The days after the banquet were strangely quiet. Song Yuren stayed at the Lin estate, a guest of honor whose every action was meticulously observed by the family. Yet he seemed unaffected by the attention, moving through the halls and gardens with an unshakable calm.
For Lin Tianming, life resumed its rhythm—or so it seemed. His days were filled with cultivating his fractured foundation and enduring his siblings' constant mockery, though their jabs now carried an edge of uncertainty after his sparring match with Lin Haoran.
But the real shift lay in his encounters with Yuren.
---
Tianwu sat cross-legged in his courtyard, his breath steady as he guided a thin thread of qi through his meridians. The technique he practiced was ancient, far older than any known in the Liang Kingdom, and it required utmost precision.
He was so focused that he almost didn't hear the soft footfalls approaching.
"Hard at work, I see."
Tianwu opened his eyes to find Yuren standing at the edge of his courtyard, a faint smile playing on his lips. Dressed in a simple yet elegant robe, he looked entirely out of place amid the worn stones and sparse greenery of Tianming's neglected corner of the estate.
"Lord Song," Tianwu greeted, standing and offering a slight bow. "To what do I owe the honor?"
"I was curious," Yuren said, stepping closer. His gaze swept over the courtyard, lingering on the faint glow of qi dissipating from Tianwu's hands. "You've been spending a great deal of time here, away from the rest of your family. I thought I might see what occupies you."
Tianwu's expression remained neutral. "I am merely trying to improve myself. It's a slow process, as I'm sure you've heard."
Yuren chuckled softly. "You're far too modest. I've seen how you move, how you fight. There's nothing slow about your improvement."
Tianwu met his gaze, searching for any hint of mockery but finding none. Yuren's sincerity unsettled him. It had been lifetimes since someone looked at him without expectation or disdain.
"Modesty is a lesson one learns when starting from the bottom," Tianwu said carefully.
"And yet, I doubt you've ever truly been at the bottom," Yuren replied, his tone light but probing.
Tianwu stilled, his sharp mind racing. Did Yuren suspect the truth? No, that was impossible. Yet the man's perceptiveness was unnerving.
"I've had my share of setbacks," Tianwu admitted. "But setbacks are opportunities to grow, are they not?"
Yuren's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with approval. "Well said. Tell me, Tianming, what do you make of your siblings?"
The question caught Tianwu off guard. "My siblings?"
"Yes," Yuren said, leaning against a nearby pillar. "They're certainly talented. Ambitious, too. But talent and ambition can sometimes breed... complications."
Tianwu tilted his head, considering his words. "You mean rivalry."
"Among other things," Yuren replied. "I've been to many noble households, and I've seen what happens when ambition blinds people to the bigger picture. It can tear families apart."
Tianwu's lips curved into a faint smirk. "And what is the bigger picture, in your opinion?"
"Strength," Yuren said without hesitation. "But not the kind born from individual talent. True strength comes from unity, from understanding one's role within a greater whole."
For a moment, Tianwu felt a pang of something unfamiliar. Respect? Agreement? Yuren's words resonated in a way he hadn't expected.
"And what role do you think I play in this family?" Tianwu asked, his tone sharper than intended.
Yuren met his gaze, unflinching. "That depends on you. But I suspect you're capable of far more than anyone here realizes."
The words lingered in the air, heavy with implication.
---
Later that evening, Tianwu sat in his quarters, replaying the conversation in his mind. Yuren was unlike anyone he'd encountered in this mortal realm. He was sharp, enigmatic, and, most importantly, unpredictable.
Was he an ally? A threat? Tianwu couldn't decide.
As he pondered, a knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Come in," he called.
To his surprise, Lin Xiaoyu entered, her usual haughtiness replaced by an unusual tension. She closed the door behind her, glancing around as if ensuring they were alone.
"What brings you here, Sister?" Tianwu asked, leaning back against his chair.
Xiaoyu crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "What are you playing at, Tianming?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Don't act innocent," she snapped. "First, you humiliate Haoran in front of everyone. Now, you're cozying up to Song Yuren, of all people. Do you think I don't see what you're doing?"
Tianwu arched an eyebrow. "And what, exactly, do you think I'm doing?"
"You're trying to worm your way into Father's favor," she accused. "Using Yuren to make yourself look better."
Tianwu laughed, a low, humorless sound. "And here I thought you'd be happy to see me improving. Isn't that what Father always wanted?"
Xiaoyu's jaw tightened. "Don't play coy with me. Whatever game you're playing, it won't work. You'll never be anything more than a disappointment."
Her words struck like a blade, but Tianwu's expression didn't waver. Instead, he stood, his height forcing Xiaoyu to look up at him.
"Is that what you truly believe?" he asked, his voice calm.
Xiaoyu faltered, her confidence wavering under his steady gaze. "I... I won't let you ruin this family."
Tianwu's smirk returned, cold and calculating. "Ruin? No, Xiaoyu. If anything, I'm the one trying to salvage it. You and Haoran are too blinded by your own pride to see how fragile this family truly is."
Her eyes widened, a flicker of doubt crossing her face before she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
---
The moon hung high in the sky as Tianwu stepped out into the cool night air. The Lin estate was silent, its inhabitants asleep—or so he thought.
In the distance, he saw a figure standing on the stone bridge that spanned the estate's central pond. It was Yuren, his crimson robe glowing faintly in the moonlight.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, Tianwu found himself walking toward him.
As he approached, Yuren turned, his smile soft and inviting. "Couldn't sleep?"
"Something like that," Tianwu admitted, stopping beside him.
They stood in silence for a moment, the sound of water lapping against the bridge filling the air.
"Tianming," Yuren said suddenly, his tone unusually gentle. "Have you ever wondered what it truly means to be free?"
Tianwu glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. "Freedom is a luxury few can afford."
Yuren nodded, his gaze distant. "Perhaps. But sometimes, even those in chains can find ways to rise above them."
Tianwu studied him, a strange warmth spreading in his chest. Yuren's words were cryptic, yet they struck a chord deep within him.
"Why do you speak to me like this?" Tianwu asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yuren turned to him, his eyes searching. "Because I see a man who refuses to be bound by the expectations of others. Someone who might understand what it means to truly live."
The words hung between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Tianwu looked away, his heart inexplicably unsteady.
For the first time in centuries, he felt something stir within him—a spark of connection he couldn't ignore.
—