Right after their meal, Xu Lin brought the children with him to the nearest foster home he knows which is outside the town. To get there, the four of them have to ride in a horse carriage. Of course, Xu Zhengming followed them and rides as well.
Throughout the travel, they just chatted and chatted. Random topics are tackled such as one's favorite food, favorite color, the most embarrassing moment they had, and a lot more childish topics. From a solemn atmosphere, it turns into laughter, then to excitement, and then to amusement. It's clear to see that the children feel comfortable with Xu Lin now.
It was already late at night when they arrived at their destination. The three even fell asleep in the carriage while on a long journey. Xu Lin regrets that he has to wake the children up from their sleep.
It really is a big relief that he knows someone who manages an orphanage for unfortunate children like the Yin siblings. He can feel at ease to leave them here because he knows that they won't get mistreated here.
The three little humans had their eyes heavy and yawn at times as they stand before Xu Lin that is about to leave.
"Be good to your Aunt Rong, okay?" He said and pats their heads for the last time.
Yin Wenyan steps closer towards the cultivator and wraps his arms around the other's waist. He buries his face on him and said in a muffled voice, "Thank you so much, Lin-dage. After two years, we will come to Penglai and join your sect."
"Mn. Remember to be healthy by then." He said as he strokes the child's hair.
The other two also come closer and give him a hug.
"Aww, these children are so sweet." Miss Rong was touched by the scene.
"Miss Rong, I'll be troubling you for the next two years. These children have no place to call home and my sect can't accept young aspirants below twelve years old."
"Don't worry about it, Daoist Xu. I know that your sect has such a rule. Rest assured, they're in good hands." Miss Rong replied.
"Thank you, Miss Rong." He then leans slightly to give them a hug. "Well then, I'll be going now."
Yin Wenyan, Yin Xiulan, and Yin Renhu gradually loosen their embrace to the elder brother. "Thank you so much, Lin-dage."
Out of nowhere, Xu Zhengming heard the sounds of clashing blades and fierce shouts from behind.
The moment he turns himself to see, a whole new place greets him. He turns his head again to the direction where his father and the Yin siblings are but they're no longer there.
He wanders his eyes around. He's certain that he never stepped in here before. Eunuch Xu finds himself inside of a huge gold-colored barrier with jasmine patterns on it. It's so mesmerizing to look at. Such a barrier with a huge diameter must have required a huge amount of spiritual energy to form. Speaking of which, he found the ones that keep on getting the barrier up. A group of cultivators in white recites incantations with a solemn look on their faces. Their foreheads form sweat but they never bothered themselves for it. Each of them stands in a specific position to create a formation. This barrier keeps the enemy's reinforcements outside. No matter how much they attack it with their weapons and spiritual powers from the outside, it won't just break. While the ones who keep the barrier up are very vulnerable against the opponents, another group of cultivators in white guards the formation and makes sure that no enemies from the inside can get nearer to them.
But no matter how beautiful the barrier is to look at, he can't move his gaze away from a chaotic scene underneath the said barrier. One killing one another. Spiritual powers against another spiritual power. Men in pure white robes versus men in light blue-colored robes. These cultivators are fighting everywhere; on the ground, mid-air, and even up on the roofs. He sees blood in whichever direction he looks. Even the poor white flowers of jasmines around aren't safe from being tainted with crimson red color.
Then the words of his mother came into his mind again, "Ming'er, please don't enter a cultivation sect when you grow up. The cultivation world is chaotic and dangerous."
Now he knows why she said that to her son. The world of the cultivators really is full of chaos and danger. It's either you stay alive or die.
Xu Zhengming's eyes are reflecting the flames that devour a palace. What a mess is this?! What did he just witness? Just what is happening here?
Then a loud laugh echoed.  Xu Zhengming turns his head to see the person. It's a man wearing blue robes but his clothing is different from other men who wear blue robes. From the looks of it, he seems to be superior of the blue side.
He exclaims, "Ten Thousand Jasmines? Purity? Don't make me laugh. You're all pretending to be pure when you all have dark intentions. This so-called purity of yours is just a mask to hide your hideous selves!"
A number of cultivators in white charged towards him all at once but with just a swing of his arm, he's able to create a powerful force. The strong impact from it made his opponents fly several meters away.
He laughs again and speaks in a loud voice, "Fenghuang Sect will show mercy on you if your sect leader shows himself and commit suicide in front of me to pay for his sins!"
"Sect Leader Zhao doesn't have grave wrongdoings to pay with his life!" Ming Dingxiang, the chief disciple of Wan MoliHua Palace, yells with a horse voice.
His white robes got stained with blood and his sword that he holds with both hands has a red liquid dripping on its blade. Just like the other disciples, fatigue is evident in his person and he seems as if he won't be able to hold on much longer.
The Wan MoliHua Palace at the time deployed quite a number of disciples to send aid with the ongoing matters in the upper cultivation world. Fenghuang Sect on the other hand had their forces all in so the other sect is evidently outnumbered. Thus, this puts the sect at a great disadvantage against the Fenghuang Sect's surprise attack.
The man smiles evilly, "Chief Ming, Ming Dingxiang. You've made a name across the lower cultivation world.  I see your potential. If you're willing to come and join my sect, I will spare your life."
"Sect Leader Ji, I'd rather die than betray the young master." Chief Disciple Ming answered sternly.
He snorted, "Cut the loyalty thing. It won't save you. Your sect leader, not to mention this young master of yours, won't come and save you. You may be seeing his son as your dearest friend but is it the same for him? Hmm?"
Then suddenly, a figure of a man shows himself from the blazing fire that devours the entire palace. His white robes flutter as he walks through the unbearable heat. In his right hand, he holds a sword. Its hilt is well-crafted and even has exquisite floral patterns carved on it. The QingChun blade can only belong to one person: to the young master of the Wan MoliHua Palace, Zhao Yangguang.
"I, Zhao Yangguang, am now the new sect leader of Wan MoliHua Palace." He said in a loud voice.  "Along with the rights and privilege of becoming the sect head, I also inherited the responsibility of dealing with the consequences of the previous sect leader's actions, and is willing to bear those on my shoulder."
With a fierce expression on his face, the eighteen-year-old Zhao Yangguang put his sharp blade next to his neck.
"If my death is enough to pay my father's mistakes, so be it. Sect Leader Ji, please be true to your words. Spare my colleagues' lives in exchange for the Wan MoliHua's sect head's life."
Sect Leader Ji gritted his teeth. This is not what he's expecting to happen. This is so frustrating to his side, as well as to the whole lower cultivation world. Who would have thought that the old master of the Wan MoliHua Palace will pass his title as the sect head to his only son at a critical time like this? Truly a coward! He's even willing to give up his son's life to save his. Is this even enough to pay his wrongdoings for the past decades?
"Young master!" Ming Dingxiang kicks his opponent and slashed the other's neck with his sharp sword and hurried to Zhao Yangguang's side.
However, no matter how fast he tries to run and even used all the remaining energy left in his body, he's still late... too late.
Zhao Yangguang slits his throat. Blood gushed out from his neck. Before he fell down on the cold ground, he still managed to glance the other's way and soundlessly mouthed two words.
"Thank you."
To Ming Dingxiang, it seems the time runs slower than usual. He clearly sees how the young master smiles for the last time before losing his balance while he desperately extending his hand to the dying friend.
All the memories of the past years of staying side by side flashed in his mind in just a mere second. His heart sunk. He completely failed his duty to protect the young master of the Wan MoliHua Palace, the sect leader's son, his best friend. What is he fighting for all this time? Isn't it to protect the sect? But why can't he do anything to protect their sect's successor? He can't even save a single person!
"Young master Zhao!
"Young master!"
A female disciple of the Fenghuang Sect and a young man from the Wan Moli Hua Palace call out as they make way riding their flying swords.
The young lady stops by Sect Leader Ji's side while the other sprinted to Zhao Yangguang.
"Father!" The lady disciple exclaims. "Didn't you promise me to let young master Zhao live?!"
With a long face, Sect Leader Ji looks at his daughter. "Xiang'er, it's out of my control. He killed himself. I am upset as well but what can I do?"
She glares at her father and gritted her teeth. He knows she values the young master of the Wan MoliHua Palace but he still let this happen. She angrily turns her back to her father and hurried to Zhao Yangguang's side.
"How could you do this, Wang Junjie?!" Ming Dingxiang grabs the newly arrived Wang Junjie by the shoulders. His eyes are bloodshot. "The sect leader didn't treat you poorly! The young master sees you as his friend! How could you betray us like this?!"
"You don't know everything! Ming-shixiong, I doubt you won't do the same if you are in my shoe!" Wang Junjie roared back at him. "I don't want to die him either. I really don't..."
Ming Dingxiang didn't say anything and gives him a deadly glare. His eyes swept in the direction of young lady Ji Xiang of Fenghuang Sect just right beside Wang Junjie. She's weeping silently.
The old master chooses to betray his son to save himself. Wang Junjie, the young master's personal attendant and bodyguard, plotted against Wan MoliHua Palace with Ji Xiang and used Fenghuang Sect's force to annihilate them. And Zhao Yangguang... the dead young master in his arms. He chooses to kill himself rather than fight as a dignified cultivator until the end. Or perhaps he could make things better if he only made himself clear. He could have resolved this if he thinks like he usually does.
Maybe what Sect Leader Ji said just now is true. Maybe their sect's 'purity' is just a mask to hide their hideous selves.
As if he has really gone insane, Ming Dingxiang laughed hysterically. He laughs so hard that he coughed a mouthful of blood.
"Shixiong!" Wang Junjie extends his hand for support but Ming Dingxiang slaps it away before he could even touch the chief disciple.
"Don't touch me or the young master's body." His tone is giving a warning. "You lost the right to do so."
Xu Zhengming who is speechlessly watching the sudden turn of events froze on his feet.
If Zhao Yangguang died young then, who was the Zhao Yangguang that raised the royal siblings?
All his life, Eunuch Xu never witnessed such gory scenes. He's living his carefree life peacefully as a scholar. The only reason he could remember why he runs for his life is that women are chasing after him. He never thought that this how extreme the dangers are in the cultivation world.
He closes his eyes, covers his ears, and runs away. It doesn't matter where to. He just wants to escape this chaotic scene.
Then the clashing of swords halted and a familiar voice sounded.
"Shidi..." It's Xu Zhengming's father, Xu Lin. "I came late. I couldn't apologize enough."
He slowly opens his eyes and surely sees his father. He found himself inside a small bamboo cottage. He isn't sure where this place is exactly but he's certain that this location is in the middle of the woods.
Inside the bamboo cottage, Xu Lin is facing Wang Junjie's back who is currently passing spiritual powers at Zhao Yangguang's empty shell laid down on the bed. Who knows how long was he doing that? But one thing is for sure, he's almost at his limits. Eunuch Xu can't see their facial expression because he's standing behind them but he's sure that the ones they're wearing are solemn.
Wang Junjie parted his dry lips to respond coldly, "Young master died, our colleagues are either dead or quitting the sect. Whether you came here in time or not, it doesn't matter. You won't be able to change anything even if you're there. Get lost."
Xu Lin is deeply disheartened. The number one sect of the lower cultivation world got destroyed in just one night. The young master died and the sect leader is nowhere to be found. Their martial brothers and sisters either died or left the sect for good.
He let out a deep sigh and said, "Wang-shidi, I know I am just a low-skilled cultivator and I am far inferior to you, the chief, and the young master. But I regret that I couldn't repay my huge debt towards the young master for saving my life countless times. He knows how weak I am and I am just dragging my comrades down but he never ordered me to leave the sect."
Wang Junjie who's been depressed for some time now finally lost it. He yells at the top of his lungs, "Can't you see?! He's dead already! How can you repay your debt now, huh? You can't so get lost!"
Xu Lin, "But why are you still passing spiritual energy to him?"
Like a madman, Wang Junjie grins, "I won't let him go away just like that. We still have things to settle. I'll pull him even in the depths of hell! I need him to be alive even if I have to use a dark cultivation method."
Xu Lin, "But you can't go collect his soul and put it back while passing spiritual energy to him. You can't continue like this, you'll just drain yourself and achieve nothing. Also, if you stop passing him spiritual energy for hours, his body will..."
"..."
He continues, "Shidi, listen. There's a spirit herb that can supply yang energy and renew cells. Its name is Yueguang Hua. With this herb, young master's body will be preserved, however..."
"However what?" Wang Junjie asks impatiently.
Xu Lin explains, "However it would take time for his body to repair all the dead cells. If you want to find the young master's wandering soul, you only have 40 days to do so, right? I'm afraid his body won't be ready by then."
Wang Junjie, "How long would it take for his body to recover?"
Xu Lin answers, "At least three years."
"..."
Since Wang Junjie is silent for a good while, he added, "But you can store his soul in someone else's body for the meantime."
Wang Junjie finally turns his head to him. "Is it possible to have two different souls in one body?"
"No. One will eliminate the other." Xu Lin looks at Zhao Yangguang's empty container intently. "Young master's spiritual roots are fire and earth while mine are water and metal. We have an incompatible element and surely, the young master will easily destroy mine."
"Destroy?" Xu Zhengming walks closer to them.
Wang Junjie's eyebrows knitted even more, "You'll die by then!"
"I know." Xu Lin answers calmly.
"Father, you..." Xu Zhengming whispers in the thin air.
Wang Junjie stops passing spiritual energy to the young master. The livor mortis in Zhao Yangguang's body all disappeared and it would take some time to reappear again. Tiredness is evident in Wang Junjie's face but his fierce facial expression covers it. "Shixiong, do you know what you are talking about?"
"Of course I do. If the young master did not save me long ago, many times on top of that, I won't be able to experience what it's like to have a family of my own." Still, Xu Lin remained calm.
"You have a family?" This is indeed unknown. No one in the sect knows that Xu Lin already has a family on his own. Well, no one asks and he doesn't bother to tell them.
He smiles as he nods, "Mn. I have a son. He turned seven this year."
He takes out the pendant that his wife gave him from his sleeves. "Shidi, if ever you're able to meet him in the future, please let young master give this to him." He smiles bashfully, "And can you lie to him for me? Tell him I died as a dignified cultivator. It would be lame for me to die after the last battle of Wan Moli Hua Palace."