Chatty’s Trial
Li Shenwu’s finger shifted, signaling for Chatty to step forward. Chatty froze. It was as if invisible roots twined around his ankles, fixing him to the floor while his heart pounded like a festival drum against his ribs and a cold sweat slicked his palms. He longed to vanish, to dissolve into the shadows and escape the searing eyes around him. Only when Shun nudged him firmly in the back did he lurch forward, his steps clumsy and uncertain, his head bowed low as though the very air was too heavy to lift his gaze.
Li Shenwu’s forehead creased; his aura weighed down like thunder. "So, you’re Pharsa’s husband?" Authority crackled in every word.
Chatty nodded quickly, his chin nearly touching his chest.
"You’re so weak! Aren’t you ashad? You can’t even raise your head! Look at you! The two-year-old twins are even stronger and more confident than you!" Li Shenwu scolded, his voice slicing through the air.
He snorted, the sound sharp and dismissive.
Chatty’s Inner Thoughts
Chatty’s mind reeled, his cheeks burning with humiliation that felt like a thousand tiny needles. ’Ashad? Of course, I’m ashad. I’ve always been the coward, the one hiding behind Fatty, behind jokes and false laughter. I know I’m weak. I know I’m not like Shi Min or Shun, or even the twins whose confidence shines brighter than lanterns in the night. But... I’m still here. I still try, even with knees knocking and fear gnawing at my insides. Doesn’t that count for sothing?’
His fingers clenched at his sides, trembling so hard it seed the room might hear. ’I love Pharsa. I want to be worthy of her. I want to be more than the clan’s joke. But every ti I stand before soone like him... my knees turn to water, my voice shrivels, and my courage scatters like startled sparrows. Am I dood always to be the weakest link?’
Chatty dared not raise his head, but inside, a small ember flickered — a stubborn, fragile spark refusing to be snuffed out by sha. Beneath all the fear, defiance simred — a silent promise that this mont would not define him forever.
The Enfield Revelation
Li Shenwu turned his gaze to Ling Li, his tone sharp but curious. "Ling Ling, did you provide him with this Enfield?"
Ling Li straightened, her voice calm but firm. "Great-grandpa, indeed it was I who gifted Murphy with the Enfield. Murphy can speak with the animals."
Li Shenwu’s eyes softened slightly, his beard brushing against his chest as he nodded in understanding. "If not for this Enfield, his body might have already broken. And I’m sure you are aware of that."
Ling Li bowed her head respectfully. "Yes, Great-grandpa, I’m aware of Murphy’s situation."
"He will be a beast tar in the future. But before that happens, make sure to correct and enhance his cultivation — or he might explode without even knowing why," Li Shenwu warned, his eyes narrowing with stern emphasis.
Chatty flinched at the word explode, his stomach twisting. The ember inside him burned hotter, mingling fear with determination. ’I don’t want to die like that. I don’t want to be rembered as the weak one. I’ll prove myself... sohow.’
Shun’s Evaluation
Li Shenwu moved on, his steps deliberate, his aura shifting as he approached Shun. The young man, knowing his place as Ren’s elder, bowed deeply, his posture respectful and unwavering.
Li Shenwu’s eyes glead, his voice resonant. "Good, good."
He circled Shun slowly, observing him from every angle, his beard brushing against his robes as he stroked it in thought. "Strong fire attribute and a very bright future, with all the golden aura surrounding you. Good."
Shun’s chest swelled with pride, though he kept his expression humble. The golden aura shimred faintly around him, like sunlight breaking through clouds.
Calling Ren
Li Shenwu turned back to Ling Li, his voice commanding yet calm. "Ling Ling, call your eldest daughter over."
Before Ling Li could respond, Shun stepped forward, his tone respectful. "Auntie, I’ll call Ren. She is playing with Lily at the pond."
The pavilion stirred with anticipation. The elders leaned forward, curious to see the eldest daughter. The younger disciples whispered among themselves, eager to witness another evaluation. Even the twins perked up, their eyes wide with excitent.
The air thickened once more, the weight of legacy pressing down on everyone present.
Bamboo Garden: The Pond’s Secrets
The Bamboo Garden shimred under the late morning sun, its pond reflecting the swaying stalks like a living mirror of jade. Ren and Lily knelt at the water’s edge, laughter bubbling between them as they flicked droplets back and forth. The air was thick with the scent of wet bamboo and distant stead buns. But then, the water’s surface trembled—not from their hands, but from sothing deeper, as if the pond itself held its breath.
A flash of gold broke through the water.
"Ren... look!" Lily gasped, clutching her sister’s sleeve.
From the depths rose a Spirit Carp with Golden Scales, its luminous body casting gold patterns on the girls’ faces, each scale flashing with the brilliance of molten sunlight. The carp’s eyes glowed with ancient intelligence, and as it surfaced, the pond seed to hum with quiet power—a music just beyond hearing. It circled gracefully, trailing ripples that shimred and pulsed, lingering as though the water itself was reluctant to let go of the magic.
Ren’s breath caught. "A Spirit Carp... here? In the Bamboo Garden?"
The carp leapt once, golden scales scattering droplets that burst into tiny stars on the surface. For a heartbeat, the sisters felt the carp’s gaze—a challenge and an invitation, as if it weighed their very souls. Lily reached out, her fingers trembling as they skimd the water. The carp darted closer, then vanished in a swirl of light, leaving a faint, pulsing glow at the pond’s heart.
The Hidden Portal
Ren leaned forward, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Wait... do you see that?"
At the pond’s center, the glow blossod, unfurling in a widening ripple that clung stubbornly to the surface. It deepened, shapes shifting until the outline of a doorway appeared beneath the water, beckoning and mysterious. The sisters exchanged a glance, curiosity sparking between them like static before a storm.
"It’s... a portal, isn’t it?" Lily whispered, her voice trembling with awe.
Ren nodded, determination flashing in her eyes. "Let’s pry it open. Just a little."
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