"Excellent, excellent, let's put the past behind us. We're family, there should be no conflicts," Murong De said with a hearty laugh, looking at Bai Ran.
"Not quite," Bai Ran replied with a smile that reached her eyes, "We haven't truly put the past behind us yet."
"The Second Prince has arrived!"
Murong Jin entered with a displeased look. *That detestable Bai Ran, what trick is she up to now?*
"Jin'er, tell me, what exactly happened regarding Bai Luohan?" Murong De inquired.
Murong Jin bowed and spoke, "Your Majesty, a few days ago in the secret realm, I happened to pass by and overheard Bai Ran saying she wanted Luohan dead. She then attacked and injured Luohan. My heart ached for her, so I saved her and brought her out of the secret realm."
Bai Ran's eyes glinted with amusement. *She's managed to paint herself as a saint.*
"May I ask, what is the Second Prince's cultivation level?" Bai Ran asked calmly.
"Everyone knows I am at the fourth stage of Qi Condensation, a chosen one of heaven. How could you not know?" Murong Jin looked at Bai Ran with amusement.
Bai Ran slowly walked up to Murong Jin, smiled at him, and then unleashed her power: the sixth stage of Qi Condensation.
The sixth stage of Qi Condensation! Bai Ran was actually at the sixth stage!
Everyone present, except for Bai Zhantian, was utterly shocked.
The sixth stage of Qi Condensation before the age of thirteen!
"May I ask how the Second Prince managed to save her from me, a practitioner at the sixth stage of Qi Condensation, and escape?" Bai Ran stared into Murong Jin's eyes.
Indeed, how could Murong Jin, a practitioner at the fourth stage, have saved someone from Bai Ran at the sixth stage and escaped? Bai Ran wasn't just a decoration!
"Still not telling the truth?"
Bai Ran pinched Murong Jin's mouth open and popped a pill inside.
"Cough, cough, cough! Are you insane! What did you give me!"
Murong Jin, mistakenly believing it was a poison pill, panicked.
"What's the rush? It's merely a Truth Serum Pill," she said sarcastically.
A third-tier pill, the Truth Serum Pill? It seemed Bai Ran had acquired quite a few treasures in the secret realm.
Murong De looked at Bai Ran, his mind already calculating.
"Who injured Bai Luohan?" Bai Ran asked.
"Uh... uh..." Murong Jin, who had thought he could remain silent, had underestimated the power of the Truth Serum Pill. He desperately covered his mouth, but it was useless.
"I... I did! I injured Luohan," he finally confessed, then quickly covered his mouth again, thinking, *It's over, it's all over.*
"Oh, Your Majesty, the real culprit has been found," Bai Ran said, looking at Murong De.
"Rebellious son! You infuriate me! Take him out and give him a hundred strokes of the cane! Confine him for three months!" Murong De slammed the table and roared.
"No! I can't, Father! A hundred strokes will cripple me!" Murong Jin begged, while glaring fiercely at Bai Ran, "Bai Ran! You just wait!"
Murong Jin was dragged away, and soon after, his screams could be heard.
"My dear girl, you see that this rebellious son has been punished, and the matter is concluded, right? When will you give me the divine artifact?"
"Concluded? But some people have yet to face retribution," Bai Ran walked to Bai Luohan's side and forcefully stomped on her hand.
"Ahhh!" Bai Luohan cried out in pain as she woke up.
"Bai Ran, what do you think you're doing!" Bai Hong exclaimed, preparing to strike Bai Ran away.
"Your Majesty," Bai Ran said, throwing her hands up in mock helplessness.
Bai Hong was a cultivator at the second stage of the Golden Core realm. Bai Ran was not foolish enough to confront him head-on.
*No! If Bai Ran dies, the treasure is lost too!*
Murong De immediately ordered, "Guards! Restrain Bai Hong!"
Bai Hong's mouth was also gagged, and he was bound and thrown to the ground, glaring at Bai Ran.
"Father! You wicked woman! Release him at once!" Bai Luohan sat up and yelled at Bai Ran.
"Bai Hong, you injured my person. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Now, I will let you experience it."
Bai Ran looked at Bai Luohan on the ground and snapped her hand bone.
"Ahhh!"
Tears of pain immediately streamed down Bai Luohan's face. She curled up on the ground. Bai Ran then grabbed Bai Luohan by the neck and began punching her abdomen repeatedly.
Choked by Bai Ran's grip, Bai Luohan was powerless to fight back. Her abdomen felt as though it was tearing apart from the pain, but Bai Ran's hand on her throat prevented her from uttering a sound, except for the continuous flow of tears.
Bai Ran's expression was emotionless. Blood splattered on her face, yet she remained unfazed, her presence radiating an imposing aura.
The grand hall was silent, save for the sounds of Bai Ran's blows and Bai Luohan's cries.
Beside them, Bai Hong's eyes were cracked, his face flushed red with anger as he writhed.
Bai Luohan gradually lost consciousness from the brutal beating, her head, face, and body covered in bloody wounds, the blood dripping onto the floor from her robes.
Murong De watched the scene coldly. He understood clearly that Bai Ran was not only seeking revenge but also issuing a warning: do not harm her people.
With a final palm strike, Bai Ran severed Bai Luohan's meridians, then released her grip. Bai Luohan's body collapsed heavily onto the ground.
"I have beaten your person. We are now even."
Bai Ran's face was splattered with Bai Luohan's blood. She smiled at Bai Hong, "How does it feel? Not very pleasant, is it?"
Bai Hong's eyes were moist. He looked at Bai Luohan, whose life hung in the balance, in despair.
He twisted his bound body, crawled to Bai Luohan's side, and began to sob heartbrokenly, hot tears falling.
*Luohan... my Luohan...*
His eyes brimmed with tears, his gaze burning red.
*Bai Ran! Bai Ran!!*
*If I don't kill her, I am no human!!!*
Bai Ran approached Murong De and handed over the lowest grade divine artifact.
The Emperor's expression changed. He happily ordered someone to escort her back.
Upon returning to her courtyard, Qingfeng and Qingyue had already awoken.
The four of them knelt in unison, "Mistress, we failed to protect your courtyard. We beg for your punishment!"
Rumors had already spread throughout the Bai family. They never imagined their mistress would seek revenge for a few lowly servants like them.
The four hated their own weak cultivation while being deeply touched.
"Alright."
As soon as Bai Ran spoke, the expressions of everyone remained unchanged.
They would do whatever their mistress commanded.
For in their hearts, their mistress came first.
"Then my punishment for you four is to come with me and train."
The four looked up simultaneously, gazing at Bai Ran in disbelief.
She smiled gently.
"Yes!"
The four voices, firm and loud, pierced through the clouds.
Deep in the night.
Unnoticed, a few figures slipped out of the Bai family and headed towards the Nightfall Forest.
Bai Ran had beaten Bai Luohan so severely; who knew what madness Bai Hong might resort to.
Although her grandfather could restrain him, improving her strength felt more reliable.
"We'll rest for tonight and begin training tomorrow."
All four found a comfortable spot and sat cross-legged.
Bai Ran took out the Sky Burning Cauldron. She contemplated the cauldron, thinking, *I have the cauldron, and I have the spiritual herbs. How do I awaken the fire seed?*
"Master, you can use my Sky Burning Fire. Sky Burning has its own fire seed," Sky Burning's sweet voice echoed in Bai Ran's mind.
"Sky Burning's fire?" Hearing this, Bai Ran focused her energy. A small flame ignited on her fingertip, its core fiery red, encased in a layer of golden flame.
"Master, this isn't my fire. This is Little Zhu's fire."
"Little Zhu?" Bai Ran asked.
"It's the Vermilion Bird that hasn't hatched yet," Sky Burning replied.
"Little Zhu? Who named her? So inappropriate," Bai Ran teased.
Sky Burning gave Bai Ran a helpless look. *It was you, Master.*