Star Luo Empire, Norse Province, Suo Village.
Suo Village was usually filled with an incomparably peaceful atmosphere. Its people were harmonious, kind, friendly, and gentle, while the scenery was exceptionally beautiful. Such a place could almost be described as a paradise.
But Suo Village had lost its usual tranquility that night. Thick smoke rose everywhere, flames flared in all directions, and countless desperate pleas and cries of pain echoed through the area. Yet the noisiest of all were the cloaked madmen in dark attire, slaughtering people without restraint.
In a corner of Suo Village, a middle-aged man and a younger woman looked reluctantly at the black-haired little boy before them.
"Xiao Ying, listen carefully. In a moment, leave through this tunnel. Once you get out, head north without looking back. Run as far away as you can, and never come back!"
The middle-aged man pointed at the extremely well-hidden tunnel beside him. His tone was exceptionally stern and brooked no argument, yet it held even more endless worry and reluctance.
"Then what about you, Father and Mother?" The black-haired boy's voice choked with sobs, making the middle-aged woman beside him, his mother, burst into tears.
The woman shook her head and fiercely pulled the little boy into her arms. Three breaths later—
"Xiao Ying, I'm sorry. Mother will always love you. Listen to your father. Run far away, find somewhere peaceful to live, and never come back."
Compared to the man, the woman was more decisive and resolute. She shoved the little boy into the tunnel, then closed the hidden cover. In an instant, darkness swallowed him.
In the darkness, the little boy rubbed his aching back from the fall, but he had no time to care about that. From within the tunnel, he could faintly hear his parents' voices—or rather, the final cries of their lives. He felt his way to the ladder, climbed up, and quietly opened a crack to look outside.
That single glance became a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life. Not far away lay two figures he knew all too well. Yes, they were his parents. Blood flowed from their corpses, dyeing a large patch of ground red.
The two corpses faced in his direction. The little boy clearly saw the smiles on his parents' lips and the lingering worry between their brows before they died. His nose stung, and tears fell uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes. But he did not rush out. Instead, he kept recalling what his parents had told him.
One of the people standing beside the corpses suddenly asked, "Clan Head, are these two the last people in this village?"
Hearing this, a burly man raised his foot and crushed the heads of the two corpses before him. Then he removed his cloak and said, "Are you sure? No one else can know about this extermination operation. If you're certain, bring those evil Spirit Masters over and kill them. Then make it look like evil Spirit Masters slaughtered the village, while our Xiao Clan came to the rescue—but arrived too late."
After the burly man spoke, another person ran over from afar, carrying a blade in his arms as he shouted, "Clan Head, I found the blade you wanted!"
The little boy in the tunnel witnessed every scene. His eyes were bloodshot. He had watched his parents die with his own eyes, and their corpses had even had their heads crushed beneath someone's feet. Endless hatred instantly rose in his heart, but he still restrained himself desperately. His fists clenched so tightly that blood streamed through his fingers, yet he did not notice.
He recognized the blade in the burly man's hands. It was Suo Village's ancestral blade, passed down through generations—Autumn Water!
The man took the blade and drew it. After swinging it twice, he sneered disdainfully, "This is the legendary divine blade of Suo Village? Its quality is decent enough, but for Spirit Masters like us, it's still utter trash. What a waste of my effort planning this extermination operation."
Then the burly man snapped the blade in his hand and casually tossed it onto the ground.
"Keep searching. This trip cannot end like this. Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find that legendary divine blade for me."
"Yes, Clan Head." With that, the group scattered once more.
At that moment, the little boy knew he could not stay any longer. Otherwise, he would lose his chance to escape.
Suddenly, the dark clouds dispersed. Under the moonlight, the little boy finally saw the burly man's face clearly. He knew who he was. In the end, he took one deep look at the burly man, then slipped away along the path through the darkness.
Six years later.
At the gates of Spirit City.
"Feng Xiao, are you really leaving?" Bibi Dong looked at Feng Xiao before her, her face full of concern.
However, Feng Xiao merely smiled faintly. "Master, don't worry. I'm just going out for a look around, and while I'm at it, I'll search the continent for companions suited to me. It'll be one year at the least, two or three at most. Once I find the companions I have in mind, I'll return."
"Should I send someone with you?" Bibi Dong truly could not rest easy letting Feng Xiao travel alone.
"Don't worry, Master. One of my old subordinates has already arrived on the continent. He'll be here soon. With him beside me, there's no need to worry about safety."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong finally relaxed somewhat. "In that case, I won't say anything more. But is it really all right not to tell Nana?"
Feng Xiao shook his head. "Better not. If I tell her, she'll either refuse to let me leave no matter what, or she'll follow me. As the Holy Maiden, she should stay at Spirit Hall."
"Fine, then. Take good care of yourself."
"Mm."
Suddenly, a mournful flute melody drifted from the bamboo forest not far ahead. The melody gradually drew nearer, accompanied by a gust carrying the shadow of a golden dragon. A black-haired swordsman, golden strands woven through his hair, quietly appeared.
The swordsman's face bore endless traces of hardship. His beard was unkempt, and his eyes held an indescribable depth. A scar, weathered by time, rested across the bridge of his nose.
At his waist hung a long blade with a red hilt and golden sheath. With slow, steady steps, he gradually approached Feng Xiao.
"Follow the gale onward, but beware what lies behind!"
"I'm late."
That was right. This man was the guard assigned by the system for this journey, a level-one-hundred god-tier powerhouse—the Dragon Venerable, Yasuo!
Looking at the ridiculously handsome man before him, Feng Xiao nodded faintly. "You're not late. Your timing is perfect."
At that moment, a black-haired youth walked out of Spirit City. He was Suo Ying. He raised his head and looked toward the sky, silently thinking, Six years... Father, Mother, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I'm going home. Going back... to take revenge!
"Suo Ying, over here!"
Feng Xiao called to Suo Ying, then turned to Bibi Dong. "Master, everyone is here. We'll be leaving now."
Bibi Dong froze. She had thought Feng Xiao was going alone, but she had not expected there to be another person. Still, she did not ask further. She merely looked silently at Feng Xiao and said, "Be careful in everything. Nana and I will wait for you to come home."
"Alright!"
When the first rays of dawn shone upon the earth, Feng Xiao and his group of three set out on their journey.
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