“Teacher, my dad sent me with a message,” Yun Duo said, her ever-cheerful grin lighting up the room as if worries didn’t exist for her.


    “He’d like you to swing by the Cloud Clan—says there’s something important to discuss. I don’t know the details, though.” She peeked past Lu Qingmo, curiosity sparking. “Is Han around?”


    “Right here,” Han replied, stepping out from the pavilion. Yun Duo’s smile widened.


    “Perfect! Saves me a trip to Tai Bai Hall. Dad wants you to come too.”


    “What’s he need me for?” Han asked.


    Yun Duo shook her head, all honesty. “No clue—I’m just the errand girl.”


    “Let’s go,” Lu Qingmo said, taking the lead. Yun Duo deliberately slowed to walk beside Han, her questions tumbling out like a stream.


    “Han, did you nab that big bad guy yesterday?”


    “Caught him—two, actually, plus…”


    “Woohoo!” She let out a little cheer. “You’re amazing! Let’s see them try their nonsense now!”


    Han chuckled, hoping she’d keep that bright spirit forever.


    As they strolled through Black Cloud Town’s streets, Han sensed a shift in the air from yesterday—people hustled about, urgency in their steps. Snippets of hushed chatter floated by, all buzzing about the Black Mountain quake.


    “Lots of folks have already headed into Black Mountain…” Han murmured.


    “Don’t sweat it,” Yun Duo whispered back. “I asked Dad if we should go in like last time—he said no need.”


    Han nodded, piecing it together. This third tremor wasn’t like the second. Made sense—the first quake had just stirred chaos without much else.


    Passersby eyed the trio, clocking their Cloud Clan-bound path. “What’s Han’s group doing at the Cloud Clan now?” one muttered.


    “Think the Cloud Clan’s got inside scoop?”


    “Of course they do—they’re Mountain God descendants! Point is, they’re not spilling.”


    “Tai Bai Hall’s pretty tight with them, huh?”


    Under a barrage of stares, Han, Lu Qingmo, and Yun Duo entered the Cloud Clan estate. Yun Yuannan awaited them in the main hall. Once Han and Lu Qingmo settled in, Yun Duo scampered off.


    “I invited you here today, Chief Lu, about that matter you raised last time,” Yun Yuannan began. “You felt last night’s quake—the Mountain God ancestor woke up then too. We’ve passed your request along to them.”


    “Appreciate the effort,” Lu Qingmo said politely, but Yun Yuannan shook his head.


    “But…”


    Han’s gut tightened. Here comes the catch. Nothing good ever followed that word.


    “The ancestor can’t meet anyone right now—or rather, you can’t meet them,” Yun Yuannan said, his face shadowed with sorrow.


    “Why not?” Han blurted out.


    “The ancestor’s on the brink of falling,” Yun Yuannan explained. “Their divine path is crumbling. The residual thunder of a failed tribulation can’t be contained anymore. Their vicinity is saturated with assimilative heavenly forces—the divine domain’s shattering. Getting close is dangerous. Where they are now is a forbidden zone—no one can approach. Even us Cloud Clan folks can’t see them; we only connect through the fraying domain.”


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Han glanced at Lu Qingmo—he wasn’t up on god stuff. She sighed softly. “I get it. The Mountain God’s mastery is profound, but that forbidden assimilative zone around them? I can’t withstand it.”


    So gods near death did trigger this kind of mess. Han recalled what Lu Qingmo and Bai Tian had said after the second quake: Black Mountain was under the Mountain God’s sway. Quakes and treasure spills weren’t blessings—they signaled trouble, a loss of control over their domain. The mountain was their ascension foundation; tremors shook that core, leaking their essence as loot. Each quake worsened their state—and then looped back to hit them harder.


    “But the ancestor said they’ve always respected the Xuandu Temple Master,” Yun Yuannan added. “So, while you can’t meet them, Chief Lu, if you’re okay with it, you can tell me what you need, and we’ll relay it.”


    Lu Qingmo hadn’t spilled about the Sky-Mending Vine to the Cloud Clan before—she’d wanted to ask the Mountain God herself. Now, that was off the table.


    “I need a Sky-Mending Vine,” she said. “I wanted to ask the Mountain God if Black Mountain holds such a treasure.”


    “Sky-Mending Vine?” Yun Yuannan frowned. “Never heard of it—what’s it do?”


    No surprise there—even Lu Qingmo hadn’t known of it until the Celestial Saint Revival Liquid surfaced. She’d scoured ancient texts for her own fix and still come up empty. Rare stuff.


    “Here’s the deal…” Han jumped in, describing its traits. “We heard it might pop up in a blessed place like Black Mountain.”


    Yun Yuannan nodded, piecing it together. Anyone with a whiff of Lu Qingmo’s past could guess her angle. “I’ll pass the info into Black Mountain, but I can’t promise it’s there.”


    “I understand,” Lu Qingmo said. Blessed lands had a shot at spawning treasures like that—higher if graced by cosmic boons or spirit springs. Still, no guarantees.


    Han piped up again. “Uncle Yun, why’d you call me here?”


    “That matter’s settled,” Yun Yuannan replied. “The ancestor woke this time and promised to look out for Black Cloud Town once—give the hometown folks a boost.”


    Han’s heart leapt. Finally!


    “What’s the plan? When’s the Mountain God’s test?” he asked.


    “They didn’t specify,” Yun Yuannan said. “Timing’s end of the month—everything’ll clear up then.”


    “End of the month? Got it,” Han said, nodding. With the [Ten Thousand Lifespan Dao Fruit], he was feeling pretty solid.


    “What about the outsiders…?” He trailed off—everyone got the gist.


    Yun Yuannan sighed. “Can’t help it—some things demand compromise. But rest easy: Black Cloud’s the ancestor’s roots. They won’t abandon it—you’ll have the edge.”


    Han had figured as much.


    “Nephew, your talent’s top-notch, your strength unreal—the ancestor’s heard of you,” Yun Yuannan said. “Come month’s end, I’ll be watching you shine.”


    Han didn’t downplay it, brimming with confidence. “I won’t let the Mountain God or you down, Uncle Yun.” No point in modesty when it wasn’t called for.


    Yun Yuannan turned to Lu Qingmo. “Chief Lu, what’s Xuandu Temple’s game plan?”


    She shook her head. “I’ve been reporting Black Cloud’s goings-on to them, but no clear orders—just keep things stable. I’m in the dark on their intentions.”


    Xuandu Temple had been a ghost so far—barely there. Logic said they’d be first on the scene if they cared, but the imperial envoy and other factions had shown up while the state religion stayed MIA—except for Lu Qingmo.


    Han itched to see the world-shaking Xuandu Temple Master, a Mountains and Rivers Life List titan, in action. Would they show?


    Soon, Yun Duo popped back in, calling Han out with a quick gesture. “What’s up?” he asked.


    “That guy from Jade Capital’s at my house!” she blurted, all urgency.


    “Jade Capital guy…” Han puzzled, then laughed despite himself. “You mean Zuo Tianzheng? Can’t remember his name, huh?”


    “Where’s he at? What’s he want?”


    “In another lounge,” Yun Duo said. “No idea why he’s here—Second Uncle’s handling him.”


    “Wait, shouldn’t you tell your dad?” Han blinked.


    “Second Uncle said to clue you guys in first—tell Dad after you’re done chatting.”


    Han’s mind ticked. Sounded like the Cloud Clan wasn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for Lord Zuo. Fair enough—they were descendants of a past dynasty’s general; cozying up to the current dynasty’s lapdog wasn’t their style.


    He relayed it to Lu Qingmo and Yun Yuannan. The latter chuckled. “My brother’ll keep Zuo comfy—don’t worry about him. Nephew, if you’re bored, take a stroll with Yun Duo. The estate’s got some nice views.”


    “Yeah, Han, I’ll show you around!” Yun Duo beamed, dragging him off.


    Wandering the Cloud estate, a question hit Han. “Yun Duo, I’ve never seen your grandpa’s generation here.”


    He’d visited a few times—always younger folks or Yun Yuannan’s age, never older. Yun Yuannan was around Bai Tian’s years; his parents’ generation couldn’t all be gone.


    Yun Duo bounced along, answering cheerily. “No idea! Grandpa and them come back once a year, then poof—gone again. No clue where. I asked Dad, but he won’t spill.”


    Han suspected the elders were holed up in Black Mountain. He didn’t press her, though—family secrets weren’t his to dig into.


    Soon, another Cloud Clan member rushed up with news: Suzhen Palace folks had arrived too.


    Yun Duo scratched her head. “Why’s everyone showing up? It’s never been this busy.”


    Han grinned. “Maybe they heard your food’s killer and came to mooch.”


    She mulled it over, then nodded sagely. “You’re right—it is pretty tasty.”


    “…” Han had no comeback. Pure, adorable, and blissfully clueless.