Chapter 62: Oh No, Did I Mess Up? |
Afternoon at the Gongsun Manor…
Gongsun Cheng stood in his father’s room, his expression grim.
Moments ago, his injured father had summoned him and reprimanded him for threatening Mu Zhi’an at the sparring arena.
Initially, he had been indignant. He hadn’t even attacked Mu Zhi’an! Why was he being scolded so harshly for a minor incident?
But then, he received news that three of the Gongsun family’s market districts were being transferred to the Mu family.
And the reason? Mu Zhi’an had suffered “emotional distress” and required compensation!
“Father, you can’t possibly believe that nonsense about emotional distress!” he exclaimed, his anger boiling over. “Are you truly that gullible?”
Gongsun Xiong glared at his incompetent son. “Do you think I’m senile? Giving away three market districts because of a little ‘emotional distress’?”
He knew it had nothing to do with his son. Even without that incident, Mu Zhi’an would have found another excuse to attack them.
Gongsun Xiong sighed heavily. “Mu Zhi’an visited the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce this morning.”
That was the reason he had agreed to surrender the market districts.
“But our spies reported that Master Huang wasn’t there! Mu Zhi’an was probably bluffing!” Gongsun Cheng protested.
“It doesn’t matter whether he’s close to Master Huang. What matters is that Miss Huang met with him,” Gongsun Xiong said coldly.
“You know what she’s like.”
Gongsun Cheng fell silent.
He knew Huang Manting’s reputation.
She wasn’t called the “Temptress” simply because she was rebellious.
She had a sadistic streak, and she despised men like Mu Zhi’an, who were obsessed with women and pleasure.
Whether it was Master Huang or Miss Huang who met with him, it was a dangerous sign.
Mu Zhi’an was close to Bai Ruoxi, and now… he seemed to be involved with Miss Huang. Whether he was bluffing or not, the Gongsun family couldn’t risk a confrontation in their current weakened state.
Three market districts, it was a small price to pay.
Neither the fools in his family who coveted his position, nor that idiot Mu Zhi’an… they didn’t understand the true value of the Meridian Connecting Pill.
Once he reached Nascent Soul, he could conquer neighboring cities with ease. The Mu family would be nothing to him.
Nascent Soul cultivators were called “Earthly Immortals” for a reason.
But, he had to be patient, to wait until he recovered.
Once he was healed, he would consume the pill, and the Gongsun family would rise again.
…
That evening, at the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce.
Huang Manting leaned back in her chair, her delicate fingers tracing the rim of her teacup, a seductive smile on her lips.
“It seems Bai Ruoxi has terrible taste in men.”
Recalling Mu Zhi’an’s awkwardness, his blushing like a virgin being teased, it filled her with a perverse delight.
She imagined Bai Ruoxi walking into this very hall and seeing Mu Zhi’an kneeling at her feet, licking her toes. What would her reaction be?
Invincible among her peers, yet her chosen lover was nothing but a dog, begging for scraps, a slave beneath her feet.
“Miss” a servant called out from the entrance.
She raised an eyebrow. “Speak.”
“There’s been some activity at the Gongsun family’s territory. Three of their market districts, they’re being transferred to the Mu family.”
She paused, her perfect toes curling slightly as she retrieved her shoe, her smile unwavering. “Gongsun Xiong is injured. He wouldn’t relinquish control so easily. Even so, they wouldn’t surrender three market districts to the Mu family. Are you certain?”
The servant hesitated, then nodded.
“That’s strange… Even if the Mu and Bai families joined forces, the Gongsun family could simply seek an alliance with my father. Why would they—?”
Her smile vanished.
Countless thoughts raced through her mind, replays of her conversation with Mu Zhi’an, his blushing, his awkwardness, the admiration in his eyes.
She exhaled slowly, her face pale, a horrifying realization dawning on her.
I’ve been played!
His claim that he was there to “satisfy her curiosity”… it was a lie!
His true purpose was to create the illusion of a close relationship with the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce!
He wasn’t interested in her. He was after those market districts!
“I’m worth less than… three market districts?”
She felt humiliated, remembering his gentleness towards Bai Ruoxi, his awkwardness around her. He must have been laughing at her all along.
“Mu Zhi’an”
Her eyes narrowed, and a crack appeared in her teacup, tea dripping down her leg.
The servant beside her leaned forward, and she glared at her. “Just clean it up.”
The servant, hiding her disappointment, retrieved a handkerchief and wiped the tea from her mistress’s foot.
Huang Manting tapped her finger against the armrest, a sign that those who knew her well recognized as a sign of her simmering rage.
“Is there anything else, Miss?” the servant at the entrance asked cautiously.
“I’ll write a letter. Deliver it to the Mu Manor and tell Mu Zhi’an that he must attend our auction in two days. I’ll be waiting for him in my private room,” she said, her voice cold, her eyes dark.
She had underestimated him. She had dismissed him as a shallow playboy… but he was more cunning than she had anticipated.
She might have lost this round, but next time…
…
Mu Zhi’an strolled leisurely back to the Mu Manor.
As he entered the courtyard, he saw Bai Ruoxi, dressed in a beautiful white dress that accentuated her alluring figure, chatting with Wei Mengrou.
She seemed to sense his presence and looked up, a smile gracing her lips.
It was strange seeing Mengrou chatting with someone. He smiled back at Bai Ruoxi and approached them.
“What are you two discussing so happily?” he asked.
“We were talking about the snow lotus you gave me,” Bai Ruoxi replied, her smile soft and sweet. She paused, then added, “Young Master Mu, the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce is hosting an auction in two days. Would you like to go with me?”
He blinked, confused. “Why would you want to go to an auction?”
“I heard from Miss Mengrou that they’re auctioning a batch of Luminous Soil. I want to acquire some to preserve the snow lotus you gave me.”
But I already promised someone else. He tried to think of a way to refuse politely.
Seeing his silence, she frowned slightly, her expression unreadable.
“Is there a problem, Young Master Mu?” she asked.
“Do you have other plans?”
He felt a strange intensity in her gaze.
Why do I feel like I don’t truly understand her? He stared at her, a flicker of unease in his heart.
A servant entered the courtyard.
“What is it?” Mu Zhi’an asked.
“Young Master, a servant from the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce delivered a letter from Miss Huang.”
He handed the letter to Mu Zhi’an, both women watching him intently.