https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-775-Phoenix-Pursues-the-Culprit-Returns-Again/12852856/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-777-The-Mu-Clan-Strikes-Back-Launching-a-Surprise-Attack/12852861/
Chapter 776: Duke Lu's Plan, Striking Back
Chapter 776: Duke Lu's Plan, Striking Back
"Whew~ It turns out it wasn't a noble family, but the local Duke."
"This makes sense. After all, it's his own domain."
Qin Muye quickly pieced together the overall situation. He had been here for thirteen days, and only now did he figure out who had reported him.
Compared to the great noble families, they wouldn't care about temporary loss of face; instead, they valued long-term benefits, which is why they are called thousand-year families.
On the other hand, the Dukes are different. They are part of the Ling Dynasty's royal family, and although they are stationed in the local area, their power is far less than that of the noble families. These noble families have been operating in the region for countless years, and with the supernatural world, their martial prowess is formidable. As a result, the local Dukes are often restrained by the noble families.
However, there are exceptions. Some Dukes can counter the local noble families.
"Initially, the Yuan family was testing the Mu family, and Duke Lu was secretly fueling the conflict. I didn't expect that he would end up catching a whale instead of a fish, causing not only the Yuan family to fall but also nearly forcing him to flee."
Duke Lu, the local Duke, has never had a good relationship with the Mu family. If Duke Lu wants to consolidate power, the first obstacle he faces is not the local bureaucratic system but the Mu family.
Although the local bureaucratic system is not under the Mu family's control, the Mu family, no matter how bold, would not dare to seize control, especially after the Spirit Emperor recently purged a batch of noble family members.
Taking advantage of the decline of the noble families, Duke Lu decided to take action.
The Yuan family could gain the Mu family's resources, while Duke Lu would take the power, achieving a win-win situation.
As for the Yuan family, Duke Lu didn't care. After all, the Yuan family is not under his jurisdiction, and any headaches would not be his.
"If it weren't for me, Duke Lu would have succeeded. The Mu family's internal strife, coupled with the Yuan family's watchful eyes and Duke Lu's biased support, would have been insurmountable."
"Even the local bureaucratic system would have pressured the Mu family. A great noble family like the Mu family, if not controlled by the Spirit Emperor, would be used as a stepping stone by Duke Lu."
"He has the capability, but his miscalculation led to the failure of his previous efforts."
Anyone in Duke Lu's position would have failed. If Duke Lu were at the 8th rank, he wouldn't be so passive; he could have capitalized on the situation.
Unfortunately, Duke Lu is only at the 7th rank, which is the Golden Immortal realm. In a real fight, he might not even match Lady Mu, who has extensive battle experience. Duke Lu, having grown up in luxury, has undergone some training, but it is far less than Lady Mu's.
How could a member of the royal family truly risk danger? Besides, in the Spirit Realm, there is no external competition, making it a relatively stable dynasty with little danger for Duke Lu to face.
"He acted a bit hastily, less than half a month after the plan was set." Qin Muye understood Duke Lu's urgency in targeting the Mu family, but understanding didn't mean he would let the report against him go unpunished.
Duke Lu has not yet made his move. Honestly, Qin Muye doesn't think much of Duke Lu's approach, which involves gathering evidence and then using the official procedures of the Ling Dynasty to take action.
This method is time-consuming and complicated, and more importantly, it could leak information.
If certain officials slip up or if some are on the Mu family's payroll, the plan might not fail entirely, but it could create unnecessary complications for the Mu family.
Especially with Fan Hua, who has a protagonist aura, even if it's a weaker version, it doesn't mean he's useless. The basic functions are still there.
"Even without me, Duke Lu's plan has a high chance of failure, but once the arrow is released, it must be fired."
If the plan were to proceed normally, Duke Lu's final step would be a decisive blow, not a gamble.
But even without him, couldn't Fan Hua handle it? That's debatable.
Although Fan Hua currently seems to be living off others, with the Wisdom Sword and the Crimson Serpent Child, he can still stand out among the young elites.
Most people can't obtain the Wisdom Sword; it's just that his weaker protagonist aura is a bit of a pitfall.
"The preparations are almost complete, and he will likely make his move in two to three days. Should I go beat up Duke Lu or even send him on his way more decisively?"
Since he has found out who reported him, Qin Muye is considering whether to take action.
How could he let this go? He had no enmity with Duke Lu, yet because of Duke Lu's selfish actions, he almost got discovered by the Phoenix in Flames. The consequences of being discovered would have been severe, likely resulting in death.
Even if his true form might have come to his aid, it wouldn't change the fact that he had been exposed. Therefore, he had to retaliate!
Yes, he was the type to seek revenge for the slightest offense.
"It's not enough to simply defeat him; I must make him understand the deceitfulness of human nature at his moment of triumph."
He needed to go further, making Duke Lu's life a living hell.
"Since he wants to consolidate power, I'll make sure he never does, forcing him to be a puppet for life."
After much consideration, Qin Muye decided this was the most reliable plan.
"Then I'll beat him up, preferably leaving him paralyzed, so he can't move for the rest of his life, and eventually die of depression."
He had to teach him a lesson; otherwise, Duke Lu would continue to live a life of privilege and comfort. Even if Duke Lu lost his status, his treatment and privileges wouldn't diminish. He would still live like royalty, and Qin Muye couldn't allow him to get off so lightly.
Once he was done, he would find a way to send Fan Hua, a deadly weapon, to Duke Lu's mansion. Not only would this leave Duke Lu paralyzed, but it would also turn his life upside down.
He would make sure Duke Lu knew about it and was powerless to change it.
Killing someone was nothing compared to breaking their spirit.
"Thinking about it, Fan Hua is actually the best tool for this. The more unconventional the method, the greater the damage." Qin Muye couldn't help but comment.
"For now, I can only wait."
"Striking back is troublesome."
Qin Muye had considered striking first, but he was lazy. Besides, where was the harm in slacking off? The Mirror Demon needed time to grow. If he struck first, what if someone reported him again? He would have to hide once more.
So, Qin Muye decided to wait, even though small-minded people seek revenge immediately. He wasn't in a hurry; it wasn't as if he was waiting ten years to avenge himself.
If he really had to wait ten years, Qin Muye would definitely not wait that long. He would beat Duke Lu to a pulp first and deal with the consequences later.
"But is what I'm doing a bit dishonorable? After all, I'm bullying someone younger." Qin Muye paused for a moment but quickly dismissed the thought.
"Brats need to be taught a lesson. There's no such thing as bullying someone younger; I'm just making up for the Spirit Emperor's lack of discipline."
"Besides, at Duke Lu's age, he can't be considered young. If we're talking about age, the Spirit Emperor sending the Phoenix in Flames to kill me could also be considered bullying someone younger."
"My actions are just retaliation, not bullying."
"Double standards are a bit much, but it's fine since I'm the one applying them to others."
Qin Muye quickly used a peculiar logic to place himself on the moral high ground.
Although this high ground was precarious, as long as no one challenged it, there was no need to worry.
If someone did challenge him, Qin Muye would ensure they were silenced forever.
"Still, there are lingering problems."
Qin Muye's plan for retaliation was thorough, but the subsequent issues were significant.
This would definitely attract the Spirit Emperor's attention. The Phoenix in Flames was still lurking nearby and could return at any time.
After all, it was hunting an 8th-rank Dharma Immortal, which wasn't a simple task. Qin Muye estimated it would take at least one to two months.
This was why Duke Lu chose this time to attack the Mu family, leveraging the reputation of the 9th-rank spirit beast, the Phoenix in Flames.
The Mu family would certainly be wary of the Phoenix in Flames, limiting their actions.
Qin Muye also needed to consider how to escape and maximize his gains after retaliating against Duke Lu.
Revenge was one thing, but benefits were another. He didn't have to choose just one. Qin Muye's goal was simple: to test the strength of the Phoenix in Flames and use that to gauge the power of the Spirit Emperor's other three spirit beasts.
(End of Chapter)
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