Chapter 26: Favoritism
Mu Xiaolin reacted instantly upon seeing the situation, he stood up and stomped the corpse insect to death without the slightest hesitation. The ruthlessness on his face gave Mu Lichuan a momentary daze, as if he were already seeing the fully grown Mu Xiaolin.
No matter what, he had to find a way to eliminate him.
Even as it was crushed, the corpse insect writhed desperately beneath his shoe, its squirming body visible at the edges—utterly revolting, until it was nothing but a smear of bloody pulp.
"Dad, I'm allergic to bugs, yet Patriarch Mo still let that thing crawl toward me." Once the insect was dead, Mu Xiaolin's face twisted into an aggrieved expression, as if the cold-hearted boy from moments ago had never existed.
Watching him, Mu Lichuan couldn't help but marvel.
To be so scheming at such a young age... No wonder he climbed so high in my past life, even becoming a core figure in the Mu family. Talent alone wouldn’t have been enough.
Even geniuses needed the right environment to grow—otherwise, they could easily be snuffed out.
"Young Master Mu, do you really think anyone would believe such an excuse?" Mo Xiangxiong sneered. "The corpse insect crawled to you because your body carries the taint of the dead. So tell me, as a middle-schooler, how exactly did you come into contact with such things?"
He had initially wondered if his daughter had mistaken the culprit, but now it was clear, this was all the Mu family's doing. Whether it was internal strife or something else, his daughter had been dragged into it innocently, and this debt would be settled thoroughly.
"Patriarch Mo, I'm allergic to insects. My body naturally attracts them. The corpse insect came to me, it has nothing to do with corpses," Mu Xiaolin argued sophistically.
Mo Xiangxiong turned his ire directly on Mu Changnian. "Patriarch Mu, what do you say to this? If you don’t believe me, do as your son suggests, find someone else with allergies and see if my corpse insect chooses them." Some things required solid evidence to prevent opportunists from exploiting doubts.
"Patriarch Mo, my son isn’t wrong. Those allergic to insects fear allergens above all. Given your actions, his extreme reaction in killing the insect is understandable," Mu Changnian replied mildly. Those unfamiliar with allergies wouldn’t understand the suffering.
His words only deepened Mo Xiangxiong’s scorn. "What an impressive Mu family! In that case, I shall pay your family a formal visit tomorrow with my clansmen!" With that, he left, dragging the still-stunned Mo Shanshan behind him.
Now only the father and two sons remained in the hall. Mu Lichuan spoke first. "Father, was it wise to provoke Patriarch Mo like this?" The truth had been laid bare, yet his father had still taken Mu Xiaolin’s side. It seemed Mo Xiangxiong’s earlier words had struck a chord, his spiritual root test might happen sooner than expected.
"Elder Brother, are you saying Patriarch Mo should have taken me away?" Mu Xiaolin bit his lip stubbornly. "Father, whether I’m truly allergic can be confirmed with a simple hospital test."
"If I’m exposed to bugs, my whole body breaks out in rashes, enough to horrify anyone."
Mu Lichuan’s expression remained indifferent. "But by doing this, little brother, haven’t you completely severed ties between the Mo and Mu families? Even if the truth comes out later, the rift will remain."
Mu Changnian frowned at their exchange. "Xiaolin, come with me for a spiritual root test. As for Lichuan, Mo Shanshan is your fiancée. No matter what she becomes, you cannot break the engagement."
"Father, isn’t that decision beyond my control? Shouldn’t we consult Grandfather’s opinion first?" The faintest trace of mockery curled at Mu Lichuan’s lips.
I knew it would come to this.
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