Unlike his brother, Bai Bing Zhe possessed B-grade aptitude—a level considered excellent, especially under the Bai clan's current circumstances. For this reason, the clan leader gave him special attention, personally offering guidance to ensure he would not act recklessly and lose his life, costing the clan a valuable talent at such a critical time.
As for Bai Bing Zhe, he listened calmly to the clan leader's words and outwardly showed obedience… but deep down, he rejected them entirely.
What the clan leader said was logical, but his heart could not find peace. He would not be able to rest… unless he personally confirmed the death of his brother's killer.
A month ago, Bai Bing Zhe had overheard the private conversation between Bai Shang and Bai Zhang Shui.
Without their knowledge, he possessed a Gu worm that enhanced his hearing, allowing him to catch every word they exchanged.
Since that moment… he had known the direction Jian Long had taken.
Yet he did not act immediately.
He first needed to ensure the safety and stability of his clan.
Now… with the Bai clan settled on Mount Fuxing, nothing was left to hold him back.
The very next day, he departed in silence… and set off in pursuit of Jian Long.
....
After five months…
The signs of winter were slowly fading, as if nature itself was awakening from a long slumber. The cold was no longer as harsh as before, and the layers of snow began to shrink and melt, revealing scattered patches of green grass clinging stubbornly to life.
On the horizon, birds chirped in tentative melodies, as if testing the return of warmth, while the wind carried the scent of melting water and damp earth—the first breath of spring.
From afar, the sound of a flowing river could be heard. Its fresh waters surged freely after breaking from the grip of ice, its voice clear even from a mile away, as though the land itself had begun to pulse with life once more.
At the edge of that river… stood a young man.
His long silver hair fell past his shoulders, yet it was in a miserable state—dirty, tangled, giving him the appearance of a vagrant rather than a Gu Master.
That young man… was Jian Long.
But what drew the most attention… was his right hand.
It was gone.
Severed at the wrist, leaving behind a stark and jarring absence.
He bent down toward the river, unable to scoop water with his hand, forcing him to plunge his head directly into the stream and drink greedily, like someone who had not tasted water for days.
When he finished, he lifted his head toward the sky, water dripping from his face, a look of deep satisfaction spreading across his features… as if he had just escaped death itself.
Then he laughed.
A long, hoarse laugh, laced with madness:
"Hahahahaha… did you think you could kill me, world? I am Jian Long… how could I die from something as trivial as thirst?"
He muttered to himself in a broken tone, a habit he had developed during the six months he spent alone in the wilderness.
Then Jian Long lay down on the ground, trying to catch his breath, surrendering to the exhaustion that had built up over months.
But suddenly—
a faint sound reached his ears.
Human voices.
His body froze for a moment, as if his mind couldn't process it. Then, in the next instant, he leapt to his feet like a madman, his eyes searching frantically for the source of the sound.
He spun around, breathing rapidly, until he finally caught the direction.
Without hesitation, he dashed toward it with all his strength.
After crossing a small hill, the scene revealed itself—
a massive group, hundreds of people… and among them, Gu Masters.
"…It's a caravan!"
Jian Long muttered, his voice filled with disbelief and shock.
In the next moment, he rushed toward them like a madman, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Help me! Help me!"
Such an action… was recklessly dangerous.
Any Gu Master within the caravan might mistake him for a demonic path attacker and kill him without hesitation.
But Jian Long didn't care.
He had spent six months in the wilderness.
He had come close to death thousands of times.
He had suffered countless injuries.
He had reached a point where he truly believed his end had come.
At that moment…
the caravan was no longer just a group of strangers.
It was… his last lifeline.
As Jian Long approached within half a kilometer of the caravan—
a violent explosion erupted beside him.
Soil and rocks scattered in all directions, forcing his body to halt abruptly.
Then a sharp voice rang out from afar, carrying a clear threat:
"Stop where you are! Raise your hands! If you take another step… I will kill you!"
Jian Long froze instantly, raising his remaining hand in obedience without any resistance.
Moments later, two Rank two Gu Masters approached him.
One of them stood before him, staring coldly as he began asking questions.
The other activated an Information Path Gu, sending out subtle ripples that scanned Jian Long's body and features, attempting to match him against any wanted demonic Gu Masters.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
The question came directly, devoid of any sympathy.
Jian Long spoke quickly, his voice laced with desperation:
"Please… save me! I am a Gu Master from the Bai clan. My clan was attacked by a beast tide, and during the chaos, I fell into the wilderness and got separated… now I need your help to return!"
He continued, trying to prove his words by any means:
"If you don't believe me, look at my clothes—they bear the emblem of the Bai clan! And look at the moon mark on my hand… it was left by the Lightning Moon Gu, which is also a symbol of the Bai clan!"
He spoke rapidly, his breath uneven, doing everything he could to convince the man before him… as if his life depended on those very words.
The second Gu Master interrupted him and said coldly:
"He doesn't match any known demonic Gu Masters."
"I don't care about that. Get lost, boy. Leave now, or I'll kill you."
Hearing this, Jian Long's despair deepened. For a fleeting moment, the urge to strike that Gu Master flashed through his mind—but he suppressed it. If he acted, he would become an enemy of the entire caravan.
He had no choice… but to beg.
"Please… have some mercy. If I remain in the wilderness, I will die."
His words seemed to move the second Gu Master slightly, as he turned to his companion and said:
"As righteous path Gu Masters, it is our duty to help those in such circumstances."
"If you want to let him into the caravan, then do it under your own responsibility. This boy could be part of a bandit scheme to attack us."
By now, Jian Long's arrival had drawn attention. People within the caravan began casting curious glances from afar, their murmurs spreading.
This commotion soon caught the attention of the caravan leader—Yang San Mu.
A Rank four Gu Master, he possessed a large, imposing, almost heroic build, with a bald head and a long mustache, but no beard.