The Wei Clan's carriages rolled through the moonlit forest, the wheels crunching over fallen leaves. The lanterns swayed gently with each bump in the road, casting soft halos of light.
But as they neared the gates of their estate, the light ahead was wrong — too bright, too wild.
Flames.
The front gates were blackened and half-collapsed. Smoke still rose from the ruins, curling into the night sky. The once-proud banners of white and light pink lay trampled in the mud, soaked in soot and blood.
Wei Xie jumped from the carriage before it even stopped, running into the courtyard. Wang San followed, his boots slipping on wet ash.
"Mother! Father!" Wei Liang's voice cracked as she stumbled forward, skirts dragging through the charred remains. Her knees buckled when she saw them — Mr. Wei and Mrs. Wei — lying side by side, their faces pale beneath the dust, their hands still almost touching.
Wang San froze, his childish smile gone. Slowly, he stepped toward them, the heat from the embers licking at his skin. He knelt beside Wei Liang, looking at her trembling hands.
"We… we weren't here…" his voice was hoarse, almost a whisper.
Wei liang rushed to forest crying both brothers rushed after her she sit under a tree Wang san said in Broken voice sister Wei liang in anger said san leave me alone go stay away from me wei xie angerly said go SAN rushed towards the clan and he suddenely flash back thought about her little sister he went to river and shouted very much
WEI liang after some time said wei xie san where is he xie told me and remebered that she told him to stay away from her get out she said xie lets find him
When they are founded san was fainted on ground his mouth spiting blood Liang shouted san they both rushed to him wak him up wei liang said san sorry i really orry san said siter u dont have to be lets had back
Wei Xie clenched his sword so tightly his knuckles turned white. "This wasn't an accident." His eyes scanned the scorch marks, the jagged cuts in the courtyard stones. "Someone wanted them gone."
From the shadows beyond the ruined walls, a faint metallic glint caught Wang Xiao's eye. She stayed back, her face unreadable beneath the hood, but her gaze was sharp. She already had a suspicion who had done this — and she would make sure they paid.
The night wind carried the smell of smoke and loss, wrapping around the surviving members of the Wei Clan like a shroud.