The question struck Su Kang like a blow. It was innocent. It was devastating. A lump formed in his throat. He could not breathe. He bit down hard on his lower lip. He looked at his brother's perfect, empty face. He knew he couldn't cry. Not in front of him. It would only confirm his words. A painful smile bloomed on his face.

"Su Ting, you are a little different. That's true," he began. His voice cracked with emotion. "Do you know, even before you were born, I used to buy you toys and sweets? Every little thing I could find.”

He swallowed hard. He fought back the tide of grief. "Mother said if I kept doing that, you would get bored of these things later. Su Ting, the reason you don't laugh or cry," his voice hitched. A single tear escaped, tracing a path down his cheek. "It's because you were already the happiest child when you were born."

He lowered his head. His small shoulders trembled. He tried to suppress the sobs racking his frame. "You are like this because you are tired of old toys," he choked out, his words now muffled. "Mother said I just have to show you new, wonderful things. Then you will laugh and play again. Just like you used to.” He raised his hands to wipe away the tears. They were streaming down his cheeks now.

"You are not a ghost. You are not a puppet. You are my little brother. You are just unique. That's all." His voice was a near-inaudible cry. Tears streamed freely down his face. Su Liang saw his cousin sobbing. He quickly positioned himself to shield Su Ting's sight of his big brother finally breaking down.

Su Liang looked at the small boy. His heart ached with regret for his earlier slip. He forced a warm, reassuring smile. "Su Ting," he began gently, "you have changed a lot since I last saw you. I didn't mean something bad happened. I was just surprised by how much you've grown."

He leaned in. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Our family is powerful, Su Ting. Many people are jealous of us. You are too small to understand these things yet. So you only have to keep one thing in your mind. Don't believe what outsiders say. Do you understand?"

Su Ting looked at Su Liang. His vacant eyes held a flicker of uncertainty. He seemed to weigh his cousin's words against the whispers he'd overheard. Seeing the boy's confusion, Su Liang quickly changed the subject. "Su Ting, do you know there are many bad people in this world?"

"Yes," Su Ting agreed, his tone flat. "Mother told me that."

"Good. Our Su Ting is a very good kid," Su Liang praised, his voice full of warmth. "And do you know what good people do? They punish bad people, right?"

"Yes," Su Ting said. A hint of interest was in his voice. "But I must be big and strong like Father first."

"That's right," Su Liang affirmed, seizing the opportunity. "But there is one more way to punish bad people. It is a special way. Even kids like you can do it. Many good, obedient children participate. Since our Su Ting is also good and obedient, you will participate too, won't you?" He held his breath. He hoped the boy would accept.

"Yes, I understand. I will do it too," Su Ting replied. His logic was simple, unwavering. He trusted his cousin. To him, this was what a good kid would do.

Su Liang smiled in relief. “Good. Then let me tell you about the Spirit Lantern Festival.” He began explaining the basics of the celebration, sharing the meaning behind its customs and the stories passed down through generations.

----------------------------------------

In a private chamber, Su Jinhai sat across from Su Chen and Dong Yue. The atmosphere was heavy. It was thick with a grief that felt almost suffocating.

"Su Chen, what happened to Su Ting?" Su Jinhai asked. His voice was low and grim, heavy with unspoken pain. "How did he become like this?"

"Brother… I am not exactly sure either," Su Chen replied. He shook his head. The disappointment and helplessness in his voice were profound.

"What?" Su Jinhai's voice rose. It cracked with disbelief and a surge of anger. He slammed a hand flat on the darkwood table. "You are a Core Formation cultivator! Your son has lost his emotions, and you don't know why?"

"Yes, Brother," Su Chen admitted. His voice dropped to a pained whisper. "I can't find anything wrong with my spiritual sense. We even asked an elder from the Qingyun Sect to examine him. It was to no avail. We… we believe someone has placed a curse on Su Ting."

Su Jinhai’s hands clenched into tight fists. "This is why I told you both to move the children to Liyun City," he said, his tone sharp with accusation and regret. "Who could do this in Qingyun City, if not someone from the Qingyun Sect itself?" His gaze hardened. He was certain someone related with the sect or an enemy within the sect was behind this.

"Many people there were against your marriage," he continued, his voice laced with bitterness. "You must have lowered your guard. You gave someone an opportunity to harm your child."

Dong Yue trembled at his words. The Qingyun Sect was like a family to her. She had been raised as one of its core disciples. Many had been against her marriage into the Su clan. But she had followed her heart. Even her master had reluctantly agreed. She had remained in Qingyun City, dutifully helping both the sect and the Su clan. She never imagined that someone, after so many years, would harm her child.

My child is like this. It is my fault. The thought surfaced, sharp and agonizing. A fresh wave of tears came to her eyes. A small, choked sob escaped her. Her composure finally shattered under the weight of her guilt.

Su Chen saw her crying. Her shoulders shook with silent grief. He understood her thoughts immediately. He placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, trying to anchor her. "Yue'er, calm down," he urged. His own voice was tight with emotion. "Su Ting will be fine. We will find a way to remove this curse."

Su Jinhai let out a deep, sorrowful sigh. He forced himself to calm his mind. He couldn't let his own emotions cloud his judgment now. "Sister-in-law, please, hold yourself together," he said gently. He saw her sobs gradually subside. He turned his grim gaze back to Su Chen. "How did it all start? Tell me everything."

Su Chen nodded. His expression hardened as he recalled the events.

"It began seven months ago. Su Ting would wake up at night, with some fearful dreams. At first, I found nothing wrong with him. I assumed it was just a bad dream. It happened only twice in the first month. The next month, it was three times. Each time, he'd wake trembling, clutching Dong Yue like his life depended on it. His cries were loud, uncontrollable. He wouldn’t stop for hours."

He paused. The memory of his small, terrified son was vivid in his mind. "We began to check everything. His daily schedule, his toys, anything that might have caused such fear. We found nothing. Su Ting himself didn't know why he was afraid. We were completely in the dark."

"After that," he continued, his voice heavy, "we sought help from many people. From alchemists to experts in soul manipulation. None of it was helpful. With each failed treatment, as time passed, Su Ting started to change. Now… he has become like this. He still wakes up at night. But he doesn't tremble or cry anymore."

Su Chen's fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. "My child has lost his emotions. I don't even know what horrible nightmares he might be experiencing in those dreams." Whenever he thought of his small son suffering in those nightmares, utter powerlessness and despair clawed at his heart.

A heavy silence descended. It was thick with sorrow, rage, and helplessness. Su Jinhai couldn't fathom how it felt for them to watch their child suffer like this, unable to do anything.

Finally, Su Jinhai swallowed hard. He was almost afraid of the answer to the question he had to ask. "So… do you two have any clue what to do next?"

Dong Yue wiped the last of her tears away. Her expression was resolute. "Master suggested I visit the Yunmeng Region and seek out the Green Valley Sect. Master knows an elder there proficient in illusions, dreams, and medicine. She believes this elder could help Su Ting." The Green Valley Sect was known as a reclusive sect whose members practiced both poison and soul-based illusion techniques.

A deep breath of relief escaped Su Jinhai. A path forward. "Good. When are you planning to go?"

"We are planning to leave in a few days," Su Chen said. "We are placing Su Kang in the clan's care for now. The journey will likely take us a couple of months."

Su Jinhai nodded. “Good. You don’t need to worry about Kang’er. Just focus on the journey. You have the authority to speak on behalf of the clan. As long as they can remove the curse, we will accept their demands.”