TheLazyDreamer
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68. A Son's Promise
🕑 Added 2025-05-18 13:18:46 +0000 UTCWithout hesitation, Su Kang followed his father into the study. Inside, the scent of parchment and spiritual wood mingled with the faint scent of beast blood ink in the air. Scrolls and books were neatly stacked on a nearby table, filled with records of the family's affairs.
Su Chen took a seat, his expression unreadable as silence stretched between them, heavy and expectant. Finally, he spoke. "Have you truly decided to be with her, despite the danger?" There was no need to clarify; he was talking about Bai Yunxi.
Su Kang met his father's gaze without hesitation. "Yes, Father." His voice was firm.
Su Chen studied him for a moment before sighing. "It may sound foolish and reckless to me… but I assume you have given this serious thought."
Su Kang nodded. "I have. I know this decision might seem impulsive in your eyes, but I assure you, I have thought deeply about it." He didn't want his parents to be constantly worried about his relationship with Bai Yunxi.
“I see.” Su Chen closed his eyes, leaning back slightly in his chair. 'So he is confident about whatever opportunity he got.' Another moment of profound silence passed, the air almost crackling with unspoken tension.
Su Kang considered speaking further, hoping to reassure his father. But before he could, Su Chen's voice broke the stillness. "I want you to undergo the Seal Engraving Ceremony."
Su Kang frowned slightly. The Seal Engraving Ceremony… what's this? He had never heard of such a thing. "Father, what is this ceremony?" he asked, puzzled.
Su Chen opened his eyes, his gaze thoughtful. "It is a tradition that was abandoned in my generation. The family deemed it meaningless in our current times." He paused before explaining further.
"When a man takes a woman, he takes her burdens as his own. He vows to protect her, to build a home with her, and to stand against any obstacles that threaten their home. The seal symbolizes this oath."
Su Kang listened intently, absorbing every word, sensing the weight of the tradition his father was revealing to him.
Su Chen's gaze grew distant, a veil of memory drawing over his eyes, as if recalling something from an old era. "But as our family grew stronger, our power and name became enough to shield the family. This ritual lost its significance. The younger generations no longer saw the need for it."
Su Kang furrowed his brows. "Then… why do you want me to take part in it?" he asked, a thread of confusion woven into his tone.
Su Chen's gaze softened, the usual sternness momentarily receding, a hint of paternal warmth tracing his voice. "Because you have started a family of your own." He paused, letting the words settle in the hushed atmosphere of the study.
"You chose this relationship, unlike the one you have with us. You didn't choose us as your parents—you were simply born into this family. But she—she is your closest family now, apart from blood relations." His voice turned firm then, each word imbued with a quiet authority. "You must protect your new family, Kang'er. This seal will serve as a reminder of your vow, your responsibility."
Su Kang remained silent, absorbing his father's words, the weight of their meaning pressing upon him like a physical burden. After a moment, a sense of duty settling over his initial confusion, he nodded. "As you wish, Father. I will do it." Truthfully, he didn't see much use in the ritual. But since his father had asked, he would honor his wishes.
Su Chen's expression softened further, the lines around his eyes crinkling faintly. He gestured for his son to come closer. "Come here."
Su Kang stepped forward. Su Chen stood up and looked at his son deeply, his eyes tracing the lines of Su Kang's face with intensity. For a moment, he wasn't seeing the young man standing before him—he was remembering the infant he once held in his arms, so small and fragile back then.
A rare, warm smile appeared on Su Chen's face, transforming his usually severe features. He reached out and gently patted Su Kang's shoulder. "You've grown up, Kang'er… It feels like just yesterday I first held you in my hands, but now you are already this big."
Then, in a low voice thick with a sudden, uncharacteristic emotion, he said, "Though it's late to say this, but my son... congratulations on your marriage.”
Su Kang felt warmth bloom in his chest, a sudden, unexpected surge of emotion that tightened his throat. His fingers curled into a fist at his side as he bowed deeply to his father. “Thank you, Father. I will not let anything happen to our family. Be it her or the Su family."
Su Chen nodded, a look of quiet satisfaction crossing his face. "Hmm, good. Go now. Your mother must be waiting."
Su Kang turned to leave but hesitated, a familiar, poignant ache suddenly clutching at his chest. As Arya, he had never voiced his gratitude or love for his family. Even in his dying moments, regret clung to him like a persistent shadow—he had never once told them he loved them. He had only ever apologized for his failures. That was all Arya had left behind. A silent regret no one ever heard. He wouldn’t make the same mistake this time, not in this life.
Taking a deep breath, his resolve solidifying like tempered steel, he turned back to his father. "Father."
Su Chen raised an eyebrow, his gaze questioning at his son’s serious expression and abrupt return. “Did you have something more to say?"
Then,Su Kang spoke from the depths of his heart, the words raw and untainted by past regrets. "Thank you for everything. It was my blessing to have been born as your son. I love you, Father." His voice was steady, yet beneath it lay years of unspoken emotions, a lifetime of filial piety finally given voice.
Su Chen's expression stiffened, his eyes widening almost imperceptibly. He didn't answer. He just looked at his son, his gaze slightly intense, searching, perhaps even stunned. Without waiting for his father's response, feeling a strange mix of vulnerability and relief, Su Kang turned and left the quiet study.
Su Chen remained still, his expression almost petrified, as if the words had struck him with physical force. Only when Su Kang's figure disappeared beyond the intricately carved doorway did he slowly sit back down, his fingers pressing against his knee as if to ground himself.
A small, quiet smile touched his lips, a flicker of something warm and profound. "This sudden change in him… is it because of her?" he murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the room.
When Su Kang returned to the hall, Dong Yue was sitting quietly, her gaze distant and unreadable, as if lost in a myriad of thoughts. As he approached, the soft sound of his footsteps breaking the silence, she slowly lifted her eyes, observing him closely.
He stopped before her, waiting, a respectful stillness in his posture. For a long moment, she said nothing, the air thick with unspoken sentiments. Then, she sighed softly, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of her maternal heart.
"As a woman, I sympathize with her. I wish for her happiness." She paused, her voice softening, a flicker of genuine empathy in her eyes. "But I am also a mother, Kang'er. And as a mother… I want my child to be safe more than anything." Her words were gentle, yet heavy with unspoken fears, each syllable a testament to her deep-seated concern.
Seeing his mother's worry etched so clearly on her face, Su Kang knelt down before her, his movement fluid and earnest, and gently took her hands into his own. His warm palms enveloped hers, offering a silent current of reassurance.
"Mother, I have obtained a great opportunity. With it, I believe I can face this situation. Nothing will happen to your child." His gaze remained steady as he looked into her eyes, his own reflecting a quiet, unwavering confidence. "Is this enough for you to stop worrying?" he asked in a soft, gentle tone.
Dong Yue observed him carefully, searching for any sign of hesitation, any crack in his assured facade. So this is the truth behind his confidence, she thought to herself, a spark of understanding igniting within her. After a long moment, a silent battle of worry and hope waging within her, she exhaled deeply.
"Alright. I won't dwell on it anymore." She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a space ring, placing it gently in his palm. "This is a gift from us to our daughter-in-law." Her voice was soft, tinged with a trace of regret, as if mourning a dream deferred. "It was my dream to celebrate your wedding in a grand manner, but in this situation.... this is all I can do for now."
Su Kang tightened his grip around the ring, feeling the weight of her words and the unspoken love they carried. "Thank you, Mother."
Comments
§ilvringtinker
Awww so sweet 🥰
