Returned to the present, Qing Feng couldn't hold back his tears after hearing the Willow Tree's sorrowful tale of Ren Chao. His sobs broke free, echoing among the ancient trees that stood as silent witnesses to past tragedy.
"Ren Chao's past... it's truly heartbreaking," Qing Feng whispered between choked sobs. "I always thought of him as a cruel and merciless figure. But it turns out... he too once possessed a heart full of kindness."
The Willow Tree sensed the deep sorrow within Qing Feng's heart. With a slow, deliberate motion, it extended its long branch and gently caressed Qing Feng's hair, as if wishing to wipe away his tears.
"Don't be sad anymore," the Willow Tree whispered softly, its branch stroking Qing Feng's hair. "It is true that evil often takes root in wounded goodness. However, when one has claimed thousands of lives, they have crossed a line and are no longer worthy of being called good."
Qing Feng looked up at the sky, his heart throbbing with the pain he felt for the gaping wound within Ren Chao. Despite the jeers and bullying that had been a part of his own life, sympathy and compassion still blossomed within his heart.
With a bitter tone, Qing Feng whispered, "The heavens are a prison without bars, destiny is an invisible chain. In their eyes, we are but helpless pawns, dancing to a predetermined rhythm."
---
Back to the Year.
Returning to the past, to when Qing Feng was ten years old, he closed his eyes, allowing the memories of the Willow Tree's story to flood his mind. Tears trickled down his cheeks, a testament to the depth of the emotions he felt.
In the silence, Qing Feng whispered, "The world of my childhood is a mirror reflecting darkness. However, it is not the world itself that is evil, but the hearts of men that harbor hidden demons."
The Willow Tree's whispers of the dark and intricate world of cultivation had left a profound mark on Qing Feng's heart. A soul that was once as white as canvas was now being stained by shadows of doubt, and his innocent smile slowly faded, replaced by a gaze that was more ruthless and calculating.
Qing Feng's innocence slowly waned, replaced by a cold vigilance. His heart closed itself off from the outside world, leaving room only for the sincere trust he held for his parents and the Willow Tree, like an oasis in the arid desert, where the wellsprings of wisdom and compassion never ceased to flow.
The sun began to set, implying a farewell to a peaceful day. Qing Feng quickened his pace down the mountain, eager to return to the warmth of his family. However, in the distance, a horrifying sight greeted him: his village, once tranquil and peaceful, was now a sea of fire, black smoke billowing into the sky like a wrathful dragon.
Flames blazed, dancing in the night sky, and each lick of fire seemed to burn Qing Feng's heart. "Why is this happening? Have evil hands defiled the peaceful Tianen Village?" he whispered softly. Panic began to creep into every corner of his soul, causing him to stagger on the winding path.
Like an arrow released from its bow, Qing Feng shot towards his burning village. Sweat soaked his body, yet his spirit never flagged. The physical training he had endured had forged his body into steel, allowing him to run tirelessly, defying the limits of human ability.
---
Epilogue.
After running with all his might, Qing Feng finally arrived at his burning village. His lungs ached, each breath feeling like a shard of glass slicing through him. He now realized just how steep the mountain he had descended was, how far the distance that separated his home from the summit of silence.
Anger and worry burned in his soul as Qing Feng charged into his flame-engulfed village. With his heart pounding, he called out his parents' names, his voice drowned out by the roar of the fire and cries of pain, his face filled with panic as he realized he might have lost everything.
Amidst the blazing flames and billowing smoke, hope began to dwindle in Qing Feng's eyes. "Have my parents... passed away into the embrace of the heavens?" he whispered with a trembling voice, tears streaming down his dirty cheeks. "Please... don't let Qing Feng face this world alone," he lamented, his heart shattered into pieces like glass smashed by a stone.
Amidst the shadows of the fire and billowing smoke, the silhouette of his father appeared, dancing in death against an unseen force. Before Qing Feng could reach out his hand, a gentle yet firm tug from behind stopped him. His mother, with a face full of sadness and determination, pulled him away from that gruesome battlefield.
"Hush..." his mother whispered, her voice like the rustling of wind on a quiet night, her slender fingers touching his lips, a gesture for Qing Feng to silence all the questions raging within him. Her eyes, which usually radiated warmth and affection, were now filled with fear and burning resolve, as if holding secrets too heavy to express with words.
Qing Feng's face turned pale, shrouded in a fear that loomed over his heart. "I have never bowed my head to the heavens," he whispered with a trembling tone, anger and indignation flashing from his glittering eyes. "However, for the sake of my village, for the sake of the people I love, I beg you, oh heavens. Protect them from this calamity."
Do lives still bloom amidst the ruins of Tianen Village, or has death claimed everything without a trace? Will the heavens, which have been silent all this time, finally hear Qing Feng's plea, or will eternal silence be the answer that awaits him?
---
Chapter 5 Part 3 Completed.