Shrouded Sky

At noon, Ye Fan returned to the small inn. He truly enjoyed the warm, home-like atmosphere of eating meals with Grandpa Jiang and Little Tingting.

After the meal, Little Tingting obediently went to wash the dishes. Watching her, Ye Fan felt a bit ashamed, he realized he hadn't really helped out with anything.

"I'll do it. You're still young; you don't need to do these things yet. Go take a nap and grow big and strong."

"No need for Big Brother to do it. I can wash dishes. I clean them really well!" the little girl insisted, pushing Ye Fan aside.

Grandpa Jiang beamed with joy as he cleared the table, his eyes full of love as he looked at his granddaughter.

A sudden voice broke the peaceful moment: "Two years have passed. This little girl's grown a bit and knows how to help out now."

A young man around twenty-five or twenty-six stepped inside, wearing a faint smile. He swept a contemptuous glance over Grandpa Jiang and Ye Fan, then fixed his eyes on Little Tingting.

"Uncle, who are you? Do you know me?" Little Tingting sweetly asked, even though she sensed something was wrong.

"Of course I know you. I knew you back when your parents were alive," said the pale-skinned young man, his thin lips and sharp gaze giving off a sinister air. He showed no restraint in bringing up her deceased parents.

Tears welled in Tingting's big eyes. She still vaguely remembered her parents' faces. In the past, she often woke up crying in her dreams. But over time, living with Grandpa Jiang, the pain had gradually faded. Now, hearing this man speak so bluntly of her parents, she couldn't help but cry silently, turning her back to the room and continuing to wash dishes as her little shoulders trembled.

Seeing Tingting sad, Grandpa Jiang's face darkened. "Seventh Young Master of the Li Clan, do you have business here?"

The young man pulled out a chair and sat down like he owned the place. "Nothing much. I'm just sentimental. Came to check on how you two are getting by."

Grandpa Jiang showed no emotion. "Thanks to your concern, we manage to survive."

Ye Fan said nothing. He had already recognized this man as the same person who rode in on the Dragonscale Horse that morning.

"Why do I sense some resentment? Jiang, are you harboring hate for me?" the young man asked mockingly, looking down at them.

Years ago, this man and Tingting's father had entered Red Mist Grotto-Heaven together. But due to his poor talent, he was quickly outclassed. After being reprimanded for bad behavior, he held a grudge. Once Tingting's parents died, it was this man who had the Li Clan seize Grandpa Jiang's inn and tavern, nearly pushing the old man and his granddaughter into ruin.

"How could I dare resent the Seventh Young Master? That's not true."

The man's smile turned cruel. "No need to bottle things up. Let it out if you hate me, it's bad for your health. You're over seventy, not many years left."

Grandpa Jiang trembled, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his body shaking. Ye Fan quickly stepped over to support him. Meanwhile, Tingting silently cried, her small back turned, shoulders quivering as she washed a porcelain bowl.

The young man sneered, "You seem full of rage, Jiang. But so what? What are you going to do, fight me? If you die, what will happen to that pretty little granddaughter of yours?"

"How did Tingting's parents really die?" Grandpa Jiang's breath grew short, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his face full of grief.

"Guess for yourself." The young man snapped his folding fan shut, then turned to Ye Fan. "I hear you helped cripple Steward Liu?"

Ye Fan remained silent, still supporting Grandpa Jiang. The young man looked him over but said nothing further. Instead, he walked toward Tingting.

"What are you doing?!" Grandpa Jiang's eyes filled with fear. He spread his arms protectively like a mother hen, shielding Tingting behind him.

"Relax, old man. You think I'd lay hands on a little girl?" The man studied Tingting closely, nodding to himself. "So alike… too alike. Pity about the Red Mist Fairy, such a meaningless death. Two years later, your daughter's already looking just like you."

Tingting bit her lip and continued to sob, but didn't cry out loud, trying to hold it in.

The young man lightly tapped his folded fan against his palm. "Alright, Jiang. You won't have to suffer anymore. I'll be taking this little girl with me. You can enjoy your twilight years in peace."

"What do you mean?!" Grandpa Jiang panted heavily, shielding Tingting as he stared at the man with wide eyes.

"She's clever and handy. I'll bring her to Red Mist Grotto-Heaven to help me out. Better than living here in poverty."

"No! Not unless I'm dead! You can't bully us like this!" Grandpa Jiang was overcome with rage and grief. His breathing turned labored, his eyes bloodshot, his body swaying.

Ye Fan caught him again.

"Grandpa, are you okay? Don't scare Tingting…" The little girl clung to the old man's leg, her teary eyes full of fear and worry.

The man scoffed, "Is this really necessary, old man? Without you, she'll live a better life. She might even shine in the Red Mist Grotto-Heaven someday."

Jiang gasped for breath for a long time before calming down. "Seventh Young Master, please… just please leave us alone."

"How ungrateful!" The young man's expression darkened. "I'm giving you peace in your final years, and you reject it?"

"I'll stay with Grandpa forever!" Tingting cried, clutching his leg tightly.

"I have important matters to handle. I return to the Grotto-Heaven tomorrow. But I'll personally come to take her away in a few days," the man said as he turned to leave. Looking at Ye Fan, he added, "Even a stray dog deserves respect, yet you had the nerve to strike one. Hot-headed people don't live long."

BANG!

Ye Fan was suddenly knocked to the ground. Blood trickled from his lips, and the chair behind him splintered to pieces.

The young man gave a cold glance, sneered, and walked out.

"Child, are you alright?!" Grandpa Jiang asked in alarm, rushing to help him.

"Big Brother…" Tingting's face was filled with fear. She used her little hands to wipe the blood from Ye Fan's mouth.

Watching the Li Clan's Seventh Young Master walk away, Ye Fan quickly stood up. "I'm fine."

"Really?" Grandpa Jiang still looked unsure.

"You're bleeding!" Tingting said, her voice trembling.

"I nearly lost control."

"What?" Grandpa Jiang looked concerned again.

"I mean I almost couldn't hold myself back. I'm fine. But that guy's attack was truly vicious. If I were an ordinary person, I'd be dead within two weeks."

"It's our fault. If not for us, you wouldn't have suffered this."

"Don't say that, Elder. That blood, I spat it out on purpose," Ye Fan said with a smile. "In fact, I should thank him. He came here personally to tell me when to leave, he's giving me a great opportunity."

"You…" Grandpa Jiang looked puzzled.

"A man like that has no place in this world. Wanting to take Tingting away? Not in this life!"

That night, Ye Fan kept watch on the Li residence. In the dead of night, he left the town and waited along the mountain road twenty or so miles out, the only path between Clear Wind Town and the outside world.

The moonlight was dim. A dark cloud passed overhead, plunging the forest into deep darkness. Distant beast cries echoed. The forest felt eerie and dangerous.

After midnight, the mountain road began to rumble with hoofbeats. Under faint starlight, a Dragonscale Horse gleamed like a streak of green lightning as it galloped forward.

Ye Fan waited silently. As the beast approached, a blinding golden light burst from him like a blazing sun across the night sky.

SPLAT.

Blood sprayed. The rider screamed, but didn't fall off the horse.

Ye Fan was surprised and quickly directed the golden book to strike again.

SPLIT!

The Dragonscale Horse was cleaved in two and collapsed heavily to the ground. Its rider flew over twenty meters through the air before crashing down.

WHOOSH!

A silver flash streaked toward Ye Fan, a silver spear half a foot long, like a bolt of lightning.

CLANG!

Ye Fan's golden book met the silver spear midair. The spear snapped in two and fell to the ground.

The rider leaped up and fled toward the forest.

Ye Fan struck again. The golden book, now a streak of light, slashed through the dark sky.

SPLASH.

The man's left leg was severed.

"AHHH!"

The man screamed in pain, rolling on the ground.

Ye Fan exhaled deeply and advanced cautiously. This was his first time ambushing someone. He had been nervous and slightly off target.

"We meet again, Seventh Young Master of the Li Clan."

The bloodied man turned pale. When he saw Ye Fan, disbelief filled his face.

"You?!"

"Something wrong with that?" Ye Fan asked calmly, keeping a safe distance.

"I never expected it to be you, you little bastard! I really underestimated you!" The man's face twisted with pain, rage, and shock.

"Thanks for delivering a great opportunity," Ye Fan said coldly.

"You… you…" The man trembled violently, overwhelmed with despair and fury.

"How did Tingting's parents really die?" Ye Fan's tone turned icy. A flash of golden light, SNAP!, and both the man's arms were severed.

Still unsatisfied, Ye Fan slashed the man's Bitter Sea and crippled him.

"AHHH! I'll haunt you even in death!"

"Why do people always say pointless things like that?" Ye Fan stepped closer. "You beast. You've done nothing but evil. This is your retribution. And I'll take my time with you."

SMACK.

Ye Fan slapped him so hard he flew four or five meters.

"You…" The man's eyes blazed with hatred.

Ye Fan walked over and stomped on his once-handsome face.

"Heaven sees all. You thought you could live unchecked forever?"