Free Web NovelChapter 20: Chapter 20: Blood-colored Bat
A flicker of emotion crossed Shen Daoxing’s mind. "My parents?" he whispered.
All he knew was that Shen Changqing had adopted him as a child and raised him in the Shen Family. He had no memory of his parents.
"That’s right. This story goes back sixteen years."
Shen Changqing seemed to drift into the past. "The winter that year was exceptionally cold," he said. "I was on my way back from visiting a friend when I came across a gravely wounded woman, clutching an infant to her chest."
"The infant was you, and that woman was your mother."
This was the first time Shen Daoxing had ever heard Shen Changqing speak of his origins, and he was completely captivated.
"Your mother was uncommonly beautiful, with an ethereal air about her. It was clear at a glance she was no ordinary person."
Shen Changqing sighed. "My first instinct was to save your mother. Her injuries were far too severe. But she refused my help. She entrusted you to me, asking me to raise you, and she warned me never to speak of what happened that day, lest it bring about a terrible catastrophe."
"Before she left, she even opened fifteen of my acupoints, helping me break through to the Profound Platform Realm. I estimate her cultivation level was far beyond the Grotto Heaven Realm."
"Mother..."
Shen Daoxing’s heart clenched. An image formed in his mind: a gravely wounded woman on the brink of death, clutching an infant to her chest.
’I wonder how she is now.’
Shen Changqing suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. Your mother repeatedly warned me to be wary of people with a blood-red bat tattooed on their arm."
Shen Daoxing frowned. "People with a blood-red bat tattooed on their arm?"
’What kind of faction is that!?’
’Could they be connected to my mother’s injuries?’
"I used the Shen Family’s influence to investigate in secret," Shen Changqing said grimly, "but I’ve never heard of any group with a blood-red bat on their arms."
"But your mother was no ordinary person. Any faction she warned you about must also be extraordinary."
Shen Daoxing let out a long breath. "Thank you, Patriarch," he said gratefully. "I will remember everything."
He knew that to find his mother, and to find the faction with the blood-red bat tattoo, he would need immense strength of his own.
Otherwise, it would all be for nothing.
Shen Changqing waved his hand. "There’s no need for such formalities. If not for your mother’s help, I might never have become the Shen Family’s Patriarch. Looking back on that day now, it all feels like a magnificent, fleeting dream."
"I, too, hope that you and your mother will one day be reunited."
The events of sixteen years ago were a heaven-sent encounter for Shen Changqing, one that remained etched into his very soul.
"You will," Shen Yuerou said earnestly. "I’m sure of it."
Shen Daoxing nodded resolutely.
Shen Changqing smiled. "Daoxing receiving the White Cloud Order today is a joyous occasion. Yuerou, why don’t you cook a few dishes? Daoxing and I will celebrate with a few drinks."
Shen Yuerou shot Shen Changqing a look. "Grandfather, your injuries haven’t healed yet."
"These are just flesh wounds," Shen Changqing said dismissively. "It’s nothing serious."
Shen Yuerou couldn’t argue with him and could only let her grandfather have his way.
Shen Daoxing stood up. "Sister, the kitchen hasn’t been cleaned yet. I’ll help you."
Concerned for Shen Daoxing, Shen Yuerou quickly said, "No, no, it’s fine! It’s dirty and messy in there. I’ll handle it myself."
Shen Daoxing chuckled. "It’s no problem. I can help speed things up."
"Alright."
Hearing this, Shen Yuerou had no choice but to agree.
With Shen Daoxing’s help, Shen Yuerou soon had a table laden with delicious food.
Shen Changqing drank himself into a stupor, and in the end, it was Shen Daoxing who had to help him back to his room.
In the small, worn-down courtyard, moonlight flooded everything.
Shen Yuerou closed the door. "He’s such a handful. Xing, I’m glad you’re here."
Shen Daoxing smiled. "It’s nothing. It’s the least I can do."
Shen Yuerou stretched languidly, her perfect curves accentuated by the movement. "It’s getting late," she said softly. "I’m going to take a bath. You should get some rest, too."
Just then, Shen Yuerou noticed Shen Daoxing staring blankly at the ground. "What’s wrong?" she couldn’t help but ask. "What’s so interesting down there?"
On the ground, there were only their two shadows, cast by the moonlight.
There was nothing else.
Shen Daoxing said, "There are two shadows on the ground. One is mine... and the other one is mine, too."
At his words, Shen Yuerou’s face flushed crimson. Her heart began to race, and her cheeks were still burning even after she had returned to her room.
.....
「Shen Family, Rear Courtyard」
The frozen corpse of Shen Shaotian had been brought back and was now lying in the rear courtyard.
After an unknown amount of time, a stream of white vapor appeared within the ice. Then, the entire block began to melt at a rate visible to the naked eye.
Shen Shaotian exhaled a cloud of white, foul air. "I’m not dead," he said, his voice filled with joyous surprise. "I’m actually not dead!"
"I consumed three drops of the Earth Spirit Spring just to preserve your physical body," Elder Meng’s voice rang out.
"It’s all thanks to you this time, Elder Meng."
Shen Shaotian’s face twisted into a savage snarl. "Shen Daoxing, I won’t rest until you’re dead!"
"We need to leave, now," Elder Meng said gravely. "It will be trouble if Shen Daoxing discovers you."
"Thinking of leaving now? It’s too late."
Just then, an icy voice drifted in from outside the window.
’Not good!’
Shen Shaotian’s eyes widened as a figure shot toward him.
THUD!
An immense force descended from above, and Shen Shaotian’s physical body instantly exploded into a mist of blood.
Shen Daoxing crouched and picked up the black ring from the ground. "So you’re the one behind Shen Shaotian?"
"HEH HEH HEH HEH!"
Elder Meng’s shrill cackle echoed from the ring. "Since Shen Shaotian is dead, why don’t we cooperate? I can help you become the ruler of the Martial Kingdom."
"Not interested," Shen Daoxing said coldly.
As he spoke, a jet of Primordial Energy shot from his fingertip toward the black ring.
BANG!
The Primordial Energy struck the ring with full force, but the black ring remained completely unscathed.
Elder Meng sneered. "Don’t waste your strength. You can’t possibly break my parasitic ring."
"Is that so?"
Shen Daoxing extended his hand, and the Great Ming Demon Sparrow appeared in his palm. Under the moonlight, the massive, jet-black sword looked incredibly mysterious and terrifying.
Even in his Divine Soul state, the sight of the Great Ming Demon Sparrow sent a chill through Elder Meng.
He had witnessed the weapon’s power firsthand.
"Don’t!"
CLANG!
The Great Ming Demon Sparrow slammed down hard onto the black ring. With a sharp ’CRACK!’, the tough ring shattered into pieces.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Just then, a black shadow drifted out from the ring’s fragments.
It was the aged, spectral figure of Elder Meng’s Divine Soul.
Hm!?
A glint appeared in Shen Daoxing’s eyes. He saw it—on Elder Meng’s arm was a red bat.
"Brat, I’ll remember this!"
Elder Meng roared in fury, transforming into a streak of black light and vanishing on the spot.
"Trying to run?"
With a single leap, Shen Daoxing shot off in pursuit.
WHOOSH--!
The black streak was incredibly fast, vanishing into the night in the blink of an eye.
"What a shame. He actually got away."
Shen Daoxing clenched his fists.
