Problems with No Solution in Sight 

Juanxiu, Siyi, Liu Peng, and Chang Bao continued their search for the hidden compartment inside the Patriarch's old room. The room was dimly lit by the faint rays of the sun that shone through the cracks in the wooden walls. They rummaged through the various chests and drawers, searching for any clues that could lead them to the hidden compartment. They tap the walls, listening intently for any signs of hollow space.

Unknown to them, Junxiu's bothered by the fact that all throughout their journey, none of them asked him about the necklace he was wearing and the appearance of his familiar. It came to a point that he could not take it anymore.

Juanxiu suddenly spoke up, "Why aren't you asking about the creature that appeared in the necklace?"

Liu Peng looked up from his search and asked, "Will that creature turn into a calamity?"

Juanxiu shook his head, "No."

"Then there's nothing to ask," Liu Peng responded.

Siyi added, "You will tell us if you want to tell us. If you don't then you don't have to."

Chang Bao then steered the conversation towards the old village. He is more concerned about the fate of the people that disappeared. "Is there really no chance to determine what happened to the Yinhui village? Will I never see my parents and siblings again?"

Juanxiu remained silent, not knowing how to respond to him.

Siyi spoke up, "Only time will tell."

They continue searching for any hidden compartments or areas. Finally, Chang Bao knocked on a section of the wall that sounded hollow. Upon further inspection, he found that it was a false wall and pushed it, revealing a descending staircase leading to a small room. There was a torch on the side which Juanxiu lit using his qi.

The torchlight flickered as they stepped down the narrow staircase, the damp, musty smell of the underground room filling their nostrils. Cobwebs clung to the walls, and the dust on the ground showed a footstep that probably belong to his Uncle.

The small room at the end of the staircase was empty, except for a small storage area with a lock. Juanxiu pulled out the key from his spatial pouch and inserted it into the keyhole. As he turned the key, they heard the sound of moving gears, and the lock clicked open.

With a sense of excitement and trepidation, he stepped inside the tiny room, and Juanxiu scanned the contents. The room could only fit one person, and there were only two ledgers inside. Juanxiu recognized one of them as belonging to the old Patriarch Hao Chanming, but he had no idea who the other belonged to.

"Who is Su Wen?" he asked, holding up the other ledger.

Siyi shook her head, "I have never heard of that name."

Juanxiu shrugged, "We can figure it out later. Let's start with the ledger of the old Patriarch."

He opened the ledger, and they all crowded around him to take a look. The pages were yellowed and fragile, the writing in elegant calligraphy. They found a lot of information about the workings of the clan and its various branches, as well as some historical events that took place decades ago.

As they pored over the pages, Chang Bao asked, "What are we looking for, exactly?"

Juanxiu hesitated for a moment before replying, "Anything that might give us a clue about the empire's attack on our village, or the whereabouts of my father."

They continued to search through the ledger, reading every word carefully, hoping to find some answers to their questions.

As Juanxiu carefully inspected the ledger, he noticed that most of the information contained within it was already known to them. However, as he turned to the final page, he saw a note that caught his attention. The note read:

"If someone is reading this entry, it means that something terrible happened with me. I am passing this knowledge to the next patriarch of the Hao clan, Jiming. Our family is a loyal clan to the empire. I repeat, to the empire, and not to the people running the empire. I found out that the empire has been infiltrated by the people related to the Grand Echo Continent.

Juanxiu was astonished by what he was reading. The gravity of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. He quickly scanned the contents of the page, his eyes widening with each passing word. The contents of the ledger revealed a sinister plot that could threaten the entire empire.

He learned that it all started when General Shao Liu returned from his journey with a woman named Chang Jie, who was subsequently accepted as one of the maids. General Shao Liu had made a move to have her assigned to the emperor's chamber. Chang Jie eventually caught the attention of the emperor and became one of the concubines. She became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy son. The son of the concubine was assigned as the shadow prince.

As Juanxiu read on, he discovered that these people from the Grand Echo Continent had infiltrated the palace and were replacing people with their own kin. They had even gone as far as to kill the crowned prince to make way for the shadow prince to ascend to the throne. If nothing was done, the entire empire could eventually fall to the Grand Echo Continent.

The note went on instructing Jiming, Juanxiu's father,

"Jiming, if things go awry seek help from the head chancellor of the Hongpuhui University at the Crimson Cherry Summit. Be careful on who you will trust, the roots of the Grand Echo Continent run deep,"

Juanxiu's breathing is heavy as he found out a clue on the possible location of his father's whereavbouts, his face illuminated by the flickering light of a nearby torch. Juanxiu leaned forward and asked, "Liu Peng, do you have any experience in war?"

Liu Peng nodded slowly. "Yes, I do. I fought for the Shaoying Empire during the war against the Grand Echo continent."

Juanxiu's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? How did that go?"

Liu Peng sighed. "It was a long and brutal war, but eventually, both nations signed a peace treaty about forty years ago. Everything was peaceful until ten years ago when the king of the Grand Echo continent died, for reasons unknown. Despite this, the Grand Echo did not make any moves that would suggest they were planning another war."

Juanxiu frowned. "That's strange. Why wouldn't they try to take advantage of the situation?"

Liu Peng shook his head. "I don't know. But maybe they are just biding their time, waiting for the right moment to strike."

Juanxiu nodded, "Turns out, they're already moving in the shadows, infiltrating the empire without anyone being aware of it."

Juanxiu took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts as he looked around the dimly lit room. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders. He knew that protecting themselves against multiple threats was not going to be easy, but he was determined to do everything he could to keep his family and clan safe.

He slowly closed the ledger, feeling the weight of the secrets it held. He knew he couldn't handle all the information at once, so he resolved to take things one day at a time. He did not even bother looking at the other ledger. His mind is already filled with worries regarding the Karma Order, the Blank Continent, the Shaoying Empire, and now, the Grand Echo Continent.

As he let out a heavy sigh, he noticed the cobwebs that clung to the ceiling and walls of the room. The place looked like it hadn't been touched in decades. He wondered how long the patriarch had kept this secret room hidden from the rest of the clan.

Juanxiu left the small room and walked through the musty hallway, his torch casting eerie shadows on the walls.

At last, Juanxiu and Siyi stepped out of the old patriarch's room, closing the door behind them. The air outside felt fresh, crisp, and clean. It was a welcome change from the stale and musty air they had been breathing inside. The two of them stood in the hallway, looking at each other for a moment before Juanxiu spoke.

"Siyi, this place gives us nothing but pain. We have a new home now, one that we need to protect," he said, his voice low but firm.

Siyi nodded, understanding the weight of Juanxiu's words. This place held too many memories of the past, both good, but more on bad. Memories that were now nothing but a burden. It was time to move on.

The two of them walked down the hallway, passing by the many rooms and corridors that they had grown up in. They walked past the room where Siyi's mom had been found dead, the room that used to be bustling with the sound of the disciples laughter, the courtyard where they had played.

As they walked, they didn't look back. They didn't want to spend any more time in this place than they had to. The old Hao territory held nothing for them now. It was time to start fresh, to leave the past behind, and to protect their new home.

The sun was setting by the time they left the old Hao territory, the sky a beautiful shade of orange and red. Juanxiu and Siyi steps were intiially heavy, then they quickened the pace, leaving the place that give them nightmares.

As they move, Juanxiu couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The weight of the past was no longer holding them back, and they were free to pursue their new goals. The future was uncertain, but they were ready to face it together, and that was all that mattered.

"Now that that has been taken care of, It is now time for us to head to the Tiger Quarry," Juanxiu declared, his voice resolute. Liu Peng and Siyi nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the task ahead.

As their surroundings changed Juanxiu couldn't help but think of the last time he entered the tower. The trials were intense and only his cunning had allowed him to overcome them.

The last time, Xiannu Yindao told him that he could bring three additional people inside. He was determined to take Liu Peng and Siyi with him, as they had proven their worth and loyalty many times over.

"But who could be the third person?" Juanxiu mused silently, scanning the faces of his companions. He thought of Chang Bao; he doesn't have any option. He made a mental note to discuss it with Liu Peng and Siyi once they reached the Tiger Quarry.

As they set off on their journey, the scenery around them changed. They saw lush forests, towering mountains, and vast deserts. Each day, they traveled for hours under the scorching sun and the freezing cold nights. They encountered various obstacles, such as steep cliffs, dangerous animals. They even have to avoid the territory of a hostile tribe.

Juanxiu and his companions finally reached the entrance of the Tiger Quarry, a place that was once a bustling hub of commerce and activity. The entrance was marked by a large gate, which was now used as a roosting place by crows. The once lively place was now quiet, and a sense of unease filled the air. The sound of hammers clashing with metals and the warriors looking for a good armor and weapon were all gone. Instead, an almost demonic miasma filled the air, and the silence was reminiscent of the Yinhui village.

As they approached the gate, the ground was littered with clothes, as if the people wearing them had vanished into thin air. Juanxiu and Siyi exchanged a worried glance, and Liu Peng's eyes widened in shock.

He had a feeling of foreboding danger, "My family," he muttered in panic.

Unknownst to them, while they were trying to save another town from Vathar, the Tiger Quarry is being ravaged by a similar chaos.