Just thinking about how his fiancée—his child-bride, no less—was always trailing behind another guy, sweetly calling him "Brother Xiao Yan," made Hun Xiu inexplicably irritated.
By his guess, Gu Xun'er should be around the same age as him. But then he remembered she was sent to the Xiao family when she was just four years old—and got night-attacked?! That thought alone gave him a strange and sour feeling.
Ugh, the rage.
If she weren't his fiancée, he might not have cared at all. But now that there was a formal marriage contract, he felt like his head was glowing green—radiating that oh-so-healthy color of betrayal.
He could pretend nothing had happened before, so long as Gu Xun'er's future behavior didn't disappoint him.
Otherwise?
When he became strong enough, he would definitely slaughter the entire Gu Clan.
[Gu Xun'er blinked innocently: "What did I do? I'm just a two-year-old baby… I want to ride… big brother's… horsey… wheee!"]
Of course, Hun Xiu had no idea that the little girl he'd been playing with all day was actually his fiancée—his child-bride.
If he knew, he wouldn't be stuck in this ridiculous spiral of overthinking and wild imagination.
If he knew, he would've shouted, "What the hell?! I've been treating you like a little brother, and you're trying to become my wife?! I completely misjudged you! But hey, since you're my fiancée, doesn't that mean I can mess with you as much as I want?"
Then, without hesitation, he would've reached out and pinched her chubby cheeks without the slightest remorse—even if it made her cry, he wouldn't bother comforting her.
"Father, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now," Hun Xiu said respectfully, loosening the fists clenched beneath his sleeves.
"Mm. Go ahead."
As Hun Xiu walked out of the study, Hun Tiandi watched his son's retreating figure and muttered, "This little guy doesn't seem too happy or accepting of the marriage I arranged for him."
Then his tone shifted as he added, "But so what? This is for his own good—and for the future of the Hun Clan. He has no choice but to accept it."
"…Still, the fact that he's thinking for himself… He really is my son."
Back in his courtyard, Hun Xiu sat cross-legged on his bed, quietly murmuring, "No matter how monstrous one's talent is, without absolute power… you're just a pawn."
No one answered him. Nor did he expect one.
Without wasting any more time, he formed hand seals and entered into cultivation.
From the shadows, Hun San—who had been silently guarding Hun Xiu—watched him and muttered to himself, "Young Master Hun Xiu seems to have changed."
He could sense something different… but couldn't quite put it into words.
Two years later.
A lot had changed.
Hun Xiu had grown noticeably taller. Compared to kids his age, he stood nearly a full head above them.
Now nine years old, his face still held the innocence of youth, but he was clearly more mature than he had been two years ago.
And after two years of relentless hard work, he had risen from a Dou Ling to become a Dou Huang. Among the younger generation of the Hun Clan, if Hun Xiu claimed he was undefeated—who would dare challenge that?
He had gradually earned the recognition of the clan's elders and was now the undisputed number one candidate for the next clan leader.
After all, this world revered strength. Without power, even monstrous talent was meaningless.
Without it, you were nothing.
Back Mountain.
A white-clothed youth hovered mid-air, a pair of crimson wings unfurled behind him. In his hand, he held a three-foot wooden sword.
With his wings beating rhythmically, he floated calmly in the air, eyes closed and sword held firm.
Boom—
Suddenly, Hun Xiu's eyes snapped open. An explosive surge of Dou Qi erupted from his body, swirling like a storm around him.
"Myriad Swords Return to the Sect!"he whispered.
As his sword sliced through the air, the sky above responded. Countless phantom sword shadows materialized around him, all centered on his aura.
The entire sky trembled with the screech of swords. The dense sword aura flooded the heavens, terrifying and sharp.
"Go!"
Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!…
Thousands of sword shadows danced across the sky, carving arcs through the clouds before plunging down into the forest below.
BOOM!
Boom boom boom…
Trees collapsed en masse, dust rising in thick clouds. A shockwave rolled across the earth.
Hun Xiu sheathed his wooden sword, raised a palm, and brought it down toward the devastated land below.
"Executioner's Palm."he murmured.
Massive amounts of Dou Qi surged into his palm. A colossal five-fingered palm print formed above him—vast enough to blot out the sun.
It came crashing down upon the forest floor.
BOOM.
The already-ruined land below was obliterated further. The ground trembled violently.
When the dust finally settled, a massive handprint was etched into the earth—barren, lifeless. Not a single blade of grass remained.
The once-lush back mountain was now full of craters. What little greenery had survived was now wiped out—obliterated by Hun Xiu's sword and palm.
A technique once considered low-grade—only Yellow-rank—now had power rivaling Earth-rank abilities in Hun Xiu's hands.
The entire back mountain lay in ruin. To restore it to its former glory? That would take at least twenty years—and that was the most optimistic estimate.
He wasn't sure why, but ever since he started training here two years ago, the greenery had felt especially offensive to him—like it was mocking him.
So, for the past two years, he had destroyed every last patch of it.
And today, finally, he had wiped out all the green.
Landing back down, he stood at the peak, satisfied. His mood felt much lighter.
Looking up, he thought, Even the sky feels extra blue today… No, wait—it's green!
At that moment, a powerful aura surged from within him. He had the urge to cleave the sky with one sword strike, but then shook his head—he was still too weak for that.
As he reined in his aura, Hun San landed beside him and said respectfully,"Young Master, the Clan Leader has summoned you to the main hall."
"Father wants to see me?"
Hun Xiu turned toward the black-robed Hun San."Uncle San, do you know why?"
Hun San shook his head."No. But a guest has arrived… and they specifically asked for you."
"Oh?"Hun Xiu raised a brow."I see."
Scarlet wings burst from his back. In a flash, he soared off toward the main hall.