Aksai had entrusted Shuan to Jainam’s care to ensure the preservation of his family’s roots in Purple River Gate.
However, it seemed that something had gone horribly wrong in Jainam’s planning.
Jiren had informed Aksai about the restaurant’s closure.
As such, Aksai first visited the establishment and found it closed shut. Sighing, he contacted Shuan and asked him to meet at Jiren’s Spirit Garden.
In Jainam’s Spirit Garden, within the open hall with a pyramid-shaped roof, Aksai sat with Jiren beside him, both holding their tea cups as they interrogated Shuan, now a 17-year-old youth after 12 years had passed.
“Shuan, what exactly happened to Blue Sky Haven?” Aksai inquired from his seated position, while Jiren remained beside him.
“Big… big brother Aksai, it’s all my fault,” Shuan stuttered, clenching his fists, his eyes threatening to spill tears. He stood before Jiren and Aksai like a criminal, refusing to take a seat.
“Don’t beat around the bush. Get to the point. I have other matters to attend to.”
Aksai frowned, feeling a hint of annoyance. He didn’t want to resort to harsh words in front of Shuan, but sometimes it was the most efficient way to get to the bottom of things.
“Yes– yes!”
Shuan replied, wiping his eyes before proceeding to explain the events of the past few months.
It appeared that news of Shuan’s rare high-grade Spirit Root talent had reached the administration of the Rokur Kingdom.
Like any kingdom, Rokur preferred to recruit Spirit cultivators, particularly those unaffiliated with major sects, to strengthen its ranks. The kingdom sought to nurture raw talent within its borders, making Shuan’s exceptional aptitude a prime target.
Shuan’s talent drew considerable attention from the kingdom’s experts, who sought to recruit him.
However, Shuan had already committed to becoming Jainam’s disciple and joining the Bluesky Clan by marrying one of its scions. This sparked a conflict between a kingdom and a lone late-stage Spirit Refiner.
Jainam, however, was not easily intimidated. With numerous contacts and direct ties to the Purple River Sect, he leveraged his connections to thwart the kingdom’s attempts to claim Shuan.
After a few weeks of stalemate, it seemed that matters had settled. Shuan was set to marry a girl chosen with mutual consent from both families.
However, just two days before the wedding, Jainam reached the end of his lifespan and passed away. This event marked the beginning of trouble for the Bluesky Clan.
Jainam wielded significant influence in Purple River Gate due to his direct ties with the Purple River Sect.
However, after Jainan’s death, his family lacked the necessary clout to deter the kingdom’s forces from acting against them.
The Bluesky clan did not have any late-stage Refiner within its midst. The whole reason it had gone out of its way to have Shuan join their family was so that they could eventually get a late-stage Spirit Refiner in their clan.
Who could have known that the tragedy would strike the Bluesky Clan even before Shuan had a chance to grow as a Spirit cultivator?
After Jainma’s death, the Rokur Kingdom used a made-up food contamination incident as a pretext to shut down Blue Sky Haven and strike at the heart of the Bluesky Clan.
With the loss of their patriarch, the clan found itself vulnerable. The absence of strong leadership led to internal divisions.
One faction of the clan chose to collaborate with the kingdom’s authorities, betraying their own kin. They opted to cancel Shuan’s arranged marriage, aligning themselves with the kingdom’s interests.
Another faction sought to sever ties with Shuan and the collaborating faction, relocating their business elsewhere.
The minority third faction remained committed to Shuan’s marriage within the clan, but their numbers dwindled as doubts grew.
A single cultivator with exceptional talent had brought ruin to a once proud clan just by merely existing.
Jainam had hoped to preserve his family’s legacy by accepting Shuan, but in the end, the prodigy became the clan’s undoing.
Shuan was on the verge of turning 18, coinciding with his wedding day. However, the closure of Blue Sky Haven had indefinitely postponed the marriage ceremony.
“Okay! First of all, stop crying. It’s not your fault,” Aksai reassured him, savoring a sip of tea. “Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes, we have to adapt,” he added, glancing at Jiren for additional support.
Jiren cleared his throat and adopted a sage-like tone before addressing the despondent Shuan.
“Consider this, young man. Your wedding plans may have been delayed due to this incident, but it’s not necessarily a setback.
I mean think about it. Jainam may have been really good to you as your master when he was alive. But had his own motives for arranging your marriage, just as the kingdom has its own interests in your abilities. They are not so different from each other.
As for your suspended marriage– Perhaps it’s time to explore other options while you have the chance. Meet some other girls. You are still young. You should get to explore some options before you finally decide to settle down.
After all, they say there are plenty of fish in the Spirit pond. Hahaha,” Jiren concluded, chuckling as he glanced at Aksai for approval, sporting a wide smile.
Slap!
Aksai slapped his forehead upon hearing Jiren’s attempt at comforting Shuan. His expression conveyed a sense of disbelief, silently questioning Jiren’s approach.
‘This lonely gardener is going to die single. He is so wise when it comes to Spirit horticulture. But he is as dense as the word dense can mean when it comes to communicating with people on any other subject outside his field of expertise.’
Aksai thought to himself, sighing inwardly.
While he agreed with some of Jiren’s sentiments, Aksai found fault with the timing and delivery of his advice. Some truths required a more delicate approach when imparted to the younger generation.
“What? No, Master Jainam, I love Marishaa. I would never do anything to hurt her,” Shuan interjected emotionally, his voice trembling as tears welled up in his eyes.
“Alright, enough with the tears. No one’s telling you to abandon Marishaa or whatever your girl’s name is,” Aksai said, rubbing his temples as if battling a monumental headache.
After a moment of contemplation, he addressed Shuan directly. “Listen carefully, Shuan. Here’s what you need to do.”