The Fall of Kun

At this moment, Guan Zhiyun and Nanmen Yu rushed to the room where Guan Xingyu was lying.

The scene they encountered made Guan Zhiyun nearly lose control of his emotions. His son lay on the bed, his lower garment soaked in blood. The spot where his "kun" should have been was a mangled mess, his eyes had been gouged out, and his body was severely injured. He was clinging to life by a mere thread.

"Xingyu!"

Guan Zhiyun's eyes reddened with fury as he stood by the bed, his hands trembling from sheer rage. He gazed at his son's tragic state, his teeth gritted in anguish.

Nanmen Yu's expression darkened as well. The methods of the perpetrator were excessively cruel, not only had Guan Xingyu's eyes been removed, but his manhood had been destroyed. It was a blow so savage that it stripped him of his future as a man.

"Xingyu, can you hear me?" Guan Zhiyun called softly. "Who did this to you?"

Nanmen Yu leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Who harmed you like this?"

Guan Xingyu weakly opened his mouth, his voice barely audible. Guan Zhiyun and Nanmen Yu bent down to catch his faint words.

"It… it was Xu… Bai…"

"He's… a traitor…"

These words seemed to drain the last of his strength. Overwhelmed by his injuries and the loss of his cultivation, Guan Xingyu lost consciousness.

"Xingyu! Xingyu!" Guan Zhiyun shouted anxiously. He quickly fed his son a healing pill, stabilizing his fragile life force.

Nanmen Yu's expression grew increasingly grave. As he pieced the situation together, a dreadful realization dawned on him.

Guan Zhiyun, meanwhile, was consumed by rage. His trembling voice thundered in the room.

"Xu Bai! You dare betray Blood Shadow Tower and harm my son so cruelly! I'll carve you into pieces and grind you into dust!"

His eyes burned with fury, his face twisted with hatred. The betrayal by Xu Bai, one of Blood Shadow Tower's elite assassins, was a blow he could not stomach.

"Nanmen Yu, set out immediately! Hunt Xu Bai down and capture him alive. I want to turn him into a limbless stump and grind him into minced flesh myself!" Guan Zhiyun roared, his tone nearly unhinged.

However, Nanmen Yu did not move. Instead, he tried to calm his superior.

"Tower Master, please calm yourself," Nanmen Yu said firmly. "If Xu Bai is truly a traitor, then it's highly likely that he was captured by Jiang HuanYu during that failed assassination attempt in Jiang Dynasty. He must have divulged crucial information about Blood Shadow Tower's secrets our headquarters, branch outposts, and hidden strongholds. The empire probably knows everything by now."

Nanmen Yu continued, his tone urgent, "Under these circumstances, the headquarters is no longer safe. We need to relocate immediately!"

"No!" Guan Zhiyun barked. "You will hunt down Xu Bai now! He couldn't have gone far. Find him immediately!"

He pointed at Guan Xingyu's battered body. "My son's injuries can't wait any longer! I must heal him to save his life. As for the headquarters, we have time before they act. Jiang HuanYu is still in Tianlin City, staying with the Qian family. If he hasn't moved, there's no immediate threat."

Guan Zhiyun's desperation to protect his son clouded his judgment. In his mind, Jiang HuanYu was the only threat posed by the Jiang Empire. As long as Jiang HuanYu remained stationary, there was no reason to panic or evacuate the headquarters.

The spies he had planted in Tianlin City would notify him immediately if Jiang HuanYu made any movements. Until then, his priority was exacting vengeance on Xu Bai and ensuring his son's survival.

Nanmen Yu stood motionless, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation.

Unlike Guan Zhiyun, he was far more cautious. He understood that Xu Bai's attack on Guan Xingyu was likely part of a larger plan orchestrated by Jiang HuanYu. Blood Shadow Tower's destruction might already be in motion.

The empire's strength was still an unknown variable. If another Heavenly expert stronger than Jiang HuanYu arrived at their headquarters, they would all be doomed.

However, Nanmen Yu knew Guan Zhiyun's temperament. He valued his son above all else, even more than his own life. No amount of reasoning could sway him.

"Why are you still standing there?! Go!" Guan Zhiyun bellowed impatiently.

Nanmen Yu sighed, nodded, and left the room without another word.

Nanmen Yu didn't follow Guan Zhiyun's orders. Instead, he returned to his own quarters and summoned five Earth stage assassins, his most loyal subordinates.

"Deputy Tower Master, why have you summoned us?" one of them asked.

"Xu Bai has betrayed us and gravely injured the Young Master," Nanmen Yu began. "The Jiang Dynasty is likely on its way to attack our headquarters. I advised the Tower Master to evacuate, but he refused, insisting on staying to heal his son. He won't listen to reason."

Nanmen Yu's tone turned grim as he continued, "So now, I'm asking you: will you stay here and die with them, or will you leave with me to preserve your lives?"

His words were blunt, reflecting the dire urgency of the situation. Nanmen Yu had done his part to warn Guan Zhiyun. If the Tower Master chose not to heed the warning, there was little more he could do. He intended to prioritize his own survival.

The five assassins exchanged worried glances, clearly shaken. Xu Bai's betrayal had taken them by surprise, and the Jiang Empire's overwhelming strength was undeniable. Having wiped out Evil Moon Hall and Sky Burning Island, they were more than capable of destroying Blood Shadow Tower.

Within moments, the assassins made their decision.