Sun Yunso didn't speak nor did he move. He simply stared at Feng Anyu. The two looked at one another for what felt like an eternity.
Neither of them said a word.
Sun Yunso's eyes slowly dropped to the bowl of porridge he was holding. Just a little while ago, the food had looked really appetizing, but now it seemed completely flavorless.
He remained silent.
Feng Anyu said nothing either. There was nothing he could say that would make the pain any easier to bear. The truth was finally out. Su Qing had passed away.
Time seemed to drag on before Sun Yunso finally spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper.
"...Where is he?"
Anyu Feng looked at him.
"..."
"Where's my master's body?"
A shadow crossed Anyu's eyes, and then he spoke.
"I buried him."
Sun Yunso's grip on the wooden bowl tightened, his fingers wrapping around it firmly.
It seemed like he was on the verge of speaking again, but the moment passed, leaving an unsettling silence.
He slowly put the bowl down next to him, then lifted his head up.
"Take me there."
The request was simple, yet the weight behind it was heavier than any mountain.
Feng Anyu looked at the boy's face, and she didn't see any tears, just a deep sadness that seemed too much for someone so young to handle. He waited for a while, then slowly nodded his head.
"Alright. I'll take you."
Feng Anyu took Sun Yunso back to the place where he used to live.
The trip was really quiet. But as they got closer, Yunso started walking slower and slower.
As he stood there, his gaze drifted over the devastated land. The fields, once so meticulously cared for, were now utterly destroyed, their beauty lost forever. The workshop, where he had spent countless hours learning the art of sword-making, lay in ruins, its remains reduced to a pile of charred and smoldering debris. And the house, once filled with the warm sounds of laughter and love, now stood as a hollow shell, a haunting reminder of what had been lost. The scene before him was one of utter desolation, a stark contrast to the vibrant and thriving home he had once known.
Fragments of that terrible night flooded back into his mind. The pain that tore across his eyes and his master's final moments.
Sun Yunso unconsciously clenched his fists.
Feng Anyu walked quietly, not saying a word, until they came to a stop in front of a small grave that was nestled beneath the branches of a solitary tree.
"...He's here."
Sun Yunso slowly lifted his head. A simple wooden grave marker stood before him. There were no grand decorations, just a name. Sun Yunso stood frozen, his eyes fixed on something, for what felt like an eternity. Then, without warning, his knees buckled and he crumpled to the ground, collapsing in front of the grave.
"Master."
His voice barely escaped his lips.
He thought he had cried all he could, but the tears came back again.
They dropped to the ground one by one, right in front of the grave.
"I...I'm sorry. If only...If only I had been stronger. I could've protected you."
His shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
"I couldn't do anything, I couldn't even save the person who gave me everything."
Feng Anyu moved quietly, his footsteps making no sound. He reached out and gently placed a hand on Yunso's shoulder, his touch soft and calming.
"No."
Sun Yunso didn't look up.
Feng Anyu's voice remained calm.
"This wasn't your fault."
He looked toward Su Qing's grave.
"There's a reason why he died."
The breeze moved softly over the hill, taking the quietness with it that had grown between them.
Sun Yunso's head rose slowly, his eyes brimming with tears, locking onto Feng Anyu's.
"What do you mean?"
Feng Anyi paused, taking a moment to think before speaking.
"Your master didn't die by accident, it was a deliberate act, a planned execution, someone made sure he was killed."
Sun Yunso's eyes widened.
"Execution?"
Feng Anyu nodded.
"There was a false accusation. A man of great importance was murdered and someone had to take the blame."
Sun Yunso listened without interrupting.
"The victim was none other than Su Ruogang, the Supreme Chancellor, who held a position of power above the influential Four Great Families."
Anyu's expression darkened.
"The Four Great Families said they already knew who the killer was, but they still needed someone to blame, someone the people would believe in. And that person was supposed to be..."
Sun Yunso already knew the answer.
"...Was my master."
Feng Anyu slowly nodded.
"Su Qing. He was branded the murderer before anyone ever searched for the truth. The sentence was decided long before the execution."
Sun Yunso stared at the grave before him. His fists tightened until his nails dug into his palms.
"They...killed an innocent man."
The words hung there, filled with a silent anger that was just starting to grow.
Feng Anyu nodded in agreement.
"So if you want revenge, you have to go after the four greater families and the people who were sent, most likely assassins since his execution was branded as a bounty. But you don't have to go that path."
"No, I have to. I must…cut them all down."
Sun Yunso had chosen his destiny and there was nothing that Feng Anyu could have done.
"Okay if that's what you want. Then I'll let you go. But in order to actually proceed in your revenge, you need to learn how to use Seidan first."
Sun Yunso glared at Feng Anyu with confusion.
"Seidan, what is that?"
"I can't explain much to you since it's too complicated but there are some books you can read, I think Su Qing had some in his storage. So you'll use them and get stronger in order to exact your revenge."
Sun Yunso didn't know what to say and just nodded his head.
***
A few hours passed and Sun Yunso was holding a burning stick in his hand, there was only one job for it. He set it next to the estate gate and it slowly started to burn and the flames spread all across the place.
Sun Yunso and Feng Anyu both glared at the burning estate with sorrow in their eyes, mostly Yunso as this was what he called home at some point.
"Yunso, it's time to leave."
"Alright Mr. Anyu."
Sun Yunso had the books that he was told about and a sword in both of his hands and he tightly held them.
The flames continued to roar behind them.
Sun Yunso didn't dare look back, he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He knew that if he did, he would lose the courage to keep going and leave everything behind.
The home where he had laughed, the forge where he had learned to shape steel, the fields he had complained about tending every morning. Everything was disappearing into the fire.
As they walked, Feng Anyu moved ahead, his footsteps quiet on the ground, until they came to a stop beneath a large tree where two horses were waiting. Without a word, he untied the reins and then handed one of the horses' reins over to Sun Yunso.
"They're gentle."
"You don't need to worry."
Sun Yunso quietly accepted the reins.
For a brief moment, he simply stared at the horse then, with a little effort, he climbed onto its back. Feng Anyu mounted his own horse before turning toward the road stretching into the distance.
"Ready?"
Sun Yunso's hands tightened around the reins, his face a picture of calmness. But beneath his serene exterior, his mind was elsewhere, haunted by the memory of Su Qing's grave.
"Let's go."
With a gentle pull of the reins, the horses began moving. Behind them the flames swallowed the last traces of the life Sun Yunso had once known.
A long and difficult road lay ahead, one that would either make him a great warrior or lead to his death, alongside the people he wanted to get revenge for. The horses just kept going along the quiet mountain road, no need to rush, they took their time.
There was no destination that demanded haste but a road leading toward an uncertain future.
The sound of horse's hooves beating against the ground filled the air as they rode through the forest. It was quiet for a while, until Feng Anyu finally spoke up, breaking the stillness that had settled over them.
"We're on our way to my place now. You can stay there for a while, at least until things get sorted out."
Sun Yunso quietly listened.
"No."
Anyu blinked.
"...No?"
Sun Yunso didn't take his eyes off the road in front of him.
"I don't want to."
That response totally threw Anyu off. He turned to face the boy.
"Why?"
Sun Yunso lowered his head.
"I want to live alone."
The wind gently brushed past them.
Feng Anyu frowned.
"You're only twelve."
"I know."
"You have nowhere to go."
"I know."
"You can barely take care of yourself."
"I know."
Every answer came quietly, without hesitation or emotion.
"I just….need to be alone."
He tightened his grip on the reins.
"No matter how long it takes I don't want to rely on anyone anymore. And I don't want anyone relying on me."
Feng Anyu gazed at the boy, and in that moment, everything clicked into place. He realized that Yunso wasn't pushing him away, he was just scared - scared of letting someone in, only to lose them like he had before.
The fear of getting hurt again was written all over his face, and Anyu's heart went out to him. He understood that Sun Yunso's silence wasn't a rejection, but a cry for protection, a shield to guard himself from the pain of potential loss.
Feng Anyu et out a quiet sigh.
"You're more like Su Qing than I thought."
The horses continued down the lonely road, neither of them speaking another word.
Two days passed and the journey was not put into a pause.
The horses followed a narrow mountain trail, climbing higher and higher until the sounds of civilization had completely faded away and only the wind and the songs of distant birds remained.
As the ride wore on, Feng Anyu slowly began to rein in his horse, bringing it to a gentle stop.
"We're here."
Sun Yunso lifted his head.
Nestled against the mountainside stood a small wooden house. It wasn't fancy or over-the-top, but there was something calming about it.
A small stream flowed beside it, while tall trees surrounded the home like silent guardians. Anyu raised a hand and pointed toward it.
"How about that place?"
Sun Yunso quietly studied the house.
This place has all the essentials, like a roof over your head, a fireplace to keep you warm, fresh water to drink, and plenty of land to grow your own food. If you're really looking to live alone and be self-sufficient, then this is the perfect spot for you - it's got everything you need to take care of yourself.
A faint smile appeared on Sun Yunso's face.
"...I like it."
As he dismounted his horse, he approached the humble dwelling with caution, his eyes fixed on the door. Sun Yunso then turned to face Feng Anyu, bowing his head in a gesture of respect, his movements deliberate and courteous.
The warm sunlight cast a gentle glow over the scene, illuminating the quiet moment between the two individuals.
"Thank you."
Feng Anyi smiled.
"You don't have to thank me."
He looked toward the distant mountains.
"You're the disciple of my best friend. If I can't even do this much for him then I have no right to call myself his friend."
Sun Yunso gave a silent nod, then turned to gaze back at the small house one last time.
It wasn't home, well not yet butperhaps one day it could become one.
Feng Anyu didn't rush off right away, instead he stood there beside his horse, gazing over at Sun Yunso, and let out a soft sigh.
"Are you certain about this? The path of revenge is cruel. It consumes people, changes them. And even if you succeed....what will it solve? It won't bring Su Qing back."
Sun Yunso looked down, his eyes fixed on the ground. He spoke in a calm tone.
"I know, I know my master won't come back, I know killing them won't erase my pain."
He slowly closed his eyes.
"But this is the kind of world we live in. A cruel one. If nobody hated, fought or shed blood then perhaps this world would be different."
He slowly opened his eyes again.
"I've come to terms with things, but that doesn't mean I'm okay with what happened. I still can't forgive those who took away my only family - it's a pain that's hard to shake off. I'm not going to pretend like everything will magically get better, because it won't. And I'm definitely not going to run away from my problems, that's just not who I am. I'll face them head-on, no matter how tough it gets."
Feng Anyu was taken aback, a realization hitting him like a ton of bricks.
The kid standing in front of him, the same one his best friend had always spoken so highly of, was gone - vanished into thin air the night Su Qing passed away. And in his place stood someone who had already taken their first steps down a path from which there was no return, a path shrouded in darkness.
Feng Anyu gazed silently at Sun Yunso, her eyes fixed on him for what felt like an eternity, before finally giving a subtle nod of acknowledgement.
"If you're determined to go down that road, I won't stand in your way."
He walked over to his horse and placed a hand on its neck.
"But promise me one thing."
Sun Yunso looked at him.
"I'll stop by every year to check in and make sure you're doing okay. If you ever need anything, don't think twice about reaching out to me."
Sun Yunso stood there for a moment, not saying a word, before he slowly nodded his head. Then, a small smile crept onto his face, and for a brief instant, his expression changed, revealing a hint of something more beneath his usual calm demeanor.
"Okay, thank you....Uncle Anyu."
Feng Anyu's eyes froze, widening just a little, but then a warm smile slowly began to spread across his face.
"Take care of yourself, Yunso."
He swung his leg over the horse's back and settled into the saddle, then softly tugged on the reins to guide his mount.
As the horse made its way slowly down the mountain path, Sun Yunso stood perfectly still, her eyes fixed on the pair until they vanished from sight behind the trees.
The sound of their gentle descent faded into the distance, leaving an unsettling silence in their wake.
He raised a hand.
"Goodbye."
The wind swept his voice away, leaving only silence on the mountain. Sun Yunso turned slowly towards the small wooden house, his eyes scanning the peaceful surroundings that would soon become his home.
The stillness was almost palpable as he took in the quiet beauty of his new surroundings, the trees standing tall and unmoving in the distance.
He moved slowly, taking one step and then another, his face set in a serious expression as he spoke:
"My journey begins here."
As he spoke those words, Sun Yunso took a step forward, embracing the next phase of his life.