Chapter 537 535: A Farce

"...I have prepared a banquet to welcome you, Luo."

Su Qian was dumbfounded when he heard his father's words.

"Father, you just promised me you'd capture the assailant and let me do with him as I please. Why...?"

Su Qian was furious.

Luo Tian had cut off both his hands, yet his father was actually giving him a grand reception. How could he possibly stomach this!

"You disgraceful son, shut your mouth! Hurry up and apologize to Luo!"

The Su Family Patriarch scolded, shooting Su Qian a look.

But Su Qian was already overcome with rage.

'Apologize to Luo Tian? That's absolutely impossible!'

Su Qian looked toward his uncles and the other high-ranking family members.

"Su Qian, hurry up and apologize!"

"You were in the wrong here. It's only right that you apologize!"

Yet, these were the words Su Qian heard.

He suspected he was having a nightmare. 'How could something so absurd be happening in real life?'

Mu Jinyuan was thinking the exact same thing!

'The Su Family Patriarch actually told Su Qian to apologize to Luo Tian?'

'The other senior members not only didn't stop him, but actually encouraged it.'

'Am I hearing things, or have all the Su Family leaders lost their minds?'

"Patriarch of the Su Family, your son is not at fault in this matter. The culprit is Luo Tian, who is arrogant, ruthless, and cruel."

Mu Jinyuan said.

Hearing this, the Su Family's leaders immediately shot Mu Jinyuan hostile looks.

'This Mu Jinyuan is so insidious, deliberately stirring up trouble.'

"No! Su Qian acted rashly and offended Luo," a Su Family Elder stated firmly.

Meanwhile, the Mu Family's senior members all turned to Mu Jinyuan, their expressions sour.

Mu Jinyuan's father came to his side and snapped with a stern expression, "Shut your mouth. Don't speak such nonsense."

Mu Jinyuan was stunned and felt even more aggrieved.

'Luo Tian was clearly the one who caused all this trouble. Why is everyone targeting me instead of him?'

"Father, I'm not talking nonsense. Luo Tian really did cut off Su Qian's hands," Mu Jinyuan said, gritting his teeth and steeling himself.

'He was convinced that Luo Tian was gravely mistaken in this matter. By "capturing the assailant," he should be receiving praise and rewards!'

SLAP!

Mu Jinyuan's father, suddenly seething with rage, slapped him across the face.

"You damn brat, apologize to Luo right now!"

Mu Jinyuan's father looked at him with utter disappointment.

'How did I end up with such a foolish son?' He had been signaling him nonstop, to the point his eyes were tired, but Mu Jinyuan still hadn't understood and was even arguing back.

As it happened, aboard the Su Family's Void Ship...

Su Qian was also raising a huge ruckus.

With a SLAP, the Su Family Patriarch also struck him!

The slap seemed to knock some sense into both Mu Jinyuan and Su Qian.

They still didn't understand why, but they realized something was very wrong.

'Could Luo Tian have such a powerful backer that both the Mu and Su Families are afraid of him?'

"I'm sorry, Luo Tian. I was wrong about you!"

"Luo Tian, I was in the wrong before. I apologize."

The two apologized to Luo Tian.

The moment they raised their heads, Mu Jinyuan and Su Qian glanced at each other, a feeling of shared misery and mutual sympathy passing between them.

"Mm, to know your mistakes and correct them is a great virtue."

Luo Tian nodded calmly.

Mu Jinyuan and Su Qian both felt the urge to cough up blood.

Jiya'Er watched all of this unfold in a daze. It was just as Luo Tian had said—there was nothing to worry about. But none of it felt real.

"The apologies have been made. Shouldn't you all from the Su Family be on your way?" said Mu Qianshi, the Mu Family Patriarch.

"That won't do!"

said the Su Family Patriarch.

"Luo just arrived at the Mu Family and already received such unfair treatment. Who knows how your Mu Family will treat him next? We of the Su Family must stay and keep watch."

The Su Family Patriarch said with a smile, unwilling to leave so easily.

"You need not worry about that, Patriarch of the Su Family. Luo Tian is an honored guest of the Mu Family. No one would dare to do anything to him."

"On the other hand, it was your Su Family that came storming over to 'capture an assailant' just a moment ago..."

Patriarch Mu Qianshi retorted with a cold sneer.

For a moment, the leaders of the two great families began to argue again, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Mu Jinyuan and Su Qian were shocked!

This time, they could see it clearly: the two great families were fighting over Luo Tian!

They also realized that both families hoped to win Luo Tian's favor. To put it bluntly, they wanted to suck up to him!

It was astonishing that someone could make the Mu and Su Families of the Celestial Mountain Realm compete to curry favor with them.

'Could it be that after joining the Tai Yuan Sect, Luo Tian found a powerful backer?' Mu Jinyuan wondered.

'This Luo Tian's luck is just too good!'

"Stop arguing."

Luo Tian said coolly.

The leaders of the two great families immediately fell silent.

In the end, the members of the Su Family departed.

Before leaving, the Su Family Patriarch said with a grin, "Luo, feel free to visit the Su Family whenever you have the time."

After the Su Family's Void Ship had departed.

Su Qian, still sullen and furious, asked, "Father, what on earth is Luo Tian's background?"

"A... True Disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect!" the Patriarch said, taking a deep breath.

"What?"

Su Qian stood frozen in place as if he had been struck by lightning.

He of course knew of the Tai Yuan Sect. He had once participated in its entrance examinations but was completely overshadowed by the countless, stunningly brilliant geniuses there.

Disciples of the Tai Yuan Sect were divided into two types: Official Disciples and Auditor Disciples.

Furthermore, based on their status and rank, they were categorized as Side Peak Disciples, Main Peak Disciples, and True Disciples!

Generally speaking, it was already an incredible feat for a genius from one of the seven great families of the Celestial Mountain Realm to enter the Main Peak!

But Luo Tian... he was actually a True Disciple!

The Tai Yuan Sect currently had only eleven True Disciples in total, and each was a treasure to the Sect!

Provoking a True Disciple was the same as provoking the entire Tai Yuan Sect!

And among the forces of the Human Race in the Broken-star Realm, the Tai Yuan Sect was the undisputed overlord!

Moreover, as long as a True Disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect didn't meet an early demise, they were destined to become a powerful Elder on the Sect's Main Peak, a position of immense status and authority!

No wonder his father had changed his tune so quickly and had even tried to befriend Luo Tian.

Su Qian completely accepted his defeat, utterly convinced.

He even started to think, 'Perhaps my apology earlier wasn't sincere enough.'

...

「The Mu Family.」

After the incident, Mu Jinyuan learned everything from his father.

"Father, should I prepare a fine gift and go apologize one more time?" Mu Jinyuan asked, feeling anxious and nervous.

"You don't even know the half of it. Luo Tian was also a beneficiary of the Treasure of the Thief King. Otherwise, he never would have had such a meteoric rise and gained the appreciation of the Tai Yuan Sect's leaders," Mu Jinyuan's father said.

The two of them, father and son, likely couldn't produce any treasure that would even tempt Luo Tian.

「That day.」

The Mu Family held a banquet to welcome Luo Tian.

All the senior members of the Mu Family attended the banquet; those of lower status were not even qualified to participate!

Mu Yunshi, who had previously been in seclusion, now arrived in high spirits, beaming with delight.

"Master."

Luo Tian greeted his master, Mu Yunshi.

"You brat, that was impressive! Even I was shocked when I heard the news!" Mu Yunshi exclaimed.

He had always been worried about the five-year agreement.

But all his hopes rested on Luo Tian. Everything depended on Luo Tian's fortunes in the Tai Yuan Sect; he couldn't help him with anything else.

Just as he was fretting anxiously, an astonishing piece of news arrived.

Luo Tian had become a True Disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect!

Only later did Mu Yunshi learn that Luo Tian had defeated He Yunkong to become a True Disciple.

In other words, the bet between Mu Yunshi and Yan Yufeng was over.

Mu Yunshi had won!

Upon learning this, Mu Yunshi's Heart Knot completely vanished. He was overjoyed for several days before entering seclusion to cultivate.

"Brother Yunshi, the disciple you've taken on is truly remarkable."

"Brother Yunshi, you have a keen eye!"

The senior members of the Mu Family came over one after another, raising their cups to toast Mu Yunshi.

When Mu Yunshi had first returned to the Mu Family, he had been ostracized by the other senior members.

But now, those same members who had once ostracized him were all filled with envy and regret, fawning over him and trying to curry favor.

"Of course. I was just as outstanding in my youth, so it's only natural that the disciple I chose wouldn't be any slouch either."

Mu Yunshi's face was flushed, and he was beaming from ear to ear.

It was the first time Luo Tian had ever seen Mu Yunshi so happy since becoming his disciple.

"Disciple, and this is?" Mu Yunshi asked, looking at Yue Linfei.

"This is Yue Linfei, a fellow disciple from my sect," Luo Tian introduced.

The senior members of the Mu Family immediately shot looks at the younger Mu Family disciples.

Immediately, the talented young members of the Mu Family flocked over to surround Yue Linfei.

But when they saw that Yue Linfei was completely uninterested and remained by Luo Tian's side, the senior members came to a realization.

And so, the Mu Family disciples who had gathered around Yue Linfei quickly dispersed.

"Patriarch," a steward reported via sound transmission after approaching him a short while later, "I've looked into it. Yue Linfei is a Main Peak Disciple of the Tai Yuan Sect. Her talent is extraordinary, and she has a good chance of becoming a True Disciple... She is also Yan Yufeng's disciple."

Mu Qianshi's expression turned strange.

'Isn't Yan Yufeng Mu Yunshi's mortal enemy? How is his disciple mixed up with Luo Tian? And by the looks of it, their relationship isn't ordinary.'

Mu Qianshi relayed this information to Mu Yunshi via sound transmission.

After hearing this, a wistful look appeared on Mu Yunshi's face.

He was reminded of the past.

Back then, he, Yan Yufeng, and a fellow female disciple had all studied under the same Elder.

He and Yan Yufeng had competed for her affections, but in the end, Mu Yunshi lost. Yan Yufeng was the one who won her heart.

Mu Yunshi looked at Luo Tian and felt as if he were seeing his younger self.

He Yunkong and Yue Linfei were just like Yan Yufeng and their fellow disciple.

But, Luo Tian had not only defeated his powerful rival but had also won the heart of the beautiful woman.

His own past regrets had all been brought to a perfect resolution through Luo Tian!

The banquet lasted for an entire day.

By the end, the Mu Family members were all happily drunk as they departed, their hearts filled with joy.

Luo Tian's future potential was immense. The benefits the Mu Family stood to gain by fostering a good relationship with him were unimaginable.

The Patriarch, Mu Qianshi, also felt immensely fortunate for the decision he had made in the past.

...

「Luo Tian and Yue Linfei stayed with the Mu Family for several days.」

Mu Hai Celestial Mountain was vast. With snow drifting through the air and beautiful scenery all around, the two of them explored every corner of the mountain.

After returning to the Mu Family's estate,

Luo Tian went to Mu Yunshi's residence.

"Master, I have a few Spiritual Materials here that can prolong one's life and increase their potential..." Luo Tian said, taking out several rare Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.

These were all things Luo Tian had obtained from the Thief King's Treasure Land; he had specifically set some aside for Mu Yunshi.

Mu Yunshi's eyes instantly fixated on the items, unable to look away.

"Ahem, in that case, I won't be polite..."

Mu Yunshi didn't refuse. He knew that Luo Tian's personal wealth was now extraordinary.

"Master, I'd like to return to the Dongchen Continent to take a look around..." Luo Tian said.

It had been several years since he had left the Dongchen Continent.

The Dongchen Continent was his home, after all. He wanted to go back for a visit.