White funeral banners had been hung throughout the Tang Sect compound these past few days, casting a heavy, oppressive atmosphere over the entire estate.
Strangely enough, news of Second Master Tang's death had already reached the sect long ago. This funeral should have been nothing more than a routine ceremony. Yet with Tang Linghuang's disappearance, Tang Lingyue's seclusion, and Old Master Tang's convalescence—the simultaneous absence of the Tang Sect's three pillars—made this funeral anything but ordinary.
"The Tang Sect might be facing a major upheaval this time."
This was the whispered speculation among many sect members, though most could only silently accept these changes. After all, apart from those three key figures, several Tang Sect disciples recently sent on mysterious missions by the Head Chopping Hall had never returned.
And in three days' time, Second Master Tang's funeral would be held.
Tang Lian lay in bed, unable to sleep. Something felt off. Rising quietly, he tapped lightly on the floorboards until a corner tile protruded. Retrieving an iron box from beneath, he found it filled with letters—all from Heaven Revelation City. But ever since that day when he'd mentioned to Tang Lingyue about these inexplicable letters appearing, they'd stopped coming entirely. Counting them carefully to confirm none were missing, he replaced them.
Yet... something still wasn't right.
There remained no sign of Tang Lingyue emerging from seclusion—and in three days, Second Master Tang's funeral would commence.
Springing from bed, Tang Lian rushed straight to Lament Moon Pavilion. Approaching the pavilion, he again felt that unnatural chill in the air. At the entrance stood two guards: Tang Tianlu and Tang Fulu. The latter greeted him with his usual cheerful demeanor: "Little Tang Lian, what keeps you up so late?"
His master had entered seclusion many times before—sometimes quietly alone, other times with Tang Lian himself as guard. When had others ever been needed? Moreover, these two men were technically Tang Lingyue's elders in the sect hierarchy. Why would they stand guard? One might be understandable, but both together...
"I came to check on my master," Tang Lian replied.
"Your master remains in seclusion," Tang Fulu answered.
"When will he emerge?" Tang Lian pressed. "Second Master's funeral is in three days. Will master attend?"
Tang Fulu stroked his beard. "Hard to say. This seclusion seems particularly important."
"But Second Master was whom my master respected most. He often said without Second Master, he might have died long ago." Tang Lian gazed up at the pavilion's plaque.
"We cannot interfere with your master's decisions," Tang Tianlu interjected sharply, his tone unfriendly. "Little Lian, it's late. Return to bed."
"So important that it requires two uncles to stand night watch." After a respectful bow, Tang Lian turned to leave—then suddenly whirled back, sleeves flashing as two Bone-Penetrating Nails shot toward the guards."What are you trying to do!" Tang Tianlu roared, crushing the Bone-Penetrating Nail between his fingers with ease, while Tang Fuluo merely tilted his head slightly to evade it.
But Tang Lian's target wasn't to injure them. He swiftly flicked a flying wheel from his sleeve and, taking advantage of their distraction with the nail, leaped onto it with a single bound, propelling himself directly toward the second floor of Lament Moon Pavilion. In an instant, Tang Lian landed on the eaves outside the second floor and reached out to push open the window. Yet the moment his hand touched it, he felt as though his entire limb would freeze solid against the pane.
"Stop!" Tang Tianlu had already caught up.
"Ha!" Tang Lian bellowed, channeling True Qi through his palm to shatter the window into pieces. Without hesitation, he stepped inside Lament Moon Pavilion.
The sight before him made his eyes widen in shock. The entire pavilion was covered in frost, the temperature as frigid as an ice cellar. As Tang Lian landed and rose to his feet, ice shards swirled around him. "What is this...?" he muttered in disbelief.
"Xiao Lian, you were always the most outstanding disciple of your generation," Tang Fuluo said as he entered, his previously jovial expression now cold and stern.
Tang Lian turned to survey the room, his gaze finally landing on a familiar figure deep inside. He dashed forward in a flash. Standing there was indeed Tang Lingyue, his clothes, eyebrows, and hair all coated in frost. His movements had frozen mid-action—his hand outstretched as if to draw a Sleeve Arrow.
"Master!" Tang Lian called urgently.
"He won't wake," Tang Fuluo said, stepping closer with measured strides. "Right now, he's no different from dead."
"What happened here...?" Tang Lian scanned the room quickly before a realization struck him. "Could it be... the Icy Moon Silkworm?"
"It seems Tang Lingyue taught you quite a lot. The Icy Moon Silkworm—I didn't expect you to know of it," Tang Fuluo remarked leisurely. "Yes, it's the Icy Moon Silkworm. Upon death, it can instantly turn everything within a ten-zhang radius into a frozen hell."
"Why did you harm Master?" Tang Lian demanded.
Tang Tianlu leaped into Lament Moon Pavilion and said in a low voice, "We must finish this quickly. No need to explain too much—just kill him."
"Kill him?" Tang Fuluo hesitated. "But he's a disciple favored by the Sect Leader. Wouldn't we be punished for this?"
"He's Tang Lingyue's disciple. If he learns we killed his master, do you think he'll let it go?" Tang Tianlu scoffed. "Tang Lingyue's disciple shares his temper. Kill him!"
"Fine." Tang Fuluo stretched lazily, and a barrage of hidden weapons shot from his sleeves, all aimed at Tang Lian.
Tang Lian dodged swiftly before drawing his Fingertip Blade and charging at the two. Though he had always been praised for his prodigious talent, he was still young. His mastery of hidden weapons paled in comparison to these two Tang Sect elders. But he had the Fingertip Blade, passed down from Tang Lingyue. Within three chi, he was confident he could defeat them both.
"Little brat! Don't let him get close!" Tang Tianlu tapped his right foot lightly, retreating five steps before hurling a flying pebble.Tang Lian approached Tang Fuliu, his Fingertip Blade spinning rapidly to force him back. He then hurled a Sleeve Arrow that collided with the flying stone, triggering an explosion. With a leap, Tang Lian vaulted directly from the second floor to escape.
"Don't let him get away!" Tang Tianlu roared furiously.
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