Outside, village chief Wendelin, Emilia, and the villagers all were waiting in tense silence.
For them, the old man was far too important.
Unfortunately, today they were just waiting for a bad news.
At last, an old man supported by a walking stick came outside and announced:
"Miracle doctor Kevin Woodinson has passed away."
The news pressed down heavily on everyone’s heart. Some wept openly, some prayed, and some began the cremation procedure with strict order.
Vahn walked out slowly, as he stared blankly ahead. The consoling words of neighbors, Emilia and others, didn’t even reach his ears.
It wasn’t just because of the sadness of parting. But also due to what the old man had revealed before passing away.
"Vahn... there are truths I can no longer hide.
The name you bear, Vahn Woodison... it is not your true name. You are Vahn Necrotis, last son of a fallen noble line from the Demonic Faction.
And I... I am not your grandfather. My name is Kevin Woodinson. I was the one who took you from your cradle. I stole you away, delivered you into the hands of the righteous faction. I... I did it so they could perform their Divine Ritual.
You were born with a rare and dreadful gift called the Void Physique. With it, you became their only key. The ritual bound you to seven extraordinary women who would one day be called your brides. Through your physique, they gained unimaginable strength, but every breath of power they received... was taken from you. That is why you have lived so frail, so weak back then.
At first, I believed in their cause. I believed their talk of righteousness, of eternal peace. But in time, I saw the truth. Their greed, their cruelty. They were not saving the world, Vahn... they were stealing it, piece by piece, through you.
"I should never have obeyed them. I should never have delivered you into their hands. That sin is mine to carry. And so, I took you away and raised you as my own. It was I who placed the Seal of Seven Moons upon you, to hide you from their prying eyes. But there was a cost. You can’t cultivate while the Seal is active.
But all those years of mental training and hard work won’s be in vain. The knowledge I taught, the experience you gained, will greatly aid you to fight back, to reclaim what was taken from you."
His voice grew softer, but the words were no less heavy.
"But be careful, Vahn. Once you break the Seal, there’s no going back. They’ll come for you, no matter where you hide—whether in heaven or hell."
A brief pause, before he spoke once more, the sorrow in his voice undeniable:
"I would have loved to see you grow up and fight..."
His words faltered, almost lost in the wind. "But alas, it seems the heavens themselves have cursed my very existence for my sins. While fleeing from the Holy Land, I was inflicted with a deadly poison that slowly rotted away my soul. And now, the time for saying farewell has come."
The old man’s breathing grew fainter.
"I have only one request for you, Vahn. If you ever find the heart to forgive me for separating you from your parents, please take some time to visit my family. Although, after what I did, I am unsure if they still alive or not.
---
The old man’s every word, every sentence, echoed in Vahn’s heart. For a long while, he couldn’t fathom what he should do next.
Even when the old man was laid to rest in the bronze coffin, his gaze remained blank.
After the cremation ceremony, when everyone had left for their, Vahn stood there alone. For a long time, he didn’t move a muscle. Emilia had come to pick him up several times, but each time, she failed to reach him.
That cold night, he slept in the graveyard, surrounded only by the howls of animals and the calls of night owls.
However, as the first rays of the eastern sky touched his face, clarity returned.
"That’s right," he suddenly murmured through his cracked lips. "Grandfather, you weren’t at fault. You took care of me more than my real parents had. To me, you will always be my grandfather..."
The moment those words left his lips, a gentle glow erupted from the grave, as if to signify that the old man was finally at peace.
Next, he returned to the old bamboo house, sorting through the belongings of the man who had raised him. One by one, he packed them away in a cloth bag.
Once everything was in place, he picked the ancient Jade scroll under his clothes, amd started walking toward the distant mountain.
He was not leaving the Village, not yet. He intend to study the seal. To decide if he should break it or not. For this he needed a quiet place.
As Vahn made his way through the village, the villagers cast puzzled glances his way. None of them seemed to understand why he was heading toward the mountains alone.
But then, a smiling youth stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"Vahn, I’ve just returned from the sect to meet you. And yet you’re going somewhere after ignoring me? Are you mad because I wasn’t able to return in time for your grandfather’s funeral?"
Vahn paused, eyes narrowing as he studied the youth. The youth wore fine blue robes and carried a beautifully crafted silver sword in hand.
Vahn recognized him immediately. The youth standing before him was Orion Falgur, the only male friend Vahn had ever had.
Forcing a smile, he replied,
"No, that’s not it, Orion. Why would I be angry at you? Grandfather died because fate willed it. Right now, I’m just going out to find some peace of mind in the nature."
It was a lie, of course. Vahn just didn’t want anyone near him when he broke the Seal. Not even his closest friend.
Vahn, Orion, and Emilia had grown up together. The three of them were notorious for their pranks and troublemaking around the village.
But as time passed, their bond began to weaken. Once Orion became a cultivator and joined a prestigious sect in the nearby city, the distance between them had only grown.
But it seemed Orion still cared for their friendship.
"Should I follow you, Vahn? There are wild beasts out there. You could get yourself into trouble..."
Vahn shook his head. Even if danger awaited, he knew he had to go there alone.
"I’ll be fine. You should go and meet Emilia instead. She misses you a lot."
"Oh, okay then. Just stay careful... But don’t forget to meet me at my house. I will be leaving the village in two days."
Orion couldn’t say anything else. He watched Vahn walk away, suspicion flickering in his eyes. But, in the end, he dismissed his concern. There were more important matters waiting for him.