Author's note: Mo lian'er and lan yuhua are the same person, people just refer them with different terms
The first rays of dawn lit the sprawling lands of the Mo Clan, once a proud spear-using family, now silent and void. News of the massacre had begun to spread like wildfire, carried by travelers, merchants, and the whispers of frightened survivors. No one could fathom the scale of destruction—entire training halls reduced to ash, treasury vaults emptied, and the strongest warriors slain without mercy.
Ye Tian stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking the burning remnants of the clan. The wind carried the scent of smoke and blood, and the silence was deafening. Beside him, his second wife, Lan Yuhua, watched, expression unreadable yet tinged with pride.
"It is done," Ye Tian said softly. "Every last one… for you."
Lan Yuhua's eyes shone. "I never imagined… you would do this."
Ye Tian's lips curved into a faint smile. "I warned you… my loyalty, my protection, it has a limit. The Mo Clan's arrogance left no choice."
The destruction was swift and surgical. Ye Tian had struck while the clan's leaders were away in the city, coordinating trade and alliances. Hidden Nightshade Hall disciples ambushed the remaining warriors, while Ye Tian himself eliminated the Mo Clan's top experts one by one, his movements precise, lethal, and unnerving to anyone who had seen his strikes. The blood of hundreds stained his hands and robes, but his gaze remained calm and calculating.
Across the continent, word began to spread. Other clans and families, particularly those allied with the Mo Clan, reacted in shock. "The Mo Clan… wiped out? By a single man?" "Who is this Nightlord called Ye Tian?" Fear rippled through powerful families who had underestimated the young master of the Ye Clan.
"Do you see now why I warned you not to challenge me?" Ye Tian whispered, watching the distant silhouettes of fleeing survivors. "I do not act for power or ambition. I act for those I care about."
Lan Yuhua stepped closer, a faint blush on her cheeks. "Then… you truly care for me, even after all of this?"
Ye Tian turned, brushing her hair back with a hand still stained from battle. "Do not mistake my calm for indifference. I will protect those I love, no matter the cost."
Behind them, hidden from the world, disciples of Nightshade Hall began gathering survivors from the outskirts, recruiting those who showed potential. Every step, every move, was orchestrated by Ye Tian's foresight, ensuring the clan's annihilation served as both vengeance and a display of power to cement his reputation.
Later that evening, Ye Tian received a summons from his father, Patriarch Ye. The elders demanded an explanation for his actions, having caught wind of the Mo Clan's sudden disappearance and the young master's growing notoriety.
"It seems the world now knows," Lan Yuhua murmured, leaning against his shoulder. "Your deeds… your power… the Nightlord's shadow has reached far beyond our expectations."
Ye Tian nodded, eyes distant but thoughtful. "Let them watch. Let them fear. It will only make the next steps easier."
And somewhere deep within the Nightshade Hall's hidden systems, a subtle signal appeared:
[Nightlord's Core Integration – Initial Activation Pending]
The true awakening of the Nightlord was only beginning.