As a Level 1 Qi Trainee, Old Mao had a natural affinity with the Qi in his surroundings. This allowed him to influence the surrounding Qi, although at a minuscule level. If he had been a Level 2 Qi Trainee, however, his cries would have had the power to freeze Ximen Wei's body completely.
As Old Mao was closing in on Ximen Wei, Hou Yang quickly threw a rock in Old Mao's direction, hitting him in the face. Despite the weak throwing force of a 13-year-old, it was enough to distract Old Mao and give Ximen Wei the precious time he needed to make some distance. Lao Yaoting quickly followed up by throwing more rocks at Old Mao, while Jin Bao tugged at his legs and quietly sobbed.
Ever since Ximen Wei caught sight of Old Mao approaching, his face turned ashen white and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. Not many noble households in Green Lotus City could withstand such a traumatic experience, especially for a young child. As Jin Bao's pitiful figure came into view, Ximen Wei couldn't help but sigh and make a connection between him and Song Peizhi. However, he knew that now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts as his own life and freedom were currently at stake.
"Sir, why are you doing this?" Despite knowing that it would likely not work, Ximen Wei still tried to put on a frightened act and plead with Old Mao, hoping to take advantage of his innocence as a 10-year-old child and evoke some empathy from the older man. But, it would have been better if he had not asked the question, as it only seemed to infuriate Old Mao further and caused him to unsheathe his sword. The glint of the blade in the dim light sent a shiver down Ximen Wei's spine, as he knew that he was facing an opponent who would not hesitate to take his life.
The two children standing in front of Old Mao had been causing him immense frustration and turmoil for the past two years. His master had tasked him with bringing them back to the fold, but despite his numerous attempts, he had consistently failed to capture them. These two young rats had managed to evade him at every turn, hiding out in the Criminal District and only emerging to steal food from unsuspecting merchants.
As a result of his repeated failures, Old Mao's standing in his master's eyes had diminished greatly. He had gone from being a trusted right-hand man to nothing more than a mere aide. And now, these lowly orphans had the audacity to throw rocks at him? The humiliation was almost too much to bear.
Fueled by anger and a desire to wash away the shame he felt, Old Mao decided to take matters to a deadly level. His blade glinted in the sunlight as he exuded an aura of bloodlust and killing intent. As he prepared to strike, Old Mao's heart sank further as he realized that his actions would likely lead to his demise. At least when his master caught them, he would have a chance to keep his life and make a comeback. But now, things were far from simple.
Old Mao's sword descended with lightning speed, slicing through the air with a deadly precision. The blade landed with a sickening thud on Jin Bao's shoulder, causing a spray of blood to erupt in all directions. The group of onlookers recoiled in horror as they witnessed Jin Bao's body being hacked in two, with an ear-piercing scream of agony ringing through the air. The sight of their friend's lifeless body laying before them was enough to make their stomachs churn with disgust and fear. Ximen Wei, who had been caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, quickly realized the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and bolted away from the scene, his speed surpassing even that of Old Mao. "Hey! Kid, come here!" Old Mao bellowed as he chased after Ximen Wei, disregarding the pleas of Hou Yang and Lao Yaoting.
The soldiers, who had been alerted by the sudden commotion, quickly made their way towards the alley. As they approached, they caught sight of Ximen Wei's figure darting out at an alarming speed. Despite their attempts to shout and call out to him, he didn't seem to hear them and continued on his escape. The soldiers were taken aback by the suddenness of his movements and the swiftness of his escape. They knew that they needed to act quickly if they were going to capture him.
Just as they were about to give chase, another figure suddenly emerged from the shadows and dashed away, leaving the soldiers momentarily stunned.
As they regained their composure and set off in pursuit, they couldn't help but be struck by the energy undulations radiating off of the figure. It was clear that this person was a Level 1 Qi Trainee, but their intentions were still unknown.
As they entered the alley, their eyes were met with a gruesome sight. The ground was stained red with blood, and the air was thick with the iron smell of it. Three young children, no older than 13, lay motionless on the ground, their bodies mangled and torn apart. The soldiers gasped in shock and disgust, their hearts heavy with sorrow at the sight of such senseless violence.
As they stood there, the weight of the situation became all too real for them. They couldn't help but let out a sigh as they gazed upon the gruesome scene before them. The walls were smeared with fresh blood, a gruesome reminder of the increasing cruelty of the nobles. This was not an uncommon sight in the Criminals District, where the powerful and wealthy sought to silence those who knew too much or simply indulged in their twisted desires under the guise of "justice" and "safety of the common people." Song Peizhi was just one of many nobles who were responsible for such atrocities. The thought of it all made their stomachs churn with disgust and anger. They knew that something needed to be done to stop this cycle of violence and oppression, but the question was, who would have the courage to stand up against such powerful figures?