The early morning light filtered through the cracked window, its pale beams casting a soft glow across the floor.
Fang Zheng's eyes fluttered open, his gaze sharp and searching.
He blinked, disoriented for a moment, before a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Brother, I'm coming!"
The words spilled out in an innocent, childlike cheer, but there was a quiet intensity in his voice.
With a burst of energy, he sprang from the bed, his bare feet slapping against the cold wooden floor as he dashed through the house.
He checked the guest's room first, the shadows within offering no answers. The hallway was empty, too.
His brow furrowed.
Frustration began to pool within him, a feeling he couldn't quite shake.
His steps slowed, the rush of his heart thudding loudly in his chest as he wandered aimlessly, checking corners, glancing behind curtains.
Tired, he crumbled to the floor, his voice muttering under his breath, a note of defiance mixed with resignation:
"Hm... just you wait."
Clap. Clap.
Two sharp claps echoed, cutting through the stillness.
Fang Zheng's head snapped up, his eyes flashing with a sudden spark of determination.
His body surged forward, towards his room, toward his brother.
First, he checked beneath the bed, his small hands reaching desperately into the shadows.
Nothing.
Then, the cupboard doors flew open, his breath growing ragged as he rummaged through the clothes, only to find... emptiness.
A tinge of irritation twisted in his gut.
"I lost... I admit it, okay?" The words spilled out in a mixture of frustration and defeat, yet he wasn't ready to give up.
The house was still.
No answer. No movement.
He collapsed on the bed, his chest heavy with exhaustion, the adrenaline beginning to fade.
Crack.
A soft sound, barely noticeable. But it was enough.
Fang Zheng jumped up in excitement, his heart racing as he scanned the room.
"You are outside, that's cheating!" he shouted.
He moved toward the window and gazed outside.
Soon, he was mesmerized by the beauty that lay before him. The bamboo trees swayed gently in the breeze, the delicate song of birds drifting through the air. His eyes softened as he allowed himself a moment of peace.
And then—
"Boo!"
The sharp sound split the quiet, followed by a sudden, brutal shove that knocked him forward.
"Aaagghhh!" Fang Zheng's scream ripped through the air as he lost his balance, tumbling violently outside the window. His body collided with the outside world, crashing downward with a sickening thud.
Blood spread beneath him, staining the ground, pooling in a crimson testament to his fall.
From within the house, the muffled sound of footsteps, frantic and hasty, echoed through the corridors. Fang Mo and Jiaying stumbled from their room, half-dressed, faces twisted in shock and confusion.
They barely had time to process the sight—Fang Zheng's bloodied form sprawled in the dirt—before they sprinted toward him.
"What happened?" Fang Mo shouted, the desperation in his tone barely concealed as he rushed to Fang Zheng's lifeless form, his hands trembling as he hoisted him from the cold earth.
The blood—red, ominous, and thick—pooled around Fang Zheng's body, a stark contrast to the growing crowd that watched, murmuring in hushed horror.
But Fang Zheng's eyes remained shut.
The world seemed to move in slow motion as the crowd stared at the family's tragedy unfolding before them.
Inside the house, Jiaying wore her robes with swift precision, the calm exterior betraying the turmoil stirring beneath. She stepped outside, her gaze flicking over to the scene just in time to see Fang Mo carrying Fang Zheng into the hall.
The air felt heavy as Fang Mo moved with practiced urgency, laying Fang Zheng on a mat in the center of the room.
The sound of Gu Worms activating reverberated in the stillness.
He was healing his son—frenzied, but steady—hands trembling as he summoned the Nine Leaf Vitality Grass.
Yet, despite his efforts, Fang Zheng remained unconscious, a ragdoll in his father's grip.
The tension cracked like thunder as Fang Yuan appeared at the top of the stairs, his voice filled with frantic dread.
"Dad! Mom!"
"Fang Zheng!" His cry echoed through the hall as he rushed toward Jiaying, his small form colliding with hers. His arms wrapped around her waist in desperation.
"Mom, will Fang Zheng be okay?"
"Please, tell me he'll be okay!" His voice cracked, tears blurring his vision.
Jiaying's fingers gently ruffled his hair, the soft motion a silent comfort amidst the chaos.
She whispered, her voice laced with a rare softness, "Don't worry, he'll be fine. It's not life-threatening." Her eyes darted to Fang Mo, who worked tirelessly over Fang Zheng's unconscious form.
"Your father's using the Vitality Leaf. It will keep him safe for now. But—" she hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on her, "We need to call a healer. A Gu Master. We can't leave it like this."
Her gaze lingered on Fang Mo, but there was something deeper in her eyes—a question. A silent plea.
Should we delay our mission?
Fang Mo's lips thinned, the lines of his face tightening with resolve. He shook his head as he continued to work on his son. "No."
"The clan elders have made it clear. The mission can't be delayed. We leave tonight."
The words struck the air like cold iron.
"We need to deal with that Xiao Clan genius before he becomes a Rank 2 Gu Master." He sighed, a deep sorrow marking his features.
His son was lying there, barely breathing, but the cold duty of the clan still pulled at him, like an invisible leash.
Fang Yuan's eyes narrowed with growing fury. His voice, thick with emotion, cut through the tension.
"Dad… how can you say that?" His hands clenched into fists.
"How is a mission more important than your own son's life?" His voice cracked, and for a moment, his grief spilled over into rage.
"Is this what the clan is?"
"A place that can't even let you take care of your own children when they need you most?"