Shang Xin Ci and Xiao Die had been traveling on foot for an entire month.
Although both were mortals, they had remained cautious as they stepped into the dangerous Mu Bei mountain range. Yet, to their surprise, they hadn't encountered a single zombie along the way.
From there, their path took them to Shuang Jiang Mountain, and later to Xue Lei Mountain.
Xue Lei Mountain was home to the Zhao Clan, and thus not considered a wild region, as it was inhabited by humans. The two stayed there briefly before continuing on their journey.
They crossed Qian Ku Mountain, Ju Ren Mountain, Lu Zao Mountain—eventually passing through six of the great mountain ranges.
Throughout their trek, they only stopped at a few remote hamlets to rest and resupply. Despite being two lone women whose caravan had been destroyed, they still carried primeval stones, which made travel and trade manageable.
Thanks to Shang Xin Ci's wit, she had disguised herself with darker skin and adopted a more inconspicuous appearance as they pressed onward.
After five long, grueling months, the terrain began to change. As they neared Shang Liang Mountain, the roads widened, and more travelers could be seen along the path.
And finally—on this very day—Shang Liang Mountain rose into view in the distance.
"Phew… Is that Shang Liang Mountain?" Shang Xin Ci lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, gazing at the mountain ahead. She exhaled deeply, a breath of weariness and relief.
"Missy, we're almost there!" Xiao Die exclaimed with joy, her face lighting up as she clung to Shang Xin Ci's arm, bouncing with excitement.
A sparkle returned to Shang Xin Ci's eyes.
But then—like a sudden strike of lightning—her gaze froze on the massive gate at the entrance of Shang Clan City.
There, walking calmly into the city, was a familiar figure.
A young man with black hair and black eyes.
The very one she had thought about all these months.
But, she noticed something unexpected—the young man was wearing a bronze mask, its surface glinting faintly under the sunlight.
Yet even with his face hidden, she recognized him instantly.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
It's him…
Even with his features concealed, her instincts screamed the truth.
It was the same man who had descended from the sky and saved her life months ago—the one who had spoken those unforgettable words that still echoed in her heart.
As the young man passed through the gate, Shang Xin Ci's heart skipped a beat. Grabbing Xiao Die's hand tightly, she rushed forward toward the city entrance, joining the line of people waiting to enter.
...
Shang Yan Fei was sitting cross legged in the air, his whole body bathing in flames.
The flames were scarlet like blood and were burning silently in the dark void.
As the leader of Shang clan, he is occupied with clan affairs everyday and does not have much time to cultivate. Even so, with his domineering aptitude and comprehension, he was able to cultivate to rank five upper stage and was only a step away from peak stage.
Today's cultivation was about to end…
The scarlet flames slowly dispersed and shrunk, finally changing back to long crimson hair on Shang Yan Fei's head.
Without the illumination from fire, darkness spread, becoming the sole master of the area.
Suddenly! Shang Yan Fei opened his eyes, his pupils were dyed color of blood and his gaze shone like lightning as it pierced through the darkness.
"A new bloodline that originates from mine… how did this appear out of nowhere?"
Shang Yan Fei's thoughts stirred and immediately disappeared from within the darkness.
When he reappeared, he was already at the outer area of Shang clan city.
All kinds of noise entered his ears. There were various stalls located on both sides of the street. The people in the surrounding only saw a flash of bloody flame, then a black robed, crimson haired handsome man appeared in their midst.
"Whoa, scared the soul out of me!"
"Who is this man? He actually dares to use his Gu in Shang clan city?"
Many people cast bewildered gazes, only few recognized Shang Yan Fei but they were not sure.
Shang Yan Fei ignored these gazes and followed the bloodline reaction; his sharp senses landed on Shang Xin Ci.
Two girls stopped in front of a stall.
"Missy, this hairpin is really beautiful!" Xiao Die picked up a jade hairpin from the stall and matched it with Shang Xin Ci's beautiful hair.
Shang Xin Ci forced out a smile, her mood had been down since she couldn't find the young man.
Xiao Die was instead lively, fascinated by the flourishing scene in the city.
Suddenly, Shang Xin Ci felt something in her heart and turned around. Her gaze immediately landed on Shang Yan Fei.
The black robed, crimson haired Shang Yan Fei was very conspicuous in the crowd, like a crane in a flock of chickens.
However, what attracted Shang Xin Ci was not his appearance but rather a mysterious familial connection and calling from her bloodline.
Without any word being said, the moment Shang Xin Ci saw Shang Yan Fei, she knew this middle-aged man's identity.
He was her father!
Father… to Shang Xin Ci, this word was mysterious and distant, containing sorrow and sadness.
Since young, she had asked her mother countless times about her father, but her mother always remained silent. And now, she finally met her father.
"So this was the reason mother told me to go to Shang clan city before her death!" Realization dawned upon her and tears uncontrollably fell down her eyes.
The moment Shang Yan Fei saw Shang Xin Ci, he connected it to her mother and realized her identity.
Similar, they were really similar!
This child's gentle appearance was no different from hers!
Shang Yan Fei suddenly felt pain in his heart, he was vaguely able to see her again.
In that distant afternoon when spring rain was drizzling down, when willow trees were carefreely swaying beside the lotus pool; under a shabby hut, Shang clan's young master Shang Yan Fei met the young lady of Zhang Clan who was running from rain.
A meeting of a scholar and beauty. It was love at first sight, they poured their hearts out to each other and pledged to be married…
However, one could only be helpless in the affairs of the world. Power and beauty was just like fish and bear paw, who could have both?
The young Shang Yan Fei was someone with blazing fire in his heart, this fire was the natural ambition of men towards power and influence.
Ambition or love, duty or freedom, oppressing his enemies or his promise to the beauty; Shang Yan Fei chose the former in the end and abandoned the latter.
He later defeated his brothers and sisters, ascended to the position of Shang clan leader and sat on the glorious throne. He became a rank five Gu Master, married countless beauties and now had many sons and daughters. And because Zhang Clan and Shang Clan had been enemies for generations, he could no longer look for her.
One cannot control everything in the world.
Clan leader's identity became his symbol of success but also the shackles that binds him.
The king's every movement could bring about upheavals and was closely watched by everyone. As the clan leader of Shang clan, how could he let his love affair affect the clan?
All these years, he tried hard to convince himself and hide his guilt and worries deep within by using the reasons of righteousness and duty. He thought he had forgotten it all, but now when he saw Shang Xin Ci, those warm memories hidden deep within him instantly enveloped his soul like the sound of spring rain.
Right now, waves were surging in his heart!
The blood of kinship that is thicker than water had turned into a river; now, his guilt overflowed into this river and became a sea, instantly submerging him.
He took a light step and disappeared, reappearing in front of Shang Xin Ci the next moment.
Xiao Die gasped, the surrounding people all looked astonished and shocked.
But the two people involved did not sense anything.
"You… what is your name?" Shang Yan Fei opened his mouth with great effort, his voice carried a magnetic quality and was filled with strong warmth.
Shang Xin Ci did not reply.
Tears streamed down from her beautiful eyes.
She took a step back and tightly pursed her lips, she then firmly looked at Shang Yan Fei, her gaze carrying stubbornness…
It was this man who hurt her mother's heart.
It was this man who caused her to suffer discrimination and bullying since young.
It was this man who enchanted her mother, making her think about him even at death.
It was this man and yet he… he is… my father.
Her mood surged and raged, countless feelings mixed together to form a berserk whirlpool, threatening to swallow her mind.
She fainted.
"Missy!" Xiao Die who had been absorbed in Shang Yan Fei's aura, regained her senses and screamed.
However, Shang Yan Fei was a step faster and held Shang Xin Ci on his hands.
"Who dares to openly violate the city rules and use Gu, do you want to end up in prison?" A group of city guards sensed the abnormal change and came over, swearing.
"Ah, Lord clan leader!" Their expressions instantly changed the moment they saw Shang Yan Fei, and all of them kneeled down.
The whole street was in commotion.
"You… you are… Shang clan's…" Xiao Die stammered, and was speechless.
Shang Yan Fei grabbed Xiao Die's arm; a blood colored flame burst forth and the three disappeared.