The night had passed. But the incident that occurred during the night had left all the disciples quite astonished.

  Early in the morning, a wave of terror had spread through the marketplaces of the Ming Jing Men Sect. Su Nian, Bao Fang, and Yun Zhi, as always, were walking in two rows behind their Master, Mo Yan. As they passed through the market, Mo Yan and the others overheard the conversations of the people. Strange talk was circulating everywhere. People were whispering:"Did you hear? Something has happened in the Upper Realms."

  Another man in the crowd spoke up:"Yes, I heard it too. An entire sect there is in a state of panic, and people are being killed. And I even heard that anyone who steps out at night becomes so terrified that they lose their voice for days."

  A woman spoke, looking frightened and pale:"Yes, my husband is right. It is rumored that dark forces have taken over the Upper Realms. And yes, for the past few days, something strange has been sensed in the Main Prison. The prisoners are terrified. This came to light only yesterday morning when a soldier saw something horrifying. I feel... a devil has arrived."

  Everyone heard these words, but the one who felt the most pain was Mo Yan. Because last night he had felt Yu Sui's presence, and this morning, he was hearing all this. His eyes were moist; his heart was restless. Mo Yan cast a glance upwards, where beautiful valleys and dense trees were visible, beyond which lay a world that was once his.

  Mo Yan's heart yearned to go to the Xuemo Sect, the Linyan Clan, and the Fuzi Xion Clan. How could it not? He had a family there too.

  But Mo Yan moved forward, knowing well the reason why the Ming Jing Men Sect would not allow him to go to the Upper Realms.

  Stolen story; please report.

  It wasn't just Mo Yan who was longing to go there; there was someone else too. Su Nian. Su Nian was also sad; his eyes, too, wished to see someone. He could understand this pain equally well, and he knew exactly what Mo Yan was feeling and why Mo Yan wanted to go to the Upper Realms.

  Mo Yan, along with his disciples, passed through the market and went to the Medical System Hall, located in the outer regions of the sect. It featured a vast, beautiful library, a garden, and an orchard full of peach trees.

  Mo Yan entered the Medical Hall while the disciples stood outside. As usual, today too, Su Nian, Bao Fang, and Yun Zhi joined the others in preparing medicines for the illnesses found in the kingdom. Meanwhile, Mo Yan was examining some mantras, a task entrusted to him by Shen Jichuan.

  Tao Hua Chuan Academy

  Disciples who had just returned from Butterfly Mountain were heading towards their chambers. But here too, the same silence, the same hollowness was felt. Despite the hustle and bustle, there was no joy here.

  Lady Wang Ayi and Lady Shiyan Lee finally entered the academy. Their faces had become quiet with grief, as if the memories of years past were still fresh in their hearts. And walking behind them, assisting them, came Duie. For the past few years, Duie had been running the Tao Hua Chuan Academy alongside Lady Shiyan Lee and Lady Wang Ayi. But his heart, too, was enduring a pain. His eyes were also filled with waiting and agony.He, too, understood what was happening around them. And if things continued like this, he feared what might happen next.Throughout the Ming Jing Men Sect, Xuemo Sect, Linyan Clan, and Fuzi Xion Clan, the markets were filled with the same carefree hustle and warmth as before. Everyone was happy, yet they could also feel the air thick with terror.What was coming was not just a storm of emotions, but a tragedy. A tragedy that Mo Yan, Su Nian, Duie, Lady Shiyan Lee, Lady Wang Ayi, and Master Shen Jichuan could all feel.

  For the wind had changed. And so had the hearts.