This time, it was the elders’ turn to be stunned. They did not expect Su Hutian to agree to give up his position so easily.
"Hu Tian, are you truly willing to give up your position?"
Su Changkong asked in a low voice.
"Yes, Chen’Er is the wish that my wife and I have carried for over ten years. Without him, this position as Patriarch holds no interest. Elders, if there is nothing else, Hu Tian will take his leave now!"
After saying this, he walked out of the Su Family’s main hall with a tiger’s stride and an upright gait, his retreating figure exuding decisiveness.
The main hall fell silent; the three elders exchanged glances after a moment of confusion, each wearing a different expression.
Sitting below the elders, Su Xiong observed the hall entrance with a complex expression. He had not anticipated that Su Hutian would give up the position of Patriarch so easily, nor did he expect that the one everyone called a little monster, Su Chen, held such weight in Su Hutian’s heart...
The sun was setting in the west, casting a thick shadow of a lone figure looming in the vast courtyard for an indeterminate time. His handsome and resolute face consistently wore a certain expression: confusion.
"It’s been over ten years now; why do I still feel such a sense of loss? Could it be that I still haven’t seen through the worldly desires for power?"
He was Su Hutian. He had thought that relinquishing the position of Patriarch wouldn’t be difficult for him, but it seemed he was terribly wrong.
"Chen’Er, Father only hopes you can grow up quickly to show them you are not some little monster, but a child your father and everyone else can be proud of."
He turned and walked away, his shadow heavy and desolate on the ground. ...
In the training ground where the Su Family provided its younger members a chance to improve their physical fitness, dozens of young children were running with determination and sweat streaming down their innocent faces. There were boys and girls of varying heights, but all were dedicated; even though drenched in sweat, not one complained of exhaustion.
"Xue’Er, hang on just a little longer; two more laps to go!"
A sharp-featured girl with shoulder-length short hair called out.
Behind her was a panting young girl. She wore a gray short-sleeved practice outfit, her round face flushed from the intense running, and the sweat streamed down like rain.
"Sister, I can’t go on, I’m so tired..."
Su Xue lamented. She was only seven, clearly lacking in stamina compared to the nine-year-old Su Yu. After a few laps, every ounce of her energy had been depleted.
Her older sister by two years, Su Yu, wiped the sweat from her face while running and called back, "Xue’Er, don’t give up so easily. Have you forgotten what Father taught us? We are girls, already naturally weaker than boys. Only through harder training can we compensate for our weakness. We cannot disappoint Father!"
Su Xue’s heart quivered, and she gritted her teeth, forcing her flushed face to keep running, letting the last bit of strength drain from her body...
Finally, they completed a full ten laps. Su Xue bent over, gasping for air, and glanced at the other children of the family seeing they too were out of breath, unable to stand up straight. A sense of pride surged in her heart.
The one responsible for their training was a bearded brute holding a whip named Han Nu. Wearing a black training vest, his strong muscles were bursting with explosive beauty, "Alright, today’s training ends here. Gather here again at the same time tomorrow, you’re dismissed!"
He clapped his hands around the whip and was about to leave when he suddenly heard a rapid sequence of footsteps from the start of the training track not far away.
He turned to see a short, closely-cropped little boy charging forward with all his might, his face still showing traces of childishness yet filled with an indomitable spirit.
Han Nu furrowed his thick eyebrows, his expression surprised, but soon he sighed and turned away. Though he admired Su Chen’s persistence, he couldn’t go against the family elders’ instructions.
"Sister, it’s Su Chen!"
Su Xue exclaimed as she watched the boy running quickly.
Su Yu, who had regained her breath, also widened her eyes, looking in amazement at the fast-running Little Su Chen, her rosy lips slightly parted, "Why did he come here too?"
"Sister, Su Chen is already five, but he’s never had the opportunity to train with us..."
Su Xue’s face turned gloomy, her eyes glistening as though about to shed tears.
"He doesn’t need training; that’s what Father and the elders said because his blood already contains the Spirit Beast lineage..."
Su Yu gazed with a complex look at Su Chen, who was still running desperately, and spoke calmly.
"But... it’s been five years, and Su Chen still hasn’t cultivated any techniques. I’ve heard Father say that obtaining the Spirit Beast’s bloodline allows one to cultivate techniques and skills, but..."
Su Xue continued regretfully, yet her eyes remained fixed on Su Chen in the field as she bit her lip and spoke softly.
Su Yu sighed gently, shaking her head, "Xue’Er, let’s focus on ourselves. Besides, Father said not to approach Su Chen; he’s considered an ominous person..."
Su Xue trembled, an inexplicable bitterness rising in her heart, "But Su Chen, he’s so pitiful, always playing alone without anyone."
At this moment, the family youth who had just been dismissed unexpectedly walked toward Su Chen in the field. Leading them was a handsome, brown-haired boy accompanied by a cute girl with a ponytail.
"Su Ya, is he the little monster you mentioned before, the one who supposedly killed a Spirit Master, Su Chen?"
The boy asked with a haughty expression.
The girl nodded, a sparkle in her doe eyes, her lips curling faintly, "That’s right, he is Su Chen. Long Dan, what do you plan to do?"
The boy’s lips curled with mischief, a gleam of amusement in his eyes, "I’ve heard about him from my grandfather for a long time but never had a chance to meet him. Today, I finally can."
Leading the group with authority, Long Dan moved towards Su Chen as Su Xue anxiously tugged her sister Su Yu’s hand, "Sister, they are going over there!"
Su Yu blinked, her gaze landing on Su Chen, who was drenched in sweat. After a moment, she spoke slowly, "Xue’Er, let’s head back. Father will be worried if we’re late..."
Su Xue protested, "Can you bear to watch Su Chen getting bullied? That Long Dan, emboldened by his grandfather’s position as an Outer Executor of the Cyan Dragon Judgment Institute, is so arrogant!"
Su Yu glanced at her sister with a slightly admonishing look, "Xue’Er, why do you care so much about Su Chen?"
Su Xue was momentarily speechless, her face turning scarlet, "Sister, what are you talking about? Xue’Er doesn’t understand. I just know that Su Chen is pitiful. All these years, no one wants to play with him. Everyone mocks and ridicules him, sometimes even ganging up to bully him. Can you really turn a blind eye to that?"
"There’s nothing we can do even if we don’t like it; it’s condoned by the elders, so we can’t interfere. Xue’Er, let’s go back. Father must be anxious by now."
Su Yu continued to shake her head in silence.
"I’m not going back. If you want to go, go by yourself. I...I’m going to help Su Chen!"
Su Xue pouted defiantly, then suddenly let go of Su Yu’s hand and ran towards Su Chen.
Su Yu called out helplessly, following along.
Long Dan and his group formed a line, blocking Su Chen in the midst of his run. Su Chen bent over, breathing heavily, then looked up in bewilderment at these youths a few years older than him, his voice still slightly muffled, "What do you want?"