The Zhang Mansion is not a place that receives visitors often, let alone late at night. But this visit practically made the Clan Leader and the First Elder get out of bed to receive him.
"Elder Yan, if you were planning to come today, you should have sent me a message with Lucheng," said Zhang Hao, greeting the visiting Elder. "He already told me that you have a promising student recently, and that's why you can't teach him; he seemed very excited, despite having lost."
"As long as he doesn't get discouraged, he will surely go far," said Elder Yan, better known as Drunken Elder. "I didn't plan to come earlier, but I saw some things that forced me to come."
Zhang Hao motioned for him to sit on the sofa in the main room.
"If anything about our family has upset you recently, please let me know. I assure you that I will do something about it." Although Zhang Hao used to be arrogant, he couldn't act that way in front of such a respected man; the difference in status and strength was considerable.
"I wouldn't dare change anything about your family; I'm not a Zhang." That was the first thing the elder said. "However, I heard that you plan to organize a tournament."
Hao nodded. "Yes, orders from the sect and family rule. It is to acquire the inheritance of my deceased son, Hutian." When he spoke of Hutian, his countenance darkened, showing slight sadness.
'Good acting,' thought Elder Yan.
If he hadn't known that they themselves had "killed" Xiaotian, he would have thought that he was truly saddened by his son's death.
But now he firmly believed that they were the ones who murdered Hutian, so he felt nothing but contempt inside; however, he was a wise man. He would not reveal these things to these fools.
"I also heard about the death of your grandson, the youngest one."
Here, Zhang Hao looked even more dejected and sighed. "Unfortunately," he replied.
"I sympathize." The elder even bowed his head to bring up the subject. But he didn't let Zhang Hao speak. "But, considering that little boy was still Hutian's heir, why isn't his name listed in the tournament? Excuse me, I was just curious."
Zhang Hao frowned and raised his head. "What do you mean, Elder Yan?"
"Mr. Hao, the empire's rules on inheritance are clear. By coming here, I am preventing you from receiving severe punishment for breaking those rules. He is the legitimate heir, and although I understand that the sect has said it will open this up so that two can compete for that inheritance, I do not see the name of the legitimate heir in that tournament that seeks to choose the other contender."
Zhang Hao still didn't understand what he meant; he frowned.
"But, Elder Yan, he's dead."
"I know." Yan nodded. "In such cases, his name is usually entered as the last contender. He wouldn't need to go through all the fights because he's dead, but as the legitimate heir, he would be the rival of the winner of all of them. Obviously, since he is dead, the winner of the matches would be the winner by default, but those are the rules."
"I see." Zhang Hao nodded.
It's true, there was a rule like that. Since his family had never had to fight over an inheritance until now, he had forgotten about it.
He thought it was a silly rule.
Elder Yan stood up after saying that. "I just came to remind you of that rule, since I was walking around the neighborhood, but I will respect your final decision. I hope to receive an invitation to the tournament day, gentlemen. I am eager to know who could be the next powerhouse with a legacy technique." With that, the elder took his leave.
The room fell silent to the point that a sigh could be heard clearly.
"Enroll that boy as Elder Yan said. We cannot afford punishment from the empire." Zhang Hao said before getting up to leave the room.
'The imperial investigation into our family must be kept as far away as possible for a while,' thought Hao, but he had not taken five steps when he was forced to stop and look toward the door of the room.
It had opened, and a man, escorted by powerful people, entered.
"Count Lu!" Zhang Hao almost fell on his backside when he saw him and ran toward him.
What was the most respected man in this region doing here at this moment?
"Lord Count, d-didn't you tell me you would arrive in two weeks?" He wasn't the only one nervous; the first elder and the few elders present were also nervous and came out to greet him.
"I saw Elder Yan right now." Said the count, ignoring their words. "Anything new?" he asked.
"Ah, no, no. Elder Yan just came to remind us of something we had forgotten."
"Oh? And what was that?" asked the count, stepping forward to sit down.
"The rules of inheritance, Count. There was a rule we forgot to include in the tournament to be held in a few weeks."
'The rules?' The count frowned. 'Since when does this old drunk care about them?' That confused him.
He leaned back to think for a moment. He didn't ask about the specific rule because it wasn't necessary. Rules are rules, here and in the East. But he was intrigued, because this old man wasn't someone known for being strict about the rules of something as silly as that.
So he looked behind him and nodded to the man standing there.
That man was dressed in a black-and-white suit, perfect for a butler. Although he wasn't really one.
This man nodded back, and the exchange between the two ended.
"Sit down," said the count, as if he were the host. "I have things to talk about, which is why I arrived early."
--
As Elder Yan left the Zhang mansion, he wondered again and again why the count had visited at this particular moment.
It was unusual to see a count arrive at the city gates without being received with all the honors he deserved.
This man was Count Lu, recognized as a Sword Master by the Swordsman Legacy Tower.
He wasn't that powerful on his own, but he ruled this entire region and held a position even higher than the Master of the Oak Sword Sect.
'And that guy came with him.' Elder Yan wondered whether it might have something to do with the ruin, though it was unlikely, since it had been cleaned up a week ago by an unknown person.
Outside the Zhang mansion, Elder Yan stumbled upon a man sitting in the middle of the road.
"Hm?" He didn't lose his balance, but he couldn't push the old man sitting there either. Although he did knock away a pen the old man was using to write slowly in a book.
He watched the pen roll to the other side of the road and sighed. 'I can't take away a beggar's fun just because my status is higher.' He said to himself, as if trying to remind himself.
He walked over to the pen and then returned it to the man.
For a brief moment, their eyes met, but nothing else happened. The elder continued on his way.
And the beggar continued writing... very slowly.
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