That night, the moon accompanied Ji Yuan and Su Changqing's journey to Linpo Village. The wind whistled past their flying sword, a sharp sound that split the air.
"Ji Yuan, is that village your home?" Su Changqing's voice was carried by the gust of wind.
"Yes, my home is there. Master, let us descend, I want to show you my village," Ji Yuan replied with great spirit.
"Don't call me Master, just call me by my name." Su Changqing landed the flying sword at the village gate.
"This is our village gate, Brother Chang," Ji Yuan said, his face bright with pride as he guided him.
Su Changqing looked around. "It feels so quiet here. Are there really so few people?"
Ji Yuan explained that the village was close to a forest where bandits and evil cultivators often passed at night. Because of this, the villagers chose to stay in their homes.
Su Changqing merely offered a thin smile and followed Ji Yuan to his home at the corner of the village.
Ji Yuan, in his torn clothes, entered his home's gate with Su Changqing close behind. "Li Na, I'm home! Forgive me for being late this time," he called out, knocking on the door.
The name "Li Na" sent a sudden shock through Su Changqing. The name felt familiar, as if he had known her in a very distant life. He quickly put his plain white mask back on, hiding the surprise on his face.
Crakk!
The door opened slowly. Li Na appeared, her face pale with worry. "My love, why are your clothes in tatters? Was there trouble on your way home?" she whispered, her eyes full of concern. Her heart had not been at peace ever since little Tianwei said his father might be in danger.
Ji Yuan tried to smile, though a hint of exhaustion showed in his eyes. "It's nothing, just a few bandits. But do not worry, I was saved by Brother Su Changqing," he said, gesturing to the man behind him. "He is very kind, and I brought him home as a sign of my gratitude. Can you prepare him some food? He must be hungry."
Li Na looked at the masked figure, then bowed respectfully. "Thank you very much, Master Su, for saving my husband," she said sincerely.
"No, no. I was only passing by on my way to Zhongyao City," Su Changqing answered gently. Li Na, relieved, went to the kitchen.
Finally, I have found you, Li Na. You once rejected my proposal, and now... you are married to a poor man like this? What a pathetic sight. The hatred in his heart was a poison that had festered for a long time. Calm... stay calm. My disguise must not be revealed. I was the one who sent those bandits, as soon as I heard Ji Yuan's wife was named Li Na. In the past, Li Na was a noblewoman in Zhongyao City. Her family was ruined, and when I proposed, she rejected me outright. This grudge... I will never forget it.
Dukk! Dukk!
The sound of Ji Yuan's footsteps broke Su Changqing's reverie. Ji Yuan sat on a chair opposite him, his face beaming. "What do you think, Brother Su, is my home comfortable? Oh, I have a son, his name is Ji Tianwei.
He is very cute. After we eat, I will introduce him to you." Ji Yuan's enthusiasm was pure, filled with the hope that his beloved son could become a disciple of a great cultivator like Su Changqing.
Soon after, Li Na entered the living room with plates of food. "I hope it suits your taste, Master Su," she said warmly. She placed the food on the table, then sat beside Ji Yuan, smiling.
She did not realize that, behind the plain white mask before her, a pair of eyes stared at her with intentions far from kind.
They ate in a comfortable silence. Though the plates were not entirely empty, they were full. Li Na sat for a while, then returned to the bedroom to be with Ji Tianwei.
"Ahh, my stomach is about to explode from being so full," Ji Yuan laughed heartily, rubbing his belly. "What do you think, Brother Su, does my wife's cooking suit your taste?"
Su Changqing smiled behind his mask. "Yes, it is very delicious. I am full, thank you, Brother Ji," he replied with a forced laugh.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Ji Yuan exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with hope. "I want to introduce you to my son. Maybe you'll accept him as a disciple."
"Of course," Su Changqing answered, his eyes narrowing slightly behind the mask—an expression hidden from Ji Yuan. "I will wait."
Ji Yuan hurried to the bedroom. "Li Na, wake up," he whispered, gently stroking her cheek. "I want to introduce little Tian to Brother Su. Maybe he can be a great master for our beloved child."
Li Na opened her eyes, and upon hearing his words, she sat up at once. "Ji Yuan, he is still so small. Is it not too early for him to cultivate?" she asked, her voice filled with a mother's worry.
Ji Yuan then recounted in detail his encounter with the bandits and how Su Changqing had saved him with ease. "His power is extraordinary, Li Na. We must take this chance so our son can protect himself in the future," he insisted.
After hearing the story, Li Na's fears lessened, but doubt remained in her heart. She nodded slowly, giving in to her husband.
"Little Tian, wake up, my boy. Your father will introduce you to a great cultivator," Ji Yuan whispered gently, patting and stroking his son's head.
Ji Tianwei woke up, rubbing his eyes and sitting up. Hearing the words "great cultivator" from his father, his eyes instantly brightened with excitement. He happily took Ji Yuan's hand, eager to meet the person his father admired so much.
Dukk! Dukk!
The cheerful footsteps of little Ji Tianwei echoed as he pulled his father to the living room.
Meanwhile, Li Na remained in the bedroom, her gaze fixed on the closed door. She hugged her blanket tightly, a sense of unease gripping her heart, as if she was reluctant to see her son go.
Su Changqing, sitting calmly in the living room, secretly sent a telepathic command to his assassins.
A moment later, a swarm of ordinary crickets, modified with their blood and given a sleeping spell, appeared in the darkness outside.
The crickets, controlled from afar, flew silently toward Li Na's bedroom window.
After the krikk! of the thousands of crickets filled the air, Li Na slowly fell into a deep sleep.
In the living room, Ji Tianwei and Ji Yuan met Su Changqing. Ji Tianwei's face was beaming with joy. "Wow, Papa! Is this the great cultivator you talked about? He's like a saint!" His eyes sparkled with awe.
Hearing his son's praise, Ji Yuan's heart swelled with pride. He approached Su Changqing. "Brother Su, this is my son, Tian. What do you think, can he be your disciple?"
Su Changqing looked at Ji Tianwei. A sinister smile spread behind his plain white mask. An Immortal Body! Does Ji Yuan not see it? This child cannot be killed even with a powerful artifact. And now, he wants to hand him over to me? Hehe, this is better than I expected. I will accept him, then drain his blood essence and take his Immortal Body for myself. This is perfect!
With a voice that sounded gentle and sincere, Su Changqing walked closer to Ji Tianwei. "Of course. I will care for him. I will take him now. There is no need for him to bring anything; I will give him all that he needs."
"Oh, really? Thank you so much, Brother Su! Thank you!" Ji Yuan's joyous laughter filled the entire room. "With this, little Tian will become a great cultivator in the future! Hahaha!"
They both walked outside. Ji Yuan hugged his son one last time, then looked on with pride as Su Changqing carried Ji Tianwei onto his flying sword.
Wushh!
Once they were far enough, a chilling, dark aura suddenly erupted from Su Changqing. Through his telepathy, he sent a command to his assassins. "Kill Ji Yuan and Li Na. Burn their house to ash! Now!"
In the forest near the village, a Nascent Soul-stage assassin smiled evilly and flew toward Linpo Village. The crickets spread out, forming a large formation that sealed the house. The sound of their cries, krikk! krikk!, filled the air, a deadly chorus.
Li Na, already asleep, fell into a deeper slumber. Ji Yuan, who had just returned to the room with a heart full of relief and hope for his son's future, lay down next to his wife and also fell asleep.
The cricket formation ensured that no sound or sensation could get in or out. A creak was heard as the bedroom door opened. Two assassins stepped inside.
They were immune to the crickets' effect, as the insects had been modified with their own blood. With cold, emotionless stares, they began to search the house, taking all the money and valuables they could find.
Once they were done, one of them conjured a black flame from his hand and set the house on fire. The flames spread, but the heat was contained within the formation.
Inside the room, Ji Yuan and Li Na felt nothing. Their skin began to melt slowly, like wax. Their blood boiled in their veins, and their bones gradually turned to ash. They died a gruesome death without ever feeling pain or knowing why.
When the fire subsided, nothing remained of the house except a pile of foul-smelling ash. Linpo Village was silent once more, as if nothing had ever happened there.
Ji Tianwei, sitting on the flying sword behind Su Changqing, suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. An ethereal scent of smoke reached him. With a naive voice filled with fear, he asked, "Master Su, are my parents alright?"
Upon hearing the question, Su Changqing let out a cold laugh. His laughter was piercing, full of mockery.
Slowly, he took off his plain white mask, revealing his true face. His face was covered in scars, and his eyes glowed with a terrifying red light. A dark aura exploded from his body, enveloping the flying sword.
Ji Tianwei, seeing this transformation, was frozen with terror. He realized that the person he had praised as a "saint" was not what he seemed. He was a demonic cultivator.