Chapter 34: The Aura of Doom

The hall was shrouded in darkness, heavy with the stench of blood that lingered endlessly in the air. Mu Min, whose hair was always meticulously groomed, now wore it in wild disarray. Wounds, large and small, covered his body—some with flesh turned outward, still seeping blood. Gasping for breath, he lifted his sword and struck again at the approaching foe. When the man fell at his feet, Mu Min breathed a faint sigh of relief and used the sword’s tip to brace himself as he struggled upright. He stared at his trembling, sword-wielding hand, knowing full well he could not last much longer...

The cacophony of battle outside the hall never ceased. Mu Min drew a deep breath, grasped his sword, and staggered toward the exit. Not yet, he told himself. He could not fall yet... Slowly dragging his battered body, he took a single step beyond the great doors. For once, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his usually stern face. Then, yielding to exhaustion, he let himself collapse against the threshold and slid to the ground.

The master had arrived. Now, everything would be settled.

A slender youth, tall and graceful, moved with effortless ease through the crowd, leaving a corpse in his wake at every step. The hem of his pale yellow robe was flecked with droplets of blood, swaying with each movement like blossoming red plum petals.

He came to a stop, surrounded by bodies strewn across the floor. With cold indifference, the youth surveyed the scene. The survivors, upon meeting his pitch-black, luminous phoenix eyes, shivered uncontrollably and fell to their knees. The silver blade in his hand gleamed with a chilling light, dark blood dripping from its edge.

Standing amid the pool of blood, the youth’s snow-white face was spattered with a few crimson stains, a vermillion mark upon his brow accentuating his peerless beauty.

There was not a trace of emotion on that stunning face. He gazed icily at the kneeling crowd surrounding him, his sharp chin raised proudly—unwavering, unyielding.

Mu Min’s gaze never left the youth. After a long moment, he propped himself up and knelt solemnly before him, bowing deeply and proclaiming in a clear voice, “Greetings, Pavilion Master!” The others, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly knelt and echoed, “Greetings, Pavilion Master!” At this, the youth’s lips curled faintly in a cool smile. “Rise,” he replied.

With hands clasped behind his back, he strode slowly into the hall, where seven or eight corpses still lay. Mu Min, understanding, quickly ordered the bodies to be removed. Beigong Qiyi took the chief seat, casually tore the cover from the chair’s back, and meticulously wiped the blood from his sword. Only when the blade shone coldly did he sheath it once more.

Beigong Qiyi looked up at the kneeling crowd, one brow arched, a sneer curling his lips. “While I’ve been away from the pavilion, it seems some among you have begun to entertain other ambitions.” The congregation shuddered inwardly. Mu Min stood beside Beigong Qiyi with his head bowed in silence.

Long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the chair’s armrest. The hall was utterly silent, each sharp “pa pa” of his tapping echoing eerily in the quiet. Beigong Qiyi sat upright, his tone heavy: “Since all those with misplaced ambitions have now been executed, I shall let this matter rest. However...” His phoenix eyes narrowed coldly as he swept his gaze over them. “If anyone else harbors thoughts they shouldn’t, I will not hesitate to reunite them with their families in the afterlife!”

A tremor ran through the congregation, who prostrated themselves and cried, “We would not dare!” Beigong Qiyi relaxed, leaning back contentedly and smiling. “Go and tend to your wounds. See Mu Min for medicine.”

Having dealt with the pavilion’s affairs by turns of severity and gentleness, Beigong Qiyi gave Mu Min some instructions, changed into clean clothes, and finally returned to “Li Manor.”

No sooner had he stepped into “Serene Abode” than two young women in pale violet gowns knelt gracefully before him. He glanced at them and waved them to rise, asking offhandedly, “What is it?”

One of the maids smiled demurely. “Young Master, the Lord requests your presence in Ascending Cloud Hall.” Ascending Cloud Hall... Beigong Qiyi smiled faintly, already guessing the reason. He nodded, allowed the maid to dress him in formal attire and arrange his hair anew.

From afar, the three bold characters “Ascending Cloud Hall” could be seen on a majestic plaque. Beigong Qiyi straightened his collar, ascended the long tiers of white jade steps, and pushed open the vermillion and gold doors. Inside, twin dragon-carved columns stood tall. Beigong Juechen, wrapped in a complicated dark green robe, wore his jet-black hair coiled into a crown inlaid with gold and pearls, revealing a broad, smooth brow and bold, sword-like brows that swept to his temples.

The man’s features bristled with hostility. Upon the polished, lustrous floor of the grand hall, a crowd knelt in a dark, trembling mass, none daring to utter a word. Beigong Qiyi smiled slightly as he walked through the kneeling throng to the front. Lifting his robes, he knelt on one knee. “Greetings, Elder Brother.”

Beigong Juechen’s green eyes swept over him. He inclined his head. “Rise, come stand by me.” Beigong Qiyi stood and mounted the steps to stand by his side.

Squinting down at the kneeling crowd, Beigong Juechen spoke in a low voice. “Some of you know very well how our father died. I did not deal with you then because I did not wish to sully my hands—flies, after all, cannot turn the world upside down. But...” He smiled faintly, his manner nonchalant. “Even flies are annoying when they come to bite you, however harmless they may seem.” As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and made a grasping motion through the air.

A man clad in black was dragged from the crowd, trembling as he knelt on the polished floor, kowtowing repeatedly. “Spare me, Lord! Spare me...!”

Beigong Juechen looked down coldly at his quivering form, his emerald eyes utterly devoid of emotion. “From the moment you betrayed Li Manor, you must have known your fate.”

The man stiffened, then suddenly raised his bloodshot eyes to glare at Beigong Juechen, his face contorted in rage. “I have served Li Manor loyally since birth, over forty years, yet I remain nothing but a lowly western court commander! Why? Why! I only wanted to climb higher, to live a better life—is that so wrong?!”

Beigong Juechen regarded him as one would look at an ant. “Are you not aware of your own abilities?” At these words, the man’s face froze. He spat blood in fury. “I won’t accept it! I refuse! I’ll kill you—” His words broke off as he suddenly leapt up, charging at Beigong Juechen.

But the moment he sprang, his body was instantly hurled back to the ground. Beigong Qiyi, expressionless, withdrew his hand and sneered at the man sprawled weakly on the floor. “Overestimating yourself.”

Beigong Juechen glanced sideways at him, raising an eyebrow. “How should he be dealt with?” Beigong Qiyi pondered briefly, then replied with a soft laugh, “Why not let me handle it?” Beigong Juechen nodded indifferently. “As you wish.”

Beigong Qiyi strode to the man, struck his acupoints, and ordered a servant to bring a large tray to the side. Then, drawing a small, exquisite dagger from his boot, he toyed with it idly. Suddenly, the blade flashed, and a bloodcurdling scream rang out as a thin slice of bloody flesh fell onto the tray.

With a faint smile and raised brow, Beigong Qiyi continued methodically. The man’s shrieks and curses echoed throughout the hall, mingled with hoarse cries. The others shrank back, turning away from the bloody scene. After the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Beigong Qiyi stopped. The man now lay on the floor, eyes glazed, unable to utter another word; one arm was stripped of flesh, leaving only blood-soaked bone.

His technique was astonishing—each slice of flesh was uniform in thickness and size.

Beigong Qiyi tossed the dagger carelessly aside, dusted off his hands, and stood. “Take him away and continue the punishment.” At his command, two men immediately dragged the blood-soaked body away, leaving long, red streaks across the smooth jade floor.

Beigong Qiyi slowly returned to Beigong Juechen’s side. Beigong Juechen gazed at him deeply, a dark glint flashing in his emerald eyes. Beigong Qiyi only laughed, unfazed, his eyes—so like Beigong Juechen’s—gleaming with a bestial light.

Beigong Juechen smiled with a trace of warmth, reaching out to clap the youth’s shoulder and murmured, “Excellent.” A sharp pain shot through Beigong Qiyi’s shoulder, making him frown despite himself, but the pain vanished as quickly as it came. He lowered his head before the man’s gentle smile.

With a wave, Beigong Juechen dismissed the crowd. Soon, only he and Beigong Qiyi remained in the vast hall. Reclining leisurely, Beigong Juechen’s lips curved in a half-smile. “I underestimated you.”

Beigong Qiyi met his gaze, his dark phoenix eyes shining with a gentle light. “With Elder Brother as my example, I must strive even harder. Only by becoming stronger can I be worthy of you.” At this, Beigong Juechen looked at him, snorting coldly. “Is that so? I thought you wanted to climb over your elder brother’s head one day.”

Hidden within his wide sleeves, Beigong Qiyi’s hand clenched tightly. The man’s cold, oppressive gaze sent an involuntary shudder down his spine. But he straightened his back and shook his head firmly. “You overthink, brother. I would never covet what belongs to you. Whatever you desire, even the whole world, I will do all I can to help you claim it!”

Beigong Juechen’s eyes narrowed. The youth’s features were bright and earnest, his gaze sincere. Beigong Juechen’s expression softened into a sudden smile. “You mean it?” Though he did not wholly trust him, this was the one person of his own blood, the only one for whom he would show any tenderness. So he could try to believe him. If not... well, he would have no one to blame but himself.

Beigong Qiyi nodded resolutely, meeting those emerald eyes and declaring, “My words just now were nothing but the truth.”

I have never wanted much. If you desire the martial world, I will help you seize it. If you desire the realm itself, I will help you take it.

But should you want the world—I want you.

Author’s note: First update~

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