As well as the desolate ancient street.
The Mu Family Ancestral Hall, which had withstood hundreds of years, now appeared as a ruined wasteland when viewed from the street.
The Mu Family Patriarch stood silently before the collapsed courtyard wall.
Behind him, members of the Elder Council bowed their heads in silent respect, none daring to speak a word — the scene was terrifyingly quiet.
This ancestral hall had endured six hundred years of history, peacefully and without incident.
Yet it collapsed in a single night.
Many were apprehensive, worried about the Family Master’s wrath.
However... after a long wait.
The Mu Family Patriarch finally spoke, yet his words carried little anger.
"Walls can collapse, and they can be rebuilt."
He stated this lightly.
After all, no matter how old the wall, no matter how deep its cultural significance and history, it was just an ordinary wall, which for a Transcendent could be toppled with a mere push.
The Elders who frequently passed through the walls of this hall,
Could demolish the entire street in mere minutes if they wished.
The wall had fallen, but it could be erected anew.
"But... some things, once collapsed, can never be rebuilt."
The Mu Family Patriarch looked back at the several Elders and asked with a heavy heart, "I was in seclusion for only a short while, how could you commit such a foolish act?"
All because of Xu Yan and Gu Shen.
The "shameful incident" that transpired on this long street was thus overshadowed and concealed.
Most would never know why Gu Shen acted, or why he chose this street for his actions.
All this... was because of a ludicrous "marriage arrangement."
Mu Ya had already been taken away.
The Mu Family Master did not detain her, he had no face to detain her... after such an event within his own ancestral hall, it wasn’t only Mu Ya’s heart that was chilled.
Most members of the Elder Council fell into silence.
This silence, however, did not last long.
One Elder stated, "The Mu Family... needs a clear way forward."
Another Elder also said, "If all goes well, we will have a powerful ally."
The Family Master calmly countered, "Do you think Zhou Jiren will never return from the Moon City Fortress for the rest of his life? Or... do you think Xu Yan will be stronger than Gu Shen in the future?"
Rendered the Elder who had spoken earlier speechless.
Who would have thought?
That Xu Yan, exalted to the skies, would be so... easily defeated?
From the recent battle,
He was completely overpowered by Gu Shen.
But... it doesn’t seem that simple, as it looks like that guy did it intentionally.
"If I were Gong Qing, I would be... very disappointed with the Mu Family."
The Mu Family Patriarch slowly began to speak.
As the farce unfolded, many important figures arrived.
Gong Qing, however, did not make an appearance.
Certainly... he knew all about it.
His absence made a statement in itself.
The once close "Gong Mu" alliance may now face a rift due to such a decision, for while walls that fall can be rebuilt, the fractures in a relationship of trust cannot.
"Family Master... we cannot always depend on the Gong Family..."
Another Elder spoke up.
He spoke through gritted teeth, "Even without this opportunity, should the Mu Family always maintain such a relationship with the Gong Family?"
Changye is now rife with undercurrents.
None of the five great families are at peace.
In such a situation, who is willing to be content with a lower status forever?
The Mu Family Patriarch looked around, his gaze falling upon faces lowered in fear of him, and beneath those faces, he saw barely concealed desires.
He felt somewhat powerless.
This sense of powerlessness... came from the human heart.
Or rather, human nature.
The Li Family Master was his friend, and after his death, the hearts of the Li Family began to scatter, it was clear that the Elders of the Li Family started to pursue personal gain... as a friend of days gone by, such a sight was utterly disheartening.
Because he knew the Mu Family was the same.
In times of peace and comfort, it would be so.
These men were not satisfied with what they had, they yearned for more.
"Everyone... disperse."
The voice of the Mu Family Patriarch was tinged with desolation.
He shook his head, dismissing the Elder Council.
At the end, he reached out a hand to detain one Elder.
He said softly, "Lao Si, tell Mu Ya... that the Mu Family is to blame for this matter. If she has any requests, she should feel free to make them."
Xu Yan was carried away.
But he wasn’t taken to any so-called "healing facility".
The vehicle stopped halfway, and according to Zhu Wang’s instruction, Xu Yan was transferred... The new vehicle took Xu Yan to the most secluded manor in Snow Forbidden City.
The yard was filled with the scent of wine.
Han Dang watched, expressionless, the bloodied miserable figure beside him.
When Xu Yan was being grinded against the ground by Gu Shen, Han Dang was watching from within the ancestral hall, and of course, he did not intervene... not because of Lu Nanjin’s blade.
But because he took pleasure in seeing Xu Yan beaten.
The more wretched Xu Yan was,
The more satisfied he felt inside.
In this turnaround at the Mu Family Ancestral Hall... he got himself involved, and the Mu Family was sure to trouble him next!
Han Dang supported Xu Yan up to a wooden hut.
Of course, the treatments of medical facilities could not compare to those of the Divine Throne.
He could already picture the scene in half an hour: this bloodied man before him would be as good as new, wearing clean clothes, as if nothing had happened, smiling cheekily and calling him ’senior brother.’
It was truly nauseating.