Tomb Ghost narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.
Fatty Luo frowned, somewhat puzzled, "Bai Xiu returned... Why would the Bai Family have trouble?"
He thought about it again and vaguely realized something.
"Of course... I’m just saying, without evidence, guessing is futile."
Gu Shen reached out to put away the drawings, had revisited the ancient texts he studied at Qingzhong last time, confirmed he had nearly digested them, and it was time for another visit.
"You guys keep on gossiping, I won’t join you."
The dim firelight flickered in the rain, casting a flushed reflection.
The ancestral hall was full of withering leaves, the courtyard covered in plain white silk.
The welcoming ceremony at the gates of Snow Forbidden City drew many spectators, and since Bai Xiu refused to show his face, the Bai Family had to make up an excuse on the spot... Such abnormality had already attracted much attention.
He waited inside the ancestral hall for the prominent figures of the Bai Family.
And now... he had his audience.
An elder shook his head, saying, "There’s no precedent for this, a Protector cannot be commemorated in the ancestral hall... It’s against the rules."
"Protectors sacrifice... It’s part of the duty."
Another elder said, "Qu Long died, and that was his fate."
The elders looked at Bai Xiu strangely.
This exceptional genius, which the Bai Family encountered once in decades, was actually making such a strange request?
To memorialize a Sacrificial whose name was destined to be forgotten?
The Second Elder spoke sternly.
He swept his gaze coldly around, suppressing the others from speaking out.
"We will thoroughly investigate this case... and we will certainly catch the murderer."
The Second Elder spoke comfortingly, "We will clear Qu Long’s name as soon as possible."
Bai Xiu also watched these elders.
Including the Second Elder, his gaze swept across them all.
His gaze showed neither demeaning, sarcasm, puzzlement, nor curiosity.
Or rather... as still as death.
Bai Xiu asked a question.
The courtyard suddenly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone looked at each other, unable to answer that question.
Qu Long... was just a code name.
No one knew his real name.
An elder sighed, massaging his forehead, his voice headache-inducing, "Sacrificials are fellows of limited lifespan from branches of the Bai Family, willingly dedicating themselves, renouncing all..."
He stopped suddenly as he realized his mistake.
These nameless people... all came from branches of the Bai Family.
And Bai Xiu, too, came from a branch.
And if it came to lineage... Bai Xiu’s was even bleaker.
He hurriedly stopped talking, then looked at Bai Xiu and heaved a sigh of relief... the other’s expression did not reveal any anger, as smooth as ever.
Thankfully, perhaps Bai Xiu was not so sensitive.
So he finished his sentence: "In short... no one remembers their names."
The Second Elder stepped in again.
"Since you have returned to Changye, this means you are safe. The Elder Council will handle the assassination on the Frozen Prairie with the utmost severity while investigating this matter, and I hope you... do not publicize it."
The voice of the Second Elder also sounded tense.
As he spoke, he observed Bai Xiu’s expression, ensuring that the latter’s emotions did not fluctuate too much.
"The trial is over; your successful Breakthrough is good news. Don’t stress out much recently, take a good rest, and wait for our investigation results."
He spoke comfortingly, "Next, prepare for the newcomer battle in Snow Forbidden City. If you can secure the ’Flame Dream,’ maybe in the future... you will be the next Divine Throne of Changye!"
Bai Xiu shook his head.
He looked at the courtyard full of swaying plain white silk robes and slowly began to speak.
"You all... have disappointed me greatly."
(This Chapter took a long time to write and fix. Thank you for your patience.)