The large man's shouts echoed violently across the pavilion. "Do you know who I am? I serve Elder Edward of the Linn Clan! Do you dare touch me?!"
His voice was sharp, trembling with fury as he tried to assert authority over the guard who had subdued him with apparent ease. The display drew the attention of several nearby cultivators, though none dared approach.
The guard remained calm, his aura lightly flaring as if to warn the man against further provocation. "If you have questions, speak to your master. I answer only to him," the guard said evenly, his tone measured but carrying an undercurrent of power that made the large man falter for a brief moment.
From above, a short average-looking man hurried down the stairwell. Despite his unassuming stature, his presence commanded immediate attention. "What is going on here?" he bellowed, voice firm and authoritative. His eyes flicked over Kael, Yelan, Aoren, and the restrained man.
"The incident… happened in your pavilion," the guard explained curtly. "You should speak with the attendant here. He witnessed the entire confrontation."
The attendant, still trembling violently from the earlier clash, stepped forward. Sweat coated his forehead, and his hands shook as he recounted the scene to the manager. His voice was hoarse but careful, each word weighed with fear. "... and the guard destroyed the man's cultivation"
The manager, a short man with a faintly worried expression, listened carefully. As the attendant finished, he bowed deeply. "I… I apologize sincerely for what happened under my supervision. That should not have occurred. I will deal with this man personally."
His voice was calm, but his hands flexed nervously at his sides. Something about the medallion Kael carried had unsettled him in a way he could not fully explain. Even the guard might possibly be a high-tier warrior with the energy control he has, just the thought of how he destroyed a person's cultivation swiftly without killing the person.
The manager continued, "and… to apologize for the trouble, I will sell the beads to you at 150 gold coins instead of the full price. Please accept this as my compensation."
Kael's hands trembled slightly as he gave out two energy stones and the bracelets now securely in his possession.
The crimson, obsidian, and pale gold spheres pulsed faintly in response, as if aware of the events that had just transpired. He could still feel the Level 8 aura, the fear and pressure lingering in his chest.
The guard approached Aoren, who had fallen unconscious.
The effects were immediate, a jolt of energy surged through him, his eyes snapped open, and his trembling lessened slightly. Yet fear was still etched across his face. He had been so close to death, and the experience had left a deep mark.
Yelan, though wounded a thin trail of blood on her lips. She glanced at Kael, worry evident in her eyes.
Kael, however, could not shake the scene from his mind. The large man's arrogance, the overwhelming aura, the sudden intervention of the medallion, every detail replayed relentlessly. His body still ached, and his chest felt tight, the memory alone was enough to constrict his breathing.
When they finally returned home, Kael did not speak. He retreated straight to his room and closed the door firmly behind him. The world outside faded immediately, leaving only the quiet of his chamber.
He picked up the jade flute his father had given, its surface polished. The flute felt warm under his fingers, almost alive. He brought it to his lips and began to play, letting the emotions of the day pour into the melody. Anger, fear, frustration and grief all fused into the notes.
As the sound filled the room, two maids entered to attend to his wounds. Their eyes softened when they saw the blood, but the music had a different effect. Each note seemed to stir something deeper within them, anger and sorrow they hadn't realized they carried.
Their hands tightened around the basins of water and herbs they held, and tears rolled down their cheeks. Kael's playing amplified the emotions around him, bending them subtly without his conscious control.
Outside the room, Lord Drake, Kael's father, had heard the music. He paused in the hallway, stunned. The flute's sound carried more than mere notes. It conveyed emotion with precision, influencing those who listened. He stepped closer and observed the maids. Their faces twisted with rage and grief, by the invisible pull of Kael's melody.
Lord Drake's eyes narrowed, recognition dawning. His son has managed to grasp the intent of the poem lyrics he gave him.
He allowed the maids to remain under the spell for a few more moments, watching the nuances of their emotions shift, before finally speaking softly. "Enough," he said. They blinked, startled as the effect faded. Kael lowered the flute, his hands trembling, tears still lingering in his eyes.
"Alright, you both should go" Lord Drake entered the room, his presence filling the space without a word.
"You… played beautifully," Lord Drake said, voice carrying authority. "And yet, you are still learning control. You must continue practicing until you can command emotions entirely with your music. Understand?"
Kael swallowed, nodding. His lips quivered, but he maintained eye contact. "Yes, Father."
"Although your music managed to influence them, it is not strong enough to control a cultivator, as their opened vessels can protect them. Moreover, you have to be in that emotion before you can ever tap into an ordinary person's mind. So it's best to practice it when you are in the moulding realm"
"Yes father, it won't be long before I get there".
"But, you can use it to steel your mind, you will also start your training now. So you can have a good grasp on battle techniques, also you start practicing these battle techniques, as in the next four years you should already be in the moulding realm". He dropped a book on the table.
Satisfied, Lord Drake left the room leaving Kael to his own thoughts. But even as the door closed, Lord Drake had already issued a command.
"Li Siwang," he instructed his aide, "summon Elder Edward immediately. I will speak with him regarding compensation and ensure there are no further disturbances from his side."
Within ten minutes, the door to the hall swung open with a violent force. Elder Edward stormed in, radiating a cold, ice-like aura that seemed to chill the very air. His eyes were sharp and unforgiving, his expression stoic.
"Lord Drake!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. "Why have you touched one of my people?!"
Lord Drake remained calm, standing tall in the center of the room. "Your man injured my son, Elder Edward," he said evenly. "If I were not in a good mood I would have killed him by now."
Elder Edward's gaze flared with icy intensity. Frost seemed to gather around him, swirling invisibly as though the temperature itself obeyed his aura.
"You dare strike one of my subordinates?" he hissed, voice low and deadly.
Lord Drake replied, tone flat but carrying absolute dominance. "You do not dictate actions within my domain. Consider this a lesson, your people must stay away from mine. I do not wish for unnecessary conflict, but I will not tolerate intrusion."
The two stood facing each other, the tension in the room thick enough to slice with a blade. Elder Edward's ice aura pressed outward, sharp and cutting, but Lord Drake's vital energy, calm yet unyielding, countered every bit of it. Neither spoke for a long moment, each assessing the other.
Finally, Lord Drake spoke. "For the inconvenience, I require twenty energy stones in compensation from you. And you will ensure your people are kept away from Kael and his companions. This is not a negotiation."
Elder Edward's eyes narrowed, but the power disparity was clear. He exhaled slowly, releasing a fraction of the frost that had gathered around him. "Twenty energy stones… and your warning is noted. But know this, Lord Drake, this is not over. One day, your actions may meet with consequences."
Lord Drake inclined his head slightly. "Perhaps. But not today." Elder Edward stormed out of the room.