Chapter 22

Jian Weiwen sighed deeply in the suddenly quiet room.

The connection to the Black Heaven Sect, which even the direct line of the Man Song Merchant Group could not easily obtain, was something she had also kept in reserve, but Jian Weiwen instinctively felt that now was the time to use it.

‘The second child, who is so smart that no one can reach him.’

It was because the conversation with the little girl with shining eyes had struck her like lightning.

Until now, Jian Weiwen had only shown a side that was more than enough to be the successor of the family, or rather, overflowing.

Her cold, rational judgment based on information, her bold and decisive actions that could change fate, her perseverance, diligence, talent, and skills...

However, the decision to become the successor of the merchant group was not about passing a test with a predetermined outcome.

‘To realize this only now.’

Even if he was a great merchant who dominated Zhejiang Province, he was still a person and a father, which Jian Weiwen had only just realized.

The eldest, who seemed to work hard despite being a bit lacking, and the youngest, who was isolated on the path of education.

And the second child, who could do anything on his own.

Frankly, Jian Weiwen thought that if it were her, she would naturally show the most concern for herself among the three.

Wouldn't the capable second child be the only one who could communicate with the lacking eldest and the youngest who would live far away?

‘I was too... overconfident. I overestimated myself too much.’

However, that was only in an equal relationship. If you think of it as taking care of those below you, the conclusion is completely different.

A child who doesn't need attention doesn't need to be cared for, and not being cared for means that affection rarely reaches them.

When you first see your child, you feel a tender and worried affection, and after worrying about the eldest and the youngest who is far away, you think, ‘The second child can take care of himself,’ which is the heart of a parent, not a superior.

Jian Weiwen could think rationally because she didn't desire her father's sincere and warm love and concern.

When would she look back at the second child, who is so smart that no one can reach him?

That was also what Dan Mulin told her.

‘Lun always takes good care of his brothers and sisters.’

When he naturally notices that the second child, who is so smart that he can take care of his siblings, is being overlooked, wouldn't he feel guilty for not taking care of the middle child and grateful for taking care of the other children?

‘Getting rid of those stupid friends won't make my brother any smarter.’

And even if he regains his senses, it doesn't matter. She is more capable than the well-organized Jian Yizhao.

‘Then I should send something to my younger brother too.’

Perhaps because he resembled his older brother, or because he was a prodigy in his youth but now drinks recklessly in Huizhou, Jian Weiwen had lost interest in her younger brother.

“To Wei Xue...”

Jian Weiwen realized she had sent a servant and took a deep breath.

‘But what is that kid, anyway?’

Dan Mulin.

The child seemed to be talking about whatever she wanted, but her words were so precisely aimed at her situation.

‘Is such a coincidence possible?’

If she weren't at her level, it would have been difficult to draw the same conclusion from the child's words.

‘She said she created the Qing Lian Shui.’

Jian Weiwen was convinced that it wasn't a rumor.

* * *

When the new year came and Lian mentioned that she wanted to learn martial arts as promised, Dan Mulin hesitated for a moment before inviting her to have tea.

As the tea flowed and the fragrance filled the Yue Ying Hall, Dan Mulin asked,

“Do you want to learn martial arts?”

“Yes!”

Lian nodded confidently, but Dan Mulin didn't end the conversation there.

After a long pause, he turned to look at Lian.

“Even if you can't become strong?”

“Huh?”

“You can't become strong.”

Dan Mulin stated firmly.

“No matter how many years you practice, you will only be as good as a novice in the family. You won't be able to defeat anyone from other sects or families. It will always be like this. It is decided. No matter how hard you try, even if you die and come back to life, you can't change it. Do you still want to learn martial arts?”

Dan Mulin's tone was calm, but his eyes were different. Even if he were spitting blood, his face wouldn't look like this.

Lian realized why Dan Mulin was saying this.

‘You knew...’

He knew that she couldn't cultivate inner strength.

Dan Mulin couldn't bear to look at his granddaughter and closed his eyes.

His old heart was beating irregularly. Amidst the frustration and resentment, he had a realization.

He would never be able to devote himself to Daoism or Buddhism.

“Your body cannot cultivate inner strength. Do you understand what this means?”

“I can't cultivate inner strength, right?”

“...!”

The granddaughter's face was calm. Dan Mulin saw an indescribable light in the young girl's face.

“Without inner strength, you can never reach the heavens. Do you know this?”

“Yes.”

“Everything you learn will be in vain. You won't be able to defeat anyone, and no one will recognize your sword. A sword without inner strength is like that. Look at the character for 'person' (人). Without the first stroke, it is a collapsed character; without the second stroke, it is not a character at all. In martial arts, external skills are the first stroke, and inner strength is the second stroke.”

Lian smiled, understanding the grandfather's heart, who wished she wouldn't start and get hurt later.

“I'm not learning the sword to defeat others and gain their recognition. I want to learn the sword to understand our family's sword.”

“...”

In her past life, just before she died, Bai Yiming, a master of external skills, was famous.

He couldn't cultivate inner strength due to twisted qi from a mistake in his youth but became a renowned expert with external skills alone.

She had forgotten about it until recently, but it came back to her when she decided to learn martial arts from Dan Mulin.

‘Maybe I can go that way if I have to. I'll try it out.’

“The first-rate person who will bring glory to our family will be Biya, and Aunt and Uncle will lead the family, so I have no worries.”

Lian's words were logical and clear, even cheerful.

If she were the eldest grandson of an ordinary family, she would have been praised for her intelligence and cherished. But here, it was impossible. They were a martial family.

“It will be different later.”

“Pardon?”

“As you learn more and time passes, you will inevitably feel disappointed, frustrated, wronged, and resentful. The more intelligent you are, the more strongly you will feel these emotions.”

Lian hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

“When that time comes, I will... do my best to endure.”

“...”

Dan Mulin clenched his lips at her words. It was hard to believe that these words came from a child not yet ten years old. The voice of his youngest son, who used to sing praises of her intelligence and wit, echoed in his ears.

Thus, the most wronged person now was Dan Mulin.

Even at her age, his granddaughter didn't assert that such things wouldn't happen to her. She acknowledged that she would feel frustrated and wronged but would still try to endure.

Such a bright child. With the bones of her parents. After receiving the eye-opening ceremony, now she could have everything...

“...I understand. Since you say so, I will teach you the family's martial arts, excluding the cultivation method, step by step.”

“Yes!”

Dan Mulin sighed deeply, looking at Lian, whose eyes sparkled with anticipation, and then spoke.

“Do you know what the most basic sword technique of our family is?”

“The Twelve Falling Star Swords (落星十二剑)!”

“That's right. The foundation of the Twelve Falling Star Swords is clarity.”

“Clarity?”

As if she had never hesitated, Dan Mulin continued smoothly.

“When you wield the sword, it should be as fast as a star and as clear as a star. When a star falls, no one in the world should be unaware of it. When a Dan family swordsman wields the sword, everyone should clearly understand its meaning. Do you understand what I mean?”

Lian nodded, though she wasn't sure she fully understood.

Dan Mulin stared at her for a moment, then drew his sword from his waist and stood in front of the straw dummy.

The atmosphere changed instantly. A cool, night-like energy flowed.

‘Compared to when I first met him, he has changed a lot.’

Having seen him almost every day, Lian only now noticed his transformation. When he held the sword.

The scars on Dan Mulin's face and hands were still there, but his stance was unwavering, and the energy he exuded was flawlessly powerful.