Bai Xiu emerged from the Snow Mountain Cave, and the "Thunder Realm Walker" behind him slowly dissipated.
The old man who had fallen to the ground was covered in fresh blood.
His wounds were not healing quickly.
The purple divine glow of the Wine God’s Divine Power flowed among his robes, but it didn’t seep into his flesh... Clearly, the thread of Divine Power lent to Bai Zesheng was very limited.
Bai Xiu silently watched this scene.
Only Transcendents holding the Divine Throne Token could be considered "Angel Envoys," and their number was exceedingly scarce, as the requirements were incredibly stringent. One must be able to bear the "descent of the divine" to be considered a true Angel Envoy.
After all, the Angel Envoy itself was a vessel selected for the will of the Divine Throne to descend.
One needed the resolve to sacrifice everything and possess one-in-ten-thousand talents.
However, when the Divine Throne wanted to bestow its Divine Power, there weren’t so many restrictions... The guy he had just killed should be considered half an Angel Envoy, for Bai Xiu had sensed an extremely vast and terrifying Divine Power imposing from him. Had he not killed him immediately, there might have been lingering troubles. Yet, he did not sense the corresponding pressure from Bai Zesheng.
Therefore, he did not strike to kill directly.
Facing the old man who had raised him, Bai Xiu still had some words he wanted to say.
The scent of blood spread in the Wind and Snow.
Bai Xiu stood amidst the falling blood-stained sleeves and asked, "Where are Bai Lu and the others now?"
The Snow Cave was eerily empty.
Clearly... his initial guess was correct; there indeed were rules of transportation within the mausoleum, and judging from the recent anomaly, Bai Zesheng could activate these rules.
The old man chuckled softly, "Don’t worry about them... my target was only you."
By implication, these people were all safe.
A light relief washed over Bai Xiu’s heart, and at the same time, a faint sorrow sprouted.
The man who had brought him out of Jiangbei was the person in the Bai Family who despised his bloodline the most.
The direct descendants of the Transcendents who entered the mausoleum received the greatest protection.
And him... he was to be eliminated.
"The plan was to kill you, or cripple your power so you could no longer continue cultivation..." Bai Zesheng tried to shift his decaying body, leaning against a cold boulder, and smiled, "I took you out of the small town, letting you achieve glory. Now, taking it all back, I believe I have that right."
Before he met him, Bai Xiu was just a lonely and pitiful child.
Other than a tragic background, he had nothing else left.
Bai Xiu fell silent for a moment.
In fact, he didn’t hate Changye.
For a long time, he found warmth within the Bai Family. Everyone here treated him well.
Part of the reason he cultivated so hard was because of these new "family members."
It’s just... Bai Zesheng’s actions had dealt an irreparable and devastating blow to Bai Xiu’s fond memories.
Over the years, the Second Elder had always been pretending, so what about the others in the Bai Family?
Among those smiling faces, how many were actually harboring murderous intent?
"Since it’s for the Bai Family... what’s wrong with me growing up?"
Bai Xiu pondered deeply with his head bowed for a long time, and finally looked up at the blood-soaked old man, speaking softly, "I will become someone reliable, and the family will grow stronger."
"By then, the Bai Family won’t be the Bai Family anymore."
Bai Zesheng smiled faintly, "You are just a... member of a collateral branch without the bloodline, not worthy to be inscribed on the ancestral hall stele."
Bai Xiu’s face didn’t show much emotion.
This signified understanding.
Then, it was Bai Zesheng’s turn to be surprised; he had not expected that upon hearing this message... Bai Xiu would react in this way.
"You should be angry," said Bai Zesheng with difficulty. "And then kill me with one strike."
"I thought I would be furious, but in fact, I am not," Bai Xiu spoke indifferently. "Perhaps it’s because... I’ve known all along what kind of people you are."
"You all" is a very broad concept.
A year ago... when Qu Long died fighting for him, his name had no right to be entered into the ancestral hall.
It was then that he had seen some truths about this "ancient" bloodline flowing through the vast family.
One of the synonyms for pride is exclusion.
Perhaps both he and Qu Long were the same... no matter what they did, they were doomed never to be truly accepted by the Bai Family.
"... Talking more is pointless."
Bai Zesheng raised his head slowly.
He looked at the young man who had walked up to him and gently closed his eyes, his voice hoarse, "How do you intend to deal with me?"
Bai Xiu quietly raised his hand.
A broken blade flew up from the snow-covered ground on its own, hovering in front of Bai Zesheng.
He silently watched the old man.
That irregular sharp blade fragment was his answer.
Bai Xiu showed ultimate respect, turning his back.
The final journey of life.
He was willing to give Bai Zesheng an honorable death.
Bai Zesheng panted heavily.
Laboriously he reached out his palm and caught the blade piece, the old man’s gaze becoming lost, his lengthy life suddenly seeming brief at this moment, fleeting by like a glimpse... The scene of making an oath with his deceased elder brother vivid before him, they were both young back then, determined to push "Bai Family" to the summit of Changye, pity that the tides of the times were truly unstoppable by human efforts.