After breakfast, Kanoru trained Yun Feng for a few hours until Yun Feng exhausted, decided to rest. Left alone in the training field, Kanoru glanced around before sitting under the shade of a tree.
As he rested, an idea struck him—analyzing how Yun Feng's clouds formed during their fight. He thought about the process of cloud formation and thought of cold and hot wind during the process. Wind naturally carried the temperature of the season, meaning he could manipulate its heat or cold to enhance its offensive power.
Now, with summer approaching, he could feel the warmth of the wind against his skin—perfect conditions to test his theory. He sat cross-legged, placing his sword on his lap, with a hand on either side of the blade. Closing his eyes, he focused on the wind around him, attempting to control its temperature.
He continued his practice until the sun had completely set. As the night air grew cooler, he considered switching to understanding cold wind but decided to master the manipulation of heat first.
-----
At dawn the next day, a team on horseback and a large white carriage departed from Ren County City, heading west. Many eyes followed them, curiosity and suspicion lingering in the air.
Among the onlookers stood Wen Min, accompanied by several others on the city walls, watching the group disappear into the distance. He asked, "Has anyone discovered why they are going to Evergreen Valley?"
Something felt off. The news that Yun Feng and members of the Evergreen Sect were heading there unsettled him. He had expected the remnants of the sect to return eventually to rebuild, as no force would dare claim the valley. With the sect's strong connections and its renowned achievements in pill refinement, its survival was all but guaranteed. In fact, with 70% of their members dead, the remaining ones had only become more valuable.
However, it was too soon. The survivors had yet to fully regroup—why were they moving now?
A man behind him said, "I heard the Evergreen Sect has a method to obtain clues about their attackers."
Wen Min narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"
The same man replied, "Highness, I obtained this information from a relative whose son is one of the surviving outer disciples of the Evergreen Sect."
Wen Min's expression darkened. "How is the investigation of the Nine Reverse Palace progressing?" If the Evergreen Sect remnants could uncover the truth, they would learn that the Nine Reverse Palace was responsible for slaughtering 70% of their sect.
Another man stepped forward. "We have identified all the branch stations in Ren County except the main branch."
Wen Min's voice turned cold. "The branch stations don't matter. We must locate the main branch before anyone else does. I'm giving you three days. If you fail, there will be no reason for you to remain alive."
The man bowed deeply. "I will find them within three days, Highness."
"Then go and do your job," Wen Min ordered, and the man quickly departed.
Turning to the others, Wen Min asked, "What about the attackers who poisoned Marchioness Yun Xin?"
He needed to uncover Lu Ying's identity and the force backing her. As long as he remained alive, he was a liability to Lu Ying and her faction. His survival increased the risk of Shui Xuelin and the Imperial Court discovering that Lu Ying and her people had orchestrated the attack and massacre of the Evergreen Sect.
He understood all too well—even if he erased all traces of his involvement in hiring the Nine Reverse Palace to attack the Evergreen Sect and steal the Hundred Herbs Pill, they would still kill him. The fire was already spreading—he had to act before it reached him.
Another man spoke, "The Six Gates are investigating and discovered the poison came from Poison Valley."
Wen Min frowned. "Poison Valley only sells poison; they wouldn't have attacked the Marchioness."
The man nodded. "Your Highness is right. Poison Valley responded that the poison used on Marchioness Yun Xin is usually harmless in small amounts, but someone administered a large dose, causing her to fall into a deep sleep with no way to wake up."
"Is there an antidote?" Wen Min asked.
"The Hundred Herbs Pill and the gallbladder of a Golden-Horned Snake."
Wen Min narrowed his eyes. "Golden-Horned Snake?"
"They are found in an archipelago in the Outer Western Ocean."
Wen Min nodded, then turned to leave the city wall when another man suddenly spoke. "Highness, I have a way to locate the main branch of the Nine Reverse Palace."
Wen Min stopped and turned back. "How?"
The man asked, "Highness, are you certain that the Nine Reverse Palace attacked the Evergreen Sect?"
Wen Min was sure—he had personally arranged the attack. "I am more than 50% certain."
The man smirked. "Then we should leak information that the remnants of the Evergreen Sect have a way to uncover those responsible for the death of their secret leader and the massacre of 70% of their sect members."
Hearing this, Wen Min's mind raced. The Nine Reverse Palace wouldn't sit idle—they would have to eliminate the remnants before they discovered the truth. Two outcomes were possible: either the Nine Reverse Palace would successfully wipe out the survivors, or they would fail.
But in both cases, their members would return to their main branch after the attack. All Wen Min had to do was track them to uncover the location of the main branch of the Nine Reverse Palace in Ren County.
"Go and spread the word to the Nine Reverse Palace's branches," Wen Min ordered.
The man bowed and left. Wen Min quickly descended the wall, mounted his horse, and rode toward his residence. He turned to a man in armor. "Gather your men."
The armored man nodded. "Yes, Highness," and hurried away.
--
Kanoru sat inside the carriage with Asuna, Yue, and Mika. While Asuna and Mika tried to cheer Yue up with conversation, he focused on reading a book about awakening spiritual power.
He wanted to practice the Warlock cultivation system. The first step was visualization—most forces used their spiritual objects, but he had none since he wasn't part of any sect or family. Yun Feng had offered to let him visualize their family's spiritual object, but that required a trip to their ancestral home in Shuiyun County, which would take months—time he didn't have.
That left the common method used by independent Warlocks: visualizing objects in nature. After reading the book, he concluded that any natural element could aid in awakening spiritual power. For him, wind was the ideal choice. His deep understanding of it would help him awaken his spiritual power more quickly.
Closing his eyes, he began visualizing the wind in his mind as the carriage rolled toward the Evergreen Valley.