Lían followed his mother out of the residence.
The morning sun had already risen above the village, casting a warm golden light across the rooftops and dirt paths.
His mother walked beside him at a relaxed pace.
After a few moments—
she suddenly looked toward him.
"I'll be going out for a while."
Lían glanced at her.
"Going out?"
She nodded.
"I need to take care of a few things."
Then—
she looked at him.
"Would you like to come with me?"
Lían became slightly puzzled.
He couldn't understand why she was asking.
Usually—
his mother handled these things herself.
Still—
he didn't see any reason to refuse.
"Sure."
His mother smiled.
"Alright."
The two continued walking.
As they entered the village—
people immediately noticed them.
"Good morning, Auntie Xu."
"Morning."
"You're heading out?"
"Yes."
His mother returned each greeting naturally.
Lían walked beside her.
At first—
everything seemed normal.
But—
as they continued deeper into the village—
he began hearing whispers.
Quiet voices.
Low enough that an ordinary person might not notice.
But Lían—
was a cultivator.
His senses were far sharper than before.
He heard every word.
"...That's him, isn't it?"
"The one who came out of that clam?"
"Yeah."
"I heard he disappeared for an entire year."
"Apparently, he was cultivating inside it."
Another voice whispered.
"Do you believe that?"
"Who knows?"
"There's definitely something strange about that boy."
"He was barely even a normal child before he disappeared."
"But now..."
The voice lowered.
"...No one can even tell what he is anymore."
A pause.
"Is he even still the same kid?"
"Or..."
The voice became even quieter.
"...is he still human?"
Lían continued walking.
His expression didn't change.
He pretended not to hear them.
But—
every word entered his ears clearly.
Another group stood farther away.
Their voices were quieter.
Yet—
Lían heard them as well.
"His mother must know something."
"Of course she does."
"Her son suddenly comes back inside a clam."
"How mysterious."
Someone scoffed.
"There's definitely more to it."
Lían's eyes narrowed slightly.
He continued walking.
His mother seemed unaware of the whispers.
Or perhaps—
she had simply grown accustomed to them.
More voices came from behind.
This time—
they weren't talking about him.
"...Speaking of which..."
"Yeah?"
"Did you know?"
"Know what?"
"She's still staying at the Village Head's residence."
"She's been there ever since."
A quiet laugh followed.
"So?"
"You really don't understand?"
The other voice lowered.
"She's been staying under another man's roof for so long."
"And now even her son is living there."
A pause.
Then—
someone whispered something far more vulgar.
"Who knows?"
"Maybe she already gave herself to the old man."
Lían stopped.
His entire body froze.
His eyes widened.
For several seconds—
he didn't move.
...What?
His mind went completely blank.
The surrounding voices continued.
But—
he barely heard them anymore.
What did they just say?
His crimson eyes slowly widened further.
What the hell are they talking about?
His thoughts raced.
My mother?
Village Head Wa Shi?
Give herself to him?
His fingers slowly tightened.
His expression remained frozen.
But—
inside—
a wave of anger began rising.
Those bastards...
His breathing became slightly heavier.
The spiritual energy within his body stirred unconsciously.
A faint pressure began gathering around him.
He had heard people gossiping about him before.
He could tolerate that.
People questioning his cultivation.
People doubting his story.
People spreading rumors about his master.
He didn't care.
But—
his mother was different.
She hadn't done anything.
She had simply been trying to survive.
And now—
these people were dragging her name through the mud.
Lían's eyes gradually became colder.
How dare they...
"From the moment her son suddenly disappeared..."
"She's been living there."
"Maybe there's a reason."
Another quiet laugh followed.
"Of course there's a reason."
Lían's expression darkened.
His aura nearly leaked out.
Then—
a familiar voice called from ahead.
"Lían?"
He didn't respond.
His mother stopped walking.
She turned around.
"Lían?"
Still nothing.
She looked at him carefully.
He was standing several steps behind her.
His fists were clenched.
His crimson eyes stared into the distance.
His expression—
was completely different from before.
His mother walked back toward him.
"Lían."
She gently called his name again.
This time—
he finally reacted.
His eyes shifted toward her.
His mother's brows furrowed.
"What's wrong?"
Lían stared at her.
For a moment—
he couldn't find the words.
His anger was still burning beneath the surface.
But—
he didn't want her to know what he had just heard.
Not yet.
His mother looked at him with concern.
"Why are you just standing there?"
"Did something happen?"
Lían remained silent.
His fists slowly loosened.
He took a quiet breath.
"...Nothing."
His mother clearly didn't believe him.
"Nothing?"
Lían nodded.
"I'm fine."
She continued staring at him.
Lían forced a faint smile.
"Really."
His mother hesitated.
Then—
she reached out and gently touched his shoulder.
"If something happened..."
"You can tell me."
Lían looked at her hand.
His eyes softened slightly.
"...I know."
He took another breath.
Then—
he looked back toward the villagers whispering behind them.
Lían remained silent.
His gaze lingered on them.
Their voices had already faded into the distance.
But—
their words remained inside his mind.
...It's because of me.
His fingers slowly tightened.
He looked toward his mother.
She continued walking beside him.
Her expression remained calm.
She seemed completely unaware of what had been said.
Or perhaps—
she had simply chosen not to acknowledge it.
Lían lowered his gaze.
If she hadn't stayed at the Village Head's residence...
They wouldn't be saying these things.
His expression became complicated.
It had been his decision.
He had asked his mother to remain there.
He had wanted her to be safe.
After returning to the village—
he knew there were people who would become curious about him.
People who might become greedy.
People who might try to take advantage of his mother.
That was why—
he had chosen the safest place available.
The Village Head's residence.
At the time—
he hadn't thought about anything else.
I only wanted to protect her.
But now—
he finally understood the consequences.
Because of his decision—
his mother had become the subject of rumors.
Because of him—
people were looking at her differently.
And because of him—
she was being insulted behind her back.
Lían's eyes darkened.
This is my fault.
He clenched his fists.
But—
he quickly loosened them.
There was no point in losing control.
Not here.
Not in front of his mother.
The two continued walking.
They passed several villagers.
A few smiled.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
"Good to see you out."
His mother smiled and greeted them naturally.
Lían remained beside her.
He didn't say anything.
The villagers smiled as they passed.
But—
the moment Lían and his mother turned their backs—
the whispers started again.
"I heard he came back."
"It seems it's true."
"Who knows what he actually is?"
"He could be a ghost now."
"Or maybe even a demon."
"That mysterious clam he came out of..."
"And his mother has been living at the Village Head's place all this time."
A quiet laugh followed.
"There's definitely something going on."
Lían heard every word.
His expression didn't change.
He simply kept walking.
Another group whispered farther away.
"That boy doesn't even look like the same child anymore."
"His eyes are strange."
"Who knows what happened to him during that year?"
Lían ignored them.
Then—
another voice reached his ears.
"...His mother is lucky, though."
"Lucky?"
"She has the Village Head protecting her."
A short pause.
Then—
the voice lowered.
"Or perhaps she's paying for that protection in another way."
Lían's footsteps almost stopped.
His eyes became cold.
But—
his mother suddenly spoke.
"Lían?"
He immediately looked toward her.
She was watching him.
"Are you alright?"
Lían forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
His mother studied him.
"You've been quiet."
"I'm just thinking."
"About what?"
Lían hesitated.
Then—
he shook his head.
"Nothing important."
His mother smiled faintly.
"Alright."
They continued walking.
Lían's gaze lowered.
I can't let this continue.
He didn't know what he would do yet.
But—
he couldn't allow his mother to keep carrying the consequences of his decisions.
After a while—
the two returned to the Village Head's residence.
His mother pushed open the door.
The familiar interior appeared before them.
She stepped inside.
Lían followed.
But—
after taking only a few steps—
he stopped.
His mother turned around.
"Lían?"
He looked at her.
Then—
a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"I'm going out for a while."
His mother blinked.
"Going out?"
Lían nodded.
"Yes."
"I just have something I want to take care of."
She looked at him with concern.
"What kind of thing?"
"Nothing dangerous."
Lían smiled.
"I'll be back later."
His mother continued staring at him.
She clearly wasn't completely convinced.
"Lían..."
He stepped closer.
"Don't worry."
"I won't go far."
His mother hesitated.
Then—
she nodded.
"Alright."
"But be careful."
Lían smiled.
"I will."
He turned around.
Then—
he suddenly broke into a run.
His small figure disappeared through the doorway.
His mother stared after him.
"Lían?"
But—
he was already gone.
Outside—
Lían's expression changed.
The smile disappeared.
His crimson eyes became cold.
He continued running through the village.
His footsteps gradually accelerated.
I need to think.
I can't just let my emotions control me.
He passed through the familiar streets.
But—
the whispers remained fresh inside his mind.
Maybe they're only talking because they don't know the truth.
Maybe they think they can say whatever they want because Mother won't fight back.
His eyes narrowed.
But if they continue...
He stopped.
The wind moved through his hair.
Lían looked toward the deeper part of the village.
His expression became calm.
Then I'll make them understand.