Crash!! A loud bang erupted at the top of the mountain as an avalanche began. The remaining contestants were swallowed by the snow, unable to dig themselves out.
"The lightning has actually begun to strike?" Wu Qiong was startled when a deafening thunderclap tore through the stone cave, leaving behind a crater crackling with lightning.
"The mountain was constructed in this very way, so it must be brought down in the same manner. However, the force is simply too unreal. Is it because of the completion?"
Across the cold cave stood a small pillar with something resting on top of it.
Wu Qiong's gaze darted everywhere as he tried to think. "Someone is coming. I can sense that same familiar dark aura permeating the air."
He instinctively looked down and saw that the paper had already been burned to ashes.
"He is not here. How rude of you." Xuan Ren snickered, tapping his head a couple of times with his closed fan. Once again, he noticed the small pillar across the room with something peculiar resting atop it. He slowly walked forward, step by step, stopping just before a certain area. His gaze lowered to the floor.
"Oh, a trap?" He then looked up as a massive bolt of lightning struck him instantly.
Back at the village, the clan leader stood by the square window, his thoughts drifting.
"Useless son. You died to such a person? It seems the competition is nearing its end. Both Yin Ren and Xuan Ren are currently at the summit. This is strange—normally, they would never venture so far. This means someone has garnered their attention to the extent of becoming their enemy." His gaze sharpened as he continued.
"He is in possession of the paper! It is quite strange. I was acquainted with Bai Feng, and thus the Five Prodigies were well acquainted with one another, especially on Bai Sheng's side. This was due to our friendly relationship with the Bai Clan.
Thus, the Five Prodigies come from different clans. As for Yin Ren and Xuan Ren, their story is rather complex. They are formally known as the Twin Virtuosos. Their talent far surpasses even mine. I can only match one of them individually; however, when they work together, their talents complement each other perfectly.
Xuan Ren is from the Xuan Clan. He cultivates the Trickster Path, a hereditary path carried within the Xuan bloodline. He also possesses the ability to manipulate phantoms. Yin Ren cultivates the split heaven path, a mysterious path from the former Yin Clan before it was… annihilated by Yin Ren himself. The split path emphasizes on sharpness, and swift attacks carried by tremendous agility. Although there are different versions of the split path, not much is known about them to lower ranked cultivators—especially not this one.
Both are approximately the same rank of expertise, being rank 3
Not much is known about his past beyond the fact that he joined Xuan Ren based on a mutually beneficial relationship.
When Bai Feng was still alive—or rather, toward the end of his life—there was an encounter between him and the Twin Virtuosos."
A few years ago, far in the distance within the Bai Clan, a thunderous roar echoed through a rainstorm. In the main hall, someone lay asleep. He had youthful features, but at that moment his entire face was twisted with terror. His body dripped with sweat, his hands trembling violently. Within his mind, he was trapped in a nightmare—his first in years. Yet this one was different. It was not merely a nightmare, but something that completely paralyzed the body and left it in shock.
Bai Sheng could not sleep. As he walked casually down the hallway, he heard strange sounds coming from Bai Feng's room. Although he had been explicitly warned not to enter, he could not ignore it—what if his master was in danger?
Bai Sheng hurriedly pushed the door open, his breathing ragged. He saw Bai Feng's entire body trembling. Foam formed at the corners of his mouth, and the veins on his neck bulged like terrifying spider webs.
"'Master! What has happened to you?"
Bai Sheng shook Bai Feng's body, trying to wake him, but it was futile. He was completely entranced in whatever was unfolding within his mind.
Bai Sheng began crying profusely as he shouted for help, but everyone else was asleep. It seemed the room had a mechanism that blocked sound. Bai Sheng now understood why Bai Feng had told him not to enter—he had set up many precautions because of this.
Hours passed, and silence gradually took over. Bai Sheng eventually fell asleep with his arms resting on the edge of the bed.
Night came to an end as the sun rose beautifully over the horizon. Bai Sheng heard a voice ring in his ears.
"'Did I scare you? I'm sorry."
Bai Feng reassured him, then added,
"I did not want you to see this side of me. I have been having nightmares, and yesterday's was particularly intense. However, I am fine now. There is no need to worry."
"Bai Sheng's eyes welled with tears. 'I was worried. I—I thought you were going to die."
Bai Feng saw the fear in his disciple's eyes and reassured him again, patting his shoulder.
"'Do not worry. I would not die so easily—you know your master!" Bai Feng smiled as he pushed aside the blanket and stood up.
"'Master, what did you see?"
For a brief moment, Bai Feng concealed the flash of light in his eyes. Turning his back to Bai Sheng, he replied solemnly.
"'Bai Sheng, this world is vast. There are things far beyond our understanding. Sometimes the world gives you a glimpse of what you have hidden in your heart, only for that vision to shatter because we are too insignificant in the grand scheme of things."
"Bai Sheng immediately realized that his master was intentionally withholding the truth, disguising it in a sequence of words. He had never seen his master so terrified before. Although Bai Feng tried to hide it, his hands were clasped behind his back.
Bai Sheng clenched his teeth, knowing that Bai Feng was gripping his left wrist, which was still trembling.
However, he let it go. The emotion that surpassed his worry was helplessness. He instinctively understood how horrifying the experience must have been for Bai Feng to act so strangely.
Today was a special day—the day representatives from each clan gathered at the Bai Clan.
Bai Feng was walking alone along the street when sudden dizziness struck him, triggered by the constant loud noises and a psychological response. He stepped into a dark alley and leaned against the wall, pressing his open hand to his face as if checking his condition. Sometimes dissociation caused a person to doubt whether they were truly alive.
After a few moments, Bai Feng heard splashes on the ground as footsteps trampled through puddles.
"Bai Feng, isn't it time for you to die?"
"That's right, that's right. If we kill you, who will be left to guard the Bai Clan?"
Four assassins dressed in black attire and masks stood before him. One wielded a chain with a scythe attached to its end. He swung it toward Bai Feng, but Bai Feng remained unfazed—or rather, he was terrifyingly irritated. Bai Feng's reputation, both within the clan and throughout the region, was that of a calm and collected individual with an elegant demeanor. Ironically, this attracted those who sought to harm him, mistaking it for weakness. Now, however, they saw his face twisted with irritation. The weapon that was about to strike him halted midair and shattered into pieces.
Bai Feng waved his sleeve coldly.
"Get lost"
After a while, a figure emerged from the shadows of the alley. He stared directly at the sun for a moment, and the faint blood on his face glimmered with a red sheen. Taking out a cloth, he elegantly dabbed at his face.
He sighed and murmured,
"'No matter how beautiful the light, it is swallowed by darkness. Within the darkness lies an obscured monster, unknowable to humanity. It is formless yet targets your fear. It is impersonal yet feels as though it will stop at nothing to take everything you have…"
He gazed toward Bai Sheng in the distance and waved, an invaluable smile painted across his face.
Beside him, two figures stepped forward. One wore black attire and had youthful features, with a slit in his eyebrow and eyes filled with optimism. The other smiled gently with his hands clasped behind his back. His most distinctive feature was his eyes. Even from a distance, one could sense from the way he observed the world that he must be… blind. As he drew closer, Bai Feng felt a chilling sensation seep into his heart. Around him, a strange aura seemed to permeate the air. In the middle of it all, a young Bai Sheng conversed with them, showing them around the Bai Clan.
Bai Feng concealed his suspicion and waved back with a smile.
It was noon. Many officials had gathered in the Bai Clan memorial hall. The current Bai Clan Leader, Yun Bai Shen, had passed away, and the political situation was as follows.
There were four major clans. One was the Tian Clan, the strongest at present. Their representative was Shen Tong, while the clan leader was Tian Zifeng. He had sent Shen Tong to the Bai Clan under the guise of paying respects to Yun Bai Shen's death. However, his true motive was to confirm that Yun Bai Shen was truly dead and to gather intelligence.
The second was Yin Ren of the Yin clan
The third Xuan Ren of the Xuan clan
And the Fourth was the Bai clan themselves.
"The Bai Clan was currently in a difficult position. They could not conceal the fact that their clan leader had passed away. Thus, they had no choice but to accept the arrival of three representatives to pay their respects, regardless of hidden motives.
Refusing them would only provoke further schemes. Even so, they could not prevent everything. Earlier, several assassins had been sent to kill Bai Feng. A few more had followed, but they were swiftly dealt with.
"To think he truly passed away. Yun Bai Shen was the face of the Bai Clan and brought it to the height of its glory."
Xuan Ren was thirteen at the time. A few tears formed in his eyes as he spoke.
The Bai Clan elders clenched their teeth at the sight.
"This bastardly son—how dare he casually make a fool of us?"
Whether Xuan Ren was acting or not made no difference. They could not suddenly point fingers and accuse him. First, they were in the memorial hall and had to follow proper procedure without letting their emotions take over—it would be disrespectful. Second, their suspicions about Xuan Ren's motives were merely observational; they had no proof of wrongdoing. Third, keeping the other clans at bay was their priority while they recovered internally.
Yin Ren was nowhere to be seen. Bai Feng stood silently, his thoughts drifting. He noticed Yin Ren's absence when no one else did. Yin Ren's background was rather special. Most people present were already aware of his blindness. They did not take him seriously and occasionally spoke behind his back.
He was currently walking slowly along the street.
Though it was crowded, people avoided him, giving him space—not out of kindness, but because they looked down on him. Often, small acts of kindness were merely ways to feed one's ego and satisfy the illusion of generosity. Rarely did they stop to regard someone as an equal. Some stared and whispered.
"That Yin Ren from the Yin Clan is truly pitiful. So young, yet he has lost his vision. He must be weak; perhaps the clan sent him merely as an observer."
Another woman laughed and nudged her friend.
"An observer, you say? How rude of you."
"I mean, look at him. I could probably hit him right now, and he wouldn't see it coming. Why did the Yin Clan send such a useless person? Do they not fear damaging their reputation?"
Yin Ren had an indifferent exterior, there were no thoughts drifting through his mind either. This was strange, on the surface, he was simply a blind boy walking along. He appeared vulnerable.
Coincidentally, a rock flew toward him, aimed at the back of his head. Though he heard it, he made no movement.
Just before impact, a figure leaped forward, sleeves fluttering in the wind, and destroyed the object midair. He waved his sleeve again, this time gently striking the person who had thrown it. The man was sent flying backward, colliding with a pillar across the street.
"Are you alright?"
Bai Feng asked with a gentle smile. He did not treat Yin Ren any differently from anyone else; in his eyes, he was an equal. He also noticed that the strange aura he had felt earlier was gone. Perhaps it had only been a side effect of his nightmares.
Yin Ren immediately recognized Bai Feng's character. He smiled and said,
"Thank you. You must be the famous Bai Feng I've heard of."
Bai Feng's heart stirred at his smile. It was gentle and sincere. One would never guess that this Yin ren had the capacity to commit innumerable atrocities.