it was stolen. The thief injured the clan’s guards and escaped on horseback.

Li Xingyu now understood Mubatt’s urgency, and why they had suspected him upon seeing his horse. He was unconcerned, though—perhaps this was an opportunity to approach the Mu Clan’s inner circle.

Meanwhile, Mubatt returned to the clan’s city residence and immediately sent a command by carrier pigeon to Heavenly Gift Prairie, instructing those there to find Mu Jial and verify Li Xingyu’s story. Once this was done, Mubatt passed through the inner hall and entered a secret chamber. His father, the patriarch, had hurried back from his retreat in the mountains after learning the spiritual medicine had been stolen. Mubatt found him resting in the chamber.

The old man sat cross-legged on a stone bed, eyes open as Mubatt entered. Mubatt carefully recounted his encounter and duel with Li Xingyu, leaving out no detail. After listening, his father closed his eyes in thought. Mubatt waited quietly.

After a while, the patriarch opened his eyes. “Do you believe he has attained the innate realm?” Mubatt nodded. “And his martial skill is formidable enough to defeat Tian’er with a single move?” Mubatt nodded again. “He also appears quite young?” Mubatt knew his father was pondering the stranger’s identity, so he simply nodded, saying nothing more.

The old man mused for a while, unable to think of any innate master in the Heavenly Soaring Empire matching his son’s description. Perhaps he was from another country? “It seems I must meet him myself. Is he still in the city?”

“I have already ordered that if he leaves, he should not be stopped, but it must be reported immediately. Since we have received no such report, I believe he is still here.”

“Very well. Instruct the men to locate him, but I will wait for news from the prairie before meeting him.” The patriarch closed his eyes again.

Mubatt glanced at his father, then left the chamber, his steps heavy, and made his way to his daughter’s room.

He found his daughter lying beneath the covers, her face pale yet still lovely, her body frail—so thin it was barely discernible beneath the blanket. She had fallen into sleep again after a fever. The previous servant who cared for her had become ill as well, so Mubatt had replaced them. Strangely, the former servants recovered within three days of leaving, while the new ones had not been there long enough to notice anything amiss.

He watched his daughter silently for a moment, then left. As manager of the clan’s affairs, he could not remain at her side for long; he had many matters to attend to.

Since news from the prairie would take time, the clan focused on locating Li Xingyu, with instructions not to follow or surveil him, but simply to know his residence and whether he left the city. With the Mu Clan’s local influence, they quickly discovered his lodging: Fragrant Pavilion Restaurant.

At that moment, Li Xingyu was indeed resting in his upstairs room. Having already made contact with the Mu Clan’s upper ranks, he saw no need to rush out for information. He was certain that the clan would easily find him, and once they had verified his story with Mu Jial, they would come seeking him again.

Thus ends the third chapter as promised for today. Time for sleep—hoping to wake tomorrow to your recommendations and bookmarks. Crystal thanks you all.

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