White Tiger Mansion is surrounded by different villages and clans that it protected. These locals trusted the White Tiger Mansion and supported it as their leader, the same way the other three constellations take care of their territory. Originally, White Tiger Mansion was the fiercest, Azure Dragon Clan is the strongest, Vermillion Bird City is the wealthiest, and Black Turtle Palace is the wisest. However, White Tiger Mansion's force threatened Azure Dragon Clan so they conspired to weaken them. Fortunately, Bai Muyan was born and he led another golden era for the White Tiger Mansion. What comes next in line would be Bai Muchen.
"I suppose White Tiger Mansion still has its unique elixir, the Endless Light. It bears elixirs all year round but only one in a thousand fruits is not poisonous. The effects give a person a clear mind and touch of kindness. I hope this will help Cai."
Shen Mo proceeded to the White Tiger Mansion and stood before its imposing gates between two huge tiger statues. It is still the same as it was fifteen years ago. He knocked the silver ring for some time and the gate opened. An old concierge came to his sight.
"Lord Shen!" The old concierge recognized Shen Mo from his outfit. "Lord Shen, please come in. We didn't expect your visit."
"I wish to speak with the patriarch." He straightforwardly said. Shen Mo is trying to race against three years, to keep his promise to Cai and he must train Bai Muchen too.
"Right away, Sire. Follow this servant."
Jin Xuanwan watched with narrowed eyes as Shen Mo entered the ancient White Tiger Mansion. She hid behind crates of fruits and the vendors are looking at her suspiciously. Fenghu stood up from the ground and walked towards the gate.
"Your Highness, we have two choices. Follow him and risk our identities or stay here and wait patiently."
"Let us wait. He's not gold so why bother? We're after the big catch here, which he has, the Fierce Feral Deity." Jin Xuanwan stood up and picked a fruit from the crate.
"Hey, little girl, you haven't paid for that yet-"
Boom!
Before the vendor can finish his nag, Jin Xuanwan made the crate burst. She disappeared from their widened eyes in a second.
Shen Mo's arrival caused a commotion in White Tiger Mansion. He was brought in a tearoom to wait for the patriarch, Bai Zhang. It wasn't long when the door opened. Shen Mo removed his hood and smiled, it wasn't the patriarch who appeared yet.
"Madame Su, hello." He greeted amiably.
Madame Su is the matriarch of White Tiger Mansion. She looks quite young to be a madame but she is twice Shen Mo's age.
"Young Momo, it's good for you to visit. Was it because of our grandson, Bai Muchen?" Madame Su accurately guessed.
"Part of it, yes." Shen Mo nodded.
He has two reasons he showed up. To confirm Bai Muchen's origin and the important elixir for Cai's medicine which is a treasure of White Tiger Mansion.
Madame Su faintly smiled. She took a seat across Shen Mo with the help of a servant. Though she looks young, her body has been fragile ever since Bai Muyan's birth.
"Young Momo, Ah Yan is indeed the father. At first, when Lan Xishi brought Chen'er here, we thought she was making up stories that Ah Yan secretly married her in Zhou, for sixteen years. We confirmed Chen'er is his son because of the same mark on the back of his hand that his father also has."
Shen Mo listened attentively. His dark lashes brushed past his cheeks as he asked, "Why Lan Xishi? I thought Bai Muyan doesn't like Azure Dragon Clan, even Lan Xishi attempted to assassinate him."
"A funny tale, Ah Yan admires her since young and he officially introduced himself to her the day she tried to take his life. Out of all the assassins who tried to kill him, only Lan Xishi was able to leave unscathed. If you remember, Young Momo, Lan Xishi pursued his death more than ten times. She told us during those attempts, Ah Yan slowly changed her view towards him. When Ah Yan died, she was furious to find out her father is the one behind it. She left Azure Dragon Clan bearing Ah Yan's child, her own family exiled her before you did. It took her ten years to be brave enough to show up in front of White Tiger Mansion who has deep feuds against Azure Dragon Clan. After leaving Chen'er to us, she disappeared. We have no idea where she went."
Upon hearing this, Shen Mo sighed a bit. What a strange turn of events. Before, he was badmouthing Lan Xishi whenever she failed to kill Bai Muyan. He should have known behind Bai Muyan's half-hearted replies and helpless smiles were his secret love for Lan Xishi. Shen Mo made a big fool out of himself. He remembered saying to Bai Muyan;
"That Lan Xishi never knows when to give up. Can't accept she is a loser?"
"What's wrong with that vixen's head? She already failed more than thrice. Bai Muyan, aren't you a good person? Why is she so agitated to murder you?"
"Shameless witch. Don't you agree?"
Those memories made Shen Mo cringe. He was don't want to remember anymore. He is such a gossipmonger he even slandered Bai Muyan's little mistress without meaning to.
"You know, Madame Su, it wasn't my fault right that he grew up with a strange fetish?" Shen Mo asked to shift his embarrassment. It was him who revived Bai Muyan and Madame Su, maybe he did something wrong with the process that Bai Muyan became an overboard sadist?
"I won't blame you, if ever." Madame Su tittered. "I only found out the reason when Lan Xishi gave me this parchment."
Madame Su placed an old wrinkly paper on the table. Shen Mo read the content and recognized the handwriting, it was Bai Muyan. He wrote down, at the age of eighteen, he first saw Lan Xishi. It was the tournament between the Four Constellations. The genius that wins will have a chance to enter the mysterious Golden Dragon Realm.
Bai Muyan fought his way to the top ruthlessly. He observed the other contestants from afar too and saw Lan Xishi. She wore an illusive mask that changes her face to average. Her fighting skill is not bad too and when she fought against Bai Muyan, he had a difficult time suppressing her. Bai Muyan took things seriously. He accidentally ripped her mask and revealed her true face. Lan Xishi fell weak on the floor from his force. She looks quite pitiful with watery eyes and quivering lips. Bai Muyan was trapped by the beauty. He apologized and lost his focus, never expecting the weak appearance will only last for a second and she kicked him out the stage. Bai Muyan lost the tournament, Lan Xishi also lost in the finals. He didn't hold any grudge but rather got curious about her. He tried to look for her after the competition but she was gone, leaving no clue other than her image.
Shen Mo folded the paper and lamented, "I can't even say if he is lucky or not! He's a pretentious prick, huh. But, Madame Su, where is Lan Xishi? Why did she leave her son behind?"
"It was because Azure Dragon Clan wants to use her child for vengeance against White Tiger Mansion and Tao Supreme Sect." An elderly voice said.
Shen Mo and Madame Su turned to the door to see an old man with an upright posture. He is the patriarch of White Tiger Mansion, Bai Zhang.
"Lord Bai." Shen Mo stood up to greet him but Bai Zhang waved his hand to stop his intention.
"Ah, Wu Patriarch, I already told you don't call me that formally." Bai Zhang stroked his long white beard and patted Shen Mo's shoulder.
"It was just my habit." Shen Mo used to refer to Bai Zhang that way when he was younger, back when he was their enemy.
"Say, did my grandson pass?" Bai Zhang asked and took a seat next to Madame Su.
"He is now my disciple."
What Shen Mo said made the old couple astonished. He can tell they can't believe him because he has a very high standard of selecting a proper direct disciple. For a thousand years, lots of geniuses failed to be his apprentice. He also didn't announce Cai's existence. For now, Tao Supreme Sect acknowledged Bai Muchen as his disciple.
"We hope the boy won't fail you, Wu Patriarch." The elderly man was beyond happy. Finally, White Tiger Mansion will rise to power again.
"Lord Bai-, I mean, Mister, I had two reasons why I came here. First is to confirm Muchen's origin and Lan Xishi. Second, if you will allow me to, I want to pick an Endless Light fruit."
"The Endless Light? We have many of those that are stocked. You can choose however, we are not sure which one is poisonous or not." Bai Zhang reluctantly explained. Seeing Shen Mo fine, Bai Zhang can only respond, "Since you asked, we will give it."
Back in Tao Supreme Sect, within the core zone, a young boy in a unique red martial robe won against countless core zone disciples with purple uniforms. He looks stoic and unapproachable. His amber eyes filled with indifference. The young boy looks quite imposing with his straight stance above the stage. With a gentle breeze passing through, it made his untied hair wave along. The cold wind and warm sun brushed by his lightly tanned skin but he is unperturbed.
"Senior Zhan!" A young girl quickly supported one of the injured core zone disciples. Her eyes watered to see him suffer. "Senior Bai, you've gone too far! Just because you are the Founder's disciple-"
"Heng!" Her Senior Zhan reprimanded her to stay silent. The girl has no choice but to grit her teeth. Senior Zhan tried to stand up and said to Bai Muchen, "You won. We will not bother your cultivation anymore, and we won't hinder those outer court disciples as you asked."
Bai Muchen glanced at him. He didn't say a word and turned his back. His apathy won lots of admiring looks from their fellow core zone disciples. However, not all are happy. Senior Zhan is secretly cursing Bai Muchen.
"Bastard, I won't forget this humiliation. So what if the Founder has your back? I will expel you one day!"
"Yo, Zhan He!" Another core disciple called and smiled mockingly. "Finally got a taste of your own medicine, eh? We told you before that karma has its own way, hehe."
"Shut up!" The young girl Qin Heng snapped. She glared at the person but she noticed everyone around them are gossiping.
"Zhan He is just too proud of himself. He was fifteen when he entered the core zone. That made his head big, he even bullied the outer and inner disciples."
"Serves him right, and his group too. Just because he is Azure Dragon Clan's young master, he can disrespect everyone here."
"Don't you remember? Fifteen years ago, the Founder exiled the original Azure Dragon Clan members?"
"True. It was because they killed White Tiger Mansion's heir. Azure Dragon Clan is the most arrogant. What a twist Senior Bai is part of White Tiger Mansion."
Bai Muchen stopped by the gate of the core zone. He saw Cai, Jing Sui, and Leng Mansheng waiting for him. Almost three months since they arrived in Tao Supreme Sect, the three of them are still outer court disciples. Bai Muchen is different though. He has access to all three courts and Shen Mo's preparation for him helped him rise to Foundation Building in a short period. That is how he defeated a core zone disciple.
"Hey, Bai Muchen." Leng Mansheng greeted first.
They came here to express their gratitude but they didn't expect Bai Muchen will walk past them.
"Bai Muchen." Cai called. She wanted to thank him and thought he had changed. He saved them from Zhan He's group.
"Don't waste my time. I only did that out of pity." Bai Muchen interrupted her. He sprinted outside the core zone without hearing any words from them.