Three days had passed since the execution of Bai Yin…
Inside the Bai family's grand meeting hall, four figures sat in deep conversation. Bai Feng, the head of the Bai family, occupied the seat of honor. Next to him sat their newly appointed steward, a cunning man with a talent for managing the family's affairs.
Facing them was a young man in a blue robe - Bai Zhen, the second young master of the Bai family. As an Outer Disciple of the esteemed Wind Monarch Sect and an initial stage Martial King, Bai Zhen commanded respect and wielded considerable influence. Beside him sat his mentor, Elder Xu, an Outer Elder of the Wind Monarch Sect and a high-stage Martial King, whose presence emanated an aura of quiet power.
News of Xingchen's formidable strength had reached them through the last correspondence from the family. Worried, Bai Zhen had specifically requested his master's presence to ensure their safety and to deal with any unforeseen circumstances.
"Father," Bai Zhen began, after listening attentively to a detailed account of the events, his brow creased in thought, "have you considered the possibility of a traitor within our own ranks?"
Bai Feng's eyes widened. "A traitor? You think someone betrayed us?"
"It's the only explanation," Bai Zhen stated, his tone firm. "How else would anyone know about our family matters?"
"But… our family has so many servants! Who… how could we possibly find out?" Bai Feng exclaimed, his voice strained with anxiety and uncertainty.
A confident smile flickered across Bai Zhen's lips as he offered a solution. "It's quite simple, Father. Investigate those closest to Bai Xiuxiu."
His words were like a splash of cold water, jolting Bai Feng back to his senses. He realized the undeniable logic behind his son's deduction— the one who assisted Bai Xiuxiu had to be someone she trusted implicitly. He immediately dispatched his most trusted aides to investigate.
Throughout their discussion, Elder Xu remained silent, his expression unreadable as he calmly sipped his fragrant tea, seemingly content to observe the unfolding drama.
Two days after the Bai family meeting, Xingchen appeared once more on the outskirts of Bai City. But this time, he wasn't alone. By his side walked a beautiful young woman with delicate features and a gentle demeanor - Bai Xiuxiu.
After the massacre of the Bai family scoundrels, Xingchen had taken Bai Xiuxiu to seek treatment from a renowned physician. With the help of high-grade restorative pills and Xingchen's unwavering care, Bai Xiuxiu had made a full recovery. Even her broken legs had mended, allowing her to walk and run freely, like she had before that fateful night.
"Little Sis," Xingchen teased, a playful grin spreading across his face, "you know… if you've taken a liking to that fellow, Big Brother can arrange things for you. I'm sure he wouldn't say no to becoming a part of our little family." In the few days they'd spent together, Xingchen had found Bai Xiuxiu to be incredibly kind and endearing. Driven by a sense of responsibility towards her, especially given his complicated past with Bai Yunfei, he had come to view her as a little sister, someone he was determined to protect from the cruelty of the world.
Bai Xiuxiu blushed, playfully rolling her eyes at his teasing. "Oh, stop it, Big Brother!" she chirped, her voice as sweet as birdsong. Since her recovery, Xingchen had been planning to escort her to safety and help her rebuild her life. But Bai Xiuxiu had expressed a desire to find the man who had saved her, the kind stranger who had risked his life to shield her from her own family.
Contrary to Xingchen's assumptions, it wasn't romantic love that compelled Bai Xiuxiu to seek out her savior. It was gratitude. In her heart, there was only room for one, Xingchen, the man who had rescued her, healed her, and given her hope in the darkest hour of her life. But she sensed his indifference to her affections… so, she kept her feelings buried deep within her heart, content to play the role of his devoted sworn sister.
Their lighthearted banter faded as they approached the thatched hut where Bai Xiuxiu had last seen her rescuer. Her heart sank when she realized he wasn't there.
"He should be here… it's his day off…" she murmured, her brow furrowing with worry.
Sensing her distress, Xingchen gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, Little Sis," he said reassuringly. "He's probably just in the city. How about we head into Bai City and ask around?"
The moment he mentioned Bai City, however, a look of terror flashed across Bai Xiuxiu's face. The city held nothing but painful memories for her, a constant reminder of the family that had cast her aside and the nightmare she'd barely escaped.
Xingchen immediately understood the reason behind her fear.
"It's alright," he said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "You don't have to be afraid, Little Sis. I'm here now. And if anyone… and I mean anyone …dares to lay a finger on you, I'll wipe the entire Bai Clan from the face of this earth. I promise you."
His words, spoken with an unwavering conviction that left no room for doubt, calmed the storm of fear raging within her. She clung to his words like a lifeline. If Big Brother Xingchen said he would protect her… then she had nothing to fear. Not anymore. Not while he was by her side.
Together, they made their way to Bai City, their bond deepening with each shared glance, each silent promise of protection and unwavering loyalty.
But as they approached the city gates, a gruesome sight made them stop in their tracks, their blood turning to ice…
The lifeless body of a man hung from the imposing city gates, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles. A wooden plaque hung from his neck, the characters painted on it in bold strokes a chilling message:
"The fate of all who betray the Bai Clan."
It was him. The man who had saved Bai Xiuxiu's life.
She staggered back, her face ashen, her eyes wide with horror and unbearable grief. Tears streamed down her face, drowning out the world around her.
Xingchen's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white as he took in the grisly scene. The man's body was covered in wounds, deep, savage gashes that spoke of unimaginable cruelty. He had been tortured…brutalized… before they'd finally ended his life.
And it was his fault.
This man…this kind, selfless soul…had died because of him.
Rage, cold and unforgiving, surged through his veins...
"Wait for me here, Little Sis," he said, his voice deceptively calm. With one last look at Bai Xiuxiu, he vanished in a blur, his silhouette swallowed by the shadow of Bai City's gate…
Bai Xiuxiu watched him go, knowing he wouldn't rest until justice was served. And as the full weight of what had just transpired crashed over her, she sank to her knees, her tears a silent torrent of grief and rage...
"Zhen'er," Bai Feng chuckled, his voice brimming with confidence as he addressed his son in the grand hall of the Bai Clan manor, "Do you really think that boy will return?" The successful capture and brutal execution of the servant who had betrayed them had restored his good humor, replacing his earlier anxieties with a vindictive satisfaction.
Bai Zhen, his posture relaxed yet alert, replied with unwavering self-assurance. "Rest assured, Father, " he said, a hint of ruthlessness touching his usually calm features. "News of this incident has been spread throughout the nearby cities. If this Xingchen values loyalty and vengeance… he will return."
"Boooom…"
A deafening explosion ripped through the air, shaking the very foundations of the Bai Clan manor. The walls trembled, dishes rattled, and a cloud of dust rained down from the high ceiling.
Bai Zhen's eyes flickered with anticipation.
"He's here," he murmured, turning towards the source of the commotion.
The Bai Clan steward, his face pale and his voice trembling, stammered nervously, "Master… That blast… he… he must possess incredible strength!"
"*Slap!*"
Bai Feng whirled around, his hand connecting with the steward's cheek in a resounding blow.
"You spineless fool!" he roared, his voice laced with disdain and barely concealed panic. "With Zhen'er and Elder Xu here, what is there to fear? Do you honestly believe a lowly brat like that could possibly stand against the might of the Wind Monarch Sect?!"
As if to underscore his point, he turned towards Elder Xu, offering him a reassuring, if somewhat strained, smile.
Elder Xu, his demeanor completely unruffled by the chaos unfolding just outside the manor walls, simply took another sip of his tea, his eyes twinkling with an almost predatory amusement.
"Fear not," he said calmly, as if discussing the weather and not the potential downfall of their clan. "If the need arises… I will intervene."
Reassured by his master's confidence, Bai Zhen bowed respectfully.
"Master," he said, squaring his shoulders, "Allow me to deal with this nuisance."
And with that, he strode out of the grand hall, his eyes cold and his jaw set with determination, followed closely by his increasingly apprehensive father.
Outside, the once-grand courtyard of the Bai Clan manor was now a scene of utter devastation. Buildings lay in ruins, reduced to smoldering rubble and shattered timbers. Xingchen, his eyes cold and his heart a storm of righteous fury, moved through the destruction like a vengeful god. His mission was simple: to annihilate anyone and anything that bore the Bai Clan name.
"You insolent cur!" Bai Feng shrieked, his face contorted with fury as he surveyed the destruction of his ancestral home. "Zhen'er, kill him! Kill that bastard!"
Bai Zhen's own rage simmered just beneath the surface. Daring to attack his family? Daring to reduce his ancestral home to rubble? This Xingchen would pay.
He was about to charge into the fray when he caught a glimpse of their attacker's face…
Recognition, swift and brutal, slammed into him. His blood ran cold.
It couldn't be…
It was.
Xingchen.
This demon of destruction… this bringer of chaos…was the same boy who had humiliated his brother, defeated the prodigal Bai Yunfei, and become a legend within the Outer Disciples of the Wind Monarch Sect.
"A Wind Monarch Sect disciple?" Xingchen said, his eyes narrowing as he registered the familiar blue robe.
Bai Zhen recovered from his initial shock, his mind racing, desperation clawing at his throat.
"You! Get my Master! Now!," he barked at a terrified servant, who scrambled to obey.
Bai Feng, oblivious to his son's sudden change in demeanor, was incensed. "Zhen'er!" he demanded, "Why are you just standing there?! End him!"
"Silence, Father!" Bai Zhen hissed, shooting him a look that brooked no argument.
Xingchen's gaze shifted between them, his lips curling into a cruel smile. So, it was a family affair, was it?
"Very well, " he said, his voice deceptively soft, "then die together."
Before Bai Zhen could react, before Bai Feng could even blink, Xingchen lunged. His fist, wreathed in crackling Martial Qi, shot toward the older man…
"Stop!"
The command, laced with unmistakable Martial Qi pressure, exploded in the air between them. Bai Zhen, acting on pure instinct, threw himself in front of his father, meeting Xingchen's attack head-on…
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the courtyard.
Bai Zhen gasped, blood spraying from his lips as he crumpled to the ground, his body wracked with pain. He'd managed to deflect the brunt of Xingchen's attack… but at a terrible cost.
"Zhen'er!" Bai Feng shrieked, rushing to his son's side. He gathered up Bai Zhen's broken body, his own heart shattering at the sight of his son…his pride…his legacy... lying broken and bleeding at his feet. Hot tears streamed down his face, a mixture of grief, rage, and overwhelming fear.
"Please!" he sobbed, looking up at the figure who'd just crippled his son. "Spare him! I beg you! He's all I have left!"
Elder Xu, his expression a mask of icy displeasure, stepped forward. "Enough!" he barked, silencing Bai Feng with a single glare.
Bai Feng fell silent, bewilderment warring with terror in his eyes. He stared at Elder Xu as if seeing him for the first time… and for the first time in a very long time… Bai Feng felt a primal, instinctive fear take root in his heart.