chapter 26 Fellow

During the meal, there was indeed a practice of not speaking while eating. However, the atmosphere didn't feel oppressive at all. On the contrary, there was an underlying warmth, a sense of a real family starting to sprout quietly. Even though it was just a sprout and hadn't grown yet, once it had started, what else really mattered? The fear was not even sprouting at all. "I'm too full," Hiroko said, noticing there was nothing left to clean off the table. Reluctantly, she put down her chopsticks. "Let's go for a walk to digest," Canyn tapped the table. "Emmiline will be back soon, don’t forget our agreement. Be conscious of it." "Always so nagging," Hiroko grumbled as she started to clear the dishes. "Hiroko, wait, let me take care of these," Emmiline exclaimed, her eyes wide as she hurriedly spoke. She couldn't bear to see Hiroko actually doing the dishes, feeling a mix of heartache and surprise at Hiroko's change, not knowing what to say. "Thanks," Hiroko sat back down, looking defiantly at Canyn. This time, Canyn didn't insist on Hiroko doing it. In fact, from Hiroko's thank you, Canyn could already see her change. Perhaps the time that had accumulated before was too long, and change couldn't happen instantly. Most importantly, Hiroko still had a huge knot in her heart. As long as this knot existed, Hiroko couldn't completely change. It seemed that the truth buried in history needed to be unveiled, regardless of what the reality was. Hiroko needed to open her heart. More than wanting to know the truth, it had become an obsession in Hiroko's heart. She wouldn't rest until she achieved her goal. Before Emmiline could finish with the dishes, Hiroko had already gone upstairs. She was afraid of further interactions with Emmiline. Canyn felt helpless about this, realizing that changing Hiroko couldn't be rushed. "Emmiline, I should also leave. I'll come back early tomorrow," Canyn remembered his appointment with the Tai Chi master at Tokai University. He was a man of his word and couldn't break his promise. "Canyn, wait," Emmiline quickly called out to Canyn. "Please sit, let's talk," Emmiline gestured for Canyn to sit on the sofa, smoothing her hair. Canyn sat down, expecting Emmiline would want to talk. It was predictable. Hiroko had changed so much, and if it didn't affect Emmiline, that would be strange. "Canyn, I didn't expect you to bring such a big change to Hiroko. I really didn't expect it," Emmiline said emotionally, her beautiful eyes filled with gratitude towards Canyn. "Emmiline, this is just part of my job," Canyn smiled and said, "It's all in a day's work." "How can it be just a day's work? Your identity is just a tutor," Emmiline said. "Emmiline, you're not suggesting I overstepped my bounds, are you?" Canyn asked. "Of course not," Emmiline said, taking out a bag. "Here's 300 dollars. I know it's less compared to your day's work, but it's only temporary. If I see more change, you will get more." "Also, please allow my directness and mundanity. I really don't know how else to express my feelings right now," Emmiline added, as if afraid of Canyn misunderstanding. "Emmiline, you're thinking too much. I'm happy to receive it. Honestly, I really need the money," Canyn said frankly, taking the 300 dollars without hesitation and putting it in his pocket. Seeing Canyn's straightforwardness, Emmiline's eyes showed a hint of admiration. "Emmiline, what I want to say is, aren't you afraid I might lead Hiroko in the wrong direction? Or are you not worried about what might happen between me, a man, and Hiroko, a woman? Or even other things? Even I am a bit uneasy and puzzled by your boldness and trust," Canyn said, addressing the issue of working with Emmiline while also trying to understand Hiroko's situation better. "I don't care how you changed Hiroko. What I see are concrete facts, and that's enough. As for the rest, let nature take its course. As long as I'm sure you're not a danger to Hiroko, I'll let you do your job," Emmiline said frankly. She had basically given up on Hiroko. Moreover, Emmiline knew that at Hiroko's age, it was the only stage where changes could be made. Once Hiroko entered university and society, it would be nearly impossible to change everything accumulated over the past decade. Therefore, in the face of everything brought by Canyn, Emmiline had nothing in mind other than encouragement and support. Emmiline didn't care even if Canyn stole her daughter's heart, as long as it could change the mother-daughter relationship. Canyn finally understood Emmiline's attitude. He hesitated for a moment, then did not delve deeper into the conversation. In fact, apart from hiding the truth about Hiroko's father, Emmiline had already done everything a mother could do. She decided to find another opportunity to probe further. "It's a bit late, I wonder if he's still there." After getting off the taxi and entering Tokai University campus, Canyn quickly walked towards the sports field. Unknowingly, it was already ten o'clock at night. The campus was sparsely populated, and even fewer people were on the sports field. However, at the place where Canyn practiced boxing in the morning, Omarr was still waiting. Initially, he practiced boxing, but as time passed, he could only sit down to rest. "Old man, it's time to go home," an elderly woman slowly approached. "Honey, let me wait a bit longer. He had made a promise to me, he wouldn't break his word. Maybe he's on his way now," Omarr stood up and supported the elderly woman, saying, "Your health isn't good, I told you to rest early. Why didn't you listen?" "Old man, when was the last time we spent time like this together?" the elderly woman suddenly asked. "It's been a very long time, we're both old now," Omarr said with a sigh. "Really old," the elderly woman also sighed. Both elderly people ran out of words, but seeing them support and lean on each other, they didn't need any words. Silence was more expressive than words. Perhaps seeing these two elderly people could make one truly understand the meaning of the sunset's glow. Canyn didn't want to disturb this beautiful atmosphere. But considering it was late at night and despite the warm temperature, the elderly couple couldn't withstand the night breeze. So Canyn had to come out and be the disruptor. "Young man," Omarr's face lit up with joy when he saw Canyn, and he playfully winked at his wife, as if to say, see, I told you this young man is trustworthy. "Sorry, I was delayed by some matters. I didn't expect you to wait until now," Canyn scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. "It's alright, it's alright. Introduce yourself. My name is Omarr, and this is my wife, Teresa," Omarr said seriously. "Mr. Leigh, Mrs. Leigh, my name is Canyn. Actually, I'm a student at Tokai University. Mr. Leigh, your Tai Chi has a familiar feel to me. May I know where you learned it?" Canyn asked earnestly. "When I was young, I met an extraordinary person who taught me this Tai Chi, along with other things. Sadly, he only took me as a disciple for half a year, saying we lacked a master-disciple affinity, and then left. I was merely a nominal disciple during that half year, but it changed my life. Although he never acknowledged me as his disciple, in my heart, he is my one and only master," Omarr seemed lost in distant memories. Considering Omarr's age, he must be over eighty. When he was young, this time span must have been over sixty years. Canyn felt a stir in his heart, aligning more with his suspicions. "I've been searching, searching for decades, but I never found any information about my master. I had completely given up hope. But seeing your Tai Chi, I felt like I saw my master's shadow. My master said that our lineage's Tai Chi is different from others," Omarr's eyes shone as he looked at Canyn. "Mr. Leigh, did that extraordinary person ever tell you his name?" Canyn asked. "Verdon," Omarr replied. Canyn began to smile. His master had told Canyn that he used the name Verdon when he was young and traveling. It seemed that Omarr was a seed sown by Canyn's master in the past, not qualified to be a successor in the Immortal Doctors sect, hence only given the status of a nominal disciple. In reality, the status of a nominal disciple was just a way to put an end to a brief master-disciple relationship. Otherwise, why would there be no contact for decades? "Fellow senior," Canyn greeted with a salute and a smile. Omarr's breathing became rapid. Just as Canyn had many thoughts, so did Omarr, but when Canyn openly acknowledged it, Omarr still felt unsettled. "My master used the name Verdon when he was young. And I am his last disciple, the successor he had been searching for," Canyn explained. "And the Tai Chi and internal strength you practice, Mr. Leigh, if I'm not mistaken, should be our sect's unique mysterious martial." "Master, as the current head of the Immortal Doctors sect, I, Omarr, pay my respects," suddenly, Omarr knelt down solemnly. "Omarr, a twenty-fifth generation disciple of the Immortal Doctors sect, and Canyn, the current head of the Immortal Doctors sect," Canyn did not help Omarr up, accepting the bow. Then he hurried forward to help Omarr up, saying, "Fellow senior, the rules are the rules, that's true. But considering our age difference, this seems a bit inappropriate. Besides, we are brothers in the sect. Such formalities should never be repeated in the future."