An empty, dark prison chamber. Neither light nor air, just silence. Behind the bars, in the middle of the room, someone lay on the ground, injured and unconscious. Chains bound his feet, his hands, and his neck. His body was completely shackled by iron fetters. This was none other than Han Lao Fang, brought here while unconscious.

  Slowly, Han Lao Fang's eyes opened. At first, nothing was visible, but when his sight cleared, he realized he was in a prison. His hands and feet were bound by shackles. He suddenly panicked. He tried to get up, but the injury to his leg was too severe. He couldn't move.

  But his silence turned into mourning when he saw the soldiers in new attire. Truly, the sight made his soul grieve. Where the soldiers and guards previously wore the official blue and sky-blue robes of the Han Clan, they were now wearing chartreuse-colored garments. These were worn only by Han Juan Hao's Gaochan Clan. This meant that the Han Clan had now become the Gaochan Clan.

  Seeing this, his eyes welled up. He fell back, gazing at the soldiers like a lifeless puppet. It was his broken trust that had fallen. What he had feared for so many years had come to pass, and he could do nothing. He felt lonely and helpless. Tears of disbelief streamed from his eyes, and he thought: "Zao Shi? Such a great betrayal? I wish I had stopped it earlier. I wish I had told Han Wuang Shi that day. I wouldn't have had to face this day."

  FLASHBACK: 2 Years Ago

  It was an ordinary day when the markets of the Han Clan were decorated for the arrival of the sacred fireflies. Han Lao Fang was very happy about this. Seeing the whole Clan decorated, he was going to Han Zao Shi's chamber to tell him something. He kept thinking: "Han Zao Shi always insists on calling Senior Brother Han Wuang Shi. Today, I will tell him that I have sent him an invitation to come to the Han Clan."

  Meanwhile, a messenger with a white scroll reached the Lian Qingxue Clan. He walked toward the main entrance, but two disciples stopped him and asked, "Excuse me. You cannot enter without permission."

  The messenger bowed and said, "A letter has been sent for Master Xian Yong Ming from the Clan Head of the Han Clan. I have come to deliver it." The messenger held out the letter, and the disciples let him wait for a reply.

  One disciple took the letter inside. He walked through the corridors and entered the main library, where Han Wuang Shi was, as usual, busy writing a new book. The disciple came in, bowed respectfully, and said, "Master. A messenger has brought a message for you from the Han Clan."

  The disciple handed the letter to Han Wuang Shi and stood there. When he read the letter, his eyes moistened. It was not from a Clan Head, but from a brother. It read: "Senior Brother, we would like to invite you to the celebration being held in the clan for the arrival of the sacred fireflies. We await you and your disciples. Lao Fang."

  This letter brought a sense of peace to Han Wuang Shi. Why wouldn't it? Lao Fang was his brother. Below the letter, he wrote his reply: "I will certainly come.

  The disciple returned to the main entrance and gave the same letter back to the messenger. The messenger left with the letter. But when Han Wuang Shi had opened the letter, he knew that it had been opened during the journey. Because he could recognize the knots Han Lao Fang used to seal his letters. But the way this letter was tied was certainly not Han Lao Fang's technique. However, the handwriting was definitely Han Lao Fang's.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  And there, while thinking happily, Han Lao Fang reached outside Han Zao Shi's room when he heard some unfamiliar voices. He stopped for a moment, and all the thoughts running through his mind came to a halt. Only one thought came: "Who is with Zao Shi?"

  When Han Lao Fang slowly peeked inside, his senses reeled. His astonishment knew no bounds. Inside, there was a masked man, and Han Zao Shi was sitting with him and saying, "Master, as you instructed. Han Lao Fang has sent an invitation to Xian Yong Ming. Now, when he comes here, we will have Lao Fang kill him, and afterward, Lao Fang too. And then, no one can stop this clan from becoming the Gaochan Clan."

  Then the masked man asked, "Do you think Han Lao Fang will really kill Xian Yong Ming?"

  Hearing this, Zao Shi took a sip of wine and said, "Oh, Master. Ask why he won't kill him? He still believes that Xian Yong Ming deliberately killed Father and Mother. And that's why he will kill him, because he doesn't know the real reason why he killed Father, Mother, and his own wife that night. Well, it was Father's fault for sitting down to celebrate. But if Father hadn't died today, how would all this be mine?" Saying this, he filled another cup of wine and started drinking, laughing.

  Hearing this, Han Lao Fang's soul trembled. He had come to deliver good news, but he had not expected this heinous conspiracy. Just then, he heard the sound of Han Zao Shi coming outside, and Han Lao Fang quickly retreated. He hid in a nearby room, but his eyes still couldn't believe what he had heard and seen. A mountain of sorrow had collapsed upon his emotions. He couldn't believe that a heinous conspiracy was hidden behind Zao Shi's innocent face.

  It was then he understood why Han Zao Shi always clung to him and why he wouldn't let him go to the Lian Qingxue Clan. He always thought of his childish insistence as innocence, but it was his mask. When the festival began some days later and Han Wuang Shi was expected, but only reached the Hegong Clan, Han Lao Fang intentionally went there and attacked Han Wuang Shi.

  Han Zao Shi was also with him at that time. Han Lao Fang just wanted to somehow tell Han Wuang Shi about the conspiracy under the pretext of a fight. And that was only possible if they faced each other with drawn swords. Swords clashed against swords, and when Han Wuang Shi was close to Han Lao Fang, he could only whisper: "Senior Brother. Forgive me. It wasn't your fault. But your life is in danger right now. Please turn back and never come to Hegong Clan, Yingtian Clan, or Han Clan again." Then, pretending to defend, Han Zao Shi rushed forward with his sword, but Han Lao Fang cleverly and intentionally acted as if Han Wuang Shi had pushed him, and he fell directly onto Han Zao Shi. Han Wuang Shi was truly astonished by this sight. But the genuine love and respect he saw in Han Lao Fang's eyes then was something he had never seen in 43 years. He didn't understand why he was doing this, but he was certain that Han Lao Fang never lied. And for that reason, Han Wuang Shi left from there.

  END OF FLASHBACK

  The hall was completely drowned in silence. A peace settled over the room after Lao Xuan said there was a way.

  In his eagerness to get the answer, Han Zao Shi spoke impatiently, "What? What way? Tell me quickly, Master. I am ready to do anything for this."

  Hearing this from Han Zao Shi, a smile once again appeared on Lao Xuan's covered face. He said, "Indeed, Zao Shi. You will not be the complete Clan Head until you start the Cultivation Path. But do you know why the Lianxiao Clan ruled for thousands of years? There was only one reason: the Zhengwu Pillars. The place, the clan, where the Zhengwu Pillars are present, is almost impossible to destroy. So, Zao Shi, now there is only one path left for you. You must establish the Zhengwu Pillars anew. And then you can easily become not just the Clan Head, but a King."

  Hearing this, Han Zao Shi began to dream of becoming a king. He was overjoyed internally. The smile on his face clearly indicated that he was ready. Then he asked, "But how? How will the Zhengwu Pillars be established? What needs to be done?"

  Now the moment had come that Lao Xuan had been impatiently waiting for for the past 45 years. The prey that would lead him to his goal was trapped in his net. His eyes filled with greed, but he remained calm.

  Then he spoke the words that were his final arrow: "You must go to the Zishi Temple. And you must sacrifice as many souls as the number of Zhengwu Pillars you wish to establish. And as far as I can tell, two people are already in your sights: Your brothers."