Among the celestial sects under heaven, the Three Supreme Sects stood at the pinnacle. After inspecting Huo Chongxiao's token, the guards grew respectful. "So, you are an immortal master from Danxia Palace. We sensed demonic energy nearby and suspected something had happened. But now that you've resolved the issue, we are deeply grateful."
Huo Chongxiao nodded and pointed at the groom's corpse on the ground. "Since the constables are here, what will happen to the body?"
"We'll take care of it." The guard captain smiled, noticing Huo's gaze shifting towards the frightened bride. He quickly added, "Handling the aftermath is our duty. Immortal Master, could you kindly tell us what happened? We'll ensure it is dealt with properly."
Huo Chongxiao then recounted the events at the farmhouse.
The captain listened attentively, nodding repeatedly before saying, "Please, Immortal Master, wait a moment. I will report this to my superior."
It was only proper, and Huo Chongxiao had no objections.
Soon, the local authorities arrived, sealing off the farmhouse while their magicians entered to dispel the demonic energy.
Huo Chongxiao retrieved his formation flags and puppet tools, then joined Yue Yunqiao and Bai Siyao outside to watch the commotion.
Before long, the captain returned, leading a man dressed as a scholar.
After exchanging formalities, the scholar smiled. "I am Guan Mowen, a retainer of the Bai family in Qingyun. Upon hearing that an immortal master from Danxia Palace was here, my master sent me to extend an invitation."
It wasn't unusual for the Bai family, who were affiliated with Danxia Palace, to invite them. However...
Huo Chongxiao glanced at Bai Siyao.
Following his gaze, Guan Mowen froze in surprise. "Second Miss? What are you doing here?"
Bai Siyao forced a laugh. She couldn't possibly admit that she had beaten her brother and run away to avoid punishment. Too many people were watching—she had to save face.
Fortunately, Huo Chongxiao was quick to cover for her. "As it happens, we owe Miss Bai our thanks for tonight. While we were hunting the demonic creature, we were almost injured. It was Miss Bai who saw the danger and stepped in to assist, allowing us to escape unharmed."
Guan Mowen suddenly understood and smiled. "In that case, Immortal Master Huo and Immortal Lady Yue must certainly visit the Bai family as guests. Second Miss has rendered great merit; my master will undoubtedly be pleased."
Since he had put it this way, Huo Chongxiao had no reason to refuse. Moreover, he and his junior sister were indeed in need of a place to stay, and the Bai family seemed a good choice.
Guan Mowen ordered carriages to be prepared. He shared one with Huo Chongxiao, while Yue Yunqiao and Bai Siyao rode in the other.
In the carriage, seeing Bai Siyao's troubled expression, Yue Yunqiao comforted her, "Don't worry, Junior Sister Bai. Senior Brother and I will speak on your behalf. You contributed to tonight's success, and I'm sure your family head is a fair person."
Bai Siyao offered a small smile.
It wasn't her family head she was worried about. The Bai family head was the last Golden Core cultivator in the clan, whom she addressed as Great-Uncle. He typically stayed out of family affairs but commanded immense authority. With him around, her eldest uncle dared not act recklessly.
No, something felt off about the situation. This was Yue Yunqiao's first time away from the sect, and Huo Chongxiao, despite his talents, was still inexperienced. Neither had noticed anything amiss.
—From the moment the guards appeared, they were sidelined from the incident. Even now, watching from the sidelines, they had been subtly excluded.
Was there a deeper conspiracy behind the appearance of the demonic creature? And what role was the Bai family playing in all this? Bai Siyao couldn't help but recall the massacre that had befallen her clan.
Back then, after mastering her cultivation technique, she returned to the Bai family to retrieve her parents' belongings. What greeted her, however, was a blood-soaked courtyard filled with corpses and carnage. The entire Bai estate was bathed in blood, not a single clean spot nor an intact body to be found! As she searched amidst the horror, members of the immortal sects arrived.
Her mother, the last descendant of the Gu family from Ming River, had been adept in the arts of yin and yang. Among her mother's relics was a Yin-Yang Umbrella, capable of commanding spirits. Those people saw her holding the umbrella and, without distinguishing right from wrong, accused her of annihilating the entire Bai family.
At that time, Bai Siyao had just left Danxia Palace in rebellion, her heart still bitter. Filled with loathing for the self-righteous sects, she saw no need to explain herself. And so, she was branded with the heinous crime of wiping out her own clan.
Having been branded a demon for so long, Bai Siyao no longer cared about the injustice. Yet if she could uncover the truth behind her family's demise, she certainly intended to try.
However, this wasn't a memory from her past. The illusion couldn't have fabricated this. Could it have been revealed by the Reincarnation Mirror? If so, perhaps the mirror wasn't as useless as she had thought, possessing some control over time itself.
Lost in thought, they soon arrived at the Bai estate.
Inside, the house was brightly lit and filled with noisy commotion.
As soon as Bai Siyao stepped through the door, she was spotted by her brother, Bai Mengxing, who immediately ran to complain, "Mother! She's the one who hit me! She beat me so badly I couldn't even stand!"
Seated in the hall was none other than her aunt, Lady Jing. She bore as much responsibility for Bai Mengxing's spoiled behavior as her uncle did. Hearing her son's words, Lady Jing pointed at Bai Siyao and scolded, "You wretched girl! How dare you return! Striking your elder brother—such insolence! With your parents gone, it falls to me as your elder to discipline you. Servants! Bring the family rod!"
Witnessing the scene, both Huo Chongxiao and Yue Yunqiao turned to look at Bai Siyao.
So, the "minor conflict" with her brother had actually been a severe beating? She seemed so fierce! They wouldn't have guessed.
Tears welled up in Bai Siyao's eyes as she took a half-step behind Yue Yunqiao, looking pitiful. "I-I…"
Yue Yunqiao's protective instincts flared. She immediately defended her, "Junior Sister Bai is so delicate; you must have gone too far for her to strike back!"
"Delicate?!" Bai Mengxing's eyes widened in disbelief, as though he had seen a ghost.
"Delicate, my foot! She's just pretending!" he shouted. "And who are you? If you're here begging, go to the servants' quarters! Our Bai family doesn't take in just any stray dogs or cats."
Yue Yunqiao's face flushed with anger. At Danxia Palace, she was the beloved junior sister of everyone, and no one had ever treated her with such contempt.
This Bai family's young master had no manners! No wonder he had pushed Bai Siyao to the brink.
Huo Chongxiao frowned, his impression of the Bai family taking a sharp dive. How could a family that passed down the arts of immortality raise such a despicable descendant? It was no wonder Bai Siyao had been reluctant to return—she must have endured endless torment.
By the time Guan Mowen arrived, having delayed to issue instructions, the situation had already spiraled. Seeing Lady Jing call for the family rod to punish Bai Siyao, he quickly interjected, "Madam, please wait. These two are the honored Immortal Masters from Danxia Palace, the guests that our family head is awaiting."
Lady Jing paused, startled. Glancing at Huo Chongxiao and Yue Yunqiao, she forced a smile. "Ah, I see. Immortal Masters from Danxia Palace—if only you had said something sooner! What a misunderstanding."
Then she added, "You must forgive me, Immortal Masters. Our second uncle passed away early, and this girl was left without proper guidance. She has learned nothing but lies and deceit. Since the family head is waiting for you, I won't delay your important business. As for this girl, I'll deal with her later."
Before Bai Siyao could say anything, Guan Mowen spoke up. "Madam, there's no need for that. The family head is expecting Second Miss as well. I'll report this matter to him later, and I'm sure he'll handle it accordingly."
Lady Jing, unwilling to oppose the family head, swallowed her anger and forced a reply through gritted teeth, "Very well."