Yu Chen paced back and forth in his dimly lit residence, his thoughts a chaotic storm. The evening air was thick with the scent of incense, but he barely registered the familiar fragrance. His robes, once neatly draped, now hung in disarray as his hands ran through his disheveled hair for what felt like the hundredth time.
It had been a few hours since Wei Yu had left him with that unreasonable request. "Please, Shixiong, become my shizun." Wei Yu's words echoed in his mind, and Yu Chen's heart sank with a mix of confusion, reluctance, and guilt.
Wei Yu, a young cultivator with extraordinary talent, had asked for Yu Chen to take him on as a disciple—but Yu Chen knew he was not the right teacher for him. Despite his own cultivation, Yu Chen was far from being a towering figure in the sect. His abilities, while respectable, paled in comparison to others, and he feared he would only hinder the prodigious potential of someone like Wei Yu. The thought of holding him back... it gnawed at Yu Chen's insides.
But Wei Yu was determined, and that determination burned through Yu Chen's hesitations like an unstoppable force. The young man wouldn't give up, not when he had set his mind to something.
"I wish he could find someone else…" Yu Chen murmured to himself, frustrated by the circumstances. "Someone more capable, someone better suited. But if I turn him away, he might... might hate me…"
A soft knock interrupted his spiraling thoughts. Yu Chen paused mid-step, his gaze snapping to the door.
"Shixiong, may I enter?" The voice was soft but clear—familiar. It was Hua Rong.
Yu Chen froze for a moment, his heart doing an odd little flip. He quickly wiped away any trace of his inner turmoil, trying to compose himself before opening the door.
"Rong Shimei," Yu Chen said, his tone slightly strained, but he quickly plastered on a sheepish smile as he opened the door. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect you. I... was caught up with some things."
Hua Rong stood before him, her figure delicate and graceful, exuding a quiet elegance. In her hands, she held a basket of fresh fruits, their vibrant colors contrasting with the muted tones of the room. She carefully set the basket on a nearby table, her movements almost serene, and then lifted her gaze to meet his. There was something unreadable in her eyes.
"Is something wrong, Shixiong?" Hua Rong asked gently, her voice a soothing balm that belied the sharpness of the question. She noticed the distracted, unsettled look in his eyes, the tension that lingered in his posture. Something was clearly weighing on him.
Yu Chen hesitated, then gave a soft sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as if he'd been carrying a great weight for too long. His voice, when it came, was barely above a whisper. "Wei Shidi… asked me to be his shizun."
A flicker of recognition passed across Hua Rong's face, but she quickly masked it, her expression remaining composed. "Wei Shidi?" she repeated, feigning ignorance. "Oh, that kid... what about him?"
Yu Chen looked down at the floor, trying to collect his thoughts. "He's very talented. In fact, his potential is... enormous. But I'm not sure I can teach him what he needs. I'm not strong enough, Rong Shimei. I don't want to hold him back. I don't want to be the one who limits his growth."
His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, his self-doubt clear in the way he struggled to find the right words. He could already feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him. If he said no, would Wei Yu resent him? Would their relationship be ruined before it even began? He didn't know, but he feared it.
Hua Rong studied him carefully. Beneath her composed demeanor, there was a sharpness in her eyes—something calculating, even. She said nothing at first, allowing the silence to linger, letting Yu Chen stew in his own uncertainty. After a long pause, she stepped closer, her hand gently resting on his arm.
"Shixiong," she began, her voice soft yet firm, "why do you doubt yourself so much?"
Yu Chen looked up at her, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Hua Rong smiled—gently, reassuringly—but there was a hint of something else in the smile. She didn't let the slightest hint of malice show on her face. Her voice was calm as she spoke. "Wei Shidi's potential is immense, yes. But that is precisely why he needs someone like you. A teacher who knows what it means to struggle. A teacher who understands the path of cultivation intimately, because you, Shixiong, are no stranger to hardship."
Yu Chen opened his mouth to protest, but she silenced him with a gentle, yet confident, shake of her head.
"You might not have the strength of some of the higher-ranking elders, but you have something just as valuable—wisdom, experience, and the heart of a true cultivator." Her eyes softened, though there was an edge to her words. "Wei Shidi may be talented, but talent alone isn't enough. He needs guidance, discipline, and a teacher who can help him grow—not just in power, but in understanding."
Yu Chen faltered, his gaze shifting from Hua Rong's unwavering eyes to the floor. He hadn't expected her to be so understanding. Her words, though, felt like a balm to his wounded pride.
"But—" Yu Chen began, his voice barely a whisper, "what if I slow him down? What if he... regrets choosing me?"
Hua Rong's smile widened, though her eyes held a touch of something else—something deeper, more calculating. "Shixiong, you won't slow him down. If anything, you'll help him grow in ways he can't yet imagine. And as for regret..." She let the sentence hang in the air, though there was an unmistakable glint in her eyes. "No one achieves greatness without a little regret. It's part of the journey."
Yu Chen didn't catch the deeper implication behind her words. He only saw the sincerity in her eyes, the genuine encouragement she offered. With a heavy sigh, he finally nodded, his resistance faltering.
"Maybe... maybe you're right," he said quietly. "I'll think about it. Perhaps I am being too hard on myself."
Hua Rong's smile was gentle, but there was something hidden beneath it. She knew this was only the first step—an easy one. Soon, the real work would begin. But for now, she had planted the seed.
"You will be a good shizun, Shixiong," she said softly, though there was a hint of something darker in the tone. "Wei Shidi is fortunate to have you."
Yu Chen, still caught in his self-doubt, didn't notice the careful manipulation in her words. He only nodded again, the weight of his decision feeling just a little lighter.
As Hua Rong turned to leave, her expression remained as serene as ever, though in the back of her mind, plans were already beginning to take shape.
Suddenly a bloody scream was heard from outside. "The demons have attacked!"