NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Undercurrents: Subtle Tension.
Chapter 25
Undercurrents: Subtle Tension.
Yan Clan Residence~
A few hours had flown by, and the hour of battle with the Ying-Yang Dynasty was finally upon them.
Walking down a long corridor, Yan Rouxi flawlessly played the part of Yan Youmei. No one noticed anything amiss, but a cunning gleam flickered in the depths of her eyes from time to time.
She had assembled a group of the Yan Clan's most talented younger generation, ranging in age from thirteen to twenty. This age range was the agreed-upon limit for the battle. They were the crème de la crème of the clan.
The wager between the Yan Clan and the Ying-Yang Dynasty was simple: if the younger generation of the Yan Clan could defeat their rivals, the dynasty would cede half of the city's control to them. Of course, the Yan Clan's younger generation couldn't normally match the Ying-Yang Dynasty's prodigies, but Yan Rouxi had prepared a secret weapon or two. She had an ace up her sleeve to ensure a crushing victory. Though the price would be steep, she cared little. She had sacrificed her own daughter for power—what were a few more sacrifices in comparison?
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Earlier that morning, before Yan Youmei's unfortunate demise, a meeting involving all the core figures of the clan had been held. Many voiced their opinions openly, and it was no secret that the Yan Clan was outmatched by the Ying-Yang Dynasty. This left many solemn and confused; they couldn't understand what shade of madness Yan Youmei was playing at.
In response to their questions, she had offered only cold rebukes. While some were skeptical, others blindly trusted the clan matriarch's plans and had already begun building castles in the sky.
Yan Rouxi arrived at a wooden door, which was promptly opened by the female attendants on either side. They dared not hesitate, lest they become the next victims to have their heads relived from their body.
Inside, those heading to face the Ying-Yang Dynasty had been summoned. Yan Rouxi entered the courtyard beyond the wooden doors, scanning her surroundings briefly. She took note of everyone present, ignoring even the charming glow of the morning sun.
Thirty-eight figures filled the courtyard. All four grand elders of the clan were present, along with eight Inner Court elders, sixteen ordinary elders, and nine youngsters representing the Yan Clan.
A quick glance revealed an unexpected figure, quietly standing in an inconspicuous corner of the courtyard.
"Yan Zhen! Shouldn't you be in your chambers resting?" she asked softly.
"Today has been too eventful for me to rest, why don't you let me lead the charge to the Ying-yang dynasty and instead you take the day off." he replied.
"No need!" Yan Rouxi replied sharply. "Mother's last whish isn't yours to bare alone, furthermore there would be no one to hold up the clan in the future if something were to happen to you, I insist you return to your chambers for the day." Yan Rouxi continued persuasively.
"It's all the more reason for me to be here. I can't let you shoulder this responsibility alone. I'll soon be the clan's patriarch, and I must learn to be more responsible, don't you think?" Yan Zhen countered rhetorically, his eyes fixed on her.
Yan Rouxi frowned but relented. "Fine. I'm glad to see you becoming more mature."
A beautiful smile spread across her face, though her thoughts betrayed her: *What is he up to? Does he know something? No, if he did, he wouldn't act this way...right? Whatever it is, he's becoming an uncontrollable variable, I didn't want you to witness what going to happen here.... I hope you did be able to bear it with that smug pride of yours.*
"Aunt Youmei," Yan Zhen continued, changing the subject. "I noticed there are only nine members of the younger generation here. Didn't we agree on ten with the Ying-Yang Dynasty?"
"Still as impatience as ever, aren't we?" Yan Rouxi replied with a half smile. "There is indeed a tenth participant. He isn't here yet, but you'll all be surprised when you see him. He's the highlight of this occasion—a dark horse the Ying-Yang Dynasty and some of you would be surprised to see ." As she said this her eyes scanned across all the faces in the room, lingering on some than the other, raising their curiosity.
As though on cue, soft footsteps approached outside the courtyard, followed by gasps of surprise. The attendants at the door took a moment to recollect themselves before opening the wooden doors slowly.
A figure stepped in, clad in a grey battle suit. His inky-black eyes matched his curly hair, but his gaze lacked the luster of a living being. He appeared no older than fifteen, his pale, ashen skin giving him an eerie presence. Though young, his sharp gaze seemed to pierce the room like invisible blades.
The courtyard fell into stunned silence. Yan Zhen, in particular, was visibly shocked.
"Isn't this… Yan Feitan? Hasn't he been missing since his last expedition? It's been over a year!" one of the grand elders exclaimed, struggling to mask his inner turmoil.
Yan Zhen once held the title of the Yan Clan's most brilliant prodigy, achieving the Qi Refinement Stage before fifteen and the True Qi Realm before twenty. However, his talent had been overshadowed by another young genius who reached the Qi Refinement Stage before twelve—a feat unmatched in Ying-Yang City's history. This young genius was none other than Yan Feitan.
Years ago, Yan Feitan had embarked on a life experience program, accompanied by none other than Yan Zhen. Weeks later, Yan Zhen returned gravely injured, and Yan Feitan was presumed dead after months of vain search. Vicious rumors spread, accusing Yan Zhen of conspiring to eliminate his rival. The truth remained a mystery—until now.
Yet here was Yan Feitan, alive in flesh and blood, having broken Yan Zhen's record once again by reaching the True Qi Realm before fifteen. His return threw the courtyard into chaos.
Yan Rouxi smirked inwardly. She had orchestrated everything. From planting the seed of insecurity in Yan Youmei's heart to manipulating events to eliminate Yan Feitan, to sending Yan Feitan on a life experience program to give Yan Youmei the opportunity she needed and even sending Yan Zhen as his guid to add a bit of spice to the drama that was sure to ensue, she had played the clan like a fiddle, each chess pieces were she wanted them and her goals for the grand scheme...
Yan Rouxi silenced the whispers in the courtyard with a light cough.
"Since everyone is here, let's proceed," she declared.
Nine maidens entered the courtyard, carrying bowls of a sinister, black inky liquid that seemed almost alive, they each stood before a youngster except Yan Zhen.
"What is this poison ... I .. I ... me...an potion?" an elder asked, concern evident in his voice. His great-grandson stood among the youngsters, and he feared for the boy's safety. Someone from his line finally had a worthy enough talent he couldn't bare to neglect him to the matriarchs devices.
"It's a special concoction to enhance their battle power," Yan Rouxi replied curtly.
The youngsters hesitated, their faces pale from the potion's foul stench. One of them whose stomach couldn't keep up emptied it gastric fluids on the courtyard floor.
Other could berely stop themselves from painting the floor with theirs as well. The mysterious liquid looked to be making threatening gestures at them, suddenly wthout warning, the liquid leapt from the bowls, forcing its way into their mouths and down their throats.
The courtyard erupted into panic, Yan Rouxi herself hadn't expected this new development, if they hadn't been sure now they knew those mysterious liquid were somehow alive, but Yan Rouxi quickly regained control of herself. "We leave for the Ying-Yang Dynasty in an hour," she announced, preparing to leave.
"Wait," Yan Zhen called, halting her. "Why didn't Yan Feitan drink the potion?"
The question sparked murmurs among the crowds quickly gaining support as others echoed it as well, especially the elder whose great-grandson was amongst the youngsters.
"Do not question my authority!" Yan Rouxi snapped. "His talent surpasses the need for such measures, he isn't trash like the rest of you."
Her words carried an indirect insult to Yan Zhen, whose gaze darkened. But Yan Rouxi had no time to linger. She swept out of the courtyard, her gown trailing freely behind her.