Yingtian clan

  In a small inn located in a marketplace, Mei Gui and Qing Yu, along with Jun Suan and the other disciples, were seated. Jun Suan explained everything: how the packet of medicine they had found was not a narcotic but a drug to keep the body warm.

  Mei Gui had been pondering this for the past few hours: why had Xiao Tang lied about taking a narcotic? Her eyes were completely lost in thought. Her brows furrowed. She began to rethink everything from the beginning. Many things started running through her mind at once:

  "Xiao Tang knew that Master Xian Yong Ming's name was not to be spoken. Yet he spoke it. But now Disciple Jun Suan says that the medicine was not a narcotic. That means Xiao Tang lied that day in front of Clan Head Han Lao Fang. It means he spoke Master Xian Yong Ming's name fully conscious and clearly. But why? Why would Xiao Tang do that? He has no reason to do so. And yet..."

  Just then, Qing Yu grabbed her shoulder and called out loudly, "Senior Sister? Where are you lost? What happened? Why has your face gone pale?"

  Hearing him, Mei Gui feigned illness, pretending to have a fever, wanting to mask what she was thinking. However, Qing Yu was, as always, engrossed in conversation. The other disciples were also engaged in general chatter, which meant no one noticed that Mei Gui had once again fallen into deep thought.

  But this time, Mei Gui was thinking something deeper. Everything about Xiao Tang began to surface because suspicion had arisen in her mind about him. Now she recalled all his previous actions:

  "Xiao Tang was afraid of the dark. But now he has gone somewhere alone, and that day, he left in the middle of the night. He never stays quiet, but now we haven't heard his voice at all. How could someone change so much after drowning in a river? And his expressions were also different." Mei Gui recalled the moment when Xiao Tang had told them he would kill them.

  Just then, a man passed through the market, making an announcement. He was continuously informing the public: "Hear ye all. The Cultivation Path is being started in a few days, by the new Clan Head, Han Zao Shi. Arrival letters can be sent."

  The shock of this news was immense. A sudden silence fell over the table where everyone was sitting. Breaths were held, and eyes widened. Because no one could have hoped to hear this news, let alone dream of it. While the common people were rejoicing at the start of the Cultivation Path, this announcement stopped the breathing of Mei Gui, Qing Yu, and the disciples.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Jun Suan suddenly stood up upon hearing this, followed by everyone else. He said in astonishment, "New Clan Head? What is all this being said? The Clan Head was Han Lao Fang, wasn't he? So what is all this?"

  Jun Suan quickly ran after the man and stopped him, asking questions. All the other disciples, Mei Gui, and Qing Yu also reached there behind Jun Suan. Then Jun Suan said:

  "Listen... what are you announcing? Do you even know the punishment for spreading such rumors? If this is a joke, stop it right now. Han zaoshi can never become the Clan Head."

  Then the man unrolled a scroll and, showing it to Jun Suan, said, "Excuse me, sir. But I am not spreading any false rumors, nor am I joking. The new Clan Head is indeed Han zaoshi. Look, his official seal is also affixed to this declaration."

  When Jun Suan looked at the scroll, he couldn't believe it because the man was telling the truth; it bore Han zaoshi's seal instead of Han Lao Fang's. Then he took the scroll for himself and said, "But how can Han Zao Shi become the Clan Head while Clan Head Han Lao Fang is present? This is impossible."

  Then the man replied, "Sir, Han zaoshi became the Clan Head because Clan Head Han Lao Fang resigned from his post just today and also left the clan. There has been no news of his whereabouts for a few hours."

  Saying this, the man moved on, continuing his announcement. This news was so immense that no one could believe it; everyone just stood there in shock. The entire market was rejoicing that the Cultivation Path had begun. But amidst all this commotion, some faces turned pale.

  Jun Suan regained his composure and immediately sent a message to Ying Xia with a spell seal. He wanted to discuss this with him. The spell flew away as a paper crane and headed straight towards the Hegong Clan.

  There, Ying Xia and Zao Yun, along with the other disciples, were spread out across the clan, searching for Xiao Tang. Ying Xia saw the paper crane coming from above and extended his hand. The bird landed on his hand, and immediately, a message was found written on the paper, in which Jun Suan had summoned him to the Yingtian Clan. The moment the message was read, the bird burned to ashes.

  They were just about to leave after reading the message when someone collided with Ying Xia, and that person fell down. When Ying Xia tried to lift her, he saw that it was none other than Hei Shu Yi, who had just come out of the Yingtian Clan.

  When Hei Shu Yi saw the disciples of Xian Yong Ming in front of her, she started looking around anxiously. Her breathing was ragged, and she looked quite exhausted.

  Then Hei Shu Yi spoke, "Disciple Ying Xia, where is Master Xian Yong Ming?"

  Ying Xia remained silent in response at first, because they had no excuse to explain where Master Xian Yong Ming had gone.

  But seeing his silence, Hei Shu Yi couldn't bear it and spoke in a slightly louder voice, "Disciple Ying Xia, please tell me where Master Xian Yong Ming is?"