Chapter 174: Happy New Year!

Chapter 174: Happy New Year!

The corridor was silent, punctuated only by their footsteps and the Buddhist chants from the headphones. With his phone's flashlight guiding the way, Bai Shi led while Chi Shen followed closely.

After hearing Bai Shi's words, Chi Shen glanced at his back, contemplating. "Do you have the authority to dethrone Bai Xi Ming?"

Chi Shen wasn't too familiar with the family dynamics, but from what he understood, the younger generation didn't typically wield much power.

Bai Shi got his implication, replying, "It wasn’t possible before. But now, with the older generation gone, it’s just us, the younger ones, who had little involvement with past events."

He paused, his voice rising slightly, "Now, the Bai family is under our control. For years, the family's path has been crooked. We want to return it to righteousness."

Touching his chin thoughtfully, Chi Shen said, "If that's the case, why not decide amongst yourselves? I'm not a Bai. Leading your family seems... odd."

Shaking his head, Bai Shi replied, "You're the rightful heir, the legitimate eldest son. Though Bai Xi Ming has deviated from our ancestor's wishes, you are innocent. You also possess the capabilities to lead. After discussions, we believe you should take the position."

Chi Shen paused, a smile curling on his lips. "Is that so?"

Suddenly, Bai Shi halted, turning to meet Chi Shen's gaze. Even in the dim light, Chi Shen, accustomed to darkness, saw the sincerity in his eyes. "You might doubt our intentions, but with your abilities, we pose no threat. Your strength is why I persuaded them to have you as our leader."

Pausing for emphasis, he added earnestly, "I believe with you leading, the Bai family can return to its righteous path and be revitalized."

Without waiting for a response, Bai Shi continued forward.

As they lingered, a fork appeared in the previously straight path, splitting the staircase in two. From one direction, distant cries echoed.

By the distance they'd covered, they should have exited the building long ago. However, after all this time, even the walls remained unchanged.

Chi Shen was familiar with such phenomena, a classic illusion akin to walking in circles, and he knew how to break it...

Bai Shi produced a white candle, muttering an incantation. Temporarily pocketing his phone, he lit the candle with a lighter.

The flame of the candle flickered momentarily, then tilted slightly, pointing to the corridor without the crying sound. Bai Shi hesitated for a moment, glanced back at Chi Shen, and chose to walk down that corridor.

"It's all the same," Chi Shen replied, "either path will do."

"Oh, thank... thank you," Bai Shi stammered, a bit embarrassed. He scratched the back of his head and pulled out his phone again, using its light to guide the way for Chi Shen.

After about ten minutes, the seemingly endless staircase finally came to an end. They were met by a plain gray safety door with a green emergency exit sign.

Bai Shi approached cautiously and pulled the door open. Despite the length of the stairs suggesting they'd gone hundreds of meters beyond the building, the door opened to an underground parking lot on the basement floor.

The parking lot was eerily silent with only a few cars. Thus, the vehicle in front of them stood out prominently.

It was a clean white SUV, distinctly out of place in this old, dimly lit parking lot with several broken lights.

It felt like a regular car had pulled into the setting of a horror movie.

However, the individuals inside the car looked as if they'd come straight out of a horror film, and not the main characters but the expendable ones.

Spotting them, the tightly shut window rolled down, revealing a few anxious faces peering out. The person by the door pushed it open hastily, beckoning, "Quick, get in."

Emerging from the stairway, Bai Shi looked revitalized, a faint smile on his lips. "We're out," he said to Chi Shen. "They're here to pick us up. We'll leave directly... oh, about that ghostly friend of yours, do we need to come back for him later?"

"Probably not," Chi Shen replied, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on the SUV, murmuring more to himself, "Are you sure we can just leave like this?"

Bai Shi, who was already at the car door, looked back, puzzled. "What did you say?"

"Bai Shi, get in the car first."

As Bai Shi paused, a woman stepped out from the passenger's side. She lightly tapped Bai Shi's arm and turned to Chi Shen, "Hello, I'm Bai Jing, Bai Shi's cousin."

Chi Shen offered a polite smile, one he'd practiced many times, and nodded. "Hello."

Bai Jing's expression momentarily faltered but quickly resumed its composure. "We brought you here hoping you would lead the Bai family as the new patriarch. I need to be certain of your intentions before we can proceed."

"Sister Jing!"

"Get in the car!"

Bai Shi was about to say something when Bai Jing interrupted him. With a slight nod towards the car, a person magically produced several ancestral tablets and an incense burner, setting them up promptly in the parking area.

The names inscribed on those tablets belonged to the founding ancestors of the Bai family, as Chi Shen had seen in the family lineage provided by Wei Zhuo.

Bai Jing addressed Chi Shen, "Light the incense now, and in the presence of our founding ancestors, assume the position of the clan leader. Only then will we take you with us."

The person next to the incense burner lit a stick and handed it to Chi Shen.

Chi Shen looked at the incense stick, his face still adorned with a smile.

Bai Jing appeared somewhat anxious, "Bai Xi Ming is nearing his end. He wants to exchange his life for yours. Staying here will kill you too. We can take you away right now."

At this, Chi Shen nodded, a flash of realization crossing his face, "Oh, so that's it."

Bai Jing's brow furrowed deeper, her voice quickening with urgency, "So, as long as you become our new clan leader, we can leave immediately. He won't be able to harm you once you're out of here!"

Bai Shi glanced at Bai Jing, then at the incense burner, and finally at Chi Shen, "I truly came here to take you away."

"It seems like the best option for me, but..."

Chi Shen lifted his head. In the dim light, there appeared to be a glint in his eyes. His voice was soft, even gentle, "I decline."

"You! Don't you want to live?" Bai Jing stammered in disbelief.

But Chi Shen wasn't looking at her. Instead, his gaze drifted to several dark corners of the parking lot where the lights were conveniently out. He mused, "I believe, if one wishes to inherit the legacy of the Bai ancestors, there shouldn't be a need for a clan leader title."

In those shadowy areas, security cameras slowly panned.

Behind one of those cameras, Bai Xi Ming sat in a control room, his heart jolting as he met Chi Shen's gaze. He swiftly spoke into his Bluetooth headset, "Pressure him more!"

*

Author's note:

Happy New Year! Remember to take care of your health in the coming year!