Chapter Twenty-Three: Solitary and Alone

"Iceflame, this is your New Year's money from your grandmother. Take it; these seven thousand yuan are yours."

Taking the red envelope from the maid, Han Liang approached Han Iceflame and said calmly.

So it really is like this! Han Bingwu's eyes grew even more furious, as if he wished to tear Iceflame apart. Han Iceflame's heart surged with excitement—had his grandmother finally forgiven him? In his thrill, he had completely forgotten: had he even done anything wrong? Was there anything to be forgiven?

But Iceflame's joy did not last long. Han Liang's next words tore his heart to shreds. Her tone shifted coldly, expressionless: "However, this will be the last time I give you anything. From now on, I hope you will no longer bear the Han surname. What you choose to call yourself is up to you. And you need not return here again."

By the end, Han Liang had used every ounce of strength she possessed.

Han Iceflame's face turned pale as snow; his mind was a void. He understood his grandmother's words: she was banishing him from the Han family. Previously, he had been forbidden to return to the clan's estate; now, she was erasing his name from the family records altogether.

Beside them, Han Bingran and Han Qianyun were stunned. Turning toward the family matriarch, they stared in disbelief, unable to fathom her decision. In that instant, Han Bingran felt her own heart shatter. She wanted to bear her brother's pain, but she could not... tears streamed down her cheeks beyond control.

Why? The silent hall lingered in quiet for a long time. The corners of Han Iceflame's lips curled into a cold smile. The Han family? Did they think he cared? If not for his sister and mother, he would have long ago... Sister, mother?

"There will be a big surprise for you soon, an absolute surprise." "I won't tell you now, you'll see soon enough." And before Han Liang arrived: "Later, give brother a surprise."

Memories surged forth. Iceflame quickly turned toward his sister, only to see the pain etched on her face, as if she had wronged him. He looked to his mother; Han Qianyu hastily turned her head, avoiding his gaze.

"The reason I made this decision is because of your own actions." Han Liang's icy voice echoed through the vast hall. "A few days ago, did you sneak into the family's treasure pavilion and try to steal the Creation Jade Disc?"

"Only Bingran knew about this—how did Grandmother find out?"

Boom—a disaster he dreaded had come to pass. Had he been abandoned by everyone?

Han Iceflame's thoughts became chaotic; a flame of hatred burned in his chest. He hated his own weakness, hated the Han family for mocking him, but most of all, he hated his mother and sister for feigning concern, only to cast him aside.

His eyes scanned the room, taking in all those present—some mocking, some gloating—before finally resting on Han Liang and her closest kin.

"I understand. From today onward, I am no longer Han. I will never set foot in the Han family again." Han Iceflame gritted his teeth and spat the words harshly. If none wanted him, why should he stay?

"Ah—" Clutching the red envelope, Han Iceflame raised his head and let out a sky-shaking howl, a cry that seemed to shake the heavens and earth, causing the entire Han estate to tremble. Then he hurled the money upward; seven thousand yuan, bill by bill, crimson notes raining down like blood.

"Brother—" Han Bingran's voice trembled. She could feel her brother's pain and struggle. She stood quietly at his side, trying to comfort him with her voice, but was it any use?

Han Iceflame gazed quietly at his sister's face, his voice still trembling, as if muttering to himself: "Why...?"

Han Iceflame left. After speaking to Han Bingran, leaving behind that unwilling "why," he staggered out, wordless. No one saw the helpless tear that slipped from his eye as he looked away from Bingran—a tear where love and hate were severed.

The tranquil manor, the silent crowd, all watched him depart, step by step, growing distant. That night, his shadow left no imprint on the estate's ground, but remained in everyone's heart, leaving only sorrow, loneliness, helplessness—a feeling of heartbreak.

Why was his figure so lonely? Why did his silhouette seem so solitary? Han Qianyun suddenly felt a deep ache in her heart, her nose stinging as tears unbidden welled up. Turning aside to wipe her eyes, she saw that her sister Han Qianyu's eyes were wet as well. Looking around, she realized everyone was staring in a daze at that solitary figure.

In that moment, they finally realized how much sorrow was hidden within that frail body. But none noticed the strange emotion flickering in Han Liang's eyes.

As Han Iceflame disappeared around the corner of the gate, no one moved. They all stared at the empty entrance, feeling as if a shadow lingered there—a solitary shadow. That silent loneliness, helpless loneliness, stubborn loneliness, bitter loneliness.

"Ah—" A long sigh, unnoticed and unremarked, for none felt inclined to pay attention. The sigh echoed in their hearts, almost simultaneously. In Han Bingran's heart, too, lingered Han Iceflame's final, unwilling "why."

What had really happened?

Suddenly realizing, she knew her brother must have misunderstood her. She wanted to explain, struggling, but her mother Han Qianyu held her tight...

"Let me go, Mother... Let me go, I need to explain to Brother..." Forced to yield, Han Qianyu tapped her daughter's sleep acupoint to calm her.

The Han family remained silent. The people remained wordless, drifting away without a single greeting. Each bowed their heads, occasionally glancing back at the empty gate... Was New Year's Eve to pass just like this?

※※※Feather※※※Emperor※※※

Awakening in the dark, Han Bingran suddenly sat up in bed and seized her mother Han Qianyu's hand, asking urgently, "Where is Brother? Where is Brother? What happened? Why did Grandmother drive him out of the family?"

Han Qianyun shared the confusion. Why had everything happened so suddenly? Could Iceflame really have done something wrong? Stolen the Creation Jade Disc? Impossible... Iceflame had always been well-behaved; he would never do such a thing. Seeing her sister's face clouded with pain, she wondered, If you don't want this, why not try to persuade Mother?

"Let me explain." Han Liang patted Han Qianyu's shoulder, her gaze deep as she looked out the window. "Everything I've done is for the Han family!"

"For the Han family, you banished Brother?" Han Bingran spoke coldly, with a hint of resentment. The others stared in surprise, especially Han Liang—her obedient granddaughter had never defied her before. But now...

Han Liang sighed silently, accepting it. "You may think my actions are questionable, but I am confident I did not err. Well, I will tell you..."

"You know, our Han family has always guarded a certain thing, but I am not permitted to tell you what it is. Only the clan leader may know. Yet there is a public secret: the Plume Prophet. Every three hundred years, our family produces a prophet of the Plume lineage, who, through their power of foresight, predicts the Han family's fortunes for three centuries ahead. If disaster threatens, we can prepare in advance. Besides their prophetic ability, upon maturity, the prophet also gains immense power."

This, Han Bingran and the others knew, and nodded in unison.

"But there is a secret you do not know. When the previous Plume Prophet passed away, they left behind a prophecy concerning our family's fate. You know that foreseeing the future is a defiance of heaven, and heaven punishes such acts; thus, prophets who use their gift never live past thirty." This is true—but if the prophet does not use their foresight, they can enjoy a normal, even greater lifespan, and their power remains a fact.

"What prophecy?" the group pressed.

Han Liang composed herself and spoke: "When the next Plume Prophet appears—in other words, this generation—a strange event will occur. A martial arts failure, born with congenital blockage of the meridians, will gain immense power. He will become the variable in our family's fate. Because of his presence and role, the Han family will no longer produce prophets, and will decline to become merely a martial clan. We will withdraw from the divine races, and the heavenly treasure our family guards will be lost, scattered to dust."

"Ah—" Han Bingran and Han Qianyun exclaimed in shock, while Han Qianyu showed little surprise, as if she already knew.

"And you must remember—this information must never be revealed to anyone, absolutely no one!"