The chilly wind hit Jianyu and Tian while they were strolling down the mountain route. For a long time, the fog swirling over its tops had obscured the monastery. There were dense woodlands on one side of the road and sheer cliffs on the other. Every step was uncannily loud in the silence, and Jianyu's boots crunched on loose ground.
Between them, the weight of the previous night's events hung heavy. Jianyu couldn't stop thinking about the dark shadows of the attackers, the enigmatic words of the dying man, and the Abbott's silent approval. However, one thing caught my attention: Tian had yet to respond to the query.
Hours passed while they strolled in silence, and the stress was becoming unbearable. The moment has come for Jianyu to make her voice heard.
"Why are they after us?" he enquired. The cold made his voice harsh. "What do you not want to say?"
Tian continued to walk, his gaze focused on the road in front of him. He hesitated for a long moment before saying, "They're not after us." "They want to find what your dad left behind."
Jianyu accelerated and moved ahead of Tian to obstruct his path. "How do you know the Black Lotus?" "What does that mean?" They want my family, but why?
Tian sighed deeply, and his shoulders slumped as though they were burdened by spoken realities. A few steps in front of him he noticed a rock protrusion. Then he said, "We'll stop here." "This is something you should watch."
The Admitted Offence of Tian
On the ledge, they made camp. The roar of a river rushing through the valley below was the only sound. Before he spoke, Tian gazed out to sea for a long moment.
"I served your father." he stated in a clear, low voice.Lin Zhiwei wasn't merely a soldier or a lord. He was the head of the Lin family and the foundation of the empire. While the Emperor was on his throne, your father was in charge of the realm.
Jianyu nodded slowly. "That much I know."
Tian's gaze darkened. "What you don't know is that the Lin family had more power than just military might." Every aspect of the empire's economics, trade, and alliances was influenced by your father. He created something excessively large.
"Too big?" Jianyu pulled a face. "He looked out for Tang."
"And making threats," Tian responded bluntly. "Well, that's what some people thought." The Emperor feared your father, but he also valued him. Others in the courtroom did the same. Your father's pledge to protect the family was courageous. However, some believed he was establishing his own kingdom.
Jianyu felt constricted. "That's why they killed him."
Tian's jaw tightened as he paused. "Your dad had strong enemies." It wasn't a random attack, but I'm not sure who organised it. It was coordinated and planned. Someone wanted the Lin family to be forgotten.
The more Jianyu became enraged, the louder his words became. "And you didn't do anything?"
Tian's expression remained the same, but his eyes had a trace of regret or shame. His voice was low as he said, "I was there." "Your dad told me to keep you and your mum safe." "I failed."
The Night of Attack
Leaning forward, Jianyu took a sharp breath. "What took place?"
Tian's hands tightened into fists and his eyes dropped to the floor. "It was a mess." There is fire everywhere. They arrived at night. They were mercenaries, military, and murderers, and they were all cooperating. They were too numerous to discard. To give us time, your mother stayed behind. Your dad told me to get you out. There was no alternative.
With trembling hands, Jianyu gripped the handle of his sword. "You left them."
Tian responded, "I did what I was told," before his voice trailed off. "Your dad gave me one job to do: get you to safety." If I had stayed, we'd both be dead.
Breathing became difficult as the words lingered in the air. Jianyu saw fragments of his parents' features, blurred by time but still displaying grief, as his thoughts raced. Despite his anger, a deeper emotion—loss—was keeping it to himself.
The Weight of the Past
"Why did you wait to tell me?" At last, Jianyu enquired in a heavy, melancholy voice.
Tian's breath came out sharply. "Because it wouldn't have made a difference to know." You were a child. Keeping you alive was my top priority, not giving you ghosts to contend with.
"Now what?"
Tian's expression was harsh but not cruel as he gazed at him. "You're not a child anymore." You must be aware of the situation. There is still someone out there who orchestrated your family's downfall. "The Black Lotus is just the start."
Jianyu's thoughts were racing, and a mixture of rage and comprehension emerged. He sprang to his feet rapidly, but his legs trembled. His voice was calm but firm as he declared, "I'm going to find them." "Those who did this." When I find them, they'll pay.
A New Beginning
Tian stood by him after that. "Going after revenge is risky."
With composure, Jianyu stated, "This isn't just about getting even." "It's about being fair." It is my family's honour.
Tian stared at him for a long time, but it was impossible to read his face. Last but not least, he stated, "The Black Lotus does more than kill people." "They demolish dynasties, customs, and ideologies. They assault to obliterate names from history, not to win battles. Until the Lin family is forgotten, they won't give up.
Jianyu's grasp tightened, causing the wood beneath his fingertips to split slightly. "Okay, I'll stop them first."
A note of emotion emerged as Tian's voice grew quieter. "I've failed before, Jianyu." Once with your father. With individuals who trusted me, long ago. "I'm not going to fail again."
The wind tugged at their cloaks as they both stood motionless. The amber glow of the waning sun illuminated the valley below. Jianyu was burdened by his name, although not in a negative way. It seemed to represent something.
His voice was low as he said, "This is my fight now."
Tian's fingers touched his shoulder. "Then we'll get ready." Because everything about you will be put to the test in the future.
Jianyu straightened up as the sun began to set and threw a shadow over the globe, his resolve becoming more and more determined. He had stopped running. He was prepared for what lay ahead.