White funeral banners hung throughout the Tang Manor these days, casting a somber atmosphere over the entire estate.

Strangely enough, although news of Second Master Tang’s death had long since reached Tang Manor, what should have been a routine funeral ceremony had become rather unusual. With Tang Linghuang’s disappearance, Tang Lianyue’s seclusion, and Old Master Tang’s illness, the simultaneous absence of the Tang family’s three pillars transformed the nature of this funeral.

“The Tang Manor is likely facing a great upheaval,” many members whispered among themselves. Yet most could only silently accept these changes, especially since beyond those three key figures, several other Tang Manor members had recently been sent by the Execution Hall on peculiar missions, never to return.

In three days, Second Master Tang’s funeral would take place.

Tang Lian lay in bed, unable to sleep, feeling that something was amiss. He got up and gently tapped the floorboards until a tile in the corner of the room rose slightly. Walking over, he lifted the tile and retrieved an iron box containing letters from Tianqi City. However, since that day when he had visited Lianyue Pavilion and mentioned the mysterious appearance of letters from Tianqi, no more had arrived. He carefully counted the letters again, confirming none were missing, before returning them.

But something still felt wrong.

Tang Lianyue showed no signs of emerging from seclusion, yet Second Master Tang’s funeral was in three days.

Tang Lian got up from his bed and rushed to Lianyue Pavilion. As he approached, he once again felt an unusual coldness. At the entrance stood Tang Tianlu and Tang Fulu. Tang Fulu smiled at him: “Young Tang Lian, why aren’t you asleep at this late hour?”

Master had gone into seclusion at Tang Manor many times before, either quietly by himself or with Tang Lian standing guard. When had he ever needed others to keep watch? Moreover, Tang Tianlu and Tang Fulu were Tang Lianyue’s elders within the Tang family hierarchy – why would they guard his seclusion? One guard might have been explainable, but two simultaneously…

“I miss Master and came to check on him,” Tang Lian replied.

“Your master is still in seclusion,” Tang Fulu responded.

“When will he emerge?” Tang Lian asked. “Second Master’s funeral procession is in three days. Will Master attend?”

Tang Fulu stroked his mustache: “That’s hard to say. Your master’s seclusion seems particularly important this time.”

“But Second Master was the person Master respected most. Master often said that without Second Master, he might have died long ago.” Tang Lian looked up at the pavilion’s nameplate.

“We cannot interfere with your master’s decision,” Tang Tianlu’s tone grew harsh. “Little Lian, it’s late. Go back to sleep.”

“It seems Master’s seclusion must truly be important to require two uncles to keep night watch,” Tang Lian bowed respectfully, then turned to leave. After a few steps, he suddenly whirled around, his sleeve flying as two bone-piercing darts shot toward Tang Tianlu and Tang Fulu.

“What are you doing!” Tang Tianlu roared, crushing the darts with a finger strike. Tang Fulu merely tilted his head to avoid them.

But Tang Lian’s aim wasn’t to wound them. He flung out a flying wheel from his sleeve, and while they were occupied with the darts, he leaped onto it, using it as a springboard to vault toward Lianyue Pavilion’s second floor. Landing on the eaves, he reached for the window, but the moment his hand touched it, he felt as though his entire arm would instantly freeze to the surface.

“Stop!” Tang Tianlu had already caught up.

“Ha!” Tang Lian shouted, channeling his inner energy to shatter the window before leaping inside.

The sight before him made his eyes widen. The entire pavilion was covered in frost, as cold as an ice cellar. As Tang Lian landed, ice crystals swirled around him. “This is…” he stuttered.

“Little Lian, you were the most outstanding disciple of your generation,” Tang Fulu entered as well, his earlier smile replaced by cold severity.

Tang Lian turned to survey the room and finally spotted a familiar figure at the far end. He quickly darted over. It was indeed Tang Lianyue, frost coating his clothes, eyebrows, and hair, frozen in the motion of drawing a sleeve arrow.

“Master!” Tang Lian called out urgently.

“He won’t wake,” Tang Fulu approached step by step. “He might as well be dead now.”

“What happened here…” Tang Lian quickly scanned the room before sudden realization struck. “Could it be the Ice Moon Silkworm!”

“Tang Lianyue taught you well – you even know of the Ice Moon Silkworm,” Tang Fulu said languidly. “Indeed, it is. Upon death, it instantly turns a ten-zhang radius into a frozen hell.”

“Why did you harm Master?” Tang Lian demanded.

Tang Tianlu leaped into the pavilion and said quietly, “We need to end this quickly. No need for explanation – just kill him.”

“Kill him?” Tang Fulu hesitated. “He’s the Commander’s favored disciple. Won’t we be blamed for killing him?”

“He’s Tang Lianyue’s disciple. If he learns we harmed his master, will he let it go?” Tang Tianlu snorted. “Tang Lianyue’s disciple shares his temperament. Kill him!”

“Very well.” Tang Fulu stretched lazily as various hidden weapons flew from his sleeves toward Tang Lian.

Tang Lian dodged swiftly and drew his fingertip blade, charging at the two men. Though praised for his talent, he was still young. His mastery of hidden weapons couldn’t compare to these Tang Manor elders, but he had Tang Lianyue’s fingertip blade technique. Within three feet, he was confident he could defeat them both.

“Slippery little devil! Don’t let him get close!” Tang Tianlu tapped his right foot to retreat five steps, then threw a locust stone.

Tang Lian reached Tang Fulu’s side, his spinning fingertip blade forcing the elder back. He then shot a sleeve arrow to intercept the locust stone. An explosion rang out as Tang Lian leaped down from the second floor.

“Don’t let him escape!” Tang Tianlu roared.