Shen Yuan has the full trust of Bai Tingfeng and knowing that his son is now in the care of his husband, his concentration is now about eliminating the rampaging fellow alpha before him.
Yes, eliminating. Because at this moment, Bai Tingfeng is releasing all the pent-up grudges inside him.
"How dare you appear here in front of my husband like he’s got something to owe from you. If there’s anyone here who is indebted to someone, it is you and your bastard friends who keep on disturbing our peaceful life!" Bai Tingfeng uttered through gritted teeth.
His sword mercilessly hacked the massive wave of snow that was trying to swallow him. It’s the size of a miniature mountain and it persistently chased after Bai Tingfeng.
The alpha swordmaster, on the other hand, moved around the area fearlessly as though it was nothing.
He slashes it with his pure white aura, his glowing golden eyes don’t show any hesitation.
Bai Tingfeng has no intention to lose even though he is facing an enemy that is on the scale of natural calamity.
As Archbishop Jiren slowly approaches the point of mana explosion, his magic is starting to lose its detailed form. However, its volume becomes astronomical and it alters the surroundings around him.
The fire from the three foxfire beasts could no longer stop it from spreading.
However, Bai Tingfeng’s Perpetual Light is great at swallowing the rampaging magic. He’s been on a roll for quite some time that’s why his aura is starting to grow bigger and brighter.
This, and his growing anger with the Cardinals fueled Bai Tingfeng to move like a wild tiger, and soon enough, Bai Tingfeng sliced the mountain-sized wave of snow with more than a thousand slashes.
The path of his sword left lasting lines of light, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it would drive someone crazy if they traced them.
It is extremely complicated that one couldn’t see where his sword first started!
If it was before, Bai Tingfeng would have some hesitation in brandishing his sword towards a human being. But things have changed.
’Being merciful to your enemy is being cruel to oneself,’ Bai Tingfeng said this to himself multiple times as he continuously let out fearsome attacks toward the archbishop.
Since when did he have such resolve to overcome his fear of hurting people with his power?
Bai Tingfeng couldn’t pinpoint the exact time, but he was sure that it was in between the good times he shared with his husband.
Probably because he was having fun, Bai Tingfeng didn’t realize when his husband planted this courage inside him.
But if he were to ask the origin of his fear of his powers and hurting other people with it, then Bai Tingfeng could clearly recount the encounter from the biggest to finest details— even the feelings that he had when he realized that something went wrong.
It started when Bai Tingfeng awakened his power at the tender age of nine.
Having awakened at such an early age inevitably made people look at him as a young genius, including some people in his family.
His grandfather, to be specific.
Bai Zhou, Bai Tingfeng’s grandfather, is a third-generation S-class hunter from the Bai family.
Just like Bai Weisheng and Bai Tingfeng, his specialty is with swords, and he is the one who created the light-speed sword style that Bai Tingfeng is using now, the White Tiger Claw Swordsmanship.
Bai Zhou is just like any traditional strong man. He stresses the importance of continuing the family legacy.
This is why he started training his son and grandson at a very young age and Bai Tingfeng, being the youngest person to awaken his power, received the pressure that is greater than his father.
Of course, Rong Suyin and Bai Weisheng tried to stop his grandfather from subjecting him to harsh training as a child but under the reason that awakeners should learn how to control their powers the soonest they manifest to better protect themselves and everyone around them, the couple had no other choice but to let the training happen.
It was in one of these training sessions that calamity struck.
Bai Tingfeng, who had been using his awakened powers for an extended time, unwittingly triggered his berserk state. He went on a rampage and beat his grandfather in that state.
Luckily, when things were about to go bad, Rong Suyin, who happened to drop by, managed to quell the situation but with some sacrifices.
He suffered heavy injury from berserk Bai Tingfeng’s sword and also, one of his tamed beasts died trying to knock the kid unconscious.
That incident scarred Bai Tingfeng in the mind, and since then, he swore to never brandish his sword to another person.
"However, how am I supposed to protect my family if I keep myself stuck in that past?" Bai Tingfeng whispered as he looked at Archbishop Jiren who released his frightening powers.
The hot spring area became engulfed by a bitingly cold air and the mana started to react chaotically, pushing everything that it touched.
The trees broke like it was just a thin stick and the small house that is connected to the hot spring crumbled.
Shen Yuan, who is hovering above with his son in his arms, watches as his husband stands firmly despite the strong force.
This is the point where Bai Tingfeng needs to decide. Will he really kill Archbishop Jiren? Is he willing to use his full power?
At this moment, Bai Tingfeng remained unable to control the side effect of his Perpetual Light. The shadow of the white tiger inside him is still in the process of taming and he needs to toughen up his resolve if he wants to let it out.
"Papa..." Yanyan murmured. Worry is clearly etched in his face.
The kid couldn’t see his father clearly from a distance, but he could feel the seriousness of the situation.
Little did Shen Yuan know, Bai Tingfeng already had the resolve to break through.
He watched as Bai Tingfeng raised his sword with two hands.
The pure white aura that is originally on Bai Tingfeng’s sword spreads towards his entire body. It crawled and seeped into his skin and the next that appeared on his fair skin was black tiger stripes.
His golden pupils elongated into that of a tiger’s and his incisor teeth protruded forming a pair of fangs.
"So, you made your choice then," Shen Yuan whispered, his heart singing praises for his husband. Bai Tingfeng’s posture was different from the time they were sparring.
He exudes that confidence that isn’t anchored on blind faith or luck. It is solely out of bravery and the desire to protect.
The path to becoming stronger always starts with that single brave step into the unknown. And Bai Tingfeng took that step now.
"You and the Cardinals are no longer allowed to approach. Me, my husband, and my son! Now, die!" Bai Tingfeng screamed before his consciousness was eaten by his powers.
The alpha’s refined movement transformed into that of a beast and haphazardly ran toward Archbishop Jiren.
The terrorist’s body swelled to the point that it almost looked like a balloon and was on the verge of exploding when Bai Tingfeng swung his aura sword like it was just a thin stick.
The Perpetual Light erased everything that stood in its way, including the poor foxfire beasts and Archbishop Jiren.
Shen Yuan doesn’t mind because those three are basically immortals. As long as he is alive these foxfire beasts are also alive.
Right now, their consciousness must be back on his tails, together with the other two who are now resting.
What is worth worrying about is the terrorists.
The pathetic alpha was split into two and died right away. However, dead or alive, his innate mana is already set to explode.
"Li An!" Shen Yuan immediately called to warn the others. "Run back to the villa! That S-class bastard turned into a mana bomb. If you remain outside the protective talisman, you guys will be swept in it!"
His subordinates and the Bai family’s forces immediately moved away.
Thankfully their injured men are already sent inside or else they will be panicking like little chicks.
"Papa!" Yanyan screamed with tears in his eyes.
Things happened at a fast pace, and the little boy couldn’t completely process it. But the strong winds and the frightening light give him the feeling that something bad will happen.
Meanwhile, Shen Yuan remained composed, "Yanyan, you don’t need to worry about your Papa. That man is capable of erasing my flames in that state. A rampaging mana of this caliber is definitely not dangerous to your father."
Right, Shen Yuan understood Bai Tingfeng’s frenzied state thanks to the sparring they did that busy night.
When Bai Tingfeng entered this mindless state, he gained an overwhelming offensive power, and his movements became faster and more erratic—almost impossible for most people to predict.
This and the special attribute of his aura, the Perpetual Light makes him the best person to suppress the explosion.
"But—" Yanyan wanted to reason out with his Daddy for the first time.
However, before the kid could say something, his dear papa from the distance performed a miraculous act.