At the very moment Shrek Academy won the match.
Chi Wang's gaze passed through the crowd, through their cries of surprise, congratulations, and complaints, and locked precisely onto Lan Changsheng in white.
The clamor seemed to have no effect on him. He passed through the noisy crowd, squeezed his way to Lan Changsheng's side, and looked up at him.
"Uncle Changsheng, we won!"
Chi Wang's eyes brimmed with expectation, longing for a word of approval, a little encouragement.
Lan Changsheng met Chi Wang's gaze. He understood what the boy was thinking.
"Yes, I saw."
The corners of Lan Changsheng's lips slowly rose into that gentle, refined, seemingly flawless smile he had practiced countless times.
It looked tender and full of approval.
Yet Chi Wang instinctively gave a slight shiver.
Spirit Eyes excelled at discerning things, seeing through minute changes, and sensing the flow of emotion. Besides, he was someone who had been "saved" by Lan Changsheng's warm smile.
Chi Wang saw it with absolute clarity: now, Lan Changsheng's smile held none of what it once had.
That gentle smile appeared on Lan Changsheng's face, but no warmth stirred with it in the depths of his eyes.
The smile was truly there on his face, but the emotion... was motionless.
Like an exquisite mask.
Chi Wang's heart suddenly clenched.
An inexplicable unease quietly crept into his heart.
He could not understand what was happening.
Uncle Changsheng was clearly smiling at him.
But why couldn't I feel that joy from the bottom of his heart?
Chi Wang pressed his lips together, withdrew his gaze, and clenched his fists.
Deep inside, he silently swore, I have to work even harder at cultivating and become stronger.
*Once I'm strong enough someday, perhaps I'll understand what's wrong with Uncle Changsheng. Perhaps I'll be able to