RYU CLAN'S MAIN CASTLE - GRAND COURTYARD
The sun beat down on the Ryu Clan's grand courtyard, but I felt only a cool detachment. I stood there, a respectful figure among a handful of my own servants, directly by the colossal wooden gates. Ugh. I have to stand here to receive her. The thought was a bitter swallow. If my father hadn't specifically ordered this, if it weren't a crucial step in my intricate web of revenge, I wouldn't have bothered. That bitch. Let me see how you're going to live now, Xiao Ling.
Just as the thought, sharp as a honed blade, settled in my mind, a distant rumble intensified into the heavy thud of hooves. The massive wooden gates groaned, then swung inward with a slow, deliberate creak. A magnificent carriage, adorned with the Xiao Clan's phoenix crest, emerged, surrounded by a vigilant escort of mounted guards. My gaze flickered to a large, ancient tree just outside the gate. Hidden amongst its thick foliage, a subtle shimmer, barely perceptible, caught my eye. Just as I expected. They have extra security. A faint, predatory smile touched my lips. Good. It meant she was important, and her downfall would be all the more satisfying.
The carriage halted. The heavy door swung open, and a figure descended with practiced grace. An old woman in her fifties, radiating an air of seasoned authority, stepped down first. Her nanny, perhaps? Or a close confidante. Then, she appeared. A small girl, no more than eleven years old, yet she moved with a composure that belied her tender age. Xiao Ling.
Her eyes, dark and intelligent, swept over me, a rapid, assessing glance from head to toe. For a fleeting second, I saw a flash of surprise, perhaps even a hint of grudging admiration, before her features settled into a mask of regal indifference. She then uttered, barely above a whisper, "Not bad." Her gaze met mine, unwavering. "I am Xiao Ling, the youngest daughter of the Xiao family." Her voice was clear, perfectly modulated.
My own smile tightened, but I kept it internal. Bitch, I thought, letting the word escape my lips, just loud enough for only her sharp ears to catch. The barest flicker of something — surprise, then a spark of fury — ignited in her eyes, quickly suppressed.
My voice, cold and commanding, sliced through the air, emphasizing every syllable. "I am Ryu Jin, the only heir of the Ryu family." I held her gaze, a smirk playing on my lips. "I hope Miss Xiao's journey was good."
She took a deep breath, her composure returning with a visible effort. "Yes, it was nice," she replied, her voice now flat. "I hope my stay in Ryu castle will be better."
A low, guttural laugh escaped me, genuine and unrestrained. Every eye turned to me — the servants, the old woman, and Xiao Ling herself. The courtyard went silent, save for my chilling amusement. "Oh, I apologize," I said, wiping a phantom tear from my eye. "I just remembered a joke." My gaze, now cold and sharp, bore into Xiao Ling's. "And rest assured, your stay here will be the best you have ever had." The underlying threat hung unspoken, a dark promise.
Xiao Ling's rage, barely contained, flared in her eyes once more. She clenched her fists at her sides, but her voice remained outwardly calm, though a touch strained. "Oh, it seems Young Master Jin is quite the joker. Or perhaps, he simply loves to joke. Please, let us also hear the joke you remembered." Her tone was a subtle challenge, an attempt to regain control of the situation.
If there were anybody else here, they must have been completely flustered by now, I mused, a sliver of satisfaction. But me? I am different. I looked at her, my smirk widening, my eyes gleaming with mischievous cruelty. "It wasn't a joke, Miss Xiao," I corrected, my voice dropping slightly, drawing her in. "It was a story. A small rabbit, you see, once had a remarkable number of admirers. All the other rabbits were utterly infatuated with her."
I paused, letting the silence hang, watching her rigid posture. "This small rabbit, she grew quite arrogant. She started believing she could charm any animal, gain affection from anyone." My eyes flickered to her own arrogant stance. "So, with that boundless self-importance, she ventured into a small hole in the ground. She thought she would tame the formidable beast rumored to live there, certain she could charm even the 'king' of that place. But as the rabbit finally reached the place where the king lived, she saw a large, formidable snake. Blood dripped from its mouth, staining the earth around it. The rabbit feared at first, yes, but then her arrogance returned. She thought of seducing the snake, of wrapping it around her finger with her charms."
My voice dropped to a chilling whisper, my eyes never leaving hers. "But in that moment, she forgot the hierarchy. The snake, ever the predator, pretended to be seduced. It allowed her to cross the distance, to come close, to believe she was in control. And as the rabbit finally crossed that fatal line, the snake... killed her in one bite." I held her gaze, then leaned in slightly, my voice barely audible, a venomous hiss. "And that rabbit, Miss Xiao, reminded me of you."
Her anger flared up this time, raw and unfiltered, tearing through her forced composure. Her face, usually so serene, twisted in fury. "How dare you insult me!" she practically snarled, her voice tight with suppressed rage. "Are you saying that you will kill me?!"
"No, no, Miss Xiao," I countered smoothly, my smile unwavering, infuriatingly calm. "I am merely saying you are as beautiful as a rabbit. That's all." My eyes gleamed with malicious amusement.
She stared at me, her eyes burning with a hatred that promised retribution, a genuine desire to flay me alive. Then, with a visible effort, she took a deep breath, forcing her composure back into place. "My apologies for losing my composure, Young Master Jin," she said, her voice now strained, brittle. "I just thought you were saying something else."
"Apology accepted," I said, the smirk on my face broadening, utterly unapologetic.
Her gaze remained fixed on me. "But I still don't find the 'joke' laughable," she stated, her voice sharp, trying to catch me out. "Was that even a joke?"
My laughter was softer this time, a low, cruel chuckle. "No, Miss Xiao, it was a story. I was merely laughing at the thought of the rabbit's expression when she was dying. Imagine the sheer terror, the disbelief, as she realized her mistake."
As I uttered those words, a flicker of genuine fear finally, unmistakably, crossed her features. It was fleeting, instantly hidden, but I saw it. The serpent had indeed found its rabbit. "Oh," she said, her voice a shade lighter, almost breathless. "Young Master, I am not feeling well. Could you please let us be taken to the guest rooms?"
"Oh?" I feigned concern, my brows furrowing slightly. "Father told me to give you a brief tour of our magnificent castle, but it seems I can't do anything now." I glanced at a nearby servant, my tone brisk. "Take Miss Xiao to her room. She must be tired."
As she turned and walked away, her movements a little stiff, the old woman hovering anxiously beside her, I watched her go. This is just the beginning, Xiao Ling, I thought, a cold, dark satisfaction settling deep within me. You don't know how miserable I'm going to make your life.