Chapter 4: a night of deceit and terror

In a darkened room where not a single ray of light entered through the cracks, Bai xieye sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor. Survived three days and three nights, immersed in silence.

As his eyes opened slowly, there was a sharp flash of light that seemed to pierce through the darkness in the room, the dim light from the almost extinguished lantern made it clear, the changes that had taken place on his body, his previously pale skin appeared clearer, with a faint hue signifying stronger life energy. However, what was most striking was her aura.

The air around him felt heavier and more suffocating, the cold aura that was once faintly felt now became more dense and powerful, the look in his eyes exuded a terrifying darkness and overwhelming vengeance, 

He raised his hands slowly, feeling a flow of qi that was much denser and purer than before flowing in his veins. His muscles did not increase in size, but his body became lighter, faster, sharper like a sword sharpened to perfection. Every movement, even one as small as moving a finger, felt much more precise and dangerous.

Bai xieye clenched his hand into a fist, and the air around him trembled. A subtle sound like the popping of wind rang out as the pressure of qi stored within his body was slightly released.

He took a deep breath, calming his blood that was boiling from gaining his new power.

Tonight, a new destruction would begin.

In another corner of the shen residence, a group of servants spoke in low voices, their bodies covered in bruises. They were the lowly servants, the ones at the bottom of the pecking order, who were daily subjected to the wrath of madam shen and her confidants.

"I can't take it anymore... I want to leave this hell," whispered one of them, a girl with a scarred face.

"Leave? You think we can just run away?" Replied a male servant, his eyes full of fatigue. "If we get caught, we'll be chopped up alive."

The atmosphere was getting heavier. There was no hope for them to survive.

However, from the darkness, the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching. The shadow of a person appeared silently, making them stiffen in fear.

"If you want to be free..." the voice was low, almost a whisper, but contained a sharpness that sent chills down their spine.

Bai xieye stood there, his cold smile faintly visible in the dim light. His eyes stared at them like a wolf finding its prey.

"...I can help you guys."

The servants stared at each other, disbelief clearly displayed on their faces. One of them, a girl with tousled hair and puffy cheeks, swallowed nervously. "Why should we believe you?" She asked in a trembling voice. "You're... You're just a kid who's weaker than all of us!"

Bai xieye smiled faintly, but his eyes remained cold. In an instant, he raised his hand and before anyone could react the air around became heavier.

SWOOSH!

From Bai xieye's fingertips, a sharp strand of energy shot out as if invisible, slicing through the wooden wall behind the girl with ease. A fine line formed, then a piece of wood fell with a crack.

All the servants fell silent. Their eyes widened in fear. 

"Me?" Bai xieye whispered, his steps approaching, making them even more frightened and taking a few steps back. "Weak?"

The female floater who spoke earlier swallowed, her hands trembling. "Y-you... What do you want?"

Bai xieye brought his face close to the woman's ear, his voice turning into a seductive whisper.

"I want destruction."

Instantly the air around them became colder. Bai xieye stood straight again, looking at them one by one. "You've all been beaten, humiliated, and treated worse than animals. You hate them, don't you?"

No one answered, but Bai xieye could see their eyes. There was hatred hidden behind those frightened faces.

"Do me a favor," he continued in a soft yet poisonous voice, "and I'll make sure those who torment you will suffer many times over."

The maidservant with the wound on her cheek looked at Bai xieye skeptically. "Y-you're serious?"

Bai xieye's smile widened. "I never joke about hatred."

That night, the seeds of destruction began to grow in the shen family residence.

Elsewhere, inside the shen liang... 

The room was dark, lit only by the faint moonlight from the window. Shen liang slept soundly, his breathing regular, no one noticed that darkness had infiltrated his room.

Shadows flashed by. There was no sound, no gust of wind. A figure appeared near his bed.

With a silent movement, he took out a black needle from his sleeve. Without hesitation, he thrust the needle into shen liang's abdomen.

SST!

shen liang groaned in her sleep, her body twitching, but not waking up immediately. The pain began to spread slowly in his body. Bai xieye savored the moment, waiting until the pain was enough to wake the boy from his sleep.

And the moment shen liang opened his eyes

"AAARGH!"

a loud scream echoed in the room.

Shen liang writhed in pain, his hands fingering his burning stomach. However, before he could realize what was happening, a hand grabbed his wrist with tremendous force.

KRAK!

"A-AAAGH! MY HAND!"

his left hand was brutally broken. Shen Liang's eyes filled with tears of pain, but before he could cry out again....

"Shush..."

Bai xieye covered her mouth with one hand, while the other hand gripped shen Liang's hand viciously.

"You can scream," he whispered softly, "but no one will be able to save you."

shen Liang's body trembled. The stabbing pain began to be overpowered by deep fear. He could not see who was in front of him. The images were gripping, the sounds terrifying, and the sensation of an inhuman presence.

Bai xieye brought his mouth close to shen liang's ear, his voice turning into a creepy whisper.

"I will come every night... I'll drive me crazy slowly..."

Shen liang was speechless again. His broken hand trembled, cold sweat running down his entire body. Bai xieye released his grip and disappeared in the shadows, leaving shen liang alone in the tense darkness of the night.

The next morning... 

Bai xieye walked out of his room, his face as calm as ever. However, his steps were not stopped when a group of guards confronted him in front of the courtyard. 

"Heh, look who's out of the nest," one of the guards taunted, his voice filled with contempt.

"I'm surprised you haven't been beaten to death by the servants," laughed another guard, his eyes full of mockery. 

Bai xieye stared at them, his expression flat.

"Oh? Do you guys want to try it for yourselves?"

The guards burst out laughing. "You think you can fight you? You're just trash with no power--"

Suddenly, Bai xieye disappeared from his place.

In an instant, he was already in front of the guard who spoke. Before the others could react, Bai xieye raised his leg and kicked the man's knee.

KRAK!

"AAAAAARGH!"

The guard fell to his knees, his hands clutching his broken leg. But Bai xieye wasn't done yet. He grabbed the man's hand--

CRACK!

Bai xieye pulled the man's arm until it was severed.

"Bastard!" One of the other guards shouted, trying to pull out his sword. But before he could swing it--

SRETT!

Bai xieye was already behind him.

His neck was twisted.

CRACK!

his body fell lifelessly.

Bai xieye stared at the remaining guards, a cruel smile appearing on his usually flat face without any expression. "Anyone else want to try?"

The remaining guards retreated in fear. Their bodies trembled, cold sweat running down their temples.

Bai xieye kicked the corpse at his feet casually. "If you guys don't want to die, leave me alone."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned around and walked away, leaving the corpses of the remaining bodies behind

him.

However, tonight... There would be another surprise awaiting the shen family.

Amidst the darkness, Bai xieye smiled.

The destruction had just begun.