Chapter 147

"Nine Mei, you've overstepped the rules." Wu Mu walked up to Wu Xiu, stretched out her hand, smiling, and tucked a strand of Wu Xiu's hair from behind her forehead behind her ear: "If you don't follow the rules, you deserve a beating… but now that everyone's grown up, Third Sister won't let you embarrass yourself in public."

Wu Xiu smiled, tidying the few strands of hair in front of her forehead, then looked at Wu Mu and lightly laughed: "What are you saying, Third Sister? The rules of Wu Valley were also set by me; whoever breaks the rules must be punished."

Wu Mu narrowed her eyes, a dangerous cold light flashing in her narrow phoenix eyes: "Oh? I only see you breaking the rules; who else?"

Wu Xiu pointed at Wu Tie without showing weakness: "Your son, as an external male relative, publicly struck Wu Yao……"

Wu Mu said coldly: "Wu Yao, that little slut, deserves to be beaten, right?"

Wu Xiu sneered: "As an external male relative, daring to offend the Wu clan's legitimate daughter warrants severe punishment."

Wu Mu slapped Wu Xiu's face with a crisp "Pa!": "My son hit your daughter—so what if he did? What do you want? You want to talk rules with me? First raise your cultivation, catch up to me, then talk about anything else!"

Wu Mu's stern voice echoed throughout Wu Valley: "Without strength, stop talking nonsense here. I am the current master of Wu Valley, I am the current matriarch of the Wu clan… Get lost and go face the wall to reflect for three days."

Wu Xiu's head jerked from the slap, nearly collapsing to the ground.

She covered her swollen cheek from the blow, incredulously staring at Wu Xiu's cold expression, her tall body trembling slightly. Her lips moved, Wu Xiu wanted to say something, but after a long while she couldn't utter a word.

She stomped her foot hard, letting out a low growl like a wounded beast from her throat, then violently flung her arm and turned to leave. She strode past Wu Yao, grabbed her arm, and dragged her away.

Wu Mu shook her right hand, and a whip lash flew out silently.

With a crisp "Pa!" the sound rang throughout Wu Valley, making the surrounding stone towers faintly tremble.

Wu Yao's tight soft armor was shredded by the whip, the inner close-fitting clothing also torn to rags; although Wu Mu clearly lashed only once, thirty deep whip marks appeared on Wu Yao's body at once.

Skin split, blood welled from the deep whip welts; Wu Yao resembled a white rabbit torn apart by a dozen hunting hounds, she shot up high covered in blood, then collapsed to the ground, her whole body convulsing violently.

Wu Mu's whip made her feel pain to the core, an indescribable agony like a great net sealing her soul and body. Besides pain, she felt nothing else; she writhed in agony but could not make a sound.

No, there was sound.

The intense pain made Wu Yao's whole body spasm; her tendons violently jerked, causing her joints to rub together and emit a piercing "ge-ge" sound. The rubbing of bone joints brought even more excruciating pain that made one wish to die.

This lash didn't cause serious flesh wounds, but it at least took half of Wu Yao's life.

Wu Xiu leapt up high like a cat whose tail had been cut off, she hysterically screamed at Wu Mu and flung her arms to claw at Wu Mu's face.

Wu Xiu was furious to the extreme; her ten fingertips bore nails over two inches long, deliberately sharpened and lengthened like short swords, coated with a layer of crystalline floral juice; the scarlet juice made her nails look especially ferocious.

Wu Mu waved her right hand, and another silent whip lash flew out.

The whip lash, like an illusion, broke through Wu Xiu's double-handed block; with a crisp "Pa!" the whip's sound echoed around the stone towers. A whip mark tore from her brow down to her abdomen, ripping her clothing, a deep welt especially glaring.

Wu Yao's upper clothing was completely shattered, exposing her slender figure, large patches of white skin fully visible.

Had Wu Mu not just scolded and chased away the onlookers, at least thousands could have feasted their eyes, admiring the flawless body of one of Wu Valley's most noble women of the present age.

If that happened, Wu Xiu would have no face to go on living.

Even so, Wu Xiu was already filled with shame and anger, her face alternating between green and white, she hysterically screamed, covered her chest with both hands, and darted back to the Wu Palace main hall, not even sparing a glance for her daughter convulsing on the ground.

Wu Mu coldly watched Wu Xiu's retreating back, gave a stern chuckle, as if pointing at a pile of trash, she casually pointed at Wu Yao convulsing on the ground and said in a slow, dignified cold voice: "Take this disgraceful little slut back, lock her in a small dark room for half a month, giving her only a bowl of water each day, so she can properly repent and reflect."

Several tough-clad girls walked over and, without any gentleness, grabbed Wu Yao and lifted her up.

Wu Mu said coldly: "Remember, without my order, whoever dares to give her even a bit of food will be severely punished by clan law."

The girls answered in unison, and like carrying a dead pig, they brought Wu Yao back to the Wu Palace main hall.

Wu Mu turned around, stared blankly at Wu Tie for a good while, narrowed her eyes, then let out a heavy sigh: "Surely it's my son… Wu Tie, I used bloodline spirit-summoning technique to call your name—did you sense it?"

Wu Tie suddenly recalled that for a period of time he had inexplicably heard someone calling his name from far away.

He looked at Wu Mu in astonishment, his face full of conflict, and said: "I thought it was some evil thing in the wilderness using a name‑calling soul‑hooking dark art to scheme against me… so I fled in the direction opposite the calling."

Wu Mu's face twitched sharply; she walked up to Wu Tie, hesitated slightly, then reached out and lightly patted his thin cheek, saying softly: "Compared to your older brother, you're far too thin… Have you suffered on this journey? Eat more meat, build yourself up."

It's obvious Wu Mu is not good at expressing emotions.

She quickly patted Wu Tie's cheek twice, then withdrew her hand. She pointed to a tall stone tower near the Wu Palace main fortress and said calmly: "This tower will be your residence… Hmm, whose property is this tower?"

A tough-clad girl whispered: "It's the stone tower leased by the Public Sun family of Baihe region."

Wu Mu said in an even tone: "Public Sun family? For this opening of the ancestral grounds, the tribute they offered was insufficient; from now on when they come to Wu Valley, let them find their own lodgings—this tower now belongs to the Wu family."

The girl whispered: "Inside the tower are dozens of servants left by the Public Sun family."

Wu Mu continued in an even tone: "Oh? The Public Sun family still dares to place spies and traitors in my Wu Valley? Each will receive three hundred lashes and be expelled from Wu Valley."

Four tough-clad girls, leading over a hundred fierce heavy‑armored warriors like wolves and tigers, surged forward and stormed into the six‑story stone tower belonging to the Public Sun family. Amid panicked shouts, two seemingly sharp‑looking old men, plus thirty‑odd maids and forty‑fifty servants were violently dragged out.

The four girls swung their long whips, lashing wildly at those Public Sun family servants.

The piercing whip cracks filled the air; the Public Sun family servants were beaten until they cried out heaven and earth, their clothes torn to shreds, their bodies covered in bloody whip welts.

Fortunately the girls didn't strike too hard; although each servant received three hundred lashes, they only suffered superficial flesh wounds, and in the end everyone could still shakily walk out of Wu Valley relying on their own strength.

Wu Mu stood where she was, a hint of cold smile on her lips, watching those who had been whipped.

Wu Tie also remained still and silent, standing beside Wu Mu, coldly watching those unlucky souls rolling on the ground from the lashes.

No need to ask; Wu Tie also knew that the Public Sun family of Baihe region must be related to Wu Xiu and Wu Yao—perhaps Wu Xiu's husband even comes from that family.

Look at this tower covering several mu, six stories high, capable of housing over a thousand people, yet it sits right beside the Wu Palace main fortress—showing just how powerful the Public Sun family is.

Wu Mu directly expelled those Public Sun family members left in Wu Valley; presumably they were responsible for cleaning and maintaining that tower… or, as Wu Mu said, they truly were spies the Public Sun family planted in Wu Valley.

Regardless of what these people do, Wu Mu has essentially broken ties with the Public Sun family.

Light footsteps sounded; another tall woman dressed in a black long robe, holding a jade scepter, of heavenly beauty and innate dignified grace, walked out from the Wu Palace main hall.

This woman came alone; although her steps seemed slow, she instantly appeared beside Wu Mu, looking at the Public Sun family servants whose flesh flew from the blows, she said calmly: "Third sister… the Public Sun family's power in these parts is top‑rank… why go to such extremes?"

Wu Mu glanced at the woman and laughed: "Fifth sister… because I'm happy!"

Wu Mu said softly: "You've seen the previous right and wrong; Wu Xiu almost stepped on my head… but after this ancestral worship ceremony, I am the matriarch of Wu Valley, and whatever I do, the elders support me, right?"

Wu Mu said softly: "So I want them to know that my words are now the law of Wu Valley… whoever dares to defy me is disrupting the rules. According to the rules set by our ancestors, anyone who disturbs the rules will certainly be punished."

"Even if it's the Public Sun family, what then?" Wu Mu said indifferently: "I'm only half a step away from reaching the realm above the Life Pool Realm… what could those old immortals of the Public Sun family do to me?"

"Wu Zhan may be simple‑minded, but he said something quite right, and I fully agree with it."

"He who has the biggest fist is the boss… now my fist is big enough—whether it's Wu Xiu, her close sisters, or the Public Sun family on her side… upon seeing me, they must obediently call me 'matriarch'."

"Those who don't obey, I'll just punch them." Wu Mu extended her slender, fair, delicate‑as‑mutton‑fat right hand and clenched it tightly into a fist.

On her five fingers, there respectively shone the five elemental lights of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

When her five fingers clenched into a fist, the power of the five elements violently collided, bursting forth streaks of five-colored lightning; ultimately the five-colored lightning frenziedly merged into one, turning into a pitch-black thunderbolt that hid a terrifying aura of death, nimbly darting in and out between Wa Mu's fingers.

Wu Tie, Tie Dajian, Shi Fei, Mo Zhang Wang, Yan Han Lu, Lu Ji, and Lao Bai only felt their scalps go numb.

Wa Mu, she is actually a master of the Life Pool Realm?

Moreover, she has already half-stepped out of the Life Pool Realm, making contact with the realm above the Life Pool Realm?

How did she cultivate?

Her age, by rights, shouldn't be that old…… She could be in her early forties, that's about the limit, right?

Wa Mu gave a light smile, pointing at the newly arrived woman and said calmly: "Wu Tie, this is your fifth aunt, the one I am closest to. Her name is Wa Yin, and Qing'er is her daughter. You and your fifth aunt can get close from now on."

Wa Yin sized up Wu Tie with a smile, then said softly: "Wu Tie, right? You hit Wa Ying, this…"

Wa Mu cut off Wa Yin's words, carrying a hint of domineering intolerance, even deliberately willful and petty, and said coldly: "My son, even if he is an external relative, what does it matter if he struck that disgraceful little wretch Wa Ying?"

Wa Yin opened her mouth, gave a bitter laugh, and found she couldn't speak.

Wu Tie remained silent, just quietly listening from the side.

The servants of the Gongsun family each received three hundred lashes, covered head to toe in blood, driven out by a troop of fierce armored soldiers; they couldn't even carry a single personal item, and were thus staggered out of Wa Valley.

A group of stone dwarves came over, carefully using clean water to wash the stone plaza in front of the stone building until spotless, then wiped away the standing water on the plaza until it was completely dry.

Wa Mu waited until everything was finished, then reached out and pressed down on Wu Tie's shoulder.

"Wu Tie, I know you have many questions… wait a moment, I'll come find you at dinner. Rest first; I still need to properly greet Ninth Sister… Without me present, if you want her to truly face the wall and reflect for three days, she won't obediently listen."

Wu Tie stared at Wa Mu in astonishment.

Just to exterminate completely, not giving Wa Xiu any face at all.

However, Wu Tie secretly felt that Wa Mu's approach was actually quite good.

Although Wa Mu had just been speaking with Wa Yin, Wu Tie also heard clearly that it seemed Wa Mu had become the current matriarch of Wa Valley not long ago; before that, Wa Mu and Wa Xiu had been openly hostile, locked in irreconcilable conflict.

"Elder Brother…" Wu Tie hesitated to ask Wa Mu.

"He'll be fine." Wa Mu said coldly: "If your Elder Brother comes to harm, I'll slaughter every last one of Wa Xiu's little bastards."

The black lightning in his palm burst forth, Wa Mu's face cold as she led a large retinue back to the Wa Palace Main Hall.

Wa Yin looked at Wu Tie, then at Wa Qinger, and casually pointed at the Gongsun family's stone building: "Qinger, you're the elder sister—settle Wu Tie in. Ah, I'm going to check on your third aunt; don't start fighting with your ninth aunt again."

Shaking her head, Wa Yin muttered as she hurriedly trotted to the Wa Palace Main Hall: "Wa Xiu, that foolish woman… she just gets beaten, why won't she settle down? She's just itching for a beating—she's not happy unless she gets hit every day, right?"

Wa Qinger waited until Wa Mu and her mother had left, then let out a heavy sigh, leading Wu Tie and his group into the stone building.

There are only a few hours left in November; does anyone still have monthly votes?

Besides, just vote for Record of Opening Heaven!