"Iâm not one of those god-men who claim to calculate the heavens, earth, and life and death; how could I possibly know everything? After our ancestor perished in battle, the Mu Family had been wandering and struggling, barely surviving at the brink of extinction numerous times, nearly severing our bloodline inheritance. The testament left by our ancestors has been passed down orally from generation to generation; itâs inevitable that some details might be lost. Thus, there are some things I canât provide answers for, and youâll have to figure them out on your own," Mu Beichen said with a wry smile.
After hearing Mu Beichenâs words, Mu Hanyan felt somewhat relieved. Over tens of thousands of years, countless natural disasters and wars plagued the Holy Court Continent, dispersing numerous people and families, severing their bloodline inheritances. Although the Mu Family descends from the Guardian of the Gods, without an awakened bloodline, they were no different from ordinary people. Having preserved their heritage until now was already commendable; it was understandable that some details had slipped through the cracks over so many generations, and of course, grandfather couldnât be aware of everything.
Moreover, that ancestor couldnât have possibly foreseen events tens of thousands of years after his death, and couldnât have clarified everything; she would have to find the answers herself.
"Alright, Iâve told you everything I know. In a few days, it will be the disciple recruitment day at Long Yan Academy. With your strength and natural talent, entering Long Yan Academy shouldnât be an issue, but thereâll still be some tests. You should rest for a few days first, familiarize yourself with the ways of the Capital, and also make some preparations," Mu Beichen said. After pausing for a moment, he added, "You donât need to hide your strength anymore, but donât be too conspicuous either. Also, the matter of the Divine Bloodline is traditionally only known by the Family Head and the awakened ones; you must not divulge it."
"Mhm, alright," Mu Hanyan nodded in agreement.
In fact, even until now, the matter of her awakening the Divine Bloodline was only known to her immediate family. She wasnât about to go looking for trouble.
"Someone, escort the Young Master back to rest," Mu Beichen ordered.
"Yes, Family Head," a maid replied respectfully as she pushed open the door.
Led by the maid, Mu Hanyan and her party walked towards the deeper parts of the inner courtyard.
"Could it really be the descendant of another Guardian of the Gods? But it doesnât make sense," Mu Beichen muttered to himself, puzzled, as he watched the distant figures of Mu Hanyan, Hua Yuezi, and Jiang Yuzhe through the thin bamboo by the window.
"Family Head, could it be that the legend is true?" Uncle Yun, hunched over, asked suddenly from behind him.
"What, that legend!" Hearing Uncle Yunâs words, Mu Beichen shuddered as a thought struck him.
Uncle Yun nodded slightly.
"The day and night cycle, the reincarnation of heaven and earth. Divine Martial descends, Qiankun Guiwei! Could it be that the legend is true?" Mu Beichen clenched his fist, murmuring with a mix of excitement, nervousness, and a trace of worry.
If, if that legend was true, then Hanyan, Hanyan she...
Mu Beichenâs hands trembled slightly clenched into fists.
...
In the distance, a quiet courtyard came into view, with red walls and green tiles, surrounded by willows; a spring in the courtyard bubbled and flowed into a small stream leading to a lotus pond far outside the yard.
Seeing this serene and elegant courtyard, Mu Hanyan felt truly delighted.
"This was your parentsâ residence," Mu Yunshui explained, noticing the joy in Mu Hanyanâs eyes.
From the time Mu Hanyan went to see her grandfather, he had been waiting outside, following her to the courtyard later.
"Although the Young Master and Madam left many years ago, the Family Head still commanded me to clean daily, saying that one day you would return," the maid at his side said, wiping her eyes and speaking with relief.
"By the way, I havenât asked, sisterâwhat should I call you?" Noticing the maidâs gaze held a familiarity not seen in others, Mu Hanyan asked.
"The Young Master mustnât call me that; I donât dare be considered your sister. My name is Axiu. I used to be a maid serving the Madam, and I took care of the Young Master since his birth, and later served both the Young Master and Madam. After they left, I stayed behind to take care of this courtyard," the maid hurriedly responded.
"So itâs Aunt Xiu. Youâve had a hard time these years," Mu Hanyan spoke warmly. Only now did she understand that this maid was a senior in her family, even older than her father.
Looking closely, wrinkles graced her eyes, yet her features remained gentle and beautiful, a natural beauty making it easy to overlook her actual age.
"Itâs not hard. The Family Head and both the Young Master and Young Madam have been very kind to me, and since I only manage this courtyard, my work is much lighter than other servants. The Family Head has been particularly gracious to me," Aunt Xiu gratefully responded.
While saying this, Aunt Xiu opened the gates of the courtyard.
Though uninhabited for many years, the courtyard was thoroughly clean, not a speck of dust on doors and windows.
Seeing how diligently Aunt Xiu had maintained her parentsâ home moved Mu Hanyan even more.
"Let go of me, you bastard, son of a bitch, release me now!" Just then, a young girlâs enraged cry came from inside the house.
"Yunyun dear, donât you know how I feel about you?" followed by the shameless laughter of a young man and the sounds of tugging and pulling.
"Let go of me, or Iâll scream for help, letting the Family Head know you dare to commit such shameless acts, he will never let you off lightly," the girl sternly said.
"Then scream. Just a maid worth nothing, and you still expect the Family Head to support you? You donât know your place. My brother-in-law, do you know who he is? Though Zhuang Family may not be one of the Eight Great Families, we are still a wealthy family of the Capital. Zhuang Chengjun taking a liking to you ŃŃ your blessing; you dare to resist, and even if I were to kill you now, no one would stand up for you," the man brazenly said.
"Stop!" Unable to bear it any longer, Mu Hanyan shouted angrily.
Although she didnât know the identities of the two inside, this was her parentsâ old home, and for someone to dare commit such an indecent act here was a total disrespect to her parents. Moreover, Mu Hanyan already abhorred those who used their family status to bully others.
With her shout, Mu Hanyan had already pushed open the room door; had she not remembered this was her parentsâ old home, she likely would have kicked it down.
Inside, a slick young man was grabbing a young girl, about to take advantage of her. The girl appeared lovely and delicate, seemingly only fourteen or fifteen, and very thin.