Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Elder Liu Zang had a cold look. It was said he always treated people without any lies or hypocrisy, but right now he had a faint smile on his face. He took the lead and said, "Mu Tong, I will get straight to the point with you. The reason why I called you here today is that Grandmaster Qi wishes to purchase something from you. I and Miss Feng Qing are both willing to serve as witnesses. You can rest assured that Grandmaster Qi will give you a sufficient reward so that you do not suffer a loss."

Mu Tong was stunned. Their Mu Family had fallen many years ago and all their good treasures had been taken away or sold off. What could Grandmaster Qi possibly have taken a liking to?

Even though he was bewildered, he hurriedly said, "Elder, there is no need to speak so seriously. I have always received the care of the sect. if Grandmaster Qi has anything he needs, then he could just have told me and I would have given it to him. There is no need to waste the time of you, Grandmaster Qi, or Miss Feng Qing."

His words gave sufficient face.

Elder Liu Zang's smile thickened. He waved his hand and said, "That's not right. Otherwise, if news of this were to spread out, who knows what sort of rumors would begin."

Looking at Mu Tong's attitude, this was a done deal as long as he spoke up. To obtain a favor from Grandmaster Qi for such a simple matter, this was far too easy.

With a light cough, Elder Liu Zang continued, "Three months ago, at a small trade fair held at Sky Declaring Pavilion, you purchased a bracelet that benefits the soul, right? Grandmaster Qi is willing to purchase it back from you at five times the cost. Do you agree to this?"

Mu Tong's complexion stiffened. He sputtered, at a loss for words.

Grandmaster Qi's eyebrows furrowed together. "If that isn't enough, I can offer ten times the price."

Elder Liu Zang's face darkened, thinking that this was a loss of face. "Mu Tong, do you agree?"

Feng Qing smiled and watched everything occur. She just happened to be at today's meeting as a witness, with the only reason being to form better relations with Grandmaster Qi. Thus, she naturally didn't speak.

Across from them, Mu Tong's face was pale and streaming with sweat. "Grandmaster, Elder, please do not misunderstand. It isn't because I am greedy, but because the bracelet isn't in my hands."

He explained the situation in full detail.

Grandmaster Qi's complexion darkened. He had used up a massive amount of time and energy to find the whereabouts of that thing, but now another unexpected turn of events had come.

Elder Liu Zang said, "Who did Mu Xuan go with? When will she be back?"

Mu Tong forced a smile, "I have no idea!"

The room fell silent. Mu Tong quietly complained in his heart, his robes nearly drenched with sweat.

Grandmaster Qi and Elder Liu Zang quietly spoke to each other. Then, Elder Liu Zang said, "Mu Tong, contact Mu Xuan immediately and tell her that she needs to return to Parasol Tree Mountain!"

"Or I can send people to meet her." Grandmaster Qi said.

Feng Qing's eyes brightened. It seemed that this bracelet was extremely important. Just who had sold it from Sky Declaring Pavilion and hadn't seen the truth behind it? After all, it wasn't easy to be on good terms with Grandmaster Qi.

She thought about it and decided to establish guidelines in the future to prevent careless mistakes like this from happening again.

Mu Tong hurriedly said, "I will immediately contact Mu Xuan and have her return!"

Elder Liu Zang waved his hand and Mu Tong respectfully drew back. When he left Sky Declaring Pavilion, he instantly leapt up and burst away, "You little brat, I told you not to go so why didn't you listen to me!? You must take good care of that bracelet otherwise our Mu Family is done for!"

As if he had caught fire, he flew back to the Mu Family residence. He opened the door and rushed in, soon finding the last remaining bloodline sensing treasure of the Mu Family. It could be used to transmit simple information to others of the same bloodline.

When Mu Tong heard the receiving end of the signaling spirit bead ringing in Mu Xuan's room, he almost collapsed where he stood.

"This brainless and reckless girl, she actually didn't take the signaling spirit bead with her!"

Just as his heart was beginning to fill with discomfort, he heard the sound of the courtyard doors opening. Mu Xuan sobbed and said, "Uncle, I'm back…I'm scared, I almost didn't manage to come home. I'm never going to leave again."

Mu Tong rushed out. He grasped Mu Xuan with his hands and said, "You silly girl, you've finally returned! Now hurry up and give me back the…"

His eyes flew open. Looking at her clear and bare wrists, it was like he had been stuck on the head with a stick. His field of vision darkened and his ears began to buzz.

"Bracelet! Where is the bracelet I gave you!? Little lady, please don't scare me here!"

The sad and aggrieved Mu Xuan was stunned. Just what crimes did I commit? I barely managed to return alive and not only are you not saying any words of comfort, asking me what happened, or even guiding me, but you directly asked for your bracelet back and you are even shouting so loudly at me!

Uncle really doesn't love me!

Wa…I want to cry…wawa…I'm really going to cry…

Mu Tong's face darkened and he was immediately thrown into confusion. Finally, he managed to coax her into stopping crying. He said, "Mu Xuan, don't be like this, just tell me where the bracelet is right now, uncle really needs it."

Mu Xuan sobbed, "Bracelet…I…I…gave it away…"

Before he could even take another breath, Mu Tong fell backwards. He crashed into the ground with a loud bang, giving Mu Xuan a fright.

"Uncle, what is wrong? Don't scare me!"

Mu Tong had a pale face, "It's over, it's all over now!" Soon, as if grasping onto the final thread of hope, he anxiously looked at her and asked, "Who did you give it to? Where is he now?"

Mu Xuan shook her head, "He brought me back to Parasol Tree Mountain and left. I have no idea…" She immediately had a nervous expression, "Uncle, what is it?"

Mu Tong was helplessly slumped to the ground. "It's fine, it's fine…you don't need to bother with it."

With things already having come this far, what use would there be in explaining it to her? It would only make her feel even guiltier.

Perhaps this was fate. Their Mu Family was fated to perish in their lifetime. They had struggled so hard to find a turning point in their lives, but in the blink of an eye they were to be thrust into the abyss.

From the manner in which Elder Liu Zang and Grandmaster Qi acted, the bracelet was extremely important to them. Now that it was lost, he was bound to be implicated in the ensuing mess.

"Mu Xuan, how did things go when you went out and searched for treasure? Did you find anything good?"

Mu Tong had already decided to shoulder all of the responsibility. As he thought about how he might never see Mu Xuan ever again, his gaze filled with affection.

"Uncle, I almost died outside."

Mu Xuan finally had a chance to explain what had happened. However, there was a place where she made a revision; she stated that she rushed out of the array formation alone. "Afterwards, I lost my way. Luckily that senior helped me, otherwise I wouldn't have returned alive. He was the one I gave my bracelet to."

After a short pause, she quietly said, "Uncle, are you really alright?"

Mu Tong clenched his teeth. "Those bastards! They dare to treat you like that!? I'm glad they all died!" His thoughts raced and he continued to say, "Qi Shengtian and the rest of those bastards, from the very start they brought you along as a potential tool to sacrifice. This is why they never said anything to anyone about their treasure search. But things are even better this way. Just pretend as if you don't know anything about this matter. Never say that you were involved with them."

Grandmaster Qi was Qi Shengtian's uncle. Even Elder Liu Zhang knew nothing about him, so this was without doubt proof of his motivations.

Mu Xuan hurriedly nodded, "I understand, uncle."

Suddenly, the courtyard doors were thrust open from outside, "Mu Tong, since your niece has returned, hurry back with us!"

It was people from Sky Declaring Pavilion. Seeing the smirk of the pale-faced and thin steward, Mu Tong's heart sank; they had been monitoring this place the entire time.

He feared that bracelet was far more precious than he first imagined.

Mu Tong's face drained of color. He squeezed out a smile, "Steward Bai…an accident has occurred…Mu Xuan lost her bracelet…"

Steward Bai's complexion turned impossibly white. "Lost? Are you sure you lost it? Fellow daoist Mu, smart people should know what things they can do and what things they must absolutely never try…don't you think so?"

Mu Tong bitterly said, "It really is lost! Otherwise even if I had a heart as great as the heavens I still wouldn't dare to hide something that Grandmaster Qi wanted!"

Steward Bai took a deep breath, "You must explain this matter to the grandmaster yourself!"

Mu Tong glanced at Mu Xuan, indicating for her to remember the words he said just a moment ago. "I'll leave with you."

"Miss Mu Xuan will come with you."

"Steward Bai…"

"She will come with you!"

Steward Bai turned and huffed away, his face incomparably dark. He had followed Miss Feng Qing's order and trailed Mu Tong, all in order to prevent needless troubles and also to leave behind a better impression for Grandmaster Qi. He never thought that this would be the result.

Things had become troublesome now!

Sky Declaring Pavilion, private room.

Grandmaster Qi stood up, his expression fierce. "You lost the bracelet? You're telling me that you lost the bracelet!?"

A terrifying aura erupted from him. The air thundered and the tea set on the table was smashed to pieces.

Mu Tong paled and blood dripped out from the corners of his lips. He trembled beneath this terrifying aura, not even capable of speaking.

Mu Xuan hadn't recovered from her previous injuries to begin with. Now, she spat out a mouthful of blood and fell unconscious.

Elder Liu Zhang clenched his teeth. "Mu Tong, I will give you one more chance to hand over the bracelet. If you do, I won't investigate this any further!"

The deeper meaning behind this was that if he continued to remain thickheaded, then don't blame this old man for being impolite!

Grandmaster Qi took a deep breath and restrained his aura. Mu Tong repeatedly bowed his head to the floor. "Grandmaster, Elder, the bracelet truly was lost. I don't have the courage to dare to deceive you two!"

Grandmaster Qi fell back onto the chair behind him. He sank in, his eyes closed and deep in thought.

The private room was deathly silent. Mu Tong streamed with sweat. He knew that the fate of him and his niece would soon be decided.