6. Trouble from Inside and Outside the Family

Zhuang Yu was surprised that Mu Chen left without paying extra attention to him.

Chen Moran caught Zhuang Yu's reaction. He felt resentful.

"Yu, what's wrong with you?" Chen Moran grabbed Zhuang Yu's hand and asked.

Zhuang Yu smiled lightly and said, "Nothing. I just feel that Mu Chen's attitude towards me seems to have changed. Maybe he won't pester me again in the future."

Zhuang Yu felt complicated. He had always hated Mu Chen for constant begging for his attention. But today Mu Chen had changed, which kind of disappointed Zhuang Yu.

Chen Moran pouted in disdain and said, "Yu, don't you know Mu Chen yet? He is just a stubborn person. I bet he is playing hard to get so that he can win your attention. "

Zhuang Yu glanced at Chen Moran and asked, "He is playing hard to get?"

"Yes. I've known this guy for more than ten years. As soon as his eyebrows move, I know what he wants to do." Chen Moran said proudly.

A tinge of disdain surged on Zhuang Yu's mind after Chen Moran explained. He looked at the direction where Mu Chen was leaving, a bit of disgust appeared in his eyes.

............

Mu Yuanhang frowned as he was listening to his subordinate's report, "Mu Chen and Chen Moran had a conflict, but they didn't fight."

"Yes." The scout who secretly kept an eye on Mu Chen said.

Mu Yuanhang squinted his eyes and said, "Mu Chen has changed!"

"Qi Four seems to be no longer Mu Chen's favorite." The scout said.

"Is that so?" Mu Yuanhang said with resentment.

Qi Four did not even do a good job pleasing Mu Chen. How could he give Mu Chen a chance to rehire Ren Three? Hope that Qi Four did not raise Mu Chen's suspicion.

"Off you go." Mu Yuanhang said.

The scout nodded and quietly backed out.

............

As soon as Mu Chen returned to his own yard, a rare visitor, Mu Yuanhang was waiting for him.

"Uncle." Mu Chen greeted. The original owner remained a good bonding with Mu Yuanhang because Mu Yuanhang always spoiled the original owner.

"Chen, you're home." Mu Yuanhang said with a smile.

Mu Chen nodded and said, "Yes!"

"Have you been recently?" Mu Yuanhang asked.

"Not bad." Mu Chen said lightly.

"You are one of our Mu family, and the Mu family always gets your back. You can do whatever you want to. The entire Mu family will protect you. You don't have to be afraid of anything." Mu Yuanhang said.

Mu Chen smiled shyly and said, "I know."

There was a sneer in Mu Chen's heart, and he thought to himself: Mu Yuanhang might have heard that he did not fight with Chen Moran today. In Mu Yuanhang's opinion, Mu Chen should  have fought with Chen Moran, but he did not accept the challenge. It was a shame to Mu family.

"I heard that you rehired Ren Three. I suppose you don't like him." Mu Yuanhang said.

Mu Chen shrugged and answered, "Although Ren Three is not adorable, he is a big help during a fight. Not like Qi Four who keeps distance from the fight and counts on me for protecting him. How could a master protect a servant? Who does he think he is?" Mu Chen said with disgust.

Qi Four had been eavesdropping the conversation at a secret corner. When he heard what Mu Chen was saying, his face turned pale.

Other servants, who seemed to be busy with their work but were actually eavesdropping the conversation too, came up with ideas and plans.

"Qi Four is too young and timid." Mu Yuanhang said lightly.

Mu Chen snorted coldly and said, "Yes. He is timid. That is why I get myself a brave servant. I don't need a timid servant."

As Mu Chen was in bad mood, Mu Yuanhang smiled and said, "You are the master to make the decision."

7. The Marriage Engagement

Mu Chen opened the door. There was an unexpected person in the room.

"Father." Mu Chen looked down and greeted carefully.

Mu Yuanfeng treated Mu Chen very well, but Mu Chen was intimidated by Mu Yuanfeng. So he was not close to his father. He was extra careful every time he talked to his father.

Mu Yuanfeng turned back and looked at Mu Chen, and asked, "I heard that you fired Qi Four?"

Mu Chen nodded and said, "Yes!"

"Didn't you always like him?" Mu Yuanfeng asked.

Mu Chen looked up and said cautiously, "He is such a coward. Every time I fight with others, he stays far away to watch. He does no help at all. Father, if you like Qi Four, I will hire him back."

"No need. He is a betrayer, not a keeper." Mu Yuanfeng said coolly.

Mu Chen didn't know that what Qi Four did. But Mu Yuanfeng did.

Mu Yuanfeng had put up with Qi Four for a long time. But since Mu Chen was very close to Qi Four, Mu Yuanfeng did not do anything to Qi Four because he was worried that his son might keep further away from him if he did so, and he was also worried that there would be more servants like Qi Four would fill in.

Right after Mu Chen kicked Qi Four out, Mu Yuanfeng broke Qi Four's legs.

Mu Chen nodded and said, "You are right."

Mu Yuanfeng said as he looked at Mu Chen, "I heard that you are chasing someone named Zhuang Yu recently."

Mu Chen smiled awkwardly and said, "There are too many people chasing Zhuang Yu. I have given up on him."

Mu Yuanfeng nodded and said, "I am glad that you give up. You are too young to involve yourself in complicated romance relationships. Besides, you have an engagement with someone else."

A dim light flashed in Mu Chen's eyes. The original Mu Chen's fiancé was a man. That man was extremely ugly. Mu Chen was shocked to faint when he saw that man for the first time.

"Father, who is the person I am engaged to?" Mu Chen asked.

"He is a versatile, named Ye Shi." Mu Yuanfeng said.

Mu Chen squinted. There were three genders of people in this world: men, women, and versatile. Versatile was a type of man. Zhuang Yu was a versatile.

"Father, what is Ye Shi like? How did Ye Shi and I get engaged?" Mu Chen asked.

Mu Yuanfeng said, "Ye Shi's grandfather and your grandfather are good friends. They arranged the engagement for you since you were young. Over the years, as Ye Shi's grandfather passed away, the Ye family fell apart and live a less glorious life than before."

Mu Chen said with his heading down, "Is that so?" In the original story, there was no much attention of Ye Shi. Since Ye Shi was his fiancée, it was necessary to investigate him.

"Father, do you know how Ye Shi is doing?" Mu Chen asked.

"Ye Shi's grandfather, Ye He, has a son, Ye Xun. Ye Xun has one legit wife and a dozen concubines. Worse than that, he favors concubines over his wife because he is a pushover. Although Ye Shi is the first-born of Ye Xun's legit wife, given that his birth mother died young, he is living a hard life in the family. But I heard that Ye Shi is very talented. He is already a two-star warrior." Mu Yuanfeng said.

Mu Chen nodded thoughtfully and said, "I see." Ye Shi was the same age as Mu Chen. Mu Chen could get access to a lot of resources. But he was a lazy learner. Therefore, he was only a seven-star martial art pupil.

The purpose of maintaining an in-law relationship between the Mu family and the Ye family was to achieve a win-win situation. Now, as Ye He passed away, Ye Xun was strong enough to keep the property growing. And many of the family properties were taken away. Ye Shi, who was not favored by his father, was more isolated in the family as the family declined.

"I heard that Ye Shi will come here in the near future. If you really don't like him, we will cancel the engagement. It is totally up to you." Mu Yuanfeng said.

Mu Chen nodded and said, "Okay."

Mu Yuanfeng was indeed a father who loved his son. Mu Chen's grandfather Mu Ke had a good hope on Ye Shi. If Mu Chen canceled the engagement, Mu Ke would have a problem with Mu Yuanfeng. Although Mu Ke had passed the family affairs down to Mu Yuanfeng, Mu Ke had a big influence in the family.

8. Ye Shi

"I heard that you sold the Aquamarine Sword. Do you need money?" Mu Yuanfeng remembered something as he was about to leave.

Mu Chen smiled awkwardly, looking down, rubbing his fingers embarrassedly, and said, "I do need money. Besides, I think I overpaid that sword."

Mu Yuanfeng smiled with gratification and said, "Now you can tell the real value of the sword. It means that you are starting to think like a grown man."

Mu Chen smiled embarrassedly and shyly.

"Here are five hundred elementary stones. Spend more time on cultivation. Don't waste your time on hanging out with your so-called friends." Mu Yuanfeng said seriously.

Mu Chen nodded and said, "Yes, father. Lesson learned."

Mu Yuanfeng glanced at Mu Chen and left.

After Mu Yuanfeng left, Mu Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

Mu Chen weighed the bag of elementary stones in his hand and smiled. Mu Yuanfeng was generous!

Mu Chen was so lucky to have such a generous father, but he did not appreciate it.

Mu Chen squinted his eyes and thought: I really need to practice hard. He was now thirteen years old. According to the novel, he died at the age of sixteen. In this life, Mu Chen did not want to die young again. If he could be more powerful, he would be safer. Now he was only a seven-star martial art pupil, but his fiancée, whom he had never met, was a two-star warrior.

...

"Master, this is City of Mo. The Mu family is one of the three major families in City of Mo. Your fiancé is Mu Chen, the young master of the Mu family. You can count your living on him." Chen Da said.

Ye Shi did not agree, "My grandfather decided on my engagement with Mu Chen. Now that my grandfather has passed away, and I have been kicked out of the family by my father, it is hard to say whether the Mu family will continue the engagement."

Chen Da said gloomy, "Ye Xun is so ungrateful. After your mother did so much for him in the past, he treats you so bad just for a few concubines." 

Ye Shi shook his head and said, "Enough. Never talk about it again."

"Master, the Mu family is also a famous family. I don't think they will break the promise," Chen Da comforted.

"Even if Mu Ke, the current helmsman of the Mu family, doesn't intend to break the promise, Mu Chen may not agree on the engagement. I don't want to force him. I am a healthy man. I can live on my own. I don't to beg him to marry me. If Mu Chen doesn't like me, the engagement is off the table," Ye Shi said.

Chen Da looked at Ye Shi and said, "Master, don't talk nonsense. You are a versatile who has no one to depend on. It is too dangerous to make a living outside."

Ye Shi said in disapproval, "I have nothing to worry about. Look my face. No one would have evil thoughts about me!"

Chen Da said helplessly, "Master, you shouldn't say that about yourself." Ye Shi was not ugly. But he was a tough-looking man. Men were into cute and sweet versatile. But Ye Shi's facial features were sharp and rigid.

"Uncle Chen, since we're in the city, let's ask around and see what kind of person Mu Chen is. We should be prepared who we are going to deal with," Ye Shi rolled his eyes and said.

Chen Da nodded and said, "Good idea. I believe in your grandfather's judgement."

Ye Shi's face blushed. Chen Da smiled faintly. Although Ye Shi was more mature than he was supposed to be, he was only a thirteen-year-old boy after all, and he still had some expectations for his fiancé.

9. Ye Shi's Plan

Chen Da went out to gather information about Mu Chen after he made arrangements for Ye Shi.

Two hours later, Chen Da returned and put on a smile, "Young master, from what I heard, Mu Chen is good-looking, young and promising. His father is a third-level alchemist..."

Ye Shi smiled helplessly, and said, "Uncle Chen, you don't need to comfort me. I also heard something about Mu Chen. Mu Chen is a playboy. He has intimate relationship with many people.  I heard that he has recently stopped seeing other men because he is obsessed with a young man named Zhuang Yu."

"I heard that Zhuang Yu is a beautiful man, and there are countless people who fall in love with him. Many people from wealthy and powerful families are willing to spend a lot of money for him, and Mu Chen is one of them."

Chen Da smiled awkwardly and said, "Young master, you already know it?"

Ye Shi nodded and said helplessly, "Yes! People are talking about him everywhere in the teahouse. I don't even pay attention to know the gossip."

"Young Master, I heard that Mu Chen has been focusing on practicing recently." Chen Da said with relief.

Ye Shi said in disapproval, "It is not to change his nature. I don't think he focuses on cultivating. He is embarrassed of meeting people because he has no money."

Chen Da said, "Young Master, don't be too disappointed. Master Mu Chen is still young. Maybe he will become a better man in a few years."

Ye Shi gritted his teeth and did not see a bright future.

"Uncle Chen, how many elementary stones do we have?" Ye Shi asked.

Chen Da said embarrassedly, "There are twenty more." When Ye Shi was kicked out of the family, Ye Xun did not give him much money.

Ye Shi gritted his teeth and said, "Only twenty?! Uncle Chen, go and see which restaurant is hiring a deboner."

Chen Da disagreed with Ye Shi's decision, "Young Master, you're a versatile. People will laugh at you for doing a butcher's job."

Ye Shi said in disapproval, "This is the only thing I am good at! Besides, it is a good-paid job. Perhaps I will get a bonus for doing a great job."

After Ye Shi's mother passed away, Ye Shi was provided with less food. In order to have a full meal, Ye Shi often helped the chefs in the Ye's kitchen. In return, he could get enough food. For those years, Ye Shi did not learn how to cook. But he mastered all the skills of butchering.

Chen Da felt angry when he thought of what Ye Shi had been through in the Ye family. Chen Da said helplessly, "Master, perhaps you lose weight. Men are into slender versatile."

Ye Shi pursed his lips and said angrily, "This is who I am. What can I do?"

Chen Da said helplessly, "Master, I don't think the Mu family would be happy with you working at a restaurant."

Ye Shi said glumly, "There is nothing else I am good at."

Chen Da looked at Ye Shi and said, "The first thing we need to do now is to visit the Mu family'."

Ye Shi pursed his lips and nodded, "Okay."

10. Not Welcome

Ye Shi followed Chen Da to the gate of the Mu family. Looking at the majestic Mu family mansion, Ye Shi was not sure what he should do.

Chen Da stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Who is knocking early in the morning?!" A doorman yawned and asked impatiently.

Chen Da stepped forward and said, "We are from the Ye family in City of Yun. We are here to meet Senior Mu Ke."

"You want to meet our master? He is closing up for cultivation. He has no time for you." The servant glanced at Chen Da and Ye Shi who were dressed in ordinary clothes and said disdainfully.

Ye Shi's face flushed.

Chen Da frowned and said, "Can you send a message to Mr. Mu Yuanfeng?"

The servant sneered and said, "Who do you think you are? Do you think our master Mu Yuanfeng have time for you? No."

Chen Da said seriously, "Excuse me, can you deliver the message? My young master has a marriage engagement with Mu Chen. I am sure that Mr. Mu Yuanfeng will meet us."

The servant sneered and said, "Marriage engagement? I've never heard that our young master has engaged to anyone. Are you telling me he is your master? Look at him. How dare he dreams of marrying our Master Mu Chen. Master Mu Chen is working so hard to pursue Master Zhuang Yu. You'd better stay away, or you will be in trouble."

Chen Da was so angry, "You...you...you..."

The servant sneered and said, "You, you what? Get out of the way! Otherwise, I will kick you out."

"Watch your language!" Ye Shi said with a long face.

"That's how I speak. If you are unhappy with it, you can go!" The servant said.

Ye Shi blushed, "You... Uncle Chen, let's go."

Chen Da stopped Ye Shi and said, "But, young master..."

The servant glanced at the two of them coldly, "Go away. The Mu family is way out of your league."

Ye Shi pursed his lips and left with Chen Da.

"Master, don't worry. Just because the servant is a snob, it doesn't mean that Master Mu Chen is too." Chen Da tried to comfort Ye Shi.

Ye Shi said in disapproval, "Like master, like servant. Just because the master is so a person, that servant behaves that way. I can assume what Mu Chen is like."

Chen Da frowned and said, "Master, maybe it is not that bad you are imagining."

Ye Shi pouted and said, "Uncle Chen, you don't need to comfort me. The whole world knows that Mu Chen is in love with someone else. There is no need to speak for him. Since Mu Chen is into someone else, we shouldn't force him."

At that time, Mu Chen was cultivating attentively in the training room and didn't know anything about Ye Shi's visit.

Mu Chen found that he still had the quick-learning skills from his previous life. He could quickly comprehend the cultivation methods of this world by reading it once or twice.

"Has Mu Chen been cultivating all the time?" Mu Yuanhang came over and asked.

Ren Three nodded and said, "Yes!"

Mu Yuanhang looked like he was happy with Mu Chen's performance and said, "Mu Chen has finally become mature."

Ren Three said nothing with his head hanging.

Mu Yuanhang took a deep look at the direction of Mu Chen's training room and left.