A short while later, in that same room...

  Mo Yan and Yu Sui sat side by side, their shoulders brushing against each other. Yu Sui was busy sketching something on a parchment laid upon the table, while Mo Yan remained in a meditative state, his face serene and captivating. After a final stroke, Yu Sui looked at the page and then at Mo Yan he had drawn a stunningly beautiful portrait of him.

  Yu Sui leaned his head gently onto Mo Yan’s shoulder. At the touch, Mo Yan slowly opened his eyes and saw the breathtaking likeness Yu Sui had created. Beneath the portrait, Yu Sui wrote a single name: "Moyu", and beside it, he sketched a tiny peach blossom. Mo Yan looked at it with a quiet, lingering smile. He then reached down, picked up the string tied to the leaf-shaped porcelain talisman, and tucked it securely into his waistband.

  Yu Sui noticed the gesture and sensed the weight of it.

  "Mo Yan... we must go now. Much awaits us."

  A few moments later, they were ready to bid farewell to the inn. They stepped out together, passing through the market and heading toward their next destination. Everything Yu Sui had shared with him the day before, Mo Yan already knew.

  He knew that Yu Sui was the one behind the disappearance of Lin Chaoyuan and Lao Duan. He had known from the very beginning. When Yu Sui had first come to visit him at the Ming Jing Men sect, Mo Yan had sent Bai Long to follow him. Though Bai Long had failed, Mo Yan himself had located the place where Lin Chaoyuan was being held. Yet, he had never interfered; he allowed Yu Sui to do what he felt he must.

  Thus, when Su Nian had informed him that the father and son had mysteriously vanished, Mo Yan had shown no reaction. It wasn't because he didn't care it was because his trust in Yu Sui was absolute and unwavering.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Three weeks later…

  They finally neared their destination: a dense forest where cool shadows reigned and the air was thick with the songs of various birds. Cutting through the thickets and pushing past the heavy vegetation, they reached a ruin. Wild vines had claimed the stone walls and pillars, making the entire structure look like a massive, overgrown tree.

  This was the very temple where Master Fung Shu Ri, Master Chui Yong, and Master Kin Lishuan had once stood. It was the place of their final meeting. It was no longer a holy hall; it had been swallowed by the forest. Its walls were crumbled, and its silence was heavy with memories.

  But there, atop a stone, lay the robes of the three Masters exactly as they had been left.

  Yu Sui and Mo Yan stood in silence, watching them. Memories flooded their minds, and their hearts grew heavy. To see the remains of their mentors was agonizing, but they knew this was not a time for grief. Yu Sui looked at Mo Yan, wiped his eyes, and stepped toward the garments.

  He picked up Master Kin Lishuan’s robes, while Mo Yan approached and touched Master Chui Yong’s attire with a gentle, reverent hand, standing in silent homage. Yu Sui searched through the folds of Master Kin Lishuan’s robes, brushing away the dust. Finally, he found what they had come for: The Mantra Seal of Queen Guzuie. It contained her final message the Su Tao Jue Seal.

  It was perfectly intact. Yu Sui secured it within his robes and signaled Mo Yan to move. Their journey continued.

  As they emerged from the forest, the sky opened up, and the light grew brighter. Before them stood the Xuemo Sect magnificent and enchanting.

  They traveled swiftly until they reached a quiet market town on the outskirts of the sect's territory. Though the area was busy, people began to stare as they passed, as if trying to recognize them. Ignoring the whispers, they entered a modest shop that Yu Sui knew well.

  Inside lived a respected elder, a wise man who had once served as the Headmaster of the Xuemo Sect Academy.

  Mo Yan and Yu Sui bowed in respect and sat before him. The elder studied them, trying to pull a name from his fading memories, but they eluded him. Sensing the gravity of the moment, Yu Sui pulled the seal from his robes and placed it on the table.

  The elder picked up the parchment and analyzed it. In an instant, his eyes widened as he recognized the handwriting of Queen Guzuie. His expression mirrored his shock. At Mo Yan’s silent nod, Yu Sui began to recount the entire truth, from the very beginning.