Jun Mo Xie walked away from the main hall while rubbing his temples, irritation flickering in his eyes.
Behind him, Grandpa Jun and Uncle Jun were still talking loudly as if he couldn't hear every word.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance. 'These two old bastards… If they talk any louder, the ancestors might hear them.'
With that complaint still in mind, he stepped into his courtyard and immediately froze.
Because he saw two figures were kneeling at the entrance of his courtyard.
They were silent, motionless, and covered in dust and dried sweat.
Jun Mo Xie stared at them for a few seconds before letting out a tired sigh. He already knew who they were.
He walked past them without acknowledging their presence at first. Their backs were straight, their breathing controlled, but their bodies clearly trembled from exhaustion.
It had already been nine days.
Nine days kneeling there, yet neither of them moved.
Finally, he turned around and stood in front of them.
These two were among the many children he and his uncle had rescued from Huang Hua Hall. The rest had already been relocated to peaceful places after receiving treatment, safety, and a chance at a normal life.
But these two refused.
They didn't want calm days. They wanted revenge.
Jun Mo Xie healed their bodies from broken bones, internal injuries, and poison residue, but their hearts remained sharper than blades.
He admired their determination, but he also understood where it came from, and he didn't like that a child had to know such hatred.
Still, nine days were enough.
His voice finally cut through the silence.
"Look up and look at me."
Their bodies trembled as if someone had struck them, but they obeyed. Slowly, painfully, they raised their heads and met his gaze.
Jun Mo Xie's eyes narrowed slightly.
These children were around thirteen or fourteen, but the eyes staring back at him were not the eyes of children. The desperation they showed nine days ago was gone. Now there was only a cold, terrifying calm.
It was the expression of someone who had thrown away fear, comfort, and even their own life.
A stillness born from despair.
A resolve born from hatred.
'Just how deep is the wound in their hearts?' He wondered silently.
Not many people in this world could make his heart move just by looking at him, but these two did.
His tone lowered. "Tell me. Why do you want to walk this path? What do you want?"
The question wasn't loud, but it was sharp enough to cut through bone.
The boys glanced at each other and then nodded.
Without hesitation, each lifted a hand and bit into their own finger. Fresh blood welled instantly.
Their hands shook, but they knelt forward and wrote on the stone floor with their own blood.
Every stroke was slow, heavy, and full of intent.
A few minutes passed before they finished.
On the left, written in thick red strokes.
"I will kill them by hacking them down. I will have no regrets till I die."
On the right...
"Those who aren't powerful… can only die, nothing more."
When the last character was written, both lowered themselves and kowtowed hard.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
On the third bow, one boy's forehead split, and blood streamed down his face.
Jun Mo Xie felt something stir in his chest. It was neither pity nor sympathy, but respect.
A slow, faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Good kids."
His voice was calm, but excitement lay hidden deep within it.
"It's been a long time… a very long time since I've seen determination like yours."
He stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Good. If that is what you want, then I'll give you the opportunity."
He took a deep breath.
"But listen carefully... the path you chose today is a path filled with killing and death. Once you step on it, there is no retreat."
The boys looked up again. Their gazes held no fear and hesitation, only burning resolve.
They kowtowed once more.
This time, Jun Mo Xie didn't let them finish.
In a swift motion, he reached out, lifted both by the collar, and pulled them to their feet.
"That's enough. From today onward, you are under me. I won't allow anything to happen to you... not until you can protect yourselves."
His expression turned cold. "And when that day comes… heaven help anyone who stands in your way."
With that, his figure blurred, and all three disappeared into his room, leaving behind a courtyard stained with blood, kneeling marks, and two vows written in crimson.
A silent warning to the world.
------
Ye Guhan was resting inside the room when the door suddenly swung open. He lifted his head lazily, only to blink in surprise.
Jun Mo Xie walked in, carrying two children, one tucked under each arm like luggage.
Ye Guhan nearly choked. "...What in the world?"
Jun Mo Xie casually dropped the two boys onto a soft mat as if placing vegetables on a market table.
The two kids didn't complain or even flinch. They merely sat straight, backs stiff, eyes sharp.
Ye Guhan stared for a moment before recognition struck him.
"These two… They were the ones kneeling outside your courtyard for the past nine days, right?"
Jun Mo Xie nodded, looking rather pleased with himself.
Ye Guhan rubbed his forehead. "I tried to send them away several times. They didn't even blink. At one point, I thought they had turned into stone."
Jun Mo Xie didn't answer. He simply hummed, almost joyfully, as he fetched some herbs.
That expression on his face, with his relaxed shoulders, slightly curved lips, eyes sparkling with hidden satisfaction, made Ye Guhan uneasy.
Ye Guhan narrowed his eyes. "What did you do?"
Jun Mo Xie smirked without looking up. "Oh, nothing big. Just picked up two future storm-bringers and sharpened weapons."
"...Weapons?" Ye Guhan repeated slowly. "They're children."
Jun Mo Xie finally turned, his tone casual but chillingly confident.
"Children grow. Knives sharpen. Revenge doesn't wait."
Ye Guhan had no words. He simply stared at the two boys again, suddenly feeling a little sorry for anyone who would stand against them in the future.
Once the kids were settled, Jun Mo Xie grabbed a handful of precious herbs and headed toward the alchemy furnace.
His mood changed instantly as his posture straightened, his expression focused, and his hands moved with experience.
The room soon filled with the fragrance of rare ingredients and gently swirling medicinal steam.
They were leaving for Tian Fa Forest soon, and the mission was no simple outing.
Jun Mo Xie worked until midnight, refining the last batch of pills. The flames flickered across his face, making the shadows under his eyes seem deeper and his expression more resolute.
As expected, the Imperial Edict was issued the next day.
And it appointed Jun Wu Yi as the commander of the army that was to leave for the Tian Fa forest.
Apart from Jun Wu Yi, the Emperor had mentioned the names of several other people from the major families on that list.
Jun Mo Xie's name was impressively high on that list.
When Mo Xie learned about it, he grinned as he glanced in the direction of the Imperial Palace.
'Hehe... You are afraid! You should be! After all, you are next after the Xiao Family! Hehe...'
Anyone's blood would turn cold if they saw his expression at that moment.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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