Fourteen years ago…
The sun cast golden slants across the training ground. A young man stood alone. He wore white robes. Talisman papers floated around him. With a flick of his fingers, he activated a thunder talisman. A loud crack split the air. A burst of thunderous power followed, damaging the training puppet.
He narrowed his eyes. A flicker of satisfaction crossed his composed features. "The output is solid," he noted, his voice clear and decisive. "These thunder talismans will be effective against most second-level beasts. They et our requirents for the Hundred Beast Mountain Range expedition."
He turned to a man standing a few paces away. He raised his voice slightly. "Senior Mo, this talisman ets our requirents. Accept its maker as our clan’s Guest Elder.”
The man bowed respectfully. "Understood, Young Master."
Su Liang turned. He left the training ground. Back in his courtyard, he bathed quickly. He changed into a white and gray robe. Today was an important day. His uncle and aunt had returned from Qingyun City. His aunt was a distinguished disciple of the Qingyun Sect, rarely able to leave the city due to her responsibilities. His uncle had been assigned to manage the Su Clan’s branch family operations there, allowing them to live together.
Just as he finished dressing, the steward arrived with news. "Young Master Liang, Fourth Elder Su and Madam Dong have arrived."
Su Liang nodded. He imdiately made his way there. Upon arrival, he greeted them with a respectful smile. He exchanged pleasantries and sat down for a brief conversation. As they spoke, however, he couldn't help but notice the faint sadness in his aunt's smile. Her voice held low enthusiasm.
"And how are little Kang'er and Ting'er?" Su Liang asked. He tried to change the topic. "I trust they haven't forgotten about us, have they?”
The fragile brightness in his aunt’s expression worsened. A shadow passed over her features. "I'm calling them," she said.
A maid soon entered the room. She gently guided two children forward. One was a ten-year-old boy in a deep navy-blue robe, his shoulder-length black hair neatly combed. The younger was a small boy of around four. He was dressed in a robe of white and green. His short hair was still damp. He held tightly onto his older brother’s fingers.
Sothing was wrong. Su Liang felt it in his heart. He couldn't guess what. His gaze softened at the sight of the older child. "Su Kang, you’ve grown taller. Do you still rember ?" he asked with a warm smile.
Su Kang bowed slightly. He let out a faint laugh. "Elder Brother Liang, I rember everyone."
Su Liang then turned to the little boy. The sense of wrongness pricked at him. Su Ting's small, cute face was perfect as a doll's. But sothing was amiss. He soon realised what was wrong. He was too much like a doll. His eyes should have been filled with childish curiosity or shyness. Instead, they were vacant. It gave Su Liang a deeply unsettling, cold feeling.
He knitted his brows in concern. He knelt down to et the child’s gaze. "Su Ting," he said gently, "I'm your elder cousin, Su Liang."
The child's expression did not change. Not a flicker of recognition. Not fear, nor curiosity. "I understand," Su Ting replied. His voice was flat and empty. Hearing a child's voice so devoid of warmth was extrely disturbing. Su Liang couldn't believe the sound. He looked up, a silent question for his uncle and aunt. But before he could voice it, another figure entered.
It was his father.
Su Jinhai’s steps were firm. His face held a grim edge. His eyes swept across his brother and sister-in-law with a complicated look. They fell on Su Ting. He paused. He walked forward and slowly knelt before the boy. He lowered himself until their eyes were level. His fist clenched subtly at his side as he looked into that hollow gaze.
"Su Ting," Su Jinhai began. His voice was slow, deliberately tender. "I’m your uncle. I saw you when you were little, though you would not rember . Today, I will give you any gift that you want. Just tell your uncle what you want."
"I don’t need anything," Su Ting replied. His tone was flat, devoid of emotion.
Su Jinhai’s smile did not falter. The sadness in his eyes deepened. He didn’t press the boy. He tried again with a more careful question. "Then… how are you feeling right now? Do you feel happy? Or is there anything that makes you uncomfortable? If you didn't like sothing, just tell , alright?"
"Uncle, I don't understand what you an," Su Ting replied, his tone unchanged. He did not comprehend the question.
Su Jinhai stared at the boy for a long mont. A storm of emotion stirred behind his calm exterior. He doesn’t even understand what feelings are… The thought weighed heavily in his chest. A deep sigh slipped from his lips. He slowly rose to his feet. When he turned to Su Liang, his eyes held a rare sorrow. "Su Liang," he said, his voice heavy. "Stay with Kang’er and Ting’er. I need to speak with your uncle and aunt privately."
Su Jinhai left with the two adults. He left Su Liang alone with the children. Su Liang turned his gaze to Su Ting. He still clung to Su Kang’s hand. It wasn't the grip of shyness or fear. It was sothing strangely chanical, a learned action rather than an emotional one. "Co, let's sit," Su Liang said, gesturing to a nearby table.
Su Ting sat silently. His posture was unnaturally still. Su Kang sat beside him. His expression was composed, but Su Liang noticed his fingers tighten protectively around Su Ting's small hand.
"Su Kang… how did Ting'er beco like this? What happened?" he asked. His voice was barely a whisper. He knew it wasn't right to question a ten-year-old about such a heavy matter. But he couldn't shake the feeling that Su Kang knew sothing.
Su Kang’s breath hitched. Panic flashed in his eyes before it was suppressed. He turned to Su Ting, his gaze softening as he looked at the boy's doll-like face. "Elder Brother Liang, my brother is absolutely alright. Nothing happened to him." He managed a small, reassuring smile. "My brother is unique, better than other kids. He's obedient and never causes trouble. Su Ting, why don't you tell Cousin Liang that you're a good kid?"
Su Liang frowned at the answer. But before he could press, guilt struck him. Idiot, he chided himself. I shouldn’t have said that in front of Su Ting. Even though he is an emotionless child, hearing such words could still affect him. Su Liang looked at Su Kang with new understanding.
It seems Kang'er has had to face this many tis. He imagined other people asking similar questions. Su Kang always deflecting, trying to shield his younger brother.
"Haha, how stupid of ," Su Liang laughed, playing along imdiately. "I didn't realise it. Now that I think about it, Su Ting truly is unique. Not just unique, but exceptional." He tried to infuse his voice with genuine praise.
Su Ting looked at them with his vacant eyes. His gaze focused on Su Kang. "Big Brother, am I really good?" he asked. His voice was soft, childish, and still lacked warmth. But now it was tinged with a faint, genuine curiosity. "You said others are bad because they are jealous of our family. You said we shouldn't believe them. But Cousin Liang is part of our family. Why does even Elder Cousin think sothing happened to , just like the others do?"
Su Liang regretted his words. His careless remarks had already caused damage. He saw Su Kang's panicked and worried expression beco clearly evident. His previous calm was completely shattered.
"Su Ting, you misunderstood," Su Kang said hastily. His voice was urgent. He tried to reassure his brother. "Elder Brother Liang didn't an anything like that. Nothing is wrong with you. You shouldn't think such weird things, okay?"
"Big Brother, am I truly alright?" Su Ting pressed. His hollow gaze was unwavering. "But the other children… they whispered in your absence. They said my face is weird. Like a ghost or a puppet. Were they speaking the truth?"
"What? Who said that?" Su Kang demanded. Anger flared in his voice. "Su Ting, tell their nas."
"I heard them say it would be bad if you found out," Su Ting said. "Doing bad is wrong. So I didn't let know about this. Brother, I feel like you are lying to . Lying is bad too."
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