The night in the Lian Qingxue Clan looked exceptionally beautiful. The white and pink lotus flowers appeared even more stunning in the moonlight. The gently blowing wind moved the white curtains in the empty library. This tranquility defined the state of the now-quiet Lian Qingxue Clan. Almost every disciple was asleep in their respective rooms, but some footsteps were moving through the empty corridors.

  Walking slowly, Gu Zong was still awake. He was roaming through the entire clan, observing in astonishment that every small or big object, everything in the Lian Qingxue Clan, was an exact replica of the Lianxiao Clan.

  As Gu Zong walked through the corridors, he passed the room where Han Wuang Shi was still lying down. For a moment, his steps advanced to go inside, but then he hesitated and stopped. His heart yearned for love on one side, while on the other, his broken trust and thousands of questions about why his clan had such enmity with someone that it was completely destroyed.

  Somehow, the very person for whom he had sacrificed himself had completely changed today, and this fact struck his heart like a wound. There were thousands of questions, but no answers. Thinking this, his eyes welled up with tears, and he moved on.

  He opened the pouch of medicine given by Hei Shu Yi and started consuming it as he walked. But as soon as he reached directly beneath Han Wuang Shi's most private chamber, the sharp, direct melody of a Guqin suddenly resonated. It was so clear and distinct that Gu Zong instantly recognized it as the Jiuhuang Yin Guqin. He couldn't believe it.

  Standing in disbelief, the pouch fell from Gu Zong's hand. He looked around. Then, once again, he tried to summon his Jiuhuang Yin Guqin, which he had done on the first day. And what happened next made the ground beneath his feet seemingly vanish.

  He made his special hand seals, and as soon as the spell-seal was complete, the Jiuhuang Yin Guqin suddenly appeared floating in the air before him, accompanied by a white, smoke-like aura. His eyes widened at the sight. The Jiuhuang Yin Guqin was so clean and exactly as it was, as if someone had cleaned it every day and preserved it carefully. There wasn't even a speck of dust on its strings; it was impeccably maintained.

  Without needing any other reason, Gu Zong understood that Han Wuang Shi had been looking after it. But when and how? Because the Jiuhuang Yin had been confiscated by the Han Clan long before Gu Zong made his sacrifice.

  Gu Zong made his Jiuhuang Yin vanish and kept it with himself. But now, one thing he understood was that this time, if he wanted to save Han Wuang Shi, he would have to stay away from him and uncover the mystery of why and for what reason the Lianxiao Clan was destroyed.

  Just then, Gu Zong turned back. He looked at Han Wuang Shi one last time with a heavy heart. He was truly pained by what Han Wuang Shi had made of himself after he left. But before leaving, he made a silent promise to Han Wuang Shi:

  "Wuang, forgive me, but this is my responsibility now. I will surely find the truth, and one day, I will definitely return to you. Farewell, Wuang."

  Saying this, his eyes once again glistened with tears. But this was no time for expressing sorrow, but for investigation. He now needed to go to the Han Clan as soon as possible. Then Gu Zong stepped forward and left the Lian Qingxue Clan. His eyes looked like a calm earthquake. His steps steadily advanced on the dirt road towards the Han Clan.

  The next morning...

  Morning had arrived. All the disciples were awake. As always, Zao Yun and Ying Xia opened all the halls and the library. Everyone got busy with their daily routines. Mei Gui and Qing Yu were also awake and searching for Xiao Tang everywhere.

  A disciple went into Han Wuang Shi's room and saw that the Master, who was lying down, was slowly opening his eyes. The disciple quickly called Zao Yun and Ying Xia, and in a short time, all the disciples gathered outside the room. When Ying Xia and Zao Yun went inside, Han Wuang Shi was sitting in meditation, completely healthy. Ying Xia did not want to disturb him and came back outside, saying with a warm smile:

  "Master Xian Yong Ming is fine now. There is no need to worry."

  Everyone felt much better hearing this, as their Master was everything to them. What would happen to them if something happened to him? Mei Gui and Qing Yu also heard all this outside, but their worry was not over, because Xiao Tang was not in his room, not in the clan, not anywhere. And now, the Master was also fine.

  Mei Gui and Qing Yu started searching again, and Mei Gui was venting all her anger on Qing Yu.

  "That fool seems to have run away again!"

  Mei Gui grabbed Qing Yu's ear, twisted it, and spoke furiously:

  "Where were you?... Huh? Xiao Tang was with you last night; didn't you realize where he went? If he is not found today, the Master will kill him! You are a big idiot!"

  The disciples who were watching them, who were passing by, were laughing at her antics. Mei Gui continued to scold Qing Yu.

  On the other side, in the music hall, Ying Xia, Zao Yun, Jun Suan, and the other two disciples were staring at something placed on the table, abandoning their music practice. Jun Suan scratched his chin and spoke, his eyes fixed on the pouch on the table, which a disciple had found in the corridor while cleaning this morning.

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  "Senior Brother Ying Xia, we have examined this herb almost 17 times using different methods, but the result is the same: this is the medicine that can slightly warm a deceased body. But what is it doing here?"

  Hearing him, his companion Wei Qin, who prepared medicines in the medical department, spoke up. He had prepared every discovered medicine and spell-seal of Master Xian Yong Ming. He also spoke with great surprise:

  "You are right, Second Brother Jun Suan. I have prepared every medicine kept in the medical department here. I can say with certainty that this recipe is not Master Xian Yong Ming's."

  Zao Yun also took part in the conversation and replied:

  "So, if this medicine is not from here, then how did it get here? And besides, why would a person whose body can generate as much heat as this medicine produces use it? And one more thing: breaking through the security seals in the Lian Qingxue Clan is impossible, so how?"

  No one could understand what was happening. Just then, Mei Gui and Qing Yu entered, searching for Xiao Tang. All the disciples looked towards them. Mei Gui apologized and said:

  "Forgive us, but we are looking for our useless friend. Have you seen Xiao Tang anywhere?"

  Zao Yun smiled and said, "Oh, Lady Mei Gui, you don't need to apologize. You can come here anytime. And no, we haven't seen Xiao Tang."

  They started looking around again, but as soon as Qing Yu's eyes fell on the pouch placed on the table among the disciples, he recognized it instantly. This was the same pouch that Xiao Tang had shown to Han Lao Fang, claiming it was a narcotic drug. Qing Yu looked at it and called Mei Gui, who was walking around:

  "Senior Sister, look, this is Xiao Tang's medicine pouch!"

  Hearing this, all the disciples looked at each other. Everyone here knew Xiao Tang very well; he had been buying lotus seeds from here for a long time. Then Ying Xia stood up and asked:

  "Is this medicine Xiao Tang's..."

  But Mei Gui did not let him finish his sentence and interrupted:

  "Yes, First Brother, this is the very medicine that caused all this. After taking this narcotic drug, Xiao Tang made that mistake, and we brought him here to apologize to Master Xian Yong Ming, but he is nowhere to be found."

  Saying this, Qing Yu and Mei Gui left again to search for Xiao Tang.

  But the shocking atmosphere that was building up inside the hall was like poison mixed in the air. To some extent, the matter had become crystal clear. They knew they had personally checked that this medicine helps keep a dead body warm. But listening to Mei Gui and Qing Yu, and everything that had happened in the last two days, all suspicion was falling on Xiao Tang.

  On the other side, Han Wuang Shi was also heading towards his room. But ever since he woke up, he had been feeling a strange restlessness. And as soon as he opened the door to his chamber, his eyes widened in surprise. His mind went blank, and his breathing hitched, because the Jiuhuang Yin Guqin, which was always there, was missing from his chamber.

  He looked around; no clues, no signs. And anyway, breaching the tight spell-seal of his chamber was impossible, so how did this happen?

  He quickly turned back and went downstairs. He had already seen Mei Gui and Qing Yu roaming around the Lian Qingxue Clan. His eyes were full of tears, because he knew who must have taken the Jiuhuang Yin outside.

  Just then, Mei Gui and Qing Yu were walking towards him again on the path. Han Wuang Shi went straight to them. His eyes looked like those of a restless soul. Mei Gui and Qing Yu's throats dried up seeing Han Wuang Shi approaching, as his face looked calm but dangerous.

  Han Wuang Shi reached directly to them and asked only one question. His heavy voice was like a silent, unwavering roar of a lion:

  "Where is Xiao Tang?"

  Hearing this, Mei Gui and Qing Yu's blood literally froze. And meanwhile, all the disciples also emerged from behind. Now, there was only one thought in everyone's mind: Master Xian Yong Ming was angry, and Xiao Tang's throat was about to be cut, because Ying Xia had told all the disciples what Mei Gui had told him yesterday evening.

  Hearing Han Wuang Shi's direct question, Mei Gui did not know what to reply. But then Han Wuang Shi asked the same question once more, but this time in a very cold demeanor:

  "Where is Xiao Tang?"

  Mei Gui lowered her eyes and said nervously, "Master, forgive the impertinence, but we have also been searching for Xiao Tang since morning."

  Without another word, Xian Yong Ming headed straight towards the main gate. All ten of his distinguished disciples began following him, but Ying Xia turned back, retrieved his Master's Bai Yu Guqin from inside, and followed them. Mei Gui and Qing Yu, with the remaining disciples, just stood there in astonishment, watching everyone leave. But the worry and dread on Mei Gui's face clearly revealed what she was thinking. She spoke to Qing Yu in a frightened voice:

  "Qing Yu, I don't think we will ever see Xiao Tang again."

  Qing Yu was equally shocked.