12

In the months following Sakura's death, Xiao Lin embarked on a relentless campaign of vengeance, systematically exterminating the branch families of the Xiao and imperial allies. To avoid direct confrontation with the emperor's forces, which now actively protected these families, Xiao Lin employed his assassin skills, striking swiftly from the shadows and leaving no trace of his presence. It took him three months to eliminate every target on his list.

After eradicating the final family, Xiao Lin found himself surrounded by three powerful sects—Air, Water, and Earth—and the imperial army. Unfazed, Xiao Lin smiled coldly.

"So, Emperor Meng Hao finally decided to send his forces to kill me. But it's too late. Nothing can stop me now."

Ma Tianyu, leader of the Air Sect, sneered. "How dare you insult His Majesty! You may have strength, but we have numbers."

Xiao Lin's lips curled into a smirk. "What a cliché line."

Xu Li, the Water Sect leader, shouted, "Kill the rebel! Show no mercy!"

The four armies charged, activating their sect techniques, but Xiao Lin remained still. As they closed in, just 30 meters away, Xiao Lin raised his hand. "Hollow Earth."

The ground beneath their feet transformed into a muddy quagmire, swallowing half the army alive and suffocating them in its depths. The survivors were thrown into disarray as Xiao Lin leapt toward the sect leaders, igniting his Evil Fire, which consumed anyone in his path, reducing them to ash.

Now standing before the leaders, Xiao Lin drew his katana. The sect elders unleashed their air and water techniques—blades of wind and torrents of water—but Xiao Lin's swordsmanship, honed through countless battles, made quick work of their defenses. Still, their powerful techniques left him wounded, though his accelerated healing quickly mended the injuries.

Ma Tianyu gasped, "How are you healing so fast? Are you even human?"

Xiao Lin ignored the question, pressing his attack with a fierce barrage of techniques he'd absorbed from the families he had already exterminated. The battle raged on for three days and two nights, until finally, Xiao Lin stood victorious amidst the bodies of his enemies.

Exhausted and nearly out of energy, Xiao Lin staggered. He was vulnerable now, but no further enemies came. The battlefield was silent, except for the quiet murmurs of the wind.

"Sign-in," he muttered.

The system responded: Host has obtained Water Dragon Technique – Flood, Air Bender Technique – Tornado, and Sword Array.

Xiao Lin grinned, but his exhaustion was evident. "Sign in."

Host has obtained Ice Dragon Technique – Meteor Ice and Rain of Ice.

The unexpected ice techniques intrigued him. Normally, he only received skills relevant to his immediate circumstances, but this time, he was gifted with something more. He sheathed his katana and carved a final message into the blood-soaked ground:

"Revenge is like a windy rain."

Wearing a mask to conceal his identity, Xiao Lin made his way toward the capital of Meng. It took him fifteen days, during which he rested, honed his skills, and eliminated a few remaining sect members who had escaped his wrath. The sky over the capital was dark with clouds, a fitting backdrop for the storm he would soon unleash.

As he entered the bustling city, Xiao Lin felt a wave of nostalgia and pain. This was where he had been born, abandoned by his father Xiao Zhan, and left to fend for himself. But now, he had returned for a singular purpose—to kill his father and complete his revenge.

Learning that Xiao Zhan was at the imperial palace, Xiao Lin chose not to reveal himself to his family just yet. Instead, he snuck into the Xiao family estate and began systematically murdering his stepmothers, sisters, and brothers. He was methodical, ensuring there was no commotion to alert the capital. Finally, he reached the room of his grandfather, Zhang, the man responsible for his mother's death.

Zhang was startled. "Who are you? How did you enter the Xiao family?"

Without removing his mask, Xiao Lin whispered coldly, "You don't even recognize your grandson? How irresponsible it would be to die without remembering."

With swift precision, he drove his katana into Zhang's heart. The old man gasped in pain before collapsing into death's embrace. Xiao Lin flicked his blade, letting the blood splatter onto the floor, then moved toward the imperial palace.

Xiao Lin slipped into the imperial palace undetected, using his illusion skills to bypass the guards. His goal was clear: to destroy the imperial family. One by one, he assassinated those who stood in his path, the distant relatives of the emperor who had aligned themselves with Xiao Zhan. By the time he reached the emperor's court, the once-mighty imperial family was reduced to corpses.

At the court, Meng Hao and Xiao Zhan stood before him, flanked by the imperial army and Xiao family disciples. Xiao Lin raised his hand toward the dark clouds overhead.

"Ice Rain."

Sharp, rock-solid ice spears descended from the sky, slaughtering the soldiers and disciples alike, and reducing the palace to a crimson field of frozen death. As the storm subsided, the once-grand palace was drenched in blood and shattered ice.

Meng Hao trembled, his face pale. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?"

Xiao Lin slowly removed his mask, revealing his face to his father. "Father, have you forgotten me? I am Xiao Lin, your abandoned son."

Both Meng Hao and Xiao Zhan were speechless. Xiao Zhan, regaining his composure, growled, "You killed all these people just because I abandoned you?"

Xiao Lin chuckled darkly. "Do you think I care about you abandoning me? I couldn't care less. I came for the emperor. You and your allies simply stood in my way."

Xiao Zhan seized the moment, launching an attack with the most powerful Xiao family technique, while Meng Hao struck with his lightning arts. But Xiao Lin caught Xiao Zhan's blade with two fingers, effortlessly deflecting it.

"You need to train your swordsmanship more," Xiao Lin mocked.

Using Xiao Zhan's body as a shield, he absorbed Meng Hao's lightning strike, leaving his father's charred body barely alive. With a swift motion, Xiao Lin beheaded him, ending his suffering. Now, only Meng Hao remained.

"Please," the emperor begged, "I'll give you anything you want. Just let me live."

Xiao Lin's eyes burned with fury. "Can you bring back my wife? Can you erase the pain and regret she felt in her final moments? No? Then you will die for the sins you've committed."

Without hesitation, Xiao Lin plunged his katana into Meng Hao's stomach. The emperor screamed in agony, his life slipping away as blood pooled on the floor. Xiao Lin watched as the light left Meng Hao's eyes, feeling the weight of his revenge lift, though it left a hollow space inside him.

As sunlight broke through the dark clouds, symbolizing the end of one cycle and the start of another, Xiao Lin whispered to himself: "Revenge is painful."

Before leaving the palace, he activated the system. Sign-in successful: Host has obtained Lightning Dragon Technique.

Xiao Lin barely cared. With his vengeance complete, he left the imperial capital with Feng, heading toward the Bamboo Village. It was nearly the first anniversary of his wife Sakura's death, and Xiao Lin was determined not to be late for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the capital was in shock over the massacre of the imperial family. The officials, desperate to maintain order, crowned Meng Hao's nephew as the new emperor. His first act was to issue a bounty of one million gold for the capture or death of the person responsible for Meng Hao's assassination.

But no one knew Xiao Lin's identity. He had left no witnesses, and the legend of the masked avenger would soon fade into myth.

As for Xiao Lin, he had no regrets. Those who had stood in his way had made their choices, and he had made his. Now, his only thoughts were of Sakura and the peace he hoped to find at her grave.