While everyone has left Lin sat in his chair calmly waiting.

“Xiaowei come out” Lin said when he felt that everyone has left the proximity.

Xiaowei at that moment knew that Uncle Lin already knew he was there the moment he snuck in. Lin knew that Xiaowei was in the vent and has been releasing a small stream of qi to mask Xiaowei’s presence. This only worked because no one was searching for a presence and Lin only detected Xiaowei’s presence because he was the one that told Lei about the vent. He wanted Lei to know how the family came up with their decisions so there were less fighting and jealousy in the younger generation. So why didn’t he just let Xiaowei get discovered?

Especially on such an important topic that concerns his death, because he wants Xiaowei to understand his predicament. So what if he is only 8. A child will have to grow up eventually and babying them and treating them like a child will not help them grow into their own person with the brain to think. He wanted to take a gamble on Xiaotian’s child because Xiaotian has amazed him time and time again when they were growing up. Lin feels like Xiaowei will be that child who will make history.

Xiaowei got out of the vent and climbed down. He stood in front of Lin as streams of tears run down his gentle face. Lin brought his hand up and gently wipes off Xiaowei’s tears.

“Uncle” Xiaowei sobbed.

“Xiaowei come here” as he embraces Xiaowei, “it is going to be ok. It is going to be ok.” He repeated those words over and over as Xiaowei cried his eyes out.

After Xiaowei calmed down and left Uncle Lin, Xiaowei went to his parent’s grave. He sat on the beautiful cliff as it reached out into the vast sky. The moon arches over the cliff, shining light to the town below and the sea.

His parent’s grave sat on top of the cliff watching over this beautiful scenery. Xiaowei sat on the cliff in front of his parent’s grave hugging his knee as his head rest on it.

“Mom, dad I was happy today when I found out I was a dual elementalist. I was happy because I know how great it is and how proud you would have been of me. I was happy because I would not be a useless person. I would live up to other people’s expectations of being your son. I was happy because I could be your pride. But, I end up betraying everyone. I end up being a monster. I end up being a disease. I end being your shame.”

Xiaowei sat there quietly as he talked to his parent’s grave, letting out all his emotions.

“Am I evil? I know I am a threat to the family and yet I don’t want to die. I want to live. I don’t want to die. I don’t have the will to kill myself for the family. I am weak, cowardly, and the very opposite of dad.”

Xiaowei got up and walked pass his parent’s grave and sat at the end of the cliff.

“If I fall right here. I can end it all” Xiaowei muttered, “no more danger, no more worries, no more problems and I can see you soon”

Xiaowei laughed out bitterly and suddenly he doesn’t seem like an 8 year old anymore.

“I’m despicable aren’t I? I have the ability to end everyone’s suffering and I don’t want to too. I sit here whining about it to you and won’t do anything to solve the issue.”

“Xiaowei”

Xiaowei spun his head around and saw his uncle Ming.

“Xiaowei it’s getting late you should go back and sleep” Uncle Ming said gently.

“I want to stay here some more.”

“Why are you sad?” Uncle Ming asked. He sense that Xiaowei felt dejected. Uncle Ming didn’t imagine that Xiaowei heard the conversation.

“Nothing” Xiaowei muttered. He knew his uncle did nothing wrong but still couldn’t help answering him that way.

Ming felt that something was wrong and a flash cross his mind. Could Xiaowei have found out already? He quickly suppresses that thought since it was impossible. We just had the meeting two hours ago.

“Xiaowei would you like to tell Uncle Ming why you are feeling sad? Is it about your parents?” Ming remembered back then that every time there were events and Xiaowei seeing other kids happy with their parents would run here later and tell everything that happen to his parents. Sometimes he would even fall asleep here crying. Even though he never met his parents, he still felt a connection from all the stories that his uncle and aunt would tell him. Thus, every time he sees other people with their parents the feeling of longing, closeness that nobody but parents can provide.

Xiaowei didn’t reply. Ming sat down next to him and this silence dragged on for quite a few minutes.

“Xiaowei I know how much you wish your parents were alive. I also wish my little brother, and your mom was here today to see your test scores. They would be the proudest and happiest parents in the world.”

“But I’m a monster” Xiaowei retorted, “I don’t deserve this. I heard the conversation between everyone and I didn’t want to die. I wanted to live even through it would cause the family harm.”

Uncle Ming’s face flinched for a second but soon realize that he would have had to found out sooner or later. He brought his hand around Xiaowei’s head and hugged him tightly.

“It’s Uncle’s fault. I’m not strong enough to protect you” Ming’s voice wavered. “You are not a monster. Not wanting to die is a good thing. Your parents would not want you to die either. Having the will to live means your strong not weak.”

“But I would be causing trouble for all of you.”

“Ha. Xiaowei we are always in trouble. You are a blessing in disguise” Ming looked at Xiaowei proudly, “your parents would be proud of you even if you grow up to be an Asura. You did not ask for this.”

Xiaowei wailed out his feelings. Slowly his thoughts were getting clearer.

“Xiaowei know this. No one is born evil, bad or any of those. It’s the environment that makes them so. As long as you’re strong willed and care for others. You will never be a bad person. No one in this world can make everyone like them but everyone respects power. Grow up stronger. Become stronger than anyone has ever been on this planet. Turn this curse into a blessing. Make the name Asura a blessing.”

“Uncle I will become stronger. I will not let these Asura veins define my existence. I will become someone that Uncle, aunty, grandpa, grandma, and everyone can be proud of.”

“Uncle knows you will. Uncle also has a present for you tomorrow.”

“What is it?” Xiaowei asks rubbing his tears away.

“I will bring you to the market to get your first pet tomorrow.”

“Really?” Xiaowei’s eyes grew huge and the gloomy feeling from earlier slowly fades away as curiosity took over. Xiaowei vowed in his mind that no matter what the obstacles are in the future he will pass them one at a time but right now choosing a pet was more important.

“Really” Uncle Ming assured. Seeing Xiaowei becoming more lively made him felt happier and calmer too.

“Now run back home and go to sleep. We have to wake up bright and early tomorrow.”

“Ok Uncle Ming” Xiaowei replied and quickly got up shouted at his parents grave that Uncle Ming was going to get him a pet tomorrow and ran back home.

Ming sighed a breath of relief as he watch Xiaowei’s back become smaller and smaller.

“Xiaowei is a lot like you” Ming whispered looking out into the vast night sky.