Despite his severe injuries, Yang Feng was still a great warrior known as Iron Palm. His heightened awareness allowed him to sense Cang Er’s sword strike clearly.

  The blade stopped mid-air, trembling as Yang Feng caught it between two fingers. Cang Er gasped in shock and tried to pull her sword back, but it wouldn’t budge.

  Yang Feng only smiled gently, showing no sign of anger. "Forgive me, child… This is my fault for failing to protect you."

  Cang Er froze for a moment before falling to her knees, burying her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook violently as she sobbed, her cries filled with unbearable grief. The sound pierced Yang Feng’s heart.

  Long Wei let out a relieved sigh upon seeing Yang Feng unharmed and walked toward them.

  "Are you alright, Elder?" he asked.

  Yang Feng shook his head. "My internal injuries have worsened. This is not good. We need to stop by the house of the Mystic Devil for help."

  "The Mystic Devil?" Long Wei frowned.

  Back when he was still a pirate, he had heard the name a few times. People said he was an eccentric, half-mad man whose actions were unpredictable. But everyone agreed on one thing,the Mystic Devil possessed extraordinary martial prowess.

  "I heard he isn’t sane," Long Wei said hesitantly. "Isn't he one of the great figures of the eastern lands?"

  Yang Feng simply nodded before turning his gaze back to Cang Er, who was still sobbing uncontrollably. The old warrior pulled her into a firm embrace.

  "You have suffered so much." Yang Feng’s voice trembled with emotion. "I must apologize, even though I know you may never forgive me. Come with me, child. If you still hold anger toward me, you may take my life once I have passed down all my knowledge to Long Wei."

  Long Wei was stunned.

  Cang Er slowly lifted her tear-streaked face and looked at Yang Feng. "We should take care of my parents first."

  The groans of wounded soldiers caught Long Wei’s attention. He clicked his tongue before barking at them, "Tend to your comrades and get out of here!"

  Only about six of them were still alive, all gravely injured. Yet none dared to disobey Long Wei, no matter how much they wanted to. With heavy hearts, the remaining soldiers carried their fallen comrades, each man hauling three corpses. They secured the bodies onto the backs of the horses still tethered nearby, then left the village without a word.

  "Let’s go," Yang Feng said, lifting Lu Kwan’s lifeless body while Long Wei carried Mei Mei.

  "I want them buried in the backyard," Cang Er suddenly said, surprising them both.

  "Are you sure?"

  She nodded. "I’ll give the goats to the village chief. As for my father’s horse, I will take it and set out on my own journey."

  Without another word, they returned to the late Lu Kwan’s home. A solemn silence accompanied them all the way to the front yard. They made their way to the back, preparing for the burial.

  As Yang Feng and Long Wei dug deep into the earth, Cang Er continued to weep. She carefully wiped away the dirt and blood from Lu Kwan and Mei Mei’s bodies using a cloth, then straightened their clothing.

  Once the burial was complete, Long Wei placed a large stone over the graves, and Yang Feng carved words onto its surface using his internal energy:

  "Here lies Lu Taihiap and his wife."

  "Rest in peace. I will atone for my sins by putting an end to this injustice," Yang Feng murmured, pressing his palms together.

  The world seemed colorless in Cang Er’s eyes. Just a few weeks ago, her father had bought her a new red robe adorned with lotus patterns as a gift for her fifteenth birthday.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  But now, her parents had gone to a place she could never reach while still alive. Only now did she realize,that red lotus robe had been her father’s final gift.

  "I can’t believe Lu Kwan betrayed me. Do you know anything, child?" Yang Feng asked.

  Cang Er wiped her tears and stood up. "Let’s talk inside."

  Once they were seated in the front room, Cang Er finally answered. "Officer Kai came to us and threatened to do something terrible. In this household, only my father knew martial arts. I was still training and nowhere near his level, and my mother had no interest in learning martial arts at all. That made us easy targets for officer Kai."

  Yang Feng narrowed his eyes as he began to piece everything together.

  Before he could speak, Long Wei cut in. "Was it about the Sky Jade?"

  "Yes." Cang Er nodded. "Somehow, officer Kai found out that my father was close to the Iron Palm Warrior and forced him to demand the Sky Jade from you. My father had no interest in that jade, especially since it was brought by his own friend, but officer Kai continued to threaten and pressure him. This happened about two weeks ago."

  Long Wei’s eyes were filled with suspicion. "Then why did you seem so happy when we arrived?"

  "I thought my father would ask Elder Yang for help. Of course, I believed Elder Yang could crush that bastard officer. But things didn’t turn out that way." Cang Er’s voice broke as she started sobbing again. "I never expected this. That’s why I was so shocked when my father lied and said officer Kai wanted to marry me."

  "You nearly killed Elder Yang," Long Wei said sharply.

  "I was just overwhelmed. I never imagined things would end like this, and I made a foolish decision!" Cang Er snapped back. "I watched my parents die before my eyes. And my father was killed by the man I saw as my grandfather. Do you have any idea how that feels?"

  Long Wei’s mind suddenly drifted back to that fateful night, to the memory of his father’s lifeless body drifting down the Bai He River. A flame of rage ignited in his chest as he rose to his feet. He felt mocked by the girl in front of him.

  "Your father was a coward and,"

  "Long Wei!" Yang Feng’s voice boomed. "Sit down!"

  Long Wei obeyed, clenching his fists in silence. The girl sobbed once more.

  Yang Feng sighed deeply. "I was already injured when I arrived, and your father saw that. Maybe he intended to ask for my help at first, but he changed his mind after seeing my condition."

  "He underestimated you," Long Wei said bitterly.

  "I know, child." Yang Feng shook his head. "He truly did. He thought I was too weak to help, so instead of selling out his wife and daughter, he chose to sell me instead. He must have known that even if he asked, I would never hand over the Sky Jade."

  "Please forgive my father." Cang Er dropped to her knees, bowing at Yang Feng’s feet. "I know he was a coward and a traitor, but as his daughter, I beg for your mercy."

  The old man smiled gently, his expression filled with patience. "I have already forgiven him, even without you asking, child. Now, stand up."

  Cang Er rose and returned to her seat.

  "Long Wei and I will be visiting the Mystic Fiend soon. He may be the only one capable of treating this wound. Are you certain you don’t want to come with us?"

  Yang Feng truly hoped Cang Er would join them and become Long Wei’s martial sibling. He also wished to pass on his knowledge to her as a way to atone for what had happened to Lu Kwan. Even though it was he who had been betrayed, he couldn’t help but blame himself. If only he had arrived in good health, none of this would have happened.

  But Cang Er shook her head firmly. "I’m sorry, Elder, but I must refuse."

  "But why?"

  She simply shook her head again, offering no explanation.

  "So, you’ve chosen to become a wanderer?" Yang Feng asked. "The world is full of dangers, child."

  "I know, and that is precisely why I must learn martial arts to protect myself." Her gaze was unwavering, leaving Yang Feng no choice but to give up persuading her any further.

  The old man finally took a deep breath. "Very well, if that is your decision. Just remember this,beware of those who wear the mask of kindness. Wolves often hide in sheep’s clothing. You understand what I mean."

  Cang Er nodded, taking his advice to heart.

  Deep inside, Yang Feng was truly impressed by her courage. She had chosen the path of a wanderer despite being no older than fifteen. She was still just a child.

  "I wish you the best," he said before bidding his farewell and leaving.

  ***

  The next morning, Cang Er departed from Qinglan Village on Lu Kwan’s horse. She took one last look at the place she had called home for so long.

  She had truly wished to stay here forever, but life had its own way of unfolding, and its rules did not always align with human desires.

  "I’m leaving now, Father, Mother," she whispered before urging her horse forward.

  She had a duty to fulfill,her father’s final wish. He had wanted her to join one of the most powerful sects in the eastern region, a group feared and respected for their remarkable deeds. They were known for helping the weak and eradicating the wicked.

  The name of that sect was White Raven. It was located west of Qinglin Village, separated by two towering mountains. Becoming a disciple of White Raven had been her father’s lifelong dream, one he had never achieved. And so, he had entrusted that dream to her.

  She still remembered the way he had spoken about the sect, his voice filled with passion.

  Er Ji, one day, you must become a disciple of White Raven. They are a noble sect that upholds justice and vanquishes evil. Their leader is a great warrior, the most renowned fighter in the east. He is known as the White Ascetic.

  Cang Er clutched her chest and made a silent vow.

  She would become a disciple of the White Ascetic.