Betrayal and Reflection

  After the young ladies had left the room, morning arrived, and Huang Di sank into deep meditation, reflecting on his recent advancements.

  “Now, my internal energy, my Qi is far more abundant,” he mused. “With every step along the martial path, my energy doubles. When I began at the 1st level of the Foundation Rank, I had 1 Qi. After climbing the nine steps of power, I reached 256. Now, at the 3rd level of the Profound Rank, I possess 2,048 Qi.”

  He understood that with such energy, he could wield far more powerful techniques, tools, and armaments. The first thing he needed to do was acquire new clothing and proper weapons for battle change that would considerably enhance his combat strength. However, he also knew that the twenty large spirit stones he had received would not suffice for all he desired. But if he sold part of the beast materials he had harvested in the forest, he could greatly increase his buying power.

  As he calmly outlined his next steps, the door to the room was thrown open. Armed guards entered, accompanied by one of Mio Hio’s servant girls. The servant, who had caught a glimpse of Huang Di’s true face earlier that morning, before he reapplied his disguise, believed he matched the description of a fugitive wanted by the city guard. Hoping to claim the bounty, she had summoned her cousin, who worked among the patrols.

  The guards compared a sketch of the suspect to Huang Di’s current appearance but found little resemblance. Still, with lingering doubt, they turned to the servant, their expressions filled with irritation.

  "You called us here, but he doesn’t match the face on the wanted poster," one of the guards said coldly.

  Huang Di quickly pieced the situation together. It could have been Ye Jue who had initiated the hunt or worse, Mio Hio might have betrayed him by exposing his identity. Even so, he remained composed and answered with calm clarity:

  "Amitabha. What can this humble monk do for the brave city guards?"

  The guards, slightly embarrassed to question a supposed man of faith, considered withdrawing quietly. Yet the servant, seeing her prize slipping away, insisted Huang Di was wearing a disguise. She attempted, without success, to pull at his face. But Huang Di had employed a high-tier Earth Rank technique focused on altering one’s appearance, it held firm under her frantic fingers.

  Only a cultivator of the Sky Rank or above could see through such an illusion and there were very few with that level of power in this city. On this point, Huang Di felt no concern. Unless he chose to reveal himself, no one could unmask him.

  The guards, now visibly annoyed, apologized for the misunderstanding and forcibly dragged the servant away. Huang Di exhaled slowly, already resolved to change his appearance again upon leaving the Mio residence, this time assuming the guise of a young, scholarly noble, to elude both his pursuers and any ties to the Mio family.

  “To repay one’s savior with betrayal... truly, a scorpion never changes its nature,” he reflected. “Then it’s best I wash my hands of this and continue my path alone.”

  Impending Storm

  While confusion and heated debate raged in the chamber of the Mio family’s patriarch, the elders eventually reached a consensus: the best course of action was to fortify their defenses. The first order was to seal all exits, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving until further notice. The tension in the air was palpable. Even the guards of the Earth Rank stood at full alert, positioned at the gates to ensure no one passed.

  Huang Di decided to attempt leaving around midday, assuming there would be fewer guards. However, as he approached the main gate, he saw the commotion surrounding it. People were trying to enter and exit, only to be firmly blocked by the sentinels. He quickly realized the situation was far more serious than he had anticipated.

  Believing it had nothing to do with him, he tried to continue his way but was stopped.

  "I have no connection with the Mio family," he said calmly. "Amitabha, let me pass."

  The guard, uninterested in further discussion, replied bluntly:

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "No exceptions. No one leaves."

  Huang Di could have forced his way out, but that would reveal his strength and spark a scene that would likely draw more guards and possibly even alert the hidden elders of the household. Opting for a more subtle route, he retreated quietly and began to look for alternate escape paths, all while noting how rapidly the situation within the estate was deteriorating.

  "It looks like they activated a Rank 6 defensive formation on the outer walls," he thought. "The energy required to sustain that is immense... They're preparing for war. I need more information."

  Just then, he spotted Mio Hio and Sara hurrying toward him. Mio Hio arrived, panting:

  "I finally found you. I’ve been looking for you since morning."

  Huang Di, cutting her off before she could continue, asked:

  "Weren’t you the one who told me to leave? Now I can’t even do that. And what about that little incident with your servant? Do you know anything about it?"

  Mio Hio, clearly perplexed, showed a confused expression. She genuinely didn’t seem to understand what he was referring to.

  "I see," he said, gauging her reaction.

  Wanting to change the subject, Mio Hio insisted:

  "That’s not important right now. What matters is that you must get out of here immediately. Come with me," she urged. "There’s an emergency evacuation site for the younger generation of my family. Even if you didn’t trust me, you saved my life. The least I can do is get you out before these turns into a battlefield."

  Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Huang Di chose to trust her. He followed Mio Hio and Sara to the hidden retreat meant for the younger members of the family. There, they found a few dozen Mio family youths and some servants. All of them turned with curiosity at the arrival of a “monk” among them.

  The grandson of the First Elder, known as Mio Sato Neto, stepped forward, frowning with disdain:

  "What is this filthy old man doing here, Mio Hio? In a secret location meant only for the family’s young members. Hm?"

  Mio Hio, knowing she had broken protocol, lowered her head. But Sara, ever bold, stepped forward:

  "Young Master Mio Sato Neto, this is the new personal guard of Young Miss Mio Hio. He’s here to fulfill his duties. What does that have to do with you, hm?"

  Mio Sato Neto, who hated being called by his full name, especially by a servant, narrowed his eyes and replied furiously:

  "You, a mere servant, watch your tongue. It’s not your place to speak."

  Before he could continue, Mio Hio, emboldened by Sara’s quick thinking, shot back:

  "Since when do you get to question my decisions? Stay in your place and wait your turn for evacuation."

  Mio Sato Neto was visibly infuriated, but for the moment, he could do nothing. Still, deep inside, he was already scheming, he wouldn’t wait long to have the last laugh.

  Confrontation and Ambush

  As the younger members of the Mio family were being evacuated through secret tunnels that led into the forest, hidden forces moved silently through the city, converging south where the Mio estate was located. Led by the ruling family of Boom House, the Che family, alongside members of the Qui family and other affiliated clans, they arrived at the gates of the Mio residence with great pomp and ceremony. Their arrival was heralded by a fanfare that echoed through the streets, alarming the Mio elders and signaling that the wolves had come to slaughter the sheep.

  Che Yato, head of the Che family and the current mayor of the city, spoke with a voice that rumbled like thunder:

  "What has happened within the Mio family respected branch of our Boom House, that would warrant activating such a great shield? Who dares disturb the ancestors’ rest and steal the hens’ eggs before their masters’ eyes?"

  With an air of humility and strength, he presented himself as a just and honest leader, but those who truly knew him understood that nothing good ever followed when the mayor made his move.

  The people in the streets watched with a mix of curiosity and dread. Some were excited by the prospect of a spectacle, while others fled to their homes, fearing the worst. Local businesses closed early, having heard rumors that the Mio family might drown in blood that day. Now, they saw who had come to collect that debt.

  Mio Yoto, flanked by his elders, approached the gates to confront the arriving families.

  "Since when do I owe you an explanation for my actions, Che Yato?" he said with a firm voice. "My family is my responsibility. My problems as well. If you’ve nothing more to say, you may leave."

  At that moment, a sarcastic laugh pierced the air, Ryoto had appeared at Che Yato’s side, accompanied by a few bandaged men and bruised thugs. He loudly accused Mio Yoto of unjustly hunting him down and injuring him and his followers.

  "Had it not been for divine providence and the intervention of Qui Su and the captain of the guard, Sir Cairus, I would no longer be alive!" he declared dramatically, demanding justice.

  Qui Su and Sir Cairus confirmed the accusations with solemn conviction, while Che Yato smirked with satisfaction, clearly pleased by the theatrical farce he had orchestrated.

  Mio Yoto, recognizing the trap, understood that it was all just a pretense to rob and humiliate him in public. Losing this confrontation would not only mean losing face, it would also mean losing leadership of the family to his brother. He cast a wary glance at the man, suspecting betrayal. The situation was delicate and dangerous.

  Meanwhile, deep in the underground tunnels, Huang Di, Mio Hio, and Sara continued toward the forest. Tension clung to them like fog, until Huang Di finally broke the silence:

  "Are you certain that fleeing through the back tunnels is the best strategy? Have you considered that your enemies might anticipate this... and prepare an ambush?"

  Mio Hio looked at him, hesitant, and sighed:

  "It’s true... that possibility exists. But it was the only option we had left."

  "There is always another option," Huang Di replied, his gaze resolute.

  Upon reaching the forest, the scene that awaited them was the worst possible outcome. Young masters, weapons drawn, stood helpless as their guards and servants were slaughtered one by one before their very eyes, turning the forest into a brutal slaughterhouse.