# 428
**Chapter 428: Blood-Stained Peace Talisman**
“But this isn’t exactly difficult.”
Baili Jing spoke calmly: “Even special squads aren’t unbreakable, let alone a reserve team that’s only existed for a little over a month? As long as we offer enough benefits, shutting them up won’t be hard.
Besides, your application to join was long ago withheld by Father. As long as the documents aren’t signed, you’re not a member of the reserve team—in fact, you’re not even part of the Night Watch. They have no right to interfere in the affairs of our Baili family.
I hear the reserve team’s captain, Lin Qiye, is a smart man. Whether to choose a good-for-nothing who’s lost his family backing or the full support of the entire Baili Group—I believe he’ll make the right choice.”
When Baili Pangpang heard this, he froze for a moment. A faint light flickered in his eyes, and he laughed weakly.
“What are you laughing at?” Baili Jing frowned.
“I thought you had some brilliant plan, but it’s nothing special…”
Baili Pangpang’s laughter turned into violent coughing, blood splattering. Pale-faced, he rasped, “Even if every step you’ve laid out is flawless, as long as Qiye is alive, as long as he remembers me, you’re doomed to fail!
You underestimate Lin Qiye!
Qiye will never abandon me.
Once he learns the truth, he’ll tear the entire Baili Group apart—he’ll make it all burn for me!”
Baili Pangpang laughed—truly laughed.
Even if his whole life had been someone else’s toy, at least he had something of his own.
He had someone he could trust absolutely.
This was Baili Pangpang’s first and only counterattack in nineteen years.
“You have no idea what human nature is,” Baili Jing sneered. “Offer enough profit and even the strongest bonds snap.”
Baili Pangpang gave a cold chuckle. “And you have no idea what brotherhood means—what it means to be comrades-in-arms!”
Baili Jing’s frown deepened as he stared at that smiling face; his own turned darker by the second.
“You think a few years in the Night Watch make you qualified to lecture me? Who do you think you are? A waste, a scapegoat the family raised for slaughter!”
He flipped his hand; the jade-green glove became a cyan short sword gripped tight.
“I’ve hated you since we were kids. A stand-in pretending to be my elder, always preaching. When I messed up, you begged Father for mercy? Watching you grin like an idiot every day—did you actually believe you were human?
You’re a dog. A pig.
Every time I saw that stupid smiling face I wanted to rip it off, just to see if you could still laugh!”
The corner of Baili Jing’s mouth curled cruelly. Light glinted off his gold-rimmed glasses as he pressed the jade short sword against Baili Pangpang’s cheek and slowly, deliberately, sliced…
Baili Pangpang’s face convulsed in agony. He clenched his teeth, eyes locked on Baili Jing, not making a sound.
Blood seeped between his teeth, mingling with the stream pouring down his cheek—drip, drip—pooling on the floor into a scarlet lake.
Moments later a ghastly gash ran from the lower lid of his left eye to the right side of his chin, flesh gaping, crimson flowing.
Baili Jing chuckled coldly and raised the short sword again—just as the office door creaked open…
Creeeak—
Baili Jing frowned and glanced sideways.
Baili Pangpang, drenched in blood, stiffly turned his neck. His lips were colorless. When he saw the figure in the doorway, his pupils shrank.
“…Dad…” The hoarse word scraped from his throat.
Yes—everything Baili Jing said could be lies. What if this was all a scheme?
What if Father softened? Nineteen years as father and son—surely some memory remained.
Had he come to save him?
A faint light flickered in his eyes: hope.
There stood Baili Xin, suit immaculate, aura steady. His calm gaze swept over them, pausing on the blood beneath their feet; his brows drew together slightly.
“Why isn’t it done? We start in two minutes.”
He ignored the blood-soaked Baili Pangpang, eyes fixed on Baili Jing. The low question echoed through the room.
Baili Jing answered at once, respectful: “Sorry, Father. Almost finished.”
Baili Xin stepped inside, expressionless, striding through the blood to the desk. He pocketed his phone, turned, and left.
“Don’t dirty the floor.” The words drifted back.
Click—
The door shut again.
Baili Pangpang stared at that closed door. The last ember of hope died.
Confusion, rage, refusal, despair—everything stormed his mind. His heart felt torn apart; pain unlike anything he had ever known surged through him.
The agony of the blade was nothing beside this.
His father hadn’t even looked at him.
What… was he, then?
What had his life been?
Nineteen years of assumed affection, of family—mere illusion, self-deception.
The “young master” of the Baili clan, the supposed heir—it was all a joke.
He had been nothing but a plaything for the colossus that was Baili Group.
“No more wasting time. Shame to die in the house—unlucky, or you’d be gone already…”
Baili Jing studied the gruesome wound with regret. “I wanted to see what you’d look like with your whole face flayed…
But this will do.
Dying like this suits you, doesn’t it? Hahaha—”
The jade short sword flashed. Its tip met something hard beneath Baili Pangpang’s clothes, cracked through it, and plunged straight into his heart.
Baili Jing twisted.
The heart shattered.
Blood spilled from Baili Pangpang’s mouth, pattering to the floor. His pupils dilated; every function ceased. In seconds he was still.
Baili Jing yanked the sword free, tossed the corpse aside like trash, checked pulse and breath, and—satisfied—sheathing the blade, nodded.
“Goodbye forever…”
He spared the body one last glance, walked out, and locked the door behind him.
Blood kept spreading, a widening crimson sea. A broken wooden plaque slipped from Baili Pangpang’s chest, fell, and snapped in two.
“Rise step by step,” “Long life,” “May all go well,” “Treasures fill the hall,” “Every evil stays away”…
A sandalwood peace talisman carved with prayers. On the back, neatly engraved: “Baili Xin.”
The blood soaked the talisman, dyeing every character red…
Long moments later,
a faint white glimmer rose from Baili Pangpang’s belly.
There, glowing softly, lay a Jade Ruyi.