Chapter 148

Over the millennium, it had absorbed the sword intent of countless swordsmen.

So much so that even a thousand years later, the blade remained brilliant, emitting a blinding radiance that, much like a great hero, could not be looked at directly.

Yet at this very moment, in order to obtain an answer, Jing Wuming pondered for a while before ultimately presenting the precious sword.

Su Hang accepted the sword, a joy rising in his heart.

The youth might not know its value, but Su Hang certainly did!

This nameless precious sword was none other than the Hero Sword, which would later become world-renowned!

If one were to speak of value, this radiant Hero Sword was worth far more than the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse of the old groom, Li Li Chungang!

Soon,

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Su Hang swiftly activated the Heavenly Secret Deduction System.

In that instant, fragments of Jing Wuming’s past and present lives surfaced in his mind, from the young Jing Wuming to the middle-aged Jing Wuming of later years.

Everything he had experienced in this life was strung together like beads.

Su Hang said:

"If you have anything you wish to ask, feel free to do so..."

Jing Wuming bowed respectfully once more and said:

"My surname is Mu, given name Mu Yingming, and I am the son of Grand General Mu Long of the Great Han Dynasty."

"I have an elder brother named Mu Mu Yingxiong."

"We two brothers were born in the same year, same month, and same day; we are truly flesh-and-blood brothers."

"Yet, I do not understand..."

At this point,

Jing Wuming’s brows furrowed slightly, and after a sigh, he continued:

"I have never understood why our parents treated us brothers so differently."

"For my elder brother, they hired famous teachers to instruct him from a very young age, fearing any lapse in his studies or Wu Gong, showering him with every bit of affection..."

"But from childhood to adulthood, my parents never asked after me, and were even unwilling to speak to me."

"Even the servants in the household would walk around me whenever they saw me."

"When I was eleven or twelve, my parents sent me away from home to study under a master in a faraway place..."

"I am not a wicked person, nor have I ever done anything wicked, so why was it like this?"

"Even if I were adopted by the Mu Long couple, it should not have been to this extent!"

"This is the one thing I truly cannot understand!"

"I beg Mr. Su to clear my confusion!"

At this moment, Jing Wuming finally summoned the courage to voice the problem that had troubled him for many years.

He clearly had parents and a brother, so why were his parents so biased?

Hearing this, Su Hang smiled lightly:

"You are indeed not the biological child of the Mu Long couple."

"To be precise, you are merely a substitute for your elder brother."

Hearing this, the young Jing Wuming was slightly stunned.

"A substitute?"

"A substitute?"

At these words, not only the onlookers but even Jing Wuming himself was filled with confusion.

Seeing this, Su Hang smiled slightly and then said:

"Back then, your father, Mu Long, resigned from his post as Grand General and returned to his fields."

"Not long after, Lady Mu became pregnant, and this child was none other than your elder brother, Mu Mu Yingxiong."

"Yet, for reasons unknown, while your brother was still in the womb, he attracted countless sword Qi."

"These sword Qi hovered outside the Mu residence, appearing very strange."

"Your father invited a master, and after seeing it, the master asserted that the fetus in Lady Mu’s womb was the reincarnation of a Sword Emperor."

"Because of this, even before your brother was born, he attracted the 'Ten Thousand Swords Worship'."

"This incident caused quite a stir in the Wu Lin back then."

"After all, since ancient times, a swordsman capable of attracting the Ten Thousand Swords Worship is truly one of a kind."

"Soon, the news spread throughout the Wu Lin."

"Even the Sword Saint of that time came knocking!"

"After seeing the sword Qi at the Mu residence, the Sword Saint asserted that the fetus in Lady Mu’s womb was the child of prophecy."

"Without further ado, he issued a challenge to the unborn child!"

"The two parties agreed to a decisive battle nineteen years later!"

"Faced with such an absurd demand, your parents naturally refused, but they dared not reject the Sword Saint."

"You must know that the Sword Saint of that time was a world-famous sword master, and in the Great Han Dynasty, he had even claimed the title of Sword Saint."

"If he were angered, the best outcome would be death, and the worst would be the extermination of the entire family."

"Therefore, after consulting with each other, your parents agreed to this duel."

"The time was set for nineteen years later."

Hearing this, Jing Wuming could not help but look stunned.

He had not expected such a past to exist.

"My brother was challenged by the Sword Saint while still in the womb?"

"Unbelievable!!!"

At the same time, the surrounding Wu Lin onlookers were all shocked and began to curse.

"The child was still in the womb, and he rushed to issue a challenge? Is that something a human would do?"

"The Sword Saint? I heard he is an extremely formidable fellow, becoming the number one sword master of the Great Han Dynasty at a young age."

"But the most incredible thing is that the little baby could attract the Ten Thousand Swords Worship before even being born?"

"This kind of thing is simply too unbelievable!!!"

Watching the crowd’s indignation, Su Hang continued:

"Back then, your parents only agreed to the duel with the Sword Saint because they had no other choice."

"Because if they hadn't, with Dugu Dugu Jian’s sword skills, he could have wiped out the entire Mu residence in a single night."

"However, although they agreed to the duel, Mu Long, as a Grand General, did not intend to accept his fate."

"Therefore, Mu Long reached out to old acquaintances across the world, searching for an orphan born in the same year, month, and day as Mu Mu Yingxiong."

"And that is how they found you."

"According to the plan of the Mu Long couple, they would secretly adopt you."

"When the nineteen years were up, they would have you fight the Sword Saint on behalf of your elder brother!"

"In this way, your elder brother Mu Mu Yingxiong’s life would be preserved!"

"But your fate would be uncertain..."

"Therefore, since you were destined to fight for your brother, why would the Mu household need to treat you well?"

"Furthermore, your fate is that of the Lone Star, which is most harmful to one's kin; anyone who gets close to you dies young."

"Otherwise, you wouldn't have become an orphan..."

"So, that is the reason why the Mu household treated you that way."

No one had expected the Mu Long couple to come up with such a cunning scheme.

A classic case of swapping the beams for the pillars, done without anyone knowing!

They had both satisfied the Sword Saint’s challenge and preserved their own son’s life.

It was only Jing Wuming who suffered.

"Good heavens... What a 'Civet Cat for the Crown Prince' scheme; secretly adopting an orphan just to have him fight for their son later—what a brilliant plan!"

"A Grand General is a Grand General! His mind is sharp; he almost fooled even the Sword Saint?"

"Hey! Doesn't this mean the boy is being sent to his death for his brother? Even if he practices the sword for nineteen years, can he defeat the Sword Saint?"

"Exactly! Pity the hearts of parents; the actions of the Mu Long couple are truly heartless!"