Young Master Bai — Chapter 55

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Chapter 55: The Silent Midnight Banquet (Part I)

In the depths of night, the Great Snow Mountain lay quiet, with only the endless snowfall continuing to drift down through the darkness, as it had for a thousand years. Midnight had arrived when Bai Chen leisurely took his seat at the head of the banquet. As his gaze swept over the guests, he found that everyone had arrived — though there were a few unfamiliar faces.

Aside from the three great clans, the Great Snow Mountain also harbored several solitary yao. In terms of cultivation, they were no weaker than the leaders of the clans, and in their own territories they commanded the allegiance of many minor yao. Yet, compared to the clans that excelled at coordinated warfare, they were inevitably at a disadvantage, which left them with little say in major affairs. Day-to-day, they rarely obeyed the Bai family’s commands.

[What happened to "tens of thousands of yao clans"?..]

The territories seized by these solitary yao were always prime mountains rich in spiritual energy. Bai Chen had no intention of letting his family’s land feed a group of disobedient ancestors. Summoning them here today meant he had every intention of tidying things up.

Among the solitary yao, the most accomplished was one called Dugu Hou [lit. Lonely Monkey]. When Bai Chen sat down, Yunce discreetly gestured toward him. “That one with the face full of paint is Dugu Hou. Though just a common silver-backed mountain shrew, his cultivation is quite high. In recent years, all the minor yao who strayed to the Great Snow Mountain were introduced to the clans through him, so he holds considerable influence among the common yao.”

The seat of honor naturally belonged to Bai Chen. Beside him sat only Li Wuming. Below them was Yunce, representing the Bai family. Then came three side-by-side tables: the Red Fox clan, the Great Bear clan, and the Heavenly Wolf clan. Furthest back sat the solitary yao. Even from this distance, Bai Chen could clearly observe them all. When his eyes lingered on Dugu Hou, he sighed softly, almost wistfully: “Five hundred years have passed, and it seems each clan now has many new faces.”

As always, Bai Chen wore a snow-white fox fur cloak. His expression was unreadable, and even his yao aura was faint to the point of mystery. To the great yao, this made him appear all the more unfathomable. When he kept silent, even though music drifted in the air, none of the yao dared to converse. When he finally spoke, the instruments fell silent at once, and the assembled yao breathed out in relief. The Great Bear clan chief quickly spoke up with warmth: “Young Master, so you are awake after all! I said you couldn’t possibly perish under Heavenly Tribulation.”

The words carried the familiarity of an old acquaintance. Bai Chen paused mid-pour, and Yunce quietly supplied, “Little Uncle, that’s Ying Xiong.”

When grown, members of the Great Bear clan were massive as small mountains. Because their bulk hindered movement, they usually shrank into upright bear form to roam the snowy peaks. The current clan chief was a snow-white bear, without a trace of other color, and he hadn’t even taken a human form. His huge body made him look like a giant snowball at the banquet. As Yunce named him, the white bear boomed cheerfully: “Young Master, you don’t remember? I was chosen as your mount when I was young. You said I was brave and fearless as a cub, but as I grew I grew lazier, no longer heroic but more like a useless bear, so you gave me the name Ying Xiong [lit. Heroic Bear].”

Back then, Ying Xiong couldn’t even speak. At this, Bai Chen remembered and said fondly, “When you couldn’t yet take form, you once rolled about begging me for a pot of honey. I never thought that in a blink you’d become clan chief of the Great Bear clan.”

As the Nine-tailed White Fox, Bai Chen had always been surrounded by the most promising of each clan, from guards to mounts. It wasn’t only Ying Xiong — he also remembered the Heavenly Wolf clan had sent over several protectors. He wondered if they had been disposed of, for he’d heard nothing of them since his revival.

Who hasn’t done foolish things in youth? Ying Xiong rubbed his nose in embarrassment and chuckled. “Our clan was born slow-witted. Aside from eating and sleeping, we knew nothing. It was thanks to your guidance that I wised up at all. At least now I can keep bees myself.”

The Great Bear clan had always been gluttonous. After following Bai Chen into the mortal world, Ying Xiong developed a taste for honey. Yet the Great Snow Mountain was hardly suitable for beekeeping. Bai Chen had once said in passing, “Environment isn’t an excuse. If you truly love something, you should find a way to change things.” Unexpectedly, the simple-minded bear had taken it to heart and studied the matter when he returned.

Bai Chen couldn’t help but laugh. “You really raised bees here in the snow mountains? I must see that when I have the chance.”

The two old friends were happily reminiscing when the Heavenly Wolf clan, fixated on the issue of kingship, could no longer stay seated. Starbreaker slammed his wine cup heavily onto the table. “Young Master, surely you didn’t summon us just to chat about old times?”

The pleasant mood dissolved at once. The yao shifted uneasily, their eyes fixed on Bai Chen, waiting to see how he would respond.

Bai Chen knew well they weren’t here for small talk. The faint smile vanished from his lips as he said evenly: “I met Feng Shiqi during my recent trip beyond the mountains. Unlike past leaders of the righteous sects, he is not driven by compassion. He believes in competition and survival of the fittest. If humanity truly surpasses us, he might leave a seed of life for the yao to stave off extinction, but he will not hesitate to allow cultivators to strike at the Great Snow Mountain.”

Foxes excel at reading others, and the Nine-tailed White Fox most of all. From a brief conversation, Bai Chen saw through Feng Shiqi’s nature — far colder than the Hidden Wisdom Sect had ever been. Though only a few centuries old, he spoke of extinction with no more feeling than if he were remarking on the changing of dynasties.

The struggle for survival brooks no concession. The weak are meant to fall. To live, one must not fall behind.  —  This was Feng Shiqi’s true creed.

When Bai Chen recounted this plainly, the yao looked grim. Only Starbreaker sneered. “So you’re afraid?”

Bai Chen merely smiled lightly. “I fear nothing. It is you who should be afraid.”

His words left the yao puzzled. Bai Chen, ignoring them, laid the Supreme Emperor Sword across his knees and idly traced its engravings with his fingers as he spoke calmly: “A Great Bear’s gallbladder, a Heavenly Wolf’s heart, a Red Fox’s pelt… In the human world, each is worth a fortune. Even a lesser yao with low bloodline yields useful yao cores and bones.”

His words chilled the hall. Even Ying Xiong instinctively shielded his belly, and Starbreaker’s expression darkened, though his voice remained sharp: “And do not humans say that eating the flesh of a Nine-tailed White Fox grants immortality? By that measure, Young Master, you are more precious than any of us.”

Bai Chen didn’t refute him. Instead, he clapped his hands once. “Well said. Since we are all treasures in human eyes, we must unite to protect ourselves and our people.”

To speak of unity was to broach the subject of a yao king. Until now the Red Fox clan chief had stayed silent, watching from the sidelines. But at these words, he could not hold back. “But haven’t we already done so?”

The Red Fox clan chief was Hua Jian Hu, father of Chenzui. Said to be the offspring of a butterfly yao and a red fox, he bore a birthmark at the corner of his eye shaped like butterfly wings — a trait his son inherited. Perhaps fatherhood had steadied him, for though he was strikingly handsome, his air was calm, lacking the seductive aura common to his kind. He looked more like a refined nobleman than a yao.

Bai Chen’s first impression of Hua Jian Hu had been poor. Now, meeting him in person, he saw a handsome man indeed — it was little wonder Chenzui was called the fairest beauty of the Great Snow Mountain’s generation. Yet Bai Chen also perceived Hua Jian Hu’s wariness toward him, the suddenly resurrected Ancestor. Having chosen to speak plainly today, Bai Chen did not mince words. He turned to the gathering: “Each of you is either clan chief or a great yao with many vassals. You are not fools. The most intelligent yao in the world are gathered on the Great Snow Mountain, yet we are far behind humanity. Do you truly not know why?”

Bai Chen did not believe they were blind to the looming crisis. They simply feared becoming targets and avoided stepping forward. As he expected, every leader who met his eyes quickly looked away. But Bai Chen would not let the matter slide this time. He began with the nearest — the Great Bear clan. “The Great Bear clan is slothful, relying on the Bai family for everything. Though you have the strength to move mountains and fill seas, you spend most of your lives eating and sleeping. Honest you may be, but no one can expect you to lead. Is this not true, Chief Ying Xiong?”

Harsh though the words were, they were fair. Ying Xiong hadn’t expected to be chastised first and ducked his head pitifully. “We bears are good for nothing but brute labor. But since Young Master is clever, that’s enough. You are the leader — we’ll follow you anywhere.”

That attitude meant the Great Bear clan would only ever be the best enforcers, not strategists. Bai Chen hadn’t expected otherwise. Seeing Ying Xiong obedient, he turned next to Hua Jian Hu. “The Red Fox clan is cowardly, flattering both the Bai family and the Heavenly Wolf clan, ever straddling the fence. When weighty matters arise, you waver, siding with whichever party seems stronger. You’re not blind to the situation — you simply prefer self-preservation, always smoothing over conflicts. Such conduct is unworthy of being the backbone of the yao. Do you admit this, Red Fox clan chief?”

Hua Jian Hu had never expected the Ancestor to speak with such bluntness. Though his face darkened, he dared not oppose the Bai family. He bowed with a smile of submission. “The backbone of the Great Snow Mountain has always been the Bai family’s foxes. We too are foxes, but you are the noble tailed foxes, while we are but Red Water Foxes, hunted by cultivators. Were it not for the Fox Immortal’s protection, we would already be extinct. How dare we presume otherwise?”

The Red Fox clan might lack diligence, but they harbored no disloyalty. Their chief, Hua Jian Hu, knew the times. When it was time to bow, he bowed. But the Heavenly Wolf clan could not stomach this. Before Bai Chen could continue, Starbreaker cut in with a cold laugh. “Such grand airs, Young Master! You scold each clan in turn. Tell me, what fault do you find with my Heavenly Wolf clan?”

“The Heavenly Wolf clan is brave in battle, united within, and even in times of peace they train ceaselessly. They are the strongest shield of the Great Snow Mountain.”

The Heavenly Wolf clan had long been unruly, and Starbreaker no longer heeded Yunce’s commands. Bai Chen knew threats would not move him. His tone shifted as he gripped the Supreme Emperor Sword. “But sadly, this shield has thorns. Thorns pointed at humanity — and at the Great Snow Mountain itself.”

Starbreaker, today still in wolf-headed human form, narrowed his eyes dangerously. “I don’t understand. We guard the Great Snow Mountain well. How is that a thorn?”

While the yao had grown slothful over the years, the Heavenly Wolf clan had never ceased their training, making them the mountain’s strongest force. Without them, the mountain would suffer greatly. Starbreaker, emboldened by this, grew arrogant, treating even the mountain’s true masters with disdain.

This had been Bai Chen’s hesitation — but no longer. He met Starbreaker’s gaze and asked flatly: “Generals are to obey their king. If they ignore orders, act on their own, and seize resources for themselves, is that not usurpation?”

Bai Chen’s sudden death had left Yunce to inherit hastily and without experience. The Heavenly Wolf clan seized the chance to occupy the mountain’s heartland, monopolizing trade and tribute. For years, they had swallowed offerings from minor yao and spirit herbs from beyond. Now Bai Chen brought their misdeeds to light, but Starbreaker feigned ignorance. “Unlike you, I don’t waste time poring over human books. I don’t understand these sour words. If you’ve orders, give them plainly.”

“Would you obey if I did?” Bai Chen’s voice was sharp. Where Yunce might have relented, Bai Chen pressed without hesitation.

Their gazes clashed, neither yielding. The word “no” was already on Starbreaker’s lips when Hua Jian Hu hurriedly stepped in, wine jug in hand. Pouring into his cup, he said soothingly, “Old Wolf, your temper is too quick. Must you ruin a fine banquet? Drink.”

The Red Fox clan were skilled mediators, never offending either side. In past clashes between the Bai family and the Heavenly Wolf clan, they had always eased the tension. Yet the wolves were already inside the hall — if the Bai family did not reclaim the seat of power, the wolves would consume them entirely.

“Five hundred years have passed. Today, I summon you here to the Silent Pavilion to announce one matter.”

Bai Chen would no longer equivocate. Since the Heavenly Wolf clan would never bow, he would not show courtesy. His voice rang clear: “A host cannot lack a head. The yao cannot remain muddled. Today Yunce steps down. I shall inherit the Fox Immortal Grandfather’s will and take the mantle of lord of the Great Snow Mountain — the new Yao King.”

~ Chapter End ~

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