Some time passed...

  The rain had begun to subside. But then the sun shone through the rain. Walking down the corridor, Han Lao Fang looked up at the sky at the strange weather. He held a cup of tea in his hand. He glanced at his cup of tea and then headed for Han Wuang Shi's room. But as he reached the room and opened the door, there was no one there. The room was empty and desolate, like a void. His curious eyes scanned both sides, but there was nothing. He placed the cup of tea on the table inside and headed for the library to find Han Wuang Shi. His light footsteps were so faint, as if he were walking on air, but the moment he reached the library door, he heard something.

  Master Kang Jue's voice echoed inside.

  "What do you want to do about this, Master? This matter is very serious?"

  Han Lao Fang, standing outside, heard the word "serious" and peeked inside. His sharp, slanted gaze scanned the atmosphere.

  Inside, three masters stood around a table. And in front of them, right in front, stood Gu Zong.Just then, Grandfather, standing next to Master Kang Jue, said,

  "Gu Zong!! What's going on? You broke so many rules, got into fights. Is this all I taught you?"

  In response, Gu Zong's eyes lit up, his jaw tightened, his fists clenched in an iron grip.

  A jiuhuang yin zither lay majestically beside the table below. Just then, Grandmaster Gongzhang, in stark contrast to the library's atmosphere, sat down next to the jiuhuang yin zither and began to examine it closely. The Grandmaster opened the same crimson scroll, looking at the jiuhuang yin zither, and then….. his eyes caught a glimpse. Seeing the Grandmaster's narrowed eyebrows and eyes, Master Kang Jue suddenly appeared beside him and spoke, his question deeper than his voice.

  "Master, did you find out how the jiuhuang yin zither's color changed from white to red?"

  The Grandmaster paid Kang Jue's attention to what he said with as much attention as his eyes were to the jiuhuang yin zither. Then he stood up and stood directly in front of Gu Zong. His eyes were as cold as ice and burning like fire. He looked Gu Zong straight in the eye,

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  His voice carried a weight heavier than the silence of the library.

  "You've broken too many rules all at once. In the Zishi Temple, you split your own soul in two so you could escape. You stole the great ancient zither, although we know the nature of the zither; it's impossible to touch it without permission. So, while this isn't theft, it's also not right. You've broken other rules, the only punishment for which is death."

  Grandfather's eyes widened upon hearing this. Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes. He walked forward with his old steps and said in a distraught voice, "No, Master. Please don't do this. I apologize on behalf of my child. Please forgive us, but don't impose this punishment."

  Just then, Gu Zong came up to Grandfather. The Gu Zong who had stood frozen until a moment ago suddenly turned to melting ice. He grabbed Grandfather and told him not to apologize. When Grandfather saw Gu Zong's love, his eyes filled with tears even more.

  Just then, Grandmaster Gongzhang and Kang Jue, who were watching this scene, looked at each other and nodded slightly in a silent conversation. Then Master Kang Jue said,

  "The crime Gu Zong has committed is unforgivable, but...!"

  Master Kang Jue fell silent.

  At this incomplete conversation, Grandfather spoke, a glint of hope shining in his eyes.

  "But what?... Master?"

  Grandmaster Gongzhang stepped forward to answer this. He took a deep breath, his voice already confident.

  "Before we hear the rest of this 'but', answer me one question."

  He said, looking Gu Zong in the eye. Gu Zong, too, looked at the Grandmaster with a intense and curious gaze. The Grandmaster continued.

  "Explain one thing to me. The moment you split your soul essence in two with the split spell seal, your spiritual energy must have been split as well. And as far as I know, a split soul can never even approach a jiuhuang yin zither, so how did you do it?"

  Gu Zong also lowered his gaze upon hearing this. He also pondered this matter. He thought deeply, quietly, meditating. It was true that he himself had split his soul in two. Then suddenly, he realized something. He understood why he couldn't unleash his own zither. It was because his very soul was split in two.

  Gu Zong's eyes widened, his eyebrows furrowed. And then, suddenly, Grandmaster Gongzhan spoke again.

  "Gu Zong, it's impossible to touch this zither without spiritual energy. You certainly possessed some spiritual energy at that time, allowing you to achieve this."

  The moment these words reached Gu Zong's ears, his very soul was shaken. Logic and emotions swarmed in his mind. Everything began to spin before Gu Zong's eyes. His vision blurred, and in that blur, he again saw Wuang Shi's lowered eyelids, and he again felt the touch of Wuang Shi's lips on his own.

  His head began to spin so much. His ears were ringing so loudly that he couldn't hear Master and Grandpa calling out to him. His vision blurred until, finally, everything faded into darkness.