When Xiang Shaoyun woke up, he was at an unfamiliar location.

"You're awake?" asked a clear and sweet voice.

Xiang Shaoyun looked over and saw the seductively dressed Ji Honglei slowly walking toward him. A certain intoxicating fragrance wafted about her, one that could infatuate anyone. However, Xiang Shaoyun had strong willpower and wouldn't be bewitched so easily.

He asked indifferently, "Where is this? Are we within the Xiang Clan?"

Ji Honglei came beside him, sat down, and said, "Have you forgotten everything?"

"You guys caught me and brought me here, right?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.

The memories of what had happened were reappearing in his mind. He instantly understood what he had done, but he couldn't show it since he wouldn't know how to face the Xiang Clan people otherwise. Thus, he could only play the fool.

"Looks like you have forgotten everything," said Ji Honglei as she scanned Xiang Shaoyun. "That's good, I guess. Otherwise, I don't know how much more trouble you will create."

"Why did you people hide me here?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.

"Hehe, naturally so that I can take care of you," said Ji Honglei as a smile bloomed on her face.

"Take care of me? Are you trying to seduce me into returning to the clan? I'm not that kind of person," said Xiang Shaoyun firmly.

Ji Honglei tapped at Xiang Shaoyun's forehead and said, "Seducing you? Dream on."

"If that's not the case, I'll be taking my leave then," said Xiang Shaoyun as he got off the bed.

He was still wearing the blood-soaked robe. He could feel a deep sense of closeness between him and the robe. However, Xiang Dingtian's power had completely disappeared from it.

This robe was extremely important to him as it was something the person he loved most during his previous life had given him. It was something she had personally weaved for him. He was very sure that the person was none other than Yu Caidie's past life. They had encountered each other yet again in this life.

That was why the moment he had met her, he had decided that she would be his woman and that she could only be his woman. After stabilizing the Ziling Sect and gaining enough strength, he would take a trip to the Yu Clan and ask for her hand in marriage. Of course, he was still far from that point. He still needed to take the time to grow.

"You can leave this room, but you can't leave the clan," said Ji Honglei.

"I know," said Xiang Shaoyun with a wave of his hand.

He then strode out of the room. Ji Honglei was a widow. It wouldn't be good for her reputation to stay alone with him in a room for too long. Thus, he had to take that into consideration.

After leaving, Xiang Shaoyun found himself in a serene and elegant courtyard filled with numerous rarely seen plants. It was an incredibly beautiful courtyard. He also found that the surroundings were completely uninhabited. It seemed like he was currently at the outskirts of the Xiang Clan territory.

Ji Honglei walked out of the room and said, "What are you doing blanking out there? Are you finding yourself unable to part with me?"

She spoke with a frivolous tone, giving off a feeling that she was a woman who had gone mad from loneliness. In truth, that was the case. She hadn't been married to the Xiang Clan for long before her husband was killed. She had remained a widow for many years and had stayed loyal to her status as a widow. But when she saw Xiang Shaoyun, she found the defenses in her heart crumbling apart.

During her time as a widow in the clan, she had read the clan's history and had a deep impression of Xiang Dingtian, the ancestor shrouded in controversy. Personally, she loved ambitious and powerful men like Xiang Dingtian. She had regretted she was born in the wrong era. If she could be born in the same era as Xiang Dingtian, she would be willing to be the woman behind him.

Thus, when she had seen Xiang Shaoyun, something had started tugging at the strings of her heart. Because of that, she had volunteered to take care of Xiang Shaoyun after he had fainted. In any case, Xiang Shaoyun's identity was still unclear.

The big shots of the clan were still discussing what to do with him, so they decided to let her look after him for now. They were confident that Xiang Shaoyun wouldn't make things hard for Ji Honglei, so they had him wait until they came to a conclusion.

"Why did they make you stay here alone?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.

"I requested it. I can't be bothered to face all those men all day long," said Ji Honglei with a weary look.

"A widow living alone can easily give rise to many issues," said Xiang Shaoyun with a sigh.

"Do you look down on me as well?" asked Ji Honglei with a somewhat distressed look.

Xiang Shaoyun shook his head and said, "Who am I to look down on you? Since you're not happy where, why don't you leave?"

"You know the clan's situation. How can we leave easily? If it wasn't for you, I would probably stay here until old age without a chance of leaving," said Ji Honglei with a self-mocking laugh.

Xiang Shaoyun felt his heart ache. He wasn't feeling sad for her. Rather, he was feeling sad for the fact that this would only happen because the clan had been forced to enter seclusion. If the clan could leave seclusion, they might not be so lonely and conservative anymore.

Perhaps I really should do something to atone for my past sins, thought Xiang Shaoyun with a deep sigh.

At this time, a visitor came. The visitor was none other than Xiang Fengchen.

When his gaze landed on Xiang Shaoyun, fear covered his face. He bowed and said, "A-ancestor, you're awake."

Xiang Shaoyun did not reject the bow and nodded. "Um. Are the people from the clan asking to see me?"

"Yes, ancestor. The elders are waiting," answered Xiang Fengchen.

"Let's go," said Xiang Shaoyun with a nod.

He then followed Xiang Fengchen to the grand hall.

Meanwhile, Xiang Fengchen was stealing glances at Xiang Shaoyun as he thought, His aura seems different now?

Xiang Shaoyun did not know what Xiang Fengchen was thinking about. Even if he knew, he wouldn't care. He was Xiang Dingtian in his previous life, and that was something nobody in the clan could deny.

Soon, he arrived at the grand hall.

"Ancestor Xiang Dingtian has arrived," Xiang Fengchen announced.

Many Xiang Clan Saints were seated in the hall, including several incredibly old Saints. When their turbid eyes fell on Xiang Shaoyun, it was as though they could see right through him.

Xiang Shaoyun ignored them all. He looked toward the main seat and found it empty. Even Xiang Youjing was only seated to the right of the main seat.

Is the current patriarch absent? thought Xiang Shaoyun.