Qinglian Mansion

  Mao Xuan and Zhu Shiu were also packing food and provisions for departure. But Zhu Shiu was still scratching his head, deep in thought, convinced he had seen the ribbons tied in Mo Jinxiang's hair somewhere. He continuously pondered this because it was his habit to pursue any detail he wanted to know about until he found the answer. Mao Xuan was fully aware of this habit of Zhu Shiu. He picked up his belongings and gestured for Zhu Shiu to walk with him, saying:

  "If this is your condition, you'll go mad one day. Now forget about it and move on. We have to reach the next inn by evening."

  Hearing his words, Zhu Shiu walked with Mao Xuan, but he was still preoccupied with his thoughts. As soon as the two stepped out and started walking on the stairs, a red firework suddenly exploded high in the sky. Both Mao Xuan and Zhu Shiu were astonished because they hadn't expected it. Not only them, but everyone else saw it. Seeing this, everyone was delighted, because this red firework meant only one thing: the Cultivation Path had begun.

  All the young people who had come from far away to witness the arrival of the sacred fireflies were excited and started heading upwards, carrying their belongings. However, Mao Xuan and Zhu Shiu found it hard to digest that the Cultivation Path, for which the Clan Head had fought for 45 years to prevent, was now launched. Mao Xuan and Zhu Shiu looked at each other in surprise and silently nodded, then moved forward. A large group of youngsters was walking ahead of them.

  Just then, Zhu Shiu suddenly stopped with wide eyes. When Mao Xuan looked back and saw that Zhu Shiu had suddenly stopped, he came up to him and asked, "What happened? Why did you stop?"

  Then Zhu Shiu said, "Chong He!"

  Hearing this, Mao Xuan's eyebrows furrowed. He didn't know what Chong He meant. He asked inquisitively, "What? Chong He? Who is that?"

  Hearing Mao Xuan's question, Zhu Shiu pulled him to an empty spot, away from the crowd, and said:

  "Brother Mao Xuan, the two ribbons we saw tied in esteemed Mo Jinxiang's hair are called Chong He Ribbons. And these ribbons were the insignia of the disciples of the famous Zishi Temple of the Lianxiao Clan. It was said that the Zhengwu Pillars were also hidden among those disciples. But I don't understand why Mo Jinxiang was wearing Chong He Ribbons."

  This made Mao Xuan also sink into thought. It did not make sense to them why Mo Jinxiang was wearing Chong He Ribbons. Then Mao Xuan asked another question.

  "How did you find this out?"

  Then Zhu Shiu replied:

  "Brother, remember when we were searching for the book on the Musical Healing System in a library in the Yingtian Clan? That's when I found a description of it in a book. It was mentioned there that this tradition has been going on for thousands of years, and it was only given to the disciples of the Zishi Temple to wear. But what are they doing in Mo Jinxiang's hair, especially since they are not commonly found? They are prepared with a special spell."

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  The two were enveloped in an extraordinary silence the moment Zhu Shiu finished speaking. Their feet froze. Both were startled and perplexed by what they had just heard. Yet, their journey to the Han Clan was essential, as they were the artists invited for the celebration. They were attending in place of their master.

  After a moment of silence, Mao Xuan said, "After hearing your words, I don't believe that esteemed Mo Jinxiang is an ordinary music performer."

  Saying this, he looked upwards and began to walk forward. The atmosphere between the two was no longer as it had been; something had changed. Zhu Shiu followed Mao Xuan. Although Mao Xuan wanted to ask more questions, he tried once but then dismissed it and continued on.

  Meanwhile, from above, Han Lao Fang was also descending. He sensed what would happen after his abdication. As he walked down, he stripped off the upper parts of his Clan Head robes and threw them away, continuing onto the descending stairs. He had wanted to relinquish his position for the past 45 years, but he had not expected it to happen this way.

  Suddenly, while walking, he stumbled and, losing his footing, tumbled off the stairs and into the trees. Due to the slope, he kept rolling down. His head struck rocks and trees multiple times, and he suffered injuries all over his body. This continued until he finally stopped rolling on the last bit of flat ground at the base of the mountain, where the Han Clan began, behind the Qinglian Mansion. He came to a halt on the rough ground and fell unconscious there.

  And above, Master Suo Jing had also arrived at the Han Clan. Wan Chang Wan was standing with him as his disciple, as usual. But he did not agree with one thing at all.

  Just then, coming from the main Cultivation Path Pavilion with some officials, Han zaoshi, wearing the Clan Head attire and holding Han Lao Fang's sword, walked with great pride, as if he had always desired to be the Clan Head. His eyes were not moist at all. There wasn't an iota of grief on his face for his brother's departure or his abdication. Instead, there was a smile on his face.

  Master Suo Jing was already ensnared in questions due to Han Lao Fang's resignation, and now, Hei Shu Yi's guess was proving correct. Han Lao Fang was hiding something. This suspicion was now confirmed by Han zaoshi's behavior. Seeing Han zaoshi in the position of Clan Head, his astonishment knew no bounds. He just watched Han zaoshi pass by, utterly stunned.

  Not just Master Suo Jing but Wan Chang Wan as well, because this was the very thing he did not agree with. Aside from the members of the assembly, everyone was surprised to see Han zaoshi as the Clan Head, because according to the rules, Han zaoshi could never become the Clan Head of the Han Clan, as he was the half-brother of Han Lao Fang and Han Wuang Shi.

  And Han Wuang Shi. He was also heading upwards. He had dismissed everything he had seen last night as a coincidence, but still, his heart was unwilling to accept it. His mind was thinking logically: "One soul cannot reside in two bodies. Gu Zong is currently in Xiao Tang's body, so how can he be in another body at the same time? This is impossible. Its occurrence is next to impossible, even spiritually."

  And his heart spoke in the opposite direction: "But that boy had Chong He Ribbons in his hair. It is possible that someone could imitate those ribbons. But his sword fighting style was exactly like the Pillar of Death."

  Han Wuang Shi was caught only in these two questions. But his steps did not stop. He continued moving towards the next inn, lost in these thoughts.

  Meanwhile, on the other side, Gu Zong had finally emerged from the bamboo forests, strolling casually. He took a mighty stretch.

  His only trouble was Han Wuang Shi, and he was very far away from him, which made him feel slightly lighter. Because if Han Wuang Shi were here, he wouldn't even let him breathe and would cling to him like glue.

  But as soon as the thought of Han Wuang Shi came, a slight smile appeared on his face. But just as quickly as the smile appeared, it vanished, because he had seen that Han Wuang Shi had completely and entirely changed not only in mind but also in personality. He felt love, sympathy, and hatred for Han Wuang Shi simultaneously.

  Lanyue Mansion

  Gu Zong had reached the second inn, Lanyue Mansion. He went inside, where there was much hustle and bustle. It was

  a little bigger and more comfortably equipped than the lower inn.