"Grandpa?
She looked surprised,
"What? No! This is not what it seems! I only came here to—"
Cin Yan's words choked in her throat. Her face flushed bright red, panic clouding her usually confident expression. She didn't know where to look, what to say, or how to stop the scene from spiraling further. Every instinct told her she had gone too far, yet her pride still resisted admitting it.
Meanwhile, the two Tian brothers struggled desperately to cover Fu Yang's mouth, their small hands pressing against his face in a futile attempt to silence his cries. But before the situation could escalate further, Li Tian's roar tore through the air like thunder.
"What are you two doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay away from him, you fools!?" His voice shook with anger, veins bulging on his forehead as his gaze bore into them. "Come here. Right now!"
The two boys turned pale, realizing the magnitude of their father's wrath. Without hesitation, they released Fu Yang and scurried toward their father, trembling.
Slap! Slap!
Li Tian's hand struck both of them sharply across their faces. Pain and shame etched their expressions as he barked orders to the guards, who seized the twins and dragged them away, leaving the courtyard filled with tension.
Fu Yang, lying sprawled on the ground, let his voice rise even louder. "Aaaah! Is there no justice for me? They're from a rich family, and I am just an orphan! They tried to kill me, yet no one says a word! If it were me, I'd already be dead! Is this the equality you promised, Clan Leader? Today they try to kill me—but tomorrow, it could be you all! Waaaaah!"
His words pierced the air like blades, sharp enough to make even seasoned elders pause. Li Tian's face paled, his fury momentarily stilled by the raw, unfiltered emotion. Bai Nian, however, remained calm, casting a sidelong glance at Rion Yan, whose sharp eyes were fixed on his granddaughter, Cin Yan.
Cin Yan's face burned crimson. (Why is this happening? I didn't threaten him! He's lying!) Her small hands clenched into fists. "Grandpa…" she tried, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and disbelief.
"Waaaaah! Waaaaah!"
"I didn't do anything!"
But Fu Yang's wails drowned out her protests, echoing through the courtyard and into the hearts of the villagers. Each cry was crafted, calculated, pulling at their empathy, igniting their anger at the perceived injustice. Unable to bear it, Cin Yan snapped. Her voice rose in desperation and frustration, sharp and trembling: "You liar! When did I ever threaten you!?"
In a flurry of movement, she grabbed his ragged clothes, her frustration exploding. "Waaaaah! Waaaaah! She's killing me! She's killing me! Help! Save me!"
With a furious kick to his back, she struck Fu Yang. And as planned, he let his body go limp, collapsing unconscious to the ground. The act was flawless.
Gasps erupted from the villagers. Many rushed forward, some weeping openly, as if Fu Yang were their own child. Anger and sympathy mingled in the air like a storm, and the elders' eyes darkened with unease.
Before Cin Yan could comprehend the full gravity of her actions, Rion Yan appeared beside her in an instant. With a swift, practiced motion, he seized her wrist and disappeared. All the villagers saw was a flash, a sudden empty space where she had stood moments before.
The villagers, left staring at Fu Yang's motionless form, rushed forward to check if he was alive. Relief mingled with outrage as they whispered and murmured amongst themselves. Then their gaze shifted to the elders, anger flaring.
"Clan Leader! Is this the equality you promised us?" a voice called out. "Look at this poor child—he almost died!"
A chorus of similar voices rose, pressing forward, demanding answers, their frustration evident. But Bai Nian raised his hand, and the crowd immediately fell silent, bound by the unspoken law of authority in the village.
"First, bring the child to the medicine practitioner," Bai Nian's voice rang calm and firm. "As for the rest, I will decide what is appropriate. Remember—these are just children playing."
The villagers grumbled, but they obeyed, carrying Fu Yang toward the medicine hall with careful hands. Only Bai Nian and the four elders remained, silent and calculating.
Mo Mi broke the stillness with a concerned voice. "What now, Clan Leader? Things have become complicated. If we don't act quickly, the villagers may lose faith. They might refuse to join our clan, and our plan will fail."
Xiang Xi scoffed, his tone dismissive. "Naïve, so naïve. Who doesn't want to cultivate? This is a chance they cannot refuse. At most, they may be slightly less loyal. We can mend that with small rewards."
Bai Nian frowned deeply. "And if the villagers remain persistent? What if they rebel?"
Xiang Xi's lips curved into a smile. "Simple. Compensate the boy. Allow Fu Yang to join the academy without examination. If he shows no talent after two or three years, we can expel him. People forget the dead within a month—how will they remember this incident?"
Zong Yi chuckled heartily. "Well said, Xiang Xi! Truly worthy of your reputation."
Bai Nian nodded slowly. "We will proceed as you advise."
Li Tian remained silent, his expression heavy with shame, before turning away. One by one, the elders dispersed as the tension slowly ebbed from the courtyard.
---
That evening, in the Tian household, Rion Yan sat beside Cin Yan. The girl wept bitterly, her small frame trembling under the weight of her emotions.
"Uuu… uuu… I didn't do anything," she sobbed.
"Enough, don't cry," Rion Yan soothed, his voice gentle and steady. "No one will harm you. I am here."
"But I didn't do anything!" she repeated, her tone sharp yet fragile.
"I believe you," he whispered, stroking her hair tenderly. "Stay away from him. With time, people will forget. That beggar will fade from memory, and you will shine once more as the flower of the Yan Clan. No… forgive me. You are already the most beautiful flower."
"En. Yes, Grandpa. I'll stay away from that beggar. Humph—who would want to be near him anyway?"
Meanwhile, the same words were delivered to the Tian brothers. Both nodded obediently, shame and embarrassment written across their young faces, fully aware of their father's anger and their own foolishness.