Master Bai

On a bitter winter night,

a blaze consumed generations of hard work in Black Mountain Town.

Amid the flames that soared into the sky, two frail figures huddled together.

Smoke Fiend's era had ended.

But another legend had begun.

When Little White Tiger and Old Ninth regained consciousness and reached the outskirts of Black Mountain Town,

Third Uncle held Xiao Fei's head in his arms, staring numbly at them.

Only when Earthworm softly called, "Third Uncle,"

"Waaah!"

did Third Uncle lose all control at the sight of his family and burst into sobs.

Old Ninth practically stumbled and crawled over to Xiao Fei. Blood had flowed from all seven of his facial orifices, but a smile rested on his lips. He had passed peacefully.

"F-Fei..."

Little White Tiger gently shook Xiao Fei.

"Where are his hands? His legs?"

Old Ninth felt Xiao Fei's severed limbs and roared the question.

Whoosh.

Everyone dropped to their knees before Xiao Fei, tears pouring down their faces.

He could have survived. He needn't even have become involved in the city's disputes.

For Earthworm, he had willingly accepted Little White Tiger's mission.

For his family, he had willingly faced death.

A man like him was utterly wicked, yet utterly true to himself.

Third Uncle pulled a bloodstained phone from his pocket and played Xiao Fei's final words.

On the screen, Xiao Fei lay nestled in Third Uncle's arms, coughing up blood again and again.

"Tiezi... I... I probably won't last until... you get back."

"So... I won't get to... say goodbye in person..."

"If I saw you guys... I wouldn't want to die. Fuck."

"Don't rush to avenge me... I... didn't kill the Hua Family's child... Nalan was behind it... pulling the strings."

"Don't go into the city... You're too straightforward. Those city people are too... treacherous. You can't beat them at their own game... Wait... until you're strong enough... then avenge me."

"Don't... act rashly. Don't... don't be sad. Keep your heads down. Stay alive. I don't want... to see you down there too soon, all right?"

"Bury me... with my brother. I'm... I'm going now. Don't fucking cry. I wanted to do something big with you guys... I lost. I accept it. I'm going. Take care of my family..."

Watching Xiao Fei's head slowly droop, Old Ninth could hold back no longer and threw his head back with a howl.

"Grab your weapons. Back to the city!"

Little White Tiger roared, "Avenge him!"

"Avenge him!"

"Avenge him!"

If they had to swallow even their brother's brutal death, what was the point of living?

Xiao Fei wasn't merely a hired gun they had employed. He was their brother.

They rose, murderous intent filling their eyes, and strode toward the city without hesitation.

But a figure blocked their path.

Third Uncle spread his arms, his small frame barring Little White Tiger's way as tears streamed down his face.

"Xiao Fei said you weren't to go into the city for revenge. If you want to go, you'll have to step over my corpse."

Through the darkness, Black Mountain Town's old man slowly approached with his cane.

Hundreds of townspeople from Black Mountain Town followed him, tears on every face.

Xiao Fei had been Black Mountain Town's hope, and he had been their family.

Their hatred for the city was no less than Little White Tiger's.

Every pair of eyes held restraint and resolve.

"Hold the funeral first."

"Xiao Fei's death was his fate. No one is to blame. Son, weakness is the original sin. Remember how you feel today. Let this humiliation spur you on. You still have a long road ahead."

Grief-stricken, the old man reached out a trembling hand and pressed it onto Little White Tiger's shoulder.

"You were Xiao Fei's brothers. From now on, you're children of Black Mountain Town. This is your home. Come home first."

Thud.

Little White Tiger and the others knelt before the townspeople of Black Mountain Town.

"Today, I, Little White Tiger, swear that if I fail to avenge him, I am not worthy of being called human."

Black Mountain Town lay in ruins, so the old man led the others in setting up a simple Memorial Hall on an open patch of ground outside town.

Every townsperson wore white mourning cloth. Heavy snow began to fall, making the atmosphere unbearably oppressive.

News of Smoke Fiend's death outside the city soon spread throughout the outlying settlements. Every prominent gunman and town sent someone over.

Smoke Fiend was a household name outside the city, and mourners arrived in an endless stream.

Within a few hours, people packed the Memorial Hall and the grounds around it.

Almost everyone who came to pay their respects studied Old Ninth and Little White Tiger curiously.

Suddenly, the noisy Memorial Hall fell utterly silent.

Everyone craned their necks to look into the distance.

"Master Bai has arrived!"

The man announcing visitors at the entrance called out loudly.

The unruly men from outside the city rose one after another, turning respectfully toward the entrance to the Memorial Hall.

A tall, lean figure lifted the Memorial Hall's curtain.

"Master Bai."

"Master Bai."

"Master Bai."

The men filling the hall bowed respectfully to the newcomer.

It was hard to imagine these men, guilty of every kind of evil, showing such reverence to a man holding a paper fan.

Master Bai nodded gravely to them, then looked at the men kneeling in a daze on the ground, burning paper offerings.

"These are the ones?" Master Bai asked the old man.

"Yes. They're children of Black Mountain Town now," the old man replied with a respectful nod.

"Little Tiger, Little Ninth, come greet Master Bai." The old man called twice, but Little White Tiger and Old Ninth didn't budge.

The corners of Master Bai's mouth rose slightly. This boy certainly has some pride.

The woman who ran the town's breakfast shop hurried over and pulled the two to their feet, whispering in their ears, "This is Master Bai, the Warlord's Strategist. Don't be petulant."

Overlord ruled the lands outside the city.

He was a man whose power eclipsed even the Ice Prefecture Five Overlords.

Although the major gangs outside the city frequently preyed on one another, they all followed Overlord's lead.

Overlord's influence stretched across the Three Prefectures. To those outside the city, he was their faith.

The woman half pulled, half dragged the two before Master Bai and said with a smile, "Master Bai, these two boys were as close to Xiao Fei as brothers. They're just too..."

Master Bai nodded with a smile, showing no displeasure. Instead, he studied the pair with considerable curiosity.

Their expressions were wooden, with a faint hint of murderous intent in their eyes.

"Greet him." Like an elder disciplining a child, the old man struck Little White Tiger hard across the leg with his cane.

Only then did the two reluctantly say, "Master Bai."

"All of us who scrape out a living outside the city honor Overlord as our king. Master Bai is his chief strategist. You must observe the proper manners." The old man slipped in a subtle bit of flattery while reminding the pair of their place.

Clarity returned to Little White Tiger's eyes, and he studied the man with equal curiosity.

Tall and thin, dressed in a white robe and holding a folding fan, he looked like an ancient scholar from a television drama.

Under Master Bai's scrutiny, unease stirred in both their hearts.

His eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything.

"Can you avenge Xiao Fei?" Old Ninth spoke first. "The city broke the rules. Where do you stand?"

Everyone's expression changed at those words.

Although Old Ninth had a point, questioning Master Bai to his face was profoundly disrespectful.

Still, some agreed with Old Ninth. Those who had been close to Xiao Fei seized the chance to shout, "Those city bastards fucking came out here to attack us! We can't swallow this without fighting back!"

"Master Bai, just say the word! I'll be the first to charge into the city!"

"Master Bai, please ask Overlord to step in!"

"If we do nothing this time, those city people will think we're afraid of them!"

Voices rose all around. Smiling, Master Bai raised a hand to quiet them.

"Overlord isn't in Ice Prefecture. He entered the No-Man's Zone. He'll return within a month. When he does... we'll settle the score. Our lives outside the city may be cheap, but that doesn't mean the city can kill us whenever it pleases."

"Good!"

"We'll wait a month!"

With Master Bai promising retaliation, everyone was naturally pleased.

They each had their own agenda-some wanted to loot the city, others wanted revenge-but now that Master Bai had spoken, the matter was settled.

"You'll have to endure this for a while." Master Bai earnestly patted the old man. "Life outside the city isn't easy. If there's anything you need, ask. In this apocalypse, we must stand together if we're to survive."

The old man glanced at Little White Tiger, then asked with some embarrassment, "Master Bai, this old fellow is going to cast aside his shame today and ask you one thing. Can I ask for anything?"

Master Bai paused. His offer had merely been a courtesy.

Of course, if the old man wanted to rebuild Black Mountain Town, he could provide supplies and the necessary help.

But judging by the old man's manner, he clearly had something else in mind.

Still, he had already given his word.

The old man discarded his cane and knelt, pulling Little White Tiger and Old Ninth down with him.

"Xiao Fei wasn't blessed with good fortune. When Overlord offered to take him as a disciple, he foolishly refused. I hope Overlord will graciously extend that offer again and accept these two young men."

"Oh!"

The onlookers sucked in a sharp breath.

The old man was pushing his luck. He might even have put Master Bai in a position where he couldn't save face.

If Master Bai lashed out in embarrassment, all of Black Mountain Town could suffer.

For a moment, every gaze settled on Old Ninth and Little White Tiger.

What made these two boys worthy of becoming Overlord's disciples?