The students of the Hazu Tai settlement watched in awe, dazzled by the grandeur of the Han Clan. In turn, the Han Clan disciples felt an even deeper sense of superiority as they looked upon the commoners of Hazu Tai; their rigid, upright postures created an aura of glorious prestige.

  On one side stood the influential Han Clan, adorned in splendor, while opposite them stood the Hazu Tai students ordinary, yet striking in their simple, beautiful white robes.

  Suddenly, Grandmaster Kang Jue came forward. No one noticed exactly when he arrived to stand beside the Hazu Tai students, as the sound of his footsteps seemed to materialize out of thin air. He looked at Han Wuang Shi with eyes that seemed to be drawing a silent conclusion. His gaze narrowed slightly upon observing Wuang Shi, but he betrayed no other emotion. He spoke with a natural, composed demeanor, his face directed straight toward the Prince.

  "Prince Han Wuang Shi, you are most welcome."

  That was all he said. Upon hearing this, Wuang Shi bowed before the Grandmaster and offered his salutation. As soon as he straightened, he entered the premises without delay, heading toward his quarters. The rest of the Han Clan disciples followed closely behind him.

  Gradually, the courtyard emptied as everyone returned to their rooms. But the Grandmaster remained standing there. His gaze seemed frozen, fixed intensely beyond the threshold. He then looked up at the sky, calculating that the snowfall would likely be late this year. At that moment, one of his female disciples came to stand behind him, offering her silent respect. Grandmaster Kang Jue had already sensed her presence. He took a very long, deep breath, as if he were feeling suffocated. When he spoke to her, his voice was heavy, every word bearing the weight of a great burden.

  "Still, nothing has changed. Everything remains exactly as it was. Even this beautiful silence is now suffocating. Light is beginning to look more terrifying than the darkness."

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  The disciple stood behind him, listening in grave silence. She too looked up at the sky and spoke, her voice soft and supple.

  "Master. We must handle the situation with even greater vigilance now."

  The Grandmaster glanced back at her with a sharp, sideways look. This time, his tone shifted completely; his voice turned cold and hard.

  "Is there any news?"

  The disciple bowed and replied, "Master. By tomorrow evening, the Hegong Clan, the Yingtian Clan, Prince Han Lao Fang, and Prince Han Zao Shi are expected to arrive. And as per the orders of the Zhangwu Pillars, Prince Mo Shiwang and Prince Mo Zhenhai of the Lianxiao Clan are also coming. But..."

  The Grandmaster’s eyes narrowed. He turned fully toward the disciple, looking into her eyes. His grave voice deepened further as he demanded:

  "But...?"

  Composing herself, speaking in a firm yet gentle tone despite her slightly trembling hands, the disciple answered:

  "Master. I only wished to remind you of Senior Sister Jun Wan. She is the only one who can help gather the fragments of the coming storm. This is my personal advice. After all, I too am a resident of the Hazu Tai settlement. I have observed her closely."

  Having said this, she bowed deeply and added, "Forgive me for speaking too much. I must take my leave now. My best wishes."

  Throughout the conversation, the Grandmaster had remained stern. However, his disciple's final words forced him to pause. He looked around; everywhere was a profound silence, save for the whispering winds. The leaves of the trees made a rustling sound. The way the Grandmaster looked at this emptiness and clenched his fists betrayed the intensity of the emotions he was suppressing. Even this silence now seemed to be screaming. After a moment, he walked away.

  Inside a room, a candle flickered dimly near the window. An open pouch lay on the table filled with fox nuts. Gu Zong sat nearby, eating them in his own characteristic style tossing them into the air and catching them in his mouth. A faint smile played on his lips, brightening his face. He caught a fox nut in his hand and whispered to himself:

  "Senior Sister truly knows exactly what can calm me down."

  His expression softened slightly at the memory of Jun Wan. He murmured, "I miss you, Senior Sister."

  But as he tasted the fox nuts prepared by her again, his face lit up once more. Just then, he heard a sound coming from beyond the window.