Would Liu Shen one day lock Shi Yi in a dark room, claiming him as her personal possession?
No one knew.
No one dared to know.
What was certain, however, was that the chaotic, fleeting thoughts swirling in Shi Yi's mind were mere distractions, not enough to disrupt his clarity.
Having broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, Shi Yi's mastery over his emotions had reached an exceptional level.
On the surface, he remained composed, delivering his response with the utmost sincerity and brevity.
"Should Teacher fall into darkness, plunging into the endless abyss, I would follow you through life and death, even if a thousand, ten thousand stood against us."
Liu Shen's question was, at its core, a free point—an easy win. Shi Yi seized the opportunity, firmly declaring his stance.
He would stand with Liu Shen, unwaveringly, no matter if she walked in light or darkness.
Truth be told, Shi Yi never considered himself noble. He was a selfish man, unashamedly so. He didn't label himself as righteous, nor did he shun darkness.
Where there was light, there was also shadow.
Who said only those bathed in light could be heroes?
Unfortunately, Liu Shen didn't respond. The seemingly easy question wasn't so simple after all. Shi Yi entered the conversation indignant and left bewildered.
At that moment, a woman in a grand red robe stumbled through the door.
Her jade-like face was etched with panic and disarray.
The instant she saw Shi Yi, her eyes lit up as if she'd found her anchor. She threw herself into his arms, clinging to him for stability.
This tear-streaked woman wasn't Yuyue Xian but Qin Yining—Shi Yi's aunt by marriage, not blood, and Shi Hao's birth mother.
"Yi'er, Hao'er's run away from home!"
Qin Yining's words struck Shi Yi like lightning. In disbelief, he said, "Run away? Why would Little Brother run away? Is someone in the Martial King's Manor stirring trouble?"
No sooner had he spoken than Shi Yi shook his head, dismissing his own suspicion.
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible. They wouldn't dare!"
Shi Yi was certain that with his support, no one in the Martial King's Manor's younger generation would dare disrespect Shi Hao or Qin Yining. At most, there might be private murmurs.
His mother, Yuyue Xian, though privately disdainful of Shi Hao and Qin Yining, would never defy Shi Yi by secretly driving Shi Hao out while he was around.
Here's the thing: Yuyue Xian's maternal love for Shi Yi bordered on obsessive, but Shi Yi wasn't the blindly obedient one.
Quite the opposite. As the mother, Yuyue Xian was the one who deferred to him, almost unconditionally compliant.
In short, she wouldn't oppose Shi Yi or act against his wishes. Even if she suffered immense grievances, she'd bear them silently, swallowing all bitterness alone.
It sounded exaggerated.
But it was the truth.
Fortunately, over the years, beyond ensuring Shi Hao and Qin Yining weren't expelled, Shi Yi had never caused Yuyue Xian any distress. He was considerate of her feelings most of the time.
Yes, he was selfish, despicable, shameless, and terrified of death. But he also cherished those close to him, valuing the family who loved him.
Forgive Shi Yi for being so humble.
For clinging to worldly bonds.
In his past life, he'd been utterly alone.
He'd never known what it felt like to be loved.
Yuyue Xian's "Yi'er" filled him with a mother's warmth, not cold, cutting words.
Shi Hao's "Gege," the little tail always trailing him, awakened his sense of responsibility as an elder brother.
All these things—familial bonds he'd heard of but never experienced.
He understood clearly.
Don't wait for loss to feel regret.
He knew well.
Once lost, regret comes too late.
"Yi'er, Hao'er's departure wasn't because of the Martial King's Manor. He left us a letter."
Qin Yining shook her head, pulling a crumpled, hastily scrawled letter from the warmth of Shi Yi's embrace.
The yellowed paper bore a few large, crooked characters: To Mother and Brother.
"Let's see what he wrote!"
Shi Yi took the letter, his gaze settling on the text.
Truthfully, the letter was riddled with errors, its handwriting a chaotic mess, with scratched-out words and revisions galore.
It took Shi Yi a good while to decipher what Shi Hao had poured into this letter.
[Shi Hao (scratched out) Hao, to Mother and Brother.]
First, I must say sorry to Gege. If I hadn't wrecked the Void God Realm's Initial Grounds passage, Gege wouldn't have been ganged up on in the Second Domain.
Maybe they're right. I'm just a calamity star, bringing disaster to my family. Many things (scratched out) wouldn't have happened if I hadn't acted recklessly.
So, I've decided to leave the Martial King's Manor and train alone in the Great Wilderness, breaking through to the Heavenly Passage Realm and cultivating ten Heavenly Passages. I hope when I return, I can make Mother and Gege proud.
Gege, I've heard the Great Wilderness is full of mountain treasures. Maybe I'll (scratched out) stumble upon one. Then I won't be a calamity star anymore.
Mother, don't worry about me. I'm strong. I may not be invin (scratched out) cible like Gege, but most Heavenly Passage Realm foes can't beat me.
The letter, sloppy and error-strewn, continued with repetitive, heartfelt words that weighed heavily on Shi Yi's heart.
He hadn't realized the rumors had wounded Shi Hao so deeply, driving an eight-year-old boy to run away from home.
Shi Yi could control the Martial King's Manor, rein in Yuyue Xian, and silence their tongues, but his reach was limited. He couldn't muzzle the world outside.
Outsiders widely believed Shi Hao was a calamity star, responsible for their elders' deaths and, within days of Shi Yi's return, dragging his brother into trouble.
Such psychological pressure.
Such vicious gossip.
For a young Shi Hao, it was far too heavy a burden.
He'd begun to doubt himself, wondering if he truly was a calamity star, doomed to bring disaster to his family.
To test this, he'd chosen to run away, hoping to take his misfortune with him.
"Yi'er, I have to find Hao'er. The Great Wilderness is so dangerous. He's only eight, still in the Blood Transformation Realm… How can he face those man-eating beasts?"
Qin Yining's voice was laced with grief, like a cuckoo weeping blood. Her essence, spirit, and vitality collapsed, and she slumped limply in Shi Yi's arms.
She'd never been a decisive woman.
After losing Shi Ziling and becoming a widow, with her only son, Shi Hao, now gone, the only man she could rely on seemed to be her nephew, Shi Yi.
That she didn't immediately set out but came to Shi Yi with the letter spoke volumes about her character.
Not that she didn't care for Shi Hao.
She simply lacked the ability to take the reign.
In the current Martial King's Manor, Shi Yi was the head of the house.
Even if she wanted to search the Great Wilderness for Shi Hao, she needed Shi Yi's approval to feel at ease.
"Aunt, don't rush off. If you disappear too, what happens if Little Brother comes back and can't find you?" Shi Yi soothed her gently.
_
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