A powerful force erupted from the Qiankun Bead, blasting Zhong Yun and the others backward through the air. Zhong Yun felt his vision blur and instantly lost consciousness.
When he woke up again, he found himself lying on a soft bed, the faint scent of fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose. He sat up abruptly and looked around, realizing he was in an antique-style room.
"Brother Yun, you're finally awake!" A familiar voice rang out as Fatty Wang rushed to the bedside with a face full of joy. "You've been unconscious for three days, you really had us worried sick."
Zhong Yun rubbed his still-aching head and asked with a puzzled expression, "Where are we? And where is the Qiankun Bead?"
"This is a quiet chamber inside the sect; we were teleported back. As for the Qiankun Bead..." Fatty Wang wore a troubled expression. "We don't know either. It was gone when we woke up."
Zhong Yun's brows furrowed tightly, his heart filled with doubt and unease.
At that moment, the door was gently pushed open. Shen Yao wore plain white clothes, a cold and detached look carrying a trace of worry on her face: "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine." Zhong Yun looked at Shen Yao, a warm feeling welling up in his chest. "I made you worry."
Shen Yao walked to the bedside, resting her slender hand on Zhong Yun's pulse to check carefully. Only after confirming that he had no major injuries did she finally let out a sigh of relief.
"The matter of the ruin was far too bizarre. We should report this to the elder first," Shen Yao said.
Zhong Yun nodded. He knew now was not the time to trace the whereabouts of the Qiankun Bead; his top priority was to figure out what had truly happened in the ruins.
The three of them arrived at Elder Li's dwelling and reported their experiences in the ruins in detail. After listening, Elder Li stroked his beard in silence, speaking only after a long pause: "This matter is no small affair. I will report it truthfully to the sect. You should all go back and rest first."
Returning to his quarters, Zhong Yun found it impossible to calm his mind. The disappearance of the Qiankun Bead, the bizarre nature of the ruins—all of it felt like a shroud of mist hanging heavily over his heart.
In the days that followed, Zhong Yun divided his time between diligent cultivation to strengthen his power and secretly investigating the ruins in hopes of finding some clues.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, half a year passed.
Over these six months, relying on his extraordinary talent and hard cultivation, Zhong Yun's cultivation base had advanced by leaps and bounds, breaking through to the Qi Condensation 7th Layer and becoming a standout among the inner sect disciples.
Meanwhile, his relationship with Shen Yao had grown much closer during this period. The two frequently practiced together and discussed martial arts, a subtle affection taking root between them.
Under Zhong Yun's careful guidance, Fatty Wang's strength had also leaped forward, successfully breaking through his bottleneck to become an inner sect disciple. Built solidly and possessing boundless strength, he could well be considered a fierce warrior among the inner sect.
Elder Li was extremely satisfied with Zhong Yun's performance. Recognizing Zhong Yun's potential and leadership ability, he decided to entrust him with some important sect affairs to temper his capabilities.
Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction; yet, the sense of unease in Zhong Yun's heart grew stronger and stronger. He always felt that something was about to happen...
A mountain breeze brushed through the verdant bamboo forest, making a rustling sound as if softly chanting an ancient ballad. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting mottled spots of light on the ground and adding a touch of vitality to the tranquil scene.
Dressed in a long azure robe, Zhong Yun sat upright at a stone table in front of the bamboo house, holding an archaic book in his hand and reading with rapt attention. With his sword-like brows, starry eyes, and face like jade, every gesture he made exuded an otherworldly temperament that complemented the serene environment.
"Brother Yun, reading again? Elder Li is looking for you, says there's an important matter he wants you to handle." Fatty Wang ran over breathlessly, his round face covered in sweat, clearly having sprinted all the way.
"Oh? Elder Li is looking for me?" Zhong Yun put down the book in his hand, his brows raising slightly as a faint guess formed in his heart. Ever since returning from the ancient ruins half a year ago, Elder Li had grown increasingly fond of him, frequently guiding his cultivation and handing over various sect affairs for him to manage, seemingly intending to groom him as the next pillar of the sect.
"Yeah, I heard this matter is no small deal—seems related to several neighboring sects," Fatty Wang lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously. "Looks like Elder Li is placing high hopes on you! You better seize this chance and strive to become a main pillar of our Qingyun Sect soon!"
Zhong Yun smiled, not taking Fatty Wang's words to heart. He knew full well the principle that tall trees catch the wind; although he now stood out among his peers, his strength was still far inferior to those old monsters, and he was nowhere near the point of pride.
Bidding farewell to Fatty Wang, Zhong Yun straightened his clothes and set off for Elder Li's dwelling.
Meanwhile, in a gloomy valley hundreds of miles away from the Qingyun Sect, a mysterious figure in a black cloak stood atop a massive boulder, overlooking the churning sea of clouds below. His figure was thoroughly concealed by the cloak, revealing only a pair of eyes filled with coldness and malice, enough to send chills down anyone's spine.
"Zhong Yun, do you really think you can escape my control?" the Mysterious Man said in a grim tone, his voice laced with thick murderous intent. "Everything I've done is to make you taste what true despair is!"
With a sudden wave of his hand, a streak of black light shot out from his palm, instantly plunging into the sea of clouds and vanishing without a trace.
An invisible ripple spread across the heavens and earth, portending that an even greater storm was about to descend...
When Zhong Yun arrived at Elder Li's dwelling, he found that several peak elders were also present, all wearing solemn expressions. His heart tightened; it seemed the matter was far more complex than he had imagined. Elder Li handed him a letter and said in a deep voice, "See for yourself."
The contents of the letter were shocking—it actually accused Zhong Yun of hoarding treasures and murdering fellow disciples within the ancient ruins! At the bottom, the seals of several minor sects were clearly stamped.
Zhong Yun instantly understood that someone was using this opportunity to stir up trouble and ruin his reputation! Suppressing his rising anger, he feigned ignorance and asked, "This disciple has always acted with an open and upright conscience. Why would I draw such slander?"
An elder let out a cold snort, "If you hadn't done it, would others conjure it out of thin air? This matter is of great consequence, and you must give the sect an explanation!"
Zhong Yun sneered inwardly. This was clearly a deliberate setup meant to put him at a disadvantage. Keeping his outward composure, he calmly analyzed, "This disciple believes this matter is suspicious. Someone is surely pulling strings behind the scenes, attempting to provoke conflict within the sect. This disciple is willing to investigate personally to clear my own name and drag the mastermind out into the light!"
A flicker of approval crossed Elder Li's eyes. These words were neither humble nor arrogant, backed by reason and logic, showing that Zhong Yun was not a rash individual. He nodded and said, "Very well, go and investigate, but remember not to act rashly."
Leaving the dwelling, Zhong Yun's mind raced. He knew the terror of rumors; if not stopped in time, the consequences would be unimaginable. But he also understood that rumors stop with the wise—once he found the source, they would collapse on their own.
He decided to start with the people spreading the rumors. For the sake of profit, such people often let slip minor clues. Thus, he disguised himself, mingled in town taverns, and kept his ears open for all kinds of gossip.
Sure enough, just as he expected, he heard some "secret lore" about himself. Some said he was ruthless, killing and plundering in the ancient ruins; others claimed he had acquired a heaven-defying treasure, causing his strength to advance by leaps and bounds...
Zhong Yun collected the information with a calm exterior, marking down the spreaders of the rumors in his mind. He discovered that most of these people came from unranked minor sects with low cultivation bases, living idle lives and specializing in shady dealings.
Through several rounds of indirect questioning, Zhong Yun finally learned from a drunken man that these individuals appeared to be directed by a mysterious organization. This organization acted in deep secrecy, and nobody knew their origins; people only knew that they were generous with their money and offered rich rewards upon the completion of any task.
Zhong Yun felt a jolt in his heart. A mysterious organization? Could it be those men in black he had encountered in the ruins earlier? At this thought, vigilance spiked within him. It seemed this matter was far more complex and dangerous than he had imagined.
Late in the night, Zhong Yun returned to his bamboo house with a furrowed brow. He realized he had been dragged into a massive conspiracy, and this was only the beginning...
Night was as cool as water. Zhong Yun sat cross-legged inside the bamboo house, his mind replaying the information he had squeezed out of the drunkard and the figures of those mysterious men in black from the ancient ruins. The two events seemed entirely unrelated, yet in the dark, Zhong Yun sensed an unease, as if an invisible net was closing in around him.
"Could it be that these two events are truly connected in some way?" Zhong Yun muttered to himself, his doubts deepening.
To uncover the truth, he decided to take the initiative. Over the past few days, he had secretly observed the rumor-mongers and found that they frequently frequented a dilapidated temple outside the city. Zhong Yun guessed that the ruined temple was likely the stronghold of the mysterious organization.
"Brother Zhong, what have you been busy with lately?"
Early that morning, Fatty Wang waddled over to Zhong Yun's bamboo house with his round belly swaying.
"Nothing much, just hit a bit of a bottleneck in my cultivation and I'm feeling a bit troubled," Zhong Yun replied with a faint smile, maintaining his composure.
"The path of cultivation is going against the heavens, how could it ever be smooth sailing?" Fatty Wang nodded in half-understanding. "Right, I heard Senior Sister Shen has been practicing a powerful sword technique lately. Do you want to go watch and learn together?"
A stir went through Zhong Yun's heart. Shen Yao possessed peerless talent and practiced at blinding speed; if he could learn a thing or two from her, it would benefit him immensely.
"Alright, I've been meaning to ask Senior Sister Shen for some pointers anyway," Zhong Yun readily agreed.
The three of them arrived at Shen Yao's practice grounds to find her moving with graceful agility. Her long sword danced like a spirit snake, crisscrossing sword qi flashing with chilling light that struck awe into onlookers.
Every single move and stance contained formidable power and exquisite sword intent, leaving Zhong Yun and Fatty Wang dazzled and secretly amazed.
"Senior Sister Shen's swordsmanship is getting more and more refined. Give it some time and even I won't be her match anymore," Fatty Wang clicked his tongue in wonder.
Zhong Yun said nothing, his gaze locked onto Shen Yao's figure while his mind pondered another matter. He knew that given Shen Yao's personality, she would never blindly believe those rumors; yet why was she turning a blind eye to the whole affair?
"Could it be that she's also investigating this in secret?" Zhong Yun guessed.
By dusk, the three bade farewell to Shen Yao and returned to their respective quarters. Zhong Yun intentionally slowed his pace, and once Fatty Wang had walked out of sight, he turned around and headed toward the ruined temple outside the city.
As night fell, the ruined temple was plunged into silence, illuminated only by the faint glow of a few dilapidated oil lamps. Zhong Yun slipped into the temple soundlessly, finding it completely empty except for a broken statue of a deity standing lonely in the dead center.
Right at that moment, he suddenly felt a chilling aura closing in from behind. Whirling around, he saw a dark figure standing in the doorway, half of a pale face exposed in the moonlight.
"Who are you?" Zhong Yun demanded sharply, a shock running through him.
"Someone here to take your life!" The dark figure snorted coldly, pouncing forward like a ghost.
Zhong Yun had been on guard. With a flash of his body, he dodged the opponent's attack, simultaneously drawing his sword to engage in close combat.
The two traded blows, sword lights intersecting and sparking vividly. Zhong Yun realized that although the opponent's moves were vicious, their cultivation level was not high—they were likely just a minor pawn.
Therefore, he deliberately exposed a flaw to lure the opponent in. The dark figure took the bait, thrusting a palm toward Zhong Yun's chest. At that exact instant, Zhong Yun flicked his wrist, his sword tip pointing straight at the other's throat.
"Speak, who sent you?" Zhong Yun asked coldly, pressing the tip of his sword against the dark figure's throat.
A flash of panic crossed the dark figure's eyes. Before he could speak, his expression shifted drastically, black blood spilled from the corners of his mouth, and his body went limp as he collapsed to the ground, dead.
Zhong Yun's brows knitted tightly. He knew this matter wasn't so simple; this dark figure was merely a scapegoat, and the true mastermind was still hiding in the shadows.
He thoroughly searched the dead man's body, finding nothing that could prove his identity except for a black token engraved with a strange pattern.
Zhong Yun put the token away, and just as he prepared to leave, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside. Startled, he quickly hid himself.
A moment later, several dark figures flashed into the temple. The leader was tall and wore a blue-faced mask—he was none other than the man in black who had fought Zhong Yun in the ancient ruins!
"Useless trash! You couldn't even handle a small task like this!" the blue-masked man roared angrily. "Find out who killed..."