An eerie silence fell within the candle-lit room, interrupted only by the gentle softness of garments and the chirping of evening insects in the distance. It was a calm night outside that went on indefinitely, a quiet observer to whatever was being said inside.
Lin Tian leaned on the bedframe, tapping fingers idle against his leg. His own deep, steady eyes stared off into the dance of flickering candlelight before he could find his voice. "Yun'er is ten years old now." His tone was as calm as the depth of it was heavy, bearing the sound of inevitability.
"It's time we allow him to become a sect member, undergo tribulations, and figure out his own way."
Taking the time to go over the words in order for them to sink in, he later added, "I will talk to him tomorrow."
Mu Qinglan had been combing her long, silken hair with a silver comb, but he had hardly gotten through his words when she stopped short. The silver comb dangled as she spun those words in her mind, her eyebrows knitting with worry. She finally let the comb drop from her hand and turned to him completely. The deep sigh she let out seemed to come from the very bottom of her heart.
"It is all well, but." She spoke softly, but with reproach. "Why did you have to cap his talent off at a Heaven Grade Spirit Root?" She folded the material of her sleeve tightly, annoyance etched in her every gesture. "Even in this state, his potential surpasses others. Why should he suffer when he does not need to?"
She breathed a small breath, her voice dropping as if she was reluctant to speak of her deeper concerns. "But even at Heavenly Grade, he's still nowhere near his potential. If the seal were ever removed…" She pressed her lip between her teeth. "Do you have any idea what you've stolen from him, Tian?"
Lin Tian stood her ground, unflinching. "Qinglan, you and I both know that prodigious ability is a blessing and a curse. If he flies too early, he will never know the burden of true power.
A diamond is rough and must be pounded into submission. Unless he struggles, he will not know what it means to persevere, nor will he be a man that he can hold his head high about."
Mu Qinglan blew out her cheeks slightly, crossing her arms in obvious disapproval. "That doesn't necessarily mean that we need to make it hard for him on purpose!" she argued. "You claim it's for his benefit, but is it truly inflicting upon him more suffering than it needs to? He's our child, Tian. Shouldn't he be able to indulge in the benefits of being our offspring?"
Lin Tian laughed, reaching out to gently prod her forehead. "You always go on like this whenever it's Yun'er."
He tried to catch her hand, but she swatted him away and had her face turned slightly off to the side, cheeks lightly pink. "Hmph, naturally so! I had him for nine months! It only makes sense for me to want to take care of him!"
Lin Tian's face relaxed. "I want to help him, too, but in a different manner. If he relies on us growing up, how will he be strong in the future? The cultivation world is not gentle, Qinglan. If we make it too easy for him, he will collapse when real challenges arise."
She twisted the embroidered edge of her night robe, her tone gentler now. "Still…" Her fingers tightened slightly. "You could at least be a bit more lenient with him. Let him grow up, but don't do it to the extent that he will hold it against you."
Lin Tian smirked. "I am being lenient. He still has our protection in the shadows. I've only sealed his talent—he's still more than capable of reaching great heights. I just want him to earn it with his own hands."
Mu Qinglan let out a sigh. Her mind was clearly at conflict: "You know, you really nailed it, but I just can't agree with you."
Lin Tian chuckled and hugged her gently. She squeaked and tried to squirm away from him, blushing. "What are you doing?" she whined in a low voice, still hot on the face.
He spoke softly: "You will be at rest now! I know you are worried about him, and I appreciate it. But trust me, this is the best for Yun'er".
She uttered a huff but did not pull away entirely. "Fine! But if he suffers too much, I will intervene".
Lin Tian grinned. "Well, of course, you shall. This is the very nature of things since you are indeed his mother. That being said, I do not leave things entirely to fate. I have made arrangements for someone powerful to guard him-even through the Divine Realm. Whatever his lot in life should expect he would definitely have a secret protector looking out for him since, by any stretch of chance, that could make his path easier, fate will hold no more intrigue for him."
Mu Qinglan's eyes softened somewhat, but still, her lips remained tightly shut in a pout. "Hmph...so you did think some sense after all."
Lin Tian smiled and reached out and gave a gentle pinch to her cheek. "I'll always be his father."
She slapped the hand away, and her face was now a delicate pink. "That doesn't mean I will cover for him. If he is in serious trouble, I will intervene. I, for one, will not stand by and see him hurt unnecessarily."
Lin Tian gazed out and became intensely sober, for once very serious. "Understood, Qinglan. That is why, once Yun'er becomes someone who truly sees the weight of his own decisions, someone who is worthy of his own potential, I will unleash his talent. He will learn everything then, and from that day henceforth, he will find his true place in this world."
Mu Qinglan blinked slowly. At this point, they parted slightly, and a sigh broke free from her. "You mean...?"
Lin Tian nodded his head. "Yes. When really he has the strength, competence and morality, I intend to break the seal. Till then, let it be a matter of concern to him."
There was a moment's silence. She leaned against her chest, lowering her voice to almost a whisper. "You better hope you are right about this, Lin Tian. Otherwise, it will be hell to pay!"
He smiled and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead and released her. "I will go see him tomorrow."
Mu Qinglan watched him, still worried in her eyes, not a single word coming out of her mouth. Deep within herself, she agreed with Lin Tian, but it made it no less easier.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves outside as their choices floated into the infinite darkness of night.
When the final sparks of candle flame danced, Lin Tian and Mu Qinglan finally retired for the night. The residual heat of their talk still lingered in the air, but fatigue soon asserted itself.
Mu Qinglan, despite having complained before, was placated in Lin Tian's arms. Her fingers instinctively sketched small patterns on his chest to calm herself as sleep finally took over. Lin Tian, ever the observant one, remained awake a bit longer, gazing up at the wooden ceiling.
His mind wandered to their son, to decisions he had made in his stead, and to the future.
At last, he slept lightly, eyes shutting, and allowed the silence of the evening to consume him.
Morning arrived the next morning with warm sunlight streaming into their bedchamber. Birds trilled outside, and the fine scent of just prepared meals filled the halls of the mansion.
Lin Tian got up with accustomed fluidity, his actions slow but effective. He had a short round of practice and walked across the courtyard before heading towards the dining hall, where breakfast had already been served.
The family gathered around as usual, Lin Yun'er the last to enter. His rumpled robe indicated he had perhaps just blown in. His bright black eyes shone with life, and a sly smile rested on his young face. He careened into his seat with a windy sigh, warming his hands before him as he regarded the steaming dishes on the table.
Lin Tian looked at him with a weak smile before saying in his usual calm voice. "Yun'er, you are already ten years old. Have you chosen your cultivation path?"
The boy's face immediately lit up, and his smile spread wider as he leaned forward expectantly. "Of course, Father!" Naturally confident, he spoke with his voice, and his tone was light but unyielding. "I've already decided—enter a Holy Land, be an inner disciple, and honor our family!" His excited words echoed in the dining hall, and Mu Qinglan smiled, a gentle one.
Lin Tian smiled and arched an eyebrow, the amusement on his face behind a mouthful of tea. "Oh? And which Holy Land are you thinking of joining?"
Lin Yun'er beamed. "The Sword Saint Palace!" He declared it as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. "The Azure Dragon Dynasty is just a medium-level dynasty under its rule, and next month, they're holding a grand recruitment in the provincial city! If I perform well, I can directly enter as an inner disciple!" His eyes shone with youthful ambition, his small fists clenching in excitement.
Mu Qinglan let out a light laugh, her gaze soft with motherly affection. "My, my, such big dreams. You sound so certain, Yun'er. Are you truly ready for such a step?" She teased, though there was no doubt in her eyes—only warmth.
Lin Yun'er nodded resolutely. "Certainly!" Then, his expression softened ever so slightly, his otherwise mischievous face giving way to a hard-to-find, unwavering resolve. "I will be strong enough to defend everyone. Mother, Father, you will not have anything to worry about—I'll handle everything!" His voice was devoid of doubt, only an unsophisticated yet deep-rooted belief.
As Lin Yun'er went on with his enthusiastic babble, Lin Tian's voice suddenly appeared in Mu Qinglan's mind, with the calm consistency of a voice transmission. "The Sword Saint Palace is a great place for him. Their instruction focuses on both power and control. If he can become an inner disciple, he will have everything he needs to develop. This is a chance that few can even hope for, and Yun'er has the potential to take it."
Mu Qinglan's face remained unchanged, but her answer was quick, her voice echoing softly in his head. "I know all that, but. will he really be okay? The Sword Saint Palace is strict. What if he tries too hard?"
Lin Tian's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile as he responded. "He will struggle, yes. But that is part of growing. Besides, I have already made arrangements. If anything beyond his ability threatens him, there will be someone watching over him in the shadows. I will not leave his fate to mere chance."
Mu Qinglan exhaled softly, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. "You always think ahead, don't you? Fine, I'll trust you on this. But if he ever suffers more than necessary... I will intervene."
Lin Tian's gaze flickered with amusement. "Of course you will. You're his mother after all."
A moment of silence passed before Mu Qinglan suddenly covered her mouth and giggled aloud, snapping back to the present. "Oh dear, Tian, do you hear that? Our little Yun'er has already decided to take care of us in our old age. How reliable!"
Lin Tian smiled and placed his teacup on the table with a nod of approval. "It looks like our son has already mapped out our retirement. Well, I'd like to see how you're going to do this, Yun'er."
Lin Yun'er puffed out his chest, a cheeky grin on his face. "Just let me do it!" He declared with a playful glint in his eye before wolfishly digging into his food, his hunger apparently sharpened by the grand schemes he had just been discussing.
Mu Qinglan laughed once more, mussing his hair as he complained in mock protest. "Okay, okay, eat your fill, great cultivator of the future. You'll be needing your energy if you plan on impressing those elders during the recruitment."
As the family finished their meal, the mood stayed light and warm. In the face of their challenges, however, there was no denying that they shared a deep connection with each other, a moment of tranquility among the grand way they each traversed in life.