73- A Familiar Face

Juanxiu and the rest are still in a daze, unsure of what really transpired. They look around, trying to piece together the events that just took place. One moment their lives were hanging in the balance, unsure of what would happen next, the next moment they were free from the threat that loomed over them. The person who intervened was gone, leaving behind many questions.

Liu Peng looks around, bewildered, and asks, "What just happened?"

Elder Li replies, "I think we've been saved."

Yinjie interjects, "I don't think so. That person took the fragment of the jewel, that's a fragment of that God's consciousness. We are still under threat."

Juanxiu pipes up, "I met someone at the Cardinal City before, they were wearing the same robe and they also collected a similar fragment."

"This is getting worse by the minute,"Elder Li spoke while shaking his head.

Yinjie takes a deep breath and says, "Let's take things one day at a time. Right now, it's time to give these dead bodies an honorable farewell."

Elder Li nods in agreement and adds, "You're right. I will reach out to the owner of the Golden Alabaster Organization and ask for an explanation regarding the atrocities that Gong Jinhai committed. While we are doing that, we will also send some of our people to check on the household that has been afflicted with the hypnosis of Jinhai and see if they managed to break through from the spell."

As the group begins to gather the dead bodies and prepare for their send-off, a heavy silence falls over them. They are all deep in thought, contemplating the events that just unfolded. It was a moment that would forever be etched in their memories. They had come face-to-face with a God, one that they thought only existed in legends, and lived to tell the tale.

The group leaves the scene, the chains that had once bound Vathar, the God of Torture, now lie empty, no longer holding the powerful being captive. The sky is now clear, the sun slowly setting, casting a warm orange glow on the world around them. They walk in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, unsure of what the future holds.

As the sun rose on the horizon, a new day dawned upon the land. The air was crisp and cool, carrying with it the scent of freshly bloomed flowers and the rustling of the leaves. Juanxiu, Liu Peng, Siyi, and Chang Bao were all packed and ready to leave. The journey ahead was long and perhaps treacherous.

With some of their swords strapped to their backs, they set out on their journey. The path was winding and rocky, with steep hills and deep valleys. The terrain was rugged and unforgiving, but they pressed on, their determination keeping them going.

As they traveled further and further away from the city, the landscape around them began to change. The lush green forests gave way to rolling hills and vast plains, where the grass danced in the gentle breeze. The sky was a deep blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds that seemed to go on forever.

Despite the beauty of their surroundings, the journey was long and grueling. They walked for hours on end, stopping only to rest and eat when they could. The sun beat down on them mercilessly, causing them to sweat profusely and their throats to dry up.

And finally, after eighteen long days of walking, they arrived at the old location of the Hao Clan.

The once great clan was now nothing more than a shadow of its former self.

As Juanxiu and his party approached the entrance of the Old Hao Clan location, the first thing they noticed was the overgrown vegetation. Tall grasses, vines, and thorny bushes were now covering the path leading to the main residence of the clan. The once-grand archway that welcomed visitors was now dilapidated, with its stone pillars crumbling and the wooden gate hanging from its hinges.

As they continued to walk, the sight of the destroyed and abandoned buildings of the clan greeted them. The buildings were once majestic structures made of red brick and gray tiles, but now, they were only ruins with collapsed roofs, broken walls, and overgrown weeds. The air was filled with the smell of decay, and the only sounds that could be heard were the creaking of the old trees and the rustling of the leaves.

Juanxiu's heart ached as he remembered the time he spent here as a child, playing with his friends and learning the ways of the clan. He remembered the grand halls where the elders used to hold meetings, the training grounds where disciples honed their martial skills, and the gardens where he and his cousins used to play. All of it was now gone, replaced by the rubble and the memories of a bygone era.

Siyi, was sobbing as she walked alongside Juanxiu. The sight of the ruins was too much for her to bear, and the thought of the Hao Clan's tragic fate weighed heavily on her heart. After all, this is the clan that his father swore to protect.

Chang Bao and Liu Peng were silent, taking in the scene before them. The once-proud clan was now reduced to ruins, and they could feel the weight of history bearing down on them.

It took them a while to reach the main residence of the clan, which was once the center of the Hao Clan's power. The building was now nothing more than a pile of rubble, with only a few columns and the remnants of the grand staircase still standing. The sight was a painful reminder of the clan's downfall, and the emptiness of the place made it feel as though they were in a different world altogether.

Juanxiu couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness as he looked around. This was once his home, a place where he had grown up, but now it was nothing more than a distant memory. As they stood there in silence, the wind blew past them, carrying with it the whispers of the past, and the memories of a once-great clan.

The scene before them was both haunting and heartbreaking. The once grand entrance gate was now in shambles, with its wooden doors barely hanging on their hinges. The walls were cracked and chipped, revealing the brick and mortar beneath. The roof tiles were missing in some places, and the ones that remained were covered in moss and dirt.

They saw that the wooden floors were warped and creaking underfoot. The walls were stained with mold and the ceiling was crumbling in places. A few pieces of furniture were scattered about, but they were all covered in dust and cobwebs.

"We should separate. Find any thing that you think is significant, then report it back. We'll convened in the main hall after two hours," Juanxiu ordered.

Liu Peng took the lead and walked towards one of the side rooms, his footsteps echoing in the empty halls. He opened the door and was met with a cloud of dust. Inside, the room was in disarray with furniture overturned and broken pottery strewn about.

Siyi, wiping tears from her eyes, made her way to another room. She searched through the old belongings but found nothing of importance. Chang Bao, meanwhile, examined the corners of each room, hoping to find some hidden compartment or passage.

Juanxiu went straight to the old main hall, where he had spent most of his childhood. As he entered, he could almost hear the echoes of laughter and chatter that once filled the room. But now, the hall was desolate and quiet. The wooden pillars were rotted and crumbling, and the dragon-carved beams overhead were barely holding on.

After hours of searching, they reconvened in the main hall. They all looked disappointed, knowing that they had found nothing that could help them in their quest for the key. Liu Peng suggested that they leave before they were discovered and possibly punished for trespassing.

Juanxiu sighed in agreement, knowing that they couldn't risk being caught. "Let's go," he said, "there's nothing left for us here." As they turned to leave, Juanxiu cast one last look at the ruined estate, his heart heavy with the memories of his childhood. As they were about to leave, Juanxiu heard a familiar voice calling his name.

"Juanxiu,"

Juanxiu turned around to the sound of his name, and his eyes widened as he saw his uncle Hao Shunyuan walking towards him. Despite the wrinkles on his face, Hao Shunyuan still possessed a commanding presence. He was a tall man with broad shoulders, and his hair was almost gray and tied in a topknot.

"Uncle Shunyuan," Juanxiu said, his voice filled with surprise.

"My nephew, it's been a while," Shunyuan said, smiling as he embraced Juanxiu. "I'm glad to see you're doing well."

Juanxiu couldn't believe his luck. He had come to the old Hao Clan location hoping to find a clue about the key, but instead, he found his uncle. He may have abandoned the clan, but he understood his decision.

Shunyuan stepped back and looked at Juanxiu from head to toe. "The 6th stage of the soldier rank, I'm impressed. You've come a long way since I last saw you. Even those who have been nourished by bog clans will not achieve your cultivation rank."

Juanxiu smiled, feeling proud of himself. "Thank you, Uncle. I've been working hard to improve." he avoided mentioning anything related to the Tower.

Juanxiu then asked about his cousins, Bohai, and Shaoqing. Shunyuan replied that they were studying in the university and were doing well. Shunyuan nodded in approval.

"And Jiming?" Shunyuan asked, his voice filled with concern.

Juanxiu's expression darkened. "He's missing. We were attacked by the empire, and we don't know what happened. We don't know where he is or if he is still alive."

Shunyuan's eyes widened in fury. "The empire? They killed my father and now my brother is missing? This is unacceptable! They will pay for what they've done!"

Juanxiu could feel the anger radiating from his uncle, and he knew that Shunyuan would stop at nothing to avenge his brother's death and find Jiming.

"Uncle, have you considered returning to the clan?" he asked

"I can't, not until I offered the head of the person who killed my father in his grave,"his eyes are blazing in fury.

"Forgive me Uncle Shunyuan, but that person's life is mine to take. I will be returning the favor to that person ten times, no, one hundred times," Siyi interrupted, her anger will reach a tipping point.

"Siyi? Is that you?" Shunyuan was happy to see Siyi.

Siyi nodded and told him about the death of Tengyang. Shunyuan looked at her with sympathy and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry for your loss," he said. "But the time for our vengeance is near. The empire will pay for their crimes."

Juanxiu feeling that the conversation is turnng grim, tried to steer the conversation once again, "We are doing a lot better now. You should return to the clan, Uncle."

Shunyuan remained firm in his decision, "I am just here to pay my respects to our ancestors," he said. "But I will definitely visit you when I have the chance."

Juanxiu's heart sank as he heard his uncle refuse his request to return to the clan. He knew that his uncle was still grieving over the loss of their family and the destruction of their home.

After a moment of silence, Shunyuan made his way to a particular corner of the street, where he lit an incense stick and offered a prayer to their patriarch who was beheaded in that very spot. Juanxiu stood by silently, watching his uncle's every move with a heavy heart. It was clear that the memories of the past were still raw and painful for him.

As the incense burned down to its last embers, Shunyuan turned to Juanxiu and bid him farewell. Juanxiu and Siyi felt a sense of longing and sadness for what could have been.

As he watched his Uncle took a step away, Juanxiu asked him about his true purpose here.

"Uncle, is there anything left in the clan?" He then continued "My father had sent me here before he went missing. He claimed that I would find something valuable that could help us in our time of need." Fortunately, his uncle seemed to buy the excuse, and Juanxiu felt a sense of relief wash over him.

Shunyuan leaned in close and whispered in his ear. The words were hushed, almost as if he was afraid someone might overhear. "There's a hidden storage area at the patriarch's room," he revealed. "I tried opening it, but the lock won't budge."

Juanxiu's heart skipped a beat at the news. A hidden storage area? What could possibly be hidden away in there? His mind raced with possibilities, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. Shunyuan had to go, duty calling him away.

"Goodbye Siyi, and Juanxiu," Shunyuan said, his voice heavy with emotion. He turned to Liu Peng and asked him to take care of them, his gaze lingering on Juanxiu a moment longer before he disappeared from view.

Juanxiu stood there for a moment, still stunned by the revelation of the hidden storage area.