—Xiao Fan, vamos a presentarte a mis maestros y tutores.
Xiang Xiaofan lo miró asombrado cuando Zhen Jingyu exclamó:
—¿Tan bajo como tu tuteo? ¡Debemos olvidar eso!
Xiang Xiaofan le lanzó una mirada de advertencia.
Mientras Xiang Xiaofan y Zhen Jingyu se presentaban a los maestros, Tian Ling'er continuaba hablando con su madre.
De repente, un individuo elegante y apuesto apareció junto a Tian Ling'er y Su Ru. Ese era Qi Hao, que había venido para consolar a Tian Ling'er.
Qi Hao habló con Tian Ling'er en voz baja y ella se rió de inmediato. Inmediatamente volvió a ser la misma niña sonriente. Se separó de su madre y agarró la mano de Qi Hao, caminando hacia Xiang Xiaofan.
La mente de Xiang Xiaofan se nubló repentinamente y una furia irracional lo invadió, como si algo en su ser estuviera a punto de explotar.Vaelen stood alone, his head bowed to the ground in front of him. The sky had turned dark, and the sounds of the other sect members resting on the slopes below were faintly heard. He had been kneeling outside for more than four hours, but there was no sign of softening from his master.
Suddenly, from a nearby cave, came the sound of commotion. Vaelen did not look up but could discern the angry voice of Lin Jingyu from the direction of the Dragon Head peak. Then, he heard the urgent whisperings and tugging sounds as Qiyue tried to pull Lin Jingyu away.
Vaelen’s heart ached as he listened. After a few moments, there was silence. The night seemed to have returned to its oppressive stillness.
Then, from within the cave of the Bamboo Peak, came the deep, authoritative voice of Tan Yi. "What? Am I worthy in his eyes? Have I failed so much that even my own son would not look at me?"
Vaelen remained silent and continued his kneeling vigil outside the entrance to the cave.
The night stretched on, filled with the distant murmurs of the sect members gathering around their rock shelters for rest. The silence of Tan Yi’s anger was oppressive, but it seemed he had no intention of showing mercy.
In the distance, Vaelen could hear faint laughter and whispers, a stark reminder of his isolation from his peers. His knees were numb with pain, but still, he did not rise.
Then, another voice interrupted the silence—a woman's voice, full of worry and pleading. "Father, what are you doing? Little Vaelen has been kneeling outside for nearly five hours now. What exactly has he done wrong? Has he injured Senior Brother or killed him? He has already apologized—why won't you let him in?"
The earth trembled as a powerful blow rang out—a stone was shattered by the force of Tan Yi's palm. Vaelen’s heart clenched, but there was no movement from his body.
The night passed with only the sound of his own heavy breathing and the distant murmurings of those gathered nearby. Vaelen remained where he was, humbled and ashamed, his head bowed in submission to the unyielding wrath before him.