Mortal Bones

Last night, Bai Yu only gave a rough outline of the situation, and up until now, Xu Taiping still hadn't fully understood what exactly had happened. The Wind Coming Valley, which Bai Yu spoke of, was the territory assigned to the White-headed Eagle clan by the Qingxuan Sect.

"The Xifeng Pavilion used the defection of a White-headed Eagle to the Qingxuan Sect to falsely accuse the White-headed Eagle clan of colluding with the Demon Sect. They gathered all their forces and attacked Wind Coming Valley. If it had been just that, my mother, with her cultivation, could have led the entire clan to escape. But who would have known that the Peacock King, who had been our ally, betrayed us and ambushed my mother? My clan was quickly routed, and my mother was captured, with her life or death unknown."

Bai Yu's tone was heavy as it spoke.

"If my father hadn't gone to the northern border with Uncle Ji, those people wouldn't have dared to act so recklessly."

It added angrily.

"Did the Sect Master and Elder Black Dragon not intervene in this matter?" Xu Taiping asked, puzzled.

"The Sect Master? Hmph, he has long been wary of the power of our White-headed Eagle clan. Last night's events were probably orchestrated by him personally. Over the years, he's been weakening the demonic beasts under the sect by sowing discord among them."

"As for Elder Black Dragon, he's just the Sect Master's lapdog!"

Bai Yu snorted coldly.

Xu Taiping didn't know how to comment on this. After all, he was a human cultivator and couldn't fully empathize with the demon beasts' perspective. Moreover, he had already seen records in the sect's archives about many cases where rebellious spirit beasts had caused disastrous losses to the cultivators.

At that moment, three loud voices echoed through the air above Qingzhu Courtyard, like the sound of a grand bell ringing.

"This sounds like the voice of the Xifeng Pavilion's Sect Master," Xu Taiping immediately recognized.

"They've actually used the Wind Whisper Great Yellow Bell, the treasure that controls the mountains. Whatever this person is about to announce is likely related to last night's events," Bai Yu said, leaping to Xu Taiping's shoulder, its eyes now filled with caution.

Xu Taiping recalled that the Wind Whisper Great Yellow Bell was a spiritual treasure of the Xifeng Pavilion. It was used to communicate with cultivators across the vast mountains, and Xu Taiping had read about it in a cultivation jade slip.

"Last night, the White-headed Eagle clan in Wind Coming Valley rebelled. Xifeng Pavilion, together with the Peacock King of Yunling, united to repel the rebellious beasts and quell the rebellion," a voice from the bell boomed.

As Bai Yu had suspected, the proclamation from the Great Yellow Bell was indeed about the rebellion from last night.

"These bastards! They attacked Wind Coming Valley without reason, and now they're turning around and accusing the White-headed Eagle clan of rebellion. It's shameless!" Bai Yu was furious, nearly revealing its true form to fly up and demand an explanation from the Xifeng Pavilion.

Luckily, Xu Taiping held it back.

"Don't be too hasty. Let's see what else they have to say," Xu Taiping said.

"Fine." Bai Yu reluctantly agreed, trying to suppress its anger.

"Although most of the rebellious beasts have been executed, many are still at large. If you encounter any in the mountains, those who can kill them will receive a thousand merit points. Those who report their whereabouts will be rewarded with ten merit coins," the voice of Liu Songshan from Xifeng Pavilion continued.

"They want to completely exterminate my White-headed Eagle clan!" Bai Yu was enraged upon hearing this.

Even a thousand merit points for killing one, or ten merit coins for reporting one's location, was a large sum for cultivators outside the mountains. It was clear that the rogue cultivators would hunt down any surviving White-headed Eagles in the mountains without hesitation.

"Xu Taiping, if you're also tempted by the merit coins, you can send me to the Xifeng Pavilion. If my mother is dead, there's no point in me living," Bai Yu said in a downcast tone.

"If you really don't want to live, you can go yourself. I won't betray my friends for a few merit coins," Xu Taiping replied, his gaze towards Bai Yu a bit displeased.

Bai Yu, feeling a warmth in its heart from Xu Taiping's words, looked up with eyes much brighter than before.

"From now on, Wind Coming Valley will be managed by the Yunling Peacock Clan, and the transportation of goods from Xishan will also be jointly overseen by the Peacock King and Xifeng Pavilion," Liu Songshan's voice continued, with a slight pause after each sentence as if preparing to activate a treasure.

"Now I understand. One of you is eyeing the Wind Coming Valley, and the other is after the profits from the goods trade. No wonder you've teamed up," Bai Yu sneered, realizing the true intentions behind their alliance.

"The final matter: the White-headed Eagle Queen, Night Sparrow, will be publicly displayed in Wind Coming Valley for seven days. After seven days, she will be executed in front of everyone as a warning to others," Liu Songshan's voice concluded.

Upon hearing this, Bai Yu froze, standing still in shock.

"Mother… Mother isn't dead?" It first reacted with surprise, then joy, before impulsively flying up, shouting, "I'm going to save my mother!"

But before it could fly very far, Xu Taiping used the Qing Hulu to suck it back in.

"Xu Taiping, why are you stopping me again?" Bai Yu shouted from inside the gourd.

"If you can't even break free from my gourd, how are you going to save your mother?" Xu Taiping looked at Bai Yu, who was struggling inside the gourd.

At this point, Bai Yu had no strength left due to its weakened state, and even a regular beast could break free. Xu Taiping was only able to pull Bai Yu in because it was too weak at the moment.

Upon hearing Xu Taiping's words, Bai Yu slumped, dejected, like a deflated balloon inside the gourd.

"But… but I can't just watch them kill my mother!" Bai Yu suddenly raised its head, looking through the gourd's opening at Xu Taiping.

Normally proud and unyielding, Bai Yu now looked utterly helpless.

Seeing the look in Bai Yu's eyes, Xu Taiping fell silent.

"Xu Taiping, is there any way I can see my mother one last time? I know saving her is nearly impossible, but I just want to see her once more," Bai Yu suddenly pleaded.

"If you let me see her, I'll form a soul contract with you. For the next sixty years, you can command me as you wish."

Bai Yu's eyes were filled with resolve as it added.