A few hours later the events that had occurred in Yang's territory, Dong was having a meeting with another older man in a large room. The room had a large table at the centre, and many paintings and sculptures were used as decoration around the walls

The other man's hair reached the middle of his back and was black, despite him being old. He had no facial hair, and his eyes were very light green. His robes were the exact same as Dong had.

They were sitting by the table, and each of them had a mug of tea in front of them. The tea was still hot, so they didn't start drinking it.

Dong: Sect master Dsuo, thank you for coming to my call! I have urgent news to tell you regarding Yang, my former pupil.

Dsuo: What of him?

Dong: I believe after being crippled by a wrong pill, he changed.... changed beyond recognition! I believe he might have also gained some sort of power out of this accident, for he was able to beat Xiu...

Dsuo: I see. Well, if Xiu is the same pupil I believe you are talking about, then beating him wouldn't be difficult. He was always weaker than Yang.

Dong: He was weaker, that is right, but after having his cultivation crippled, how could anyone defeat someone who is a cultivator?

Dsuo: ... that is a mystery indeed.

Dong: Also! He somehow survived a conjured, but still powerful lightning hitting him.

Dsuo: I think there is still something that you didn't tell me. You seem frustrated.

Dong: You are sharp as ever sect master. I am indeed anxious... During my encounter with Yang... the way he was looking at either Xiu or me... it felt like he was not looking at me, instead, inside Xiu or me.

Dsuo: Could it be that something took over his body; recently, the number of cracks in space has increased, although most of them are very easy to deal with. The beasts which dwell inside said cracks are unknown.

Dong: I'm afraid I have to disagree. He seemed to have reason; also, the fight was provoked by Xiu, not by Yang. Yang stayed reasonable till the very end. At the last punch, I could see that Yang pulled his fist back to prevent Xiu from being killed.

Dsuo: Most interesting! I wish to meet him; I have a trial for him. If he succeeds, I will have him be a disciple in our sect and a core disciple.

Dong: But that is too much of a reward for him. I know he had suffered for our incompetence, but some strive to be a core disciple for decades.

Dsuo: I have a reason to believe that he had unlocked something most unusual within him.

Dong: I understand sect master. Since Xiu and Yang had a bet before their match, and Xiu lost, we must deliver Yang's prize.

Dsuo: What is it that Xiu put up in the bet as a prize?

Dong: His books...

Dsuo: Most engaging! Go and prepare the books; we will depart to meet him within the hour.

Sect master Dsuo started walking away with a broad smile on his face, and he left the room. Dong was left in the room alone; he waited a few minutes after the sect master left, then he took a very deep breath.

Dong: The last time I saw sect master Dsuo with such a smile, or even saw him being happy, was when his grandson was born about a decade ago.

Dong looked at the table and downed all of his team.

Dong: Yang must be very interesting if sect master left without finishing his favourite type of tea. Anyways, I should get ready as well.

Dong stood up and walked to the tea of Dsuo and drank that as well, preventing it from going to waste; then, he left the room.