Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return

One could imagine that the Wunian Sword held special significance for her grandfather, and Han Yan could not possibly take away something he cherished.

”As a swordsman and as my granddaughter, how could you not have a decent sword?” Mu Beichen said.

”Actually, there is a good sword, it’s just currently lying in the Sword Heart Soul Cleansing Pond, having a long sleep,” Han Yan replied.

”What, the Sword Heart Soul Cleansing Pond!” Mu Beichen, clearly aware of the pond’s origin, was greatly surprised.

Han Yan did not hide anything and recounted the incident at Fang Village in detail.

”I had not expected you to have such an opportunity; I won’t force you anymore,” Mu Beichen sighed and gave up.

”Grandfather, about the Fang Family, could you perhaps help them?” Han Yan had a good impression of the Fang Family Patriarch and took the opportunity to bring it up since they were on the subject.

Knowing that the power behind the Rong Family was the Mu Family, Han Yan felt it inappropriate to intervene.

”Why are you asking me about this when you came back and gave Mu Zexian a beating right away? A small family like the Rong Family doesn’t even register on the Mu Family’s radar. They only have some ties with the descendants of the Fifth Elder. You can handle them however you wish,” Mu Beichen said nonchalantly.

Hearing Mu Beichen’s words, Han Yan felt relieved and was also secretly amazed. Only then did she realize how powerful the Mu Family was in the Capital and that the Rong Family, throwing their weight around the Sword Guard Mansion and forcing other major families into desperate situations, was merely cozying up to playboys like Mu Zexian.

”Do you think our Mu Family wields overwhelming power?” Seeing Han Yan’s expression, Mu Beichen asked with a smile.

Han Yan nodded.

”If it were thousands of years ago, your thoughts would indeed be correct. But now, the Mu Family is not as domineering as you think,” Mu Beichen shook his head and continued, ”In the grand battle with the Zhao Family thousands of years ago, although the Mu Family won, it was severely weakened. The other aristocratic families seized the opportunity to rise. Among the Eight Great Families, the Yan and Qu families are not weaker than ours. The other families, Mou, Song, Fang, He, and Changsun, although slightly weaker, have intermarriages and are entwined with the Yan and Qu families. In contrast, our Mu Family, due to our previously renowned reputation, is feared by the other major families, leading us to be isolated and unsupported.

Moreover, with the Mu Family keeping a low profile and no genius like Senior Tian Lie appearing for thousands of years, our status in the Capital has greatly diminished. We are mere shadows of our former selves in the eyes of outsiders. If we were to truly confront the other families, it’s uncertain whether we’d have the upper hand.”

At this point, Mu Beichen’s gaze lingered on Han Yan for a long time.

”Grandfather, I will do my utmost to revitalize our family and restore the Mu Family’s former glory,” Han Yan saw the expectation in Mu Beichen’s eyes.

The once-great Mu Tianlie, whose bloodline had awakened, single-handedly saved his family. Alas, even after that battle, the Mu Family’s vitality was greatly damaged, and their status had not been what it once was. Nearly ten thousand years later, with her bloodline awakening, the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the family naturally fell upon her.

Her grandfather had placed all his hopes on her, and she certainly did not want to disappoint him.

After dinner, Han Yan bid farewell to her grandfather and returned to her own yard.

Aunt Xiu had already arranged accommodations for Huayue and the others. However, it was not too late yet, and they hadn’t rested but were still in the yard instructing Han Yunyun in cultivation. It was evident that they all admired the strong-willed Han Yunyun and, fearing she might be bullied again in the future, wanted to teach her some self-defense techniques.

Since Han Yunyun came from a humble background and had no solid foundation in cultivation, they taught her the sword techniques they were most skilled at and which were easiest to master.

When Han Yan returned, Han Yunyun was practicing Huayue’s sword technique. Even without much Qi, she had managed to learn quite a bit of the fierceness and murderous intent in Huayue’s sword force. Han Yan watched and nodded in approval.

Next, Jiang Yuzhe stepped forward and demonstrated a few moves. Compared to Huayue, Jiang Yuzhe’s Shadowless Sword Technique was more mysterious and agile, akin to moving like a ghost, which was more suitable for a girl to learn. Han Yunyun did not disappoint, practicing over and over again and managing to capture some of the essence.

The young girl had decent potential, which made Han Yan look at her with new respect.

Then, Zirong, feeling itchy to teach as well, stepped forward to instruct Han Yunyun.

After watching him demonstrate a move, Han Yan’s smile froze on her face, and Huayue and Jiang Yuzhe beside her broke out in cold sweat.

”Brother Zirong, this move, isn’t it a bit...too despicable?” the young girl said hesitantly, holding her sword.

”When it really comes to a fight, it’s either you die or I survive. Who cares about being despicable? Surviving is what’s most important. You have no cultivation foundation and are naturally weaker than others. Facing them openly would be suicidal,” Zirong said irritably.

”Well, that kind of makes sense,” the young girl nodded, somewhat understanding.

”I’ll demonstrate another move for you, watch closely,” Zirong continued, raising his longsword again.

”This...this seems really dirty,” Han Yunyun, though young, was not completely naive. Watching Zirong’s even more unscrupulous sword technique, her face blushed with shame.

”Would it be less dirty if you died?” Zirong glared at her. ”Watch closely, there’s one more move, a real killer move.”

”Zirong!” Han Yan finally couldn’t help but shout.

This guy was teaching all sorts of messy stuff. Each move seemed ingenious and unpredictable, extremely hard to defend against, but the problem was that his final moves were all underhanded, and each one seemed more treacherous and vile than the last. He didn’t seem worried about corrupting the young girl, and furthermore, he was teaching a young girl. Han Yan imagined all sorts of terrible scenarios involving the girl taking revenge, and she broke out in a cold sweat again. Using such techniques, who would dare to marry her in the future? This was a serious problem.

”You’re back, young master. This girl has good comprehension, but her foundation is too weak, so I’m teaching her some genuinely useful moves,” Zirong cheerfully said, not sensing anything shameful about his sword technique.

”Forget it, don’t teach her anymore. Just let Huayue and the others do it,” Han Yan said sternly.

She didn’t scold him much, though. Although the sword technique was a bit treacherous and shameful, Han Yan knew he was right. Han Yunyun’s foundation was so weak that even if she learned the sword techniques of Huayue and Jiang Yuzhe, she wouldn’t have much self-protective power. Zirong’s despicable and shameless sword techniques were more practical in a way. But having a young girl learn such techniques, Han Yan really feared it would warp her young heart.

Then, Han Yan suddenly thought of Ye Lanfeng’s ”broken” sword. If she could seal her own cultivation within the sword, perhaps even with Han Yunyun’s weaker strength, she might still be able to protect herself.