When she thought everything had settled, Ruoxue was suddenly dragged out from under the bed by Ruihua. The rage Ruihua had started with wasn't even close to what she felt now.
"You! You actually tried to steal from me?" Ruihua remarked.
Ruoxue didn't respond right away. Her chest was tight, not just from fear, but anger. She hadn't forgotten about Ruihua stealing her heels either.
"Hmph. You know what, Ruihua? I'm tired of always being treated like the little one in this family. I may not be the youngest, but you still act like I'm beneath you. You took the heels Mom just got me. How could you just take something that isn't yours?"
Ruihua's face twitched with a mix of shame and irritation, but she masked it with a cold stare. She raised her finger threateningly.
"If you talk to me like that again, I swear I'll—"
"You'll what? Kill me? Lock me up? Or just pretend I don't exist anymore?" Ruoxue cut her off, voice trembling with emotion. "I get it now. You're a coward."
That one word—"coward"—hit Ruihua like a slap in the face. Without thinking, she raised her hand and slap her sister across the cheek.
"Don't you ever call me that again. You're only thirteen. I'm eight years older than you!"
Ruoxue stood still, the sting on her cheek nothing compared to the hurt in her heart. Tears began to fall slowly from her eyes.
"I wish you weren't my sister… I wish you were dead."
She dropped the scroll she'd been holding, turned around, flung open the door, and left without looking back.
Ruihua stood frozen, the words repeating in her head. Her hands moved to her hair as she sat down on the bed, brushing it back in frustration. Tears slipped down her face, silent and raw.
A moment later, Meihua stepped in quietly. Her brown eyes glistened with guilt as she walked over and sat beside Ruihua. Gently, she placed her hand over Ruihua's.
"Sister Ruihua… we're really sorry. And Ruoxue didn't mean what she said."
Ruihua, still crying, managed a small nod. Meihua gave her a soft smile, then stood up and quietly walked out of the room.
---
Chen Clan
Wei and his elders had just returned to their clan.
Among all the families in Qianshi, the Chen clan was known as the most honorable and peaceful—though certainly not the strongest. That title now belonged to the Mo clan.
A time past, the Chen clan had been the most powerful, blessed with elite cultivators and an unmatched bloodline technique. But everything changed the day the Five River Sect launched a full assault on Qianshi, slaughtering many and leaving the city in ruins.
To save the city, the six great patriarchs of the six clans made a heartbreaking choice. They sacrificed themselves for their people.
Each clan offered up their most sacred techniques to mount a united front. Everyone except the Chen clan. Their technique was so rare, so mysterious, it had never been used or shared beyond the family. The other patriarchs, filled with jealousy, convinced Master Ling of the Chen clan to join the alliance. Together, they unleashed their combined power and wiped out the Five River Sect.
After the war, each clan reclaimed their techniques except the Chen clan. Somehow, their technique never returned. And ever since, the Chen family had slowly fallen, now ranking as the fifth weakest among the six major clans.
Suddenly, a guard rushed toward Wei with panic in his voice.
"Master Wei! Young Master Mu… he fainted during martial arts training with Grand Elder Lu!"
Wei's heart dropped. The moment the words sank in, he didn't hesitate, he charged forward, knocking the guard aside as he ran, panic surging through him.
Wei Chen rushed into the hall in a panic, completely unaware that this was all a setup. His mind was racing—until he stepped into the next hall and froze.
The entire room was filled with laughter and light.
Everyone in the family had gathered. The hall was decorated beautifully, warm lights and hanging lanterns swaying gently. Each person held a gift in their hands, smiles lighting up their faces.
Wei stopped. His eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he stood there like a man struck by lightning.
He had completely forgotten it was his birthday.
Standing at the center were his son Mu Chen, his wife Xueyin, and his father, Lu. All three of them were laughing with the others, their faces glowing with joy.
From the side, Tianyang clapped like he had known the whole time.
And he had—Xueyin had planned it all. She'd asked Tianyang and the three elders to take Wei out of the clan so they could prepare everything in secret.
Wei's emotions overflowed. A mix of happiness and something deeper welled up inside him. He lowered his head, overwhelmed, eyes wet.
"I'm really lucky… to have all of you."
"Aww, come here, love," Xueyin said with a soft smile, her arms already open.
The clan had around sixty members, but with twenty-five away on family business, thirty-five remained. And each one came forward to embrace Wei with love, warmth, and deep respect.
"Dad! Dad! I'm starving—let's eat! The pizza's ready!" Mu Chen called out, rubbing his stomach dramatically.
Laughter erupted around the hall as everyone started moving toward the dining area.
Wei smiled, lifting Mu Chen onto his shoulders.
"I love you, son."
"I love you too, Dad! One day, I'll be just like you. Strong and awesome!"
"If you want to be like me, then train hard—and grow up fast."
"Huh? Grow up fast? But I'm already thirteen!"
"Hahaha! Yeah, yeah, you're right. Alright, let's eat. I'm starving too."
They all sat down together, eating, laughing, sharing stories, and clinking glasses—just enjoying each other.
Two hours later, after the food and fun, the party finally wrapped up and everyone went their separate ways.
"Mu Chen, get ready for school tomorrow," Xueyin mumbled, her face flushed from the wine.
"But Mom, I don't wanna go back. They keep bullying me and calling me a weirdo…"
Wei, who was also clearly tipsy, staggered over with a crooked smile.
"My boy… don't let them walk all over you. Remember, you're from the Chen family."
"But Dad, there's this boy… umm, Qiyao. He's really strong and…"
Mu couldn't even finish. His parents were too drunk to hear anything he said.
"Ugh, seriously? You two are totally wasted. Just go rest."
He turned and walked away, leaving the two adults giggling at nothing before they eventually wandered off as well.
---
Later that night – 11 PM:
Mu was sound asleep when a faint noise stirred him awake. He blinked, his vision still blurry.
"What was that…?"
He sat up, groggy, and rubbed his eyes. His white, bushy hair flopped into his face, and before he could push it aside—
Bam! He smacked right into the wall.
"Ugh!"
Rubbing his forehead, he stumbled toward the door and cracked it open.
Outside, in the corridor, the head of a knight's statue had fallen to the ground. There was no one in sight. Just silence.
Mu frowned and picked up the armor's head, balancing it back onto the knight's body. It wasn't easy—he had to climb up on a nearby wooden chair—but he managed.
As he turned to go back into his room, a sudden flash of light hit his eyes. A torchlight, coming from the far corridor—the one leading to the room filled with ancient scrolls, books, and secrets of the Chen clan.
Mu paused, narrowing his eyes.
Someone was there.
A figure in a black cloak, holding a lantern, slowly entered the archive room.
Curiosity took over. Mu stepped forward, careful with each step, making sure his presence wasn't noticed.
The figure glanced back once. Mu quickly ducked behind the knight statue, heart racing. After a long pause, the cloaked man stepped inside.
Mu crept up and gently pushed open the door.
The room was empty.
"What...? I saw someone come in just now…" he muttered under his breath.
He searched around, flipping on the lights. All he saw were rows of scrolls and five large portraits—ancient paintings of Chen clan heroes, brave warriors of a long-gone era.
The middle picture was tilted.
Mu stepped closer. Something in his gut felt… off. That instinct again.
He reached for the painting, trying to adjust it. But as he touched it, it fell from the wall with a soft thud.
Behind it—was a hidden switch.
"Huh… What's this?"
Without thinking, he pressed it.
Click.
The wall split open in two, revealing a hidden tunnel. It was dim, but faint torchlight flickered from deep within.
Mu stood there for a moment, then took a breath and jumped in.
He slid down the tunnel. A few seconds later—BAM!—he hit the ground.
Wincing, he stood and looked ahead. A soft light glowed in the distance.
He walked forward, deeper into the tunnel.
With each step, the tunnel grew warmer… and stronger. The aura in that tunnel was quite powerful.