On the second day of their wedding, Bai Tian's parents had already returned to the Xiao family residence to handle urgent matters.
Meanwhile, at the celebration, Bai Tian could not avoid drinking large amounts of wine. By the end of the night, he appeared so drunk he could barely stand. In truth, he disliked alcohol and was perfectly sober. It wasn't because he could hold his liquor well, but rather because, in accordance with tradition, every cup meant for him had been discreetly replaced.
He kept up his act with exaggerated hiccups until every drop of "wine" before him had been removed. Then, with a sly grin, he dipped his left hand into a little wine, rubbed it onto his face until it felt hot, held his breath to make his cheeks flush, and staggered toward his room, swaying left and right like a truly drunken man.
The scent of wine spread through the air as he entered, as though he might collapse at any moment. Raising his head clumsily, he looked toward Mu Xingyue, who sat at the edge of the bed with her eyes closed. The stillness was mesmerizing—an almost mystical aura that made it hard to look away.
Suddenly, Mu Xingyue opened her eyes and lazily waved her right hand. An irresistible force struck Bai Tian, sending him tumbling out the door and into the courtyard, nearly hitting a stone table.
"Ugh…!" Bai Tian groaned, rubbing his backside. It took effort to stand, and when he did, he shouted in annoyance,"Damn! Did you have to be that rough? I'm fragile, and you hit me like you're trying to kill me! People might think you want to destroy your own husband!"
The bedroom door slammed shut.
Bai Tian tried to go back in, but the door was firmly locked. His face darkened."This woman… not only is she not charming, she takes jokes seriously! How am I supposed to live like this? We may not have any emotional bond yet, but couldn't she at least be a little gentle with me?" he thought bitterly.
Mu Xingyue knew exactly what he was thinking but remained silent.
He stood before the door for a long time, but there was no sign of it opening. The small courtyard had only one building, no spare rooms, and no usable storage shed. On an ordinary day, he might sneak into his aunt's house to sleep.
The cold night wind made him shiver. Knocking softly, he said weakly,"Hey… you're not really going to let me sleep out here, are you? You know there are strange people wandering around. If I'm caught outside, it could damage the clan's reputation. This could cause trouble."
He added, "After all, I'm still your husband. Can you really be this heartless? This is for the clan's good, too."
Still no reply. Just as he was about to kick the door, the lock finally turned. The door opened slightly.
Bai Tian slipped inside and quickly shut it. Mu Xingyue was still sitting elegantly on the bed, her cold demeanor making her seem unreachable. She glanced at him and said flatly, "Sleep."
"…Where?" Bai Tian scratched his chin. The small room held only a bed, a writing desk, a dining table, and two wardrobes. There was barely space to walk, let alone sleep on the floor like a pet.
"As yesterday. On the floor. But not like yesterday," Mu Xingyue replied curtly.
"No, thank you. I'll find another room," Bai Tian muttered, turning to leave—only to remember there were no empty rooms.
He had married a beautiful woman, yet on his wedding night he couldn't touch her, couldn't even share her bed. In the end, he could only sit against the cold wall.
The red candlelight reflected on the festively decorated room, creating a beauty tinged with unease. Two figures, one in white and one in black, sat in long silence—one at the edge of the bed, the other curled in a corner. Only their quiet breathing could be heard.
After a while, Bai Tian couldn't stand it. "You're… not actually going to leave me here all night, are you?"
Mu Xingyue's long lashes trembled. She shifted slightly to lie down, then pulled down the dark red bed curtain. From outside, Bai Tian could only see her vague silhouette through the dim light.
Suddenly, she waved her hand, and a gust of cold wind extinguished both red candles—leaving Bai Tian alone in total darkness.
In the Xiao family's domain, the night sky was thick and dark, as if trying to hide from the tragedy about to unfold. Amid the silence, light but steady footsteps echoed—a group of black-robed figures moved swiftly through the shadows. They carried oil sacks, pouring their contents over several buildings. The fire had not yet been lit, but the scent of fuel and death already filled the air.
Their targets were no random places—every one was a business owned by Bai Tian's family.
In a residence neither too grand nor too modest, a married couple—Bai Tian's parents—were resting. But tonight felt wrong… too quiet.
The wife went to the window, pulling the curtain aside. Her eyes widened."Husband… there are people…" she whispered, voice trembling. Outside, dark silhouettes were dousing their walls in oil, torches already burning in their hands.
Without hesitation, they slipped out the back door, trying to escape through a narrow alley. But heavy footsteps and the rustle of robes closed in."Catch them!" barked one of the black-robed men.
They ran as fast as they could, but two figures appeared ahead, blocking the way. Rough hands grabbed them. Their cries were swallowed by the night as they were dragged away into the darkness.
At the Xiao family's main estate, the atmosphere was like a stormy sea. The elders sat with tense faces. Though only the son of a concubine, Xio Feng was a pillar of the clan's finances—his business skills accounted for 5% of the family's income. Losing him or his enterprises was not just a number; it was a threat to the stability of the entire clan.
Rumors spread like smoke in every corner."I'm certain this is the Li family's doing!" one elder snapped."No… this must be because of Bai Tian's marriage," another whispered, his tone like venom creeping into the air.
Outside, light rain began to fall, but the flames of hatred only burned hotter. Gossip and unrest blanketed the Xiao family, marking the beginning of the storm to come.
The air in the room was damp and stifling, filled with the metallic tang of rust and the earthy scent of wet soil. A lone oil lantern swayed in the corner, casting shadows on the walls that writhed like dancing demons.
Bai Tian's parents sat on worn wooden chairs, their hands bound with rough rope. Standing before them was a man in a black robe, his face hidden behind an iron mask engraved with a coiling serpent.
"So… you are involved," he said, his voice deep and grating, like stone scraping stone.
"I don't know what you mean!" Bai Tian's father replied hoarsely but firmly, though confusion flickered in his eyes.
The masked man stepped closer, each slow footstep pounding in their chests."Xio Tian…" he said softly.
Bai Tian's mother tried to step forward, but was stopped by Xio Feng's hand.
In the corner, two more black-robed men stood silently, holding torches. Their gazes were as sharp as blades.
The masked man crouched, locking eyes with Bai Tian's father."You have two choices. Die… or erase everything about Xio Tian."
Silence. Memories of Bai Tian's childhood flashed through the father's mind. Deep down, he knew he had no choice. He said nothing, and eventually exhaustion pulled him into sleep.
After that, someone arrived and gazed at the couple. From their hand, a mysterious light emerged and entered through the couple's foreheads. Moments later, everything fell silent once again.