Chapter 10: Ch10: The Testing
Mo Bai's eyes were wide as he bit down on his lower lip, fury aimed squarely at himself. 'I couldn't even control myself... my own emotions. I'm still too weak. Not just physically... but mentally too.'
"Mo Bai." The calm voice of Mo Shen pulled him back to reality, dragging him away from the spiral of self-reproach. Mo Bai lifted his head, locking eyes with his father, silently waiting.
"It's done. What's happened has already happened. The clan leader will find out it was you—there's no hiding that. So, we act accordingly."
"Continue with your plan. Keep robbing the other students. The more resources you gather, the faster you'll break through. It also gives you more experience fighting in groups. You'll grow stronger faster. And on top of that, the younger generation of our faction will rise above Yi's group. The clan leader will see this as a worthy contribution and look the other way. Just don't act recklessly like this again. Weigh the risks and rewards carefully next time. That's what I taught you, Mo Bai."
"Understood. I've already told Mo Fan exactly what to say to convince the clan leader. One of the main points I told him to stress was accelerating the growth of the clan's youth. If the leader calls for me, I'll be ready. Don't worry—I won't let this plan fall apart." Mo Bai stood from his chair, a determined look on his face, voice low but resolute.
"I'll be going now. I need to begin training."
"Go. I trust you'll be able to execute a perfect plan. Don't let our years of work go to waste," Mo Shen replied, his face as unreadable as ever, but his tone carried unmistakable confidence.
Mo Bai nodded at his father before leaving the office, his thoughts sharp and steady. 'I won't let that old leader sense a thing. I'll make everything flawless again.'
Once Mo Bai was gone, Mo Shen allowed himself the faintest smile—his usual one. He never showed any weakness in front of his son. As he tapped lightly on the wooden desk, he thought, 'It's not nearly as risky as I made it sound. The benefits outweigh the danger, especially since Mo Bai already warned Mo Fan. But this way, he'll be more cautious in the future. I don't want constant success to blind him to reason.'