After days of silence, Shiyuan finally returns…
The figure standing before Yunkui Summit is almost unrecognizable.
The familiar yellow disciple robes are gone, replaced by muted blacks and greys. His hair hangs loose, unkempt. His glasses, once a constant fixture, are nowhere to be seen.
Shiyuan no longer looks like the polite, obedient disciple they remember.
Now, he stands at the gates, tearing open truths that were never meant to see daylight.
Shiyuan: “And you think exposing children to it is acceptable?!”
His voice rings across the courtyard. Sharp. Unrestrained. Furious.
His blazing gaze locks onto High Preceptor Yixuan, then snaps to Hengzhou, who watches with thinly veiled irritation.
Yixuan: She instinctively raises her hands, genuine confusion flashing across her face.
“W-What… children? Shiyuan, what are you talking about?”
Shiyuan: “Oh, forgive me.”
His laugh is bitter, humorless.
“The Qingming Sword. That blade you claim was ‘sealed’. Funny how it was always accessible when we were young. Almost like someone was waiting for it to choose a successor.”
His eyes narrow.
“Is this how Yunkui Summit operates? Keeping orphaned disciples, no guardians, no protection… and leaving them exposed to a cursed relic?”
Behind him stand Wise, Belle, and Xiao’guang.
His sister.
Xiao'guang: “B-Brother…?”
Her voice trembles, barely louder than the wind. She looks at him as though afraid of the answer.
Wise and Belle exchange glances, shock written plainly on their faces. Their eyes turn to Yixuan, silently pleading for denial.
None comes.
Yixuan stands frozen.
Yixuan: “Shiyuan… I would never— I kept the sword locked away. I swear—”
Shiyuan: “Then answer me this, High Preceptor.”
*He steps forward. Hissing Yixuan's title like it's a forbidden spell
“Was the door always open because you forgot…
or because losing your sister to that blade changed you so much that you stopped seeing the rest of us?”
His voice cracks, just barely.
“And now Xiao’guang is paying the price.”
A sharp voice cuts through the tension.
Hengzhou: “The Qingming Sword is not a misfortune.”
He steps forward, completely unapologetic.
“It is the greatest honor a disciple can bear. Xiao’guang should be grateful.”
Every head snaps toward him. Even Yixuan turns, disbelief flashing across her face.
Shiyuan: “Easy words, from someone who never carried its burden.”
Shiyuan spoke, through gritted teeth.
Hengzhou: He scoffs, folding his arms.
“That burden is hers. She is the chosen successor.”
Shiyuan:“You exposed all of us to that blade!”
His voice rises again. “And because of that, it chose my sister!”
Yixuan’s gaze hardens as she turns fully toward Hengzhou.
Yixuan: “Senior Lu… is this true?”
Her voice wavers. Hengzhou has been with her the longest. The implication alone feels like a knife.
Shiyuan: “I looked into everything while I was gone.”
His tone drops, eerily calm.
“Banyue Shifu was innocent. He trusted Yunkui Summit. I thought you were responsible, Yixuan Shifu.”
He exhales.
“But you didn’t even know.” His glare sharpens.
“That means you did this. You and those loyal to you. Without remorse.”
Hengzhou: “Of course I did.”
His lips curl upward.
“That girl exists to uphold Yunkui Summit’s pride.”
Shiyuan: “Yunkui Summit’s pride…”
He steps forward, eyes burning.
“Or your own?”
The courtyard falls deathly silent.
You stand alongside Wise, Belle, and Xiao’guang, the weight of the accusations crashing down all at once.
Nothing about this confrontation feels exaggerated. If anything… It feels long overdue.