“I…I gave it to the eldest young master…” Qingluan raised her head, a hint of hesitation and struggle flashing in her eyes. “At the time, the eldest young master said he was very interested in these ancient books and wanted to study them, so I gave them to him because I was soft-hearted.”

Hongying stood quietly to the side, the words the clan leader had once spoken constantly echoing in her mind.

As members of the ancient race, guarding the secrets within the stone chamber is their inescapable responsibility; its loss would inevitably cause turmoil in the world.

At that time, she was young and ignorant, and innocently asked the clan chief why they didn't just burn the ancient books, so that they would never have to worry about the secrets being leaked again.

The clan chief sighed deeply, his gaze so profound it seemed to pierce through the long river of time, and slowly said, "My child, some secrets cannot be completely erased simply by burning them."

They are like seeds buried deep in the ground. Even if they are burned by fire, as long as their roots remain intact, they will eventually break through the soil and regain their vitality.

All we have to do is keep these secrets and patiently wait for the right person to arrive.

The clan chief probably never imagined that even if they hid in these deep mountains and forests, they would ultimately not be able to escape the fate of being wiped out.

Back then, there must have been a traitor within their clan that led to such a tragic end.

Every time she thought of this, Hongying felt an indescribable sorrow welling up in her heart, and she said in a deep voice, "Who is that person?"

The current situation in various countries is relatively stable, which should mean that the person has not yet deciphered the mysteries in the ancient books.

"He, he is..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qingluan shuddered violently, then began to convulse, spitting out blood.

Seeing this, Hongying hurriedly injected her internal energy into her body in an attempt to stabilize her disordered breathing.

However, Qingluan's condition did not improve at all; on the contrary, it became more and more serious. Her face was as pale as paper, and her eyes were full of resentment and fear.

"Qingluan! Hold on! Tell me, who is that person?" Hongying's voice was urgent.

Qingluan opened her mouth with difficulty, each word seeming to have used up all her strength: "It's...it's...from Kyoto..."

Before she could finish speaking, her pupils began to dilate, her hands fell limply to her sides, and all signs of life vanished completely at that moment.

A short while later, a dark, eerie worm slowly crawled out of Qingluan's mouth, its wriggling appearance sending chills down one's spine.

Upon witnessing this scene, Hongying almost instinctively stretched out her foot and crushed the despicable Gu worm to pieces.

With a crisp "snap," the Gu worm's body instantly exploded into countless black fragments, releasing an indescribable stench and chilling aura.

Hongying's face turned pale; the person behind Qingluan was no ordinary person! And this was still in the capital...

It's been thirty or forty years already, and the person behind this is probably not young anymore. What exactly is he plotting?

Hongying's mind was racing, and she had a bad feeling. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

Now we need to wait for Xiaoxi to come home and discuss this matter with her.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Baichuan College also hung lanterns and posted couplets at the entrance. Although most students had returned to their hometowns for the holiday, many stayed at the college.

The doorman recognized the visitor and quickly went to deliver the message.

"General Li, please. The headmaster is playing chess in the courtyard," the doorman said respectfully.

Thank you.

Inside the courtyard, several plum blossoms bloomed proudly in the cold wind, their subtle fragrance wafting in the air, complementing the lanterns hanging all around and adding a touch of elegance and warmth. He walked slowly along the bluestone path.

Upon reaching the center of the courtyard, one sees an elderly man dressed in a scholar's robe sitting upright at a stone table, holding a white chess piece in one hand and a black one in the other. His gaze is deep and focused, clearly weighing the next move in the game.

This old man is the headmaster of Baichuan Academy, a man of profound knowledge and high moral character.

"Headmaster Xu, Happy New Year!" Li Xi approached and bowed first.

Headmaster Xu looked up, a smile flashing in his eyes. He gently placed the white chess piece back into the chess box and said, "General Li, you are too kind. Please have a seat. It is truly an honor for our institute to have a guest visit us during the New Year."

After Li Xi took her seat, the headmaster gestured to the servants to serve hot tea. The fragrant tea added a touch of warmth to the winter afternoon.

"Did the general come from the palace?" The headmaster took a sip of tea, his tone slightly probing.

Li Xi nodded slightly, her gaze piercing through the rising steam of the tea. "Oh? Headmaster truly has keen insight."

He smiled and said, "No, it's just that some pink plum blossom petals are stuck to the hem of your dress. These pink plum blossoms are only found in the palace. I've seen them a few times myself, and they are indeed exceptionally beautiful, incomparable to ordinary flowers."

She glanced down at the hem of her dress and, sure enough, saw a few pink and white petals peeking out. She couldn't help but chuckle, "So that's how it is. I hadn't noticed. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Headmaster."

The headmaster waved his hand, his expression kind, "It's alright, it's alright. The general is very busy, and it's inevitable that he would overlook such details."

Li Xi put down her teacup and said calmly, "Master Xu truly lives up to his reputation as a great Confucian scholar of our time. He is not only incredibly learned, but also possesses a keen eye for discerning people's true character. His reputation is well-deserved."

Upon hearing this, Xu Shanzhang laughed heartily, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "General, you flatter me. I've merely read a few more books and experienced a bit more of the ways of the world. I have no discerning eye; I've just been a bit more cautious."

"Whether it's shrewdness or keen insight, being able to maintain a clear mind and discernment in this chaotic world is something that extraordinary people can only dream of." Li Xi's words carried a hint of probing.

He stroked his beard gently, his gaze deep. “General, you are mistaken. Everyone in this world has their own destiny and fate. All I can do is to do my best to teach, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts, leaving some light in this world.”

Li Xi nodded. "What the headmaster says is absolutely right. But there are some things I don't understand. I wonder if the headmaster could answer them for me?"

"General, please speak freely. I will answer all your questions." Headmaster Xu said calmly, while fiddling with the chess pieces.

"I wonder why Headmaster doesn't conspire with Jiang Yunchao to restore the kingdom? Or have you truly fallen in love with the life of teaching and nurturing people?" Li Xi looked at his somewhat dazed expression and then asked, "Or are you plotting to seize the world?"

Xu Shanzhang paused slightly in his hand before placing the chess piece down steadily. The situation on the chessboard changed slightly. He smiled slightly, a complex light flashing in his eyes. "The general already has the answer in his heart, so why ask again? Things in this world are often not as simple and clear as they seem on the surface."

"Although I have my doubts, I still want to hear what the headmaster has to say himself." Li Xi's gaze was fixed on Headmaster Xu's face, not wanting to miss any subtle changes in his expression.

Xu Shanzhang sighed softly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the chessboard before him, looking towards a more distant place.