C15 Disrespectful!

Dusk had settled, and the night descended quietly. The distant mountains were shrouded in a heavy mist, adding to their mysterious and solemn allure. Amidst this, a single bright light shone like a brilliant star, nestled within a courtyard of ornate railings and red walls with green tiles, exuding a sense of prosperity. A sign hung at the entrance, reading "Fallen Mountain City," with bold, unrestrained lettering that evoked a sense of grandeur and authority, hinting at the prominence of its residents.

The stillness of the night was shattered by a sudden, urgent knocking at the door, startling the birds into flight under the enchanting moonlight. A group of people stood at the entrance, their brows slightly furrowed with anxiety. Despite their urgency, the door remained closed, prompting them to knock louder. When it finally opened, it creaked like an old man letting out a heavy sigh.

Inside, the courtyard was breathtakingly beautiful, even at night. Flowers bloomed in abundance, filling the air with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere. Yet, the group moved with purpose, their expressions grave, unaffected by the enchanting surroundings. They walked briskly to the far end of the courtyard, taking about half an hour to reach a secluded annex. Before they even entered, they saw Su Baihan standing outside, draped in a white robe, as if expecting their arrival, waiting patiently for them.

From a distance, Su Baihan stood tall and graceful in his white attire, which accentuated his slender figure. The moonlight, soft and gentle, bathed him, making his features appear indistinct yet strikingly handsome. His age was indiscernible from afar.

With a simple wave of his hand, his entourage moved silently past. As the leader of Fallen Mountain City, his commanding presence was such that few dared to meet his gaze directly.

The group bowed in unison and greeted him, "City Lord."

Though Su Baihan was eager to hear the news they brought, his expression remained unchanged, a testament to his years of composure as city lord. In a steady voice, he asked, "Have you found any trace of Su Qianxun?"

The assembled group stood with heads bowed, silent. A subtle fragrance lingered in the air as Su Baihan looked into the distance, his thoughts drifting. His eyes were clear, but his furrowed brow betrayed his displeasure. The tension grew, broken only by the relentless chirping of cicadas.

Inside, Su Baihan was deeply anxious. Su Qianxun was someone he had always protected, and the idea of not finding him was unacceptable. Whether alive or dead, he needed to know. Resolving himself, he turned, his gaze sharp and intimidating, his voice tinged with anger. "Keep searching. Don't come back until you find him!"

These people seemed to breathe a slight sigh of relief, realizing that avoiding punishment was the best possible outcome.

Suddenly looking up, Su Baihan noticed the night had deepened, and the dew had slightly dampened the hem of his clothes. He let out a long sigh and swept away, not having received the outcome he desired. It seemed this night would be another sleepless one. At some point, a guard had appeared behind him, following closely yet remaining hidden. If these people hadn't been aware of the guard's presence, they might have been startled. Despite being skilled themselves, none of them could detect where Su Baihan's guard was concealed, as if he was naturally one with the night, silently protecting Su Baihan.

Watching his figure fade into the distance, they slowly turned around, preparing to tidy up a bit before setting out to find Su Qianxun. But could they find him? Seeing how concerned the city leader was, failing to locate him might lead to trouble.

At dawn, the sky was a brilliant expanse of clear light. Murong Mingyue stumbled along the path, blood staining the corner of her mouth. Her face was pale, and sweat trickled down her forehead. Just a step away from the mansion's entrance, she swayed unsteadily, finally collapsing to the ground.

"Miss, Miss," a passing maid called out, seeing the elegantly dressed woman lying on the ground. She tried to rouse Murong Mingyue, but there was no response. When she lifted her hand and saw it covered in blood, she gasped in shock, urgently shouting, "Someone, help! Miss, Miss..."

Murong Mingyue awoke in a daze, her head pounding as if it might split open. In her hazy state, she seemed to see Su Qianxun's face, filled with despair and terror, as he fell off the cliff, the wind howling around him.

She looked at her own hands, whispering fearfully, "It wasn't me, it wasn't me."

Suddenly, she jolted awake to find many faces staring at her. After a moment, her face turned pale. Her wounds had been bandaged, and her clothes were clean and fresh. As she regained her senses, the elders of the Murong family gathered, their expressions solemn as they looked at Murong Mingyue, hailed as the "greatest prodigy of the South Domain." She was the family's hope for the future, and they couldn't afford any mistakes.

Murong Mingyue lowered her head, biting her lip in silence. Never having suffered such humiliation before, she felt a mix of shame and anger. Proud as she was, she had been injured by Su Qianxun, and everything she prided herself on had crumbled in his hands. Her fists clenched, leaving a red mark in her palm.

"Mingyue, tell us what happened," said the most respected elder of the family, his voice heavy with concern.

Murong Mingyue raised her head, struggling to find the words. Eventually, she revealed that it was at the edge of the cliff where Su Qianxun had injured her.

The expressions on the elders' faces grew increasingly serious, and the air seemed to thicken with tension. Just then, a maid entered, breaking the suffocating atmosphere. She was a seasoned member of the household, composed and respectful, as she announced, "The elders request your presence in the study."

Murong Mingyue was the future of the family, and everyone had high hopes for her. The Murong family's honor and prosperity rested on her shoulders, and they couldn't allow anyone to trample on their dignity. They needed to reclaim their respect, or else how could Murong Mingyue establish her authority?

Thus, the elders of the Murong family decided to head to Fallen Mountain City to demand an explanation.

In Fallen Mountain City, Su Baihan stood with his arms crossed, his expression cold and detached. Despite searching for days, Su Qianxun had yet to be found, and claiming it wasn't urgent was simply untrue.

"City Lord, the Murong family has arrived," a cautious attendant reported, bowing slightly.

Su Baihan was growing impatient. With Su Qianxun still missing, he wondered why this group had come now. Frustrated, he slammed his hand on the table, shattering it and sending its contents crashing to the floor.

"Ignore them," Su Baihan said, uninterested in entertaining the Murong family. He turned and walked out, leaving the attendant in a difficult position. The attendant quickly organized the cleanup of the mess and went to greet the Murong family.

The Murong family had been waiting in the front hall for quite a while without any sign of Su Baihan. They had come to demand an explanation, but being kept waiting only fueled their anger.

"Is this how you treat guests in your city?" one of the Murong family members finally snapped, unable to hold back any longer.

"The city lord is extremely busy, managing countless affairs day and night. Please wait a little longer," a servant from the city replied, looking uneasy. The city lord was absent, and these guests were not to be trifled with.

After waiting a bit more, the same Murong family member kicked a chair aside in frustration, his face full of anger.

"How rude!"

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Two voices overlapped. Su Baihan raised an eyebrow, glancing at the overturned chair, his demeanor growing colder. "I apologize for my tardiness. I didn't expect my delay to cause such a reaction. My apologies." His tone was icy enough to chill the room.

Elder Murong glared at the one who kicked the chair, who then sheepishly looked away. "Losing your temper like that makes the Murong family seem petty."

"You exaggerate. It's just youthful impatience. We've been waiting a while, and tempers flared. I'm sure the city lord won't hold it against us," Elder Murong replied to Su Baihan, maintaining his composure and presence.

"I certainly have the capacity to accommodate others."

In the front hall, tension was palpable. Su Baihan paced, scrutinizing each member of the Murong family with a piercing gaze. He spoke directly, "You don't come here without a reason. What brings you today?" The Murong family members stiffened, their expressions shifting as if they were the ones intruding.

"Elder Murong paused, emphasizing his words, "My daughter, Murong Mingyue, returned home this morning severely injured. She was hurt by someone from your Su family. Surely, there's an explanation for this."

Su Baihan chuckled coldly, his demeanor sharp and icy. "Is that so? And how did you come to this conclusion?" He glanced back at the group, his presence commanding, causing them to adjust their expressions.

Elder Murong remained composed, beginning to speak slowly, "It was Su Qianxun..." Before he could finish, Su Baihan's expression turned serious as he interrupted, "What about Su Qianxun?"

Unaware that Su Baihan was already looking for Su Qianxun, Elder Murong continued, "She injured Murong Mingyue."

"Where is she?" Su Baihan raised an eyebrow, questioning in return.

Upon learning Su Qianxun's whereabouts from Elder Murong, Su Baihan grew impatient. The day was drawing to a close. "Since you've been waiting so long, it's my fault. The evening is upon us, and I've prepared a dinner to express my apologies. What do you all think?"

Elder Murong hesitated briefly before agreeing, though Su Baihan's arrogant demeanor left him quite displeased. Su Baihan quickly gathered another group to search for Su Qianxun. However, he was well aware of Murong Mingyue's skills, and feared that Su Qianxun, unable to match them, might have met a grim fate. The mention of a cliff sent a shiver through his heart.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, Su Baihan watched the Murong family with a cold smile. The Murong family was still upset about Su Qianxun injuring Murong Mingyue, but they had to keep up appearances. Both sides harbored their own thoughts.

The night was as cool and clear as water, with the moonlight casting a cold, indifferent glow on everyone, sending a chill deep into their bones.