The Cold Smile of Reunion

Night had fallen, and the dark spirits roamed freely. But a sudden gust of wind scattered them like leaves, as a blurry figure appeared through the shadows. It was Elder Wang, silently watching over Seung, whose unique Qi had begun to attract all the wandering evil spirits in the area.

He recalled a conversation from earlier, triggering a flashback.

Flashback

Fang Han stood solemnly, speaking to Elder Wang."As I cannot stay close to this child, you must protect him from the shadows," he said.Without a word, Elder Wang vanished into the darkness, his voice echoing in thought."This is the only thing I can do as your grandfather, my child ."

Back in the present, Seung clutched the ring he had received with excitement. He longed to ask his mother many questions, but the night had grown darker. With a sigh, he jumped into bed and fell asleep within minutes.

As the sun rose, so did Seung. Without wasting a moment, he began his training to increase his strength. Midway through, an idea struck him: to train using weights. Lost in thought, he accidentally punched a wall—and to his surprise, the wall crumbled like paper hit by a hammer.

From the shadows, Elder Wang watched with a satisfied nod."So the training is working."

Seung was stunned by his own strength. Again, a thought surrounded him, and while applying it. He opened his palm and focused his Qi. Channeling it through his body, he forced it into his hand—and suddenly, a golden light glowed from his palm, forming a condensed energy orb. He smiled with pride.

But behind him, the sky began to darken. A man with jet-black hair stood there, silently watching him with a sharp, unreadable gaze.

Suddenly, Elder Wang appeared out of thin air and shouted,"What do you want now, Ling Han?!"

Seung blinked. That name—Ling Han—it bore the same surname as his mother and grandfather.

Elder Wang's voice broke the silence:"He is your uncle. Your mother's elder brother."

Though expressionless, the man bore a resemblance to Seung's uncle from his previous life. Almost instinctively, Seung whispered,"Uncle Seo...?"

The man vanished into the mist—only to reappear behind Seung in an instant, enveloped in a dark aura. Elder Wang stepped forward, but with a simple wave of his hand, Ling Han hurled him back with ease.

Then, looking down at Seung, he asked coldly,"What did you just say?"

Seung, barely able to stand from the immense pressure, whispered again,"Uncle... Seo?"

The dark aura surrounding Ling Han halted. His stern expression cracked ever so slightly."Tianming..." he murmured.

Their eyes met—and he recognized him. It was his nephew, reincarnated into this world.

Tears welled up in Ling Han's eyes, though his face remained stone-like. Seung embraced him, crying aloud,"WHY?! Why did you do that?!"

Ling Han returned the hug gently, a rare smile breaking through.

From the shadows, Elder Wang watched in disbelief. The reunion before him seemed impossible.

Then Ling Han's cold gaze shifted to him, freezing him in place.

The atmosphere was suddenly broken by a sharp voice."What are you doing to my child?!"

It was Seung's mother, standing strong—but even she couldn't hide her fear. This man, once her sweet, kind brother, was unrecognizable now.

Memories of their past flashed in her mind. Ling Han had never spoken to her, no matter how hard she tried. Distant, cold, always buried in ancient scrolls and cultivating. He had walked the path of immortality—failing, only to vanish into seclusion for thirty years after refusing an arranged marriage.

Now, here he stood.

She trembled but stepped forward and embraced him."You don't need to ask for permission, Brother. Just come home."

Later that day, Seung and his uncle sat together in Seung's room. With a snap of his fingers, Ling Han summoned an invisible barrier around them.

"This is a sound-isolation barrier," he explained. "No sound can escape it—no one outside can hear us."

Seung was amazed by his uncle's power.

Then came the question he'd held in his heart."Uncle… why did you hang yourself?"

Ling Han replied calmly,"I never hung myself."

He went on to reveal the truth:"Even after the rumors, I stood strong. But the Chairwoman grew furious. She and another man beat me, faked the evidence, and staged it as suicide. When I opened my eyes again… I was a baby. In a new world. And slowly, I began to understand it."

Seung listened with wide eyes.

"I didn't speak to anyone," Ling Han continued, "My only thought was revenge. I wasn't born with talent like yours—but I have a system. Through it, I obtained a cursed book… one that spans lifetimes and dimensions. I used it only once—on her."

Seung asked in awe,"What happened to her?"

Ling Han grinned, a satisfied smile crossing his face."In that world, time moves faster than here. After 20 years of effort, I found out only 2 years had passed there. And I learned you had died, too."

He paused, then added,"The company went bankrupt. Her crimes were exposed—a streamer recorded her murdering someone. Sentenced to life in prison, she snapped, stole a guard's gun… and ended her own life."

Seung nodded slowly, emotions stirring.

"I'm relieved," he said softly.

Their laughter echoed throughout the entire clan compound—loud and unrestrained.

Outside, Seung's mother and Elder Wang stared at the door, terrified. They had never heard Ling Han laugh before.