The news of Anji's disappearance hit everyone worse than the bombardment attack on the Red Palace. Against all odds, Elder Shen managed to contact Yan Ping with news just as she arrived at Chang'an to meet with Liu Guiya. It was a devastating night for everyone.
After emergency treatment and handing over Pu Jianming's final research notes, Yan Ping isolated herself in the Imperial Ancestral Hall, with only Zhao Yihao permitted to enter. Not even the Emperor dared question the living sage.
Two weeks passed just like that with no news about Anji. Hong Nian Niang stepped up with her investigative efforts in Luoyang, but even the lead Mingshen found seemed to have vanished, as if they never existed in the first place. Nobody knew what happened at the Crystal Lake Town as it was reduced to ash overnight. Yet, one thing remained certain. A huge wave of disaster was looming.
