CHAPTER 870: CHAPTER 870: MU HANYAN’S VARIOUS "MISDEEDS

The expansive council hall was solemn and dignified, where an elderly man with white hair sat side by side with Mu Beichen.

The elder wore a coarse robe, and although his hair was white, his face was rosy and bright, exuding vigorous vitality, truly embodying the saying "white-haired but youthful in spirit."

However, at this moment, the elder wore an expression of anger, and upon closer inspection, one could see that his hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, evidently suppressing the rage within.

"Supreme Elder, don’t worry, the token is still within the residence, it should be found soon," the Third Elder said, drenched in cold sweat, trembling as he spoke.

"This time you may find it, but what about the next?" the Supreme Elder replied coldly.

If not for Mu Chengxuan being his only disciple, and the Third Elder being Mu Chengxuan’s paternal grandfather, he would likely have kicked the Third Elder out long ago.

"There... there won’t be a next time," the Third Elder stammered.

"I had high hopes for you, yet the first time this Supreme Elder Token is handed to you, you make such a mess. How am I to trust you with the token again?" The Supreme Elder lamented, as though regarding iron that will never become steel.

This Supreme Elder Token is a legacy of the Mu Family. Although the power it represents cannot compare to the Family Leader Token, its significance is substantial, and the status it symbolizes is even more exalted.

Throughout generations, Supreme Elders regarded this token as their very life, never allowing it to leave their possession lightly. If the day comes when a Supreme Elder hands this token to someone else, it undeniably signifies the Supreme Elder’s trust and implies the thought of passing on succession.

To members of the Sect Family, this represents a great honor. Holding the Supreme Elder Token elevates one’s status within the clan instantly, and even if the Supreme Elder position cannot be inherited, there remains hope of ascending to the position of Family Head.

However, as Supreme Elder, passing on this token is not a simple matter. Given its significance, if the majority of elders and tributes do not approve, even the Supreme Elder cannot act unilaterally.

The Supreme Elder valued the Third Elder significantly, largely due to Mu Chengxuan. Having lived nearly two hundred years before taking on a single disciple, he naturally cherished him immensely.

Having chosen Mu Chengxuan, the Supreme Elder was evidently satisfied with his attributes and character, setting high expectations and desiring to support him in ascending to the position of Family Head, something both gratifying and prideful for him.

However, the Supreme Elder does not believe he is overly biased. In his view, his disciple is exceptionally talented, and only by entrusting the family to him would there be hope of revitalizing the family business and honoring past ancestors.

Yet ever since Han Yan returned, the Supreme Elder sensed something was amiss. Although he has been in seclusion for years, he is not ignorant of external affairs. Through Mu Chengxuan, he gained some understanding of Han Yan, becoming acutely aware of how Mu Chengxuan lost to Han Yan.

Before his master, Mu Chengxuan dared not embellish his words. Whatever the Supreme Elder asked, he answered honestly, albeit somewhat downplaying the gravity. Consequently, the titles Big Playboy Mu, Mu Siyi, and Mu Baijia reached the Supreme Elder’s ears in full.

Having heard of Han Yan’s various "misdeeds," the Supreme Elder’s impression of Han Yan was utterly abysmal. The Mu family legacy spans hundreds of thousands of years, surviving countless challenges to preserve this foundation. Should the family business fall into the hands of someone like him, the downfall of the clan and the sect would merely be a matter of time. As Supreme Elder, how could he face the ancestors?

In his mind, Mu Beichen clearly summoned Han Yan back to the sect family for that Heavenly Destiny Star Plate, also aiming to seize the opportunity during the aristocratic families tournament to let Han Yan shine. Once Han Yan gains momentum, the position of Young Master and eventually Family Head would naturally fall into his hands?

To achieve this objective, Mu Beichen undoubtedly devised numerous strategies; the Third Elder, although possessing some intelligence and cunning, held a status lesser than the Family Head, making it difficult to advocate for Mu Chengxuan.

Only by temporarily handing over the Supreme Elder Token to the Third Elder could his status improve, granting him the capital to contend with Mu Beichen.

However, the Fourth Elder and the Fifth Elder, along with several tributes, were at odds with the Third Elder and certainly wouldn’t agree with his decision, nor could he flout ancestral teachings to act capriciously.

The Supreme Elder pondered repeatedly and finally devised a plan, noting that next year marks the ranking competition among various aristocratic families, and given his prolonged seclusion, he feared delaying major clan affairs. Thus, he handed the Supreme Elder Token to the Third Elder, allowing him to temporarily assume the Supreme Elder’s duties when necessary. Essentially, he was rallying behind the Third Elder.

The Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder, and others knew full well what the Supreme Elder intended, but had no grounds to dispute it.

Upon receiving the Supreme Elder Token, the Third Elder was overjoyed, strutted with pride, as if enhanced in stature, while the clan’s previously doubtful senior members began to show goodwill toward him.

Unfortunately, before the Third Elder could revel for long, the token was lost!

Reflecting on his painstaking effort, the Supreme Elder wished he could give the disappointing Third Elder a resounding slap.

"Feng Chen is incompetent, I await your penalty, Supreme Elder," the Third Elder wore an expression of terror and awe.

Frustrated to the point of spitting blood internally: who could be so audacious, daring even to steal the Supreme Elder Token? The Mu family has so many valuables, yet you steal nothing but a token that cannot be sold or used. Are you mentally deranged? Should this foolish thief fall into my hands, I would surely dismember him to vent my fury!

With that thought, the Third Elder suddenly felt a stir, glancing discreetly at Mu Beichen. The Supreme Elder’s intentions in handing him the token were apparent to anyone with eyes; of course, Mu Beichen could understand.

Could Mu Beichen have sent someone to act?

The Third Elder doubted Mu Beichen would act personally, as he had no reason to take such risks given his status, more likely sending someone else. However, the token was impeccably hidden, and the seal on the secret chamber was only known to his close family. If Mu Beichen sent others to act, how could they break his seal without a trace?

The Third Elder’s mind swirled with suspicion, yet no matter how he contemplated, it all felt inconsistent.

Could there be other hidden motives involved, or might other families be intentionally inciting internal conflict within the Mu family? Or perhaps the foolish thief had extraordinary luck, accidentally breaking the seal? The Third Elder remained baffled.

Mu Beichen cast a fleeting glance at the two; he couldn’t be bothered to say much.

He was no fool, certainly perceiving the petty tactics between the Supreme Elder and Third Elder, yet he was rather indifferent.

The position of Family Head! They truly believed he summoned Han Yan back to the sect family for that position. How preposterous to measure a noble ambition with a petty heart, and moreover, they underestimated his beloved granddaughter’s potential way too much.

If not bound by ancestral teachings, with timing unripe and certain matters unable to be divulged even by the Supreme Elder, he would have revealed the truth long ago, sparing such needless trouble.