A Meeting of Three

At the heart of the Spirit Clan lay the residence of Grand Elder Ling Haonan.

The setting sun glowed bloodred. The pavilion was usually filled with the faint herbal fragrance of calming tea, but today the scent was unusually strong.

"Grand Elder." Two voices sounded almost at once, breaking the silence. Ling Yuan, chief of the Spirit Clan, stood beside his deputy, Ling Xuanmo. Though they held the two most powerful positions in the clan, both showed heartfelt respect toward the figure seated behind the small table.

In the Spirit Clan, Ling Haonan's standing equaled the chief's, and his prestige surpassed it. That was not merely because he was the clan's most senior member, but also because of the legend he had forged in his youth, steeped in blood and glory.

No one could question what Ling Haonan had done for the Spirit Clan. In his youth, he had slaughtered countless enemies of the clan with his own hands, earning a fearsome reputation. He was also the man Ling Yuan and Ling Xuanmo idolized.

But Ling Haonan had later suffered a grievous injury that proved nearly impossible to heal. It had cut short his ascent and dragged him down from his peak. Forced to stop in the prime of his life, he had watched rising talents like Ling Yuan and Ling Xuanmo make their names before slowly withdrawing from public affairs, carrying endless resentment and regrets buried deep in his heart.

That was why, when the reclusive grand elder invited them today, the chief and his deputy set aside every other matter and arrived on time. A summons from Ling Haonan represented the highest authority in the clan.

Ling Xuanmo had sharp eyes. He immediately noticed that the calming tea on the table no longer gave off any steam. It