Malevolent Immortal

The corridors of Blackthorn School echoed with Kai's footsteps as he made his way back to the dormitories. The weight of his newly acquired mid-tier sword felt comfortable in his hands, a testament to his victory over Lin and the subsequent reward from Master Chen. The blade gleamed in the soft light filtering through the windows, its polished surface reflecting Kai's determined expression.

As he approached his dorm room, Kai's keen senses picked up on an unusual commotion. Voices, familiar yet unwelcome, drifted through the air. His eyes narrowed, muscles tensing instinctively as he recognized the owners of those voices. With measured steps, he rounded the corner and came face to face with two figures he had hoped never to see again.

Lin Mei and Zhao Wei, his biological parents, stood before his dorm room door. Their faces, etched with a mixture of anticipation and feigned concern, turned towards him as he approached. Kai's expression remained impassive, betraying none of the turmoil that churned within him.

"Kai!" Lin Mei exclaimed, her voice dripping with forced sweetness. "Our beloved son, we've come to take you home."

Zhao Wei nodded, a plastered smile on his face. "Yes, it's time for our family to be reunited. We've realized our mistakes and want to make amends."

Kai stood silently, his piercing gaze moving between the two adults who had abandoned him months ago. In his mind, he couldn't help but laugh at their audacity. If he were truly the naive child they seemed to think he was, he wouldn't have survived this long in the harsh world of cultivation.

The young prodigy's mind raced, analyzing their sudden appearance and proclamations of familial love. It didn't take long for him to discern their true motives. News of his immense talent and recent victory had undoubtedly spread, and now they sought to secure their future by latching onto his potential.

"Take me home?" Kai finally spoke, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "And where might that be? The streets where you left me to fend for myself? Or perhaps the empty house you abandoned, leaving me with nothing but memories of neglect?"

Lin Mei's facade cracked slightly, her smile faltering. "Kai, darling, we made a terrible mistake. We've come to make it right. You belong with us, your family."

Zhao Wei stepped forward, attempting to place a hand on Kai's shoulder. "Son, we've heard of your accomplishments. We're so proud of you. Let us support you and help you reach even greater heights."

Kai deftly sidestepped his father's touch, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "Support me? Help me? Where was this support when I needed it most? Where was this help when I struggled alone?"

The corridor fell silent, other students who had gathered to witness the confrontation holding their breath. Kai's voice, though quiet, carried an undeniable weight that seemed to press down on everyone present.

"You speak of family," Kai continued, his tone laced with bitter amusement. "But family doesn't abandon one another. Family doesn't return only when there's something to gain."

Lin Mei's eyes widened, realizing their plan was unraveling. "Kai, please. We love you. We've always loved you. We just... we just didn't know how to handle your unique situation."

Kai's laugh was hollow, echoing off the walls. "Love? You speak of love as if it's a commodity to be traded. As if it can be withheld and then offered when convenient. I may be young, but I'm not foolish enough to fall for such transparent lies."

Zhao Wei's demeanor changed, desperation creeping into his voice. "Think of the opportunities, Kai. With our support, you could rise even higher in the cultivation world. We have connections, resources—"

"Resources?" Kai interrupted, his voice sharp. "The only resource I've ever needed was my own determination. The connections I value are those I've forged myself, with people who saw my worth when I had nothing to offer but my own abilities."

The young prodigy turned to face the gathering crowd, his voice rising to address not just his parents, but all those listening. "Let this be a lesson to all. True strength comes from within. It's not bestowed by lineage or bought with empty promises. It's forged in the fires of adversity and tempered by unwavering resolve."

Turning back to his stunned parents, Kai's eyes blazed with an intensity that belied his young age. "I, Kai, stand here today not because of you, but in spite of you. The child you abandoned no longer exists. In his place stands a cultivator who has learned the harshest lessons life can teach and emerged stronger for it."

Lin Mei made one last desperate attempt, tears welling in her eyes. "Kai, please. We're your parents. You need us."

"Need you?" Kai's voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried to every corner of the now-silent corridor. "I needed you when I was alone and afraid. I needed you when I faced hunger and cold. I needed you when the world seemed too large and too cruel for a child to navigate. But I survived. I thrived. And in doing so, I learned that I don't need you at all."

With a gesture that spoke volumes, Kai turned to the school guards who had been watching the confrontation with growing concern. His voice, when he spoke, was filled with authority that seemed impossible for one so young.

"These people are no longer welcome here. They are not my parents, merely strangers who share my blood. Ensure they never pass the school gates again."

The guards, recognizing the gravity of the situation and respecting Kai's position as a rising star in the school, nodded solemnly. They moved forward, gently but firmly guiding Lin Mei and Zhao Wei away from Kai's dorm.

As his biological parents were led away, their protests fading into the distance, Kai felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He had confronted his past and emerged victorious, just as he had in his duel with Lin.

Inside his room, Kai placed his new sword carefully on its stand. He moved to the window, gazing out at the sprawling grounds of Blackthorn School. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, a fitting backdrop to the day's dramatic events.

As he stood there, Kai reflected on the path that had led him to this moment. The pact made with the demon while he was still in his mother's womb, the opening of his meridians at birth, the inability to feel positive emotions like love and friendship – all of it had shaped him into who he was today.

He thought about the facade he maintained with Meon and Yung, the calculated decisions he made in cultivating those relationships. They were useful allies, potentially powerful connections for the future. But even as he acknowledged their potential value, Kai knew that true strength came from within.

The young cultivator's mind drifted to the mysteries that still surrounded his existence. Who was the demon that had made the pact with him? Where was that being now? What grand design, if any, was Kai a part of?

These questions, however, were for another time. For now, Kai had affirmed his path. He had severed the last ties to his past and stood firmly on the road of his choosing. The cultivation world lay before him, full of challenges and opportunities, and he was ready to face them all.

As darkness fell outside his window, Kai turned away from the view. He moved to his meditation mat, sitting down with practiced ease. Closing his eyes, he began to circulate his qi, feeling it flow smoothly through his opened meridians. Kai found a sense of peace. He had faced a different kind of battle today, one not of physical prowess but of emotional fortitude. And just as he had emerged victorious in the fighting arena, he had triumphed here as well.

The night deepened, and Kai continued his cultivation. In the dormitories of Blackthorn School, a young prodigy sat alone, his path clear before him, unencumbered by the weight of false familial bonds. The world of cultivation awaited, and Kai was ready to claim his place within it.