Chapter 67

The box contained a piece of jewelry made from waterfowl feathers, a hairpin carved from jade, a set of silk mourning clothes and shoes made from Sichuan silver, a belt, three roots of ginseng, and three pills of Jade Dew. As the carriage wheels rolled, Dan Muxianyao suddenly said, "Honestly, it's not like they're trying to intimidate us with money, right?" Dan Muxianyao thought the gifts were overly generous, but with Song Yinglang smiling broadly and offering them in good faith, she couldn't shout, "Do you think we'll be intimidated by this?" "Who else would scatter so much money in the air just to make a show?" "Some people do give money with bad intentions, my inner chamber master. You might not know this..." Dan Muxianyao was about to say something but stopped, feeling her energy drain away. Honestly, she didn't want to talk about money with Wei Zhiqing, who had even borrowed her own money. "Mrs. Song and Master Jin said that the sparring between the children was very helpful. They've wanted to return the favor since last time." "How much help could there be from children just hitting each other? It's ridiculous." Just as Dan Muxianyao was only negating Wei Zhiqing's words, she flinched and closed her mouth when Dan Mu Cheng turned in her sleep. She then quietly looked down at her daughter's sleeping face. 'Cheng...' When she named her daughter Dan Mu Cheng, her husband Shi Fan'an didn't object because he knew she was overshadowed by her older brother. She had given her daughter a sword because it was a natural thing to do in the Dan Mu family, and also because she hoped her daughter would achieve everything with a sword, just like Dan Mu Xingcheng. Like her brother, who was the most trustworthy person in the world and believed he would lead the family to greater heights... "Children seem to work the hardest when they do what they want to do." "..." Dan Muxianyao shuddered and looked at Wei Zhiqing. But before she could say anything in rebuttal, Wei Zhiqing smiled. "Lian was just calm when she was learning swordsmanship, but she became so interested when she started studying with her cousin." Dan Muxianyao's lips moved, realizing she had overreacted. However, until the carriage arrived at the Dan Mu family estate, Wei Zhiqing didn't say a word about Dan Mu Cheng's future, so Dan Muxianyao couldn't say anything either. * * * Late at night, a small wine table was set up in the reception hall, and an old man with a scarred face and a middle-aged man were seated facing each other. "How was your visit to the Jin family?" "Wow, it was magnificent. I was surprised. Even when our family was at its peak, it wasn't that grand, was it?" "Is that so?" "They say they have a lot of money. Where do they get all that money from?" "Master Jin is very talented." "And he has a good wife, too?" Song Yinglang's in-laws are the great merchants of Nan Zhi Li. Dan Mu Tianji didn't deny this. "I was a bit surprised. I thought the relationship between us and them would be more strained, but it was quite harmonious. I even thought Miss Xianyao might stab someone there..." "That girl is hot-tempered, but she's not that foolish!" Dan Mu Tianji frowned and grumbled. It's always hard to speak frankly about one's own children. "Anyway, I reported back without any problems. However, the level of Master Jin I met was not the same as the one I knew..." Dan Mu Tianji tilted his teacup. "Before the sparring between Cheng and Jin Zongxia, there was a sparring between Lian and Jin Zongxia. Lian wrote down the details of the sparring in a letter." Dan Mu Hansuo clicked his tongue in frustration. Just hearing this, he understood what had happened. "You gave them enlightenment?" "You can't say they learned something from the sparring." "They said they would review the sparring with Lian after it was over. They knew this, didn't they? Only the talented ones benefited..." Dan Mu Hansuo grumbled for a while, but when Dan Mu Tianji asked about the sparring, he calmed down and quickly spoke. "The sparring was fine. Both Jin Zongxia and our Cheng showed talent. If I had to choose, I would say Cheng. It's not because I favor her, but because the Jin family's techniques don't suit their son." "You mean the Golden Goose Technique?" "I have no intention of raising him, but he would be better suited to our Black Wind Sword Technique. The Golden Goose Technique requires much more delicate movements, but he is strong and moves by instinct." "You know well." "If I can't even defeat the nearby Jin family, they'll say I should hold a sword. I trained with my eyes on fire." "Hmm. Our family isn't very deep in sword studies, but with the achievements of our predecessors, it should be easier to achieve something." "I don't want to." "Did you grow up alone? Didn't you grow up with the power of the family? Even if you don't accept all the opinions, you should at least listen." "I've repaid what I received, haven't I?" "..." Dan Mu Tianji's mouth opened wide for a moment, then closed again. If he talked about Lian's achievements, he would have nothing to say even if he had ten mouths. Dan Mu Hansuo smiled playfully. "Since I've achieved something through Lian, wouldn't it be unbalanced to talk about it?" "I owe the debt, but Lian repaid it. How can I say anything?" "That's true." Dan Mu Hansuo nodded and continued. "But have you announced the successor? I've only been back for a month, so I don't know much about it." Dan Mu Tianji frowned, tilting his teacup at the unexpected question. Dan Mu Hansuo, sitting opposite, was confident. "What successor are you talking about?" "Lian." Choosing a successor is entirely Dan Mu Tianji's right, but someone like Dan Mu Hansuo can still bring up the topic. After all, Dan Mu Lian is the eldest son of Dan Mu Xiancheng, who was a perfect heir. In another family, Dan Mu Lian would already be the young master, and if Dan Mu Xiancheng were still alive, Dan Mu Lian would be the eldest son. "That child is not even ten years old, and thanks to you, she has only been awake for about a year." "So why don't you announce it now, Grandmaster!" "I told you to calm down." When young, he held a different weapon from others and still reached the top. His temper must be particularly fierce and impatient. "When I asked her to learn some techniques, she refused, refused! I remember the fuss she made a month ago." Dan Mu Hansuo ignored him and continued, speaking calmly but clearly. "As you know, Grandmaster, I believe this young lady will lead the family to a new level." Dan Mu Tianji's fingertips trembled slightly as he put down his wine glass. "How do you know she knows everything?" "I showed her once and asked her to imitate it. She did it without hesitation, without hesitation, and without a single mistake. How could I not know?" "Ha ha ha." Dan Mu Tianji laughed softly, amused by the same way he had been surprised. Dan Mu Hansuo glanced at him, inwardly grumbling. In fact, Dan Mu Hansuo thought he had fainted on the spot. His long experience and time had kept him standing. "Ah, I also have high hopes for Cheng. I think she is better suited to techniques than to the sword. How did you know to bring this up to me?" "Well..." "Perhaps you saw something special in her, Grandmaster. Still, I was surprised. If it weren't for Miss Xianyao's temper, Cheng wouldn't have tried to learn techniques at all." Dan Mu Tianji inwardly agreed. If he mentioned that he was thinking of Lian, he would immediately suggest making Dan Mu Lian the young master. "I said Cheng would do well. But what about Lian? Do you not think she should learn techniques?" Dan Mu Hansuo looked serious. "It doesn't matter what weapon Lian holds. You know better than I do, don't you, Master?" "Hmm." Dan Mu Tianji closed his eyes and slowly spread his senses. The surroundings were deathly quiet after the steward had left. "Why... do you say that?" Dan Mu Tianji looked at Hanxiao for a moment, then covered his mouth with his wine glass and spoke quietly, hiding his true feelings. "Lian will probably find it difficult."