Chapter 7

“This scar was left from a fierce battle with thieves from various powerful families, back when I tried to protect the ancestral tablets of the Yuewan Hall.” Lord Han’s voice was hoarse. His gaze wandered into the distance, as if he were reliving those events once again. “Those days, various families coveted the Yin-Yang techniques and Yin-Yang beads belonging to the Mu family. They conspired together and sent many skilled thieves to steal them. To protect those ancestral tablets, I had my hand tendons severed by the thieves. I risked my life to drive them away.”

Ethan Moore stared at the scar in shock. He never imagined that the old man had such a past, nor did he realize that the Moore family was burdened by such a crisis.

“In this wooden box was once the Yin-Yang Pearl,” said Master Han, placing the note back into the box. His voice was solemn. “The Yin-Yang Pearl is the family heirloom of the Muir clan, and it’s also the core of the Yin-Yang art. Without it, the power of the Yin-Yang art cannot be fully utilized. Back then, your grandfather, Han Jue, had to hide the Yin-Yang Pearl in order to protect the Muir clan. But in the end, it was stolen by the Harrison clan, who made it their own family heirloom.”

Ethan Moore suddenly understood. No wonder that woman with long hair had said that the Yin-Yang Pearl originally belonged to the Moore family. No wonder he could easily harness its power. It turned out that he was a direct descendant of the Moore family, with a bloodline connected to the Yin-Yang Pearl.

“Old man, I have one more question.” Ethan Moore took a deep breath and mustered his courage to ask, “Since I was a child, my family has forbidden me from learning about the Moore family’s history. All I know is that the Moore family is a family of mystics. But I have no idea what the origins of the Moore family really are. What kind of family is the Moore family, exactly?”

Master Han remained silent for a long time, his gaze complex. Finally, he spoke slowly, “Our Muur family is an ancient and mysterious lineage, tracing its roots back to the Han clan of ancient times. Our branch is the direct descendants of the Han clan. The Han clan was born with extraordinary aptitudes for cultivation. They excelled in the arts of yin and yang, as well as various secret techniques. In ancient times, they were the most powerful family of secret practitioners.”

“It is precisely because of the Mur family’s strength that it has attracted the envy and greed of other powerful families. Years of conflict have led to the gradual decline of the Mur family. By the time of your grandfather, the Mur family was already severely weakened. In order to preserve the family line and pass on the family’s secrets, your grandfather had no choice but to retire from the world of conflict and live in seclusion in these mountains.”

Ethan Moore was shocked by what he heard. He never imagined that the Moore family had such a glorious yet tragic history. No wonder the old man always forbade him from learning about the family’s history. No wonder, when he went out into the world, the old man repeatedly warned him not to reveal his identity—that was because the old man feared that revealing his identity might bring disaster upon him and cause the Moore family to fall back into conflict.

“Our Muur family also possesses a mysterious ancient technique. This technique complements the arts of Yin and Yang and the Yin-Yang Pearl. When combined, their power is immense—enough to overturn the heavens and reverse time and space.” Master Han handed the wooden box back to Ethan Muur, his tone serious. “This ancient technique has been passed down through generations within our Muur family. Unfortunately, when the Yin-Yang Pearl was stolen, this technique became incomplete. No one has been able to master it since then.”

He looked at Ethan Moore, a hint of relief in his eyes. “Who would have thought that, after all these twists and turns, the Yin-Yang Pearl would end up back in the Moore family, back in your hands. Perhaps this is fate. If the Harrison family finds out that their treasured family heirloom has returned to the Moore family, they’ll be furious.”

Ethan Moore took the wooden box, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He finally understood that what weighed upon him wasn’t just the Moore family’s secrets, but also the family’s heritage and hopes. “Old man, rest assured. I will train hard in the arts of Yin and Yang, as well as the Moore family’s secrets. I’ll protect the Moore family and retrieve everything that belongs to them.”

Hall Master Han nodded, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. “Good, good boy. It wasn’t in vain that I raised you. But remember, though the Yin-Yang Pearl and Yin-Yang magic are powerful, they’re also extremely dangerous. Especially before you turn twenty-five, you must never use their full power recklessly. You must also avoid losing your virginity. Otherwise, not only will your cultivation skills backfire, but it will also bring about even greater disasters.”

“Moreover, aside from the Muer family, most of the other noble families also possess their own ancient techniques. They have always been secretly coveting the Yin-Yang techniques and the Yin-Yang beads of the Muer family. You must be very careful in your actions in the future, and never act recklessly.”

“I’ve remembered, old man.” Ethan Moore nodded solemnly.

Han Tangjun turned around and walked towards the door. His voice was low: “Today is your elder brother’s memorial day. I will go and burn incense for him.”

Ethan Moore was taken aback and quickly asked, “Old man, isn’t my elder brother’s memorial tablet in the Moonlit Hall? I checked around just now, and I only saw my second brother’s memorial tablet. There was none for my elder brother.”

Lord Han’s steps paused for a moment. His back appeared especially desolate. He shook his head, sighed, didn’t respond, and simply left Yuewan Hall.

Ethan Moore’s doubts grew even deeper. His elder brother was the legitimate heir of the Moore family. He was talented and gentle by nature, and was deeply loved by the patriarch and everyone in the family. When he died, everyone said that he had broken the Moore family’s taboos by indulging in lust for women, and thus met his death at a woman’s hands.

But Ethan Moore never believed it. His elder brother was humble and steady in his actions. How could he have broken his vows so easily? Moreover, when his brother died, Ethan had secretly seen his body. His face was pale, his eyes vacant and unfocused. It certainly didn’t seem like the result of some kind of magical backlash. Ethan wanted to use magic to bring his brother’s soul back so he could find out the truth. But the old man strictly forbade him from doing so. This matter remained a persistent obsession in Ethan’s mind.

“The old man actually wants to go somewhere else to offer prayers at my elder brother’s grave. Where exactly is my brother’s tomb?” Driven by curiosity, Ethan Moore followed him quietly. He wanted to find out what secrets lay hidden behind his brother’s death.

Master Han walked around the back of the mountain and arrived at a hidden cave. The cave was overgrown with weeds, making it extremely hard to find. If it weren’t for Ethan Moore following closely behind, it would have been impossible to locate this place. Master Han entered the cave, while Ethan Moore hid quietly at the entrance, peeking inside.

Inside the cave, there was a simple grave. There were no inscriptions on the tombstone. Master Han knelt in front of it, hands clasped together. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he said, with a choked voice, “Boss, Dad has come to see you. All these years, I’ve let you down…”

Ethan Moore watched this scene with a heavy heart. He became even more convinced that his elder brother’s death was nothing simple. The old man’s reaction was far too unusual. If his brother really died because of breaking the rules, the old man shouldn’t feel such guilt, nor should he hide his brother’s grave in such a secluded place.

After kneeling in worship, Master Han stood up, wiped away his tears, and turned to walk towards the exit of the cave. Ethan Moore quickly hid in the bushes nearby. Watching the old man’s figure, he stealthily followed behind him.

Before they knew it, the two of them had arrived in a dense forest. In the center of the forest stood a giant rock about ten zhang tall. Beneath the rock was a deep pit, and beside the pit, a small stream flowed gently.

Master Han stood in front of the boulder, gazing down into the pit. Ethan Moore followed his line of sight and saw that in the center of the pit stood a wooden table. Beside the table were several thick wooden branches. On the table lay various offerings—things that his elder brother had loved to eat during his lifetime.

Han Tangzhu looked at the offerings on the table, and tears once again streamed down his face. He murmured to himself, “Boss, Father knows that your death was unjust. Father will definitely uncover the truth and restore your innocence…”

Ethan Moore hid behind the tree, deeply shocked. It seems that my elder brother really died unjustly! Why did the old man know the truth, but still keep it from me? What on earth is going on?

Just as he was lost in thought, Master Han suddenly turned around and walked away into the distance, his figure gradually disappearing into the depths of the woods. Ethan Moore quickly got up and went over to the pit, intending to take a closer look. But then, he noticed a black cat lying in the bushes beside the pit.

The black cat was completely pitch-black in color, with messy fur. Its breath was weak, and a trickle of black blood flowed from the corners of its mouth. Its eyes were half-closed, suggesting that it was on the verge of death. Even more eerie was the faintly sinister aura surrounding the cat’s body, along with a strange red glow in its eyes.

Ethan Moore felt a chill in his heart. He crouched down and examined the cat carefully. This black cat was definitely no ordinary cat. The dark energy surrounding it didn’t seem like ordinary evil energy at all. Instead, it resembled the dark energy used by the Harrison family in creating the Mirror Demons.

Could it be that this black cat is somehow connected to my brother’s death? And also related to the Harrison family’s schemes?

Ethan Moore carefully picked up the black cat, his mind filled with confusion. His elder brother’s injustice, the Harrison family’s schemes, the secrets of the Moore family, the mysteries of the Yin-Yang Pearl… Countless puzzles intertwined, making him realize that the conflict surrounding the Moore family was far more dangerous than he had imagined. He had to grow stronger quickly if he wanted to uncover the truth, protect the Moore family, and avenge his elder brother.