Evening.
Crack!
Lightning flashed across the sky, and a heavy rain began to pour. Su Hongzhang stood silently by the door, his eyes seething with rage. Just moments ago, he had personally buried the bodies of He Qian and Li Peng in the Black Earth Forest, the very place where Su Lei had fought valiantly. "Father, it's all my fault," Su Shaoqing didn't know what else to say, so he could only blame himself for everything. "Shaoqing, take this Mysterious Ring. There's some money inside. Take your sister and survive." After speaking, Su Hongzhang left the small courtyard without looking back, amidst Su Tao'er's cries.
Su Family.
Night fell, and the Su mansion was brightly lit. "Brother, are you feeling a bit cold?" Gatekeeper A asked, shivering. "It's normal to be cold after the New Year, but it's the first time it's been this cold." Gatekeeper B replied. As they whispered, just as they straightened up, a pair of fists came flying at them. Boom!
The two of them were sent crashing through the main gate, and with an angry roar, Su Hongzhang flew into the Su Family compound. "Su Hongcheng!" Su Hongzhang stood in the courtyard, furious, scaring the servants of the Su mansion into freezing in place, afraid to move. "That's... Second Young Master." "Hush, are you trying to court death?" Su Hongzhang looked around at the people. "Tell Su Hongcheng that beast to get out here!" Su Hongzhang shouted. "Second brother, you're back. Why such a temper?" Su Hongcheng walked out with a smile. "You beast, killing Father wasn't enough? You actually sent people to raid my small courtyard while I was away, insulted my wife and children, and killed Uncle Li. Su Hongcheng, today I will make you pay with blood!" Su Hongzhang roared and lunged at Su Hongcheng. Seeing them fight, the servants scrambled to escape, but the main gate suddenly slammed shut. Su Hongcheng stood at the entrance, watching indifferently as Su Hongzhang missed his attack. "Younger brother, don't! Spreading slander! I know Father's death has hit you hard, but it's wrong for you to slander me like this," Su Hongcheng said. "Whether what I say is true or false, you know yourself. Give me your life!" Su Hongzhang charged at Su Hongcheng again. "Ants shaking a tree." Su Hongcheng grabbed Su Hongzhang's arm and with a forceful twist, broke it. "After taking the Heaven Stealing Pill, you're already at the end of your rope. Your wounds haven't even healed, and you've come here to die. Fine, I'll grant you your wish." Su Hongcheng kicked Su Hongzhang in the chest, sending him flying. The servants cowered in fear. Su Hongcheng clapped his hands, and suddenly ten men in black appeared from nowhere. "Don't blame me. Blame Su Hongzhang for saying something he shouldn't have." Su Hongcheng waved his hand, and the men in black began a massacre, slaughtering all the servants before flying into the sky and disappearing. In an instant, the Su mansion was a river of blood. Su Hongcheng strode through the blood, towards Su Hongzhang, like a demon from hell. "Cough, cough, cough, ah." Su Hongzhang coughed up a mouthful of blood and struggled to prop himself up with one arm. Blood flowed into the ground, seeping into a withered flower. "Overestimating yourself. You, wanting revenge? Do you have the strength for that? Ridiculous." Su Hongcheng placed a foot on Su Hongzhang's chest. "Even if I die, my vengeful spirit will haunt you until we both go to hell!" Su Hongzhang raged. "I'll say it again, I don't know about what you're talking about, and I didn't do it. You should go back now and live peacefully, don't stir up trouble. My words still stand. If you remain obstinate, don't blame me for disregarding our brotherhood." Su Hongcheng said. "Su Hongcheng, if you have the guts, kill me." Su Hongzhang stared intently at Su Hongcheng, like a true demon intent on dragging Su Hongcheng into hell. "Fine, I'll grant your wish." In a dilapidated alley, the heavy rain mercilessly washed over Su Hongzhang's corpse, a broken sword still embedded in his chest. As an era ends, what world awaits Su Shaoqing?
Blue Star.
Fang Tian KTV.
A man stormed through the KTV and kicked open a room door. Everyone inside was startled into immobility, except for the man in the center, adorned in luxury, who calmly raised his wine glass as if he had expected this. The man walked into the room, glaring at the other man. "Fang Yu, why did you do this?" the man questioned. "Bai Tao, your design was too good; I couldn't resist and stole it. Don't blame me," Fang Yu said with a smile. "Fang Yu, I considered you a brother, and this is how you treat me!" Bai Tao was furious. "Bai Tao, don't think too highly of yourself. You're nothing. Here, money is king. You poor bum, did you really think I sponsored you because of 'High Mountains Flowing Water'?" Fang Yu chuckled. Bai Tao glared at Fang Yu in anger. "Bai Tao, you're a graduate of a prestigious university, how can your brain only know how to study? This is about human relationships. I have more money than you. Even if your brain is sharper than mine, what's the use?" Slap! Bai Tao smashed a beer bottle on the table, startling everyone around them, who fled the room. "Fang Yu! Today, it's either you die or I die!" Bai Tao gritted his teeth and lunged at Fang Yu with the beer bottle. Whoosh! An arrow flew out, piercing Bai Tao's right hand and shattering his entire palm. "Ah!" Bai Tao fell to the ground in agony. A group of bodyguards entered and dragged Bai Tao up. "Bai Tao, you're too foolish. This entire KTV belongs to our Fang Tian Building. You want to kill me on my turf? Did a donkey kick your brain? Serves you right that I stole your design." Fang Yu patted Bai Tao's face. (TL note: The story continues after this chapter, please click to the next page.) \*\*clap clap!* * Fang Yu clapped his hands, and two bodyguards brought in a unconscious woman. "Xiao Ya! Fang Yu, what are you doing!" Bai Tao cried out. "Xiao Ya is so beautiful. If it weren't for getting your design, I would have had her long ago. Now, you can watch your girlfriend become my plaything here with your own eyes." Fang Yu smiled and motioned for the bodyguards to place the woman on the table. "Bai Tao, I can give you anything, just don't touch her!" Bai Tao pleaded desperately. "Bai Tao, that's not up to you." Fang Yu removed the woman's hood, revealing a flushed woman; it was clear she had been drugged. "Guards, keep an eye on him. If he closes his eyes for more than five seconds, you can have his family collect his death benefits." Fang Yu ordered. "Yes, sir." The bodyguards stepped forward and pried Bai Tao's eyes open. Thus, Bai Tao endured two excruciating hours. "Let's go." Fang Yu zipped up his pants and led a group of bodyguards out. "Xiao Ya." Bai Tao held the woman's head, tears streaming down his face. "Bai Tao, I... I'm sorry... I'm... not clean anymore." The woman woke up. Seeing the beer bottle nearby, Bai Tao was filled with rage. He grabbed the bottle and chased after them. "Beast! I'll die with you!" Bai Tao roared and smashed at Fang Yu. However, Fang Yu dodged his attack with a sidestep, snatched the weapon from Bai Tao's grasp with a counter-move, and smashed it down on Bai Tao's head. Bai Tao's head immediately began to bleed profusely, and he collapsed. "Ignorant fool." Fang Yu waved his hand, and two bodyguards dragged the injured Bai Tao into another car and drove towards the outskirts. The next day. A news report stated: Yesterday, on the outskirts, a drunk driver collided with a tanker truck. Sparks ignited the truck's fuel tank, causing an explosion. Both drivers died at the scene. The site was littered with dismembered limbs, making identification impossible.
Prologue ends.
Bai Tao Personal Profile: Male, twenty-six years old. PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Zhejiang University, PhD in Energy and Power Engineering from Chongqing University, participant in Artificial Intelligence research at Nanjing University, currently studying string instruments at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.