The capital.
It rained today.
The wet streets shimmered like a glistening river, and the colorful umbrellas of passersby looked like flower petals floating on its surface.
Nine o’clock at night.
Bai Bing returned home after a medical conference, joining Old General Bai for dinner.
Since Bai Yujing and his father fled overseas, the Bai household, aside from guards and drivers, had been lonely, with no one for the old general to talk to.
Tonight, with Bai Bing back, the house was filled with laughter and chatter.
As they ate, they talked casually.
“Xiao Bing, you’re not young anymore. Work harder with Ye Qiu, try to have a kid soon so this old man can enjoy some family bliss,” Old General Bai urged.
Bai Bing wanted that too, but for some reason, her belly hadn’t shown any signs.
She changed the subject.
“Grandpa, why not come live with me in Jiangzhou? Ye Qiu wants that too,” Bai Bing said.
“No,” Old General Bai replied, “I’ve lived in the capital too long. Other places wouldn’t feel right.”
Bai Bing thought for a moment, then said, “How about I transfer my job back here? Then I can keep you company.”
“No need. Stay in Jiangzhou with Ye Qiu,” Old General Bai said. “Lovers apart tend to breed conflicts and misunderstandings.”
Bai Bing smiled, “That won’t happen. Ye Qiu and I trust each other completely.”
“No matter how much trust, distance can strain a relationship,” Old General Bai said. “Listen to me, stay in Jiangzhou.”
“As for me, don’t worry.”
“I’ve got guards at home, a driver when I go out, and old friends and subordinates visit now and then. I practice calligraphy, listen to Peking opera—life’s quite pleasant.”
“Oh, any funny stories from the hospital? Tell me a couple.”
Bai Bing thought for a moment, “Before the New Year, a guy came to the hospital saying he woke up feeling an invisible force choking his neck, struggling to breathe, with eerie chills behind it. He thought he was possessed.”
“Grandpa, guess what was wrong with him?”
“What was it?” Old General Bai asked, curious.
Bai Bing said, “The TCM doctor examined him thoroughly and found him perfectly healthy. His symptoms? He’d worn his sweater backwards.”
Old General Bai was stunned, then burst into laughter, “Hahaha…”
At the courtyard gate.
The two guards on duty heard the old general’s laughter, exchanged a glance, and whispered.
“It’s been a while since we heard the old general laugh.”
“Yeah, last time was when the War God and Old Ye visited him last month.”
“You can tell, with Miss Bai back, he’s really happy.”
“The old general devoted his life to the country. Now, at his age, I hope he can be this happy every day.”
“All because of Bai Yujing. If that kid hadn’t been so disgraceful, how could the Bai family be this quiet?”
“Speaking of me, are you?”
Suddenly, a familiar face appeared before them without warning.
“Bai Yujing!”
The guards’ pupils shrank. They never imagined Bai Yujing would show up now.
“Bai Yujing, you’ve got some nerve coming back!”
“Leave immediately.”
“Or don’t blame us for being rough.”
One guard’s hand was already on the gun at his waist as he spoke.
Bai Yujing seemed unfazed, smiling, “This is my home. Why can’t I come back?”
“Thanks to you both for looking after the old man.”
“Your mission’s done. Good work.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
The guards were puzzled.
Then, they felt a tightness at the back of their necks, and their feet left the ground, lifted into the air.
Shocked, they turned to look.
Their faces drained of color.
Holding them was a giant monster, over two meters tall, with dull, cold eyes devoid of emotion.
The creature was shirtless, its muscles bulging like small hills, its lower body covered only by a cloth over vital parts, barefoot.
That was somewhat normal. What wasn’t were its limbs.
Its arms and legs had no muscle, just stark white bones, as if the flesh had been sliced off with a knife.
What kind of monster was this?
Before they could draw their guns, the creature slammed their heads together. Like watermelons, their skulls shattered, brains spilling out.
The bodies were tossed to the ground.
The monster stepped aside.
Bai Yujing stepped over the corpses, heading toward the dining room.
Old General Bai and Bai Bing were laughing and talking when a “creak” sounded—the dining room door was pushed open.
Both looked up and saw a familiar figure enter.
“Bai Yujing!”
Bai Bing stood instantly, shouting, “What are you doing back here?”
“I missed you guys, so I came to see you,” Bai Yujing said, grinning at Old General Bai. “Grandpa, you doing alright?”
Old General Bai’s face was stone-cold. “Get out.”
Bai Yujing didn’t leave. Instead, he sat at the table, saying, “Grandpa, I came all this way to see you, and you’re kicking me out? Isn’t that a bit heartless?”
Old General Bai said, “The day I disowned you and your father, I considered you both dead.”
Bai Yujing laughed, “Hearing that puts me at ease.”
“At ease about what?” Old General Bai asked.
“Since you don’t see me as your grandson, I don’t need to be polite with you, right?”
With that, Bai Yujing slapped Old General Bai across the face.
*Slap!*
Old General Bai was knocked to the floor, spitting blood before passing out.
Bai Bing shouted, “Bai Yujing, are you insane? This is your grandfather…”
“Shut up!” Bai Yujing glared at her viciously, sneering, “You wretch, once I kill Ye Qiu, I’ll have my way with you!”
*Thud—*
Bai Yujing struck Bai Bing’s neck with a palm strike, and she collapsed unconscious.
The monster entered, lifting Bai Bing in one hand and Old General Bai in the other, following Bai Yujing out the door.
As they left.
Bai Yujing glanced back at the Bai family villa, smirking coldly, “I’ll be back soon. When I do, I’ll make the whole world tremble at my feet.”
“Let’s go!”
Bai Yujing and the monster vanished into the dark night.
