"So, you're the woman who claims to be the mother of our sect leader's brother's children," one of the elders sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're quite bold, aren't you? Thinking you can just waltz in here and demand recognition for your bastard children."
Liu Yan's face burned with shame and anger, but she kept her composure, determined to plead her case. "I'm not asking for anything for myself," she said, her voice trembling. "I just want my children to have a legitimate identity, to be accepted as members of this sect. They deserve a better life than the one I can provide for them."
The sect leader, Yu Luomian's brother, looked at her with a cold, calculating gaze. "We don't recognize illegitimate children in our sect," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You should be grateful that we're not punishing you for your transgressions."
The elders nodded in agreement, their faces stern and unforgiving. Liu Yan felt a stinging sensation in her eyes as tears began to form. She had expected rejection, but not this level of humiliation.
"You're not welcome here," one of the elders said, his voice cold. "Take your bastard children and leave. You're not worthy of our recognition."
Liu Yan's heart broke as she looked at her children, their innocent faces looking up at her with confusion and fear. She knew she had to protect them, to shield them from the cruelty of the world.
As they walked out of the sect gate, Liu Yan felt a sense of determination wash over her. She would do everything in her power to give her children a better life, no matter what the cost.
"We'll be okay, kids," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. "We don't need them. We'll make our own way."
Liu Cheng and Liu Erlong looked up at her, their eyes filled with uncertainty. They didn't understand why they had been rejected, why their father and the sect elders didn't want them.
As they walked away from the sect, Liu Yan felt a sense of resolve harden within her. She would prove to herself and her children that they were worthy, that they deserved a better life.
As they walked away from the sect, Liu Yan felt a sense of resolve harden within her. She would prove to herself and her children that they were worthy, that they deserved a better life. The cold, calculating gaze of Yu Luomian's brother and the stern faces of the elders still lingered in her mind, but she refused to let their cruelty define her.
Liu Yan looked down at her children, their small hands holding onto hers as they navigated the winding path that led away from the sect. Liu Cheng, her eldest, looked up at her with a mixture of confusion and fear in his eyes. Liu Erlong, her youngest, seemed more bewildered, her eyes darting back and forth between her mother and the sect gates that were slowly disappearing from view.
"We'll be okay, kids," Liu Yan repeated, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "We'll find a way to make it work. We don't need them to be happy."
But as they walked, the silence between them grew thicker. Liu Yan knew she had to distract them, to take their minds off the rejection they had just faced. She pointed out the birds singing in the trees, the flowers blooming by the roadside, and the gentle rustle of the wind through the leaves.
As they walked, Liu Cheng and Liu Erlong looked up at her with curious eyes. "Mother, why did they reject us?" Liu Cheng asked, his voice filled with confusion.
Liu Yan took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain. "It's because we're not part of their family, sweetie," she said gently. "But that doesn't mean we're not worthy. We just need to find our own way, our own family."
Liu Erlong looked up at her with big, round eyes. "But why didn't Father want us?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Liu Yan's heart ached as she looked at her daughter. She knew that she had to be honest, but also gentle. "Sometimes, people make mistakes, sweetie," she said. "And sometimes, they don't understand what's truly important. But we know what's important, don't we? We know that we love each other, and that's all that matters."