Bai Yunfei walked back to the inn in a daze. He returned to his room, slammed the door shut, and then there was complete silence.
Two hours later, he emerged again. No joy or sorrow was visible on his face, only a slight furrow in his brow. He walked out onto the street, wandering aimlessly for a full half hour. Then, he slipped into a narrow alley and vanished.
Approximately an hour later, Bai Yunfei was back in his inn room, shutting himself in once more.
Around six in the afternoon, a knock at the door roused Bai Yunfei from his meditation on the bed. Xiao Ning's voice inquired from outside.
He opened the door, exchanged a few words with Xiao Ning, and followed her out.
...
The overcast day meant dusk was already settling in, the sky tinged with gloom. Fewer pedestrians were on the street, and a cool breeze brushed against his face, carrying a hint of chill.
Before long, Xiao Ning led Bai Yunfei to a restaurant on West Street. They ascended to the second floor and pushed open the door to a private dining room. Inside sat Liu Meng and beside her, a slightly portly middle-aged man in his forties.
Seeing Bai Yunfei enter, Liu Meng's face lit up with delight. She stood and walked over to him, addressing the middle-aged man. "Father, this is Yunfei. He's a Soul Master at the mid-stage Soul Warrior level!"
With that, she gently took Bai Yunfei's hand and guided him to sit at the table. "Yunfei, this is my father, Liu Yan."
Bai Yunfei glanced at the man opposite him, who was scrutinizing him with an appraising gaze. He gave a slight nod, his tone respectful. "Uncle Liu."
Liu Yan withdrew his gaze and nodded faintly. "Hmm, not bad. His looks may not be outstanding, but he seems steady and dependable. That's rather rare."
After this perfunctory comment, he fell silent. He glanced at Liu Meng beside him, then instructed Xiao Ning standing nearby, "Bring the food up. I'm rather hungry after the journey."
Xiao Ning assented and left. An awkward silence descended upon the room.
Bai Yunfei lowered his head, seemingly at a loss for words. Liu Yan also looked down, appearing genuinely weary as he rested.
Liu Meng beside them seemed anxious. To ease the tension, she steered the conversation towards Liu Yan's business affairs. Bai Yunfei couldn't follow, only hearing talk of rising prices for goods in some city, or losses incurred because a shipment hadn't arrived on time.
Soon, dishes began arriving steadily. Gradually, their topic shifted to Liu Meng's mother. Liu Meng occasionally directed a remark at Bai Yunfei, trying to draw him in, but he seemed reluctant to speak much, offering only vague responses.
"By the way, Yunfei," Liu Meng said, noticing a flicker of something in his expression, "you've never really talked about your family. Where is your home? I haven't heard you mention your parents."
Bai Yunfei was silent for a moment. "I'm an orphan. I've followed my master since I was young."
"Oh... I see." Liu Meng seemed to realize she'd touched a sore spot and quickly changed the subject. "No wonder Yunfei is so capable! Training with your master from childhood must have been very demanding? You're really strong, Yunfei."
"Hmph. Reaching the mid-stage Soul Warrior level at eighteen does show more talent than the average Soul Master," Liu Yan interjected, frowning slightly at his daughter's praise. "But that's likely the extent of it..."
"Father, how can you say that?" Liu Meng sounded flustered. "Yunfei isn't just about his soul power level! He..."
"Are you going to start on about those so-called 'special soul artifacts' again?" Liu Yan cut her off, his brow creasing deeper. "I'm not a Soul Master, but dealing with the Zhang family of the Cold Ice Sect these years has broadened my horizons. There are no weapons as peculiar as you describe. Don't fabricate nonexistent 'special soul artifacts' just to elevate him!"
"No, Father, Yunfei really does have..."
"Even if he does, so what? They were probably just given to him by his master!" Liu Yan interrupted her again.
"Don't... please, stop talking..." Bai Yunfei kept his head bowed low. Though his expression remained calm, a silent plea echoed in his heart.
"But... Yunfei's master forged them! As his disciple, Yunfei must..." Liu Meng's voice, seemingly defending him, pierced Bai Yunfei's heart like a thousand sharp needles.
"Yunfei," Liu Meng's voice softened, her tone hopeful as she gently grasped his right hand with her soft, jade-like fingers. "You can forge soul artifacts like that too, can't you?"
Silence. Bai Yunfei closed his eyes. The faint warmth transmitted through her hand into his palm – warmth that should have felt sweet and comforting – instead seeped into his heart like icy daggers, freezing it solid...
He raised his head and met Liu Meng's expectant gaze. His pupils contracted slightly, but he didn't answer her question. Instead, he asked calmly, "Meng'er, do you remember the day you were captured by the Loong family? That time... was it you who told Loong Taojia my name?"
"Huh? Yunfei, why ask about that all of a sudden?" Liu Meng blinked, taken aback. She answered casually, "That day, when they grabbed me, I panicked and blurted out your name... said you'd come rescue me... Why? Are you upset about that?"
Bai Yunfei gave a light, almost imperceptible laugh and shook his head slightly. He abruptly looked up at Liu Yan sitting opposite him. "Uncle, Meng'er's birthday is in a few days. Could you let me celebrate it with her before you take her home?"
"What?" Liu Yan seemed momentarily stunned by the sudden question. He shot a puzzled glance at Liu Meng, thought for a moment, then frowned. "That won't do. I promised her mother I'd bring her back promptly. Besides..."
"Heh... Heheh... Hahaha..." Bai Yunfei's soft chuckle interrupted him. The sound started low but gradually shifted, morphing into a laugh thick with bitter mockery.
Still hunched over, his shoulders trembling, Bai Yunfei's laughter resonated with profound sorrow.
The warmth vanished abruptly from his hand as Liu Meng pulled hers away. She stood up and took two steps back, her expression complex as she stared at him. "You... you know?"
Bai Yunfei stopped laughing. He lifted his head, a strange, unreadable half-smile playing on his lips as he fixed his eyes on her. "Know what?"
"That I know this man isn't your father? That this entire meal is a trap? Or perhaps..." His voice turned icy, sharp as a blade, "that you approaching me from the start was all a lie?"
Before Liu Meng could even react, Bai Yunfei delivered the words that drained the color from her face.