Bai Tianheng slowly extended a hand, almost reverently, as the scroll hovered between them.
“Heaven-Grade Cultivation Technique!”
His voice was low, but filled with awe.
Even he, the Patriarch of the Bai Clan, had cultivated with an Earth-Grade technique. This was something that every clan and sects would go to war for.
Bai Tianheng’s mouth had gone dry. He stared at the scroll, then at Bai Zihan, then at the sword still floating calmly beside him.
“You brat…” he muttered, shaking his head with a crooked grin. “You’re really trying to give this old man a heart attack.”
Bai Zihan yawned.
“If you die from shock, it just proves the Bai Clan might need a new leader!”
“You—!”
Bai Tianheng became a bit angry at his heartless son, but thinking about the treasures, he quickly calmed down.
“Zihan’er… are you truly giving this to the Clan?”
Bai Zihan raised an eyebrow.
“What, you want me to hoard it? If you don’t want it, then I’ll keep it for myself.”
“Who said I don’t want it? I was just asking.”
Bai Ren looked at him like he was staring at a golden goose that had started laying divine-grade eggs.
“This is a Heaven-Grade Cultivation Technique! With this, our Bai Clan’s overall strength would increase many times. By then, the Li and Zhao Clans would no longer be our opponents!”
Bai Tianheng muttered.
“We can pass down our current secret Earth-Grade Technique to every Bai Clan member and keep this Heaven-Grade Technique for the top geniuses.”
Bai Ren added.
Bai Tianheng nodded.
“We still need to discuss with the other elders, but I don’t think any of them will disagree with the idea. As for the Saint-Grade Sword, we need to keep it hidden until it’s truly needed.”
After all, Bai Xinyue was already drawing a lot of attention to the Bai Clan.
If word of a Saint-Grade Artifact got out, the Bai Clan Estate might be invaded the same day.
Then he looked straight at Bai Zihan.
“But if you’re willing to give something like this away so easily… I assume you got more out of those ruins than you’re letting on.”
Bai Zihan didn’t answer, but the slight curve of his lips said everything.
Bai Ren chuckled.
“Heh. Keep your secrets. At least, you are willing to give back to the Clan.”
Suddenly, Bai Tianheng’s tone sharpened.
“We’ll need to prepare.”
The air shifted.
Everyone there knew what Bai Tianheng was talking about.
***
On the other hand, Bai Xinyue was hit with a wave of nostalgia when she returned to the Bai Clan—
The place where she had been born and raised.
Bai Xinyue stood quietly at the edge of the courtyard, her robes fluttering lightly in the breeze.
The familiar stone tiles beneath her feet… the towering peach trees in the inner garden… even the scent of plum blossom incense wafting from the distant ancestral hall—
It was all the same.
And yet, completely different.
This was the place she once called home but can no longer say the same.
She ran her fingers across one of the old pillars near the courtyard gate, the wood smooth with time. Her expression didn’t change.
But her heart churned.
“Still standing after all these years…” she murmured.
A maidservant nearby stiffened at the sound of her voice and quickly bowed, stammering, “Miss Bai Xinyue… this servant greets you.”
Xinyue glanced at her, expression unreadable.
“You were… Luo Qing, right?”
“Y-yes!”
Luo Qing replied, startled that Bai Xinyue still remembered her all these years.
“You used to sneak me candied lotus when I was grounded,” she said with a faint, tired smile.
“Nice to see you’re still here.”
Luo Qing nodded nervously.
After all, while they might have known each other when they were kids, the situation and status were completely different now.
Moreover, she had also heard about Bai Xinyue acquiring the Immortal Emperor’s Inheritance.
Although she didn’t know exactly what it was, judging by everyone’s reaction—even a mortal could tell it was a big deal.
And the reason she was chosen to serve Bai Xinyue wasn’t because she was being bullied again—not after what Bai Zihan had done previously.
It was because she had volunteered herself.
Others were afraid of Bai Xinyue. Even some elders treated her with cautious respect.
If they made a mistake, they feared they’d have to kiss their lives goodbye.
But Luo Qing knew Bai Xinyue. She knew Bai Xinyue wasn’t what others imagined her to be.
And since the others were afraid, she stepped forward.
Moreover, with Bai Xueqing’s master, Elder Qinglan, and several other elders from the Heaven Sword Sect visiting, the Bai Clan’s servants were completely swamped.
Luo Qing, on the other hand, had it relatively easy. Even though she has to serve Bai Zihan now that he is back, he rarely gives her much to do.
So, she figured she might as well lend a hand and help out where she could.
Some tried to stop her, fearing what Bai Zihan might do, but she insisted. She even said she’d explain things to the Young Master herself.
So, here she was!
“That bastard didn’t mistreat you, did he?”
There was no need to explain who Bai Xinyue was referring to.
“Young Master treats me very well. I even became his personal maid.”
“What? You became that guy’s personal maid? Did he lay a hand on you?”
Luo Qing’s eyes went wide as her face flushed a deep red. She immediately began waving her hands frantically.
“N-no! Miss! Young Master didn’t do anything improper! He’s… he’s been very good to me. Honest!”
Bai Xinyue narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced.
“Respectful? Bai Zihan? Are we talking about the same person?”
Luo Qing lowered her gaze and spoke softly, “He’s changed… a lot.”
That gave Bai Xinyue pause.
Her steps slowed as she continued walking into the courtyard, Luo Qing quietly following behind.
Changed?
That word echoed in her mind, leaving a sour taste behind.
She had heard rumors, of course—but they mostly focused on his change from being a waste to a genius. His character? Still trash.
And yet…
“Has he said anything about me?”
Bai Xinyue asked, almost despite herself.
Luo Qing blinked.
“Ah… not much.”
“Hmph!”
Bai Xinyue acted like she didn’t care, but deep down there was a faint sense of loss.
(This guy… didn’t even care to think once about me after everything he did. What else did I expect?)
“So, Luo Qing, what brings you here?”
“Miss Bai Xinyue, your room has been prepared. You can rest if you’d like, or… would you prefer to see the rest of the estate?”
“Let’s go to the room. I want to rest!”
After all, it had been a long, exhausting day—filled with tension and the constant threat of death at every moment.
Even now, she can’t let her guard down.
Bai Zihan might have convinced her to come with him but she was never going to trust him again.
They walked nonstop until she stopped at the edge of the training grounds.
There, a few young disciples were sparring—barely in Foundation Establishment. They paused when they saw her, murmuring among themselves.
“Is that her…?”
“The one who got the Immortal Emperor’s Inheritance?”
“I heard she used to be a disgrace to the clan…”
“And now? She’s probably stronger than the elders!”
“Shesh! Don’t gossip! You don’t want punishment, do you?”
…
Bai Xinyue didn’t acknowledge any of them.
Her eyes instead landed on a worn, cracked wooden post near the corner of the training field.
Faint traces of sword marks still covered it.
Her sword marks.
She used to train here every morning—back when she believed that hard work would one day make her truly part of the clan.
A bitter laugh slipped past her lips.
“I was so naive…”
“And you aren’t now?”
The voice came from behind.
Bai Xinyue turned to see Bai Zihan approaching, hands behind his back, wearing his signature smirk.
“Bai Zihan!”
She nearly yelled, her eyes immediately filled with anger.
“Luo Qing, what are you doing with her?”
Bai Zihan asked casually, noticing Luo Qing.
“I-I’m serving Miss Bai Xinyue!”
Luo Qing answered.
Bai Zihan frowned slightly, thinking she might be getting bullied again—but considering his reputation, he doubted anyone would be stupid enough to repeat that.
“Is that so? Then continue.”
He said calmly.
Then he turned to Bai Xinyue, who seemed to be on the verge of bursting with anger.
(Can’t even control her emotions and thinks she’s grown up.)
Bai Zihan could only shake his head in pity, watching how Bai Xinyue was letting her emotions flare up in front of a potential enemy.
One should never reveal their true emotions to an enemy—or else they’d take advantage of it.
Bai Xinyue could control her emotions. She had done it countless times.
But in front of Bai Zihan?
Never!
Just seeing his arrogant smirk… his expression that screamed he was above the world… his complete lack of remorse…
Everything about him irritated her to the core.