The beginning

Hello! I would like to say that this is the first time that I write in English, I am still learning, so if you find any mistakes, please forgive me :( I hope you like it and please Tell me your opinion!

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The roar of swords, the clash of steel, and the howls of fallen men mingled in a truly awful symphony, while the spilled blood painted the ground under their feet the color of hell. Hands, legs and arms were dispersed everywhere without anyone to claim them, piled on top each other. Teary and inert eyes, broken jaws, decapitated heads, organs and intestines that stick outside of their bodies. Even the strongest man on Earth would tremble just for watch a similar spectacle.

"You're the last one..." hissed the man responsible for that atrocious massacre, pulling out his recently acquired sword from the body of his latest victim.

With the biggest parsimony, the boy crossed the extense tide of corpses towards who was his main objective from the beginning of that bloody night.

He stopped in front of the trembling body and crouched down with the sword resting on his right shoulder, humming a macabre song. He stared how his prey trying to stand up with an almost agonic clumsiness, giving him a look full of terror.

"Come on, Chang Cian, you almost made it" The boy encouraged him, watching the scene with amusement.

"You, damn traitor... How you dare...?" gasped the man, the metallic taste of blood flooding his mouth.

The boy laughed out loud.

"Ironic, right? All my life you believed that I was nothing more than a poor and helpless orphan. You thought I was just good for steal in your place, take you between my legs and let you put your disgusting cock inside me and, look at you now! Crawling in front of me like a vermin that is afraid of being trampled " He spat. His gaze sparkled full of hatred.

"Xue Yang ..." the man growled, almost choking on his own spit. Then he realized the critical situation he was in. That little bastard had gutted every one of his guards, servants, and disciples, all who had the misfortune to find themselves inside the mansion at the start of the devastating attack and those who had to went outside, searching for help. He was completely alone, wounded and at his mercy.

It didn't matter how hard he tried, the boy couldn't describe the immense satisfaction that filled him at the time. To stared at that face ravaged by pain, the anger and the frustration reflected in his eyes, was a truly sublime spectacle. He could look at it for an eternity.

"Too bad I couldn't seen you suffering for more time, before your dogs raised the alarm. It would've been fun. You know? Your son was the only one to let himself be killed without giving me any trouble. That asshole was so in love with me that he didn't make the attempt to defend himself when I pounced on him" The boy laughed sarcastically, remembering the scene. "You should've seen him when I cut off his right hand. He was so shocked and he didn't notice that I stabbed him in the chest right after. Pathetic, don't you think?"

Chang Cian's eyes seemed to get out of their sockets. He felt his body tremble, victim of his own rage. However, the man restrained himself. It didn't matter how much he wanted to curse the boy and express all his hatred to him. He knew it wasn't a good idea. Not right then.

"Xue Yang ... you can't ..." The man stuttered out, feeling himself unable to complete the phrase.

"I can't?" asked the boy, emitting a strident laugh that managed to feed the anguish of his prey. "Do you think you have more right to live than any of the people I have murdered tonight? Do you think that after all the damage you've done me since I had the stupid idea of hiding in your carriage, I'm going to feel sorry for you?" The hand that held the sword trembled because of Xue yang's anger. If that weren't impossible, he could swear his body was on fire. "I've severed the throats of dozens of men I've never had contact with, just because they belonged to your fucking sect. Now that we've reached this point, answer me a question, Chang Cian" He raised his sword above the man's head, cutting off his breath. "What makes you think that you can choose, you damn bastard?!"

In response, Chang Cian folded onto itself, shaking violently while he waited for his body to be perforated by the steel of the sword. But it didn't happened. On the brink of despair, the man dared to scream, begging for the youngest's forgiveness.

"Look at this, Chang Cian" Xue Yang said, showing him his left hand, which was partially mutilated. "Do you remember? Oh, sure you're. I lost my little finger shortly after entering your sect. Specifically, when you raped me for the first time. I was screaming, crying and kicking. And that bothered you, didn't it? So much that you hit me so brutally. When you were finally finished, all the bones in my left hand were fractured. But that finger took the worst part..."

Appalled, Chang Cian listened carefully to the boy's narration, avoiding interfering at all cost and evading his gaze.

"It was so damaged and was bleeding so much. But you didn't care. You bandaged it, made it stop bleeding, and then you took my clothes off, opened my legs and fucked me for hours like an animal. You didn't let me to faint, even I wished it with all my strength. You wanted me to feel you inside to the end. "Xue Yang's voice trembled as rancor and anger consumed him. "I begged you so many times. I begged you to leave me alone, to stop yourself. I cried hard until I lost my voice. But you taked my body with more strength, destroying my insides. When you were completely pleased, I could barely move. You grabbed me by the hair and dragged me across the floor until we arrived to the pigsty that you assigned me by room. Then you leave me lying close to the door. I was there for days, naked, without food or water, until you wanted to fuck me again and finally you decided to feed me, just to make sure I would stay awake. You loved to heard me beg. It always made you horny, right, you fucking sick?"

Chang Cian stifled a scream in his throat when, without warning, Xue Yang stomped all fingers of his left hand. He could clearly hear the little bones crunching under the boot sole, causing him an unsupportable pain.

"You have any idea what it feels like when you tear off an own limb? The pain is so intense that you are forced to do it slowly to not faint, even if it means prolonging your agony. The blows, the cuts or the lashes that I got from you every day didn't hurt me so much like saw that missing finger. Something irreparable, irreplaceable. I promised myself I'd make you pay for it, and now I have a chance" He pressed hard on the limb caught under the weight of his foot, getting a intense groan from Chang Cian. "Say thanks to me, son of bitch. I'm not so cruel to leave you alive after mutilating you ..."

"Hold on!" The man begged, appeasing his attacker. "I can't change what I've done, but I can compensate you!"

With a big effort, Chang Cian ignored the stabbing pain from his ground hand and the cut traversing his abdomen, and knelt down in front of his executioner's feet. Without thinking, the man clung to them with all the strength he was able to gather in both hands, avoiding looking up and connecting his gaze with the other's.

"Tell me what you wish. You know I can give you anything you want. Anything..." Xue Yang pretended to think in his answer, relaxing his temper. The man laughed to himself; Miraculously, he had regained the control of the situation. Ambition had nested in the humans heart since their beggings, when they were just starting to populate Earth. No one, however disturbed he was, would consider rejecting such an offer. He would be able to give his own soul to the boy just to keep his breath. "No matter what it's, you can have it this moment."

Xue Yang's smile could compete with the devil's own. In wrath, He embedded the edge of the sword in the damp earth in front of Chang Cian's eyes, startled him. Xue Yang tryed to not laugh. He leaned down and held the man's chin between the fingers of his right hand, gently stroking and lifting it. When Chang Cian's gaze confronted his own, he hissed:

"All right. I accept the pact."

Chang Cian's lips curved into a pathetic smile of triumph. If he had known it would be so easy to dodge death, he would have tried to bribe the boy much earlier.

"Then tell me what you want, Yang," the man urged him, trembling because of the emotion that overwhelmed him at the time.

Anxious, Chang Cian watched as the boy tried to find something behind his back in completely silent. The man didn't saw the imminent danger in his grin, worthy of a truly demon. He didn't notice his gaze, still hungry for blood and guts. The devastating mix of adrenaline, panic, and accumulated tension had completely clouded his judgment.

"I think I have enough with your life."

Due to his condition, it took Chang Cian a tenth of a second longer than it should to process those words. When he wanted to react, the quick edge of a small dagger had created a deep and deadly cut in his throat. Scared and confused at the same time, he looked to the child's bloodshot eyes as his body trembled sharply.

Xue Yang grinned softly, watching the dying man vainly trying to cover the wound with both hands. Blood gushed out, soaking his chest and half of his abdomen.

"Never deal with a demon, Chang Cian," Xue Yang murmured, pretending to scold him. "Believe me, they will turn against you."

He waited patiently for the man to lose his breath. Slowly, he uprighted and made his way to the earth mound where his sword layer, recovering it. He cleaned it meticulously, sheathed it and tied it behind his back. Then he looked up at the starless night sky, with a insane smile increasing on his lips. He made it. He had destroyed that damn sect infested with poisonous vipers. And he had done it in just a few hours.

He was so focused on his feat, that he didn't notice the presence of a new threat.

"Xue Yang!" Called a familiar voice.

The future leader of the powerful Yi Xiao sect, known as Xiao XingChen, descended from the sky and landed in front of a huge carpet of blood and guts. XingChen flinched when he noticed the grotesque scene in front of his eyes.

"Something so disgusting and atrocious could only be the work of a madman. It's been a while since the last time Shuanghua detected such accumulation of corpse energy" XingChen said, giving the other guy a contempt gaze. "I've been following you for months because of a misdemeanors, but I never expected you were a despicable killer."

"I don't know what you're talking about" Xue Yang protested, without moving his body. "I was just walking there and I found myself into this mess. I did everything I could to help the wounded who were still alive, but their condition was serious. I couldn't do anything for them" He sighed with fake affliction. "That is the reason why I am now stained with his blood. As you see, this is a misunderstanding, Xiao XingChen."

when he heard his own name coming out from the lips of that abominable monster that being so impassive in front of him, XingChen felt a intense shiver in his spine. In that situation, the boy couldn't let himself to be distracted, so he confronts the other boy with all his courage.

"You must be kidding, Xue Yang" XingChen replied with scorn. Xue yang were still showing his back to him. "Please, stop underestimate me. I'm not interested in hearing your excuses. Give me your sword and come with me pacifically. It will be better for both of us."

Growling, Xue Yang slowly veered his face, glancing him.

"You are a nuisance, Xiao XingChen. It seems I can't take a step without find me with your irritating presence" He snorted.

Finally, The boy turned, facing XingChen and walking towards him slowly. Alarmed, XingChen quickly raised shuanghua and threatened him.

"Stop, I'm warning you"

For Xiao XingChen, the main idea of taking a human life was somewhat unacceptable, even if that life belonged to someone like Xue Yang. Since ancient times, all members of the Xiao clan had defended the right of every human being to redirect his life; to regret their sins. Their philosophy of life prevented them from making drastic and definitive decisions. So they preferred to contemplate all possible options, even if it made they seem naive.

"It seems you are sure I'm the responsible of all deaths. In that case, you think you can defeat me by yourself?"

Xue Yang's question made XingChen to tighten his grip on the sword hilt.

"There's no need to continue with the bloodshed. Surrender by yourself and I promise your sentence will be rational and fair"

"With those expectations, maybe you could convince me, Xiao Xingchen" Xue Yang laughed, without slowing down his furtiveness advance.

"I don't need to comvince you. If you value your life and you want to keep it, you'll do what I ask. Surrender now and do it voluntarily. Take responsibility for your crimes and for your actions."

Xue Yang stopped, sharpening his gaze.

"I repeat to you, Taoist Xiao XingChen, that I haven't nothing to do with this massacre. How can you make such serious accusations, when you don't have a single proof against me?" The cultivator eyes narrowed by the cynical words from the other young man, staring him silently. Satisfied, Xue Yang continued. "you saw me killing this people? I don't think so. Look, I don't even have a sword in my hand. it's sheathed and secured on my back."

"How can I believe you if I found you in a tide of corpses and stained with their blood?" XingChen asked. His gaze was iron, as his temper was.

"Of course; the words of a criminal have no value after all. If I had a name and reputation as impeccable as yours, perhaps you could've given me the benefit of doubt. I'm wrong, Xiao XingChen?" Xue Yang's tone brimmed with rancor and disdain. "This is how this world works: the powerful can do as they please, without fear of being judged, while the weak, the less fortunate, are nothing more than a piece of shit with no right to anything."

"This has nothing to do with names or social status. I know your criminal records, Xue Yang.

The last time I saw you, you were raising your sword against the guards who were protecting my house, ready to kill every last one of them with the single propose to loot it. You threatened their and my family lifes. Tell me how can I believe you?"

Xue Yang cynically smiled, relaxing his temper.

"Alright, Xiao XingChen, you win. If I confess, will you be satisfied?"

"I will be if you surrender."

Xue Yang laughed softly, denying with a slight nod.

"Sorry, but I won't be able to please you now, Xiao XingChen. Maybe the next time."

Without giving the cultivator a chance to retorted him, Xue Yang unsheathed his sword with a quick movement. XingChen prepared himself to repel the attack. But Xue Yang didn't attacked him. The boy used the sword sheath to create a dense haze that instantly blinded the other man, allowing his escape.

"That technique ... Its the Qiankun Wave?" XingChen murmured, confused.

When he wanted to react, Xue Yang had disappeared without a trace.

Two weeks later...

"Get him! Hurry up!"

"Don't let him to escape!"

"He's ours! Move on!"

Xue Yang was surrounded by a group of guards outside the Coffin, the residence of the Yi Xiao sect. Without saying a word, and despite his critical position, the young man made them back off with a strong sword thrusts. The guards were shocked at his brutal determination, looking at each other without knowing how to proceed.

Xue Yang's feets moved with grace and agility, dancing to the beat of the steel sounds. He fused himself with the sword, flying over their heads and hitting them by the back. Slowly, the guards stepped back one by one, making a big distances for the satisfaction of his opponent.

"What the hell are you doing ?! We are twenty against one!" One of the guards screamed, furious because of the cowardly and disloyal attitude of his partners, who seemed to be unable even to holder their own swords, paralyzed by the terror of being crushed by a boy.

"He's right! This is shameful!"

"And we consider ourselves worthy to belong the noble Yi Xiao sect!? Let's show him what we can do!"

Seeing how they trying to encourage each others made Xue Yang twist a mocking smile on his lips. In a few minutes, more than half of the guards had fallen, and those still obstinately standing seemed to be losing their fight spirit.

their offensive wasn't coordinated and every blow made them stagger. Xue Yang's devilish smile gotten bigger and bigger, denoting his euphoric mood.

"Xue Yang!" Xiao XingChen appeared and throwned Shuanghua against the other guy, who got a fine cut on his left cheek trying to dodge it. After failing the attack, the sword quickly returned to its owner's hand. "After what happened the last time we saw each other, are you so shameless as come here looking for trouble and on broad daylight?"

"I missed you, Xiao XingChen..." Xue Yang admitted, smiling at him.

Shaking shamefully, the six guards who still seemed able to continue fighting surrounded the boy and pointed their swords at him.

"Enough! I don't want anyone to interject from now on" said XingChen, immediately getting an affirmative answer.

"Very well. Now show me all you have" Xue Yang teased him, giving him a predatory glance.

Without replying him, Xiao XingChen pounced on his adversary, who reacted quickly, clashing the steel of their respective swords. At that time, both young men engaged in a fierce and balanced battle. The sparks resulting from each thrust blinded them, while their bodies flew, spuned and contorted without any of them gived chance to breathe at his opponent.

For a tenth of a second, Xue Yang lowered his guard, and XingChen kicked his abdomen. The blow was truly brutally, but the boy quickly recovered his balance, grinning at him and nodding.

"Not bad, Xiao XingChen. I'm impressed! It's more than those useless guards at your service have achieved..." Xue Yang laughed hard.

"Shut up " XingChen demanded. It was evident that he was concerned.

Although they hadn't a chance to face each other before, Xiao XingChen Knew that Xue yang was an incredibly skilled swordsman, as he had been able to massacre the YueyangChang sect without difficulty.

The other young man's spiritual energy was low compared to his own, but he compensate it with his exceptional reflexes, shrewdness and unbelievable strength. XingChen couldn't pretend get a quick fight.

"XingChen!" A strong voice caught the cultivator's and his opponent attention at the same time.

"Father" XingChen whispered, stepping aside to let the oldest man pass.

"What's going on here? What does this mean?" Xiao Ning, the current leader of the Xiao Clan, inquired while he glanced around, visibly confused.

"I thought no one would interject, Xiao XingChen" Xue Yang protested, glancing at him reproachly.

Shocked, Xiao Ning stared at the boy. All the blood contained in his body seemed to have drained in an instant.

"Xue Yin?" He asked in a thin voice, feeling himself turn pale because of the terrifying resemblance between the boy and his mother. "Xue Yin, is that you?" He recognized the scorpion jewel that tied Xue Yang's hair, a gift that his father and old leader of the Xiao clan, Xiao Wang, gave Xue Yin years ago. The man began to tremble. "A-Yin..."

"You're wrong. Xue Yin was my mother" Xue Yang corrected him. The expression on his face had completely changed.

Silently, he glanced at the jewel on Xiao Ning's hair, very similar to the one that had belonged to his mother. The only thing he still had from her. He laughed to himself. His plan was finally under way. The Xiao clan was sentenced to death. He would tear all of them apart limb by limb, life for life, just as he done with the despicable chang clan. His mother's death wouldn't go unpunished. He wouldn't allow it.

"She's your mother?" Xiao Ning asked the question to himself.

"He's... Xue Yin's son?" XingChen thought, as confused as his father was.

"That's right" Xue Yang stifled his laughter as he saw the stupor on the two men's faces.

"Where and how is she?" Xiao Ning asked, consumed by anguish.

"Dead..."

Xue Yang's reply was devastating, like a enormous rock hitting Xiao Ning's body, convulsing it violently. Tears cascaded down his cheeks, but the man didn't seem to be aware of it. He didn't even blinked. His pale skin gave him the appearance of a corpse. Xue Yang could even swear that he had stopped breathing.

"A-Yin ..." The man sobbed. His voice barely noticeable.

"Father ..." Xingchen called him worried.

"May I know what happened to her?" Xiao Ning asked, connecting his trembling gaze to Xue Yang's.

"She died of an epidemic. I don't remember the name, I was barely a kid back then. I only know that it killed a large part of the inhabitants of Yi city. My mother was destined to catch it. She constantly went outside looking for food, clothes and medicine for both us. It was inevitable" Xue Yang narrated, looking disdainfully at Xiao Ning, who seemed to refuse to believe his words.

"She was still in Yi City and I didn't knew it? How it's possible? I was looking for her for years! At some point I had to come across her without knowing it… " Xiao Ning tightened her eyelids. The tremors shaking his body had intensified. "Did she ever tell you about me?"

"No. She never did..." Xue Yang lied.

Sadness and pain squeezing Xiao Ning's heart. Memories flooded his mind like an uncontrollable avalanche.

Years ago...

"Did you see the monster Dad captured in the hunt on the Phoenix Mountain? It was huge!" Xiao Ning said fastinated, looking at his little sister with bright eyes.

"What's up with that? Dad is a very strong man, nothing can against him" Like Xiao Ning's, Xue Yin's gaze shone with pride.

"When I'm older, I'll be much stronger than him. Even the biggest monster will shake when he sees me" With his right hand closed into a fist, Xiao Ning struck his chest with a solemn pose that, contrary to his expectations, made his sister laugh scandalously.

"You are too clumsy and weak to scare a monster!" Xue Yin exclaimed, causing her brother to puff up his cheeks, outraged.

"The first monster I'll hunt, I'll show it only to you! You'll have to apologize for what you said!" Xiao Ning crossed his arms, frowning excessively.

"You sure? We'll see then!" Xue Yin sentenced, sticking out her tongue.

Xiao Ning pounced playfully against her, but he was quickly immobilized under the weight of her body. Although she was considerably smaller than her brother, Xue Yin always subdued him in one way or another.

Both children began to fight between laughs, under the Xiao Wang's gaze, who was watching them with amusement as he walked towards them.

"Well, what's going on here? I suppose you're not fighting again, right?" The man asked, crouching down in front of the low table where his children were.

"It's A-Yin's fault! She was making fun of me!" Although his accusation, Xiao Ning laughed loudly, being imitated by Xue Yin, who continued on him, catching his both arms. "It was her! I swear!"

"Is not true! It was him!" A smiling Xue Yin defended herself, feeling her brother kicking in an unsuccessful attempt to break free of his iron grip.

"You're always bothering each other, I'll not going to interfere this time" Xiao Wang assured, taking Xue Yin in his arms and allowing himself to laugh with her. "Calm down, tigress" He laughed, using the affectionate nickname that he gave to her since he watched her truly angry for the first time. The man contained his daughter as long as he could, while the girl tried to hold her brother's restless hands." You must take a bath today, and I don't want to hear anything about it, have you listened? You first, tigress, your mother waits on the hot springs"

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Xue Yin ran excitedly towards the place indicated by her father.

"She'll see when she gets back" Xiao Ning growled, pouted out his lips.

"Leave your sister alone, A-Ning. You'll cry when she confronts you" Xiao Wang warned his older son, stroking his head gently.

without answered him, the boy hardened his features.

"She started it."

Xiao Wang sighed with a slight smile on his lips, moving his head slowly.

"It's clear to me that there's a love-hate relationship between you two" the man declared, amused.

"That's not true! I don't hate her!" Xiao Ning screamed, looking at his father with an horror expresion.

Xiao Wang laughed. "Then you must to control yourself, you little boy"

Xiao Ning slowly nodded, getting a tender smile from his father.

In the present time....

"We grew up together" Xiao Ning suddenly muttered, catching Xue Yang and Xingchen attention at the same time. "Xue Yin was much more than a sister to me. She came to the Coffin as a child, by my parent's wish, Zhuang Li and Xiao Wang, to serve only me and stay with me all the time, because my mother couldn't have more children. But the truth is that we never treated her like a maid. From the beginning, A-Yin was part of the family"

Xue Yang could feel his blood burned with pure hatred as the man spoken. Xingchen glanced his father with interest. He knew some details about his aunt. She had been an extremely strong, smart, daring and brave woman. Also, he knew that his father had loved her intensely, even more than his late wife and mother of his children. Xingchen could see the pain on his face just by remembering her. Even though Xue Yin left her clan voluntarily, Xiao Ning didn't stop searching for her and never lost hope of finding her.

"I've always wondered why he left us suddenly, without saying a word; not even me..." Xiao Ning whispered, afflicted.

Xue Yang gritted his teeth. He knew perfectly well that her mother hadn't abandoned her clan. She was slandered, betrayed and humiliated by her own family. Xiao Ning must be even more cynical than himself was.

"It's a pity I can't answer your questions" Xue Yang spat, without hiding the bite on his tone.

Fortunately for him, Xiao Ning was too impressed and his heart felt painfully oppress by memories, so he didn't notice at all.

"Who is your father?" Xiao Ning asked, refocusing his attention on Xue Yang.

"A rapist whom, fortunately, I never met."

Xiao Ning closed his eyes, processing the boy's confession. He felt earth breaking under his feet and trying to suck him down. Perhaps that's what he wanted. Anger, sadness, guilt. All the feelings that he thought he had buried in some place of his heart, after resigning himself to never seeing Xue Yin again, resurfaced strongly, torturing him cruelly. He must have tried much harder. He must have done everything possible and impossible to find her, to return her to the place she had always belonged. For taking care of her, protecting her and loving her as he once promised to do.

"I'm so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am for all of this..." The man confessed. He was crying again. "I didn't knew ... I ..."

"Father, calm down" XingChen said. His father seemed to be dying slowly.

Forcing himself to breathe, Xiao Ning gave Xue Yang a pleading glance.

"What can I do for you? Please tell me"

Xue Yang's inner demon stirred, laughing wickedly.

"Father, Xue Yang has been a fugitive from justice for months after multiple squatting and looting in the city. He was also the directly responsible for the Chang clan massacre" XingChen reported, giving Xue Yang an absolutely disgust gaze.

"There's no evidence that he was the author of that massacre. No one around saw or hear absolutely anything. We don't even know if the responsible belonged to the Yueyang Chang sect" Xiao Ning retorted.

Those words shocked XingChen, who frowned and opened his lips without saying a word. Xue Yang smirked slightly, tasting Xingchen's displeased expression.

"He's a criminal, father. It was a too big coincidence that I found him in front of Chang Cian's residence, surrounded by the corpses of his disciples and stained with his blood" XingChen insisted, trying to convince Xiao Ning of the serious threat Xue Yang represented, not only to themselves and the rest of the sects, also to the region.

"I already told you, Xiao XingChen, that I tried to help the wounded, so I was stained with their blood"

"Shut up!" xingChen demanded, glared him. His anger being increased. "How can you be so despicable?"

"XingChen!" Xiao Ning scolded him, looking at him sternly. "You didn't see him executing those people, did you?"

"No, I didn't see him. However, he admitted it while I was trying to persuade him to surrender voluntarily" XingChen explained, looking at Xue Yang insistently.

"You were complety sure of my guilt and you aren't disposed to let me go without a confession. So I lied, Xiao XingChen. What else could I did?" Xue Yang defended herself.

His voice was pitiful, even while he was chuckled.

"You…" XingChen hissed stunned as Xue Yang just smiled at him. That boy was unbelievable shameless. He didn't seem to have limits.

Xiao Ning shooked his head on disapproval sign.

"XingChen, I've teach you to trust in facts, not in appearances" he snapped, gazing dissapointed at his son.

"Father, please listen ..."

"He'll stay with us here, in the Coffin" Xiao Ning announced, freezing XingChen instantly. "I'll personally take care of his debts. It's the only thing you can blame him for"

"Take care of his debts? You can't be serius. Do you think it's your responsibility? Can you listen to me just for a second? He's a dangerous criminal!" XingChen couldn't stop his voice get stronger. "Have you forgotten Coffin was one of his objectives? Are you aware of what might have happened if we hadn't caught him after he made a disaster?"

"Xingchen!" Xiao Ning screamed, lashing his son with a glance. "Someone who's trying to survive can't be considered a criminal. It's a born right and all of us are forced to execute it constantly. You shouldn't judged him like that"

"And what about other's rights? For someone like him, other people lifes means nothing. He can take and destroy everything and everybody, only to please his own desires, to get his own objectives. You think it's forgivable?" XingChen snapped, his voice turned deeper. He couldn't believe his father's words.

"If I ain't wrong, no one was injured during the attack on the Coffin. The same thing happened in all houses he stolen" Xiao Ning insisted, his voice unwavering. "Not even a moment ago, while he fighted our guards, who were clearly at a disadvantage, even being twenty against one"

"Father!"

"Silent!" Xiao Ning demanded. Xingchen deflated and obeyed, taking a deep breath and urging himself to calm down. "From now on, Xue Yang will reside on the Coffin as an official member of Xiao Clan. I won't back down, XingChen, accept it and stay quiet"

Xue Yang gloated in XingChen expression. Although his father's direct order, Xingchen felt too disgusted and frustrated to keep his mouth sealed.

"Have you lost your mind? Are you disposed to protecting and hiding him in the Coffin? You going to ignoring everything I told you about him and what You know too?"

"Xiao XingChen!" Xiao Ning roared, at the limit of his tolerance. Xingchen pursed her lips, allowing the words to get stuck in his throat, burning it. "You're not talking to an equal! I'm your father and I demand you to show respect! Take care of your tone and choose your words better!"

XingChen tensed his jaw, trading looks with an amused Xue Yang and his father. Although his growing disagreement, the boy took a deep breath and bowed to his father with respect.

"Please, forgive me. It will be done as you say" he muttered quietly, glancing at the other young man.

Xiao Ning sighed and nodded slowly.

"Please guide and help him to settle in, and I beg you to behave properly. I don't want any more conflict in my house, okay?"

XingChen nodded silently, deciding not to confront his father, for the moment. With his face still wet, Xiao Ning glanced at Xue Yang with a warm smile on his lips. "Welcome to the Coffin"

Although Xiao Ning's gesture was returned, Xue Yang couldn't lyed XingChen's eyes, who seen the cynicism in his face and didn't doubted to face him with Staunchly, narrowing his eyes.

"Now I'm think of it, Xue Yang. The last time I saw you, I forgot to asking you something. Who made that cut on your left cheek?" XingChen murmured, glancing at the scar that was still healing. Silently, Xue Yang raised the corners of his lips. "could've be one member of Yueyang Chang Sect before you stabbing him?"

Xue Yang couldn't hold a softly laugh. He was pretty sure that living with Xiao XingChen was going to be really interesting.

"Come on, Xiao XingChen, why don't you believe me? It wasn't my fault" Xue Yang grumbled as he slowly raised his right hand, which was closed in a fist and with the little finger exposed. "I promise..." he smirked.

XingChen contained the urge to slap him. That shameless man had the ability to enrage him.

"A truce?" Xue Yang proposed, keeping that sly smile on his lips as he offered a hand to the other young man.

XingChen accepted and shaked that hand, smiling him back. If Xue Yang wanted to defying him, he would replyng appropriately. He didn't know how, but he was going to prove Xue Yang was a lier.

"Follow me, please" XingChen urged him. His eyes sparkled in a silent threat.

Holding back his laugh, Xue Yang waited for Xingchen to turn around, keeping a safe distance as he following his steps towards the Coffin.

~~~•••~~~

Thank you for reading me! ;) See you on the next chap!