The first rays of dawn filtered through the canopy above, casting a soft glow on the stone beneath Yan Zi. His body ached slightly from sleeping in the pavilion, but he didn't mind. There was no real discomfort, just the distant hum of nature waking up around him. Yan Zi slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes. I must have fallen asleep out here without realizing it…
As his mind cleared, he glanced around, noticing the quiet beauty of the morning. The clan compound was a distance away, and for the first time in days, the thoughts and pressures of the clan felt far from him.
I need this. A moment of peace, away from all of them...
With a sigh, Yan Zi stood, brushing off his clothes, and looked around. The air was crisp, and the sounds of birds in the distance helped him momentarily forget the turmoil in his heart. The battle, Yan Ling's strength, the distance between him and his family… It all came crashing down when he realized just how powerless he was in this world of cultivation.
But for now, he couldn't focus on that. He had made a decision. He wouldn't return to the clan for a few days. He needed to clear his mind and focus on something he could control.
Alchemy... at least that's something I can still try to improve. Maybe I can find purpose in it.
Yan Zi walked with quiet determination, his footsteps steady as he made his way to the cave. He had already prepared himself mentally for this small escape. His father had given him a space ring a while back, and it was filled with useful herbs—many of them picked alongside Yan Ru just two days ago.
The journey to the cave was a quiet one, the distance offering him a brief reprieve from the pressure that always seemed to follow him within the clan. Upon reaching the cave, he took a moment to breathe deeply before stepping inside. The interior was dimly lit, with only a small amount of natural light coming from a crack in the cave's opening.
Inside, he carefully laid out his supplies. His broken cauldron, though battered, was still usable. It had seen better days, but it was familiar to him. He had spent countless hours practicing with it, and though his alchemy skills were far from perfect, they were improving little by little.
Yan Zi placed the herbs on the cold stone ground, each one carefully selected and arranged. Then, with deliberate movements, he retrieved the advanced alchemy book from his space ring and flipped it open to a well-worn page. The book was thick and filled with complex formulas and diagrams, but he had already committed a good portion of it to memory.
He sat cross-legged, his focus narrowing. The sounds of the world outside faded as he began to study again. His eyes scanned the lines of text, following the intricate details of alchemy that he had struggled with in the past. There were formulas for refining medicinal pills, crafting healing potions, and even creating explosive concoctions. Every time he read it, he felt a mix of awe and frustration.
There's so much more I don't understand. But I won't give up. If I can't rely on cultivation… then alchemy is the only thing I can do. I'll keep practicing.
He focused his thoughts on the task at hand, trying to steady his breathing and calm the thoughts that would often cloud his concentration. His hands moved with precision, breaking down the herbs into the right components. He had long since learned that without the ability to fully cultivate, alchemy would be a struggle.
But despite the difficulty, Yan Zi remained determined. With every failure, he learned more. And with every lesson, his belief in the path he had chosen only grew stronger.
Yan Clan Residence
Back at the Yan Clan's residence, Yan Ru paced anxiously within her room. The past few days had been unsettling. Since the competition, Yan Zi had been strangely distant. She had hoped that after the events of the battle, things would return to normal, but Yan Zi had left without a word, not even giving a message to anyone. His absence gnawed at her.
Where could he have gone?
Her thoughts were interrupted when her father, Yan Guang, called her name in his usual authoritative tone. "Yan Ru," he said, his voice cold but not unkind, a tone that signaled he had something important to discuss. "Come here for a moment."
Startled from her thoughts, Yan Ru turned and walked towards her father. As always, she maintained her composed demeanor, though her mind was preoccupied. "Yes, Father?" she replied, her voice soft but steady.
Yan Guang looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. He took a step closer and spoke in a serious tone. "I need to clarify something. Do you have any feelings for that... trash, Yan Zi?"
The words struck her like a slap. For a brief moment, she was speechless, caught completely off guard by the question. Her mind raced, but she didn't know how to respond. The air grew heavy with the weight of his words.
Yan Guang didn't wait for an answer. His voice was harsh and dismissive. "Yan Zi is no longer part of our future. He is a cripple, useless. He cannot cultivate, and he has no strength to offer this clan. He is not someone worth your time, do you understand?"
There was a long pause. Yan Ru's heart skipped a beat as she met her father's eyes. Is this really how he sees him?
She opened her mouth, hesitant but needing to speak. "Father, he may have lost his cultivation, but Yan Zi is not bad. He has a kind heart, and he's always been there for me." Her voice was soft but insistent, her thoughts betraying the doubt she felt in her father's harsh words. "He's not like what you think…"
Yan Guang's face darkened, and his voice grew even more forceful. "Enough. I will not tolerate any further discussion on this matter. You have your responsibilities to this clan, and you cannot afford to waste time on someone who is incapable of helping us, or helping you. You know your duty."
Yan Ru remained silent, feeling the weight of her father's words. She wanted to argue, to defend Yan Zi, but she knew it was futile. This is the reality of our lives. She bit her lip, her eyes lowering. There was nothing more she could say.
Yan Guang's tone softened slightly, but his words were still final. "Do not forget your responsibilities. You must not stray from your path."
With that, he turned away and walked off, leaving Yan Ru standing in the hallway, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions.
Yan Ru stood alone in the hallway, feeling torn. Her heart ached as she thought of Yan Zi. Why does he have to suffer like this? Her thoughts returned to the times they had shared, to the bond they once had. She knew her father was right in some ways—she had a future to secure, one tied to the clan. But something deep inside her felt the sting of loss, the loss of the friendship and connection she once had with him.
With a sigh, Yan Ru turned and made her way back to the central hall, her mind still reeling from the conversation.
Yan Zi sat cross-legged in the dim cave, the flickering flame under his battered cauldron casting long shadows on the walls. For the past month, this secluded space had been his sanctuary—a place where he could pour his focus into alchemy and temporarily forget the burdens of his status and the weight of his past.
With steady hands, he added a vibrant crimson herb into the cauldron. The herb hissed and dissolved into the swirling liquid, the room filling with a sweet, earthy aroma. Sweat beaded on Yan Zi's forehead as he carefully controlled the flame with his Fire Heart Jade, the precious stone glowing faintly in his palm.
"Just a little more," he murmured, his tone edged with determination.
The past month had been grueling yet transformative. From deciphering the advanced alchemy book to experimenting with various herbs he and Yan Ru had collected, Yan Zi had immersed himself in the art of creation. His technique had grown sharper, his understanding of fire and balance deeper. Yet, despite his progress, he knew he had reached a bottleneck.
As he finished the final step, the Fire Heart Jade in his hand flickered weakly before its light vanished entirely. Yan Zi's chest tightened.
"It's exhausted," he muttered, holding the jade up to the dim light. The once-vibrant stone now lay cold and lifeless. He closed his hand around it, his grip firm but trembling.
After a moment of silence, Yan Zi let out a sigh, the sound heavy with both resignation and pride. "I've come far...but not far enough."
He stood slowly, his joints stiff from the hours of sitting. Gathering his belongings—the advanced alchemy book, the broken but trusty cauldron, and the remaining herbs—he tucked them into his space ring. The Fire Heart Jade, despite its exhaustion, was placed carefully inside as well.
With one last glance around the cave, Yan Zi took a deep breath. "Time to go back," he said quietly, his voice steady but tinged with uncertainty.
---
Scene Shift: Yan Clan Residence
The courtyard was abuzz with activity. All the disciples of the Yan Clan were gathered, their voices a cacophony of whispers and speculation. Even the elders stood in clusters, their brows furrowed and expressions grave.
Yan Zi approached the clan gates cautiously, sensing the unusual tension in the air. As he drew closer, the murmurs grew louder, and a knot formed in his stomach.
"What's going on?" he wondered aloud, his steps slowing.
Finally, his gaze landed on the center of the crowd, where a familiar figure stood. His mother.
She was in tears, her shoulders trembling as she clutched something tightly in her hands. Her face was pale, her usually composed demeanor shattered. Yan Zi's breath hitched at the sight, his heart pounding in his chest.
"What...what happened?" he whispered to himself, frozen in place.
The world seemed to blur around him, the chatter of the disciples fading into a distant hum as his eyes remained locked on his mother. He took a hesitant step forward, then stopped, a flood of emotions surging within him—fear, confusion, and a growing sense of dread.