Chapter 706: 706 Encirclement, Mu Family Crisis
Mu Yunshui certainly wouldn’t hold back any punches, and with Mu Ziping suffering from serious injuries, he hadn’t yet found an outlet for his anger. He silently made a decision that even if he didn’t kill Han Yan today, he must cripple his cultivation to avenge Mu Ziping for the sword strike he had endured.
"Han Yan, take a strike from this old man!" A cold light flashed in Mu Yunshui’s eyes as he drew his sword, ready to attack Han Yan.
As the longsword was unsheathed, brilliance flashed in ten thousand directions, with powerful Sword Intent soaring into the sky.
Although the longsword in his hand was not as good as the True Water Sword wielded by his disciple, his towering presence was far superior to that of Mu Ziping with the True Water Sword in hand.
The hearts of Mu Ze and the others sank slightly as they became secretly anxious for Han Yan.
"Family Head, there’s been a major incident." Just then, a guard rushed in frantically.
Everyone turned their heads to look.
Seeing the guard’s panic-stricken appearance, Mu Yunshui temporarily held back his attack and stopped.
"What has happened? Haven’t you seen that we’re all here? And there are distinguished guests from the Zong Family as well; what kind of composure is this with all your rushing around?" The Great Elder, already in a foul mood with his mind in complete disarray, spoke displeasedly.
"Great Elder, our Refined Iron Mine at Qingfeng Square has been attacked. If we don’t send reinforcements soon, I fear the mine will be lost," the guard said urgently, without even the time to perform a formal greeting.
"What!" The Great Elder’s face turned pale with shock. The Refined Iron Mine at Qingfeng Square might not be as significant as the Meteorite Gold Mine, but the refined iron ore it produced was extremely pure and could be used directly for sword making without smelting, making it the Mu Family’s largest source of income.
"Who are these people that dare to target our Mu Family?" the Great Elder asked angrily. The Mu Family placed great importance on this mine and had assigned a large number of guards and elite warriors to protect it, yet someone dared to lay their hands on it.
"The attackers were clad in black and wore masks. They might be mountain bandits or roving marauders, but their strength is formidable. Our brothers have suffered heavy casualties, and even Housekeeper Geng has been seriously injured," the guard said, his voice choked with emotion.
Only then did everyone notice that beneath his dust-stained attire, patches of blood were visible; clearly, he too had paid a significant price to break through the encirclement and come back for help.
"What... how is Zijing doing right now?" the Great Elder asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Mu Zijing, his eldest son and Mu Feng’s father, was in charge of the affairs of the Qingfeng Square mine. His strength was somewhere between Housekeeper Geng and Zhongbo. If Housekeeper Geng had been seriously injured, then his chances of faring better were slim.
"Young Master..." the guard began, wearing a look of confusion, but he was interrupted by another guard who staggered in.
"Family Head, our Medicine Garden in River Origin Valley has been invaded by bandits, and we’re struggling to hold on. Please dispatch reinforcements immediately," the man said, covered in blood. As soon as he finished speaking, he collapsed to the ground.
"What?" The complexions of everyone changed dramatically.
The Medicine Garden in River Origin Valley was the Mu Family’s second-largest industry, only secondary to the Refined Iron Mine, and now it too was in trouble.
"Family Head, Great Elder, we’ve just received news that the caravan heading to Zhou Mountain City was heavily attacked by horse thieves and is desperately fleeing back to Heishi City. Please dispatch help immediately," the outer courtyard steward also hurriedly barged in, shouting towards Mu Rui’an and several elders.
"Disaster strikes, disaster strikes! The silver team from Guyu City’s banks to Heishi City has been robbed. Without immediate support, they’ll be completely doomed," the Housekeeper Ye rushed over in a flurry.
Trailing behind him were several guards looking travel-worn and weary. Upon closer inspection, they were the elite swordsmen from the Mu Family’s various industries spread throughout the surrounding regions.
...
The Great Elder’s body swayed, nearly fainting. It was no coincidence that industrial attacks on the Mu Family’s enterprises happened simultaneously. Anyun Country had enjoyed years of peace and prosperity, even passing for a contented nation; where would such a high number of bandits come from? The Great Elder was certain that someone was striking at the Mu Family from the shadows.
The medicine gardens, the mines, the banks, and the trading caravans were the lifelines of the Mu Family. Hundreds depended on them for sustenance, living, and the Mu Family’s disciples’ cultivation resources were all reliant on them. Should disaster strike, what could the Mu Family possibly use to sustain such an extensive enterprise?
More importantly, aside from the third generation’s underage members, most of the second generation were spread out, managing the family’s industries. They were the true pillars of the Mu Family. If they were to fall, it would mean the Mu Family’s turn of fortune, with decline soon to follow.
Who could be so ruthless as to employ such a devastating strategy?
The Great Elder’s already chaotic mind became even more entangled, suddenly overtaken by an ominous premonition of impending collapse.
"Family Head, elders, we must not delay. We must send support to each location immediately," Housekeeper Geng’s words brought the Great Elder back to his senses.
"Family Head, what do you suggest we do about this?" Such a significant matter was not for the Great Elder to decide alone. Of course, lacking any solutions himself, he couldn’t decide and thus turned to Mu Rui’an.
It was not until this moment that he realized being a Family Head was not such an easy role to fulfill. If he were the Family Head and faced with such a difficult question, he wouldn’t know how to respond either.
"Just let it be, those are merely a few clowns; how much of a storm could they possibly stir?" Mu Rui’an said with a faint smile.
"What?" The Great Elder looked at Mu Rui’an, both surprised and puzzled.
With attacks on industries and heavy losses for the trade caravans, he said to leave it be. Could he not understand what those industries meant to the Mu clan in Heishi City?
"Heh, ’leave it be’ you say so easily. Can’t you see this is someone stoking the fire under the Mu Family’s cauldron? As the head of a family, are you not worried about the potential ruin of the Mu Family’s thousand-year legacy in Heishi City?" Mu Yunshui mockingly commented from the sidelines.
Upon hearing of the successive crises befalling the Mu Family in Heishi City, he too was shocked and naturally couldn’t move against Mu Hanyan during such a time. However, after hearing Mu Rui’an’s words, he couldn’t help but scoff.
"Family Head, Great Elder, let us go," pleaded Mu Ze and the others, guessing at the conspiracy behind these events. Fearing for the family’s imminent peril, they spoke out one after another, anxious to act.
"Stay put, all of you. With your little strength, what help could you possibly be if you went?" Mu Rui’an sternly rebuked, suppressing their eagerness.
"But if not them, who else can we send? Perhaps we few old folks should make the trip ourselves," said the Great Elder, aware that the capabilities of Mu Ze and the others wouldn’t be enough in such haste.
"Even if we were to rush there ourselves, I’m afraid it would still be too late. Everyone, stay put," Mu Rui’an shook his head and replied.
"Are we just to watch the Mu Family’s legacy be destroyed without doing anything? No, even if it’s too late, I can’t just sit and wait for doom," the Great Elder knew Mu Rui’an was right; the journey was long, and the enemy had moved with deliberation. It might almost certainly be too late to set out now, but one couldn’t just stand by and watch the Mu Family fall into such a plight. Something had to be done.
As he spoke, the Great Elder prepared to set out.