The gra.s.ses were as green as silk, and the mulberry trees had new branches. The day when You are missing the family on the battle field, Do you know I also miss you at home? (Note: A poem by Li Bai, a poet of the Tang Dynasty)

With the steady sound of her soft steps in the quiet woods, Bai Yao walked back from Mt. Wushan. She had been there for three years, and her witchcraft was overwhelming. This was like a miracle bringing her a new life.

The road back was a way to revenge. Even though it was difficult, she would ask all the people who had once hurt her in life to now pay for that.

n.o.body troubled her on her way back. The disciples of Wushan, especially the girls who stood for Shui Linger, cheered for her leaving. She knew many of them disliked her. But she was not the weak Bai Yao anymore. She could respond to all their tongue wagging and attacks with only a smile. Not many people were worth her caring about, except for one who was swathed in clothes a shade of purple.

His image of wearing a purple dress with a mask on his face came to her mind again. But his att.i.tude toward her. . . Thinking of this, Bai Yao found that she had bitten her lip to the point of bleeding without even knowing it. She shook her head and gave a mocking smile. She must be only a visitor in his life. Since then, they would never meet each other.

Bai Yao’s deep eyes turned cool again, as if those confusions had never happened to her.

It had already been three years since she had entered this city. On the prosperous and crowded streets, her single carriage was conspicuous. Her parents already knew she would come back this day, so all the servants were waiting at their front gate.

The carriage stopped by the gate of the Bai Mansion. Some of the civilians came closer to check out who this lady was in the carriage. In fact, three years was not a short time. Many people had already forgotten that the Bai family had another lady. When they heard the news that Bai Yao was back, they came to watch her as it celebrating a festival.

Before they could see the face of Bai Yao, they saw her jade-white hand reaching out to close around the wrist of a maid who came to receive her. Only the sight of this pretty hand made the audience surprised enough to yell out. The hand was as soft and tender as jade or sheepskin, with a silver ring hanging on the wrist. With her movements, the ring began to make a pleasant sound. Then, the cloth curtain was moved aside and a beauty came out.

“Gosh. . .” The audience burst into a collective cry.

The lady wore a fine white skirt and looked like an immortal coming down to the world. Compared to this one, another lady in the Bai family should surrender the “No. 1 Beauty” t.i.tle to her.

She had an oval face, and her large eyes were like dark pools of water. Her small mouth was set tight. But her expression was cold as the winter. She didn’t smile at anyone, but only left them with a different shadow. Later, the story about this lady would be circulated around the city.

There was a beauty in the Bai family whose beauty was indescribable. . .

The servants led Bai Yao into the mansion. The mansion was the same as the day she left, luxurious and solemn. A chilling smile shone in Bai Yao’s eyes. She knew that under this harmonious impression, the family was a killing force.

The gate of the mansion closed behind her. She knew that the naive Bai Yao she used to be had already disappeared. She was a different person now upon her return. If they wanted to play any tricky game with her, she would be happy to join them.

Bai Yao stepped forward with courage. The maids felt that her mood was colder, so they trembled and followed her silently. The rest of the servants who were waiting inside the home came out to welcome her. So did her parents and her younger sister.

Seeing her coming near, the waiting servants and maids felt she was different from the day she had left, but they just couldn’t tell the reason.

Bai Yu, the younger sister, was also shocked by her sister’s beauty. She was like an immortal among the normal people. She was so jealous that she held her sleeves tight.

Bai Yao saw her at first sight, and she also saw the tiny change of her holding her sleeves. She snorted in her heart.

Bai Yu pretended an innocent smile and ran like a naughty younger sister to her and held her arm to pinch it. “Sister, sister, you are back! You left for three years. We thought that you already forgot about us.” Her pouting expression was well performed.

The parents laughed when they saw this scene. In the three years since Bai Yao was not at home, they felt a little uncomfortable with her.

Only Bai Yao knew Bai Yu had pinched her arm with great effort. She was intentionally trying to make her cry out with bitterness to fool her. And her words were hinting that she was not obedient to her parents and had thus left home for such a long time.

But these little tricks in front of Bai Yao was totally meaningless to her. She looked at her younger sister as if she was looking at a dead person. She didn’t care about the pain on her arm.

Seeing that Bai Yao had no reaction to her pinch, Bai Yu lifted up her head to study her. When she confronted her sister’s eyes as deep h.e.l.l, she was so shocked that she released her arm immediately. She clearly felt the difference in her sister. She stopped any movements and her pretended intimacy and took her to greet their parents.

Seeing the older daughter had turned into a grown beauty, the parents’ eyes couldn’t help but grow wet. The mother was already crying.

However, the father comforted her. “She is back now. Today is a good day, so why do you cry? Let our daughter go back to her room to rest. The long way she traveled is so tiresome. We can have a good talk later.” He took the mother’s arm to leave.

Bai Yao regained her indifferent expression and bowed to the parents. Seeing the elders go down of the hall, Bai Yu stared at her sister fiercely, not acting like an intimate sister now. Then she walked out, too.

Bai Yao calmly looked around the hall. She knew Bai Yu wouldn’t stop her plans. But Bai Yao was not that weak Bai Yao anymore.

Bai Yu, I will play the game with you to the end.

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