Walking towards the Yingtian Clan for some time, Ying Xia slowly recounted how a few days prior, Mei Gui and Qing Yu had come to the Lian Qingxue Clan when their Master had returned injured. He told them how they found a packet of medicine in the corridor, and upon investigation, discovered that the medicine was not a narcotic, as Xiao Tang had claimed. Since then, Xiao Tang has been missing, and their Master had instructed them to search for Xiao Tang, while he himself left toward the Han Clan to find him. Ying Xia finally concluded:
"Undoubtedly, Master will, as always, kill Xiao Tang, just as he has killed every person who dared to utter his accursed name. Because some days ago, Master Xian Yong Ming killed officials of the Yingtian Clan and Hegong Clan. That day, Xiao Tang spoke the Master’s accursed name. Due to this, the Master has gone directly to the Han Clan today to kill him. And if Xiao Tang is truly there, who knows what disaster will ensue, because we have searched every inch of the Hegong Clan, but Xiao Tang was not found. We can only hope that Xiao Tang is in the Yingtian Clan and not the Han Clan. If he meets Master Xiao Tang there, who knows what will happen."
Saying this, he fell silent. Everyone in the group of disciples listened to Ying Xia’s words in silence, and now, hearing this account, everyone was in an emotional crisis. What Master Xian Yong Ming had done for them was nothing short of philanthropy. All these disciples came from backward backgrounds, without a clan, who were not from any large or special lineage. Yet, Master Xian Yong Ming made them his disciples, taught them his medical system, showed them his cultivation style, and made them scholars. And now, when the world considers him a murderer which he actually is by what right could they prepare to go against their Master? How could they oppose the person who changed their lives, the person whom they consider their God, even if he is a murderer?
But the shock that Hei Shu Yi received upon hearing all this was tremendous. She knew that 45 years ago, Master Xian Yong Ming and her clan had together destroyed Gu Zong and the Lianxiao Clan. And if Han Wuang Shi realized that Gu Zong was inside Xiao Tang's body, the story would end before it even began. Hei Shu Yi's face turned pale, and her body felt numb from the shock.
Her eyes remained fixed in one spot, thinking:
"How did this even happen? If Master Gu Zong spoke Master Xian Yong Ming's name, how did he survive? His body isn't even capable of fighting. Xiao Tang's body cannot handle his immense power, the Golden Core of the Pillar of Death. So how did he defend himself? Did Master Xian Yong Ming somehow find out that he is Gu Zong? No... no, how could that be? But...?" She couldn't dwell on this thought further. Like Ying Xia, she desperately hoped that Xiao Tang was in the Yingtian Clan and not the Han Clan.
And there, Han Wuang Shi had almost reached Lanyue Mansion. He stopped in front of it. At the same time, Gu Zong, walking out of the bamboo forests and stretching, was also moving towards the same Lanyue Mansion. Both were at equal distance, heading towards the same spot.
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But as Han Wuang Shi reached exactly in front of Lanyue Mansion and paused to look at the entire inn, he felt a strange sensation a pull. But as soon as he took one step forward, the massive gathering of people who were heading up the mountain surged past, and Han Wuang Shi was completely caught in the middle of the crowd. People were pushing and shoving, frantically moving upwards. In this crush, Han Wuang Shi was automatically pressed forward and carried along by the crowd.
As he struggled amidst the mass, being pushed upwards, Gu Zong was casually walking into Lanyue Mansion below, unconcerned. In just this small moment, the Su Hu Hun sword momentarily recognized Gu Zong's internal core. Its stone glowed for a few instants. But Han Wuang Shi was so stuck in the crowd that his attention did not go to his sword. The crowd continued to rush forward like lunatics.
Just then, Han Wuang Shi removed his disguise seal, and as the seal reappeared in his hand, his appearance suddenly changed back into Han Wuang Shi. The people who suddenly saw Han Wuang Shi in the middle of the crowd began to scream, and instantly, the crowd abandoned Han Wuang Shi. People gathered to one side, watching only Han Wuang Shi, trembling with fear. They couldn't believe their eyes that Han Wuang Shi was standing right there, in the Han Clan area. Seeing him, people began running upward, screaming in fear of Xian Yong Ming.
But by the time Han Wuang Shi looked at his sword, the stone had already gone silent, because the Su Hu Hun sword was now out of Gu Zong's reach. Han Wuang Shi did not sheath his sword and continued forward, holding it. His face was calm, but he contained a storm within. He was still searching for Xiao Tang.
Inside Lanyue Mansion, Gu Zong had arrived, where people were enjoying food and drink. The hall echoed with conversation. Gu Zong also hung his sword on his back and went to sit at a table. He asked a servant to bring him something to eat. The atmosphere was quite lively. People were laughing at every table, chatting. Drinks were being poured in some places, and the aroma of food wafted from others.
But at the table in front of him, a group was conversing. A man, eating his noodles, said, and everyone listened to him:
"Hey, did you just hear the man who announced the start of the Cultivation Path here? And do you know that Prince Han Zao Shi is starting this Cultivation Path?"
A woman joined the conversation and said, "No... no, that cannot be. How can anyone take such a big decision while the Clan Head is present? Surely, this is just a rumor."
The man spoke again, "No... no, this is no rumor. The truth is that Clan Head Han Lao Fang was called to the High Assembly. And as always, this time too, he refused to start the Cultivation Path, even in front of the high ministers. And due to this, he was dismissed from the position of Clan Head. And Prince Han Zao Shi was made the Clan Head."
Gu Zong listened to every single word of this attentively. His eyes widened completely upon hearing this. He was shocked. He knew that besides Han Wuang Shi, who was the elder son of the clan, the only one who could become the Clan Head after him was Han Lao Fang. And as far as he knew, Han Zao Shi was the son of Han Juan Hao. By principle, he could not become the head of this clan, because he was the half-brother. Now there was one more question: How did Han Lao Fang give up the position of Clan Head so easily?

