Charles Li could only watch as the young man lifted the animal hide, revealing a cold gleam. That pair of fierce, sharp, and beast-like eyes stared unblinkingly at Charles Li with a gaze that was both ruthless and exhilarated. <br><br>The cold gleam was as swift as lightning, aiming straight for Charles Li's throat. In terror, he managed to take just one step back, hurriedly raising his hand to block. <br><br>Too fast! <br><br>This strike had been practiced for twenty-two years, piercing through countless bundles of hay, fueled by nights filled with suppressed hatred. <br><br>The cold gleam, which was clearly a bright silver streak of lightning, moved with the agility of a fish, eluding Charles Li's blocking hand and piercing directly into his throat. <br><br>Charles Li only had time to let out a few blood-curdling gurgles before he collapsed heavily to the ground. His eyes blurred, and amidst the faint sounds, he heard shrieks and furious shouts surrounding him. <br><br>“Beast!” <br><br>Sam Waters, who stood behind Charles Li, let out a gut-wrenching roar. Being shorter than Charles Li, Sam had been completely obstructed and only realized what had happened after Charles Li fell. <br><br>Sam’s eyes turned bloodshot, and the veins on his forehead bulged. He reached out to grab the young man. <br><br>The young man, having succeeded with his strike, abandoned the dagger. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone rushed to aid Charles Li, he rolled and dodged away from Sam Waters' grasp, darting like a nimble Tiny Stag into the crowd of refugees. <br><br>Sam Waters took a step forward to give chase. The refugees scattered as if a hornet's nest had been stirred. He could only see the young man slipping into The Swamp of Reeds at the edge of the village, disappearing like a wisp of smoke. <br><br>“Damn it.” <br><br>Sam Waters plunged into The Swamp of Reeds without looking back, leaving behind a terrified group of refugees clinging to each other in panic. <br><br>“Curse it! Damn dog!” <br><br>The crowd finally reacted. The middle-aged man was pinned tightly against the wall by the villagers, wailing and cursing as he exclaimed: <br><br>“It’s got nothing to do with me! I don’t know that young man; he snuck in along the way!” <br><br>“Shut up!” <br><br>Willow Ridge, his face pale and ashen, cursed through gritted teeth while helping the fallen Charles Li. He glared harshly at the middle-aged man, momentarily at a loss. <br><br>Seeing his nephew foam blood at the mouth, clearly beyond saving, his mind was a chaotic mess. How was he going to explain this to his sister? How would he face Matthew Lee? His nephew had died right in front of him, just like that! <br><br>Meanwhile, Ren Ping’an sat dumbfounded on the ground. His daughter, Mrs. Ren, had married Charles Li and was already pregnant, yet now Charles Li was dead. A child he had watched grow up was gone before his eyes! <br><br>Panic spread among the crowd. The dying Charles Li lay on the ground, staring blankly at the sky. He felt the warm blood flowing from his chest, and his consciousness began to fade. <br><br>“Xander… I’m sorry… Your joyous wedding will now turn into a funeral.” <br><br>This was Charles Li's last thought as his dimming consciousness gave way to the overwhelming pain and suffocation. Darkness engulfed him completely. <br><br>Amidst the chaos, unseen by all, a silver gleam quietly rose from his Core Energy Center. Like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest, it streaked toward the sky, circled once, and then shot off toward the backyard of the Li family residence. <br><br>Not far away. <br><br>Old Xu stood trembling, hunched over, watching as the young man plunged the dagger into Charles Li’s throat. The tip of the blade even poked slightly through the back of his neck. Old Xu felt a rush of blood surge from his chest to his head, his vision darkening as if he might faint. <br><br>“Fatal entanglement!” <br><br>Tears streamed down Old Xu’s face as he clutched a string of straw grasshoppers he had meant to give to Charles Li. He clutched at his chest in anguish. <br><br>“Beast…” <br><br>He gasped deeply, wiped away his tears, and began trudging toward the back mountain, muttering under his breath: <br><br>“This old man has outlived his wife, watched the decline of the main family, and encountered more scoundrels than that wild wolf has ever seen. Just you wait! Just you wait! This old man shall deal with you himself!” <br><br>——— <br><br>At the Li family residence. <br><br>River Sage Lu let out a silent sigh in the ancestral hall. He had awoken the moment Charles Li was attacked, but the village entrance was far too distant; there was nothing he could do but watch helplessly as everything unfolded. <br><br>Gazing at the silvery glow flitting around the edges of the Mirror of Truth like a butterfly, he knew that with a single thought, the spiritual rune seed could dissolve and nourish his own spirit. <br><br>Yet Charles Li had not cultivated to the level of Ethereal Vista, leaving the spiritual rune seed with little value. Letting out another sigh, River Sage Lu reversed his Arcane Incantation. Utilizing *The Spiritual Offering of the Mystic Pearl*, he activated the spiritual rune seed's spirit sense. A stream of extracted spiritual energy emerged from the rune seed, extending to the various members of the Li family within the courtyard. <br><br>Matthew Lee, who had dozed off a few hours earlier, was startled awake. He saw moonlight pouring in through the windows and door cracks like water, transforming the night into a luminous day. Standing quietly by his bedside was his eldest son, Charles Li. <br><br>“What happened?” <br><br>He rasped, his voice hoarse, questioning his eldest son. <br><br>Charles Li pursed his lips, remaining silent, staring intently at Matthew Lee as if trying to etch his father’s face into memory. <br><br>“Cough, cough... what’s the matter, Charles?” <br><br>Matthew Lee asked again, frowning. <br><br>Charles Li suddenly bent down, bowing respectfully before choking out, “Take care, Father…” <br><br>Before he could finish his words, his figure dissolved like sand scattered in the wind. The silvery moonlight dimmed, and the courtyard that had shone like daylight turned dark once more. <br><br>Matthew Lee, overwhelmed with unease, reached out, shouting frantically: <br><br>“Speak, my son! Charles! Charles Li!” <br><br>He abruptly awoke from his nightmare, staring blankly out the window. <br><br>——— <br><br>Side chamber. <br><br>“Do cultivators dream as well?” <br><br>Li Chi Jing awoke, face streaked with tears. Rising, he stepped outside and saw Thomas Li sitting at the wooden table. <br><br>Seeing his younger brother come out, Thomas quickly wiped his face, forcing a smile as he asked, “What’s wrong?” <br><br>Li Chi Jing stared blankly at his older brother, then asked, “Where’s Big Brother?” <br><br>“He left early this morning; probably something to do with the fields.” <br><br>Thomas replied, smiling. <br><br>Just then, the door creaked open. Standing there, face filled with apprehension, Matthew Lee called out: <br><br>“Thomas! Fetch your Big Brother... no, I’ll go myself.” <br><br>Matthew Lee hurriedly put on his shoes, stepped into the front yard, and opened the gate, where he froze. <br><br>Outside, a circle of villagers with torches stood, tears streaming down their faces. Three people knelt on the stone steps, next to a figure covered with white cloth. <br><br>Looking at the pained and ashamed expressions of Sam Waters and Ren Ping’an, Matthew Lee’s heart sank. He descended the steps with trembling hands, pushing aside Willow Ridge, who came up to support him with tears in his eyes. Gently lifting the white cloth, Matthew Lee’s vision darkened, nearly fainting on the spot. Behind him, his brothers emerged, faces wrought with worry. Li Chi Jing stepped forward, saw the lifeless body beneath the cloth, and collapsed to his knees, crying, “Brother!” <br><br>Flinging himself onto Charles Li’s body and checking for breath, Li Chi Jing raised his head, his voice choked with sobs as he glared at the surrounding villagers. He roared: <br><br>“Who?! Who did this?! Who dares?!” <br><br>The roar, like a tiger's growl, startled everyone into retreat. Trembling, they looked at him in fear. <br>")
