The Song Clan received an imperial decree.

“…A hearing will be held to revisit the old case of Yingzhou.”

The elder of the Song Clan slumped into his chair, dazed, as the light from the family command stone faded and fell silent.

In a hidden chamber, all the top members of the Fang family were gathered.

Such scenes had become a daily occurrence, evolving into a routine assembly.

They were like trapped beasts, without direction, unable to act.

It wasn’t due to laziness or inaction; rather, what could they do?

Their ancestor and the elders sent out that day were still missing, likely already…

“Has the ancestor truly met a tragic end?” Someone asked this question at every recent family meeting.

And every time, the elder would answer with the same impatient response, as he did this time: “The soul lamp is still lit; the ancestor must be safe.”

Whenever this was said, the conversation would abruptly stop, as if it had touched on some taboo.

Afterward, the high-ranking members of the Fang family, who were supposed to discuss plans and strategies, would fall into collective silence, staring at each other in a state of despair, their faces etched with the same look of decay and hopelessness.

Today was no different.

The only change was that the elder announced that the Celestial Bureau would hold a hearing in three days to revisit the old case and required the Fang family to attend and reaffirm the previous judgment.

This news added some conversation to today’s meeting.

“The Yingzhou case was already concluded—what more is there to discuss?” One voice grumbled in discontent.

“Reaffirm, reaffirm—aren’t all the Qin family members dead? What’s the point?”

“Do they think bringing up the case again will somehow bring those Qin family members back to life?”

After venting, they all fell silent again.

They all knew the truth.

The reality of the case was clear to them.

There was no need to reaffirm it because it couldn’t withstand scrutiny.

The truth was only thinly veiled, and it would take just a breeze to uncover it.

Back then, the Qin family couldn’t reveal the truth because, despite exhausting all their resources, they couldn’t summon that breeze.

But now, the east wind had arrived. Even the heavens seemed to be aiding them.

The elder slowly exhaled, then spoke, “At the hearing, we must firmly uphold the original verdict. As long as they can’t find solid evidence, they can’t do anything to us.”

The other high-ranking members jolted, as if they had suddenly found their strength. “Yes, as long as we stick to it… Without evidence, even if public opinion turns against us, the foundation of the Fang family can still be preserved. Once the ancestor returns—”

The elder stopped mid-sentence.

The others all turned to him simultaneously.

Regret flickered across his face; he shouldn’t have mentioned it…

In the suffocating silence that followed, someone suddenly stood up and slammed his fist onto the red sandalwood table.

“At a time like this, you’re still deceiving yourselves! The ancestor is most likely already dead… killed by Qin Ruqing, by that demonic star!”

“How dare you speak of the ancestor’s safety so carelessly!”

“The soul lamp is still lit. How can you harbor such malicious thoughts? Are you a spy sent by the Qin family, here to sow discord?”

The man with a square face, standing eight feet tall, likely a body cultivator, looked at the reactions around him and felt a surge of disappointment.

He realized the Fang family’s downfall was inevitable, so he decided to speak his mind.

“You fools are still dreaming, hoping the ancestor isn’t dead and will come back to save you? Maybe you’re even wishing that Qin Ruqing will suddenly drop dead, and that all of this is just a joke, right? Ha! Idiots, go on dreaming your fool’s dreams!”

“And what of the Song family? They’re as cunning as foxes, and this time they’re going all out to help the Qin family publicize this, making it known across all four regions. What do they stand to gain? A few spirit stones? Or do you think they’re setting themselves up for when you eventually try to settle scores with them?”

“They’re aiming to destroy the Fang family entirely! They’re currying favor with the Qin family, and even more so with Qin Ruqing, pledging loyalty in advance!”

The speaker, a burly body cultivator, had a loud voice that left the old-timers red-faced, wishing they could hide.

But he wasn’t done; clearing his throat, he continued, venting all his accumulated grievances.

“I know you’re going to bring up the ancestor’s soul lamp, but have you forgotten the golden flames that demoness wields? The Golden Mist Soulfire! The lamp remaining lit only means the ancestor has a wisp of his soul left, but do you think that wisp can return? That Soulfire isn’t for show!”

“If the Song family hadn’t witnessed the ancestor’s death firsthand, would they have gone to such lengths? Use your stubborn brains! Instead of holding out hope, think about what you’re going to say at the hearing. If all else fails, practice crying—cry before the demoness or the Celestial Bureau officers, and maybe they’ll let you off!”

The room shook as the chief elder slammed the table, his face cold as ice, glaring at the man. “Han Shan, that’s enough.”

With the elder’s rebuke, others finally found their voice and shouted in unison: “Qi Hanshan, this is a Fang family meeting, and you dare bark here? Just because you’ve been a retainer for ten, twenty years, do you think you’re one of us? Who are you to lecture us and speak ill of our ancestor? What are you?”

Qi Hanshan felt deeply disheartened.

He had served the Fang family with all his might for over a decade, considering himself part of the clan.

Yet today, he was dismissed with a casual, “What are you?”

No longer in the mood to argue, he looked around the room before speaking calmly:

“I, Qi Hanshan, have done my duties for the Fang family over the years, every deed traceable. Even if our ancestor judged me from the underworld, I would stand tall, without shame.”

“If you think I’m unworthy of being one of you, then so be it. I no longer wish to be a part of this family.”

He removed his retainer’s badge from his waist, placed it on the table, and pushed it forward before turning to leave without hesitation.

“What attitude!” someone spat after him as he left.

Another turned to the chief elder with a sinister look. “Elder, this man is no longer with us—shouldn’t we…?” He made a throat-slitting gesture.

The elder sighed deeply. “You think I don’t want to deal with him? If the ancestor were still here…” His tone shifted. “Now, the Fang family has only two Nascent Souls left—you and me. We can’t afford any more strife. Let him go. As for the hearing in three days, you will accompany me.”

“And about what to say at the hearing—keep it under wraps. The clan is already unsettled. Those who spread falsehoods and disturb the peace… kill them.”

With the elder’s order, a few were indeed executed, temporarily stabilizing the Fang family.

But everyone’s nerves were stretched taut like a bowstring, ready to snap at the slightest force—the force being the hearing.

Thanks to the Song family’s machinations (they were always involved in such matters!), news of the hearing soon spread throughout the four regions.

It sparked unprecedented interest; never had a hearing by the Celestial Bureau anywhere garnered such fervent attention.

The Eastern Region’s Celestial Bureau didn’t hide the matter; they even openly confirmed it, stating:

“Yes, we will be reopening the case of the past conflict in Yingzhou. If there were wrongs done, the innocent will be vindicated!”

..

“To vindicate the innocent—this vindication is long overdue… What took them so long?” Qi Rong scoffed.

“For the Celestial Bureau, now is the perfect time to intervene,” Tang Zifeng commented with a detached tone.

“If they had acted sooner, they would’ve been seen as tied to the Qin family too early, compromising their impartiality. Acting too late would’ve lost them public favor. But now, the timing is just right.”

Qin Ruqing was lounging in a recliner, the morning sun casting a faint glow on her, making her skin look like translucent porcelain.

The recliner swayed slightly as she smiled serenely, exuding a relaxed aura.

“Sister, what do you think?” Qi Rong leaned in.

“What can I say?” Qin Ruqing opened her eyes. “I think it’s fine. The Feng family has already done everything they could, haven’t they? They even provided the teleportation array to rescue the ancestor back then. Just for that, the Qin family will always remember their kindness.”

“But, but…” Qi Rong stuttered, struggling to articulate his feelings.

Qin Ruqing smiled gently, “You feel the Feng family is too ‘shrewd’ and ‘calculative,’ don’t you? It makes people uncomfortable, right?”

“Exactly!” Qi Rong nodded vigorously.

“Let go of that idea! Reality isn’t like those stories, not like the tales of Qin Aotian you read as a child. Why would they ever prioritize you or do things to make you comfortable?”

“Even so, it’s still a bit sad,” the voice replied, tinged with a hint of melancholy.

“I’m not sad,” Qin Ruqing responded, kicking back in her rocking chair, her tone light and carefree. “I never had any expectations from them, so any little surprise feels like a bonus.” She swayed gently in the chair, truly without a trace of gloom.

Qi Rong made a thoughtful sound, as if digesting Qin Ruqing’s words.

Meanwhile, Tang Zifeng, his dark eyes resting on Qin Ruqing’s face, wore a contemplative expression.

Never had any expectations…

Tang Zifeng wanted to say something, but before he could, a rapid series of footsteps approached from outside the courtyard.

Glancing out the window, he caught a glimpse of Lu Wei’s profile as she rushed past.

Lu Wei burst in, gripping the doorframe with one hand, her face alight with joy.

“The Ancestor—she’s awake!”

Qin Ruqing shot upright in the rocking chair.