The Totem Dragon Clan possessed a secret technique that could pass a parent's bloodline to their children, thereby strengthening the children's bloodline power.
The cost, however, was death.
Due to its devastating price, this secret technique had been classified as a forbidden art by the Totem Dragon Clan — it could not be used under any but the most exceptional circumstances.
But during a later exploration of an ancient ruin, Long Muxi and Long Chengyu's mother had been afflicted with a curse.
That curse was terrifying. It did not merely ravage her features — it brought ceaseless agony with it, a pain so unbearable that living became worse than death.
The Totem Dragon Clan's clanmaster had sought out every expert he could find to help, but none could break the curse. Even the Seven Realms Sacred Palace had no answer.
Unable to endure the torment of the curse any longer, Long Muxi and Long Chengyu's mother made a decision.
She would die to be free of it.
But rather than simply dying, she wanted her death to mean something.
And so Long Muxi's mother chose to activate the Totem Dragon Clan's forbidden technique, passing her bloodline to Long Chengyu.
In the end, the Totem Dragon Clan's clanmaster gave his approval.
Long Muxi, however, only learned of this afterward.
By the time she found out, her mother had already become a cold, lifeless corpse.
Long Muxi was furious with her father for giving up on her mother.
She believed there had to be some way to break the curse afflicting her mother — her father should never have given up on her.
And Long Chengyu should never have accepted the inheritance.
In her view, her mother was not a fragile woman. Had Long Chengyu refused the inheritance, her mother most likely would not have chosen to end her own life.
But what was done was done. There was no turning back.
Grief-stricken and consumed by resentment, Long Muxi chose to leave the Totem Dragon Clan.
Her aunt, afraid that something would happen to her if she went off alone, also departed the clan.
In truth, her aunt had only wanted to protect her — she had never truly intended to sever ties with the Totem Dragon Clan.
"So when the secret technique was performed, Long Chengyu was aware of it?" Chu Feng asked.
"Our Totem Dragon Clan's secret technique, though a forbidden art, is not an evil or heretical method. When it is carried out, there is one extremely important condition — both parties must cooperate willingly. If even one party is unwilling, it cannot be completed."
"But Chengyu has suffered greatly in his own heart."
"He did not covet his mother's bloodline inheritance. He simply couldn't bear to watch his mother suffer any longer," Long Suqing explained.
Having heard all this, Chu Feng roughly understood how things had transpired.
Long Muxi wanted her mother alive. Even if there had been the slightest glimmer of hope, she believed her mother should not have been given up on.
And the path of martial cultivation was infinite. In principle, no matter how terrible a curse might be, there had to be a way to unravel it.
As for Long Chengyu, he had undoubtedly witnessed his mother's wretched condition as the curse tormented her. It was out of heartache for her that he had chosen to accept the inheritance.
In Chu Feng's eyes, if all of this was true, then comparatively speaking, Long Chengyu had actually sacrificed more.
What kind of courage must it take to face the reality that your mother died because of you?
"What does the elder hope I will do?" Chu Feng asked.
"Our entire Totem Dragon Clan hopes that Muxi can let go of her grudge and return to the clan."
"This is an opportunity. I hope you, young friend Chu Feng, can speak to Muxi and try to persuade her," Long Suqing urged.
"I will speak to her. But I will only do it once. If she is unwilling to listen, I will not press her further," Chu Feng said.
"As long as you are willing to talk to her, it will likely make a difference. I can tell that your words carry considerable weight with Muxi."
"Regardless, I am counting on you, young friend Chu Feng." With those words, Long Suqing took her leave.
The moment Long Suqing was gone, Her Majesty's voice rang out. "Are you really going to try to talk her around? It's said that even the wisest official can't settle family quarrels."
"I have a feeling that Miss Muxi still cares about Long Chengyu."
"And Long Chengyu cares deeply about his sister as well. Neither of them is wrong — the way they are now, they're only hurting each other."
"That's why I want to try," Chu Feng said.
"Very well then," Her Majesty replied.