Yujin Hak sat on the windowsill on the upper floors of the Divine Library. All the pieces were in place.
The former leader's condition had stabilised, but no one knew when he would wake up.
The sun was rising, and the view ahead was cold and dreary, yet Yujin Hak looked even colder and more pitiable than the scenery.
Why am I like this today?
That's right.
It's my conscience.
I never managed to be smart enough to look down on people from above the human species.
I never managed to be ruthless enough not to care about the consequences of my actions.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything.
But my regret won't stop my conscience from clawing at my heart.
Yujin Hak stepped back inside with the first rays of sunlight.
He had to prepare himself for the consequences of his actions.
But did he really have the strength for it?
The Inner Palace was busier than ever. The coming-of-age ceremony for the Heavenly Demon's sons was being held in front of the Jade Hall, and would continue more privately inside the Jade Hall itself.
Lan and Zhan had rarely seen the outside of the villa, but now they stared around with excitement.
Seeing different clothes and people speaking with different accents was always interesting.
Like a carnival, tents and tables had been set up, and every direction offered a different scene.
From Muyan, playing her flute in a corner and enjoying the crowd's admiration, to Dongfang Dubai, sitting alone with full weapons and gear and expensive wine, with no one wanting to go near him.
The Second Steward was talking to what were probably important people, still working even at the celebration, while the Second Guard was trying to perform sleight-of-hand tricks for the ladies present and seemed to have come in his finest clothes.
Kang Long sat on a chair in the highest seat inside the Jade Hall, with the First Steward standing beside him.
The Jade Hall was empty, and only sounds came from outside—the laughter and joy of the people outside echoed into that great, cold hall, and the Heavenly Demon had his eyes closed, as if at peace.
"Do we need to wait a little longer, right?"
The First Steward had been waiting for the conversation to begin: "Do you want to start the ceremony earlier?"
"I don't know. It's not that I'm bored."
"According to custom, I wasn't supposed to see my children and wife until their first coming-of-age, so that the children's innocence wouldn't influence my future decisions as the Heavenly Demon."
"Yes, Your Exalted. I am aware of the customs of the Heavenly Demon bloodline, and I know it's been hard for you."
"And you know that I broke the customs."
"More than once. Many times. Whenever it rained, I visited Dungi. Whenever the spring breeze blew, I visited. Whenever I felt lonely on summer nights, I visited."
"That was Your Exalted's decision, and my role as an advisor is to advise you, not to judge you."
"That's right. And my own judgment tells me I've been unfair to my other children."
"But even so, why am I still thinking about Dung-i? Next year it will be Geon-ma's turn. At that ceremony, can he and his mother have such laughter?"
The First Steward remained silent. From the beginning, the Heavenly Demon already knew the answers, but he needed to speak the truth aloud.
Outside the city, at her villa, Dungi was busy preparing food.
She was dividing tasks with other maids in the kitchen. Her personal maid and the midwife were with Geon-ma in the villa courtyard.
She asked one of the maids to call Geon-ma and the others for the meal, and remained in the kitchen with only one maid.
"My Lady, you shouldn't do everything yourself."
"No, I'm more comfortable this way."
"I insist. I'll bring the food and set the table."
Dungi had grown accustomed to the people of the villa over the years and saw them as family.
"Alright, but don't exhaust yourself."
"If you need help, I'm here."
"What are you saying, my Lady? This is my job."
"Next year is Geon-ma's ceremony, isn't it?"
"Yes. (murmuring) Probably."
What is he doing right now?
Will he come after the ceremony?
Except for two main guards and one shift guard, all the servants and members of the villa gathered around a table. It took a little longer because the midwife decided to change Geon-ma's clothes.
Geon-ma was now a four-year-old child with a big smile, raised with love in the villa.
Dung-i held Geon-ma in her arms and fed him herself.
Even at this moment, Geon-ma was happy.
But Dungi felt anxious.
After eating a little, her throat burned and she felt poisoned.
With blurry vision, Dungi looked at Geon-ma and around her, when suddenly! The first maid fell.
The midwife and other servants fell too, clutching at their throats. Dung-i noticed a severe nosebleed and weakness.
As Dungi looked at Geon-ma, who had eaten the same food, trying to stay conscious, the maid who had served the food took Geon-ma from Dungi's arms.
With tears and blood in her eyes, Dung-i watched her son and drew her last breath.
The kitchen window opened, and the maid placed a wine cup on the windowsill.
The shift guard, moving toward the entrance, saw the wine cup.
Why is this here?
A voice from behind the guard: "This is a signal for us."
The guard had no chance to turn around; his heart was pierced by a serrated dagger.
The maid, with Geon-ma, who was dazed and half-conscious, walked toward the gate.
The guards were surprised and waited for her to stop.
But something was strange here.
The guards were from the Four-Armed Demons cohort, and their instincts were active even against a servant they had known for years.
One of them shouted: "Stop right there and step away from the young master!"
The second guard quickly shifted into an offensive stance.
But a rain of arrows from the villa rooftop poured down on the two guards.
As they fell to the ground, watching their young master being taken away before their eyes, they thought to themselves: Who would dare to do such a thing?
At the Outer Palace, two cart-pullers, agents of the Hao Clan, requested entry to the Inner Palace.
The guard asked for written permission.
"Sir, we've brought some food and snacks for the ceremony."
"You know there's a ceremony, and we're with those who've already been cleared."
"First show me what you have."
The guard inspected the contents of the two carts but saw nothing suspicious.
"You may pass, but stay out of sight inside."
"Yes, sir."
The lookout of the Beggar Sect sat in front of the Outer Palace gate.
A group of men in long robes with half-covered faces stood near the gate, as if waiting for something.
"These fools. If they stand there much longer, the guards will come after them."
"Could they be waiting for something?"
"Right now there's a celebration inside, so I can't reach the Second Steward."
But I have a bad feeling. About fifteen men, without saying a word, are standing in front of the dragon's lair!
As the sun set, the gates of the Jade Hall opened. Ling Yue, Lan, and Zhan stood at the front.
Ling Yue and her children, along with the other main wives, representatives of the Crescent Blade Clan, the Second Steward, and the First and Second Guards, entered.
The First Steward stood below the Heavenly Demon, and Kang Long sat on his throne at the highest point, like a proud emperor.
Lan and Zhan looked at their father for the second time since their reincarnation. The sight before them was overwhelming even for them.
Ling Yue bent down and whispered in their ears: "You must go forward."
Lan turned his head slightly: "Alone?"
Ling Yue said with a smile: "Yes. Just the two of you."
There was no room for more questions. Was Zhan ready too?
Zhan's gaze was as determined as Lan's.
They stepped forward and walked up to the steps of their father's platform.
Kang Long gave a faint smile, rose from his seat, and descended the steps.
The attendees bowed gently, but Lan and Zhan did not. Heirs of a proud soul do not bow without reason.
"Lan and Zhan."
"I chose your names."
"From now on, you are permitted to see your father and ask for anything you feel is a father's duty."
Lan and Zhan remained silent. They wondered, if this was all, why all this preparation?
"And why am I the only one talking?"
Lan and Zhan bowed their heads slightly in respect and expressed their thanks.
Zhan asked quietly but firmly: "So from now on, our lives will be different?"
"Yes. They will be different."
Kang Long signalled to the First Steward, who approached the twins with a carved box.
"Now, we come to the coming-of-age of you, who belong to the Heavenly Demon bloodline."
Is there something else?
The First Steward knelt on his knees and opened the box.
A pearl the size of an infant's head.
The First Steward said to the twins: "From now on, as members of the Heavenly Demon bloodline, you must choose your path."
"It doesn't matter what you choose, as long as you bring honour to the sect and to the Heavenly Demon himself."
"To help you decide, first you must awaken your blood."
Awaken the blood!
"Young masters, this is a dragon pearl. You only need to touch it for the Heavenly Demon's blood to respond."
Lan and Zhan nervously reached their hands toward the pearl and touched it at the same time.
A quick shock, and after a few seconds, their hands grew hot.
The Heavenly Demon placed his hand on the First Steward's shoulder: "Enough."
The box was closed.
Lan and Zhan didn't know what had happened, but clearly something had changed.
The attendees bowed again and shouted: "Long live the Heavenly Demon!"
Kang Long returned to his seat.
And Ling Yue came forward to embrace her children.
The First Steward knew that Kang Long was happy today.
But suddenly, Kang Long rose from his seat!
What had happened?
Dongfang Dubai realised a little later. A warrior's instinct is never wrong.
A soft ringing sound reached Dongfang Dubai's ears.
Dongfang Dubai bowed before the Heavenly Demon: "I'll go take a look. May I?"
"Go."
Dongfang Dubai was in the Inner Palace courtyard, in the middle of everything.
Something was wrong!
"Guard, come here."
A guard on routine patrol quickly ran to Dongfang Dubai: "Sir, what's wrong?"
"Tell the guards to check everywhere. Then go to the gate and tell your superiors to summon the Four-Armed Demons and the spear cohort."
The guard knew something was happening, so he wasted no time and began to run.
Suddenly, an explosion shook the Inner Palace, and the sound of the blast echoed throughout Tai'an.
Dongfang Dubai rushed toward the site of the explosion and saw a temporary tent, where the guests' food had been gathered, burning.
The guests—including notable members of Murim, government officials, and merchants—rushed toward the Outer Palace gate, along with servants trying to evacuate and guards trying to enter.
The two cart-pullers and dozens of servants exited through the Outer Palace gate.
Suddenly, the Second Guard, who had just left the Jade Hall, shouted: "Everyone stop!"
"No one leaves!"