Silence filled the chamber.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
The chief's gaze lingered on the symbol.
Just for a moment—
Too long to be nothing.
"…Where did you get this?" he asked quietly.
Li Xian didn't answer.
Instead—
He stepped closer.
"Chief," he said, voice steady,
"tell me the truth."
A pause.
The chief's expression returned to calm.
Controlled.
"There is no truth to tell," he replied.
Li Xian's eyes narrowed.
"You reacted."
Silence.
"You know what this is," Li Xian continued.
The chief didn't deny it.
But he didn't confirm it either.
"…It's something from the past," he said finally.
"Something that no longer exists."
Li Xian's grip tightened slightly.
"No longer exists…?"
The chief's gaze hardened.
"It disappeared long ago."
Disappeared.
That word again.
Li Xian's mind flashed—
The empty clearing.
The missing house.
"…Things don't just disappear," he said quietly.
The chief didn't respond.
Instead—
He looked at Li Xian.
Long.
Carefully.
Then—
Slowly—
He spoke.
"…So you truly want to know the truth, huh…?"
A pause.
"But…"
The word lingered.
Heavy.
Unfinished.
The chief's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Are you prepared for what comes with it?"
Silence.
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," Li Xian replied.
For a moment—
The chief simply watched him.
Then he exhaled quietly.
"…It belonged to a group," he said at last.
"A dangerous one."
"One that brought nothing but chaos."
The air in the room felt colder.
"And now?" Li Xian asked.
"…Gone," the chief replied firmly.
Too firmly.
Li Xian's eyes darkened.
"Then why does it feel like it's not?"
The chief didn't answer.
Instead—
"…Some things are better left untouched," he said quietly.
"Especially the past."
A long silence followed.
"…You're hiding something," Li Xian said softly.
No denial.
That was enough.
Li Xian exhaled slowly.
"Fine."
A pause.
"If you won't tell me…"
His eyes sharpened.
"I'll find it myself."
Without waiting—
He turned.
Step by step—
He walked toward the door.
His hand reached out—
Fingers touching the handle.
"…Li Xian."
He stopped.
The chief's voice was quieter now.
Heavier.
"…Alright."
A pause.
"I'll tell you."
Silence.
"But…"
A slow exhale.
"…if you truly want to know it that much…"
His voice lowered.
"…my child…"
Another breath.
"…then you must be ready to carry it."
Li Xian's hand loosened from the door.
Slowly—
He turned back.
His expression—
No longer uncertain.
He walked back.
Step by step.
And sat down in front of the chief.
This time—
Not as a student.
But as someone about to hear the truth.