Dawn was just breaking.
Luc Minh was still sitting before the nameless grave.
In his hand was a wooden plaque engraved with the words:
> **"Luc Minh—died at the age of four."**
A question kept echoing through his mind.
"If I died..."
"...then who is the person still alive?"
Ha Van Son approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't let what you see deceive you."
"Some truths..."
"...aren't entirely true."
## The Mysterious Scripture
They returned to the house at the foot of the mountain.
Luc Minh placed the **Maoshan Evil-Sealing Scripture** on the ancestral altar.
The moment the half-piece of purple talisman touched the book's cover.
**Whoosh...**
The scripture opened on its own.
Its pages flipped rapidly, as if controlled by an invisible hand.
At last, it stopped on a page that had been torn away nearly halfway.
Luc Minh frowned.
"All this time..."
"...this page has been missing."
But today.
Blood-red writing appeared along the torn edge of the paper.
> **"If you want to find the forbidden ground..."**
> **"...you must piece the scripture back together."**
## Half a Map
The instant the words vanished.
Golden lines appeared across the remaining paper.
It was...
A map.
But it was only half of one.
At the center of the map was a symbol shaped like a mountain peak.
Beneath it were two ancient characters:
> **"Phong Son."**
Ha Van Son looked at the map.
His expression changed immediately.
"I never thought..."
"It really exists."
To Nhuoc asked:
"What place is that?"
Ha Van Son remained silent for a long time before answering.
"It's Maoshan's forbidden ground."
"The place where the most terrifying thing is sealed."
## The Keeper of the Other Half
Luc Minh stared at the half-map.
"If we want to find the forbidden ground..."
"...we need the other half."
Ha Van Son gave a faint, bitter smile.
"The other half..."
"...is no longer at Maoshan."
"It's in the hands of the Huyen Ling Society."
The atmosphere in the room immediately grew heavy.
If that was true...
To uncover the truth.
They would have to face Truong Bach Uy.
## His Master's Letter
Suddenly.
A secret compartment beneath the ancestral altar sprang open.
Inside was an old, yellowed envelope.
The only words written on it were:
> **"To Luc Minh."**
The handwriting.
It belonged to Luc Thien Ha.
Luc Minh's hands trembled as he opened the letter.
There were only a few brief lines inside.
> "If you're reading this letter..."
> "...it means the seal has begun to weaken."
> "Don't believe what others tell you about me."
> "But also..."
> "...don't completely trust your own memories."
At the end of the letter.
There was one sentence that left Luc Minh stunned.
> **"There is another Luc Minh..."**
> **"...still waiting for you."**
## The Shadow Figure in the Temple
Night fell.
Luc Minh decided to return to the ruins of Maoshan Temple.
The place had been burned down eighteen years ago.
The moon hung silently in the sky.
Only blackened walls remained of the temple.
Weeds covered the courtyard.
When he stepped through the ruined gate.
The peachwood sword suddenly began to glow.
In the middle of the courtyard.
A figure in a Taoist robe was sweeping leaves.
He had his back to Luc Minh.
His movements were slow and unhurried.
As if the fire had never happened here.
Luc Minh spoke.
"Excuse me..."
The man stopped sweeping.
He said softly.
"You're too late."
That voice...
It was far too familiar.
Luc Minh's throat tightened.
"Mas..."
"...Master?"
The man slowly turned his head.
But the instant his face came into view.
The entire scene around them shattered like glass.
It wasn't Luc Thien Ha.
It was...
An old Taoist priest with a face covered in burn scars.
He looked at Luc Minh with pity.
"Child..."
"...you've finally returned."
## The Hidden Secret
The old Taoist priest raised his hand.
A beam of light shone onto the courtyard behind him.
The ground cracked open.
Revealing a massive stone slab.
Eight ancient characters were carved into it.
> **"Maoshan's forbidden ground."**
> **"Those who enter can never turn back."**
In the center of the stone slab.
There was a recessed groove shaped like half a map.
Ha Van Son stepped forward.
He said softly.
"Just as I thought..."
"This is the key."
At that exact moment.
A black arrow shot straight out of the forest toward Luc Minh.
**Whoosh!**
Ha Van Son immediately raised a hand to block it.
The arrow sank into his black palm.
Black blood dripped onto the stone floor.
From within the forest.
A low laugh rang out.
> "If you want to open the forbidden ground..."
> "...bring the half-map to the Huyen Ling Society."
> "Otherwise..."
> "...you will never see the person you're looking for again."
The laughter gradually faded.
Only the cold darkness remained, engulfing the temple.
Luc Minh clenched the half-map tightly.
He understood that...
The real battle with the Huyen Ling Society.
Had only officially begun.
**End of Chapter 13.**