The High Assembly Hall

  Absolute silence reigned. Every corner was submerged in emptiness, the stillness hanging like a thick fog.

  Outside, on the path leading to the hall, Wuang Shi and Lao Fang were approaching through the deserted market. Their eyes burned with a sharp, fiery fury. Their footsteps carried enough heat to seemingly scorch the earth. However, the fierce tension that had previously gripped the High Assembly Hall had now transitioned into a chilling calm.

  The sword pressed against Gu Zong’s back the blade that could pierce through him at any moment belonged to someone he knew intimately. Gu Zong had recognized the voice, but the way it shattered him, knowing this person intended to take his life, made him writhe in internal agony. With tear-filled eyes, he looked back.

  When he saw the face, his threshold for endurance was finally breached. His hands trembled. His sword slipped from his grasp and hit the floor with a loud clang. For standing before him was none other than his brother, Zhuang Hue, looking at him with smiling eyes and a sense of satisfaction. Yet, his sword was leveled at Gu Zong, ready to kill.

  At that moment, Wuang Shi and Lao Fang arrived. But for Gu Zong, things had already gone too far. He looked back toward Wuang Shi, and his eyes overflowed; tears fell to the ground like the first drops of rain. Slowly, Gu Zong’s strength gave out and he collapsed to the floor. As his eyes gradually closed, he kept watching Wuang Shi coming toward him until, finally, he sank into a profound silence drowning in the depths of the past.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Flashback: 45 Years Ago...

  The Lianxiao Clan was a prosperous legacy of ancient wisdom, a place so ethereal that even the birds possessed inner energy. Before its beauty, even the heavens seemed pale. The clan's greatest and most famous feature was its river a singular marvel that flowed from the sea, unlike all other rivers that flowed toward it. Because of this unique flow, various species of exotic fish and precious seashells would wash inland. The entire Lianxiao Clan was established along the path of this river; wherever the water went, the clan followed. This was the reason for the clan's immense scale and power.

  Amidst the warmth and hustle of the market, Gu Zong lay asleep with his head slumped on a table outside an inn. On the table lay Moonlight Grass, glowing beautifully with a soft, pale blue light. Everyone passing by couldn't help but stare at the radiant herb.

  As Gu Zong slept off his exhaustion, someone arrived at the table. It was Jun Wan, dressed in beautiful light pink robes, holding a bundle of small, tender bamboo twigs in her hands. She let out a deep sigh and spoke with a smile; her voice was gentle:

  "Oh, so you are here, Brother. Grandfather has been searching for you throughout the entire sect."

  Gu Zong remained unmoved. Jun Wan sat down right beside him, speaking with warmth and ease, though her eyes turned slightly misty.

  "Brother... let go of your stubbornness now. I hate seeing you punished like this. If you remain adamant, Grandfather will continue to sentence you. You should just listen to him, Brother."