The three of us were stunned by Song Heting's stunt. Song Xingchen kicked the pillar next to him so his Tang Sword fell into his hand.

Wiping the blade with his sleeve, he got back into battle.

Song Jie assumed a fighting stance as well. "Song Yang-gege, Song Xingchen and I will hold off my mother. Run!"

"Dream on!" sneered Song Heting.

She kicked the weapon on the ground — the pike drew an arc in the air and landed firmly in her hand.

“Run!” Song Xingchen shouted.

"I'll wait for you at the mountain pass,” I nodded.

"Don't bother waiting for me. We won’t go!" he yelled in return.

With that, the two joined hands and charged towards Song Heting, sparks and silver glints dancing all over the room, the air thick with murder.

I gritted my teeth as I ran out of the manor, led by the path in my memory until I found my way out of the village. Halfway up the mountain, a boom sounded from behind me. The living room of the old manor collapsed.

Three figures emerged from the rubble, still fighting fiercely. Disturbed by the movement, every household in the village was brightly lit.

I didn't dare delay for even a moment. However, Song Heting’s voice crept up behind me. Shocked, my first thought was that she had caught up to me! Her voice spread over the entire valley, "Listen to me, descendants of the Song family. Song Yang has disobeyed me. Catch him alive and remember not to touch even a hair on his head!"

The "Thousands Mile Sound Transmission" meant producing sounds from the Dantian[1] loud enough to spread over great distances.

A large group of people charged out of the village, searching the vicinity. Upon spotting me, someone shouted, "He’s on the mountain!"

Several martial Songs flew over the cliff using their Lightness Skill, nimbly climbing up the steep mountain. Before I could even take a few steps forward, a flurry of footsteps sounded behind me. One of them had already caught up.

Turning around, I immediately launched the Eyes of Yama to deter him. With an ear-piercing scream, the man quickly backed off.

The side effects of the Eyes of Yama descended upon me, weakness spreading in my limbs. This was the third and the last time I could use it today.

Soon after, a large group of people ran after me, shouting, "Stop, or we’ll have to resort to drastic measures!"

Hope turned to dust as I watched them approach. Suddenly, a whizz sliced through the air and a hidden weapon hit them between the thighs. They all dropped to their knees at once. It was Song Xingchen who had thrown a few stones in desperation.

Sweeping their throats with his scabbard, Song Xingchen knocked two of them to the ground while the others cried, "Song Xingchen, are you trying to rebel?"

The members of the clan immediately squared off. Without using his sword, Song Xingchen exchanged a couple of blows with them, successfully taking them down in no time. However, he showed them mercy, only leaving them with light injuries.

"Song Yang, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought you back,” he said, running up to me.

"What’s the point in saying this now?” I sighed. “Where’s Song Jie?"

Song Xingchen's eyes grew dim, "She threatened Aunt Song with her own life, or else I couldn't have made it out of there."

“Stop!” A voice interrupted us.

“Go!” Song Xingchen waved his hand.

Song Xingchen pulled me with him, almost dragging me along the mountain path because I couldn't keep up with his pace. Right then, a whoosh drew my attention. Song Xingchen immediately pushed me away and drew his sword, splitting the weapon that came from behind, his movements smooth and effortless.

It turned out to be the bright silver pike thrown by Song Heting which now lay on the ground, shaking, after being split by Song Xingchen.

Above us stood someone, partially hidden in the shrubbery. Who else could it be but Song Heting?

"Song Yang, why do you insist on your ways?" she roared.

Knowing we had no way out, I admitted, "Aunt Song, I'm sorry. When my grandfather died, I swore to avenge him. This is my mission which I must complete!"

Song Heting was gritting her teeth so hard that the muscles on the side of her face swelled and throbbed. Her eyes seemed to breathe fire as she approached me. I suddenly felt a hot palm across my face.

My cheeks were on fire though she used little strength in her slap, otherwise I might be laying on the ground now.

Song Heting shouted at the top of her voice, "Since Song Zhaolin's death, you’re the only remaining descendant of the civil Songs, and all the Traditional Coroner skills passed down by our ancestors belong to you alone. Your life isn’t yours to squander, yet you just won't take your own life seriously. If you die, these skills will be lost to us. How will you face our ancestors when in the netherworld? Can you accept such heavy consequences?"

Clenching my fist, I found myself bereft of speech. Finally, after a considerable amount of time, I said, "If I can use my life to bring down the Jiangbei Daggers, then it’s worth it!"

"You arrogant fool!" Song Heting stretched out her arm, ready to strike me once more when Song Xingchen dashed towards me, blocking me while stopping Song Heting's wrist. "Aunt Song, I swear that I will protect Song Yang with my life and never put him in danger."

Song Heting burst out laughing, "I don’t need an oath from you because I don't believe it. How many disasters have happened to the Song family over the past thousand years? If it weren’t for the past sacrifices of our ancestors, would you be standing here? Can't you make this small sacrifice for the sake of the Song family?"

"Aunt Song, even if I agreed to your conditions, I can't stay here for long. The Jiangbei Daggers are getting more and more rampant, and someone must stand up against them!" I appealed.

She withdrew her hand and asked, "Do you know why Granny Yan is dead?"

Taken aback by her question, I shook my head.

"Because you investigated the case. Justice and evil are like yin and yang. The stronger the yin, the greater the yang, and vice versa. If you don't provoke the Jiangbei Daggers, they won’t stir the waters."

"Perhaps there’s another way?” I bit my lip. “We could pick a few children from the Song family. I’m willing to pass on my skills to them."

Song Heting shook her head, "Not everyone has your potential. Lineage is as important as skill. The civil Songs are like a candle in the wind. As a member of the martial Songs, how can I sit idly by!"

"Do I have to marry Song Jie?" I argued.

"Yes! Because I plan to make you the next head of the clan," Song Heting reasoned, still holding the pike against the night breeze.

Silence reigned for a moment, before I added, "Aunt Song, I'm afraid I can't carry such a heavy responsibility! I’m not a person with great ambitions. All I want is to catch the wicked, nothing more. I have never thought about being a head of the clan."

Song Heting sneered, "So all this talk and you still won't agree?"

I shook my head.

"Then I have no choice but to use force.” Turning to the others, she ordered, “Seize them both!"

At Song Heting’s command, the descendants of the clan proceeded to capture us only to be stopped by the unhurried voice of an old man, "Heting, that’s enough!"

The others turned in unison, their expressions showing a drastic change. One by one, they fell to their knees, including Song Heting who respectfully showed obeisance, "Greetings, patriarch!"

When I turned around, my gaze landed on an old man standing with a dragon head cane[2]. I didn’t even notice his presence until he spoke. The old man was short in stature and had silvery-white hair, with a long beard hanging down to his chest. He looked at least a hundred years old.

Song Xingchen tugged at my shirt, pulling me down to one knee.

[1] The point two inches below the navel where one's qi resides.

[2] A cane with a dragon carving on the top.