Chapter 6: Massacre at the Ancient Temple

When Ye Min finally arrived at the school, all the students had already dispersed. He rushed inside and happened to run into the teacher, who was just about to head home. Ye Min asked anxiously, “Where’s Xiao Jiu?”

The teacher yawned lazily. “That boy left a long time ago, didn’t he? Why, hasn’t he gotten home yet? Then he’s probably wandered off somewhere else again!”

Hearing this, Ye Min’s gaze turned icy as he glanced at the teacher, a fleeting murderous glint flashing in his eyes. He said nothing more, and in the next instant, he turned and left the school, heading straight back to the Xiao household.

With a face like thunder, Ye Min strode directly toward Xiao Muran’s study. Everywhere he passed, a thin layer of frost formed on the ground. The door to the study was tightly shut—Ye Min kicked it open. Those inside felt a sudden chill sweep through the room. Xiao Muran, seeing Ye Min’s dreadful expression, felt his heart skip a beat. “What’s happened?”

Ye Min’s hand tightened within his sleeve, his heart twisting with regret. “Xiao Jiu is missing!”

Xiao Muran was stunned. “What?!”

But in the blink of an eye, Xiao Muran’s face turned as dark as Ye Min’s. Who could it be, bold enough to lay hands on his son?

Outside the door, a crash rang out as dishes shattered on the floor. Lady Xiao stormed in, her presence fierce. “What did you say? Xiao Jiu is gone?? Xiao Muran! Give me back my precious son!”

Seeing his wife’s agitation, Xiao Muran hurried over to her, patting her back and speaking softly, “Don’t be angry, don’t worry. Our precious boy will come home!”

Lady Xiao pursed her lips and slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me! Why aren’t you sending people out to search? If you can’t find my son, Xiao, I’ll divorce you!” After hurling these words, her eyes red, she ran out. Her little Jiu…

Xiao Muran let out a quiet sigh, his eyebrows lowered. When he looked up again, he was calm and resolute. “Pass my order: except for those carrying out the most critical tasks, everyone in the residence is to go out and search. Mobilize the widest layer of the Xiao family’s intelligence network. We must retrieve the young master in the shortest time possible!”

He then turned to Ye Min. “Ye Min, you’ll command our most elite men. We’ll split up and search.”

Ye Min nodded. “Very well.”

Hurrying away, Ye Min paused mid-stride, then changed direction. If there was anything strange or any new faces in the residence recently, the beggar he had brought back was certainly one of them.

With this in mind, Ye Min made his way to the innermost cell of the dungeon. The guard led him to the door of the cell where the beggar was held. Through the opening in the iron door, Ye Min peered inside at the motionless figure and ordered, “Open the door.” One look was enough for him to sense something was terribly wrong.

Sure enough, when the iron door swung open and Ye Min stepped inside, what met his eyes was not the beggar from that day, but a shriveled corpse. Light from outside fell upon the corpse, and soon, several blood-red words appeared on its skin, familiar in their phrasing: “Village butcher’s old friend, Young Master Xiao—let us meet at the ancient temple.”

Young Master Xiao—Xiao Jiu? Xiao Jiu was in the hands of that beggar? Ye Min’s gaze turned dark and unreadable. He had, unwittingly, let the wolf into the fold and brought this disaster upon the young Xiao Jiu…

He told the guard, “Report this to the master as soon as I leave.”

The guard, having seen the words, understood the gravity of the situation and quickly replied, “Yes, sir!”

Meanwhile, Xiao Jiu sat astride a horse with “Ye Min.” He looked up in confusion. “A-Ye, where are you taking me? This isn’t the way home.” How odd—A-Ye smelled different today.

“Ye Min” smiled broadly. “Isn’t it more fun to sneak off and play with me?”

Xiao Jiu’s confusion deepened. What was wrong with A-Ye today? “But if we don’t tell my parents, they’ll worry!”

“Ye Min” let out a low laugh, his lips curving in a strange, unsettling way. “Don’t worry, I’ve already informed everyone at home.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jiu rubbed his growling stomach, one hand pressing to muffle the sound, the other sneaking into “Ye Min’s” coat, searching for the pastries A-Ye usually brought him. His fingers found something hard, and he eagerly unwrapped the coarse cloth…

Xiao Jiu’s eyes widened in terror, his entire body trembling. “You’re not A-Ye! You’re not!” Inside the cloth was a small bloodstained dagger—and half a severed finger.

At this, “Ye Min” gently pulled Xiao Jiu into his arms, his breath hot against the boy’s ear, sending Xiao Jiu into further shudders. “How am I not? My face, my voice—isn’t it exactly the same as your A-Ye’s?”

Tears welled in Xiao Jiu’s eyes and rolled down his cheeks. He stammered, “You’re not A-Ye. You’re a monster! You’re a devil!” His A-Ye was always gentle, always kind—how could he ever do something so cruel?

“Ye Min” only laughed more heartily. “Your A-Ye is far more ruthless than I am…”

Without warning, Xiao Jiu bit down hard on “Ye Min’s” hand. “I don’t believe you! A-Ye isn’t like that!”

Feeling the pain, “Ye Min” tapped Xiao Jiu lightly elsewhere, and the boy immediately fell quiet. The grandson of Xiao Xian was certainly a handful; better to keep him silent until they reached their destination.

Thinking this, Mo Zhu tore off his mask.

Ye Min, meanwhile, led the elite team, as agreed with Xiao Muran, traveling day and night toward the ancient temple.

Xiao Jiu awoke to find himself bound hand and foot, a cloth stuffed in his mouth. He could not cry out. He was left alone in a corner of what was clearly a dilapidated place—the roof tiles above letting in the daylight, unlikely to keep out even the rain.

Glancing to another corner, Xiao Jiu saw children his age—boys and girls alike. They were all awake, silently weeping in despair.

Mo Zhu stood nearby, watching him. When he saw Xiao Jiu awaken, he said, “Awake? Just in time for a good show!”

Besides Mo Zhu, there was a whole gang in the ancient temple, eyes gleaming with excitement as they stared at the children like hungry predators. One of them asked eagerly, “Boss, are these really ours for the taking?”

Their leader, Liu Wu, waved a broad hand. “Do as you please, brothers. As long as you help me avenge my wife’s murder, these are yours!”

The man quickly replied, “Of course, of course! We must avenge our sister-in-law. Right, brothers?”

All answered in unison, “Right!” With that, each grabbed a child and, without hesitation, struck with their blades. In the blink of an eye, all the children Xiao Jiu’s age were gone, their blood flowing into a crimson stream. The madmen, intoxicated by the smell, burst into laughter, some even stooping to lap at the blood.

Xiao Jiu stared, stupefied, at the carnage before him. Shock slowly gave way to a bone-deep terror, and he scrambled backward, desperate to escape. Shutting his eyes, he prayed this was only a nightmare. His stomach cramped in nauseous spasms, and he retched, unable to hold it back.

Mo Zhu’s low chuckle sounded at his ear. He pulled the cloth from Xiao Jiu’s mouth. “What’s wrong? Scared already? Nauseated already? Your A-Ye is far crueler than these men…”

Xiao Jiu’s mind was shattered. He screamed, “Get away! Devil! You’re all devils! Let me go! I want to go home! I want A-Ye!” A-Ye, where are you? Xiao Jiu wants to go home. Xiao Jiu is so afraid. Please, come and take Xiao Jiu home…

He curled up tightly, head bowed, his once pristine clothes now filthy and disheveled, his hair matted with dust. In just a few days, he had grown thin and wan.

A-Ye, A-Ye, where are you…

Watching this, Mo Zhu felt a wave of irritation well up inside him. He continued, “Stop dreaming. Your A-Ye’s hands have been stained with more blood than you can imagine!”

Xiao Jiu’s eyes dulled with despair, but he still retorted, “I don’t believe it! I don’t! A-Ye could never be like you! Never!”

Not far from the ancient temple, the sound of hooves approached. Mo Zhu stuffed the cloth back into Xiao Jiu’s mouth and slapped his face lightly. “The best part of the show is about to begin—watch closely!”

With that, Mo Zhu tossed Xiao Jiu into an inconspicuous corner, perfectly positioned so the arriving Ye Min could not see him from where he entered the temple.

Liu Wu, hearing the commotion, cracked his neck with a series of pops, tossed aside the child in his arms, and shouted, “Brothers, the enemy is here—let’s go!”

He led his men out. Their numbers far exceeded those Ye Min had brought with him. Dismounting, Ye Min eyed the rabble before him and said coldly, “Move aside.”

Liu Wu’s face fell. He growled, “Do you remember the gang of bandits you killed four years ago? You murdered my brothers. You destroyed my wife—did you think I’d just let you pass?”

Impatience flickered in Ye Min’s eyes. “I’ll say it once more: move aside.” The longer this dragged on, the greater the danger to Xiao Jiu. He had no time to waste on this rabble.

Liu Wu gripped his broadsword and cried, “Brothers, attack! Today, we avenge our fallen brothers—my wife, Hu Erniang!”

Ye Min drew his sword, its blade gleaming with a biting chill. “Those who block my path—die!”