"You're right. That last heavenly tribulation still gives me nightmares. Thank goodness you reacted quickly, Sister!"
The golden flying sword grew indignant just recalling it.
That was no tribulation, it was divine punishment!
To even consider pulling something so reckless, it was hard to believe the Heavenly Dao wouldn't come up with new ways to act. With that in mind, it began to grow anxious too. "We have to get involved in the Mo Clan's mess. Another ally means another layer of protection!"
If they worked hard enough, then one day, they might stand toe-to-toe with the Heavenly Dao itself.
"Mm. But I can't show up at the Mo Clan in person. It would draw too much attention."
After thinking it through, Song Wanníng pulled out a transmission talisman and sent a message to Song Qingyun.
Following their discussion, Song Qingyun would act as her intermediary and contact the head of the Mo Clan, arranging a meeting at a teahouse in a separate location.
Patriarch generally maintained ways to contact one another. This was the most discreet and reliable method Song Wanníng could think of.
Song Qingyun repeatedly emphasized the need to keep things quiet. The Mo Patriarch would likely understand the importance of that request.
With the matter settled, Song Wanníng rested in her room.
…
At the Mo Clan
Mo Rou, the Patriarch, received Song Qingyun's transmission talisman and accepted it with a puzzled expression.
She and Song Qingyun were acquaintances. They would often meet at clan head gatherings, but rarely arranged private talks like this. After all, Song Qingyun was married, and as a woman herself, Mo Rou didn't want to risk any rumors.
But from his tone, it sounded like something important was afoot.
Just as she agreed to the meeting, a servant arrived at her door.
"Patriarch, Second Master has unexpectedly captured a merfolk!"
"Merfolk?"
Mo Rou raised her brows in surprise. Weren't merfolk supposed to be extinct?
Curious, she instructed them to bring the creature in.
Once she got a good look, joy flashed across Mo Rou's face. It truly was a merfolk, a species thought lost to time.
She immediately asked, "Does this one have healing abilities?"
Her older brother, widely known as Second Master, answered with confidence, "Of course. I've already tested her. She can't speak, but her healing abilities are solid. I thought of your old injury, it's been over two hundred years and never properly healed. This might be your chance to finally recover!"
There was a trace of pity in his eyes as he looked at his younger sister.
She had done so much for the Mo Clan. Not only did she lack proper time for cultivation, but even her lingering injuries had never mended.
Now that they'd found a merfolk, he had brought her here at once.
"Good! Second Brother, let her stay for now. If she can really help with my injury, that would be a miracle!"
Mo Rou's happiness was sincere. So long as she had her older brothers, she would always feel protected.
Second Master nodded with a smile, but quickly remembered something else. His face darkened.
"Hmph. That bastard Mo Wentian, the moment he heard I captured a merfolk, sent men to parade her around in public. He even declared he'd auction her off tomorrow at Baixiang House!
That power-hungry dog. He's afraid your injury will be healed, afraid it will block his path forward!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he got. He pulled back his sleeves and slammed himself into a chair.
"But don't worry. That traitorous servant who took the merfolk without my permission has already been dealt with. Betraying me, sneaking her out—he must've gotten tired of living!
Mo Wentian never stops until he gets his way. All these years, he's brought nothing but trouble. Now he's getting bolder!"
Mo Rou's face darkened too. Her gaze toward the merfolk deepened.
"The more he wants me out of the way, the faster I need to recover!"
She had long wanted to eliminate Mo Wentian, but his cultivation was high, and he had a strong faction backing him. Just dealing with that had exhausted her.
Now that he had resorted to open provocations, the Mo Clan was starting to splinter.
"At this rate, our clan will only sink deeper into decline!"
She let out a long sigh.
Mo Wentian was violent, reckless, and ruthless. He had no business leading a clan.
That was why the previous Patriarch had refused to pass the title to him.
"Enough about that. I have a meeting to attend. Once I return, I'll try the merfolk's healing power."
At the same time, elsewhere in the Mo Clan's estate, Mo Wentian was poring over account books—his personal businesses, hidden from the clan. The profits were substantial.
A servant beside him said, "Master, the sharkfolk has been delivered."
"The Second Elder suspects nothing. It looks like our secret is safe."
"Oh? Well done."
Mo Wentian smiled, not even bothering to put the ledger down.
"Remember to silence them. Can't have that servant's family spreading anything."
He had once promised that disciple a hefty reward for smuggling out the sharkfolk.
The man's cultivation path had hit a wall, so he wanted to secure a better life for his family.
But who could say whether his family would keep their mouths shut?
After all, only the dead keep secrets.
"Understood, Master. I'll take care of it. One more thing. The Patriarch just left the estate. I'm not sure where she went."
"No matter."
Mo Wentian lifted his head and sneered.
"Don't investigate. If we arouse her suspicion, it'll ruin everything."
"Yes, Master…"
The servant retreated. Mo Wentian continued reviewing his accounts.
He kicked his feet up onto the table, humming to himself in satisfaction.
Mo Rou's end was near. And when that happened…
The entire Mo Clan would be his.
…
At Linfu Inn, Song Wanníng sat in a private room. A black cloak lay beside her, the same one she'd worn to hide her appearance when entering.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and shut swiftly.
Mo Rou stepped inside. The moment she saw the figure before her, she blinked in surprise.
"You?"
"Patriarch Mo, it's been a long time. How have you been?"
Song Wanníng remained seated, offering a calm smile.
Mo Rou paused, then returned the smile and walked over to take a seat.
"The last time I saw you, you were just a girl of twenty. Now look at you!"
She sighed. Song Wanníng had already reached peak Nascent Soul stage, while she herself was still stuck in the middle stage.
Truly, the younger generation outpaces the old.
"Then I suppose I'll keep calling you Aunt Mo."
Song Wanníng replied with a light chuckle.
Though Mo Rou was over three hundred years old, she still looked like a young maiden. Her mature presence, however, revealed her status.
Calling her "Aunt Mo" didn't feel out of place.
Mo Rou raised her brows at that.
The moment Song Wanníng walked in and started warming her up, she knew—
This meeting wasn't going to be simple.
===
The author used word 家主, Jiāzhǔ when talking about clan head and that term is gender neutral. The reason why I use Patriarch for Mo Rou is because in this context, the setting treats leadership titles as unisex (common in xianxia, where power > gender).
From what I know, Matriarch it self is be used when:
The narrative explicitly emphasizes her femininity as central to her authority.
The clan is matrilineal (e.g., "女尊", nǚ zūn settings where women dominate).
And so. I choose to use Patriarch as substitute for Clean Head