"....Um, sir If I may ask one indiscrete question, but why do you insist on finding that pendant?" Zi Tao asked curiously. The two of them had stayed in the dark office for more than thirty minutes already and just went outside. The story this mysterious elder had told him was quite unexpected. It also happened to resolve some of the questions he and his clansmen had been trying to figure out in the last two centuries.

If what this man called Zi Muyun claimed was true, his great grandfather, who also happened to be the man who founded this village wasn't some outcast from the main clan. Rather, the man was once best friends with Zi Mubai the late clan patriarch. For some unknown reason, he decided to leave the city and settle in these mountains. Zi Tao had no idea why his grandfather and father never knew of this part of their ancestor's life, but he knew that it had to be true. After all, this man called Zi Muyun knew a bit too much concerning the late ancestor.

It wasn't common knowledge among the villagers, but the chief knew of some secrets concerning Zi Baishang. When his grandfather died, he had informed his father about some secret stash containing several cultivation techniques and skills. Those could unfortunately only be used by martial beginners, but they were considered as heirlooms and treasures father and son kept.

This man Zi Muyun didn't know about the stash but he said something which convinced Zi Tao of the veracity of his tale. Their ancestor was a martial beginner according to a record his grandfather kept. He left the village more than a hundred years ago only for god knows where. His grandfather remembered how he was saved from disaster one day he adventured too deep inside the woods. As he was about to die, their ancestor appeared out of nowhere and killed the beast who threatened him.

His grandfather never forgot what he witnessed behind Zi Baishang's back that day. The man wasn't well versed in cultivation but he recognized that transparent thing for what it was in an instant. Maybe it was some sort of cultivator's sense, but he knew that the gigantic transparent hand he saw wasn't some sort of spiritual skill or technique. It was encompassing the clearing in which they were and radiating some sort of reassuring feeling that touched strings in his soul.

Zi Tao was never sure if he could take this story seriously. If their ancestor was actually such a strong person why did he have to come and live in these remote parts? Maybe he would still struggle to become a great person back in the city but he could still secure a small yet sure position for himself back in the clan.

His doubts were unloaded however as Zi Muyun said the next few words: "Your sister seems to possess the same spirit as sir Baishang..."

So that was how they traced their way back to him he thought...Zi Tao understood. He didn't notice that the man shared confidential knowledge with him nor did he seem to care. He was too shaken to consider such matters when he made this discovery. As it turned out, this marriage was probably a blessing in disguise, or was it fated by the heavens?

No way, right? Who were they for the heavens to care about their little outer Zi Clan...He was just grateful that the man in front of him helped clear the name of his ancestor. They weren't people the clan had gotten rid of after all...

Happiness came too suddenly in these last few days for Zi Tao to digest it in one go. His children were actually genius grade talents and his ancestor was the clan's big elder godfather. What was happening?

Right about now, Zi Tao was faced with another difficulty. He had too much to process and too quickly, but Zi Muyun wanted to make things even more awkward for him. Since the moment he understood that Zi Tao was the descendant of his father's best friend, he asked him to address him more informally. After all, they were not only linked by some long lost friendship but also by marriage now.

"According to what you said, your father was the last person who was in possession of it right?" Zi Muyun yawned a little and replied his back turned to Zi Tao.

"Yes, sir..."

"Still haven't dropped the etiquette..oh dear. Let's not delve on this matter for now." Zi Muyun was frustrated but he changed the subject. "You said your father was attacked by a beast and died alongside his group of friends...perhaps..."

"Perhaps?..." Zi Tao's breath was suspended.

"You...don't you intend to seek justice for your late father?" Zi Muyun finally turned his back to look at the man behind him as he asked in a reproaching tone.