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**
High up in the sky.
Whoosh!
A shadow suddenly appeared—it was Wei Yang.
Across from him, a tall, broad man dressed in simple beast-hide clothes stepped out from the void. It was Hei Qing of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan—the one he had met once before.
"Wei Yang! It's been over three years since we last met... huh? Wait a second—your realm?!" Hei Qing started with his usual hearty tone, but his eyes widened in shock halfway through.
Wei Yang smiled faintly. "Hei Qing, you sure keep your eyes sharp. I just got here, and you've already found me."
He couldn't help but feel some fondness toward this straightforward dragon.
"I just happened to be nearby," Hei Qing grinned, but his expression soon turned uncertain as he stared at Wei Yang. "You... you became a Dou Sheng?"
The faint aura emanating from Wei Yang was one he was very familiar with—it was the same feeling he got from the few ancient elders in his clan.
"Only a Ban Sheng," Wei Yang said with a calm smile.
"..." Hei Qing drew in a sharp breath.
His expression turned complicated. Wei Yang was still so young. Three years ago, the two of them had even fought hand-to-hand. Back then, although he had been at a disadvantage, he hadn't lost by much. But now—
The casual ease on Hei Qing's face vanished, replaced by seriousness—and even a hint of respect.
Before he could say another word, Wei Yang turned his hand over and tossed him a dragon-shaped jade pendant. "You came looking for Zi Yan, didn't you? I know you're anxious, so I'll skip the small talk.
The person who gave me this pendant said that once your Ancient Void Dragon Clan sees it, you'll understand. As for everything else—don't ask me, because I don't know either."
Turning away, Wei Yang added, "All I can say is that Zi Yan is safe. She's going through a transformation. If things go well, it'll take about a year or so. If not, maybe two or three years."
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure flickered and vanished.
Hei Qing stood frozen for a moment, holding the jade pendant tightly, his face full of emotion. "This aura... it's...!"
He quickly cupped his hands and bowed toward the ground in thanks before turning to leave in haste.
——
Deep within the Ye Clan.
Not far from the Sun Fire Ancient Altar, hidden beneath the shade of trees, was a quiet courtyard.
Inside the main hall—
Wei Ye stood respectfully, his expression a mix of nervousness and joy. "Your son greets Father."
"No need for formalities, my son."
Wei Yang raised a hand to gently help him up. Seeing his son act so mature and proper warmed his heart, but it also made him ache a little. He's only seven years old. He beckoned with a smile. "Ye'er, come here. Let me take a good look at you."
"Yes." Wei Ye walked forward slowly, his little face full of tension, sneaking glances at Wei Yang every few steps.
His memories of his father were faint—fragments from his earliest years. As he grew older, the image of his father became something that existed only through the portrait his mother kept and the vague outline he imagined for himself.
From what others told him—the many stories about his father's deeds—he slowly pieced together a grand, heroic figure in his mind.
Now, seeing the real person before him, that imagined image began to overlap perfectly with this man who radiated quiet, domineering strength.
Off to the side, Xian'er smiled softly as she watched the scene, her nose tingling with a sudden wave of emotion.
Outside the door, Ah Da stood watching with a face full of relief. He sighed inwardly. The master has returned. From now on, the young master's life will be much easier.
These past few years, especially since they came to the Ye Clan, Ah Da had often felt pity for the young master. But there was nothing to be done. As Wei Yang's son, the boy inherited not only privileges—but also burdens.
Even within Falling Star Pavilion, countless eyes secretly watched his every move.
As the son of Wei Yang, the rising face of Falling Star Pavilion's third generation, and the only male disciple among the three apprentices of Saint Yao, everyone placed high hopes on him.
That included his fiancée—born a Dou Zong, bound to him by an arranged marriage—and even his future mother-in-law, Queen Medusa, whose sharp eyes constantly evaluated him.
All of these formed invisible weights pressing upon his small shoulders. With Wei Yang away all this time, Xian'er's strictness toward their child became understandable.
So, from the time he was five or six, Wei Ye had gradually learned to be mature—acting like a little adult long before his time.
Wei Yang pulled his son closer, studying him carefully. A gentle smile appeared on his face as he said, "Relax a little. Don't be so tense and serious. My son, these past two years have been hard on you. From now on, don't give yourself too much pressure.
Eat when you're hungry, drink when you want, play if you feel like playing, laugh and make trouble if you wish. Don't be afraid. As long as your father is here, you'll always have the strongest backing."
"Your son isn't feeling wronged," Wei Ye said stubbornly, though his eyes had reddened and his nose twitched slightly.
"Silly child."
Wei Yang lifted him up and sat him on his thigh, holding him close as he smiled. "Let me teach you a few things about life today."
"In the future, you only need to be yourself. Don't care too much about how others look at you or what they think. Every person has flaws—no one can be perfect. Even your father isn't perfect. How could anyone possibly be? You're only seven years old. How could you ever satisfy everyone?"
"Even now, your father still can't do that."
"Besides, whether others approve of you, whether they're happy or not—what does that have to do with you? Just live your life well. As long as you're happy, that's what matters.
Why should you care about their opinions? For example, your father never bothers with such things. Those I don't care to deal with—I never even spare them a glance. But tell me, who dares to speak ill of me?"
"As my son, your greatest advantage is something you were born with—it shouldn't be a burden. You don't need to care about other people's expressions or opinions."
"Do you know what your father works so hard for?"
"Remember this, my son: in this world, strength is the only true foundation of everything. Not those shallow, surface-level things. This is a world where individual power can surpass all else.
When you become strong enough, naturally, everyone will respect you, value you, even curry favor with you. Even your enemies will respect and fear you.
At that point, so-called 'flaws' will no longer be flaws. People will only see your strength—who would dare care about the rest? When that time comes, whatever you say will be the truth!"
"On the other hand, if you're weak—no matter how polite you act, how proper or well-behaved you appear—no one will truly respect you. They won't even think you're worth looking at."
"In this world, there's no such thing as absolute right or wrong. The strong set the rules. Whatever they say becomes truth—becomes justice. The weak have no say at all; they can only obey and conform to what the strong dictate."
"How could a dragon soaring high above the clouds ever concern itself with the ants crawling on the ground?"
"Only the weak live trying to please others, walking on eggshells."
"All of that is meaningless. Only your own strength—that is your dignity. That is truth."
"To live as a human being, what you should pursue is freedom—doing as you wish, unrestrained and unbound. Of course, that doesn't mean you can act without limits or abandon your moral bottom line."
Wei Yang spoke patiently, and finally said, "One must always have a sense of reverence—and know gratitude. Do you understand?"
Wei Ye listened intently, his expression thoughtful. He nodded hard. "Mm."
"Good boy." Wei Yang rubbed his small head, smiling warmly. "From now on, you only need to be good to the people you care about—to your family and friends. As for outsiders, ignore them. Let them go to hell if they want."
"Ah? Then... does that mean if I see bad people bullying the weak, I should just ignore it?" Wei Ye asked in surprise, his mouth open wide.
"There are countless bad people in this world—can you possibly deal with them all? You have to learn to respect the fate of others. Once you interfere in someone else's affairs, you take on their karma—and that means trouble."
Wei Yang said calmly, "You're not a savior. You live for yourself, for the people you care about. Protect those you want to protect—that's enough. The fate of others has nothing to do with you.
You don't have the responsibility or obligation to meddle. If you try to control everything, are you living for others? How exhausting would that be?"
"Of course, people should still have compassion and empathy. If you truly can't stand to see some vicious evildoers, then deal with them as you please. But only when you have the strength to do so. If your power isn't enough, then don't force yourself to act bravely."
"When the strong are in good spirits, it's fine to show a bit of mercy to the weak. But if you can't even protect yourself, then you don't have the right to pity others. That would just be meddling in things you shouldn't."
"And one more thing—you must know the difference between right and wrong, the truly big matters."
"These things may sound a little contradictory to you now. You're still young, so it's natural you can't fully understand. I won't say more. When you grow up, you'll come to understand on your own."
"A true man knows when to act and when not to. I may give, but that doesn't mean you can take it for granted—because I owe you nothing. In short, follow your own heart. Do not let yourself be chained by others' so-called morality."
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