In late autumn, inside a dilapidated temple, an old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles leaned against a worn-out wooden table, resting. A thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy rested beside him, both of them lying on a layer of straw. Although the boy was dressed in rags and his face was covered in dust, it still couldn't hide the hint of heroism on his face. Both the old man and the boy looked exhausted.
The bright moonlight covered the earth, as if cloaking it in a 'silver veil'. From a distance, a few dog barks could be heard from time to time, creating a desolate and chilly atmosphere.
The Young Lord, who had been keeping his eyes tightly shut, suddenly blinked a few times, then let out a sharp scream: "Don't kill my parents, my brother!" This scream broke the silence of the cold night, drawing a few more barks from dogs.
The old man was also startled awake by the Young Lord's scream. He turned to look at the Young Lord beside him, his face full of kindness, his eyes revealing an affection that only family members share.
The old man gently patted the Young Lord's shoulder with immense tenderness, softly muttering to himself, yet also seemingly comforting the Young Lord beside him: "Young Lord, for the past half-month, we have been fleeing, hiding, enduring the elements, and living on the brink of death. When have you ever suffered such hardships?"
The old man had intended to pat the Young Lord a few times, hoping he would calm down and sleep a bit more, but at that moment, the Young Lord suddenly opened his eyes. He stared at the old man, tears welling up in his eyes. After composing himself, he said, "Grandpa Bai, when will we reach my maternal grandfather's house?"
The old man, referred to as Grandpa Bai by the Young Lord, replied, "Young Lord, at this speed, we should arrive in about five days."
The Young Lord speaking was named Zhang Haoyang, the Young Lord of the Zhang Family in Anping City. The old man was his family's servant, named Bai Shaoyang.
Bai Shaoyang's relationship with Zhang Haoyang's grandfather was extraordinary. Zhang Haoyang's grandfather, Zhang Zhenlong, had once saved Bai Shaoyang's life. To repay this life-saving kindness, Bai Shaoyang served as a servant in the Zhang Family, protecting the younger generation. Zhang Zhenlong had originally intended to treat Bai Shaoyang as a brother, but Bai Shaoyang consistently refused, citing that a life-saving kindness was like being given a second life. Seeing Bai Shaoyang's resolute attitude, Zhang Zhenlong could only respect his wishes.
Although Bai Shaoyang served as a servant in the Zhang Family, no one in the family ever treated him as such. Zhang Haoyang and his elder brother, Zhang Haofeng, even respectfully called Bai Shaoyang, Grandpa Bai.
Zhang Haoyang slowly stood up and walked to the temple entrance, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Zhang Family in Anping City. He said with a sorrowful sob, "Grandpa Bai, why did those masked men kill my grandfather, my parents? Why did they annihilate my entire clan? Every night, I dream of that bloody scene. My parents told Grandpa Bai and me to hide in the ancestral temple's secret passage. From that dark passage, through a crack, I personally witnessed my parents and clansmen tragically die by the masked men's blades and swords. Every time I dream of this, I wake up in a fright. I swear I will get revenge. I will find out the origins of these masked men and avenge my deceased grandfather, parents, brother, and uncles."
At this moment, the Young Lord's tender face was already covered in tears. His gaze was firm, his eyes chillingly cold, and his attitude resolute; all of this formed a strong contrast with his age.
Bai Shaoyang walked up to the Young Lord, gently patted his shoulder, and said, "Young Lord, once we reach the Shangguan Family in White Emperor City and explain the situation to the Shangguan Family Head, we will make a long-term plan." Zhang Haoyang nodded slightly, then looked again in the direction of the Zhang Family in Anping City.
The moonlight remained, and after the distant dog barks faded, the cold night quickly fell back into a deathly silence.