Chapter 27: Irrefutable Evidence
In his past life, his father had brought home a mistress despite his mother's objections, forcing them to live together in the same villa as if enjoying the privilege of having both Ehuang and Nuying. In the end, his mother committed suicide.
[娥皇女英 (Éhuáng Nǚyīng): two legendary sisters who shared a husband, symbolizing harmony between co-wives.]
Leaving aside whether her death was orchestrated by someone else, that man's actions had utterly shattered a woman's heart, tearing apart the facade of happiness.
Mu Changnian's face stiffened slightly at the rebuttal. "You're right." He had nearly forgotten, his eldest son now possessed the Yin-Yang Eyes. Even if he only had the Five Spiritual Roots, there was still hope.
Mu Xiaolin watched their interaction with a faint smile, but inwardly, his heart twisted with resentment. Since childhood, this man had taken everything from him.
I will crush him under my heel.
"Dad, Elder Brother is so capable, it's only natural he wouldn’t want to marry Miss Mo," Mu Xiaolin muttered softly, his tone dripping with feigned sympathy.
Mu Lichuan's expression turned icy. "Little Brother, since when do you speak for me? Choose your words carefully."
"My engagement to Miss Mo was decided by the family. For the sake of the clan, sacrificing my personal interests means nothing."
Mu Changnian had initially been displeased by the younger son's words, but seeing the elder's maturity, he felt somewhat relieved. "Your brother is right. Instead of gossiping like a woman, focus on clearing your own name. If you have time to spare, study the company’s policies, don’t give others leverage."
"Yes, Father." Mu Xiaolin lowered his head meekly.
Again, he scolds me in front of Mu Lichuan. If I really had no spiritual roots, I wouldn’t even qualify to be a pawn of the Mu family.
Mu Lichuan's days continued as usual, though Xiao Mo was currently explaining more about cultivation. Unfortunately, the materials his grandfather had provided were sparse, offering little beyond basic texts. Left with no choice, he turned to cultivation novels for insight—while fictional, human creativity was boundless, and he could still glean useful knowledge.
This planet was merely a secular one, with sparse spiritual energy. The most powerful cultivators here only reached the Golden Core stage, and even they hadn’t been seen for years. The truth of such claims was unclear.
[Qi Refining (炼气) → Foundation Establishment (筑基) → Golden Core [(金丹) → Nascent Soul (元婴) → Deity Transformation (化神) → Void Refining (炼虚) → Soul Formation (合体) → Mahayana (大乘) → Ascension (渡劫)]
Mu Xiaolin was taken for spiritual root testing. When the Mu family's leader Mu Xiaoran saw that he possessed a single-element spiritual root, his excitement was palpable.
"Excellent! Our Mu family has finally produced a genius!" Mu Xiaoran laughed heartily.
Every decade, sects from other planets would come to recruit promising talents. With Mu Xiaolin's aptitude, he was certain to be chosen. Coincidentally, the next selection was next year, a tremendous opportunity for the Mu family.
Mu Xiaolin stood respectfully, unable to suppress his joy. Mu Changnian and his son were equally thrilled, the Mu family would soon lead the cultivation world.
"From now on, Xiaolin will study under me personally," Mu Xiaoran declared sternly.
"Thank you, Great-Grandfather. But we still have tomorrow's issue to resolve," Mu Xiaolin replied humbly, a trace of worry flashing across his face.
Mu Xiaoran paused. "What happened?" The Mu family's genius couldn't be threatened, he must be nurtured.
Mu Changnian recounted the events. "The Mo family won’t let this go."
After listening, Mu Xiaoran fixed Mu Xiaolin with a piercing gaze. "Did you go to the cemetery?" He knew the Mo family wouldn’t falsely accuse someone.
"I... didn’t." Mu Xiaolin forced the lie out, his heart pounding under the pressure.
"Tomorrow, I will accompany you to meet the Mo family." Mu Xiaoran's expression remained neutral, as if his earlier joy had never existed.
Once Mu Changnian and the others left, Mu Xiaoran sighed heavily. "This child’s nature is twisted." Having lived so long, he could see through people at a glance.
While geniuses were prized, a flawed character could drag down the entire family, a risk not worth taking.
"Father, he was raised by an outside concubine. His upbringing can’t compare to Lichuan’s. But he’s still young, his temperament can be corrected with your guidance," Mu Xiwang reasoned. Family honor mattered, but abandoning such talent over morality seemed wasteful.
Mu Xiaoran nodded. "You’re right. At his age, there’s still time to reshape him."
The Mu family upheld justice. While worldly men might dally freely, they emphasized mutual consent, and the chance to scout more talents for the clan. Though most efforts were futile.
Mu Lichuan got up early, anticipating the Mo family’s visit. To his surprise, even his great-grandfather arrived, proof that the test results were in. Otherwise, the old man wouldn’t have bothered.
The Mo family came in full force, their patriarch and elder both present, clearly intent on securing justice for their granddaughter.
The villa’s hall was packed, tension thick in the air. The elders, however, remained expressionless.
"Old friend, let’s skip the pleasantries. How does the Mu family plan to deal with this?" Mo Xiu, the Mo family’s elder, spoke bluntly, his gaze locked on Mu Xiaoran.
Mu Xiaoran nodded. "We’ll test again. If the evidence holds, the Mu family will give your clan due compensation."
Their long-standing relationship couldn’t be broken over this.
Mu Xiaolin kept his head down, his face unreadable. He had assumed his status as a single-element ice spiritual root genius would guarantee the Mu family’s protection. But now, it seemed the Mu family intended to sacrifice him. The thought filled him with bitter hatred.
Hearing this, Mo Xiangxiong’s expression softened slightly. "Patriarch Mu, here is one of our allergic clansmen, and another who handled corpses. Observe first."
To spare his granddaughter further humiliation, he skipped the details.
The corpse insect ignored the allergic individual, crawling straight to the one who had touched a corpse.
Mu Xiaolin trembled. I’m exposed, he thought. But he couldn’t surrender, not when everything was at stake.
"Let the Mu family’s young masters and the allergic individual step forward," Mo Xiangxiong said solemnly when no objections arose.
Mu Lichuan and the others stood at the center. This time, the two corpse insects hesitated between Mu Lichuan and Mu Xiaolin, an unexpected twist.
"This...?" Mu Changnian was baffled. Yesterday, there had been no reaction. What was happening now?
Mu Lichuan smirked inwardly. As I thought, my clothes were tampered with.
"Great-Grandfather, Grandfather, Elder Mo,, forgive my impropriety..." With that, he removed his shirt. A corpse insect immediately crawled toward it.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Mu Changnian’s face darkened. His son’s behavior was disgraceful.
"Father, I suspected something was on my clothes. Since I stood close to Little Brother earlier..." Mu Lichuan replied calmly as a servant handed him a fresh T-shirt.
"Nonsense!" Mu Xiaolin paled.
How did he notice? No one saw me!
"Then prove it. Remove your shirt, let’s see if the insect crawls to you," Mu Lichuan challenged coldly.
Though he often played as a pig to eat the tiger, some lines couldn’t be crossed. Losing his dignity would only invite contempt, especially from his great-grandfather who valued integrity above all.
[扮猪吃老虎 (bàn zhū chī lǎo hǔ): lit. disguise as a pig to eat the tiger; fig. play dumb to outwit a stronger opponent.]
"Well said," Mo Xiu remarked, stroking his beard. He had disliked Mu Xiaolin from the start, the boy reeked of deceit.
Cornered, Mu Xiaolin stripped off his shirt. The corpse insect scurried toward him instantly.
"Get off!" He slapped it away, his face deathly white.
"The truth is clear. The Mu family must act," Mo Xiangxiong declared.
Mu Xiaoran’s expression darkened. Though he had suspected the truth, this "genius" had tried to frame his own brother. Such despicable character... "Mu Xiaolin, do you have anything to say?"
Mu Xiaolin dropped to his knees. "Great-Grandfather, I’m innocent! This is all Elder Brother’s scheme!"
Mu Lichuan stayed silent. Even now, he shifts blame.
"Fool! Do you take us for blind idiots?!" Mu Changnian roared, disappointment etched on his face. Such wasted potential.
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