Volume One: The Imperial Capital's Intrigues and Deceptions, The Curtain Falls

Thus, the turmoil between the Si Nan Family and Cleon Family came to a complete end.

Si Nan Changzheng and dozens of high-ranking officials died in battle at the palace. The Patriarch Si Nan Zheng and nearly a thousand clansmen disappeared without a trace. The Si Nan Main Family was destroyed, leaving only a field of fine sand. Including Si Nan Xing, Si Nan Ganming, and the two sisters, the number of survivors was less than a hundred. Moreover, none of these survivors remembered what happened when the Cleon Family attacked. They only remembered that golden light emanated from the central garden, and when they came to their senses, several hours had passed.

The Cleon Family suffered an even worse fate. Victor, Don, the three young masters, the higher-ups, and everyone involved in the attack on the Si Nan Family all disappeared, leaving no trace of their bodies, just like the Si Nan Family. Except for a few lower-ranking members who remained in the Cleon family compound, the entire Cleon clan was wiped out.

Two super families that had been locked in a stalemate for a thousand years were wiped out in a single day.

No one knew of the existence of the Huang Huo; everyone assumed that the two families had used all their trump cards and would ultimately perish together.

Although the situation is relatively calm at present, it is not hard to imagine that the power structure in the capital will undergo a major reshuffle before long. With the downfall of the two major families, the imperial palace, which was controlled by the two families, will become an empty shell, and a new leader will be needed to take charge of everything.

The secondary forces, which had been suppressed by the two major families, quickly recovered from the chaos and began to prepare for war, bracing for the inevitable storm and rebuilding a new order. From now on, the capital and the entire country will not be peaceful. After fierce competition, it remains to be seen who will emerge as the ultimate winner.

As for what exactly happened at the Si Nan Main Family that day, no one knows. Those who experienced it either had no memory of it or died. In the end, the existence of the Gleaming Gold South-Pointing Compass was never revealed.

Because Huang Huo deliberately silenced everyone who knew of his and Gleaming Gold South-Pointing Compass's existence.

Si Nan Ganming is carving characters.

Holding an awl and chisel, he carved on a stone tablet with clumsy technique. His hands were already wrapped in several pieces of gauze, but he didn't care at all.

This is a tombstone, which he carved himself for a girl who died saving him.

He was indeed "dead" that day after being ambushed by Si Nan Cheng; his body was so badly damaged that there was no way to save him.

Unless it's a miracle.

That's an advanced version of Si Nan Ganming's "Damage Transfer." When the original body is not long after death, it will automatically transfer all the damage to someone else through physical contact—someone who loves him wholeheartedly, exchanging the other person's death for their own life.

A life for a life.

Thus, Gu Rou died, and Si Nan Ganming's injuries had exceeded the limits of her super-fast self-healing.

That shy and adorable subordinate has faded away.

In return, it cost the life of a foolish loser.

Why didn't he realize Si Nan Cheng's true nature sooner? Why did he rashly stay at the main family compound to confront Si Nan Cheng? Why was he still careless during the battle?

When everything is beyond repair, all that remains to be seen is a heart full of resentment and tears of regret.

However, there's no time to even wallow in grief now.

"Third brother! Come here quickly, there's still a lot to do!"

"Oh..."

Si Nan Xing over and called out to Si Nan Ganming simply responded without stopping what he was doing.

"Was this carved for that clingy guard?"

"Yes..."

"... Third brother, I know you're heartbroken, but we don't have the time to mourn just one person. The Si Nan Family is already in such a state... Sooner or later, countless enemies from the past will come knocking. We must act quickly."

Si Nan Ganming looked up at his elder brother for the first time.

Si Nan Xing's usually mature and handsome face was dull and lifeless, with deep shadows under his eyes and several wrinkles on his forehead, as if he had aged ten years overnight. It was clear how much this incident had affected him. He had been overworked these past few days. With the Patriarch and almost all the high-ranking members either dead, injured, or missing, he had to suppress his grief and step forward to take charge of the situation.

Si Nan Ganming had already told him about Si Nan Cheng, and he had also told Si Nan Ganming about what had happened in the palace. Both of them were shocked by the information the other had brought. Everything had happened too suddenly and ended too quickly, leaving no time to catch their breath.

"I'm sorry, brother, I know this isn't the time to let personal feelings cloud my judgment, but... this is my only insistence. I want to at least erect a tombstone for her, so please allow me this stubbornness, okay?"

"... If you've completed all the tasks assigned to you, it's fine to wait for you. You have one hour, then come to the villa to meet me."

"Clear."

Then, Si Nan Xing turned and left, while Si Nan Ganming continued with his work.

"Big Brother!" Si Nan Ganming suddenly called out.

"Um?"

"... Thank you."

"... Um."

How many years ago was the last time the two brothers had a conversation like this?

Perhaps, it never has.

The villa was one of the very few buildings that remained relatively intact. Inside a small side room, the two sisters, Si Nan Ying and Si Nan Xiao, were cleaning.

The side rooms were filled with rubble and needed to be cleared out as soon as possible. Normally, this kind of work would be done by servants, but with fewer than a hundred survivors, they had to do it themselves.

Si Nan Ying swept up the pebbles and clods of dirt on the ground, Si Nan Xiao was responsible for cleaning the dust and stains off the tables and chairs. One of them carried a broom and dustpan, while the other carried a rag and a bucket. They were covered in dust, and their purple hair was greasy. Their usual elegant demeanor as a lady from a respectable family was nowhere to be seen.

"..."

Both remained silent, engrossed in their work. In truth, Si Nan Xiao could have summoned characters from the book to help with the cleanup, Si Nan Ying could have used explosives to clear the rocks, but they were solely focused on repeating the manual labor. The tragic end of their family had been too much for them; for the past two days, they had been Si Nan Xing, using the excessive workload to numb themselves and prevent themselves from being consumed by grief.

Especially Si Nan Ying.

In this catastrophe, Elder Hong, Si Nan Yuan disappeared, and her guards—who were both her subordinates and friends— Rui Feng, Rui Xin, Lin Bing, Li Cha, Mo Xiao Hong...

Not a single one left.

Those closest to her left her just like that.

There was no warning, no farewell, and no one even knew how they died.

That's terrible.

Because it happened so suddenly, she didn't even feel sadness for the first two days, just helping to clean up the mess in a daze. After that period of confusion, the sadness gradually welled up.

Grandpa Hong's furious scolding, Si Nan Yuan's stern gentleness, and Rui Xin and the others' cheerful laughter... things that I used to take for granted are gone forever.

You only realize the value of something after you've lost it; that's the gist of it.

Without Xiao Ye's company, she probably would have gone crazy.

Xiao Ye...

Now that the Si Nan Family has been destroyed, what choice will you make regarding staying or leaving?

"Then, let's begin discussing our future path."

Si Nan Xing said this.

In the small, clean room, the four siblings sat in a circle. Only Si Nan Xing, Si Nan Ganming, Si Nan Ying, and Si Nan Xiao were present.

They are now the new leaders of the family.

Just hours earlier in the night--

I was assigned to a dilapidated little room on the edge of the main house; this will be my temporary residence for the next few days. With the Si Nan Main Family reduced to sand, being assigned a room at all is already a blessing.

It was past midnight, but I had no desire to sleep. I was even dressed in my battle gear. I sat quietly on the edge of the bed, looking at the Three Moons outside the window.

Haoyue went back to the Tartaglia Family after that, saying she would contact me later. I wonder how she is doing now?

"You did keep your promise."

The sound was hoarse, reminiscent of an old, worn-out radio.

A tall, silver-haired middle-aged man appeared outside my window.

Although he looks completely different from when we last met, this is definitely him, no doubt about it.

"You've come..."

I gently grasped the Charging Blade hidden under the blanket.

"Don't be so tense," the man shrugged. "I'm not here to fight, I'm here to discuss something with you."

"... I don't want to have anything to do with a monster like you."

I remain vigilant in the slightest.

"Don't want to? Heh, you should know I can answer all your questions!"

His sinister eyes were fixed on me, his gaze sharp as lightning, making me feel extremely uncomfortable.

"You don't want to know about your supernatural abilities, the Blood Fiend, the World Crossing Gate, or our 'organization'?"

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Three chapters completed as promised, oh ho ho ho ho ho!

Finally, I shamefully beg for a Monthly Votes ~