West side of the capital city, under the bright moonlight.
Unlike the bustling city center filled with night markets and glowing lanterns, here there was only profound silence.
In the small courtyard of the Shuwu, an old man sat before a stone table.
In front of him was a pot of cold tea; aside from the moonlight, the only other illumination came from the flickering lanterns inside the house behind him.
“Tap—tap—”
The sound of footsteps crunching on fallen leaves approached.
Looking up, a tall, broad-shouldered figure was walking steadily toward him.
The old man poured a cup of cold tea and took a sip, his expression calm.
When he opened his eyes again, the man was already standing before him.
“Elder, it’s so late and you’re still not resting. Sitting outside at this hour isn’t very safe, is it?”
The tall man bowed slightly, clasping his hands politely, appearing as if he was genuinely offering advice.
But the old man paid no attention, pouring another full cup of tea and pushing it forward with a gesture of invitation.
“Master of the Shangguan Family, no need to be so pretentious. Our relationship isn’t that close, is it?”
Shangguan Hongzhi gazed calmly at the tea that had spilled slightly onto the table.
He said nothing.
He knew the custom of pouring tea as a gesture of farewell, but he also knew his purpose today was not to make friends—it was to find someone.
“Well then, I’ll respectfully accept.”
He patted his robe, grasped the hem, and flicked his hand lightly.
A gust of wind scattered some of the tea, then he sat down.
The cup was now only about seventy percent full.
He lifted it, saluted the old man with it, then drank it all in one gulp.
His bold manner carried a certain rough charm.
“Ah—no wonder you’re the famed elder Xie Yi who once shook the world. The tea here really does have a special flavor,”
he said, savoring the taste, eyes narrowing.
“Could I trouble you for another cup?”
“The tea is plentiful, but I wonder if you have the fortune to drink it,”
Xie Yi said, pouring another cup with a sharp force in his push.
“Drink up and get lost.”
The Master of the Shangguan Family narrowed his eyes, raising his right hand.
The aura of the Great Dao flowed in his palm.
With a thunderous crack, the moment his palm touched the cup, Xie Yi threw a punch at his face, veins bulging, the appearance of an ordinary elder vanished.
“Bang—”
There was only wind, no injury.
Before Shangguan Hongzhi, a layer of star force with a dusty texture materialized, nearly dissipating the elder’s violent fist.
Noticing the cracks forming in the defense, he put down the tea cup and finally opened his eyes, revealing dark green pupils gleaming faintly.
“Elder Xie, can’t we talk this through calmly? After all, I am your junior,”
he showed a wronged expression that felt utterly out of place, even hypocritical.
“For Lin Xizhi’s sake, surely you wouldn’t treat me like this?”
“Damn you! That bastard who caused my son’s death in the secret realm back then, now dares to stretch his hand to my grandson and granddaughter?”
“Die!”
The old man roared and threw another punch.
This time, the star force shield shattered instantly.
With a loud bang, Shangguan Hongzhi blocked with both hands, stepping back continuously until he was five meters away.
On the muddy ground, a long scratch marked his retreat.
“Elder Xie, your son’s death was his own fault. The investigation back then was very clear. Surely you know the truth—you should have killed anyone hiding among our enemies. Now you slander a righteous man like me… that’s truly heartbreaking.”
The man in fine clothes shook his numb arm and looked at the elder.
“Ah, the rumors said you were secretly attacked years ago and lost all your meridians and cultivation. Guess those rumors aren’t entirely true.”
He recalled Shangguan Ce’s case and smiled slyly.
“Or perhaps you’ve taken some foul guidance from the demons and done some unspeakable things?”
Xie Yi gritted his teeth, steadying his old, injured body.
His left hand pressed tightly against his abdomen, hidden behind the stone table.
He glared at the man not far off, displeased that he wasn’t lying on the ground as expected.
He had planned to use his crippled cultivation as cover to kill the man by surprise, finally avenging years of hatred.
At worst, he could fight to the death, at least crippling the man enough to buy time for Shangguan Xunyi to escape with Yun Mu.
But Shangguan Hongzhi’s strength far exceeded his expectations, forcing him to consider the worst—fighting to the death.
Sigh…
Xiaochun and Xiaoqiu are already gone with their grandmother.
According to our agreement, I probably won’t see them again.
I’ve lived so long, but never mastered my cultivation properly.
I failed to protect my son.
That friend’s apprentice vanished into Endless Abyss long ago, fate unknown.
If I can’t protect Xiao Mu now, my life is truly wasted.
At least… I can buy some more time.
He spat blood from his mouth, all six remaining meridians humming simultaneously.
Behind him, several shadowy figures slowly appeared, the most dazzling being a Demonic Beast with Human Face and Serpent Body.
“Die!”
Without hesitation, he kicked off the ground and his figure flickered.
Xie Yi struck again with a punch, but this time he missed.
“Elder Xie, you’re already crippled…”
Shangguan Hongzhi appeared behind him without a sound, raising his right hand sharply like a venomous snake, stabbing through the elder’s abdomen.
“The useless must accept their uselessness…”
He withdrew his hand, swung his arm, and blood splattered onto the grass.
He glanced at the bloodstained fine robe, frowning.
“I say… how do you plan to compensate for this robe?”
He crouched, grabbing the elder’s hair with a tone of resentment.
“Or maybe you can offer your grandson and granddaughter as payment?”
“Pah!”
Xie Yi spat a mouthful of thick phlegm, smearing it on his attacker’s face.
“Heh… you bloodthirsty dog… don’t think taking Xiao Mu’s bones will let your daughter—ugh…!”
Before he could finish, Shangguan Hongzhi’s hand blade pierced his left side again, blood flowing freely.
“Speak! Who told you this?”
The usually calm Master of the Shangguan Family now showed rare anger, lifting the elder high with a darkened face.
“Heh… I—”
“Speak quickly. My patience is limited.”
He pressed harder, his expression feral.
“You don’t want to die just now, do you?”
He pulled Xie Yi close, eager to hear the truth.
“Damn you—”
Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in his ear.
Shangguan Hongzhi tightened his grip, and a loud crack rang out.
Xie Yi was thrown forcefully against his wooden house wall, the impact collapsing the entire building.
He lay among the rubble.
Unfinished chicken soup spilled beside him; two uneaten chicken legs were covered in dust.
He raised his hand to move the chicken to a clean spot but found himself too weak.
He could only stare at the man still standing before him, a deep sadness in his heart.
Xiaochun,
Xiaoqiu…
Looks like Grandpa’s going to fall here this time.
But thankfully, you’re safe.
Please, never… think about avenging me… it’s not worth it…
And Xiao Mu… you foolish kid must have gotten far away by now, right?
Haha… by the time that dog finds out… you’ll definitely be long gone.
Xiao Mu, that girl Xunyi is a good kid.
I hope you don’t disappoint her feelings for you.
And also… forget about Grandpa.
He muttered softly as blood trickled from his temple, blurring his vision, the metallic bitterness moistening his lips.
In a hazy moment, he seemed to see three children standing before him, calling him grandpa, making his lips twitch into a reluctant smile.
He tried to raise his hand to wipe the blood away but lacked strength.
Instead, he gave a sheepish smile and self-mockingly said,
“…Really, I was ready to die, but when it comes down to it, why am I still so sad? Sigh… Grandpa seems to have lost face before you. A grown man, so afraid of death… ha…”
His consciousness gradually faded as his eyes finally closed, leaving only one sentence lingering in the air.
“Son… your old man has come for you…”
Not far away, Shangguan Hongzhi covered his ear, still bleeding from the bite, his gaze fixed tightly on the dead elder.
He inhaled and exhaled several times to calm himself before stepping forward, kicking Xie Yi’s body repeatedly.
This time, he didn’t use any star force—just pure venting.
It wasn’t worth expending his energy otherwise.
After about a dozen kicks, he finally stopped, spat on the ground, and frowned.
Behind him, several men in black appeared.
The leader held a white silk handkerchief.
He took it, gently wiped the blood from his ear, voice low and serious.
“Well? Have those two brats been found?”
“Reporting, Master, we’ve searched everywhere nearby, but… no sign of the boy or girl.”
“No sign?”
Shangguan Hongzhi frowned deeply, feeling something strange.
Strange indeed.
No one knew the plan, yet everything felt off—Shangguan Ce injured by demonic power, Xie Yi waiting here in advance, even the grandson and granddaughter already safely taken away…
He turned to the spot where the elder fell and waved his hand.
“Set up the Barrier. I want to use the Forbidden Art to see what’s going on…”
“Yes!”
The black-clad men didn’t ask further.
In moments, they formed a square formation, raising their hands and silently chanting eerie incantations.
Star force flowed from their meridians into their arms, converging above to seal this small realm beneath a dome.
Shangguan Hongzhi approached the elder’s body, eyes narrowed at the blood-soaked ground and the curled-up figure.
He knelt down, closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, pitch-black covered both pupils.
In an instant, the past few days of the elder’s memories flooded his mind.
The arrival of Yun Mu, the scene of Xiaochun and Xiaoqiu being sent to their grandmother’s house, even the earlier visit of Shangguan Xunyi to this place—all were clearly visible.
He retracted his divine sense silently.
Black blood trickled from his eye corners, the backlash pain consuming his body, yet not as fierce as his anger.
“Shangguan Xunyi…”