
This is pure theory but i think the clearing shown in chapter 70 is where the annual holy ritual takes place. I feel like the author wouldn't mention that it was "more well kept than all the surrounding areas" if it wasn't important.
Since the path outside is right next to it, maybe the ritual involves the heir having to make a choice between staying with the Zhous or escaping to the outside world? I also still don't get why Xin was so freaked out when he saw that path, maybe he knew if they go outside through there the head family would get them? But that is contradicted by him & lau going out in this chapter… Idk
Also that whole thing with the phone booth is just such obvious foreshadowing that something will happen there. And did Xin and Lau actually go into the head family headquarters? The people there look shockingly normal, not cult like at all.
Idk what to think anymore man, I feel like the authors setting up something with all of these different places and they’ll be important to the main plot in the present somehow.

WHYYYY IS IT NOT COMING BACK UNTIL AUGUST GAHHHHH. Anyways major spoilers for the raws ahead:
The way the author hinted towards everything with Lian and the puzzle was insane not gonna lie (referring chapter where she was asking for a puzzle that was hard enough where you can't see the big picture until all of the pieces together). Basically in the last chapter of the raws, she puts together a puzzle made of entirely white pieces, but then pours ink on it to make the form of the tattoo on Xin's body. She's insane but I like that about her (≧∀≦)
The completed tattoo is basically the dragon with 3 heads surrounded by the 5 emblems of the collateral lines, except one of them is on fire, which is likely the 2nd collateral line which got extinguished centuries ago. It looks like the fire is also burning the dragon in the tattoo, and also part of the head family (which is symbolized with the oleander symbol in the middle of the tattoo). I guess that means that whoever wants the tattoo to be done thinks that the extinguishing of the 2nd collateral line centuries ago is what is causing the failure of the head family in the present.
I really don't know how Lau is going to handle all of this because he looks like he got his soul ripped out of him. He looks like he aged 30 years, Xin abandoning him must've done a number on him. August better come fast, I can't wait.
How the fuck did Tan survive jumping off of that tower???