21. Yuan Xiao's Awakening

Although Yuan Xiao knew that Old Yu was not a good person—this man was addicted to alcohol, gambling, and women, and even relied on his mastery of lightness skill to brazenly molest women wherever he went—he had never held a favorable opinion of him. Yet, Yuan Xiao’s adoptive father had told him as a child that it was Old Yu and himself who had found Yuan Xiao, saving his life. In this way, Old Yu had saved him, and so, when Yuan Xiao heard his adoptive father losing his temper with Old Yu, he planned to intervene, only to be shaken by the words that followed.

A dog? He was a dog? Was there more to the story from back then?

He delayed his entrance, just as the old physician hurriedly exited. The physician recognized Yuan Xiao—after all, Yuan Xiao was among the most renowned heroes in the entire Azure Cloud Sect, bold in love and hate. They merely nodded in greeting, and the physician soon departed with his medicine chest. Inside, however, chaos erupted.

Huang Jinlong lay upon his bed, his upper body covered by a quilt, his lower half exposed, for blood had soiled the entire mattress. “So you’ve been wanting to tell Yuan Xiao about his origins for some time.”

“Me? Want to tell him?” Old Yu scoffed. “I’m afraid in this whole sect, only I know Yuan Xiao’s secret. His father, Yuan Ming, was your sworn brother. For the sake of the sect leader’s seat, you slaughtered all twenty-three members of the Yuan family, leaving only Yuan Xiao alive, and you kept him only because of his extraordinary talent, so he could serve you loyally…” Old Yu spoke helplessly.

Outside, Yuan Xiao trembled in fury upon hearing these words. He had always searched for the murderer who wiped out his family. His memories of his father were faint; he was only three when tragedy struck. All this time, he obeyed Huang Jinlong because the sect leader had promised to help him find his father’s killer.

Never had Yuan Xiao imagined that Huang Jinlong himself was the murderer. Pitifully, he had served his enemy as father for decades!

He clenched his fists, longing to rush in and confront him.

Inside, Huang Jinlong spoke again: “Have some tea. If I intended to kill you, I’d have done so long ago. This is just a jest between us.”

The steward’s forehead was drenched with sweat, his heart pounding, hands trembling as he took the tea. “Sect leader, please refrain from such jokes next time. I’m too old to withstand such shocks.”

As Old Yu drank the tea, his expression changed abruptly. His face turned blue and purple. “This is… Yellowstone Powder, Sect leader, you…”

Clutching his throat, he collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide as coins, staring fiercely at Huang Jinlong.

Huang Jinlong sighed. “You might have lived a few more years, but now you must go first. You know too much. I am left without a son, and I cannot allow anyone to ruin the bond between Yuan Xiao and myself!”

“You… will not die well!” Old Yu gasped, then fell lifeless, his legs twitching slightly.

Madam Huang emerged from a side room, saying, “It seems too much Yellowstone Powder was used. He died in less than three breaths.”

“How is your health, Madam?”

“I am perfectly fine. What do you plan to do with that fraud named Xie?” Madam Huang asked.

Huang Jinlong gritted his teeth. “That boy deceived me and made me suffer countless hardships. Very well… Immediately post a wanted notice, circulate it throughout Tongzhou! Announce that Xie Wuyi murdered my son and poisoned my steward, his crimes heinous and boundless!”

“Understood.”

“Furthermore, alive: five thousand taels silver reward; dead body: one thousand taels; head alone: five hundred taels! Unless I torment this man to death, my anger will not be appeased!” As he spoke, Huang Jinlong tried to stand, but the movement tore open his wounds, and he soiled himself, filling the room with stench.

Outside, Yuan Xiao heard everything clearly. He drew his sword, ready to storm in and kill Huang Jinlong, but a strong hand suddenly gripped his arm. Yuan Xiao turned, shocked to see Xie Wuyi.

“You…”

“Let’s talk somewhere else,” Xie Wuyi said.

The two moved to the small garden beside the sect leader’s mansion, beneath an artificial hill by a pond where several koi swam. Lotus flowers bloomed on the water, spirit herbs grew nearby—a perfect place for meditation.

Xie Wuyi said, “I’ve been here the whole time.”

“Are you insane? After putting Huang Jinlong in such a miserable state, aren’t you afraid he’ll capture and skin you alive?” Yuan Xiao said.

Xie Wuyi smiled faintly. Of course he feared death. That’s why, after the incident, he used the bronze mirror to return to the real world, bought some steamed buns, and then, seeing the time was right, returned—only to find himself back in the sect leader’s mansion.

He had intended to flee upon seeing Yuan Xiao, but then overheard the shocking revelations: Yuan Xiao’s parents and entire family were murdered by Huang Jinlong, who, to cover his tracks, killed Old Yu—the only outsider who knew the truth.

Since arriving in this world, Xie Wuyi had grown accustomed to witnessing murder. At first, he was terrified—having only nine years of compulsory education, he had never seen such brutality—but after seeing it so often, his resolve had hardened.

Beneath the artificial hill, Xie Wuyi said, “If I went outside, do you think I could survive? Right now, all the disciples of Azure Cloud Sect believe I’ve escaped, so they’re searching outside.”

“Exactly. I may be more capable than most, but even the best dog can’t withstand a pack of wolves. If I’m surrounded, how could I survive? Here, near the sect leader’s mansion, there’s hardly anyone around, so I’m relatively safe.” Xie Wuyi explained his reverse logic to Yuan Xiao.

Yuan Xiao admired Xie Wuyi. “My adoptive father—ugh, that old villain Jinlong—is the most powerful figure in Qingpi County. He possesses a Golden Core; even if I tried to challenge him, I might not win. Yet you, a rustic villager, have thrown him into such chaos. Regardless of your character, I must respect your skills.”

“Frankly, there are few people in Azure Cloud Sect I truly value, but you are one of them. Bold in love and hate, a true hero. Though we’ve dueled, your fighting is honorable, and I greatly admire it.” Xie Wuyi thought to himself that since Yuan Xiao praised him, he ought to return the compliment.

Who knows where the bronze mirror might send him next?

The mirror’s rule was: the place where he left last would, upon return, send him within five hundred meters of that spot. If he landed on a roof or indoors, fine; but if he accidentally appeared amidst a crowd, he’d be doomed.

Xie Wuyi had no intention to risk the mirror again. The wisest course was to leave Azure Cloud Sect, for Huang Jinlong already knew his identity and the location of Wildman Village. He must not let the sect’s disciples reach Wildman Village, or all its hundred inhabitants would perish.

Xie Wuyi couldn’t bear to be the cause of such tragedy. Moreover, Song Zhong and Song Xiao, the two brothers who taught him martial arts, were half his masters. He couldn’t let them fall into danger.

Thus, he needed Yuan Xiao’s help to escape. Yuan Xiao’s situation wasn’t much better—though Huang Jinlong didn’t suspect him yet, if suspicion arose, his own fate would be sealed.

For Xie Wuyi to retreat safely, Yuan Xiao’s assistance was indispensable; otherwise, with all the disciples hating him, escape was impossible.

Of course, as Xie Wuyi saw it, this wasn’t fleeing—it was a tactical withdrawal. A wise man avoids immediate loss; only fools charge recklessly.

Everyone must die, but whether that death is meaningful or pointless makes all the difference.

Yuan Xiao said, “It’s thanks to your commotion, Brother Wuyi, that I’ve learned the truth. Otherwise, I’d have served my father’s killer as a son my whole life. My father would surely die a second death in the underworld out of rage. I will help you, but leaving Azure Cloud Sect is arduous and fraught with danger—I cannot guarantee we’ll succeed.”