The atmosphere within the Magnificent Jewel was weighed down by a heavy mist of gloom, as if the very air had thickened.
"What's going on?" One of the Elders muttered, his brows tightening.
Inside the secluded chamber, the three Elders sat alongside Mu Xue Tong and Xiao Han.
The five representatives of Silver Blizzard City were engaged in a serious discussion, their manner calm yet dignified, their faces bearing the composure of men accustomed to bearing the weight of power.
At such a time, none of them expected their solemn council to be interrupted, much less by the Little Princess herself, stumbling in with panic etched across her delicate features. And in her arms, a half-dead Xiao Feng Wu, bloodied and battered beyond recognition.
Even though each of these five men was a Sky Xuan expert, existences that could stand proud atop the world, they could not suppress their shock at the sight before them.
The extent of Xiao Feng Wu's injuries, the torn flesh, the bones faintly jutting beneath his skin, and his disheveled state, stripped of armor and dignity alike, was simply appalling.
They had allowed the two youngsters to wander outside because, with the Xuan Core incident settled, the city had returned to calm. It had seemed harmless enough to indulge the Little Princess's whims.
Never did they imagine such a return, one unconscious, the other trembling.
Han Yan Meng's eyes immediately brimmed with tears the instant she saw her kin. All the fear, all the suffocating tension that had been pent up within her since the Maple Forest finally broke.
With a cry, she dashed forward, collapsing into the arms of the Third Elder, her sobs echoing in the chamber.
The five men exchanged grave glances, then turned their eyes back to Xiao Feng Wu. His condition drew a collective frown.
The Eighth Elder bent down, his palm pressing against the boy's chest, sending a stream of Xuan Qi into his meridians. A moment later, his brows furrowed deeply.
"His Xuan Qi remains completely intact," The Elder declared grimly, "despite his body suffering such severe injuries."
"What?" The others leaned in, their expressions growing more severe.
"This…" The Eighth Elder's voice dropped, "This wasn't done with Xuan Qi at all. These wounds are from pure force."
The chamber fell silent. Even the sound of Han Yan Meng's sobbing seemed to fade for a moment as the weight of those words settled in.
The Third Elder's eyes darkened as he studied the broken body. His tone was low, heavy with meaning. "Had the attacker used Xuan Qi, this boy would not have survived even a breath. These injuries, sinister though they are, were precisely calculated. It was an execution of hatred, restrained just short of death."
The five men frowned in unison. The conclusion was clear: this was no random assault. This was vengeance.
Mu Xue Tong gently placed a hand on Han Yan Meng's trembling shoulder. "Little Princess, don't cry. You are safe now. Slowly… tell us everything that happened."
Sniffling, her words broken by hiccups, Han Yan Meng began recounting the scene. She spoke of the Maple Forest, of encountering a naked man, of Xiao Feng Wu's rash provocation, and of the savage beating that followed.
The Elders listened in silence. Their seasoned minds pieced the story together even before she finished.
A naked man in the forest? Likely practicing some profound technique, interrupted at the most critical moment.
To be disturbed, then provoked... it was no wonder his fury was so ruthless.
The Sixth Elder asked the key question, his voice solemn. "Did that man know who you were? Did he know your origin?"
Han Yan Meng hesitated, then wiped her tears with the back of her sleeve. "At first… no. He didn't seem to know. But just when he was about to leave, Brother Xiao said something… and the man suddenly became furious. He grabbed Brother Xiao and… and then…"
Her lips trembled. She gestured at Xiao Feng Wu's mangled body.
"What did Feng Wu say?" The five men spoke at once, their voices sharp.
Han Yan Meng blinked back tears and, imitating Xiao Feng Wu's tone with surprising accuracy, recited: "Brother Xiao said: 'The Silver Blizzard City will not let you get away with this. We will exterminate your entire family!'..."
The chamber fell into dead silence.
The Elders' faces all darkened, three of them sighing simultaneously.
It was foolish and reckless, like a child playing with fire.
It was common sense to retreat when confronted by overwhelming strength. But Xiao Feng Wu, instead of escaping, had chosen to provoke, to threaten annihilation. To wield the name of Silver Blizzard City as a weapon without the strength to back it.
"This child is far too inexperienced," The Third Elder muttered coldly. "He is alive only because that man showed mercy."
The words struck a heavy note in the chamber. The Elders' gazes hardened, unspoken thoughts weaving between them.
Silver Blizzard City was feared across the world. Yet that naked man had not flinched at the threat, had not even bothered to kill. That was not weakness; it was confidence.
The three Elders, their thoughts aligned, came to the same chilling conclusion.
'If he dares provoke Silver Blizzard City without fear… then for the sake of our City's future, there may be only one path left.'
'We must silence him!'
And yet, even as that ruthless thought formed, a hesitation lingered. Ultimately, the man had chosen restraint.
He could have killed Xiao Feng Wu, but he hadn't.
The man hadn't killed Xiao Feng Wu.
No, he had done something far worse. He had humiliated him, ravaged his dignity, and left wounds far deeper than mere flesh.
Such an outrageous act carried only one meaning: the attacker held not the slightest fear of the Silver Blizzard City.
In fact, it was the opposite. He seemed to deliberately provoke them, as though to say: Your so-called strength means nothing to me.
For the three Elders, this realization was a knife twisted in their chests. If word of this spread, the reputation of the Silver Blizzard City, the snow-crowned citadel that had stood untarnished for centuries, would be ridiculed across the continent.
The hall sank into silence. Each man's face was drawn tight, his expression grave.
The next logical step was clear: this mysterious figure's strength and the power behind him had to be assessed.
But who in Tian Xiang City dared such insolence? In these times, there were not many.
"The Xue Hun Manor is unlikely to be behind this..." The Third Elder finally broke the silence, his voice low, measured.
Xiao Han's eyes narrowed to slits, his tone calculating though laced with cold venom. "Agreed. The Xue Hun Manor didn't work in such a manner. If it had been them, their arrogance is renowned; they would've left behind a scar on the earth itself, a proclamation of their deed. But this..."
His lips curled into a bitter sneer. "This was silent, secluded, and hidden. Such a style is unlike theirs."
The Sixth Elder raised a brow, his silver-white hair catching the dim lantern light. "Then who do you think was behind it?"
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 Author's Note 📢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Patreon. There you'll find:
✅ Daily updates – never miss a day of new content
✅ Advanced chapters – read far ahead of public releases
✅ Exclusive perks & extras – only available to patrons
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
👉 Dive into more chapters today: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨