The night was still, but Yan Zi's heart was anything but calm. Pressed against the old, weathered door of the wrecked house, he strained to catch the muffled voices inside. Every word seemed to carry a weight that could shatter his entire world.
Elder Gong's sudden shout—"Who's there?"—had sent a jolt through Yan Zi, his body tensing like a tightly wound spring. He held his breath, frozen in place. His mind raced with thoughts of escape, but his legs refused to move.
Then, as if the heavens were merciful, a faint sound broke the tension.
"Mew..."
A small black cat padded softly into view, its sleek form gliding through the tall grass. It paused near the door, its curious green eyes scanning the surroundings before letting out another soft cry.
Inside, Elder Gong let out a sharp exhale. "Ah, it's just a cat," he muttered, his voice dripping with irritation.
Outside, Yan Zi let out a shaky sigh of relief. "Phew... Just a cat," he whispered, wiping the sweat beading on his forehead. His knees felt weak, and for a brief moment, he leaned against the doorframe to steady himself. His pulse, which had been thundering in his ears, began to slow. That was too close, he thought, swallowing hard.
But his moment of relief was fleeting. Determined not to lose this rare opportunity, Yan Zi repositioned himself by the door. He crouched lower, his movements slow and deliberate, as if the slightest misstep could ruin everything. Pressing his ear firmly against the cold wood, he focused on the conversation inside.
Elder Gong's voice came first, sharp and biting. "I paid you 5000 spirit stones for nothing!" he snapped. The words cut through the air like a knife. "Your man was caught and was ready to spill everything! If I hadn't silenced him in time, it would've all fallen apart!"
Yan Zi's eyes widened, his mind racing. Silenced him? A chill ran down his spine as the implications of those words sank in. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms.
Inside, the cloaked man responded in a low, gravelly voice. "That was my fault. I underestimated the situation. I shouldn't have sent someone so careless. But next time, I'll finish the job myself. I'll wipe out his family, leave no traces behind."
Yan Zi's breath hitched, and his chest tightened. The sheer audacity of their plans left him trembling. His family. My family. His mother's face flashed in his mind, her gentle smile, her unwavering care. His grandfather, with his stern yet loving demeanor. And himself.
His fists trembled with rage, his knuckles turning white as he clenched harder. A faint crack echoed from his hand. Yan Zi froze, his heart skipping a beat. He quickly relaxed his grip, fearing he might alert the men inside.
Elder Gong's voice followed, colder and more calculated. "This time, no mistakes. Do it cleanly. No loose ends. No evidence. If anyone asks questions, they should find nothing but silence."
Yan Zi's blood boiled. His jaw tightened as he tried to keep his emotions in check. Cleanly? Silence? They think they can just wipe us out like we're nothing?
His breath came in short, ragged bursts. The fury inside him was like a storm, threatening to consume him entirely. His mind screamed for action, for justice. The image of his mother's tear-streaked face and his father's encouraging words fueled his resolve.
But as the conversation continued, something inside him snapped. He could no longer contain his rage.
"Enough!" he muttered under his breath, standing up abruptly. His movements were swift and purposeful, the hesitation of moments before replaced by burning determination.
His foot hit a loose piece of wood, the crack echoing loudly. From inside, Elder Gong's voice barked, "Who's there?"
Yan Zi's chest heaved as he clenched his jaw. His patience was gone, and his fury had taken over. With a single, powerful kick, he sent the door flying open. The loud bang reverberated through the night, startling even the cat, which darted into the shadows.
The two men inside turned sharply, their eyes widening in shock as they saw the young figure standing in the doorway, his silhouette illuminated by the moonlight.
Yan Zi burst into the room, his presence catching both Elder Gong and the mysterious man off guard. The door slammed against the wall with a loud bang, dust rising from the long-abandoned corners of the dilapidated house. Standing firm despite the rage coursing through him, Yan Zi's piercing blue eyes blazed with fury. He tightened his fists until his knuckles turned white, his voice trembling yet resolute as he spat, "Third Elder… so it was you. You're the one behind the conspiracy surrounding my father's disappearance. And now, you're plotting to harm my mother?"
Elder Gong's eyes widened momentarily in shock, but he quickly masked it with an air of arrogance. He straightened his back, raising his chin as if looking down at Yan Zi. Clicking his tongue, he sighed theatrically, his lips curling into a disdainful smirk. "Hmm, so it was you, hiding in the shadows like a pesky rat. Eavesdropping, are we? You should have known better, boy."
Yan Zi's chest heaved with anger, his heart pounding as adrenaline surged through his veins. His breath was heavy but steady, a mixture of rage and determination fueling him. Before he could respond, the mysterious man beside Elder Gong moved. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from his spot, only to reappear behind Yan Zi.
Whoosh!
The man's fist slammed into Yan Zi's back with a thunderous impact, sending him hurtling across the room. His body collided with the old wooden wall, the rotting wood splintering under the force. Dust and debris rained down as Yan Zi crumpled to the ground, coughing and groaning in pain.
The man moved with unsettling precision, shutting the door with a quiet click, sealing Yan Zi inside the room with them. Elder Gong chuckled darkly, stepping forward with slow, deliberate steps. The sound of his boots against the creaking wooden floor echoed ominously.
Yan Zi gritted his teeth, lifting his head despite the ache spreading through his body. His sharp blue eyes, now narrowed with defiance, locked onto the two figures. "You… you monster," he growled, his voice hoarse but unwavering.
Elder Gong threw his head back and laughed, the sound cold and devoid of humor. "Monster? Oh, Yan Zi, you give me too much credit. A monster would have dealt with you long ago. But I... I like to savor my victories."
He stopped a few paces away, looking down at Yan Zi with mock pity. Clicking his tongue again, he shook his head. "Tsk, tsk. Look at you. Pathetic. Weak. Powerless. And you dare to confront me? Hah!"
Yan Zi pressed his palms against the floor, his fingers curling against the dirt-covered wood as he pushed himself up. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining his golden-brown skin. Despite the pain coursing through him, he refused to stay down. I can't give up now. I won't.
Elder Gong's smirk deepened as he exchanged a glance with the mysterious man. "You see, this is what I hate about your family. That stubbornness, that foolish sense of justice. It's a waste." He paused, folding his arms across his chest. "You've saved me the trouble, though. Now that you've come here, I won't have to waste time hunting you down. Consider it an act of mercy on my part."
Before Yan Zi could regain his footing, the mysterious man moved again. His figure blurred as he delivered a swift kick to Yan Zi's side, sending him sprawling across the floor. The air was forced from Yan Zi's lungs as he hit the ground, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out.
Elder Gong let out a theatrical sigh, shaking his head as if disappointed. "You really don't know when to quit, do you? This is what happens when someone without cultivation steps into a world they don't belong to. You should have stayed in your little corner, boy."
Yan Zi slowly turned his head, his gaze filled with defiance despite the blood staining his lips. "Even… even if I die here, I'll make sure your crimes are exposed."
Elder Gong raised an eyebrow, his smirk twisting into a cruel grin. "Expose me? You? Hah! What a joke. You can barely stand, let alone fight. And before you even think about uttering another word, let me grant you a final piece of knowledge before I send you to meet your father."
The mention of his father made Yan Zi's heart tighten. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he forced himself to listen.
"Yes," Elder Gong said, drawing out the word as he began to pace. "It was me. I orchestrated everything. Your father's disappearance? My doing. The threats to your family? All part of my plan. Do you want to know why?"
Yan Zi's voice was low, filled with both fury and desperation. "Why? What did my family ever do to you?"
Elder Gong stopped pacing, turning to face Yan Zi fully. His eyes gleamed with malice as he replied, "Your father, Yan Hong… oh, how I hated him. Always so quiet, so reserved. He carried himself like he was above it all, even during clan gatherings. And then, there was you. A son born without talent, unable to cultivate. A waste of space."
Yan Zi's breathing grew heavier, but he remained silent, his fists trembling at his sides.
Elder Gong continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "But no matter how much of a failure you were, your father would defend you. It didn't matter if someone called you a disgrace or pointed out your flaws. He would stand there, unwavering, as if protecting you was his sacred duty. It was infuriating."
He paused, his smirk widening as he leaned closer. "But that wasn't the real reason. No, the true reason lies with the Yan Clan's greatest treasure—the ancestral jade."
Yan Zi's eyes widened slightly, his mind racing as he processed the words.
"One month ago," Elder Gong said, his voice growing darker, "I discovered the jade in the ancestral hall. That jade holds immense power. It's said to grant the user the ability to break through realms consecutively. Imagine it—climbing to Spirit Awakening 9-star in mere days. With that power, I would have ruled the Yan Clan. Even the clan leader would have bowed before me."
Elder Gong's face twisted in anger as he recalled the events. "But your father… that insufferable fool… overheard my plans. Instead of minding his own business, he took the jade and ran, claiming he would expose me. I couldn't let that happen."
Yan Zi's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together.
"I hunted him down," Elder Gong continued, his voice laced with bitterness. "I cornered him at the edge of a valley in the Beast Forest. And do you know what he did? He jumped. He took the jade and threw himself into the abyss, denying me everything. I couldn't even recover his body. That coward ruined everything!"
Yan Zi's voice was barely a whisper, but it carried all the anger in his heart. "You… you monster…"
Elder Gong laughed cruelly, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "Oh, but I wasn't done. My fury demanded more. That's why I targeted your family. I wanted to wipe out every trace of him. But, of course, that meddlesome First Elder got in my way."
He let out a bitter sigh, shaking his head. "So, I lied. I told the clan leader your father had betrayed the clan and stolen the jade. It was enough to keep everyone distracted while I bided my time."
Yan Zi's vision blurred with rage as he struggled to push himself up. His voice was hoarse but determined. "You'll… pay for this. I swear it."
Elder Gong tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Oh, will I? You're powerless, boy. And now, you're about to meet the same fate as your father."
Yan Zi's heart burned with a mix of sorrow and fury, but his resolve remained unbroken. Father… I won't let his sacrifice be in vain.