Chapter 650: Chapter 85: Spanking the Goddess! (First Update)

"The people from the Divine Hall want to kill me. Who do you think could be giving them orders?" Mu Qingge’s face was somber, yet her eyes were extraordinarily clear as she looked at the High Priest.

In her eyes, it seemed she already knew all the answers!

The Divination Jade in the High Priest’s hand clattered onto the table.

This was the first time Mu Qingge saw a look of shock and dismay on his face.

Her eyes slightly narrowed, her voice low and slow: "Before this, I had never had dealings with the Divine Hall, let alone any grudges. And it’s said that the Divine Hall can communicate with the Divine Demon Continent."

The High Priest suddenly sat up from his chair, his expression particularly serious. "It seems there is another rival for the Young Master in the Divine Demon Continent! And he has already guessed the existence of the Young Master."

Mu Qingge paced slowly around the table, her half-narrowed eyes reflecting her thoughts: "He is in the Divine Demon Continent, yet he knows of my existence and even uses the Divine Hall to try to eliminate me. It seems your senior brother is now guarding by his side."

"Correct!" The High Priest confirmed Mu Qingge’s guess.

His eyes slightly narrowing, he said, "Surely it was my senior brother who observed the stars at night and learned of the Young Master’s existence. But he couldn’t possibly know who the Young Master is, so if they indeed gave the orders, they would only say to look for a talented and extraordinary young person with the surname Mu!"

After speaking, he looked at Mu Qingge.

Mu Qingge’s lips slightly curved, barely noticeable.

It seemed that under these conditions, only she fit the bill.

Sitting down on an empty chair opposite the High Priest, Mu Qingge crossed her legs, leaned back into the chair, and exuded a hint of chill in her aura, "Then tell me about your senior brother’s skills."

"Yes, Young Master." The High Priest nodded.

He thought carefully for a moment before speaking: "If indeed another competitor has appeared, I think I know what the Young Master’s great calamity refers to."

"The Divine Hall’s pursuit of me?" Mu Qingge raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on him.

"No." The High Priest shook his head, "The Divine Hall’s pursuit of the Young Master is not a calamity but rather a warning for us, and it also exposed their existence."

Mu Qingge’s eyes sharpened, her brows furrowing as she asked, "What do you mean?"

The High Priest looked at Mu Qingge. This Young Master could calmly converse with him while being hunted by the most powerful force in the Middle Ancient Realm, without a trace of impatience or worry—this composure was indeed rare.

"The Young Master might not know, but when the Mu Clan was destroyed, there was no longer any presence of the Mu Clan in the Divine Demon Continent. All the surviving members of the Mu Clan were living in hiding—they couldn’t possibly enter the Divine Hall and connect with the Divine Hall of the Middle Ancient Realm." The High Priest revealed a crucial reason to Mu Qingge.

Mu Qingge’s eyes slightly contracted, widening as she suddenly understood. "So this order to hunt me, if it truly comes from the Divine Demon Continent, must mean that some remnant of the Mu Clan has secretly infiltrated some Divine Hall and issued the order to the Divine Hall."

The High Priest nodded, "Indeed. The Divine Demon Continent is too far from us, and for millennia, we’ve had no contact with each other. Furthermore, the Divine Demon Continent is extremely dangerous for the Mu Clan, facing constant pursuits and captures every day. After all these millennia, no one knows how things are over there, whether any Mu Clan members still exist, or what plans they might be undertaking. These are things we originally didn’t know. But now, this order lets us know. There are still Mu Clan members alive in the Divine Demon Continent, and they have already chosen their suitable Young Master, so they harbor murderous intent towards other candidates."

"And your senior brother is currently assisting this person. That’s how they can know of other candidates and which realm they’re in!" Mu Qingge said sternly.

In the depths of her clear eyes, a cold light began to glimmer, tinged with faint anger.

She hadn’t anticipated that while minding her own business, an assassination would descend upon her!

"The Young Master’s reasoning is quite sound. We don’t know the situation on the Divine Demon Continent, and they equally don’t know our situation. Aside from the Sky Seer who might glean some clues about the successor, there is no other possibility." The High Priest affirmed.

Mu Qingge’s eyes flickered a few times before she suddenly laughed. "As you said, the one who gave the order to kill me was too hasty and reckless. Not only might they not be able to kill me, but they’ve also exposed their own existence."

"But such people are natural-born gamblers. They fear not exposing themselves; they only wish to grasp a one-in-a-million chance to kill the Young Master once and for all. Such an opponent cannot be underestimated." The High Priest warned.

Mu Qingge slowly nodded, her gaze growing more solemn: "I will not underestimate any opponent."

The High Priest was silent for a while, then turned to look at Mu Qingge, his expression serious as he said, "I’m afraid their target is also on the Divine Strategy Middle Volume by now."

Mu Qingge raised her eyes to look at him, not surprised by his words.

The so-called Mu Clan Young Master, to ultimately emerge victorious, aims to seize the Upper, Middle, and Lower Volumes of the Divine Strategy, is it not?

She was instead worried about one issue, "The Divine Strategy Lower Volume was initially lost in the Divine Demon Continent. Since these people are in the Divine Demon Continent, they surely wouldn’t leave it unattended. I wonder if they’ve obtained the Lower Volume by now."

"Even if they got it, they won’t be able to practice it. Without the Upper and Middle Volumes, the Lower Volume is just a piece of useless paper." The High Priest replied.

Mu Qingge nodded silently, her eyes contemplative for a moment, and said to the High Priest, "Earlier you mentioned, what is the relationship between the Divine Hall and the god halls of the Middle Ancient Realm?"

The High Priest explained, "The Divine Hall, on the Divine Demon Continent, is an organization. Its role is to connect the god halls of different realms. If the Divine Clan needs the god halls to do something, they will issue orders through the Divine Hall. The people of the Mu Family on the Divine Demon Continent must have secretly infiltrated the Divine Hall to issue this order to the god halls of the Middle Ancient Realm. Such a thing can only happen once. The god halls understand that their service is for the entire Divine Clan, and if an order lacks the Divine Clan’s seal, they know it is just a private order—something they may carry out perfunctorily, but will not put their full effort into."

Mu Qingge’s eyes flickered with a dim light, "So, in other words, the god halls’ pursuit of me is to kill if they can, and give up if they can’t. They won’t relentlessly pursue me?"

The High Priest nodded, "According to usual practice, it would indeed be like that. However, if someone on the Divine Demon Continent knows about this, I’m afraid they will pay more attention to the Young Master."

The High Priest was somewhat worried. Mu Qingge was not yet powerful enough, and he did not want her to come into the sight of those Divine Clan members on the Divine Demon Continent too soon.

Mu Qingge, however, said lightly, "If they truly find out, there’s nothing we can do to stop it. Life has to go on as usual."

"It’s rare for the Young Master to have such a mindset," the High Priest sighed.

"Since the god halls aren’t my calamity, then this great calamity must be coming from the Divine Demon Continent," Mu Qingge said calmly.

The High Priest agreed, "That’s very likely!"

"Then you need to speed up. Right now, we’re in a race against time!" Mu Qingge leaned forward, tapping the table with her fingers.

The High Priest nodded gravely, assuring Mu Qingge, "Give me one more month, Young Master, and I promise to calculate the location of Cold Inch!"

"Alright!" Mu Qingge stood up from her chair and told him, "You have one month."

With that, she left the High Priest’s room.

Regarding the pursuit by the god halls, she already had a grasp of the situation and was not particularly worried. What she was more concerned about was the opponent far away on the Divine Demon Continent!

...

The night descended, a sky full of stars.

In the small courtyard where Mu Qingge was temporarily staying, there were fewer people, and it was quieter.

Mu Qingge sat with Jiang Li on a rocking chair under the tree, chatting about trivial matters.

"Jiang Li, pick a day and take me to see the Teleportation Array," Mu Qingge suddenly said.

Jiang Li looked at her, surprised, "Do you want to return to Linchuan?"

Mu Qingge remained silent.

After the conversation with the High Priest today, the great calamity she had originally paid little attention to now weighed on her heart like a stone. If the opponent truly came from the Divine Demon Continent, this battle might be a matter of life or death.

"I’ve been away for a while, it’s time to go back and take a look," Mu Qingge said slowly. Before the great battle comes, visiting her grandfather and aunt seemed like a good idea.

"What’s wrong? Are you alright?" Jiang Li leaned in to ask.

Mu Qingge shook her head, "Nothing’s wrong, I’ve just been rather idle lately. I’ll take this opportunity to go back for a visit, and I’ll bring those two little ones to see grandpa and aunt as well."

This reason was quite sufficient.

Jiang Li didn’t ask further questions, merely nodded and said, "Alright, I’m a big idler anyway, you say when you want to go, and we’ll go. I’ll also take the opportunity to visit the Ancient Witch Country before coming back with you."

"Good. However, I will leave only after I’ve dealt with the matter of the goddess of the god halls," Mu Qingge nodded.

Jiang Li laughed, "Why? Will that woman still come to kill you?"

Mu Qingge raised her eyebrows and said noncommittally, "I just have a feeling she won’t give up so easily."

"Then why didn’t you simply kill her at the time?" Jiang Li asked.

Mu Qingge slowly shook her head, "If she were just an ordinary assassin, I might have killed her without hesitation. But given her status, killing her in a moment of greed would indeed bring a big trouble upon myself, making it difficult to find a place to stand in the Middle Ancient Realm."

Jiang Li pondered over her words and nodded in agreement, "You’re right. You’ve just started to firmly establish yourself in the Middle Ancient Realm; it’s unnecessary to provoke the god halls and the Xi Family over something that may not exist."

Mu Qingge squinted her eyes and said slowly, "When the wings are not yet fully grown, appropriate patience is necessary." Behind her, there were too many people standing. She was no longer a lone wanderer; as more people followed her, she had to think of them as well.

If Xi Qianxue were really killed, the chain reaction it would cause would bring undue suffering to many innocent people. Besides, so far, Xi Qianxue hasn’t incited her desire to kill. If she can use Xi Qianxue to go back and tell the Divine Hall to settle this matter without further disputes, that would be the best outcome.

Why choose slaughter when disputes can be resolved peacefully? Just for a moment of satisfaction?

Mu Qingge scoffed at those who held such thoughts.

"However, knowing your temperament, if the Divine Hall dares to hunt you today, once you have gained enough power, you might repay them heavily." Jiang Li teased.

Mu Qingge just smiled without speaking, her meaning was perfectly clear.

Today’s event, she chose to compromise because the Divine Hall did not openly send forces to kill her but only sent one Xi Qianxue. If the Divine Hall had ordered the Five Continents to hunt her down with a kill order, she would have handled it differently.

A sharp glint flashed in Mu Qingge’s clear eyes.

"It’s getting late, let’s rest." Mu Qingge stood up and said to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li smirked, covering a yawn, "Indeed, it’s late. Somehow I feel very tired tonight. Don’t bother me, be it something or nothing."

The two walked to their rooms and each entered their own room.

The room was in complete darkness.

Mu Qingge stood in the room, not in a hurry to light the lamp.

"Goddess Xi, come out." She stood in the room and suddenly spoke softly.

As her voice dropped, a fierce killing intent appeared overhead, rushing down towards her.

Mu Qingge caught a glimpse of a snowy skirt with the corner of her eye. She didn’t move but raised her hand, pinching the sharp sword tip stabbing at her with two fingers.

The sword tip was pinched, causing Xi Qianxue’s body to be suspended in mid-air, hanging upside down, her gaze sharp.

A faint smile appeared on Mu Qingge’s lips. With a forceful flick, using the power transmitted through the sword tip, she threw Xi Qianxue down. Xi Qianxue made a beautifully graceful arc in the air, landing lightly on the ground.

At the same time, Mu Qingge also released her hand, letting the sword in her hand regain its freedom.

Once free, Xi Qianxue’s eyes sharpened, and she raised her sword again to stab at Mu Qingge.

In the dark room, they exchanged blows amidst the flickering shadows. Xi Qianxue attacked viciously, seemingly to avenge the disgrace she almost suffered during the day.

However, she skillfully avoided the room’s furniture, apparently unwilling to make too much noise.

In the room next door, Jiang Li leaned against the wall shared with Mu Qingge’s room, arms crossed over her chest, listening to the sounds of the fight next door, completely disinclined to help.

After listening for a while, Jiang Li got a bit bored, yawning as she abandoned her eavesdropping activity, returning to her room’s bed and lying down.

She trusted in Mu Qingge regarding what was unfolding in the room next door.

Hmm! Turning over, Jiang Li closed her eyes, preparing to enter sweet dreams.

...

A flash of the sword light passed, Mu Qingge tilted her body, easily dodging the sword. Her two fingers slid over the sword blade, the crystal clear sword reflecting her brow and sharp, clear eyes, along with the fingers pinching the blade.

Sliding past the front of the sword’s hilt, Mu Qingge’s two fingers forcefully flicked, immediately making Xi Qianxue’s hand numb, causing the sword to fall from her hand.

She was taken aback and tried to kick the sword back up with her foot, but Mu Qingge was quicker, extending her foot to kick the sword up first. With a spin, Mu Qingge grasped the sword hilt, pointing the sword tip at Xi Qianxue’s neck.

The sword light glided across Xi Qianxue’s exceptionally beautiful face, reflecting her shock and reluctance.

Mu Qingge flicked her fingers, and a small cluster of flame flew from her fingertips, landing on the candlestick on the table, lighting the candle flame and dispelling the darkness in the room.

The orange candlelight enveloped the two people in confrontation, the flickering light casting their features into obscurity.

"Goddess Xi is indeed astute. I only mentioned you’re openly opposing me and can’t kill me. You thought of sneaking into my room at night to ambush me?" Mu Qingge teased.

Xi Qianxue pressed her lips, saying nothing, her beautiful eyes filled with anger.

After a while, she stiffly said, "I lost. Kill me if you will!"

"Goddess Xi truly regards life and death as beneath her, huh? A mere spar, and you take it as a pledge of death?" Mu Qingge smiled playfully, suddenly withdrawing the sword pointed at Xi Qianxue.

With the danger at her neck gone, Xi Qianxue inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Though she spoke with such resolve, her palms were slick with sweat. "Aren’t you going to kill me? I came to kill you!" Mu Qingge repeatedly letting her go left Xi Qianxue deeply astonished.

She reiterated her purpose once more.

Mu Qingge laughed, "Are all the Goddesses of your Divine Hall as candid as you?" Is this Xi Qianxue naive? Or silly?

Xi Qianxue slowly shook her head. She didn’t seem to detect the irony in Mu Qingge’s words, merely saying, "I just don’t understand why you, knowing I’m here to kill you, don’t care? Instead, you let me go time and again?"

If Mu Qingge wanted to kill her, during the day or now, she would have already died multiple times.

Mu Qingge placed the sword in her hand on the table, smiling at her, "You don’t have the ability to kill me."

Her words caused Xi Qianxue to frown slightly. ’Is it because she can’t kill me, thus doesn’t care?’ Being looked down upon like this left Xi Qianxue feeling a vague discomfort.

However, Mu Qingge continued, "Your cultivation technique is impressive, but it’s more suited for large-scale battles. In such one-on-one encounters, especially close combat, you have too many weaknesses."

These words made Xi Qianxue lower her eyes in contemplation.

She seemed to be verifying Mu Qingge’s words with the two fights they had that day.

After a while, she raised her head, nodded at Mu Qingge, and said, "You’re right. In close combat, I’m indeed not your match. However, if it came down to a fight to the death, you wouldn’t have it easy either."

Mu Qingge grinned, not bothering to argue.

Xi Qianxue found her nonchalant manner discomforting, furrowing her brows as she declared, "Even if I can’t kill you tonight, I’ll come again in the future!"

Mu Qingge was vexed by her stubbornness and felt her patience wearing thin as she looked at her seemingly impervious demeanor.

She suddenly reached out, grabbing towards Xi Qianxue.

Xi Qianxue was alarmed, trying to dodge. But she had already acknowledged that she wasn’t Mu Qingge’s match in close combat; almost effortlessly, Mu Qingge caught and twisted her arms behind her back.

"What! What do you want to do?" Xi Qianxue struggled desperately, her hands restrained, unable to break free. Her voice was urgent and angry, as if she feared Mu Qingge might do something to her.

Mu Qingge seemed to ignore her words, one hand pinning both Xi Qianxue’s wrists, pressing her body against the table, while raising her other hand high and slapping down hard on her constantly squirming butt—

Smack! A crisp sound rang out in the room.

Xi Qianxue was stunned by Mu Qingge’s actions, her eyes wide with fear, and she did not dare to move her previously struggling body anymore.

Smack!

Another slap fell, accompanied by Mu Qingge’s icy voice, "I’ve spared you twice, and you still don’t behave? Go back to where you belong and stop provoking me! Did you hear?"

But Xi Qianxue was already shocked dumb by her actions, forgetting to even answer.

Hearing no response, Mu Qingge slapped her bottom twice more, finally snapping Xi Qianxue out of her daze, her eyes filling with a mix of shame and anger, wishing she could kill Mu Qingge right then.

Yet, she couldn’t break free from the control.

"Can’t hear? Or can’t understand! Fine, I’ll hit you until you get it!" Mu Qingge said coldly.

In her hand, Spiritual Power formed into a transparent palm, slapping directly on Xi Qianxue’s buttocks.

"You! I will kill you!" Xi Qianxue erupted into a frenzy, the humiliation driving her fury, wishing to kill Mu Qingge. Her whole body erupted with Spiritual Power, breaking free from Mu Qingge’s control.

The silver spiritual power enveloping her made her appear even more aloof.

However, the burning pain on her butt made it impossible for her to calm down, and a murderous intent arose.

With a cold snort, Mu Qingge’s body also shone with a silver light. She flashed in front of Xi Qianxue, deflecting her hands and striking her shoulder with a palm.

Mu Qingge did not hold back with this strike.

Xi Qianxue was caught off guard and hit, spat out blood, and her whole body flew into the bed.

"You!" Xi Qianxue clutched her shoulder that felt like it was splitting, glaring wide-eyed.

Suddenly, she fainted.

Mu Qingge walked to the bedside with a cold expression, her lips pressed into a thin line, looking down at Xi Qianxue.

After a thought, she took out an elixir and stuffed it into Xi Qianxue’s mouth, then left the room herself.

...

As dawn broke, Xi Qianxue slowly regained consciousness from her coma.

Upon opening her eyes, the unfamiliar surroundings triggered a flood of memories in her mind. The humiliation from last night filled her eyes with mist.

She sat up abruptly, frantically checking her clothes, and only relaxed upon seeing they were intact.

"That rogue still has some conscience." Xi Qianxue said through gritted teeth.

If her purity had been destroyed, she would truly seek an unending struggle with Mu Qingge!

After confirming she hadn’t been violated, Xi Qianxue quickly composed her breath.

However, as soon as she closed her eyes, she opened them again in shock and exclaimed, "My injury is healed?!"

She hadn’t forgotten that last night she was knocked out by Mu Qingge.

At that moment, the door was pushed open.

Xi Qianxue’s figure flickered as she got off the bed, grabbing the sword on the table.

The person who entered was not Mu Qingge, but Xie Ya.

Xie Ya saw Xi Qianxue holding the sword with a wary face and smiled slightly without surprise. After placing the breakfast on the table, he stepped back and said, "Has Xi Goddess awakened? My family’s Young Master said that last night was his fault, his temper got the better of him. Your injuries have been healed by him, please have breakfast and then leave. Also, the Young Master said, you are not his opponent now, even if you come to seek revenge, it will only be humiliating, better to go back, cultivate properly, and then challenge him."

After speaking, Xie Ya bowed slightly and exited the room.

Xi Qianxue was stunned in place, perplexed by Mu Qingge’s attitude.

The long sword in her hand was slowly lowered, and she looked at the light, tasty breakfast on the table, her mind in turmoil.

...

At noon, Xie Ya arrived in front of Mu Qingge.

Mu Qingge, sitting in a rocking chair under the tree soaking up the sun, squinted at Xie Ya and asked, "Has she left?"

Xie Ya nodded, "Xi Goddess left quietly without having breakfast, I don’t even know when she departed."

"Hmm, let her leave if she wants, go and mind your own business." Mu Qingge responded casually and closed her eyes again.

Xie Ya bowed to Mu Qingge and retreated.

Shortly after Xie Ya left, Jiang Li appeared in front of Mu Qingge with a look of schadenfreude, sitting opposite her, she nudged Mu Qingge’s hem with her foot.

"You two fought fiercely last night." Jiang Li said with a smile.

Mu Qingge opened her eyes, glanced at her, and grunted, "It was indeed fierce, went a bit too far."

Jiang Li’s eyes lit up, she leaned forward and asked, "What did you do?" Mu Qingge admitting she went too far is almost unheard of!

Mu Qingge’s expression turned odd for a moment. She said to Jiang Li, "I hit her butt."

"What!" Jiang Li exclaimed in shock.

Mu Qingge looked at her in annoyance, muttering, "I didn’t lay a hand on her, it was a fit of anger. That girl is too stubborn. If she keeps pestering me like this, I’m afraid I’ll really end her, so I just wanted to scare her."

"You, you, you!" Jiang Li stood up and circled Mu Qingge, "Do you realize you’re in a man’s identity now? Hitting a girl’s butt, you’re practically begging her to have a reason to kill you."

"She indeed wants to kill me, so I made her calm down a bit, injured her, and let her sleep." Mu Qingge said flatly.

Jiang Li was speechless.

She looked at Mu Qingge’s nonchalant demeanor, then suddenly chuckled coldly, before asking, "Did she wake up without yelling to kill or fight?"

Mu Qingge remained silent for a moment before replying gloomily, "I didn’t go meet her, I had Xie Ya handle it."

"How did you handle it?" Jiang Li asked in surprise.

Mu Qingge replied, "I told Xie Ya to inform her, if she comes for revenge it’s self-humiliation, she should go back, train well, and come back when she has the power to kill me."

Jiang Li sighed in exasperation, looked at the sky with a deep breath, walked behind Mu Qingge, patted her shoulder, and asked, "My dear Lord, are you sure you’re not trying to flirt?"

Mu Qingge’s mouth twitched.

After acting, she realized it was inappropriate. But at that time, no further explanation could help, so she had to brace and continue.

As for flirting...

She felt utterly wronged in her heart!

"I see, this Xi Goddess won’t be able to kill you in her lifetime, she’ll just end up falling for you, you better look after yourself." Jiang Li looked at her with pity.

Mu Qingge glanced back and asked, "What do you mean?"

Jiang Li sneered coldly, gave her a look to comprehend herself, and turned to leave.

Mu Qingge frowned in confusion, repeatedly pondering over the matter with Xi Qianxue, feeling she had done nothing wrong!

First of all, Xi Qianxue was lucky enough to meet her right after she finished refining a Divine Artifact, when she was in a good mood.

Moreover, Xi Qianxue wanted to kill her, inadvertently revealing some information, letting her know that the chase from the Divine Hall could be reversed.

Lastly, she didn’t have the intention to kill Xi Qianxue, letting her go again and again, indicating that she currently didn’t want to be enemies with the Divine Hall.

The only thing that might have gone overboard was hitting Xi Qianxue’s butt last night, but it couldn’t be as Jiang Li said, that Xi Qianxue ended up falling for her, could it?

What does it all mean?

She actually felt that from now on, if Xi Qianxue sought to kill her, it would only be for personal vendetta, unrelated to the God and Demon Continent’s orders.

"Boss! Boss!"

Mu Qingge was deep in thought when suddenly a voice broke her train of thought.

Pulling her thoughts back, Mu Qingge looked at the newcomer, raised her brows involuntarily, "Yuanyuan, what’s the matter, you’re so flustered." For Yuanyuan, such an expression indicated something significant.

"You must go help your brother." Yuanyuan said, hands on knees, panting.

"What’s going on?" Mu Qingge sat up from the rocking chair, her eyes darkened.

Mu Yichen should be safe in the Sang Family.

Yuanyuan caught her breath and straightened up, saying to Mu Qingge, "Today, I was cultivating with Yichen in the hills. But while we were practicing, a bunch of Sang Family disciples showed up. They mocked Yichen for being incapable of artifact refining, saying he’s a parasite and worthless, claiming that if it wasn’t for a good sister and a suddenly emerged good brother, he’d have been expelled from the Sang Family long ago. Yichen couldn’t take it any longer and fought back. Those guys weren’t his match, and Yichen knocked them to the ground in an instant. Little did we know they would call the Law Enforcement Team, claiming Yichen bullied them and injured them without cause, charging Yichen with crimes."

Mu Qingge narrowed her eyes slightly, the situation was not severe, but it was infuriating.

Yuanyuan caught his breath and continued, "I wanted to intervene, but Yichen wouldn’t let me. He said if I stepped in, it would implicate you. Later, when I saw them taking Yichen to the Law Enforcement Hall, I ran over to find you."

"Understood." Mu Qingge stood up from the rocking chair, flicked her robe lightly, and walked out of the courtyard with her hands behind her back.

Mu Yichen was a member of the Mu Family; how could she let others bully him?

Yuanyuan’s beautiful eyes twinkled, and he hurried to follow.

By the time they arrived at the Law Enforcement Hall, quite a few people had gathered.

Mu Yichen knelt alone in the Law Enforcement Hall. The few disciples of the Sang Clan whom he had injured were clutching their wounds, emitting painful groans, and glaring angrily at Mu Yichen from the sidelines.

The Law Enforcement Hall was under the management of the Second Elder, who was present at this moment. Additionally, King Sang Shun was also there. Before Mu Qingge’s arrival, Sang Lanruo and Mu Xuewu had come upon hearing the news as well.

"Boss!" Seeing Mu Qingge appear, Mu Yichen called out, aggrieved, then lowered his head again, biting his lip in restraint.

Mu Qingge cast a glance around before nonchalantly walking up to the Sang Clan disciples injured by Mu Yichen.

To be honest, she had no impression of these Sang Clan disciples at all.

But at this moment, she remembered these faces.

"Are you the ones who called my brother a waste?" This was the first time she referred to Mu Yichen as her brother in front of outsiders.

The few people, clutching their injuries, avoided eye contact with Mu Qingge, their gazes evasive.

They dared to provoke Mu Yichen because he had not inherited the Sang Clan bloodline. Also, they targeted him out of jealousy towards Mu Xuewu and Mu Qingge’s talents, whom they dared not confront and thus vented on Mu Yichen.

Who knew Mu Yichen’s cultivation was so formidable that he injured them? Unable to swallow this grievance, they had staged this scene.

"No... we didn’t..."

Questioned by Mu Qingge, they stuttered nervously.

Mu Qingge, however, turned to Mu Yichen and asked, "Did these people call you a waste?"

Mu Yichen lifted his head, met Mu Qingge’s calm eyes, and nodded vigorously.

"Mu Qingge, this is the Law Enforcement Hall." The Second Elder frowned and said.

King Sang Shun also coughed lightly, addressing Mu Qingge, "Ge’er, we both just arrived, let’s wait for the Second Elder to clarify the situation first."

Yet Mu Qingge smilingly retorted, "Law Enforcement Hall? Can’t distinguish right from wrong, doesn’t inquire about the cause and effect, just lets Mu Yichen kneel here alone, is this what you call law enforcement? To me, it seems more like partiality and corruption."

"You!" The Second Elder was infuriated by her words.

At this time, Sang Lanruo spoke, "Second Elder, what exactly did my son do wrong? If you say he injured others without cause, I absolutely don’t believe it. Please, Second Elder, don’t listen to one side only, clear my son’s name."

"Second Elder, Xuewu also requests that you handle this matter impartially." Mu Xuewu echoed.

"Second Elder, it seems you don’t have the image of fairness and objectivity in everyone’s eyes." Mu Qingge sarcastically remarked.

"Ge’er!" King Sang Shun reminded. "The Second Elder is your elder, mind your words."

"Talking about seniority with me?" Mu Qingge’s eyes gleamed with mischief, a faint trace of blood color flickered at the depths of her eyes.

King Sang Shun was immediately shocked, "You... you..." He never expected Mu Qingge to master the control of bloodline pressure in such a short time.

Today, if things don’t go her way, everyone in this room will likely succumb to her!

King Sang Shun smiled bitterly in his heart, looking at the Second Elder.

The Second Elder’s face turned red with suppressed anger, "They are injured, and I didn’t say it was all Yichen’s fault."

But Mu Qingge declared loudly, "A little superficial injury lets them avoid kneeling? Second Elder, aren’t you being a bit too indulgent with them? Just because Mu Yichen has thick skin and muscle, he can knee here, right?"

"You!" The Second Elder gritted his teeth secretly, helplessly saying to Mu Yichen, "You may rise."

Mu Yichen obeyed and stood up.

Sang Lanruo looked at Mu Yichen, her feelings mixed and difficult to discern.

"Now you can ask." Mu Qingge’s gaze swept over to the few, red light flickering in her eyes, an irresistible pressure descended upon them.

Instantly, they were drenched in sweat, their bodies trembling, their legs almost unable to support their weight.

"Explain the situation completely. If there’s even half a falsehood, or if you exaggerate anything, you’ll regret it," Mu Qingge warned coldly.

The necessary words were interruptedly spoken.

The Second Elder sighed helplessly, his expression turning stern as he commanded them, "Speak, what exactly happened?"

"It’s... it’s our fault..." Under Mu Qingge’s intimidation and the Second Elder’s reprimand, those who had falsely accused Mu Yichen dared not harbor any other ideas and confessed everything they did.

While they spoke, Mu Qingge stood with her hands behind her back to the Law Enforcement Hall, listening in silence, leaving others guessing at her thoughts.

After they finished confessing, they were trembling all over and knelt on the ground. The Second Elder, his anger unabated, glared at them.

However, Mu Qingge did not intervene further.

She came only to ensure fair treatment for Mu Yichen, not to stir up trouble.

Although it was a trivial matter, it made her see clearly that Mu Yichen’s life in the Sang Clan was not smooth.

"Each of you, go back and accept your punishment, a hundred lashes each, and no one is allowed to plead for mercy. Additionally, you’re grounded for three months to reflect on your Artifact Refining Technique and reflect on yourselves," the Second Elder ordered.

The few hastily accepted their punishment and left the Law Enforcement Hall.

Only then did the Second Elder look at Mu Yichen and say, "Although they provoked you first, there are rules within the family, and disciples must not engage in private fights. Today, since you were not the instigator, your punishment will be to be grounded for one month."

"Second Elder! Can Yichen replace the one-month grounding with fifty lashes?" Mu Yichen suddenly grit his teeth and asked.

This question made everyone look at him.

Mu Qingge also turned back around.

Yuanyuan whispered to him, "Are you stupid? A month’s grounding will pass quickly, why do you want to be caned?"

Mu Yichen shook his head, his eyes resolute, addressing King Sang Shun and the Second Elder, "Yichen has always wanted to visit the Mu Family in Linchuan, and now is the time. Yichen doesn’t want to wait another month and hopes that after the punishment, Grandpa will allow me to visit Grandfather back in Linchuan."

"Grandfather!" Mu Xuewu, upon hearing Mu Yichen’s words, also stepped forward, pulling Mu Yichen with her as they knelt before King Sang Shun. "Xuewu also requests permission to return to visit Grandfather. We, as descendants of the Mu Family, have never visited the Mu Family, which is truly unfilial."

They had never forgotten the promise made to Mu Qingge to return to Linchuan within a year and a half!

"You two..." King Sang Shun sighed and nodded, "If you want to go back, then go."

"Thank you, Father, for granting it." Sang Lanruo also knelt down with gratitude filling her eyes.

"Family Head, do you really want to let Xuewu return?" The Second Elder anxiously asked.

Mu Xuewu immediately responded, "Rest assured, Second Elder, Xuewu will only visit Grandfather and will return to the Sang Family. Xuewu will never forget her identity as an Artifact Refiner of the Sang Clan."

The Second Elder remained silent for a moment before finally saying, "Alas, this is a family matter concerning the Family Head, I won’t interfere."

With these words, he too left the Law Enforcement Hall.

In the Law Enforcement Hall, only their family remained.

King Sang Shun sighed, "When you return, convey a message to your Grandfather for me, tell him that when the opportunity arises, it would be good for this in-law relationship to meet. It’s been over twenty years, yet we’ve never met, which is not appropriate."

"Yes, Grandfather!"

"Yes, Grandfather!"

Mu Xuewu and Mu Yichen replied in unison.

King Sang Shun looked at Sang Lanruo, asking, "Do you...want to go back with them?"

Sang Lanruo shivered slightly and replied, "We will follow the route that Ge’er came from, going to the Southern Continent first, then proceeding from there to Linchuan." Mu Qingge said.

"No need." Mu Qingge suddenly spoke up, looking at Mu Yichen and Mu Xuewu, "I will take you back myself. We will first go to the Southern Continent and then proceed from there to Linchuan."

Sang Lanruo’s body trembled slightly, and she said quietly, "I see, I’ll await your news." Then she turned and left.

"""