I looked ahead, the imposing silhouette of the Ryu Family's Main Castle looming against the morning sky. Its grandeur dwarfed my own assigned dwelling, a testament to the true power and history of the clan. I came here pretty early compared to my last life, I mumbled, a ghost of a smile touching my lips. In my previous existence, it had taken years of struggle and humiliation before I dared to approach this place again.
"What, Young Lord?" Old Master Lee's voice, surprisingly sharp despite his age, cut through my thoughts. He hadn't quite heard my murmur. I glanced at his questionable, slightly confused expression, then simply shook my head.
"Nothing. Let's go." With that, I strode forward, my steps echoing with a newfound confidence that belied the years of perceived mediocrity. Old Master Lee, after a brief, assessing glance, fell into step behind me, his presence a silent, watchful shadow. Together, we moved through the grand entrance, past guards who stiffened at my unexpected appearance, their eyes darting between my composed demeanor and Old Master Lee's somber expression.
INSIDE THE FAMILY HEAD'S CHAMBER OF THE RYU FAMILY CASTLE
The chamber was vast, adorned with ancient martial scrolls and weapons, the air thick with the scent of aged wood and potent incense. A figure stood with his back to the ornate entrance, gazing out of a towering window that overlooked the sprawling training grounds. He was a man of immense presence, his broad shoulders and powerful stance hinting at a well-built physique, even from behind. An aura of immense pressure, almost palpable, emanated from him, settling heavily on anyone who entered his space. This was Ryu Clan Head, Ryu Yong.
A soft knock preceded Old Master Lee's entrance. The old servant, his usual calm composure slightly ruffled, bowed deeply. "Master," he announced, his voice steady despite the overwhelming aura in the room, "Young Lord wishes to visit you."
The Family Head remained motionless for a moment, his back still to Old Master Lee. Then, a deep, resonant voice, imbued with an authority that could command mountains, rumbled through the chamber. "What are you talking about? I spoke with Ryu Shen a few days ago. Why has he come to visit again?" His tone was tinged with a faint impatience, a dismissal of what he assumed was a trivial interruption.
Old Master Lee, ever respectful, corrected him. "No, no, Master. It's not Young Lord Shen. It's Jin this time."
A profound silence descended upon the chamber. The air seemed to thicken, the immense pressure in the room intensifying, though Ryu Yong's posture remained unchanged. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his unseen face. Then, a small, self-mocking laugh, devoid of humor, escaped his lips.
"Hahaha... Has he finally come to his senses?" The words were slow, contemplative, laced with a dry amusement. "I thought he was not afraid of me anymore. He is even coming all the way to the main castle when I sent him to reflect on himself and explicitly told him not to return for another six months." A faint, dangerous glint entered his voice. "He has grown a nerve or two, I think. Let me see how my son has grown. Is he only talk, no show?"
The Family Head's voice held a clear challenge, a veiled threat. He expected weakness, a plea for forgiveness. But Ryu Jin was no longer the son he thought he knew. The stage was set.
INSIDE THE CASTLE, AT THE MOST OUTER PART
I looked ahead, the grand inner gate of the Ryu Family's Main Castle looming before me. Unlike the smaller, more familiar entrance of my own assigned dwelling, this gate was a formidable barrier, guarded by stern-faced martial artists. One such guard, a burly man with a hardened expression, stepped forward, blocking my path.
"Young Lord," he said, his tone surprisingly lazy, almost insolent. "You are not allowed to enter inside. You will have to obtain permission from the Master to pass this point." His words, though seemingly polite, carried an unmistakable undertone of dismissal, as if my presence here was an annoyance.
A cold, humorless laugh escaped my lips. Another one wants to die, I thought, a flicker of dark amusement in my eyes. This was exactly the kind of casual disrespect I had endured for years, the kind that now fueled the fire in my veins.
I fixed my gaze on the guard, my voice dropping to a low, dangerous register. "I think you forget that I am the Young Lord of this castle. Even most of the elders don't speak to me with such insolence. You are just a servant. Get aside."
The guard's face flushed, his eyes narrowing, a raw, murderous intent flashing within them. He clearly suppressed a surge of anger, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists. "Young Lord, I am sorry if this upsets you," he ground out, his voice strained, "but it will truly take the Master's permission to enter the castle. I cannot let you pass, even if you are his son." His stance remained firm, a clear challenge.
Just as the tension threatened to snap, a loud THUD echoed through the courtyard. The massive, ornate doors of the Main Castle, previously sealed tight, slowly began to swing open with a heavy groan of ancient wood and metal. From within the shadowed archway, a figure emerged, one I hadn't seen in a long, long time.
My breath caught, not in fear, but in anticipation. My spine straightened, and I stood my ground, brave and unyielding, my eyes locked on the imposing figure now standing before me. The true test had begun.