Chapter 8: Which son of destiny is harming me?

“I’m going to see Father. Do you… want to come along?”

Back at the Bai family residence, Bai Yumo glanced at Bai Feng, her tone a little awkward.

After all, it had been a long time since they had come home side by side like this, or had a face-to-face conversation.

“No, I’m a bit tired after that fight. I’m going back to my room to rest.”

Bai Feng waved his hand.

He could sense that Bai Yumo was still somewhat distant toward him, so naturally, he wouldn’t force himself to get close.

As long as she still recognized him as her brother, it was fine to have a bit of distance.

If his sister didn’t see him as the villain, that was already a success!

Watching Bai Feng’s retreating figure, Bai Yumo sighed quietly.

Over these years, besides having nightmares, she often dreamt of their childhood.

Although nostalgic, she knew deep down that they couldn’t return to the past.

Shaking off the tangled thoughts in her mind, she turned and briskly walked toward her father’s study.

“You’re back?”

Bai Tianyou was standing in front of the desk, holding a brush and writing on paper.

Seeing Bai Yumo knock and enter, he put down the brush, and a faint smile appeared on his stern face.

“Yeah… My brother got into a little conflict with a disciple from the Tianjian Sect, but it’s temporarily resolved now.”

When Bai Yumo mentioned Bai Feng, her tone was clearly a bit unnatural, but she still recounted the whole story.

“Well handled. Looks like I don’t need to step in.”

Bai Tianyou nodded slightly.

“This time we owe the Lin family a favor. I don’t even know how that brat got to know their genius.”

Bai Yumo inexplicably thought of that fan.

She instinctively felt it must be related, though she had no idea what the fan really meant.

“Oh, Father, when you have time, please try to persuade my brother more.”

Bai Yumo suddenly remembered something.

“His Cultivation Base is very solid. Try to urge him to cultivate more and not go to those kinds of places again.”

Bai Tianyou didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he stared at Bai Yumo curiously for a few extra seconds, as if asking, Why are you starting to care about him?

Bai Yumo naturally caught the meaning on her father’s face, feeling a little embarrassed.

“After all, he is my brother, and that matter wasn’t really his fault. When you see him, you naturally want to say more…”

Bai Tianyou sighed.

He was well aware of how much that incident had hurt her, and knew that every time she faced Bai Feng, there was always that emotional barrier she couldn’t cross.

After all, his ‘good wife’ had been digging for the immortal bone to give to Feng’er.

“Enough, don’t overthink it. I’ll supervise that brat’s cultivation.”

“Oh, Father, I want to look into that incident from back then.”

Bai Yumo lifted her head, her expression resolute — one of the reasons she returned.

That bone-digging incident had a huge impact on her, almost becoming a Heart Demon.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have kept having nightmares.

Now that she was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from Core Formation, it was time to break through the fear inside her heart.

“Looks like you’re finally ready to face it.”

Bai Tianyou was not surprised.

One major reason he had kept those people who failed in the internal struggles with the Third Elder was for Bai Yumo’s sake.

Otherwise, with his temper, he would have slaughtered these shortsighted, scheming fools long ago.

Especially seeing the distant relationship between Bai Feng and Bai Yumo, it only made him angrier.

If he really couldn’t stand it, he might even go to the back mountain to ‘spar’ with the Third Elder and the others and beat them up badly.

He stood and walked to the bookshelf, taking down a thick book.

“I’ve already compiled the records of that incident. If you have any questions, just ask me.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Bai Yumo took the book and didn’t leave.

Instead, she started flipping through the pages in the study.

As her brows furrowed in thought, a letter suddenly slipped out from between the pages.

She quickly caught it.

The childish handwriting seemed oddly out of place among such a serious matter, and the paper had yellowed with age.

“Father, who wrote this letter?”

Holding the letter, Bai Yumo asked Bai Tianyou, who was practicing calligraphy nearby.

“Oh, that’s from Feng’er. I almost lost it a few years ago but recently found it again. It was he who first noticed someone with ill intentions toward you, so I was able to discover it in time.”

Bai Tianyou looked at the childish handwriting with nostalgia.

What a good child he was—he truly treated Bai Yumo like a sister.

Damn the Third Elder and his wife’s group for everything!

This is unacceptable, it makes me so angry!

Tonight I’ll go find the Third Elder and the others for a sparring session!

“Was it my brother who wrote this?”

Bai Yumo was stunned.

She lowered her head and carefully read the letter.

Although it was addressed to her father, the letter was filled with concern for her.

Especially since it subtly hinted at their mother’s poor attitude toward her.

But after the past two days of her mother treating her better, he began to suspect ulterior motives, which made her feel both amused and exasperated.

In the end, it proved he was right—their mother really did have hidden intentions.

After finishing the last sentence, she sniffled hard.

She could clearly feel that Bai Feng truly regarded her as a sister.

But what had she done over these years…?

She felt something stuck in her chest, making her feel suffocated.

Even though Bai Feng treated her well, why did she doubt him?

Even after he was cleared of suspicion, deep inside she still felt he harbored ulterior motives.

Her heart was confused and puzzled.

It was like a poor man who found gold, looking at everyone as thieves and robbers.

Especially since the gold almost got snatched by close friends and family, this only worsened her mindset, making her suspect even the people closest to her.

At this moment, Bai Tianyou was unaware of Bai Yumo’s chaotic and complicated inner world.

Seeing her deep in thought over the letter, he tried to ease the tension between her and Bai Feng.

“Don’t blame him too much. He’s cared about you all these years. The monthly pastries you received before your Foundation Establishment phase were all sent because of him.”

Bai Yumo nodded.

She remembered that after the bone-digging incident, Bai Feng had tried to find her as usual and take her out to play, but she always refused.

Perhaps sensing her distance, he rarely came around after that.

But this wasn’t childish sulking.

He neither clung to her nor retaliated; instead, he respected her wishes and kept his distance, even moving out from next door.

Inside her heart, the thick wall built from insecurity seemed to crack slightly at this moment.

“Father, I think I’ll read more later.”

She lifted her head, as if having made up her mind.

Bai Tianyou waved his hand.

“It’s fine. This book stays here. You can come and read it anytime you want.”

Meanwhile, Bai Feng held a novel in his hands but seemed unable to focus.

His eyelids kept drooping, as if he might collapse onto the desk at any moment.

Just then, a system message popped up:

[Beep, detected the Child of Destiny regretting toward the host. Destiny value +30, cultivation advanced to mid Foundation Establishment.]

Bai Feng:

“?”

Which Child of Destiny is causing me trouble?