Chapter 659: Dad 659 is excitedly howling
"I’m not blind or deaf." Mu Rui’an looked at Mu Hanyan irritably and said, "In the past, every time a trial ended, there would be all sorts of strange rumors. But this time, everyone who came out of Exotic Beast Valley gave exactly the same story. So, I guess something unexpected must have happened, and Zhengying Academy, to protect its reputation, must have coerced and persuaded the family members to all stick to the same story."
"Father truly has the extraordinary insight of a City Lord to have guessed it." Mu Hanyan said admiringly.
"Enough flattery, tell me now." Mu Rui’an urged. It was only when he was alone with his daughter that the City Lord would show his true feelings, sometimes even acting like a child.
Mu Hanyan didn’t beat around the bush and narrated everything that had happened in the Exotic Beast Valley. According to the agreement with Pang Dezong, this matter could be disclosed to the Family Head. In fact, Pang Dezong also understood that it was impossible to keep all the family heads uninformed, no matter what incentives were offered.
"I didn’t expect it to be the Qiongqi Relics and Xia Youchen; Qu Fengting really deserved to die for letting so many people die for him! If I had known it was so dangerous, I really shouldn’t have let you participate in the trial." After listening, Mu Rui’an was both moved and scared.
If he had known this would be so dangerous, he would have never dared to let Mu Hanyan take such a risk.
"Wealth is sought amidst dangers, I actually think taking some risks is worth it." Mu Hanyan said, her face carrying a trace of pride. In front of the person she was closest to, Mu Hanyan also showed her childish side.
"So, what great benefits did Pang Dezong offer for you to keep silent?" Seeing the proud look on Mu Hanyan’s face, Mu Rui’an could guess that his beloved daughter must have received quite a lot from Pang Dezong.
"For others, it was a Blood Cleansing Marrow Pill, an additional Seven-Transformation Refining Qi Pill, plus a direct entry spot into Zhengying Academy. For me, I got this extra." Mu Hanyan pointed to the golden pattern on her lapel, showing off.
"When did you also learn to embroider, and even using gold threads? That’s so tacky. At a glance, it’s clear you’re from a small place—a nouveau riche, perhaps. Blame me for not having the means to protect you completely, if you had stayed in the Capital... your taste could have been far better." Mu Rui’an naturally knew there was something extraordinary about this golden embroidery, but seeing Mu Hanyan showing off, he couldn’t help teasing her.
"Dad, what if I told you this is called Cangxuan Cloud Silk? Would you still find it tacky?" Mu Hanyan didn’t get angry but calmly spoke.
"What, this is Cangxuan Cloud Silk, known as the Divine Artifact of Absolute Defense?" Although he guessed the golden embroidery was not ordinary, Mu Rui’an was shocked to learn it was the legendary Cangxuan Cloud Silk. He almost dropped the teacup he was holding, fumbling several times before catching it.
To see Mu Rui’an, a Direct Lineage of the Mu Family and a City Lord, so shocked showed just how prestigious the Cangxuan Cloud Silk was.
"Yes, this is Cangxuan Cloud Silk. I think Old Man Pang originally intended to harm me, but it turned out to be beneficial for me instead." Mu Hanyan explained how she acquired the Cangxuan Cloud Silk again.
"This luck, could it be too defying?" If not for knowing Mu Hanyan would never lie to him, Mu Rui’an almost thought she was making up a myth.
"It’s kind of defying, so I’m thinking, maybe my real good fortune is not in getting the Cangxuan Cloud Silk, but this Exotic Beast Egg. On the way back, I passed through a small town called Little Pond City. I don’t know if you received the news, Dad, but the Yuan Family actually discovered a Meteorite Gold Mine there, and they even held a Stone Tasting Conference..." Mu Hanyan prepared to continue in order to surprise her father again and to have him examine what exactly the Exotic Beast Egg was.
But as she spoke, Mu Hanyan noticed her father staring intently at the Exotic Beast Egg, his eyes wide with astonishment, seeming completely unrelated to what she was telling him about Little Pond City, the Meteorite Gold Mine, or anything else.
"Dad, what’s wrong?" Mu Hanyan waved her hand in front of Mu Rui’an, asking worriedly.
"Oh my God, it’s an auspicious beast’s bloodline, an auspicious beast’s bloodline! No wonder you have such good luck! My precious daughter, you’ve really found a treasure this time." Mu Rui’an grasped Mu Hanyan’s arms tightly, so excited he was almost incomprehensible.
"What, did you say this is an auspicious beast?" Mu Hanyan understood why her father was so excited.
In legends of ancient times, besides fierce beasts, there were auspicious beasts. While fierce beasts brought killings and bloodshed, auspicious beasts brought good fortune and peace. Compared to fierce beasts, auspicious beasts were even rarer; it was said they only appeared when a sage was born or a wise emperor ascended the throne.
Not just Mu Rui’an, even Mu Hanyan herself couldn’t contain her excitement.
"Otherwise, where did you think your good luck came from? When I was young, I once saw an ancient auspicious peace map handed down from ancient times. The auspicious clouds in the sky when the auspicious beast descended were exactly like the pattern on this, all your good luck comes from the auspicious beast." Mu Rui’an pointed at the wondrous pattern on the Exotic Beast Egg, speaking to Mu Hanyan with deep emotion.
"So, what exactly is this auspicious beast?" Mu Hanyan pressed further.
In the ancient times, on the Holy Court Continent, countless rare birds and Exotic Beasts lived, including four great fierce beasts, so naturally, there was more than one type of auspicious beast. In fact, besides those auspicious beasts that predicted a country’s prosperity and the birth of a saint, there were others that could bring good fortune to ordinary people, also referred to as auspicious beasts.
"You’ve got me there; just by this Beast Egg, I really can’t guess which auspicious beast it is, but for it to enhance your luck this much, I think this auspicious beast is no ordinary creature," Mu Rui’an finally calmed down, smiled, and said to Mu Hanyan.
"Let’s wait until it hatches, and then we’ll know," Mu Hanyan wasn’t in a hurry.
"What, you actually want to wait for it to hatch?" Mu Rui’an looked at Mu Hanyan, surprised.
"Can’t I?" Mu Hanyan looked back at her father, equally puzzled.
She had tried hatching this Exotic Beast Egg herself and had almost lost her life; she naturally knew it would be difficult to hatch it. She had been waiting for it to hatch on its own, but from Mu Rui’an’s reaction, it seemed as though this Exotic Beast Egg might never hatch.
"My precious daughter, do you know how many years it has been since an auspicious beast last appeared on the Holy Court Continent? And do you know why?" Mu Rui’an said with a wry smile.
Over the years, letting Mu Hanyan grow up on her own, not asking about her endeavors, relying on her to figure everything out herself, he had forgotten that some things just can’t be understood through normal means.
"It seems like besides legends, I haven’t heard of any appearances of auspicious beasts recently," Mu Hanyan thought and said.
A hint of worry crossed Mu Hanyan’s heart; could it be that this auspicious beast couldn’t hatch?
(Look here, look here, please make sure to read! The update has become four times a day, but the word count hasn’t changed. From the previous thousand words per Chapter to now two thousand words per Chapter, so the update is the same.)