Chapter 21: The Wind Was Too Loud, I Didn’t Hear
Mu Lichuan found her accusation laughable. "Miss Mo, whether or not I’m a man is none of your concern. Goodbye." He had no intention of engaging in a war of words with her in the Mo family, it would only backfire on him.
He wasn’t one to stir up trouble unnecessarily. In his past life, as long as his bottom line wasn’t crossed, he had always left room for reconciliation.
Mo Shanshan wanted to stop him, but she still had some sense left. If this scandal exploded now, she would be the one humiliated.
"Father..." Mo Shanshan entered the room, her voice small as she faced her father’s stormy expression.
Mo Xiangxiong had promised Mu Lichuan an explanation, and he never went back on his word. But first, he needed to understand what had driven his daughter to such extremes.
"I assume you already know what this is about?" Mo Xiangxiong’s voice was low, carrying a quiet danger.
As the patriarch, he had to enforce discipline, otherwise, the family would lose respect.
Mo Shanshan paled at his tone. "Father, it’s him! If not for him, how could I have become the laughingstock of the Mo family? My purity… taken by that lustful ghost! I—" Her words dissolved into tears. She was the victim here!
She had been an untouched maiden, yet a ghost had defiled her. How could she not resent the one who exposed it?
Mo Xiangxiong let her cry until she exhausted herself. Then, coldly, he said, "Why did you provoke a lustful ghost in the first place? If not for Young Master Mu, you’d still be comatose."
"The Mo family may be practitioners of the occult arts, but we don't repay kindness with malice." His voice hardened. "Did Mu Lichuan harm you? No. He did nothing, he didn’t even know."
Mo Shanshan’s face twisted with grievance. "How is it not his fault? If not for him, I wouldn’t have gone to- I—" She bit her lip, realizing she’d said too much.
"You disgrace!" Mo Xiangxiong finally understood. No wonder she had attracted such a ghost. This was entirely her own doing.
"He doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him. Besides, he doesn’t even know I’m his fiancée!" Mo Shanshan lashed out, desperate. "Father, don’t be fooled by his act, he’s a hypocrite!"
She refused to marry someone like him. So what if he had Yin-Yang Eyes? Without real power, he couldn’t protect anything.
Mo Xiangxiong smiled, a smile that never reached his eyes. "If you won’t marry, then you’ll serve as the Mo family’s offering to the Ghost King."
[Ghost King (鬼王, Guǐ Wáng): a powerful, malevolent spirit ruler who commands legions of lesser ghosts, often associated with hell realms (Diyu), moral punishment, or dark pacts, and is sometimes worshipped in folk religion as a fearsome guardian or judge of the dead]
He wasn’t being cruel. He had spoiled her since childhood, letting her grow unchecked until she dared plot against her own fiancé. Such behavior couldn’t be tolerated.
"Father...?" Mo Shanshan’s eyes widened in horror. She couldn’t believe it, her own father would feed her to the Ghost King?
Seeing her fear, Mo Xiangxiong softened slightly. "The Mu family is a prestigious match. Or would you prefer to marry a mortal?"
He knew his daughter had ambitions. Her disdain for Mu Lichuan stemmed from his "ordinary" status.
Mo Shanshan bit her lip, silent. Finally, she muttered, "I’ll apologize."
Mo Xiangxiong’s expression warmed. "That’s my daughter." The Mo family allowed personal desires, but never at the cost of greater interests. Disobedience meant punishment, not protection.
____
Mu Lichuan sat in the Mu family’s main hall, his voice feather-light. "A stepmother...?"
"Main wife," corrected Mu Changnian. "Lichuan, I know this is hard. But the Mu family cannot go without a matriarch. Your mother has been gone for years."
He spoke earnestly. "Bai Ping has learned all the proper etiquette. And your younger brother handles secular affairs well."
This was a matter for the mortal side of the Mu family, the cultivators wouldn’t interfere unless it affected their interests.
Mu Lichuan lowered his head, shadow hiding his expression. "If it benefits the Mu family, I won’t oppose it."
Even with his rebirth, some things remained unchanged. There were some small deviations, but the larger course stayed the same.
Mu Changnian smiled, relieved. "You’ve always been sensible. You don’t need to call her Mother, Aunt Bai is enough."
Before Mu Lichuan could respond, a servant announced the arrival of the Mo family patriarch and his daughter.
"Lichuan?" Mu Changnian sounded puzzled. Why would an occult family seek out his son?
"Father, Miss Mo had an... incident. Patriarch Mo asked for my assistance." Mu Lichuan avoided mentioning their feud, no need to invite a lecture.
Before they could speak further, Mo Xiangxiong entered with Mo Shanshan.
"Patriarch Mu," he greeted warmly, then added with familiarity, "Nephew."
Mo Shanshan bowed politely.
Mu Changnian smiled at her. "Shanshan has grown into such a fine young lady."
"Thank you, Uncle." She forced a smile. This apology was private, no one else needed to know.
As the elders conversed, Mu Changnian tactfully suggested, "Lichuan, why don’t you show Miss Mo the gardens? Our talk must bore you both."
Mu Lichuan stood gracefully. "Miss Mo, if you’d please." His face was flawless, no trace of resentment.
"Thank you, Young Master Mu." Her smile was equally hollow.
____
As they walked, Mo Shanshan sneered. "Hypocrite."
He continued pointing out flowers, unfazed.
"Miss Mo, choose your words carefully," he said mildly.
She took a sharp breath. Remembering her purpose, she forced out, "Sorry."
Mu Lichuan tilted his head. "The wind is loud today, I didn’t quite catch that."
Mo Shanshan’s eyes flashed. "Mu Lichuan! Don’t push me!"
His smile vanished. "I pushed you? Weren’t you the one threatening me with a knife?"
Tears spilled over. "Fine! Mu Lichuan, I apologize! I was wrong to misunderstand you! Please forgive my ignorance!"
She had humbled herself, and she would never forget this shame.
Mu Lichuan blinked innocently. "Misunderstand? Did something happen between us?"
Mo Shanshan laughed bitterly. "Right. We’ve barely met at school, how could we have any conflict?"
He had "forgiven" her, without acknowledging her apology at all.
Just then, Mu Lichuan gestured ahead. "Ah, my younger brother."
Mo Shanshan’s pupils dilated at the sight of Mu Xiaolin, a reaction Mu Lichuan didn’t miss.
So they’ve met before.
"Brother, who is this?" Mu Xiaolin asked, all wide-eyed curiosity.
"Miss Mo of the Mo family," Mu Lichuan said flatly. "I have matters to attend to, entertain her in my stead."
Without waiting for a reply, he left.
Mo Shanshan muttered, "Who does he think he is?" Then, turning to Mu Xiaolin, she froze. "You—"
She knew him. That night, the one who’d lured the lustful ghost to her...
Mu Xiaolin grinned, his sweetness edged with menace. "Pretty sister, what’s wrong? We’ve never met before... right?"
Her face drained of color. "It was you!"
His voice turned silkily dark. "Pretty sister, are you feeling unwell? Perhaps... Hysterical?"
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