"Brat, when you go down the mountain this time, you don't need to hold back for anyone. If anyone is not convinced, bury them with money!"
In a secluded valley on Jiulong Mountain, a beautiful woman with undiminished charm stood before a young man. She held a black dragon-patterned card in one hand and a token inscribed with the word "Dragon" in the other. "If the money in the black gold card isn't enough, take the Dragon Minister Order to the Dragon Minister Merchant Association. All their money is yours!"
"Don't you always think Aunt Shi's Profound Heaven Pavilion knows everything in the world?"
Another breathtakingly beautiful woman, clad in purple silk, approached, holding a delicately carved wooden box. Inside, a jade pendant lay quietly. "This is the Profound Heaven Pavilion's steward's jade pendant. With this, you can know all things under heaven!"
A third woman, dressed in a green dress, walked over. Her slender jade fingers gently touched the youth's wrist. Gold threads wrapped around her delicate wrist seemed to come alive, swiftly coiling around the young man's arm.
Having completed her task, the woman in the green dress smiled sweetly and said, "This is the Yin-Yang Seventy-Two Golden Needles. From now on, you are its master."
"These needles can discern fate, predict life and death, neutralize all poisons in the world, and cure all ailments. You must keep them well."
"Thank you, my three aunt-masters!"
The young man clasped his hands in a respectful bow to the three peerless women and accepted their respective "treasures."
His name was Bai Zihe. He had been brought to the mountain by his master four years ago.
Not long after he arrived, his master mysteriously disappeared.
His four aunt-masters taught him in his master's stead.
Second Aunt-Master Lin Qinghan managed the world's wealth, with the Dragon Minister Merchant Association under her command being richer than any kingdom.
Third Aunt-Master Yan Xuezhu was the chief steward of the Profound Heaven Pavilion, privy to all affairs of the world.
Fourth Aunt-Master Ye Mengyao was renowned for her dual mastery of medicine and poison. Her Yin-Yang Seventy-Two Needles could revive the dead, mend broken bones, and also kill imperceptibly.
The most mysterious of them all was First Aunt-Master Qiao Ruoxue!!!
Bai Zihe had spent four years with her, yet he still didn't know her true identity.
At that moment, a stunningly beautiful woman with refined features and a cold, elegant demeanor appeared. "Zihe, come with me for a moment."
It was the mysterious First Aunt-Master Qiao Ruoxue!!!
Upon hearing her words, Bai Zihe walked over.
Qiao Ruoxue's voice was cool as she asked, "Zihe, do you know why I'm sending you down the mountain?"
Bai Zihe shook his head.
When his master brought him to the mountain, his master had declared that he must stay for seven full years before being allowed to descend.
Yet, only four years had passed…
Qiao Ruoxue's voice held a hint of sorrow. "Because the day after tomorrow is your mother's death anniversary."
Boom!!!
Every nerve in Bai Zihe's body tightened. His fists clenched, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh.
A terrifying aura of killing intent emanated from him.
The floodgates of memory seemed to burst open, and scene after scene surged forth…
Four years ago, he was the young master of the Bai family, a prominent household in Suhang.
The Bai family was harmonious, and his family lived a happy life.
Alas, all that beauty was shattered one night four years ago…
That night, the three major families of Suhang, through schemes and machinations, forcibly divided the Bai family's assets.
His father attempted to resist, only to have a leg broken by thugs!
His mother was even murdered by the three major families of Suhang!
Driven to madness, he went to confront the three Suhang families, but was beaten unconscious by their thugs, stuffed into a sack, and thrown into the tumultuous sea.
Qiao Ruoxue placed her jade hand on Bai Zihe's shoulder, forcefully stabilizing the explosive aura emanating from him.
She produced a square seal, upon which was a wolf's head. "Zihe, this is the Wolf King Seal left by your master. He who wields this seal can command a million wolf soldiers!"
"Today, as you descend the mountain, I entrust this seal to you."
Bai Zihe received the Wolf King Seal with both hands, his eyes blazing with fierce fire. "First Aunt-Master, when Zihe descends the mountain this time, he will certainly uncover the mystery of Master's disappearance."
"There is ample time ahead."
"You can investigate your master's disappearance slowly. First, deal with your own family matters."
"Little one, go down the mountain!"
"Do what you wish to do!"
"If you face any difficulties, you can seek out your eight senior sisters. If they cannot resolve something, we will back you up!"
"Remember."
"This sky can be overturned!"
"This earth can be moved!" Qiao Ruoxue waved her hand and turned away.
"Zihe will keep his aunt-masters' teachings firmly in his heart."
Bai Zihe knelt down, kowtowed three times, then rose and descended the mountain.
Only after his slender figure had vanished did Qiao Ruoxue turn back, gazing longingly.
"Eldest Sister, since you are reluctant, why not let him stay longer?" The other three women approached.
"Alas!"
Qiao Ruoxue gave a bitter smile and murmured, "The confined Jiulong Mountain cannot contain him. The vast world outside is his true domain."
"Beyond mountains, there are more mountains; beyond towers, there are higher towers."
"The Dragon Country is finally about to change!"
…
Two days later.
On the train bound for Suhang.
Bai Zihe sat by the sleeper berth, gazing at a photograph in his hand.
The photograph showed a family of four.
His stern father, his loving mother, and his innocent sister…
Now, four years had passed.
His mother was gone.
He wondered about the fate of his father and sister?
As Bai Zihe was engrossed in the photo, a pair of beautiful eyes from the opposite berth were secretly observing him.
The owner of these beautiful eyes was a woman of extraordinary beauty.
Her name was Su Weiwei, the young lady of the Su family in Suhang.
She was known in Suhang as the picky queen. Many men pursued her, but few could capture her attention.
Yet, even with her highly discerning gaze, the man sitting opposite her was flawless in appearance.
His brows were like sharp swords, and his eyes shone like stars.
The only imperfection was that the man was like a vast ice mountain, perpetually shrouded in an aura of coldness.
For nearly eight hours, the man maintained his seated posture, gazing at the photograph in his hand.
From beginning to end, the man hadn't spared her a second glance.
As the train neared its destination, Su Weiwei finally couldn't resist. She stood up and approached him, initiating conversation. "What photo are you looking at?"
Bai Zihe slightly raised his head and glanced at her.
That glance, like a predator hunting in the night, sent a shiver down Su Weiwei's spine.
So cold!
As a renowned beauty in Suhang, men had always flocked around her.
This was her first time approaching someone, and it had ended in failure.
A hint of frustration flickered in her heart!
Just as she dejectedly sat back in her seat, the carriage door was pushed open from the outside.
A young man of ordinary appearance, dressed in designer brands, entered the carriage, followed by several burly bodyguards.
Upon seeing this, Su Weiwei quickly lowered her head.
But the young man spotted her and, with his bodyguards, approached. "Su Weiwei, I'm giving you so much face, yet you dared to slap my face in public. If I don't teach you a profound lesson today, I'll change my surname to yours!"
"You… what do you want?"
Su Weiwei's face turned pale with fear, and she retreated to the innermost part of the carriage.
The young man approached her with an evil grin, step by step. "Of course, I'm going to do something to make you remember!"
"Kid! Get out of my way!"
As he passed by Bai Zihe, the young man flicked his hand, knocking the photograph from Bai Zihe's grasp onto the floor.
The young man paid it no mind.
He stepped forward, intending to continue menacing Su Weiwei, when he heard a cold voice from behind him: "Pick it up!"