Mo Shatian just stared at Xiao Ling and was silent for a while. The facial expressions and tone of voice he heard felt as if Xiao Ling was blaming himself for everything that happened. But he saw that, that wasn't the case here, at least after he knew the whole story.

"Uncle Ling, I don't think you need to blame yourself for what happened to my parents. I'm sure it was something that was beyond your control."

Mo Shatian understood exactly what he should do, he realized that Xiao Ling had probably kept all of this tightly within himself.

"For my father, he went of his own free will without coercion from anyone, I'm sure he did so knowing full well the risks and dangers he would face. As for my mother, I'm sure she feels grateful that you were willing to look for him despite knowing that you may or may not be able to find him."

What he had to do was to free Xiao Ling from the shackles he had been in. No one else could do that but himself, as he was the only person who was not only directly connected to but also affected by Xiao Ling's guilt.

"So I want you to stop blaming yourself for something you can't control. I think it's time for you to start accepting it."

Accepting the past as it is, living life in the present, and hoping for the future. That's what Mo Shatian is trying to convey.

Xiao Ling opened his eyes wide and suddenly started laughing—laughing so freely. There were tears in the corners of his eyes. The laughter sounded like it was full of sadness and resignation, but it was also full of relief. Like a dam that had been holding back the flood, it had finally started to open.

A laugh with a cathartic melody.

Mo Shatian looked at it with great surprise and just waited quietly for the laughter to end.

Xiao Ling, who had finished laughing, looked extremely relieved and began to wipe his wet face. The expression he gave seemed so peaceful.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to let go of this lingering regret. I haven't felt this free in a long time." Xiao Ling said, a smile blooming on his face.

"I'm glad to hear that."

"You said there was something you wanted to know, right? Don't hold back and ask me what's on your mind, I'll answer everything I can."

There was a slight change when compared to before, Xiao Ling's speaking style became much more relaxed than before, and he also became more comfortable than before.

Although it was subtle, it was not missed by Mo Shatian, and this change caused him to become confused.

Xiao Ling seemed to realize the confusion Mo Shatian was showing due to the change in atmosphere and suddenly smiled, "There's no need to be confused. I feel like we can talk more comfortably like this."

"Even if you say it like that, it's still hard for me to do it all of a sudden."

"Yeah, I guess so... Then what about what I said before?"

"After hearing everything, I don't think there's anything I can ask for now. I want to think and organize about what happened and what I heard today."

"Is that so? Alright, take as much time as you need and think thoroughly to reach whatever answers and conclusions you come to, then come back after you have done so." Xiao Ling said, a smile breaking out on his face.

With nothing more to talk about, Mo Shatian got up from his chair before finally leaving the room after thanking Xiao Ling.

Xiao Lin was seen standing in front of the exit door of the house, as if waiting for someone to arrive. When Mo Shatian's eyes met hers, Xiao Lin quickly moved to his side.

Mo Shatian realized that Xiao Lin had been waiting for him. He waited for a while, hoping to hear what Xiao Lin would say to him. But even after a while had passed since Xiao Lin stood beside him, all she did was glance at him and open and close her mouth many times.

A really awkward look. She probably didn't know what she wanted to express.

After there was no change for a while, Mo Shatian sighed and decided to take the initiative. "Don't worry. You don't need to force yourself to say anything. I need time to think things over for now." Mo Shatian said as he walked out of the house.

***

A beautiful full moon towered high in the sky, illuminating the darkness of the world and dispelling the restlessness brought about by the dark night.

Mo Shatian walked around the village towards his home. The shining moonlight illuminated the path he traveled while his mind was filled with various things, such as himself, the village, and also the cultivator.

After hearing everything, I wondered what I really wanted to do.

"—son?"

Lost in his musings, Mo Shatian did not realize that someone was speaking to him. Until finally, that person stood right in front of him, startling him. That person was Elder who came from outside the village and had even saved him before.

"Is there something that makes you so immersed in your thoughts that you are unaware of your own surroundings?" Asked the Elder with a curious face.

"Ah... yes. There's something I'm thinking about right now." Mo Shatian replied with a slightly surprised tone.

"If you can't find the solution yourself, why not try seeking advice from others?" Elder said it in a soft voice.

There was a moment's pause before he opened his mouth to speak. "Then...may I ask for your advice on the problem I'm facing?"

Before speaking his intentions, Mo Shatian had carefully considered who and what advice he should seek, and in the end, after going through several processes, he found the answer. He was certain that only Elder could provide a solution to something that was bothering him at the moment.

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If it was him, a cultivator, and also someone who was not from the village, might be able to provide a clue.

"And what kind of advice can I give you?"

"Can you give me some insight into what I should do? Especially regarding the cultivator and this village?"

Mo Shatian could feel that his entire body was pierced under Elder's gaze. He wondered if he had done something impolite, like asking for his opinion directly. But before he apologized and retracted his words, Elder intercepted him by speaking first.

Elder studied him carefully and nodded a few times. "Hmmm, I understand. You must have felt indecisive and lost after the revelation that happened today. And thanks to that, your view of the village as well as the villagers has completely changed, right? Yet you still don't know what you really want to do in the midst of all this, am I wrong?" Elder said while stroking his beard.

Mo Shatian subconsciously swallowed his own saliva. What the Elder explained really hit the mark, not only understanding his intentions that even he himself had trouble expressing, but also how he saw and felt after all the sudden events.

"Y-Yes. Everything is exactly as you said, Elder."

"In that case, there is no advice I can give regarding your current problem."

Shocked by the unexpected answer, Mo Shatian just stared blankly at Elder's face, unable to believe what he was hearing.

His hopes were completely shattered, without a trace. Like a light of hope that was shattered by darkness without leaving a spark.

Elder sighed, seeing Mo Shatian's state. "Don't look at me like that. I understand what you mean, and it's true that there is no solution I can provide. The answer has always been within you all along."

Elder continued, in a more serious tone, "If you start looking for answers for yourself, then what are you to yourself, if your own existence is defined by others?"

Mo Shatian felt like he was struck by lightning, a realization that pierced into his mind. A word that was profound, shook his soul, and questioned his very existence.

Mo Shatian was completely confused by everything that happened today, almost losing his way. He almost made the wrong decision, and ended up having to pay the price.

If there is someone who has bad intentions, then this is the best opportunity to influence him—when he is in a lost state—by enticing him with something, which will eventually lead him through his nose.

But fortunately, the person he met was Elder and could give him guidance without having to rely on anyone else.

There was no longer a fog of doubt shrouding his eyes, but only a clear, water-like reflection visible in his eyes.

"Thank you very much. Thanks to your advice, I finally had an epiphany." Mo Shatian said while bowing.

Mo Shatian realized that his mother had given him the choice; the rest was for him to decide.

Elder smiled and nodded after seeing the clarity and determination in Mo Shatian's eyes. "Then I'll go to Xiao Ling's place, there's something I want to talk to him about."

After seeing the Elder walk away, Mo Shatian continued his travel with steady steps.

***

Xiao Ling still hadn't left his room after his last conversation with Mo Shatian. He recalled the previous conversation several times until he came to his own conclusion.

Just as I thought, Shatian's words caused something that was holding back within me to finally be released.

It was like a key that unlocked the lock that had long confined Xiao Ling—a lock called guilt and regret.

Not long after, the sound of a knock on the door roused Xiao Ling from his reverie. It was Elder entering his room, led by Xiao Ning.

"Elder, I'm glad to see you back in good health." Xiao Ling welcomed him into his room.

Xiao Ling immediately invited him to sit down—the same seat Mo Shatian had occupied earlier.

This room was Xiao Ling's private room where he welcomed his guests; it was also where he had confidential and private discussions—it was also the same room where he first welcomed the Elder.

"I just returned from Misty Mountain to keep an eye on what's going on with the Heavenly Tribulation. But to my surprise, Misty Mountain turned out to be a much more dangerous place than I expected."

"—Much more dangerous than you thought?" Xiao Ling said, surprised by the revelation.

Elder's words made Xiao Ling recall the journey he made back then, although he only reached the middle of the forest back then, he could feel the extraordinary atmosphere of the Misty Mountain.

Especially the Spiritual Energy that was extremely abundant.

"That's right. I knew that a place with abundant Spiritual Energy would have its own inhabitants, after all, Magic Beasts are attracted by Spiritual Energy. But what surprises me is that, there aren't just Demon Beasts undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation living in the Misty Mountain."

"You mean..."

"Yes, I saw that there were three other Demon Beasts guarding and helping the Demon Beast going through the Heavenly Tribulation at the same time—they didn't even let me get close." Elder replied in a calm voice.

Xiao Ling became very worried after hearing that there were three more Demon beasts living in Misty Mountain. "...In that case, do you know which level those Demon Beasts are at?" Asked Xiao Ling, his voice trembling.

"Of course. I can tell you which level they are at based on the Spiritual Energy emitted by them. I think the Demon Beast that experienced the Heavenly Tribulation is at the First-tier and is trying to ascend to the Second-tier, and two of them are at the same level, which is at the Third-tier, but..." Elder paused, holding his voice. "But, there is one that is the most dangerous, and I think she is the leader, who is on the Sixth-tier."

Xiao Ling was surprised. "T-The Sixth-tier! So how was it when I and the others were able to return safely after going to Misty Mountain?"

Demon Beast at the Sixth-tier was not something cultivators at the Essence Condesation Realm could hope to fight against.

"I think in your case, it was probably because you were still in the forest surrounding Misty Mountain. But, when I tried to approach, and entered the mountain, I felt a strong killing aura. It was a warning given to anyone who tried to force their way into Misty Mountain. That Demon Beast has made Misty Mountain its territory." Elder said it in a clear tone.

I had no idea that there was something so dangerous like that. Could it be... could this be the reason why Misty Mountain is considered a restricted area?

Xiao Ling realized how foolish he was back then. Perhaps it was the right decision that he did not push himself any further at that time.

Hmm... There seems to be something I'm missing... Ah, right—

"I forgot to ask, what about the Demon Beast experiencing the Heavenly Tribulation?"

"What do you think? Of course, it should succeed. The possibility of success is very high. Because there are some Demon Beasts helping it." The elder replied.

There was a moment of silence in the room. "I met the boy on the way to this place, and I think I know what he's thinking, more or less." Elder said, with a smile on his face.

"After today's incident, I have said everything to the boy. I'm sure he must be very shaken and shocked right now." Xiao Ling said, his tone slightly guilty but also relieved.

"I understand your decision. It must have been very difficult to hide all this from him, after all, you are the one who has taken care of him until now. And I see that you have also taken his in as your own child, right?"

"Yes... That's what makes it even more difficult. Even my own daughter wasn't happy with my decision, but I'm relieved that I was finally able to be honest with him," Xiao Ling said, a smile on his face.

"Hmm... Don't worry about him, like I said, I've already met him. I think he'll be fine."

Xiao Ling let out a long sigh, feeling relieved that his worries were unnecessary.

"Upon closer inspection, it seems that something has changed—or, should I say, something has been set free within you. Has anything happened since you spoke with that boy?" Elder said as he narrowed his eyes.

"As expected, nothing escapes your insight, Elder." Xiao Ling said, "Ever since I started confessing everything to him, I've felt liberated. Without me realizing it, he has grown up to be much more mature than I imagined."

During his conversation with Mo Shatian, Xiao Ling realized that he had never moved on from the past. Guilt continued to shackle him, and those lingering feelings began to lock his heart. Perhaps, he could not forgive himself.

In the end, it was what the boy said that set him free. He had accepted his past, as he began to forgive herself.

That boy—Mo Shatian—was very similar to his own father. Whenever Xiao Ling looked at him, he sometimes saw a shadow of his best friend.

"I see. It seems like your conversation with that boy gave you forgiveness for yourself," Elder said.

"Yes. That's right," Xiao Ling replied, his face full of serenity.