Two years have passed since Xu Rong left for another empire, and many things have changed. Xu Hanyu became more aware of the resentment Xu Rong felt toward him due to rumors and constant comparisons.

  Whispers about the mark on his left arm as well, said it was a curse preventing him from cultivating. In a world where curses were seen as a misfortune, the mark made him feel like an outsider. He was the only one who couldn’t gather his wuqi among the other kids, making him feel isolated.

  The weight of expectations and taunts from the elders and his peers grew harder to bear. At the age of 11, Xu Hanyu began taking his training seriously, realizing the importance of power in his world.

  Since the incident, he was also restricted from leaving the residence, while his older sister, Xu Lian, was free to venture out whenever she wanted. Which had made Xu Hanyu long to go outside, and some rumors believed Lord Xu restricted him because the cursed mark might bring harm to others.

  But the restriction didn’t stop him. With Xu Lian covering for him, the two decided to sneak out when they found a chance, escaping with no one noticing.

  When the sun dipped low, the Xu residence was quiet. A cold wind rustled the leaves, and only a few lights flickered as most of the clan members and the elders went to sleep.

  Near the outer wall, two figures were struggling to climb back inside.

  “Sis, hurry up! You’re too heavy, I’m shaking!” Xu Hanyu whispered urgently, trying to keep his balance.

  “Tsk. Be patient! If I fall, you’ll get hurt as well!” she snapped back with a low voice.

  Gripping the top of the wall, Xu Lian wrapped her legs around it and began to lift herself before carefully moving to the other side. But before she landed down, she turned her face to Xu Hanyu.

  “Wait for me, I’ll get a ladder.”

  “Alright.”

  As soon as she landed inside, she ran off to find one. It didn’t take long before she returned and tossed it over.

  “Come quickly before we get caught—!”

  With an abrupt movement, Xu Hanyu wasted no time and climbed as fast as he could. He was almost down when a voice rang out behind Xu Lian.

  “So you’ve been sneaking out all this time, huh?”

  Both of them froze in their spot, and Xu Hanyu, who was still perched on the wall, felt his stomach drop realizing who this voice came from. With a slow turn with their head toward the source of the voice. Lord Xu was standing there with crossed arms and an upset look.

  “Father…” both of them muttered.

  …

  Inside Lord Xu’s study, Xu Lian and Xu Hanyu stood with their heads lowered, daring not to look at their father straightly. Their standing figures were visible outside the room by their shadows.

  “I told you not to leave the residence—! Especially you, Xu Lian! You’re the eldest here! Do you think it’s right to take your little brother out with you?”

  “Father… I can explain—”

  “Explain!?” His voice was sharp. “You two returned this late at night, and now you want to explain? What if something had happened to the both of you!?”

  Every word made them flinch. They know what they did was wrong, and Xu Lian was reprimanded before that he couldn’t bring his little brother out.

  “Please, Father. Punish me instead. It wasn’t Xu Hanyu’s fault—I was the one who planned this.”

  Xu Hanyu immediately spoke up. “Father—! I should be punished too! I was the one who decided to sneak out. Please don’t blame sister Xu Lian alone!” He knelt, begging.

  With a sharp exhale, Lord Xu’s anger was still visible, but after a moment, he began to speak. “Tomorrow, I will tell Elder Xu Bai to put the two of you through heavy training so wake up early.”

  Xu Hanyu swallowed.

  “U-understood…” they both answered.

  “You can go now.”

  With heavy hearts, they left the study, heading toward their rooms. Neither of them spoke, knowing that tomorrow would not be easy.

  …

  Participating in a Wuqi Demonstration, where children's gathering abilities are evaluated under the supervision of an elder from the Xu Clan. The training area was wide enough for at least thirty children, and some trees everywhere offered fresh air.

  Elder Xu Bai, the elder who had been in charge of their training, walked slowly in front of the focused children while speaking.

  “The world is filled with wonder. Use your energy to connect with boundless power. Just like a strong river, your strength will rise and take you to incredible places…” His voice echoed in the area.

  They stood focused, knees slightly bent for balance, with their arms in front of their chests and palms facing inward, concentrating on gathering their wuqi energy.

  “Take care of your mind and body with focus and care. Let the wuqi energy spark inside you, like a strong flame. Through this, uncover your genuine strengths and weaknesses…”

  Meanwhile, Xu Hanyu's brow furrowed, trying to concentrate but his efforts were futile. No spark, no surge of his wuqi. He could feel a tight knot in his chest just thinking of his situation. His heavy arms and repeated failures began his self-doubt. He clenched his teeth, feeling the load stack on his back.

  “Accept your true potential and let it radiate brilliantly.” With Elder Xu Bai’s disappointed and disdainful glance towards him, it cut through Xu Hanyu which only increased the pressure on him.

  As he observed the young master’s struggle, Elder Xu Bai thought, If it weren’t for you, Xu Rong wouldn’t have had to leave the clan, Elder Xu Bai thought. Now here you are, looking completely incapable, wasting the clan’s resources. So incapable.

  Later on, one of the kids shouted with pride, “Look, I did it!” All attention turns toward them.

  “Xu Liao passed with Xin Shi level 8!” Elder Xu Bai announced.

  “Woah! I got mine too!”

  “Xu Jie passed with Xin Shi level 8!”

  The girl beside Xu Hanyu, slightly taller than him, said, "Elder Xu Bai, I got mine as well." Her calm presence was comforting, but the joy in her eyes revealed her vibrant personality.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Xu Lian, passed with 3-star Zhong Shi!”

  “I finally achieved mine!” Another kid shouted.

  “.... passed with Xin Shi level 8!”

  Xu Hanyu couldn’t help but feel envious of watching them being able to gather their wuqi energy. On the training ground, they were mastering it fully in Xin Shi, the first stage of the wuqi realm. It was disappointing for him, knowing the fact that he was not even at that peak yet.

  I’ll never be good enough. He bitterly thought.

  Without wuqi energy, Xu Hanyu is unable to harness it, preventing him from forming a core as his meridians are blocked.

  Crestfallen, Xu Hanyu surrendered and bit his lips, looking down at his hands with a defeated look. While sullenly lost in thought, he felt a hand suddenly touch his shoulders and looked over. He turned to see his older sister, Xu Lian, in Xu Clan clothing, looking very concerned.

  “Hanyu’er," she called out, “Are you alright?”

  With a faint smile, trying to cover up the turmoil he’s feeling inside him. “I’m fine, sis. Just feeling a bit tired, no need to worry…” Yet, despite that fake facade, his sister knows him too well.

  “Alright then... why don’t you go rest for a bit?”

  ”I–” before he could speak more words, a voice interrupted from behind.

  “Aii… Xu Hanyu, still no progress at all?” Both the siblings turned around only to see Xu Liao with his little minion, Xu Jie who was glaring at Xu Hanyu with arrogance and both appeared to be the same age as Xu Hanyu.

  “Do you want something?” Xu Hanyu asked, trying to stay composed.

  “Nothing much, just checking,” Xu Liao said slowly, walking around Xu Hanyu with a condescending look. Then paused to examine him, “Still can’t gather any wuqi, huh? How disappointing. What is the feeling that you’ll always be the weakest in this family?” Then suddenly burst out laughing, including Xu Jie.

  “Ah, I also heard the curse on your left arm can contaminate… How unfortunate. Guess that’s just another thing you’re stuck with. Plus, you shouldn’t stick with Xu Lian.” he added, his voice dripping with mock sympathy.

  “You—!” Xu Lian gasped in irritation.

  At the same time, Xu Hanyu clenched his fists as anger began to surge within him. Suddenly, Xu Lian quickly moved to stand in front of him with a serious expression.

  “Leave him alone, Xu Liao. If you’re looking for trouble, deal with me first.”

  With that, Xu Liao scoffed lightly knowing he couldn’t beat her easily. “Tch. Fine, just you wait.” He motioned to Xu Jie. “Let’s go.”

  Though Xu Liao backed down, Xu Jie shot Xu Hanyu one last look full of silent menace before they turned away.

  Once they were gone, Xu Hanyu eased his fists, but a trace of annoyance stayed in his eyes.

  At the same time, Elder Xu Bai also approached them and called out, “Xu Lian and Xu Hanyu.”

  The two siblings then greeted courteously, saying, “Greetings, Elder Xu Bai.”

  “Hm, just as what your father told me, you have to get punished for the disobedience you’ve caused. As your punishment, I need you two to run laps around the training ground for the whole day. No breaks.”

  “We understood…”

  This was the punishment that they’d been waiting for. After Elder Xu Bai told them what to do, they eventually ran laps around despite the other kids training on the side. Some would laugh and look in mockery, especially Xu Hanyu who has always been the source of their mocks.

  …

  Lord Xu was tirelessly working late into the night at his clan’s armory business. The Xu Clan’s armory business was located close to the harbor five minutes away from their headquarters, as Tai Hua City was nestled between the shoreline and the mountains.

  “We have such clients from the Shan Empire, this is a good thing,” he whispered while looking at the papers.

  “In a few months, our armory revenue is expected to surpass the Huo Clan's, but I'm uncertain if this is good or bad for us.”

  When he decided to finally take a break, he leaned back in his chair and glanced at the letter he had received from last night. It was from his eldest son, Xu Rong, who had left for another empire seven years ago. He carefully reached for the letter and opened it.

  He smiled while reading the message, but at the same time, he was worrying.

  “Xu Rong is finally coming home..”

  While Lord Xu was focused on reading the remaining content of the letter, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence outside his office. Recognizing the aura, he quickly stepped out. When he did, the streets were eerily quiet at dawn, with no one around except for him.

  Looking around into his surroundings, he noticed something moving in the shadows of the buildings. “Is that you?” he whispered while looking in the direction where he sensed a strange motion.

  He then climbed up to the roof for a better view. Once he reached the rooftop, he spotted a cloaked figure that seemed suspicious.

  When the figure realized they had been seen, they took off running. Lord Xu, determined to catch them, leaped down from the roof in pursuit. The chase continued as the mysterious person darted across the rooftops, but Lord Xu anticipated their moves and blocked their path, forcing the mysterious person in a cloak to stop.

  Now facing each other on the roof, Lord Xu spoke gently, “Zhong Tian, is that you..?” The man slowly pulled back his hood, revealing his face. Lord Xu gasped in shock, realizing it was someone he knew...

  “It’s you..”

  "Long time no see, my old friend, Xu Dan."

  …

  The two of them now stood tall inside Lord Xu’s office at the armory.

  “I thought you wouldn’t come back,” Lord Xu began to speak as his eyes softened looking at him.

  Zhong Tian turned his back to him and asked, “How is he..?” as he was facing the painting on the wall.

  “He’s a healthy child, but eight years ago, the Regal Spirit appeared unexpectedly. I controlled it with the aura suppressor technique you taught me, created a barrier to hide his aura, and kept him away from leaving the residence because... I worry that it might erupt again.” Lord Xu replied.

  “I see...”

  “Do you want to see him?”

  “No, I came to give you this,” Zhong Tian said, revealing a pill inside a box.

  “This… Pacifying Spirit Pill…?! This is an eight-level quality pill–!”

  “You’re right, make sure he takes that when the time comes,” he instructed.

  “Why…?” Lord Xu asked, examining the potion closely.

  "The Regal Spirit within him is close to awakening. At his age, it's hard to control such power, and if the phenomenon occurs, enemies will notice the ‘thing’ in his body and come after him. The pill will help him conceal his aura and manage the pain."

  “What…? But isn't it too early for it to awaken?”

  “Yes, I know it’s too early. I also think something is wrong but I can sense that time is coming...”

  “...”

  “That’s all I came for. I shouldn’t stay here longer.”

  “I get it, but aren’t you going to see him?”

  “No. It’s for the best and… you’re his father.”

  “Even so, you’re his biological father. I can’t indefinitely keep the truth from him.”

  “... A father looks after his child, but I, as the one who abandoned him, don’t deserve that title. I couldn’t even protect my wife, not alone a son.”

  “You didn’t abandon him. If you had, you wouldn’t be here with this pill. Your actions show you care more than you think.”

  Hearing his words, Zhong Tian just smirked before saying, “I still have things that have to be done to revive my clan ”

  “I understand… But if you need help, I’m always here if you need one..”

  "Thank you for your offer, Xu Dan, but I can't involve you. Accepting it would jeopardize your clan, and you've already done enough to protect him." With that, Lord Xu fell silent, realizing the truth of his words.

  “I shall take my leave before the sun rises,” Zhong Tian added, moving toward the door.

  Lord Xu couldn’t shake the sorrow and regret inside him. Just as he was about to leave, he asked the last time making Zhong Tian halt, "How have you been all these years?"

  “Right as rain.”

  And that was the last line he heard from him before he left.