Fall

Many people of the Bai family thought that Bai Shuixian would return to the estate before night, but he never came. Nobody wanted to anger the grandmaster, so they all kept their lips shut. However, the tense atmosphere within the mansion was already enough to show that the little boy would not survive if he came back.

Though there were family members and servants that disrespected Bai Shuixian, they still wanted him to live and be unharmed. None of them were people of cold heart and still held sympathy for the little boy. Even if they did not cry when he died, they would still feel saddened by a young person's death.

However, rather than having a search party look for him, they would give the grandmaster an excuse. After all, they would also be punished alongside the little boy if it was found that he had disappeared. If the Bai Shuixian was discovered missing by the grandmaster, they could still escape a beating because they were going to be the people running to find him in the first place.

Nobody knew why Bai Shuixian would leave the estate and abandon his training with the grandmaster, but they all called him brave. In the family, there was not a single person who dared to go against the expectations or rules the grandmaster had set up. Defying what the grandmaster had set up, would only have two outcomes: a really harsh punishment or a cruel death.

As the sunset and the moon rose, Bai Shuixian was still missing. In the end, everyone gave up the thought of the little boy returning and started minding their own business. If he disappeared forever, then no one would get in trouble.

As long as there was no news of Bai Shuixian, everyone was confident that they would not be punished. However, if they knew what was about to come, they would have tried their best to prevent the little boy from escaping the family.

On the next day, in front of the Bai Estate, warrens were questioning the servants. It was bright and early, the sun had just risen. At the doorstep, Bai Shuixian's father was rapidly growing frustrated with all the questions thrown at him.

He wanted to kill the one who ratted them out. Even though the warren was saying that all of these were just speculations and prompted for their help, the questions asked were so dangerously on point he couldn't form a proper lie to answer any of them. No matter what he would answer, he knew it would only end in bloodshed for the family.

Struggling to maintain his facade, he said, "Warren, I truly have no idea about any of these things you are asking me about. Perhaps you should go ask my father."

Sadly, the warren wasn't finished with him as he replied, "Magistrate Chen is already interviewing Grandmaster Bai. Us, warrens only need to ask for things that could be missed from the outsiders."

He was a little surprised at being called an 'outsider' but it made him happy. This would mean that all crimes would not be charged at him even if the family was guilty. Inside, he gave a little sigh of relief.

His relief didn't last long though. Almost immediately after, Chen Shi came out from the estate and told all the warrens and officers that they could leave. They have not stayed any more than an hour and were already leaving.

This surprised the warrens as they asked, "Magistrate Chen, why are we leaving already? There could still be possible evidence hidden."

Though the warren had asked out of curiosity, some thought, 'Did Magistrate Chen receive bribes from the grandmaster?'

Of course, Chen Shi knew what everyone was thinking. However, he paid no mind to their thoughts and answered, "We have all the evidence we need. The actions done today were merely a procedure."

Nodding their heads in understanding, the warrens thought 'How could the just and fair magistrate be bribed?'

With that statement spoken, everyone left. The crowd that gathered due to the warrens, started to fizzle eventually out as there was nothing left to see. At the same time, a new rumor came up in the capital city.

It was rumored that the Bai Clan would receive capital punishment. The crimes were unknown, but as the rumor grew, assumptions were made. Some thought that they were preparing for a rebellion while others thought about them bribing the whole royal court to get their way.

Though the assumptions were mostly false, there was still some form of truth to them. However, what the rumor got right was the punishment. Nine familial exterminations were only for the truly damned people which made so many people wonder about what crimes they committed.

Soon, night came and people got the answers they have been anxious to know. On the city boards, there was a long paper with a long list of all the crimes committed. It went from bribery to illegal salt sales and buying huge masses of weapons to spying on the prime minister.

During night time, most people would normally be asleep already. However, when the paper was put up, an officer ran from the east to the west all while blowing a giant trumpet. He would blow it as loud as he could while going through the streets of the city.

Spread all across the city, crowds gathered around the boards closest to them. Most of them were sighing and scolding in contempt at the clan. While all of this went on, at one of the locations, there was a little boy also reading the posted paper.

Looking at his achievement, Bai Shuixian did not feel any glee in destroying his family. He thought it was, after all, the way of life. If he wanted this body to survive, he would need to do all these things.

Even if it went against the morals of upholding his family before everyone, Bai Shuixian still thought he would need to do it. And like he told Chen Shi, he now has a new name coupled with a new look.

He dyed his hair black and his eye color also finally changed to black. The ability to change one's eye color was impossible, but his body was a bit special.

Taking a deep breath, he sneakily slipped from the crowd and went to the magistrate's office. Bai Shuixian knew that Chen Shi was someone who kept his promises, but there was one last thing he wanted to do before leaving the capital.