CARRIAGES ON THE WAY TO RYU CLAN MAIN CASTLE
The grand carriage, a fortress of lacquered wood and reinforced steel, swayed gently with the rhythm of powerful horses. Inside, the plush cushions and soft lighting offered a deceptive sense of tranquility. Outside, the steady thud of hooves and the muted clinking of armor announced the formidable escort: dozens of seasoned warriors, each mounted on a powerful steed, their expressions grim, their eyes constantly sweeping the surrounding landscape. They were the elite of the Xiao Clan, ensuring the safety of their most precious cargo.
Within the carriage, seated opposite an older woman whose face was a tapestry of calm authority and deep-set lines, was a young lady. Though no more than eleven years old, her posture was impeccable, her dark eyes holding a maturity that seemed to belie her tender age. Her silk robes, the color of twilight, rustled softly with every subtle movement. She had been staring out the window for what felt like an eternity, her gaze fixed on the blur of passing trees and distant mountains, her mind far away from the monotonous journey.
The woman across from her, Lady Mei, a trusted elder of the Xiao Clan and her personal guardian, finally spoke, her voice gentle yet firm. "Young Lady, what occupies your thoughts? You have been staring outside for a while now."
The girl shifted, her gaze slowly drifting from the window to Lady Mei's concerned face. "It's nothing," she replied, her voice smooth, almost detached. There was no childish wonder in her tone, only a weary resignation. "I'm merely wondering what my fiancé will be like." She paused, a flicker of something almost like cynicism in her young eyes. "I haven't heard... good things about him."
Lady Mei's expression softened, a reassuring smile gracing her lips. "Young Lady, don't worry. It truly doesn't matter how he is. You are far, far better than him in every aspect. You are the jewel of our clan. You will simply have to wrap him around your little finger. His supposed 'mediocrity' will only make your task easier." She spoke with the practiced ease of one accustomed to maneuvering pawns on a grand chessboard, offering a pragmatic lesson rather than comforting words.
The girl met Lady Mei's gaze, her eyes cold and steady. A faint, almost imperceptible sigh escaped her lips. "You do not need to tell me all this, Lady Mei," she stated, her voice holding an unexpected steel. "I understand. For the sake of my family, for the honor of the Xiao Clan, I will do anything and everything I can. I will fulfill my duty."
Her words were not a declaration of childish obedience, but a grim vow. Her family's future, their standing in the volatile world of Murim, rested heavily on her slender shoulders. The arranged marriage was not a union of hearts, but a strategic alliance, and she, Xiao Ling, the supposed female lead of a novel she didn't even know existed, was the chosen instrument. She knew her role, and she would play it flawlessly, no matter the cost to herself. The Ryu Clan's main castle, a distant silhouette against the horizon, drew closer with every turn of the carriage wheels.
RYU CLAN'S TRAINING GROUND
The biting morning chill invigorated me as I moved through the vast outdoor training ground of the Ryu Clan. The air, crisp and clean, carried the faint scent of steel and damp earth. I picked a heavy wooden sword from a rack, its familiar weight a comfort in my palm. The ground beneath my feet, packed earth worn smooth by generations of rigorous practice, felt solid. My eyes swept across the empty space, a vast arena for future battles, and a cold certainty settled within me. I still have to improve a lot. Otherwise, I won't be able to do what I want. My mind already worked on higher gears, contemplating the paths to power the System presented, the shortcuts I could take without sacrificing the appearance of arduous effort.
Lost in these calculations, a voice, startlingly cheerful, cut through the quiet morning. "Brother!"
I looked towards the source of the sound, my gaze sharp. It was Ryu Shen. He came bounding towards me across the training ground, his black hair bouncing with each energetic stride, that wide, innocent smile of his growing brighter with every step. How can he act so well? I thought, a flicker of dark amusement. His pretense of pure, unadulterated affection was almost commendable, if not for the bitter memories of his blade in my back.
He stopped a few feet away, his smile fixed, his dark eyes sparkling with a carefully cultivated innocence. "Brother, I heard you're getting engaged?" he chirped, his head tilting slightly, as if sharing a delightful secret.
"Yes," I replied, my voice calm, almost bored. I executed a precise, practiced swing with my wooden sword, the air hissing faintly as it cut through. My eyes didn't meet his; instead, I focused on an imaginary target beyond him, letting my indifference subtly prick at his curiosity.
Ryu Shen's smile didn't waver, but I could sense the shift in his aura, a faint, almost imperceptible tension. "Oh! I also heard that the sister-in-law will be quite pretty," he continued, his voice taking on a slightly playful, yet oddly possessive, tone. "I wish I could play with her! I want all three of us to play together! But here you are, training, when you're already so powerful." The last part was delivered with a feigned sigh, a subtle attempt to gauge my reaction, to see if my 'modesty' was real.
I maintained my own fake smile, a carefully constructed mask of honest, older-brother concern. "Of course, brother," I said, my voice warm and reassuring. "I will ask her to play with you. And I will also play with you, don't worry, brother. I will definitely play with you." My words were laced with a double meaning only I understood, a promise of a game far crueler than he could imagine. "And I haven't met your sister-in-law yet, so I don't know how she will be."
Ryu Shen's eyes narrowed fractionally, searching my face for any hint of a lie, any genuine excitement. "Don't worry, brother. She must be good, because she's your fiancée," he insisted, emphasizing the 'your' with a forced cheerfulness. "You must be happy, huh?" The probe was clear, a desperate need to see me revel in something he coveted.
I met his gaze for a fleeting moment, allowing a flicker of annoyance, perfectly camouflaged, to show. "Okay, brother, you should go for now," I said, a subtle dismissal in my tone. "I heard it's time for your training. I also have to train."
He hesitated for a microsecond, his perfect smile tightening just slightly, then plastered it back on. "Okay," he said, turning, his movements a little too stiff, a little too hurried, as he walked away from the training hall.
I watched his retreating figure until he disappeared through the archway leading to the main castle. Then, a low, guttural laugh, raw and unrestrained, escaped me. It started as a chuckle, then swelled, growing in intensity, filling the quiet morning air of the training ground. "Hahahahah... haha haah... I will definitely play with you, my little brother," I murmured, the words dripping with a villain's sinister delight. The pieces were moving. And the game? The game had just become significantly more interesting.