The morning sun pierced through the gaps in the leaves, casting a soft light into the humble hut deep in the forest. The fresh air carried the scent of damp earth, and the birds chirped, signaling the arrival of a new day.
Jian Mo slowly opened his eyes. The darkness within him had not fully disappeared, but each morning served as a reminder that he still had a reason to keep going.
"Father… are you awake?" a soft voice, still laced with sleep, came from the corner of the room.
Su Daji, her eyes still half-closed, sat up from her straw mat. Her hair was messy, yet her smile remained genuine—one of the simple things that made Jian Mo feel that life was worth fighting for, even though the world once deemed him a monster.
"Today, you slept longer than usual," Jian Mo said with a faint smile.
"Because I had a sweet dream," Su Daji replied, stretching her body. "I dreamed we had a big house with many flowers… and a lake in front of it."
Jian Mo paused for a moment, allowing Su Daji's dream to echo in his mind—a life of peace, far from bloodshed and the curse of his past.
"That's a beautiful dream," he said softly. "We'll plant flowers here. As many as you want."
Su Daji's eyes brightened. "Really?"
Jian Mo nodded firmly.
There would be no secret techniques. No weapons that Su Daji had to hold in her small hands. She would grow up knowing a world of peace, a world she had never had the chance to experience.
Their days passed in simple routines. Jian Mo hunted and gathered firewood, while Su Daji helped tend to the wild plants and arrange their little hut. Occasionally, they would walk to the river, catch fish, or simply enjoy the sound of the flowing water.
However, beneath the tranquility, Jian Mo began to sense a shift.
Thin smoke was sometimes visible in the distance, though the forest was usually devoid of human activity. The sounds of unfamiliar footsteps could be heard at night—heavy and unlike the steps of ordinary hunters. The deer, which usually roamed freely, had begun to flee, and the remains of wild animals were found with strange wounds.
Jian Mo realized one thing: the outside world was beginning to creep in.
He gathered the remaining firewood and placed it near the stove, making sure that Su Daji stayed busy with her simple tasks. He didn't want his anxiety to show on his face.
"Su Daji," he called softly. "Let's head home, we've got plenty of fish."
The child paused, looking at Jian Mo with curiosity. "Is something wrong?"
Jian Mo smiled faintly, trying to reassure her. "Father misses home. After all, our home is the best."
Su Daji nodded, though still a bit confused. "Okay, Father, I'll get ready."
For now, Jian Mo could still protect the little world he had built.
Soon, as they were about to head home, a young man, Du Chen, and a beautiful woman, Hyeon Li, approached them.
"Senior, it's true you're here. This is a gift of thanks from us, and there are some sweets for Su Daji too," Hyeon Li said with a smile.
Jian Mo turned to face them, while Su Daji looked confused and asked, "Who are they, Father?"
"They're the ones who gave us a ride in their carriage before. So, thank them," Jian Mo replied.
"Wow, thank you, big brother!" Su Daji exclaimed happily.
Meanwhile, Du Chen, who was shy, suddenly bowed and knelt.
"Senior, may I follow you?" Du Chen asked with hopeful eyes.
"No, no. I'm just a father. Go back," Jian Mo replied firmly.
"Let's go, Su Daji," he continued, cutting off the conversation.
"Okay, Father," Su Daji responded cheerfully.
They all parted ways. Jian Mo and Su Daji went home, while Du Chen and Hyeon Li hurried to the Martial Alliance to report. Little did they know, the city of Daeng was facing a much greater threat.
---
Meanwhile, in the city of Daeng, flames consumed the streets.
Thick black smoke rose high into the sky, engulfing the heavens. The screams of the citizens mingled with the sound of clashing metal and the rumbling spread of fire.
Amidst the rubble of the collapsed market, stood a figure cloaked in black, with a fiery emblem on his back—one of the leaders of the Demon Fire, at the Emperor level.
"This is only the beginning," he said coldly, looking at the destruction beneath his feet. "The Martial Alliance will soon know that a new ruler has risen."
"There are no survivors left to oppose us," one of his subordinates reported. "Their expeditionary forces... wiped out."
"Of course," the leader replied with a sneer. "They've lived too long in the illusion of peace."
His eyes turned toward the south, toward the secluded forest border untouched by conflict.
"Now, it's time to expand our territory. Erase every trace of the old world."
---
At the Martial Alliance Pavilion
A bloody report scroll lay across the large table.
"Our expedition failed. The city of Daeng is under the control of Demon Fire," one of the guards said in a grim tone.
Cheon Ji clenched his fists tightly. "How many casualties?"
"All... lost contact. Most likely all perished."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
"If Demon Fire dares challenge the Alliance in our own territory," Cheon Ji said coldly, "they've crossed the line."
"What are your orders?" Mo Tian asked cautiously.
A small conflict was unavoidable now—and he knew that even the smallest spark could become a sea of destruction if left unchecked.
"Prepare the main forces. We will cleanse the city of Daeng... and make sure no one dares to desecrate the peace of the martial world again."