39- Heir

Two giant pillars stood by either side of Wu Huan. His head has been stuck up rereading the name of the hall written in an intimidating style 'Lan Yan Ancestral Hall'. The glint in his eyes made it obvious that he was replaying the past in his mind.

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Five years passed bittersweetly. Lan Yan Sect has now established itself as the most prestigious and a leader among the three. The leader, Duan Jing, was the Sect and city's pride from his pragmatic and benevolent ruling. It was said that his nephew was to be the only one next in line for his position especially after the news of his wife passing away from a miscarriage just a year after Wu Huan had arrived at the Sect.

The nephew grew up under the Sect's most valued Elder, Han Shun. He was obedient and cheerful in his relationships with other disciples. However, the insiders knew how this heir was nothing but an empty word to the Sect leader. For a young master, Wu Huan was never involved in anything remotely similar to a sect's political affair. He trained at home alone while his fellow disciples went on night hunts and earned their names through various competitions.

The outside world has not met Wu Huan even once. He was in a sense abandoned to his fate.

Fortunately, his master had been by his side to battle his deep grudge of unworthiness and taught him as best as he could despite his very old age.

One day, the nineteen-year-old Wu Huan was punished in the ice cave dungeon from secretly visiting the city without permission. When he had just been taken there, the news that his master was facing a Qi deviation didn't make his uncle changed his mind. After he finished his punishment with a beaten body and the worst-case frostbites three days later, he had crawled back to his master's room just to be told by his fellow disciples that Han Shun had passed away due to his old aging body not being able to sustain the damage of a Qi deviation two days ago.

Wu Huan didn't spare a glance at his uncle as he went through with the funeral. He had by now given up hope. The hope that he could earn his uncle's trust. The hope that he had a chance after all to have a good relationship with his family. He had not had memories of his parents all his life. He had been told that he woke up from a coma after the age of fourteen for being a sick child since birth. Duan Jing and his wife were the only people he could describe as his family.

However, his family has never regarded him as one of them. And from then on, he had given up. Wu Huan accepted his fate. He had stopped lying to himself. He was indeed unworthy.

He wasn't even informed of his master's death.

After the funeral, Wu Huan had fallen ill. As soon as he was stuck in bed, Duan Jing had made plans and shipped him out once he got off his bed to Taohua. People in the city were hungry for answers but no one dared to question the decision of their Sect leader. And, the heir of Lan Yan became a junior brother of the Taohua's young master just like that.

No one uttered a thing.

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Wu Huan plucked the sticks of incense into the ashes. He bowed three times. "Master, Wu Huan has come to pay respect," he rose up gingerly up from his position. "I have been well. Master, please rest in here. Even if the cultivation world is being turned upside down, I will abide by your teachings and stay true to my being..." He lingered silently for a while. "I'll take my leave now then. I promise to visit next year."

Hu Ting was waiting outside peering at him with her big eyes. She was his junior sister back then, still wet behind the ears when he left. Now, she grew up quickly to be a beautiful young female disciple. Her cheeks turned red as he smiled slightly at her. "Young master, would you like to have some tea with me?"

She took him to a small pavilion overlooking a lake behind the Sect. The area was mostly secluded so they were assured that their private tea party was as private as possible. It seemed like she has already set up everything before she invited him. Colorful cakes sat around a warm teapot.

Hu Ting took the initiative to pour him the tea first, "This is peach tea I've just learned from one of the Taohua disciples. I've heard that young master drinks it every day over there."

His face froze but he quickly concealed his expression before blowing at the warm cup, "I see."

"Young master, you seem to lose a lot of weight. Are my eyes deceiving me or you might have grown taller?"

He looked at her dark brown eyes then at her beautiful lips. Something in him made him sighed, "I must have grown taller. I'm the tallest in Taohua."

She chuckled softly offering a cake, "How about me? Do you spot any changes?"

He knew what she had wanted him to say so he said it, "You're more beautiful and charming."

Hu Ting sighed happily, "Then...then does young master want to be with Hu Ting?"

Wu Huan had expected it somehow. He was curious on how it would feel being confessed to the moment he saw her waiting outside the ancestral hall. He had followed her out of wonder. This girl was surprisingly a straightforward person. "Hu Ting, do not take this the wrong way but there is no time for me to think about..."

She didn't respond but her smile was gone. "Hu...Hu Ting understands. Then after everything is peaceful, will you be with me?" Her small hand has grabbed his as she spoke. She observed his reaction with a nervous expression. Was she nervous that he wouldn't visit again?

"...I will...I will think about it."

Hu Ting complied without any more haste. "When will young master leave for the South?"

"Tomorrow."

"I wish you a safe journey. Please also bring young master Shi to visit here once he gets well. I have a lot to thank him for taking care of young master for me."

"..."

"Promise?"

He sighed, "Promise."