Shattered Passion of a Youth

Everyone stood in silence, barely daring to move or breathe loudly. Those who had seen Bai Xiaotong's cold and murderous expressions were paralyzed with fear. 

Is this still the shy young lady they had lived with for the past 39 months?

Since Bai Xiaotong would only do extreme missions and clear high-level gates alone, no one had seen her in action.

Thus, the soldiers didn't take this soft persimmon seriously because of her young age and hidden background. She was dismissed as some spoiled brat with good connections, only there to play house in the army.

However, looking at the thick aura of death leaking from her small body, the shadow of her frail exterior they hastily judged as weak and nothing impressive had long been drowned and forgotten.

Only now did it start to slowly sink into them that this frail-looking lass is a true awakener and a dangerous variable.

Bai Xiaotong didn't need to guess what they were thinking. 

Even so, she wasn't kind enough to assure them that she wouldn't commit unnecessary murder. Because she might just have to if they pulled any tricks against her.

During her time on the front line, she had overlooked their past behaviors and forgiven the disrespect of placing her in the lowest rung of ordinary soldiers. 

Audaciously, making her an unawakened person's subordinate even when everyone knew she was a highly valued S-Rank Awakener across other countries.

For the sake of her grandpa, Bai Xiong, who held military men in high regard, she didn't make a fuss about it. 

Who knows how many times she had restrained herself from punching her officer's face, just to give Bai Xiong peace of mind.

However, that never meant she had to force herself to do their bidding just because they said so when she was already this furious!

She could handle being insulted, but doing so to her family and the brave soldiers who saved everyone at the start by sacrificing their lives, was a death wish!

And those scumbags trapped inside the dungeon, not only had they mocked the deaths of her heroes but even dragged her parents who died on duty while people like them are running away.

"Kill me? You arrogant brat! Bai Xiaotong, do you think you'll get away unscathed after threatening me just because you're an Awakener?"

"Even your grandpa still has to give me a face and dare not to be pompous in front of other officers. I'll make sure to get you properly disciplined! Since your parents failed to do—"

The color in her face instantly drained and suddenly she felt an excruciating pain coming from her right wrist.

Wait... Is that her hand falling off?!

"AHH! My... my hand!" Her eyes trembled and widened in horror.

It hurts, it hurts so bad! Someone help her, argh!!

"Me-Medic! Call the medic fast!" The soldiers who were momentarily stunned snapped back to reality and shouted in panic when they heard the sharp cry of Lu Yin.

"Bai Xiaotong, you attacked me! You lunatic dared to attack me, your superior?! I'll kill you—"

Blag!

Before she could move and come close to Xiaotong a loud noise erupted and the only thing the throng of onlookers saw was Captain Lu's body flying away.

Bai Xiaotong had enough and couldn't endure more of Lu Yin's nonsense.

"Hui... Hui Mei, should we... still call for medic or should we just contact the funeral service?"

Ugh. What about both?

And so, on that sweltering summer day, she departed from the front line with her heart cold and lifeless. Only a handful of high-ranking military officials and the people who witnessed the event with their own eyes knew that the reason she was dismissed was that she severed her superior's hand and shattered all her left ribs without remorse.

As for Bai Xiaotong, she didn't care whether she stayed or not. Her worldview had completely collapsed.

She was young and passionate but upon losing her faith in people, that lost passion also made her completely lose the will to protect the people whom her grandpa and parents cherished deeply.

The least they could do was pray for her parents' departing souls but instead, they insulted them and spread nasty rumors that held no truth about them.

Crying harshly in her disappointment, she clasped her chest and clenched the pendant with a portrait of the three of them in it.

"Mom, Dad, why did you have to leave? Liars. You said saving the weak is what the strong should do. What's the use of saving the lives of ingrates and selfish people?"

"From now on, I will only use my power to protect the people I love. I don't care about others; I hate them all!"

She bawled her eyes and continued her sobbing hiccups.

"I swear, if they ever make Grandpa sad, then no one in the world will be happy."

At that very moment, the young Bai Xiaotong thought that if the same mockery ever happened to her kind and honest grandpa, that would only mean one thing. Those people had just unknowingly cut off the last string that holds her sanity from rampaging.

---

Snapping back to reality, Bai Xiaotong smiled coldly without Grandpa Bai noticing. 

That is to say, he was completely unaware of the brewing storm swirling through her mind with him at the center.

Bai Xiaotong blinked calmly like nothing happened before continuing to speak, "Compared to the Capital, this place is far safer. Why don't you just move in with me Grandpa? We can grow food here and raise some livestock together."