Book 1. Shifting Winds. Chapter 1. It all began that day. (Part VII)

Confused and startled, Hanzen somehow managed not to bite his tongue. He looked at Cran with his heart stuck in his throat, too scared to utter but a word. Those few seconds when Cran was staring at him felt incredibly long, but thankfully, Cran shook his head and looked away. Although Cran was a noble just like him, he had the monstrously powerful Red Dragon School behind his back! There was no way Hanzen would dare to offend Cran, no matter what benefits Jasi would promise him.

“I think that’s enough, he already apologized. Let him say what he wants exactly and be done with this crap,” Cran said rather angrily, then glanced at Jasi. The ten-year-old weighed the matter for a second, only to nod in agreement, not seeing how his relationship with Cran could be less important than dealing with Laien.

As for Hanzen, he chuckled quietly, trying to hide how nervous he was. He only waved his hand and decided not to pay attention to Laien anymore, separating himself from any further discussion on this subject.

Laien stood up and gazed at Cran curiously. He didn’t think the two of them were on good enough terms for Cran to stand in his defense, so this outcome surprised him greatly. “No time to wonder about why he did that,” Laien said to himself and started gathering his thoughts, wanting to make the best use of everyone being intimidated by Cran.

“I came here to ask you to forget our past grudges. You want to teach me a lesson, I know. However, If you are willing to let me be, I promise not to get in your way, be it in the matters of the clan or on the daily routine,” Laien declared very calmly. After he had been forced to kowtow, something like explaining his request was truly nothing much.

Waiting for Jasi’s reply, Laien stood straight, looking Jasi in the eye. Having felt what it was like to prostrate in front of somebody, Laien promised himself to do all within his strength to never be forced to do it again. He could submit, he could give an apology for something he didn’t even understand, but he would never again be made to kneel before anyone!

Jasi, who previously was quite disturbed, has regained his composure after listening to Laien’s request. He felt like he was in the control of the conversation just like he always was, so he managed to calm down just after a few more seconds passed. After confronting his feelings about Laien with reason, he quickly arrived at an answer and spoke up.

“I’m fine with doing it this way, but under one condition. I want you to become my subordinate in the family. Your life, do whatever you want with it, but you must declare following me publicly and not create any trouble for me,” Jasi stated straightforwardly, seeing little to no value in bullying Laien any longer. He could do it for his own amusement, but he definitely wouldn’t allow his fun to disturb the more important matters in his life.

Laien smiled and agreed with a simple nod. This price wasn’t a high one to be paid. Jasi didn’t even require him to follow his orders; he only wanted to get rid of him and never have to deal with him again. A conclusion like this one suited Laien very well.

“When I become strong enough, I will be able to ignore him anyway,” the thought crossed Laien’s mind. Perhaps because he was relieved, but a hint of his emotions surfaced on his face. Regrettably, this subtle change in his expression hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“Jasi, you gave him too good of a deal. Look, even he knows it. We can’t make it that simple now, can we?” one of the youths suggested daringly, not only making Laien worry but also giving quite a headache to Jasi and causing an unpleasant shiver to run down Hanzen’s spine. At this point, no one wished for the situation to escalate, no one apart from that one peculiar youth.

“What do you suggest, Masi?” Jasi asked plainly, only wishing that this annoying situation could conclude already.

Masi laughed and exchanged a cold gaze with Cran. “Say, Cran, what had your father done after the battle of Renuvre with his prisoners?” he asked with a smirk, making a point that Cran would have trouble refuting

Cran felt like punching Masi for mentioning this battle, but as he greatly respected his father, he felt obliged to answer. “He asked the prisoners whether they want to join his army or be executed. Considering the hatred between both sides, only a few agreed. Then, father told them to prove their loyalty and execute their former comrades by their own hands. Not even one agreed, so he had everyone beheaded, each and every one to the last man,” he finished with a sigh, not agreeing with his father’s methods in the slightest. However, those were the facts; he couldn’t pretend not to see them.

“If you think about making me kill my friends, then you can forget about it,” Laien said hoarsely, this time truly on the verge of losing patience.

“No, no, nothing to that extent, only similar. Let’s say, how was he called again? That kid that you always hang around with? Never mind his name, rough him up a bit. To the same extent you got beat up today should be fine. If you can do it, then we will be able to trust that you really aren’t planning on turning your back on us in the future.” Masi seemed to be quite pleased with his idea; he also enjoyed watching how Laien’s expression kept changing in response to his words.

What Masi did not realize, however, was that in fact, Laien hadn’t been nearly as hurt as he thought him to have been. In Neil City, most people viewed Laien as an above-average martial practitioner, but all in all, nothing too amazing. Only a few knew that he reached the peak of the third Mortal Realm at the age of ten and even fewer knew about his abnormally powerful body forged in training with Master Shire. Facing a few punches and kicks from older boys who were merely at the early stages of the third Mortal Realm? Sure, it would cause him a bit of pain, but nothing else.

“So all you want is a few bruises? Those who had been sent to beat me up seem to have only bark and no bite, so as you can see, I am doing well enough. Or maybe should I strip to prove that I am telling the truth?” Laien asked with a laugh and raised the side of his shirt, showing the barely visible scratches and light bruises on his stomach.

Masi’s eyebrows quivered in anger. He frowned, then corrected himself. “That wouldn’t be enough, you need to beat him up more,” he said, but very apparently appeared to be not too pleased with taking back his words. Although it mattered little, he felt that he lost to Laien in an exchange of words and it wasn’t something he could easily accept as reality.

Laien took a deep breath, trying to decide what he was going to do. Was he really willing to do what Masi was asking of him? Was he willing to attack his best friend…? Theoretically, he could just ask Rune for a rough spar after explaining everything to him. Knowing Rune, he would agree to help without hesitation, however, it still wouldn’t feel quite right to Laien.

“Of course, you will take someone as a witness, so I can have a proper proof that you just went there and did what I told you to do. There would be no point if you just asked that kid to roll on the ground and jump from the tree, now would there?” Masi added with a vicious smile, causing Laien’s hopes to immediately vaporize.

Laien froze in place, only now realizing that he had willingly entered the lion’s den. Just imagining what could have happened to him had it not been for Cran sticking for him caused him to feel weak in his knees. Yet, despite Cran’s help, he was about to be forced into making a decision he truly didn’t wish to make. To choose between attacking Rune and refusing this demand, thus very possibly endangering Siana… how was he supposed to make this decision?

“Was it only about me, I could endure… however, this guy doesn’t look like he will stop with only simple bullying if I refuse now,” Laien tried to reason with himself. In the end, after a good while of silence, he finally spoke up while clenching his fists so hard that blood started dripping from them.

“Fine, I will do it! Now hurry up and bring me this convoy-bastard or whoever, before I change my mind!” he shouted, suppressing the nauseous feeling in his stomach.