A messenger, haggard and breathless, stumbled into the moonlit tranquility of Yuehua Valley, his face pale with fear. He bore a scroll sealed with the Baiyue Clan's crest, its crimson wax stained with the urgency of the message within.
Bai Yutang, his heart clenching with a cold dread, broke the seal and read the missive with mounting horror. The Baiyue Clan was under siege by a horde of demons, their defenses breached, and their villages burning.
His hand trembled as he lowered the scroll, his icy gaze fixed on the horizon. The Baiyue Mountains, usually a comforting silhouette against the night sky, now seemed ominous and foreboding. A wave of guilt washed over him; he had been absent when his clan needed him most.
Xiao Xingchen, sensing his inner turmoil, gently placed a hand on his arm. "You must go," he said, his voice a soft melody of reassurance. "Your people need their leader."
Bai Yutang nodded, his jaw clenched tight. "I will return," he vowed, his voice a low rumble. "And when I do, we will face this threat together."
Their eyes met, a silent promise exchanged in the moonlight. With a final, lingering embrace, Bai Yutang mounted his steed, the creature snorting with anticipation as it sensed its master's urgency. He rode into the night, the rhythmic beat of his horse's hooves echoing his unwavering determination.
Xiao Xingchen watched him disappear into the darkness, a sense of unease settling over him. He couldn't stand idly by while Bai Yutang and his clan faced this unknown threat. He turned to Elder Yu, who had emerged from the shadows, her brow furrowed with concern.
"I cannot let Bai Yutang face this alone," Xiao Xingchen declared, his voice resolute. "With your permission, Elder Yu, I will gather a group of our most skilled warriors and ride to their aid."
Elder Yu nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and worry. "Go, Xingchen," she said, her voice firm. "The Yuehua Valley stands with the Baiyue Clan. May the moon guide your path and protect you from harm."
Xiao Xingchen bowed deeply, then quickly assembled a small but formidable force of Yuehua Valley cultivators, including Mu Nianci and Su Li, who both volunteered without hesitation. They rode through the night, their path lit by the moon's pale glow, their destination the heart of the Baiyue Mountains, where a battle for survival awaited.