A youth dressed in noble attire came out from one of the city’s most dazzling estates. Rumor has that it belongs to the provincial king, Lord Longmain but since it was kept under tight security nobody knew for certain. The youth resonated an aura of ironhanded certainty together with a face more delicate then jade. Before him was the main avenue buzzing with life. The crowd had a life of its own, the vibrant clothes shone in the morning light and the people moved like enchanting shoals of fish. There were chatter between sellers and buyers, old friends catching up and new friends being made. People who caught a glance of the youth exciting the mansion couldn’t help but catch their breath
“Who is that?”
An experienced merchant said
His friend just meters beside him answered rather casually
“Do not even think of trying to sell something that young lord. He probably gets more allowance then your entire yearly earnings”
“Shut up!”
The experienced merchant couldn’t help but frowning. His friend burst into laughter in response.
“So beautiful”
Women of different ages were mesmerized.
But the young man couldn’t care less as he continued to traverse down the main avenue road. The town was a maze of narrow winding streets, as complex as the heart. The streets were the veins, paved with dark red stones, and the people were the blood. The sound of the smiths, beating swords and breastplates into shape, was the consistent and dull pounding that let you know the town was alive. This was Kirin the largest city in the Saylin province, and the sound and atmosphere definitely proved it.
“Making money is so easy. I could probably be blind and still be the richest man in the city.”
The youth couldn’t help frowning of the absurdity of human stupidity.
“I have made almost eight hundred thousand gold in a year”
“But there is just not much of trill in it anymore”
As the words left him, the young man began to arrive on the outskirts of town, having walked for over an hour in a thoughtful daze. The Nimal river was in sight, a river so long that it actually went across provinces.
Beside it were dozens of people gathered together in a group, and the ages varied from ten years old to those over twenty years of age. They faced the sunlight in an empty courtyard beside the mighty river, training their bodies with “hmph” and “ha” sounds. The young and tender little faces were all serious. The older citizens gave off a power like that of a tiger’s, while the younger ones still practiced with good form and style. The tension bore down both fierce and heavy, the seriousness of the whole matter made even the young man frown in casual distain.
A middle-aged man with a body as well-built as a tiger wore clothing made from the sturdiest of fibers. The color of his coat was like copper, and his black hair was spread over his shoulders. His bright and lively eyes scanned over every single being, and he sternly gave out instructions.
“Absorb the essence of the sun. Collect It in your stomach and release it energy, only when you can do this naturally will you have ascended to the mortal realm” The middle age man said with complete certainty.
The young man continued to gaze of the stern youths as they continued to practice forms and stances. The scene reminded him of a military service training curriculum yet had children even smaller then him.
“hmph, cultivators. Human beings with the most narrow of minds.”
“A human being with the strength of a nation and a mind like a scholar. Now that’s something rather fierce some.”
The country known as Haiden was never known for their martial might. They instead prospered because of an abundance of resources and clever trading. Resources and trading had made the country exceedingly rich and had therefore had never been inclined to war. If any cross nations ever dared to invade Haiden, they could gather armies with overbearing might by utilizing their wealth.
But the youth had heard stories of countries and empires in the center of the continent that had martial artist rivaling an entire country. There were even rumors of people soaring through the sky.
“Might as well try out cultivation. It might turn out to be fun.”
The youth said casually as the whole affair was low beneath him.
The youth took another good look at the middle aged man, remembering his appearance. He then turned around and then began traversing towards the city once again.
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The extravagant mansion, rumored to have Lord Longmain as its owner, suddenly forced open its gate. From it came horse ridden knights in the tens ridding out in a noble manner. They staked as a long line as they rode out onto the main avenue. In the middle of the long entourage was a cart, a cart so beautiful one might presume a princess was resting within. The whispers of people began and grew more numerous by the second as the large retinue continued to ride along the road. People were forced to move out of the way to not get trampled by the massive horses.
“Who is that?”
“Not so loud stupid! That is Lord Longmain and his knights”
“If you talk that loud again they might execute you”
The knight’s obviously heard the loud chatter as their arrogance grew by the moments. Someone of them even appeared so smug a certain young man was starting to frown.
About fifty meters in front of the large entourage a young man suddenly stepped out into the middle of the road separating himself from the crowd currently hugging the streets sides. The young man bore an expression of absolute arrogance, the crowd couldn’t help but grasp. Blocking the entourage of the provincial lord, to the common man meant absolute death.
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As the crowd was still caught up in a shocking haze an old kind appearing man spoke up
“Young man, move out of the way right this moment!!”
The old man screamed
But the young man didn’t even twist as he frowned in response.
The knight at the front of the line suddenly caught sight of the young man and signaled the men to stop.
“To stop the provincial lord in his tracks only means certain death!”
The knight said as he stepped down from his horse.
“Again, are you out of your mind Lord Longmain!”
The youth said in a loud tone.
The knight was suddenly taken back by the statement. He was never there during the incident in the mansion but had without a doubt heard from his coworkers. The young man in front of him was the person in question, Lord Liren a lofty lord miles above his own in both status and privileges.
The knight instantly caught on. The arrogant knight of before was known were to be seen as he fell down to his knees to knot tow the young lord for forgiveness.
“Please Lord Liren, forgive my imprudence!!”
He screamed to show his sincerity.
The audience was dumbstruck, who was this young Lord, that could make the men of the provincial leader go down on his knees and beg?
“Who is that?”
“What the??”
“Seriously”
Responses of different kind came pouring out from the still in shock crowd.
“Are you going to continue hiding in that caravan Longmain?”
A stern middle age man suddenly came rushing out of the closed caravan. Sweat and nausea was the impression he gave of as he ran over the young lord.
“That is the Lord?”
People were rather flabberjasted by the appearance and demeanor by their all-powerful provincial leader.
“Please forgive my men, Lord Liren!!”
Longmain knew that this was not an ideal situation. Lord Liren had explicitly said that if this happened again there would be consequences.
The young man frowned and then spoke up in arrogant yet fierce manner
“You give me your sword”
The young lord pointed to the other guard which was just to the right of the now knot towing knight.
The man knew that this was not a situation for doubt, he quickly ran over and placed his sharp steel sword in the young man’s hand.
The young lord took a couple a steps forward and swung his sword down towards the knot towing knight.
*Swossh*
The knights head fell right of the man’s neck in a decisive manner.
“I was going to say goodbye to your envoy and provide bit information but I am instead met by a treat of death!”
“Your imprudence is beyond this world, Lord Longmain!”
“Please forgive my imprudence, Lord Liren!”
The middle aged man bowed. He knew that his faith rested in this young lord’s hands, if he actually wanted he could plead his father to get Longmains entire family line eradicated. Longmain felt helpless as he waited for the young lord’s judgment.
“I am certain you know who my father is and what he is capable of.”
“I am very much so my lord, I will during this journey properly punish these incompetent knights!”
“To satisfy you, I am willing to offer up anything in compensation for emotional suffering!”
Lord Longmain saw an opportunity to smooth out the situation and did so without any second doubt.
This turned out better than I thought.. The young man thought to himself as he continued to berate the poor man.
“Good, at least you can accept your mistake”
“But obviously this will cost you very dearly, my hand are tingling to just order my father to eradicate your entire family.”
Longmain was experience both happiness and freight as the same time as those words left the young lords mouth.
“First I require the provincial seal.”
“But why when you have the royal sea..”
Before Longmain could speak anymore the young lords expression turned into one of madness.
“Deliver the seal to the lord!!”
Longmain screamed.
A servant ran over and put the seal in the young lord’s hand.
“Second I require the execution of another 3 knights to satisfy my blood thirst”
Longmain was hesitant a second before he gave waved his hand to execute the order. Moment later the street was covered in red as the last head rolled.
“Third I require a compensation of fifty thousand gold”
The young man said casually as his expression grew less savage by the moments.
Moments later the young man had yet another pouch in his hand.
Longmain was starting sweat more and more since the extravagance of the demands grew fiercer by the moments. But he could do nothing but nod his head as the demands flew out, resistance meant death for him and everyone he is remotely connect to.
“That is all.”
“You may proceed. But next time an unfortunate event like this happens, I will thoroughly, execute you and every one you know. Do you understand?!”
Longmain couldn’t help but gulp down air in response
“Yes, my Lord!”
This young lord was just too arrogant. This young lord..
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Authors note:
Poor Longmain... Some might not understand why he even did this, but there are some
foreshadowing which will be revealed in the next chapter.