The next day, Yun Yi and his companions' injuries were mostly healed. They followed Bai Cha, dejected and silent.
Only Yun Ling was in high spirits, bustling around Bai Cha with a face so full of joy that the wrinkles had creased into chrysanthemums. He completely ignored the disdainful and scornful gazes of Yun Yi and the others.
Yun Ling felt incredibly pleased with himself. He considered himself a master of reading situations, and his choice seemed exceptionally wise.
Wasn't the greatest victory in life to be alive, and to live well?
What was the point of having so much dignity, so much backbone?
Even if you had backbone and were stubborn, what difference did it make? Wasn't what they wanted to know eventually revealed?
As for the things they didn't want to say, the secrets they were supposed to keep, it was as if they had all remained silent. In the end, wasn't it all pried out of their mouths by Bai Cha?
Yun Ling believed that people shouldn't be too hard on themselves. A real man knew when to back down.
As the saying goes, fortunes change; what is east today may be west tomorrow. Don't bully the poor in their youth, don't bully them in their middle age, don't bully them in their old age…
And then, they just get used to being poor…
"Open your mouth." Bai Cha, annoyed by Yun Ling's constant chatter as they walked, stopped him.
Yun Ling obediently opened his mouth, and a pill was flicked into his throat by Bai Cha. It melted instantly, and Yun Ling's delighted expression vanished. His formerly garrulous mouth was sealed like a gagged chicken, abruptly silenced.
"A poison. You'll take the antidote once a month. No one else has it but me, understand?" Bai Cha raised an eyebrow. "So, from now on, listen. Be quiet when you need to be, and don't bother me."
During the journey, Bai Cha had experienced someone even more annoying than Mo Ziye. Bai Cha had told him to be quiet several times, but he only remained silent for five minutes. If she didn't take measures, Bai Cha felt her head would explode.
"Uh, yes, yes. From now on, Yun Ling will follow Miss Bai's lead." Yun Ling pouted, close to tears. He was just a bit of a chatterbox, who had he offended? Why did none of his brothers have to take it, only him?
Perhaps he should suggest to Miss Bai that she give Yun Yi and the others one too?
As he was thinking, he heard Bai Cha add, "Yun Ling, do you want to be the Yun family patriarch?"
The question was asked lazily, almost like a statement, in an incredibly casual tone, as if she were asking if Yun Ling wanted a glass of water.
Upon hearing this, Yun Ling's mind raced. He immediately understood and hastily agreed, "Yes, yes, of course I want to."
"Alright, then you'll be the Yun family patriarch from now on. Tell me what needs to be handed over, and I'll handle it for you." Bai Cha nodded calmly, glancing at Yun Yi, who dared not speak despite his anger, and added, "Think before you speak."
Yun Yi: "..."
He didn't dare to say another word!
"This, this position was originally reserved for Yun He." Yun Yi made a last-ditch effort. "Elder Seven is getting a bit old, it should still go to a younger person..." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"I won't stay in Yun Shen Buzhi Chu to be the patriarch," Yun He refused without hesitation, her expression serious. "I've already vowed to stay by Miss Bai's side."
Bai Cha shifted her position on her seat and looked back at Yun He.
This time, Bai Cha had only brought Yun He and Meng Qinghuan. Yun He was essential, and Meng Qinghuan had insisted on tagging along.
"Are you sure?" Bai Cha asked, confused. "That's the patriarch position. Yun Shen Buzhi Chu, although fallen, can still be considered a minor folk organization. If you become the patriarch, you'll be on equal footing with me."
Moreover, even a fallen folk organization would have considerable financial resources and influence. Being the head of a smaller group was often better than being the tail of a larger one, and power could be addictive. Furthermore, although Yun Shen Buzhi Chu was in decline, it was still a family with hundreds of years of tradition, and its resources were unfathomably deep.
If all those resources were poured into Yun He, she would quickly become a formidable power to be reckoned with.
To Bai Cha's surprise, Yun He still shook her head.
"Miss Bai saved me twice, so I will repay Miss Bai whether I live once or twice," Yun He replied earnestly, shaking her head as if she understood nothing. Her serious expression made even Meng Qinghuan cover her face.
Yun He was indeed a model of diligence, progress, and loyalty.
How to put it? If it weren't for the new era, Bai Cha would have thought Yun He was an ancient traditionalist who had come to life, someone who did everything with frightening precision and seriousness, much like those ancient hermits in fantasy novels who meditated for thousands of years on mountaintops, sometimes to the point of being described as dull.
Modern people were bombarded with temptations: various electronic gadgets, novel games. Even people who were idle tried all sorts of new games. Bai Cha had played several classics, but Yun He had genuinely never played any.
Once, Bai Cha had a whim and brought Yun He to play a 3D assassin game, where one accepted missions, assassinated targets, gathered information, and killed corrupt officials, eventually assassinating the tyrannical emperor.
The game's modeling was exquisite, the fabric textures clear, and the brain-computer interface provided an immersive experience, even simulating touch realistically. Bai Cha enjoyed it immensely.
Normally, people would marvel at the game's art, plot, and modeling. Even Bai Cha was engrossed. But later that night, Bai Cha found a summary from Yun He in her email.
That's right, Yun He had written a summary of several thousand words for playing the game.
The summary detailed the advantages and disadvantages of the assassination game, its loopholes, and its feasibility when combined with practical combat. Bai Cha was left speechless. The next day, Bai Cha decided to switch to a simulation game and play with Yun He.
This time, it was a cooking game, where one managed a small shop, played matching games, and cooked for customers. After playing for a while, Bai Cha turned to see Yun He's hands flying across the screen, giving her a bad premonition.
As expected, that evening Bai Cha received another thousand-word report.
The report meticulously analyzed the benefits of matching games for training calculation and reaction speed, as well as how cooking cultivated one's character and how catering to customer needs honed one's flexibility and responsiveness.
Bai Cha was utterly defeated by Yun He and decided to give up on playing games with her, content to team up with Lucifer.
She felt that playing games with Yun He was adding to Yun He's burden. Once, while passing Yun He's room, she overheard Meng Qinghuan laughing at Yun He's two game reports. She then heard Yun He say with utmost seriousness,
"Miss Bai must have a deep meaning in doing this."
Bai Cha: "..."
No, I don't have a deep meaning. I just want to play games during my downtime.
Bai Cha was truly defeated by Yun He's serious and earnest spirit. Once, Bai Cha even told Yun He to relax and develop her own hobbies, to which Yun He replied that work was her hobby.
Bai Cha: "..."
It's as if I'm a seasoned brainwashing master and capitalist. Even capitalists would cry hearing that.
"Alright, alright, as long as you're happy," Bai Cha said helplessly. She truly didn't know how Yun He had such a peculiar personality. She changed the subject: "Lucifer, how much longer until we arrive?"
Lucifer, piloting the aircraft, checked the navigation and replied with a smile, "We're almost there."
"Okay, don't land yet." Bai Cha opened the cabin door of the aircraft and looked at the situation below. Apart from clouds, nothing else was visible.
Yun Shen Buzhi Chu lived up to its name, hidden amidst dense clouds. Centered around Taoyuan Village, within a ten-mile radius, there was only white mist. Strangers would only get lost in the fog and turn into withered bones.
Meng Qinghuan came to Bai Cha's side and was the first to jump down. The old Yun family members were startled. Looking down, they saw Meng Qinghuan suspended in mid-air, with a divine Buddha statue appearing behind him, its numerous hands spread out like a peacock's tail, incredibly resplendent.
"Buddha, Buddha, Buddha Buddha Buddha, Buddha Mother!" Yun Yi's eyes bulged. Ancient texts weren't exclusive to China; all organizations with some background had their own ancient texts. As the Great Elder, Yun Yi was well-versed in these texts. Seeing the Tathagata behind Meng Qinghuan, he was so shocked he stammered, "Buddha Mother, Buddha Mother Vajra! This is a Protector Vajra!"
"What are you shouting about? Haven't you heard the prophecy?" Bai Cha gave Yun Yi a look. "I already announced that we've found everyone and can counter the Dragon Mother. It's just that the plan has changed, and there's been an unexpected vacancy."
Yun Yi was indeed aware of this news, but knowing was one thing, and seeing it firsthand was another.
This was the Peacock Mingwang!
So, would Yun He truly become the legendary crane soaring in the nine heavens?
"Don't overthink it, it's just a possibility." Seeing Yun Yi's increasingly fervent gaze towards Yun He, Bai Cha unhesitatingly poured cold water on his hopes. "My rule is meritocracy. Yun He earned her place through her own strength, not bloodline."
Therefore, if someone else could defeat Yun He, that person could take her place. Besides, discovering that Yun He was a member of the Yun family was merely a coincidence.
"Little Bai, it looks like you'll be busy." Meng Qinghuan floated by the cabin door, smiling as he looked at the dissipating clouds below. Golden currents of electricity flowed from his eyes. Fortunately, Lucifer reacted in time, or the aircraft would have short-circuited.
Bai Cha looked down. The ground was teeming with people, and the metallic gleam was faintly visible. Bai Cha turned to Yun Ling and asked, "Did you notify the clan members to leave the area within three hundred li? Did you tell them?"
"Yes, yes, I notified them. I received confirmation that everyone has evacuated," Yun Ling said earnestly, showing Bai Cha the chat logs.
Bai Cha glanced at them casually and snorted, "Alright, then don't blame me for being impolite."
Impolite? How so?
Yun Yi didn't understand what Bai Cha intended to do. Of course, Bai Cha didn't need to explain. What followed was a scene that surpassed their comprehension.
Bai Cha did not leap down like Meng Qinghuan. She walked down step by step, as if the air beneath her was soil. Flowers bloomed with each step, blood-red lotuses budding, blooming, and then withering into dust before scattering into the heavens and earth. Bai Cha descended, with a growing sea of blood behind her.
One petal, two petals… Black stamens, blood-red petals. It was a giant Tumi flower, growing larger and larger in the sight of the people below who were ready and waiting.
These people were so confident. Their most advanced weapons, along with a secretly assembled dragon rider squad.
Even though Bai Cha descended from the sky like a deity, they believed they were capable of killing a god at this moment.
"Flowers bloom without leaves; this is the beauty of the apocalypse." Bai Cha's lips parted slightly, and her jade hand lifted, like a divine judgment, like a demon's whisper. "The Tumi flower blooms, and all things wither."
Heaven and earth stood still. This delicate Tumi flower's final stillness was accompanied by a more violent explosion. Yun Yi and the others finally understood why Bai Cha had asked them to notify the clan members to evacuate to three hundred li away.
This world-destroying explosion was precisely three hundred li wide!
Smoke billowed. As the dust settled slightly, the horrific scene below made everyone gasp. Meng Qinghuan clicked his tongue twice before retracting the protective shield for the aircraft.
"Flowers bloom on the path; slowly, they return."