514: Chapter 514 Not Like a Good Man

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang explained the Mu Family's dilemma in detail.

Two Undergoing Tribulation Elders had passed away one after another, causing the Mu Family's strength within the Chamber of Commerce to plummet; the Yuan Family seized the opportunity, colluding secretly with the Golden Crow Holy Land to continuously squeeze out the Mu Family for many years; several Elders within the clan had already been bribed, and more than half of the business at the Fusang Province branch had been cannibalized. If this continued, the Mu Family's very Foundation for standing in the East Sea Chamber of Commerce would be uprooted.

"The Mu Family has no way out."

As she spoke, she suddenly bent at the waist, bowing deeply to Ling Hao, and said resolutely,

"Please, Moon Shadow Sect Master, grant us your protection."

Moonlight spilled in from outside the window, casting a long shadow of Ling Hao.

He tilted his head slightly and asked,

"Family Head Mu, do you know of a place in the East Ming Vast Sea called the 'Mother-Child Sea'?"

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang straightened up, her gaze tightening slightly.

The Mother-Child Sea? She had naturally heard of this name; no one in the East Ming Vast Sea was ignorant of the legends regarding the Mother-Child Sea.

This was her chance to demonstrate her value, so she hurriedly spoke:

"The Mother-Child Sea is a legendary land of fortune from ancient times. Ancient texts record it as the 'Source of Life, the Beginning of Fortune.' However, its specific location has long been lost, having vanished from the East Ming Vast Sea for many years. Although our Mu Family's shipping network is not as it was in its prime, the Foundation built over thousands of years still remains. If you, Moon Shadow Sect Master, wish to find the Mother-Child Sea, the Mu Family is far better positioned to do so than outsiders, and our chances of finding it are much higher."

Ling Hao turned around, looking at Clan Master Mu Yaoguang's slightly eager expression:

"Good."

"I can agree to this. The Moonshadow Sect and the Mu Family will officially form an alliance. The Mu Family will be responsible for searching the East Ming Vast Sea with all their might for clues to the Mother-Child Sea, while the Moonshadow Sect will serve as the Mu Family's backing with resources and military force. After I destroy the Golden Crow Holy Land, the Moonshadow fleet will provide escort, ensuring the safety of the Mu Family's shipping routes."

Destroy the Golden Crow Holy Land?!

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang's heart shuddered violently, but she did not let any strange expression show, only responding solemnly, "Yes."

She hesitated for a moment, then asked,

"Regarding the destruction of the Golden Crow Holy Land, does Moon Shadow Sect Master require any assistance from the Mu Family?"

Ling Hao waved his hand:

"No need. You should focus on finding the Mother-Child Sea."

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang did not press further, only giving him a deep look before bowing respectfully:

"The Mu Family will give it our all."

This was the Mu Family's only chance. She knew this better than anyone.

After Ling Hao and the others left, the private room was quiet for a while.

Mu Xiyao stood by the window, gazing at the hall below which was gradually emptying after the auction ended. She unconsciously raised her hand to touch the pair of East Pearl earrings on her earlobes. As her fingertips touched the cool surface of the pearls, she remembered the nonchalant "Take them, I have plenty of Spirit Stones" Ling Hao had said when he pushed the jade tray over, and ripples formed in her heart.

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang walked behind her daughter, her gaze falling on the lustrous white pearl pendants on her earlobes, and she paused slightly:

"Are these earrings the ones from the auction just now? The pair that went for thirty billion?"

Mu Xiyao lowered her hand, the redness from her earlobes spreading to her cheeks:

"They were a reward from Moon Shadow Sect Master... He said, he said it was payment for serving tea."

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang watched her daughter's uncomfortable demeanor, fell silent for a breath, and sighed softly:

"Xiyao, this Moon Shadow Sect Master is indeed as the rumors say; he certainly has ways with women."

As she said this, she herself was slightly stunned. This Moon Shadow Sect Master seemed to have two sides? One side was when he faced them, speaking and acting with composure and appropriate measure. The other side was the "arrogant" one he displayed at the auction.

Two sides? Clan Master Mu Yaoguang frowned. This Moon Shadow Sect Master... is not a good match.

Mu Xiyao understood the meaning behind her mother's words and lowered her eyes:

"Mother, I know my limits."

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang collected her thoughts and said:

"Later, go to the treasury, take thirty billion, and send it to Moon Shadow Sect Master. It is never good to owe debts."

"I can pay it back myself."

Mu Xiyao was stubborn; she knew. With their industries being eroded, there was not actually much left in the treasury.

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang said crossly,

"You are at the Nascent Soul Stage; when would you ever pay it back? Or are you planning to offer yourself in return? Even if you wanted to offer yourself, you would have to see if he even takes a fancy to you."

How could a mother not see her daughter's hidden thoughts? But Clan Master Mu Yaoguang also knew that some paths had to be walked by the daughter herself.

Moreover, that Moon Shadow Sect Master was surrounded by beauties; would he even take a fancy to her daughter who was only at the Nascent Soul Stage? She withdrew her gaze, turned, and walked back to the table, bringing the conversation back to business.

"Alright. Since the cooperation is reached, that is a good thing." Clan Master Mu Yaoguang sat in the main seat and picked up her teacup,

"The Moon Shadow Holy Land has the Dongming Liu Family standing behind it. Since he said he does not need the Mu Family's help, we just need to take care of ourselves."

Mu Xiyao, however, was stunned: "...Which Liu Family?"

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang frowned and looked at her daughter:

"Xiyao, you were serving tea in the number one Sky Room the whole time. Did you not hear Moon Shadow Sect Master claim to be Liu Mobai, a member of the Dongming Liu Family?"

"I heard it, of course." Mu Xiyao's expression was somewhat strange,

"But... I also heard him say with my own ears that he was impersonating the Dongming Liu Family."

"Impersonating?!"

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang and Mu Yunluo said in unison, both standing up at the same time.

Mu Xiyao nodded: "It was at the auction. Moon Shadow Sect Master admitted it himself. That little girl Senior asked him if he was afraid of the Liu Family coming to cause trouble, and he said, 'The Vice Alliance Leader has already been beheaded... what does it matter if the heavens are high and the emperor is far away, why should I be afraid?'"

A strange, deathly silence fell over the private room. Clan Master Mu Yaoguang slowly sat back in her chair, her fingertips gripping the edge of the table, her knuckles turning slightly white. Mu Yunluo's cane rested on the floor, motionless for a long time.

"...Impersonating."

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang repeated the word in a low voice, as if she wanted to chew it up and swallow it,

"Then everything we just discussed in secret..."

Mu Yunluo sighed:

"It is already decided. To go back on our word now would only cause the Mu Family to offend the Moon Shadow Holy Land as well, leaving us with no support on either side."

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time.

She had not expected this Moon Shadow Sect Master to be so audacious. Impersonating a disciple of a Central Plains super-power, and playing the Golden Crow Saint in the palm of his hand—you say he is deep and calculating, yet he makes no attempt to hide the truth, openly letting you know; you say he has no brains, yet he is able to twist the Golden Crow Saint around his finger.

What exactly was this person thinking?

She opened her eyes, her gaze gradually regaining its calm:

"...Even without the Liu Family, the strength of the Moon Shadow Holy Land is solid. There are no fewer than three Mahayana Supremes and Demon Ancestors who have died at his hands or been defeated by him, and his record of sealing the main rifts cannot be faked."

Mu Yunluo pondered for a moment: "Indeed. If there is no background of the Liu Family, it only goes to show that the Moon Shadow Holy Land has carved out its own situation through its own strength. This kind of cooperation is more reliable than borrowing influence."

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang nodded, her tone carrying a hint of self-deprecating comfort:

"We will take it one step at a time."

She stopped thinking about those abstract concerns and steadied herself:

"Xiyao, go and compile the shipping route map for the East Ming Vast Sea and send it to Moon Shadow Sect Master. Do everything in your power to investigate the Mother-Child Sea."

Mu Xiyao acknowledged the order and turned to walk out.

After the door closed, Clan Master Mu Yaoguang and Mu Yunluo exchanged a look and let out a long sigh at the same time.

Both of them knew clearly—in reality, the fact that there was no Liu Family behind the Moon Shadow Holy Land made the problem much larger than they had imagined!

Impersonating the name of a Central Plains super-power—once word got out and the Liu Family found out, given the temperament of those great clans, they would never let it rest. It was just that because Mu Xiyao was present, neither of them had spoken it out loud.

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang was about to say something when she suddenly remembered a detail she had overlooked in the intelligence from White Rock Province earlier:

"In the previous news, did it not mention that the White Rock Holy Land was suspected to have an Ancestral Master return?"

Mu Yunluo nodded:

"Are you trying to say?"

"According to the legends of the White Rock Holy Land, it was founded by Supreme Baiyan, one of the nine ancient Supremes. If this Ancestral Master has truly returned..."

Clan Master Mu Yaoguang's gaze shifted,

"Perhaps, there is still hope."

Moreover, Clan Master Mu Yaoguang was still curious about one thing: who was the "Vice Alliance Leader" that was beheaded?