As Shen Yuan left Gui Zuwang's dwelling, a heavy silence hung around him, pressing down like a suffocating weight. His thoughts churned, but he felt trapped, his mind repeating Gui Zuwang's revelations like a dark, endless loop. The betrayal by the imperial family, the blood debt he now carried, it was all too much. Questions clawed at his mind, "How could they do this? Why him? Why his grandfather?"
Suddenly, a sharp, stabbing pain flared in his temples. He staggered slightly, clutching his head as his heartbeat thundered in his ears. The pain wasn't just physical. It was as if the emotions he'd buried for years, the sadness, frustration, anger, and regret—had all chosen this moment to surge to the surface, battering him relentlessly.
The world blurred, and he squeezed his eyes shut, biting back a desperate, pained gasp. The truth was like a crushing weight pressing into his chest, twisting his insides. He had always been strong, had always suppressed any weakness, any hint of vulnerability. But now… he felt shattered.
"How could I fight them? The imperial family, the ones who ruled over everyone, who had power I could barely imagine. How could I, just one cultivator, one man, stand a chance?"
"And why… why did my grandfather have to pay the price?"
His hands trembled, and he could feel the wetness trailing down his face before he even realized what was happening. Tears. He was crying, silently, uncontrollably. He hadn't allowed himself to shed a tear in years, not since he was a child. Yet now, he found himself helpless before the overwhelming flood of emotions.
Desperation filled him, clawing at him from within. He couldn't stay here, in this broken state. He needed to do something, anything, to keep from falling apart completely. Without another thought, he turned toward the sect's graveyard, a secluded place where he could be alone, where he could let himself drown in this pain.
The graveyard loomed ahead, shadowed by ancient trees that rustled in the wind, their branches creaking like whispers of the dead. Shen Yuan sat down, crossing his legs, his eyes hollow and glazed. He clenched his fists and drew on his inner strength, forcing his mind to focus, to push past the agony swirling in his chest.
He steadied his breathing, his focus narrowing to a single, desperate thought: he had to grow stronger, had to push himself past his limits. He would find a way to break through to the 2nd Heaven Stage of the Heaven Path Realm, no matter what it took, even if it killed him. If he was going to survive, if he was going to carry this vengeance, he couldn't afford to stay weak.
A surge of energy radiated from within, fueled by the raw intensity of his emotions. Shen Yuan began to channel his qi with a fevered desperation, forcing it to expand within him, to stretch and strain against his limits. The power he drew upon was fierce, but unstable, tearing through him with a ferocity that matched his inner turmoil.
The pain was excruciating, but he welcomed it, letting it rip through him as his skin began to crack under the pressure. Blood seeped from the corners of his lips, but he didn't stop, didn't waver. The physical pain was almost a relief, a distraction from the overwhelming ache in his chest. Let it hurt, he thought, his jaw clenched. "Let it destroy me if it must."
He could feel his body straining, his veins pulsing painfully as the qi he pushed through himself threatened to tear him apart from within. His skin felt like it was breaking open, each crack a fissure of raw, unfiltered pain. But he didn't care. "If this is what it takes to make them pay, then so be it."
Just as he felt he was reaching his breaking point, the pain suddenly subsided, replaced by a surprising, gentle warmth around his neck. Startled, he froze, his mind reeling as he registered the soft sensation of arms wrapping around him from behind, holding him in a warm, comforting embrace that he hadn't felt in years.
A soft, sweet voice followed, filled with an unexpected tenderness. "You're not alone, Shen Yuan," she whispered. "You don't need to make yourself suffer like this. I don't know what you're going through, but… it hurts to see you like this."
The words struck something deep within him, piercing through his walls with surprising ease. His breath hitched, and he turned his head, his heart pounding as he looked over his shoulder.
Feng Yanqing's face met his gaze, her eyes warm and understanding, her usual fiery demeanor softened by compassion. She looked at him with such open concern that for a moment, he couldn't look away. Her expression held no judgement, only a gentle sadness, as if she could feel the weight of his pain without him needing to say a word.
"Yanqing…" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. Her presence was like a balm, soothing the raging storm inside him.
Feng Yanqing tightened her hold, resting her chin on his shoulder. "You don't have to face everything alone. I may not know what's haunting you, but I'm here. And… you don't have to tear yourself apart trying to prove your strength. There are people here who care about you. I care about you."
Her words were soft, but they carried a weight that settled in his chest, easing some of the anguish. For a moment, Shen Yuan could only sit there, the pain in his heart slowly ebbing under the warmth of her embrace. Her words cut through the bitterness and anger, reminding him that maybe… maybe there was more to his life than the vengeance he'd chosen to carry.
Slowly, he released his forced hold on his qi, letting the energy settle within him, and the cracks on his skin began to heal. The pain faded, leaving only a lingering ache, both physical and emotional. His breathing steadied, and he leaned back slightly, allowing himself a moment to relax in her embrace.
He glanced down, seeing the blood on his hands, and clenched them, feeling a mix of relief and vulnerability he hadn't allowed himself in years. For the first time, the weight on his chest seemed a little lighter.
"Thank you, Yanqing," he murmured, his voice low but sincere.
Feng Yanqing gave a small, reassuring smile. "Just… don't forget that you don't have to carry it all alone. We'll find a way through whatever this is. Together."
Shen Yuan nodded, the fire of revenge still flickering within him, but for now, tempered by a newfound sense of strength, not from hatred alone, but from knowing he didn't have to face the darkness by himself.
In that quiet graveyard, surrounded by shadows and the silent oath of retribution, Shen Yuan allowed himself a single moment of peace in her embrace.