The genius

Night had fallen in the city of Han Zhou. It had been a few hours since the sun had sunk beneath the awe-inspiring skyline of the tall pagodas and magnificent palaces of the Han-clan. Despite that the city itself remained brightly lit, a colorful and strange mix of colorful neon lights and flickering fires illuminated streets and buildings alike.

The streets were bustling with life as thousands of people went along with their usual lives. Business flourished, and wealth was building in this bright fire of hope within the otherwise chaotic wildlands.

All of this peace and prosperity was based on the deep and unmeasurable resources of the great Han-clan who controlled this area of the eastern wildlands. It’s mighty armies and great hidden wealth was the foundation for the peace and tranquility that otherwise could only be found in the ancestral valley.

It was the result of hundreds of generations working to their goal of earning a place on their own, a homeland that could replace the valley. This was the Han-clans aspiration.

And this was Han Zhou, their capital and the realized effort of their grandest wish.

Within the humongous city and its mind-blowing skyscrapers one borough appeared to be different from the other parts of the bustling city. No noise could be heard there and only few lights remained lit during this late hour of the day.

The little amount of people that could be found outside the tall and ancient buildings were soldiers clad in the most expensive armor, elites that were acting as mere guards for their lords.

At the center of this borough was a rather inconspicuous palace. Unlike the other tall and impressive architecture around it, this building seemed rather plain and lowkey. There were only few decorations on it’s facades, little to no gold on its tiles.

Compared to the extravagant and wasteful appearance of it’s surrounding neighbors this palace could only be called mediocre and the fraction living in it also appeared to be fit for this unflattering label.

Yet the guards stationed around and inside it were the most ferocious, most experienced and powerful warriors in the entire Han-clan.

The building was plain and hidden, but just as it’s position was at the very center of the city, the people living inside this palace were the very core of the unbeatable giant that was called the Han-clan.

Most lights within the palace were already extinguished. Only a few halls and corridors remained lit during the night as most inhabitants of this palace preferred silence and darkness over the constant excitement found in the rest of the city.

The only exception was a room located in remote side building. Just as the building itself the owner of this room also preferred to remain unnoticed and lowkey. Just as the building, he too chose to hide himself behind a façade of mediocracy.

His name was Han Guan-Shi, eldest son of the patriarch of the Han-clan and protégé of the main branch that silently ruled over a complex structure of subordinate side branches.

Sitting in front of a simple wooden table he quietly read through a row of important documents. Recently there had been internal unrest within the Han-clan and some of the more powerful side branches were vying for power with the main branch.

Of course, there had been no real battles yet, after all the main branch had given birth to most of the gods that the Han-clan had spawned during their thousand years of existence. It was these gods that ensured the Han-clan’s power and decided the main branch’s position within the countless related branches.

Furthermore, the main branch had a promising new generation, led by Han Guan-Shi, the genius that was most likely to ascend to godhood.

All these factors gave the main branch an overwhelming advantage and prevented an outburst of violence within their own lines.

Despite that Han Guan-Shi had an unsightly expression as he sighted these documents. He knew that even though they had an overwhelming force that those subordinate branches could not challenge at the moment, this could change once he was dead.

Once he died the blooming and promising young generation of their branch would falter and the chaos that would follow could allow those noisy factions that had been too afraid to act up till now to raise up and rebel.

This on the other hand meant that he was in immense danger. Literally all families wanted him dead, while his own family was desperately trying to protect him.

Even now Guan-Shi could feel the divine senses of two gods resting on his person. Two almighty beings were constantly guarding and defending him, making sure that no one could even come close to this valuable spawn of their branch.

Nevertheless, he felt afraid. Even two gods might not be enough to prevent his death.

Suddenly the candle in front of him flickered. The flame fought against the invisible might of the wind, flattered and went out. Darkness filled the room.

Guan-Shi felt the danger even before he noticed the faint divine sense that had enveloped him and cut off the senses of the other two gods. For this to have happened this new attacker must have been even more powerful than the gods of his family!

At this moment he already knew that he was dead.

If those two gods standing guard on him could not stop the intruder, then he,as a mere swords master had no chance against his foe. Faced with this bitter reality his lips trembled slightly and he let out a mournful sigh.

His aspirations, his dreams and ambitions had found their end before he could really mature to pursue them. It was unfair and harsh, but he knew that this was the way the world had worked since his ancestors left the ancestral valley and founded the clan.

He would die, but the world would go on, the clan would go on.

Even his branch, his closest family would just continue the way the always had. It would be a serious and painful hit, but nothing an ancient branch like them could not handle.

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It was his own pride and overestimation of his own worth that had made him believe that he was the most important member in his branch. It was his own assessment of himself that had now led to his soon coming death. But now that he was about to die, now that his worth crumbled away he realized that he had been wrong. And this meant that his enemies had been wrong too.

At that thought a tiny smile appeared on his pale lips.

“Why are you smiling? You are going to die.”, a female voice suddenly came from behind him.

Surprised Guan-Shi turned around and faced a young beauty.

It was dark, but a bright moon shone through the window and allowed him to clearly see her features. She had yet black hair and pale white skin. A pair of pale grey eyes curiously observed him. The girl was about sixteen years old and wore a simple white robe and a black dog collar around her neck.

“You are the assassin?”, still surprised and also confused that he was still alive Guan-Shi looked straight into the beautiful grey eyes of the girl.

Her right eyebrow rose up.

“Sure I am. Is that a problem?”, her voice was playful, and she seemed very laidback, but for some reason the look in her eyes made Guan-Shi realize that she was looking at a corpse.

That is right. To this beautiful girl he was already a dead man.

Realizing that this beautiful girl was the goddess that had come to kill him a strange look appeared on Guan-Shi’s face. For a moment he thought what to say, then he realized that it was pointless.

“Kill me already. Those old geezers won’t win either way.”, as he said these word’s a wry smile spread on his lips and his originally apprehensive eyes became clear and free from emotions.

He knew that his words were right. Because he had realized how insignificant he was.

The girl looked at him and for a moment her eyes changed as she observed him. She felt admiration for this young man.

It was only for a moment though.

Blood scattered on the ground and a heavy body collapsed on the ground.

“I will remember you.”, her voice faded away as two gods came charging towards the dark room.

…

“Han Guan-Shi is dead!”, the news spread like a wildfire as more and more people found out about the events of the last night.

It hadn’t been long since the sun rose above the tall buildings of the city and yet literally every person in Han Zhou had already heard about it. The public was outraged about the dead of a prominent young master who was supposed to lead the clan in the future.

Of course, the many smaller clans and fractions who existed in the shadow of the great Han-clan felt the storm that was about to hit the city. In fact, many of them began to evacuate their most valuable assets and some of their man power outside of the city.

A battle within the existence called Han-clan was not something they could bear to endure.

The city was in uproar and everybody, no matter if poor or rich knew that this was a time of change. The main branch which had ruled for hundreds of years was about to be toppled by the other branches and no one knew who would come out as the winner. In fact, no one know if there would even be a winner to this fiasco.

Naturally the side branches were also moving their assets and preparing for the upcoming battle. Everybody was expecting a bloodbath, and no one was willing to skip out on the chance to acquire absolute power within the clan.

The moment seemed perfect.

Han Gu-Ka, the great general of the main branch was on campaign to the north and was expected to return in winter. The gods of the main branch were tangled up on the borders of their territories and the few that remained could be overpowered by the combined might of the other branches.

If they did not move now, there would not be a tomorrow.

Every member of the Han-clan knew this, and everyone was expectant to see the result of what was about to come.

Only one Han seemed as if he did not care about all of this.

Han Lou strolled around the streets of a cheap market in the outskirts of the city as looked around the small shops and booths. One could buy anything here, no matter if it was food, art or technology. Markets like this sold merchandise from all over the wildlands and even the valley.

People who knew where to search could find anything they needed and everything they did not know they needed at this place.

And Han Lou was such a person. In fact, he was a person that could be considered a part of this market.

“Han Lou you little twat, what are you doing here, shouldn’t you be helping at your mansion?”, one of the shop owners, a bald old man with grey whiskers shouted as he saw the familiar figure of the young man.

Han Lou faced him with an easy-going smile.

“Old Kan, mind our own business. After all it hasn’t been going well recently hasn’t it? Since when do poor bastards like you meddle in my clan’s issues?”, his words appeared to be biting and excessive, but the old man did not seem to mind.

In fact, this kind of talk happened almost every single day. None of both took anything they said serious.

“Since you are already here”, taking no notice of Han Lou’s words Old Kan winked him closer.

Lou lifted his left eyebrow and came closer.

“There is a beauty at that twat’s Ta’s shop. You should definitely check her out!”, the old man continued with a dirty laugh.

Lou laughed and shook his head.

“You are too old to make these kinds of jokes.”

Old Kan laughed even louder.

“Jokes on you, I’m only 246 years old!”, he suddenly began to cough and had to stop laughing.

Lou threw him a worried look but that stopped after seeing old Kan giving him another wink. In the corner of his eyes he noticed a young, pretty lady giving old Kan worried glances. He grimaced at this old pervert’s antics and rolled his eyes.

Walking away so that the old bastard could continue his embarrassing act he decided that it was a good idea to really check out the girl at Te’s shop. He was curious what kind of woman would hang around an ugly, blind guy who sold self-made umbrellas for a living.

“The Ma-branch and Tie-branch made their move and are currently occupying the outer perimeters of the ancestral district!”, suddenly someone cried out this piece of news.

Within moments the formerly lively market turned into a mess of shouts and mumbling as the people there began to pack up their wares. It seemed like the war between brothers had finally truly begun and now was not the time to sell beast-hides or magical items.

At the center of the very commotion Han Lou remained calm and relaxed. It was strange his branch, the main branch, was under attack and his cousin had been killed. Yet he remained calm and composed. Not a bit of worry was visible on his face.

Looking around the crowd of startled chickens he couldn’t help but grin. He cleared his voice.

“Calm down.”, his voice thundered across the market just like his grandfathers did on the battlefield. A strange dignity and might vibrated within his immature and slightly high too voice.

Surprisingly a major part of the shop owners around the market stopped their actions once they heard his voice. Heads turned, and eyes widened as more and more people became aware of the young man standing in midst of the crowd.

Han Lou was by far not the most prominent member of the main branch. In fact it was not only his cousin Han Guan-Shi who had overshadowed him with his achievements, literally every other young master of his branch had more reputation than him.

Despite that many people still recognized him as a member of the Han-clan and even more importantly as a member of the main branch.

A great deal of the clamor died down once the majority in the crowd realized the identity of Han Lou.

“Just go on and don’t mind my families bad behavior.”, now that it was somewhat silent Han Lou could speak in a normal voice. Nevertheless, his words shocked many people around the market.

How could this young master remain so calm in face of the calamity that was coming for his clan? No one could understand it.

In fact, most of the onlookers did not listen to his words at all and immediately continued to take the fastest rout back to their homes. To their surprise however the shop owners and many of the old-timers in the market remained after hearing Han Lou’s words.

Normal people might not know this, but these old men and woman who had sold their goods here for years all knew that the young man of the Han-clan was not as simple as many believed him to be. They had seen to many times were this youth had been correct on matters that seemed impossible and many of them owed him a favor of some sorts.

If he told them not to worry they would not worry.

Han Lou smiled as he saw that his old acquaintances believed him despite the seemingly hopeless situation. Then he turned around and walked away.

He knew that this situation would not continue for much longer.