River Jade Commandery

After that day, Wu Yi began using the small axe to carve a long shaft deep into the mine. With the axe's strange power, this was an easy task, as the rocks crumbled like tofu before it. This was the same shaft he now stood in.

Wu Yi did not regret killing the young man for his axe. If the young man had escaped the mine, he might have become a powerful figure, capable of suppressing an entire region single-handedly. He might have become a legend.

Wu Yi only regretted not asking the boy where he had gotten the axe.

"In this world, it's every man for himself," Wu Yi muttered as he swung the axe at the wall before him.

Boom! With a single swing, he created an opening in the wall, exposing bright light. He had reached the surface.

Wu Yi returned the axe to the small sack, slung it over his shoulder, and walked off into the sunlight. He had finally escaped the supervisor and all his tyranny.

He walked southward. Hundred Man Town was on the northern edge of the continent, and Wu Yi wanted to get as far away as possible. He wanted to escape Supervisor Wu's sphere of influence. Wu Yi strolled along the narrow road as though he were not fleeing from anything. He passed other travelers, greeting them and even sitting with some at way stations, where he enjoyed meals. At the third way station, after eating and chatting with the other patrons, he paid the owner with a small copper coin. This coin, from a foreign nation, had no monetary value in the Cloud Empire. Surprisingly, the owner accepted it and treated Wu Yi with great care. He even escorted Wu Yi to the back, where he presented him with a large, muscular black horse. Wu Yi nodded in gratitude and handed the man five spirit stones—part of his carefully laid plans for a smooth escape.

Wu Yi mounted the horse and rode at a moderate pace, traveling day and night. He crossed mountains and rivers before finally spotting a large city ahead.

He sighed in relief. This was River Jade City, the capital of the River Jade Commandery. The Cloud Empire had fifty commanderies, each governed by a High Prince.

Wu Yi had chosen this city because of its strict rules, enforced by the High Prince. In Hundred Man Town, Supervisor Wu's wealth could overshadow the law, but in River Jade City, his riches were insignificant. Wu Yi felt a renewed sense of hope as he approached the city. He had changed horses several times during the journey and was now riding a white horse with a thick mane.

Having prepared everything he needed, including enough spirit stones to buy entry into the city, Wu Yi entered without issue. He was amazed by the city's sheer size and beauty. Shops lined the streets, vendors were everywhere, and carriages moved in all directions.

Overwhelmed, Wu Yi decided to focus on his destination. He walked calmly to a fabulous mansion in the western part of the city. After confirming the location, he approached the gate. When the guards stopped him, he handed over a small token. Upon seeing it, the guards immediately bowed and treated him with great respect. Servants led Wu Yi into the mansion, where he saw the man he considered his only true parent. Tears streamed down Wu Yi's face as he stood frozen in place, overcome with joy.

The old man moved faster than expected and embraced Wu Yi. This was Old Man Ma, the man who had raised him.

Wu Yi had paid off Old Man Ma's debts to Supervisor Wu, setting him free. Since then, they had secretly worked together to plan Wu Yi's escape.

Reunited, Wu Yi and Old Man Ma were happy. They lived together in the mansion, which had been built using money Wu Yi had stolen from Supervisor Wu. To the supervisor, the stolen amount was so insignificant that he dismissed it as a minor accounting error. Wu Yi and Old Man Ma led simple lives, reminiscing about the past. Although Old Man Ma avoided sharing certain painful details, Wu Yi respected his privacy.

Two months passed peacefully. Wu Yi, initially worried that Supervisor Wu might track him down, began to relax. For the first time in his life, he was truly happy. He wanted nothing more than for this hard-earned peace to last forever.

Another four months passed, and Wu Yi fully embraced his carefree life. He no longer looked over his shoulder or schemed for survival. The mansion, once gloomy, now radiated warmth and happiness.

One evening, Wu Yi and Old Man Ma decided to have an early dinner. The old man seemed uneasy, claiming to sense a bad omen. Wu Yi dismissed his concerns, insisting that omens were mere superstition.

To cheer him up, Wu Yi prepared his favorite meal. As they sat down to eat, the mansion's door was suddenly kicked in by a group of soldiers. Wu Yi froze. Through the window, he saw Supervisor Wu leading the charge. His heart sank—this was indeed a dark omen.

Old Man Ma grabbed Wu Yi's hand and led him to a secret room deep within the mansion. There, he gave Wu Yi instructions, but their refuge was short-lived. The door to the secret room was also kicked in. Supervisor Wu entered, flanked by guards. Wu Yi, dazed, realized the end was near.

Supervisor Wu knelt beside Wu Yi and revealed that he had tracked Old Man Ma ever since Wu Yi had paid for his freedom. He had anticipated that Wu Yi would eventually reunite with the old man.

Wu Yi's mind raced. His only mistake had been maintaining his emotional connection to Old Man Ma. If he had severed ties and escaped alone, he might have gone much farther—perhaps even beyond the Cloud Empire.

Supervisor Wu smiled cruelly and said, "My 'son,' remember: there are no eternal enemies, only eternal benefits."

Before Wu Yi could react, Supervisor Wu decapitated Old Man Ma with a single stroke of the Quick Slash sword skill—a technique Wu Yi had once helped him acquire. The old man's head fell to the ground and rolled to Wu Yi's feet, his lifeless eyes accusing him.

Supervisor Wu handed the head to Wu Yi, who accepted it numbly. His psyche shattered as he stared at the remains of the only person he had ever loved.

Supervisor Wu then mutilated Old Man Ma's body, reducing it to minced flesh. The room was drenched in blood, and Wu Yi, covered from head to toe, collapsed in shock.

The supervisor's actions even made his battle-hardened soldiers flinch. He then set the mansion ablaze, ensuring no one escaped. The screams of the trapped servants echoed through the night as the flames consumed everything.

By morning, the Ma mansion was nothing but ashes. Officials reported to the public that the fire had claimed all its inhabitants.