How could a person who has been dead for nearly a thousand years set up a vast web that caused such a stable and powerful family to fall apart over the course of almost a millennium? Zhang Haike said that no one knows; they can only deduce the terrifying design of Wang Canghai from some particularly subtle events.

First of all, Wang Canghai must have discovered various traces of the Zhang family’s covert interference. Back in the day, Wang Canghai went to the Changbai Mountains in Northeast China to explore various clues about the Zhang family, but unexpectedly, he was kidnapped to renovate the royal tombs of Dongxia.

There is a particularly strange aspect to this: the Zhang family’s power, wealth, and talent are astonishing. Although I don’t know if historical figures like Zhang Yi, Zhang Liang, Zhang Jiao, and Dongfang Shuo (whose original surname is Zhang) are related to the Zhang family, nor do I know if Zhang Daoling’s founding of Taoism is connected to the Zhang family’s plans—though it seems likely given the name—why would such a family choose to live in the dry and cold Changbai Mountains?

It’s not that the region is bad, but at least compared to the prosperous Jiangnan and Yangzhou of that time, it has many issues. With various ethnic groups like the Jurchen and Goryeo mixed together and constant warfare, why did they insist on living in a place fraught with conflict and rugged mountains?

Was it for Dongxia?

Did the Zhang family know something, which is why they used all the resources they had accumulated to guard that massive bronze gate?

So, what exactly lies behind the bronze gate?

Let’s assume that there were three powers in the world at that time: one was the Dongxia people, who used the bronze gate; another was the Zhang family, who occupied and closed off the Dongxia people; and the third was Wang Canghai, who discovered the existence of the Zhang family. Wang Canghai must have been very curious about the complex relationship between the bronze gate, Dongxia civilization, and the Zhang family.

Thus, while exploring the secrets of the Dongxia people, Wang Canghai also discovered that China was under the control of a vast network.

The Zhang family must not want the secret of the bronze gate to be spread, while Wang Canghai hoped that this secret would be known by everyone.

The secret of the Zhang family.

I remember that the Silent Oil Bottle told me that the Zhang family had a huge secret that had been guarded for countless centuries. After the Zhang family’s power began to crumble, the Silent Oil Bottle hoped to replace the Zhang family’s power with the strength of the Old Nine Gates. However, it was clear that the Old Nine Gates did not truly believe him, or rather, they had declined too rapidly to fulfill their promises.

This secret must be related to the world behind the bronze gate and is buried somewhere in the ancient buildings of the Zhang family.

To this end, Wang Canghai did many things, but he soon realized that he could not cross the vast web of the Zhang family. Any information he spread would quickly disappear.

“So, the Wang family must destroy the Zhang family to achieve their goals,” I asked.

“That can’t be done through schemes,” Zhang Haike said.

“Then, the core of the struggle between the Zhang family and the Wang family is whether to reveal the hidden secret of the Zhang family, and the premise of this struggle is that the Zhang family must disintegrate. Am I understanding this correctly?” I thought aloud, “In other words, your current goal is to continue guarding that secret, because your struggle has certainly reached its final stage.”

Zhang Haike nodded and said, “The secret is about to be revealed. Our family exists to protect this secret. Just think about it: a family needs to become powerful enough to control society in order to safeguard that secret. Once it is made public, the consequences would be severe.”

“Do you know what that secret is?” I asked.

“We don’t know. We only know that this secret represents the ultimate truth of the world,” Zhang Haike replied. “After all, we are members of the Zhang family, and we must take responsibility for our family.”

I smiled wryly. A fate might be painful, but it also serves as an opportunity for many people to come together. Meaning itself has no inherent value, so living for a fate is ultimately a helpless act, but it’s better than those who have no fate and only suffer from the mundane.

I pointed at Zhang Haike’s face and said, “I believe what you’re saying, but what’s going on with your face? Why have you changed like this?”

“The dynamics among the Nine Doors are too complex. I had no idea what the purpose was without getting involved, so I had to use your face to replace those impersonating you and see why they are doing it. According to our judgment, you are the least valuable.”

“And then?” I had the same question—was it because I was relatively handsome?

“I can’t tell you unless you agree to one thing,” Zhang Haike smiled. “This answer is our bargaining chip; you need to trade something of yours for it.”

“Go on.”

“We need you to help us retrieve something from the Snow Mountain. We’ll teach you the specific methods; it will be difficult and definitely dangerous, but it’s not a life-or-death situation. This item was left there by our clan leader, and we really need it,” Zhang Haike said. “If you can successfully bring it back, we will tell you the secret.”

“Why don’t you go in yourselves?”

“We can’t get in.”

You can survive coming out of the Zhang family’s ancient building, and you call that having no ability? Of course, we won’t leave you alone. We’ll send two people to protect and take care of you.” Zhang Haike pointed to Zhang Haixing, “One is him, and the other you can choose from among us.”

I looked at the onlookers around me and asked, “Can I bring my own person?”

“You brought someone with you?”

I nodded, “I’m not a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. If you give me a few more days, we will definitely be formidable.”

“Haha!” Zhang Haixing chimed in, “It seems the person you brought is quite capable. How about this: I’ll test him. If he can pass my challenge, we’ll let him go; otherwise, there’s no need for us to send someone to their death alongside you.”

I glanced at Zhang Haixing, pondering that the chubby guy should be fine overall, but Zhang Haixing was a bit special, so I needed to tread carefully. I said, “That’s fine, but no seduction allowed.”

“He wishes!”