"Excuse me…" Xing Jue said politely as he approached the Bai Clan estate. Before he could finish his sentence, however, a gruff voice interrupted him.
"Get lost, beggar! This isn't a place for the likes of you! " The guard, a burly man with the build of a seasoned warrior, glared at Xing Jue, his face a mask of disdain. He clearly wasn't accustomed to dealing with… riffraff.
"Beggar?" Xing Jue asked, genuinely confused. He glanced down at his attire. Simple black robes, practical travel wear. Nothing flashy. Nothing that would mark him as a… beggar. "I must say, I don't quite see the resemblance!"
"You deaf or something?! I said, get lost!" The guard's face reddened, his temper flaring as quickly as a torch doused in oil. He clenched his meaty fist and swung at Xing Jue, the force of the blow enough to shatter bones, if it landed.
To the guard's surprise, however, Xing Jue didn't so much as flinch. He simply stood there, a small, almost amused smile playing on his lips.
The guard's fist connected with Xing Jue's chest with a sickening thud. And then, a scream. It wasn't the sound he'd been expecting.
The guard stumbled back, clutching his hand, his face contorted in pain. "My hand!" he shrieked, his voice high-pitched, almost feminine with pain and shock. "My hand! You broke my hand! You'll pay for that, you little…"
Anyone who'd reached the Martial Master realm possessed a certain level of physical resilience. Their bodies were tougher, more resilient, capable of withstanding blows that would cripple or even kill a normal person. But this kid! This… this scrawny teenager! Just who was he dealing with?
Movement from the side caught his eye. It was his partner—another guard, equally as brawny, equally as intimidating— rushing towards them, a wicked-looking scimitar gripped tightly in his hand.
"You're dead!" the second guard snarled, swinging the scimitar at Xing Jue's neck, his intention clear. He'd teach this arrogant brat a lesson he wouldn't soon forget.
Xing Jue still didn't move. He simply watched the descending blade, his expression unreadable .
CLANG!
The scimitar shattered, the blade snapping in two as it struck Xing Jue's neck. Stunned silence descended over the courtyard.
"What….?" The second guard gaped at the broken weapon in his hand, his face ashen, his mind struggling to process what he'd just witnessed.
He'd assumed the skinny brat was wearing some kind of concealed armor. It couldn't be possible for him to block a blow like that…not without some kind of enhancement!
But now…now he wasn't so sure.
Suddenly, the courtyard erupted in chaos. Alerted by the commotion, a small army of servants came charging out, armed with an assortment of crude weapons—brooms, mops, even a few kitchen knives glinting dangerously in the midday sun.
"Get him!"
"Teach him a lesson!
"He'll regret messing with the Bai Clan!"
It was almost comical. Almost.
Xing Jue sighed, his amusement fading, replaced by a touch of impatience. He'd hoped to avoid a confrontation, but it seemed these fools were determined to make things difficult.
With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a wave of Spirit Qi, a pulsating wave of pure energy that slammed into the oncoming servants, sending them flying backwards like rag dolls.
Cries of pain and surprise filled the air as the servants slammed into walls, each other, the cobblestones. Some lay still, their bodies crumpled and unmoving. Others coughed and sputtered, bloodstains blooming on their clothes.
Xing Jue could have killed them all with a single thought. But he wasn't a murderer. He'd taught them a lesson, a painful lesson, but a necessary one.
"Wait! Stop! Hold!" a voice called out. It was an older man, dressed in finer robes than the others, hurrying towards Xing Jue, his expression a mixture of consternation and apprehension. He'd clearly witnessed what had just transpired. And unlike his companions, he recognized true power when he saw it.
"Please, forgive my servants their insolence, Master!" he said, bowing deeply. "They're… a bit overzealous in their duties at times! May I inquire as to your business here? I'm the Bai Clan steward, at your service! "
Xing Jue glanced at the steward, a hint of amusement surfacing in his eyes. "It's quite alright," he said calmly, "perhaps next time they will refrain from judging a book by its cover. Not all that glitters is gold, and…" he paused, allowing his words to sink in, "not all those who dress plainly are beggars. "
The steward flushed, nodding sheepishly. He chastised the servants for their disrespect, then, with a great deal more respect than he'd shown earlier, ushered Xing Jue into the Bai Clan estate.
"You're saying… she isn't here? " Xing Jue asked, leaning forward in his seat. He couldn't believe this was happening. He'd come all this way...
The Bai Clan steward nodded, his expression apologetic. "That's right, Master. Bai Xiuxiu is no longer residing here. She's been gone…six months now."
Six months. Approximately the same time Bai Yunfei had been… executed. Coincidence? Maybe. But Xing Jue had a sneaking suspicion that something wasn't quite right.
"Do you know where she might have gone?" he asked, though a part of him already knew what the answer would be.
The steward shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Master."
Xing Jue left the Bai Clan estate, his mind abuzz with questions, his gut churning with a strange mix of frustration and unease. What had happened to Bai Xiuxiu? Had she left of her own accord, or had…something… happened?
As he made his way through the bustling market, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being followed. He glanced over his shoulder, but he didn't see anyone. He picked up his pace, weaving through the crowd, his senses on high alert.
And then, he was sure of it. Someone, or something, was definitely following him.
He could feel their gaze on his back, like a physical presence.
Xing Jue smiled to himself, though it didn't reach his eyes. Two could play this game.
Pretending he hadn't noticed anything, he continued walking, his pace measured, his senses tuned to his surroundings. He led the stalker on a merry chase, through twisting alleyways and crowded streets, until he reached a secluded area—a deserted garden, overgrown with weeds.
And then, with a surge of Spirit Qi, he vanished.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Damn it!" a voice cursed. It was a man, thin and wiry, his clothes dusty and travel-worn. He'd been so focused on his quarry, so sure of his ability to remain undetected, that he hadn't noticed the shift in the air, the subtle ripples of energy that betrayed the presence of a powerful Martial Artist.
He was out of his depth, and he knew it.
He turned to flee, but a hand landed on his shoulder, its grip like a vice, and he found himself rooted to the spot, his body trembling, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest.
"Please," he begged, his voice cracking with fear, "don't hurt me! I didn't mean any harm! I…"
Xing Jue released his grip, letting the man fall to his knees. Slowly, almost casually, he stepped into the moonlight, his expression unreadable.
"Tell me," he said, his voice low, menacing, sending shivers down the man's spine, "why were you following me?"
"Master, are you…are you related to Bai Xiuxiu?" the man stammered, his gaze darting nervously between Xing Jue and the ground.
Xing Jue's heart skipped a beat. "You could say that. I was a close friend of her brother's. Why? Do you know where she is?" Hope, as bright and fragile as a newborn star, flickered in his chest.
"Yes, master! I – I know where to find Bai Xiuxiu! " The man's fear-stricken expression gave way to one of almost manic excitement.
Relief washed over Xing Jue, followed by a surge of anticipation. Finally! He was close, so close, to fulfilling his promise to Bai Yunfei.
The man led Xing Jue through a maze of twisting alleyways, away from the opulent mansions and bustling markets of the city center. They reached the outskirts of town, where dilapidated buildings stood shoulder to shoulder with ramshackle huts.
The man stopped before one such hut— a small, nondescript dwelling, its thatched roof covered in moss, its walls made of mud and straw. He ducked inside, then reappeared a moment later, gesturing for Xing Jue to follow.
As Xing Jue stepped inside, a weak voice, barely a whisper, reached his ears.
"Are…are you really a friend of my brother's?
Xing Jue turned towards the source of the voice and felt his heart clench.
In the corner of the room, lying on a makeshift bed of straw and animal skins, was a young woman. Her features were delicate, her eyes large and expressive. Xing Jue could see the resemblance to Bai Yunfei, although her face was pale, her skin almost translucent, her breathing shallow.
She was clearly very ill.
"Bai Xiuxiu?" He moved towards her bedside, his every step filled with a strange mix of dread and longing. "I'm Xing Jue. I was a good friend of Bai Yunfei's."
"Did…did he…did he really…" Her voice broke, the unspoken question hanging heavy in the air.
Xing Jue hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded, his throat tight. "Yes, I'm afraid so. But he died a hero! He died protecting those he cared about!"
The young woman let out a sob and buried her face in her hands, her frail body shaking with grief. Xing Jue wanted to reach out, to comfort her, to offer words of solace, but he knew that nothing he could say would ease her pain, not really.
He excused himself and stepped outside, summoning the other man to follow.
"Tell me what happened, " he said, his voice deceptively calm.
He already had an inkling of what he was about to hear. The man's demeanor—the way his hands had clenched into fists, the barely suppressed rage in his eyes—told a story of its own. And if Xing Jue's instincts were right, it wasn't a pleasant one.
"Since you were Brother Yunfei's friend, I won't hide the truth from you," he said, "but it's…difficult to talk about."
"Tell me everything, " Xing Jue said softly. "I promise, I will help you. I will get justice for Xiuxiu, I swear it."
The man launched into his story, his words tumbling over each other. It was as Xing Jue had feared—a tale of betrayal, lust, and cowardice.
"It all started six months ago, shortly after Brother Yunfei…passed away," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "Bai Yin, the eldest son of the Bai Clan, the one who claims to be a disciple at the Soaring Wind Division... he'd always…admired Xiuxiu. But she wanted nothing to do with him! He was… unpleasant. And besides, her heart belonged to another…"
The man hesitated, glancing at Xing Jue before continuing. "But when news of Yunfei's…demise reached the Bai Clan…well, Bai Yin must have thought he'd won some kind of prize! That very night…he…he…" He choked back a sob, his hands shaking.
"He tried to force himself on her," Xing Jue finished, his voice cold, devoid of emotion. He'd heard enough. More than enough.
"Yes," the man whispered. "She fought back, managed to escape. But Bai Yin wouldn't give up. He ordered his servants to hunt her down, to bring her to him… dead or alive." He took a deep breath. "With nowhere to run, she jumped off a cliff. We…we all thought she was…gone. The Bai Clan was relieved. Another problem solved! But… I refused to believe it! I snuck out that night and climbed down the cliff myself, hoping to…to retrieve her body. But… she was alive! Barely…but alive! "
He broke down then, his shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs. "Her…her legs were broken. And her…her spirit…broken, too. I brought her here, hoping…praying that she'd recover. But she's fading, Master Xing Jue, fading with each passing day. And I…I don't know what to do!"
Xing Jue's heart twisted in his chest, a maelstrom of rage and anguish.
"I do," he said softly, his eyes cold, distant. "Don't you worry. Bai Yin—and everyone who helped him—will pay for what he did to Bai Xiuxiu. They will all pay."
Spring Breeze Pavilion.
The undisputed pleasure palace of Bai City, a place where wealthy merchants and bored nobles went to forget their troubles and indulge their baser desires.
And it was here, in one of the Pavilion's most opulent private rooms, that Bai Yin, eldest son of the Bai Clan, held court.
"Well, well, well! Look what the wind blew in! Fresh meat!"
A bevy of scantily clad women, their faces painted with thick layers of makeup, their voices dripping with honeyed insincerity, swarmed around a young man in expensive robes, their laughter grating on his nerves.
The young man ignored them, his eyes scanning the room.
"Bai Yin! Where are you, you cowardly piece of trash!" his voice, amplified by Spirit Qi, boomed through the room, silencing the music and the laughter.
"Who dares!" a voice roared from behind a closed door at the back of the room. "Who dares utter my name with such disrespect!"
The door flew open and two hulking figures emerged, their faces contorted in anger. They were Bai Yin's personal bodyguards, renowned for their brutality and their unwavering loyalty to their master.
"Who was it? Which pathetic worm dares to insult the young master?!"
The room's occupants, sensing trouble, scattered like mice before a hungry cat. Even the women who'd been fawning over Bai Yin, moments earlier, melted into the shadows, eager to avoid any unpleasantness.
All except one.
Xing Jue stood in the middle of the room, his expression a mask of indifference.
"You're looking for someone?" he asked softly. "Someone called … Bai Yin?"
The guards turned to face Xing Jue, their eyes widening as they took in his unremarkable appearance, his youth. They exchanged confused glances.
This scrawny kid had just called out their master?
"You're looking for death, boy!" one of the guards snarled, cracking his knuckles menacingly as he advanced on Xing Jue. "The young master doesn't appreciate being disturbed! Especially by trash like you! "
The room's occupants, emboldened by their distance from the unfolding drama, began whispering amongst themselves, casting sympathetic glances towards Xing Jue.
The idiot had no idea who he was dealing with. No one called out Bai Yin and lived to tell the tale.