Ping's POV:
My name is Yang Ping, and I am the rightful heir to the great Yang clan.
The nine dragon clans are the descendants of nine mighty ancient dragon lords who fended off the gods assault on dragon kind back during the age of the gods. I always prided myself on the fact that some day, I would get to lead this great clan like our ancestral dragon Yang Long once did.
From the earliest days of my childhood, I had been promised the position I yearned for. After all, I was the eldest son of the main family from which the next clan head would be chosen, so naturally, the position of heir to the Yang clan is mine by birthright. My life was perfect and my future even brighter still, but then one day…
*Baby crying*
It was all because of him. He ruined everything. The last of my siblings my mother managed to push out before losing her ability to bare children.
As cultivators rise in rank, our ability to reproduce will rapidly decline. My mother had been a human immortal at that point in time, the absolute last chance one has to leave behind descendants as it is the last stage before shedding one's flesh to become an energy-based lifeform. Of course, being the last chance to have children, it is naturally also the one with the lowest possibility of succeeding. The immense qi in their bodies can not only result in infertility, but should an accident occur, overexposure to the qi in the mother's body can outright kill the unborn child. It is for this reason my mother had intentionally held off on ascending to human immortal stage when she had me. The fact she managed to have even just one child after ascending to immortal status was a miracle in of itself, but somehow, she managed to push out one more. Even if they were many years apart, the fact she had two children as an immortal was abnormal. If only I had paid more attention to this ominous sign back then.
Back when that wretch Xing was born, I did not give it much thought. I was far older than him and far more eligible to inherit the clan. At most he was only born to put the minds of the elders at ease in the event of my passing. That's what I thought, but then…
"I shall personally train little Xing to become my successor!"
One day out of the blue, my grandfather, the patriarch of the Yang clan declared this, for no rime or reason. I was left speechless, unable to understand why a newborn that had not even learned to walk yet had been chosen over myself.
Back then, I didn't understand, and so I worked hard to regain my birthright by showing I was much better suited to the position.
To be eligible to inheritor of the Yang clan one is expected to fulfill a number of conditions and obligations. Firstly, in accordance with the traditions of our clan, the next leader of the clan has to be of the main family. As mentioned, we are a clan, so there are any number of branches shooting out from our family tree, however, only those descended from the patriarch can inherit the position. It goes without saying there were no issues for me there.
Secondly, the inheritor has to be a male. By tradition, our clan, like many others, is a patriarchy, or at least, it is in regard to picking the leader of the clan. Outside the main branch, and sometimes, like in the case of my mother and father, social hierarchies are often left to the individuals to decide rather than tradition. Something I am less than enthused by, seeing as it is this which has made getting rid of that nuisance of a gorilla claiming to be my sister such a hassle. If this was not the case, we could arranger a political marriage for her without her having to meet the groom before the wedding. If that was the case, she wouldn't be able to screw it all up with her regular barbarism.
Thirdly, the inheritor has to cultivate the element of our ancestral dragon, the light element. Furthermore, they are expected to one day reach the heaven immortal stage later on. I, of course, had chosen to cultivate the light element for this exact reason, in spite of having inherited my mother's affinity for the earth element. However, I was misfortunate enough to be overtaken in my cultivation level by that thieving scoundrel Xing because of the fourth condition.
They need to bear a successor. To ensure the patriarch's blood is passed on, they need to have a son of their own before becoming the patriarch. Hence, in spite of all the resources at my disposal as a member of the main family, I delayed my advancements to increase my chances when searching for a courtesan capable of bearing me a son, whom I would later marry.
I had been so focused on obtaining a son of my own to secure my bloodline, I had not noticed my brother had conspired against me. Not only had he managed to overtake me in terms of cultivation level, but he had used his position as grandfather's favorite to ruin my image in his eyes. As if that was not enough, a certain someone was spreading malicious rumors of me, staining my reputation.
It was at that point I decided to fight fire with fire, however, even that did not work. No matter what I did, or what I said to paint him in a bad light, he always managed to worm himself out of it somehow. I was at the end of my rope when I saw a ray of hope.
"Hello there, master Ping!"
I was contacted by a messenger from the Yin clan. They saw my greatness, and like me, they also understood the insidious nature of my so-called brother, and shared secrets even I did not know.
"I do not mean to speak ill of your mother, but do you not think it a little odd how your mother managed the miracle of childbirth not once but twice after reaching immortality? Your father must be getting on in years, yes? I find it hard to believe he'd have the energy to make lightning strike twice!"
The more I listened, the more convincing it all sounded, however, when I tried to tell my grandfather.
"Is this some kind of jest?"
"No, grandfather! I swear on our clan's honor, it is all the truth!"
"*Sigh* I swear, you youngins are going to be the death of me!"
"Huh?"
"Ping! Where do I even begin! You stand before me today, with nothing but speculations and not a shred of evidence to back your claim, stating your father to be an incompetent fool who can't tell his own blood apart, your mother to be a whore, and your siblings to be the result of your mother's many alleged affairs! Tell me, boy, do you feel no shame, slandering your siblings, your parents, your very blood?"
"I-! But-! Grandfather, this is the truth, I swear! You have to believe me!"
"And why should I?"
"I am your grandson! Your successor! I am-!"
"A disappointment!"
"Huh?"
"This is why your younger brother is ahead of you in the succession! Not your talent, your reputation, or what else have you! It is that you cannot be bothered to use that head on your shoulders! Has it even occurred to you that in this hypothetical scenario that discredits your mother's fidelity and shames your whole family, your own lineage can be brought into question as well?"
"But-! No, I was born first?"
"Were you? Even these old ears of mine can only hear the ravings of a petulant child throwing a fit because he cannot get his way! If I did not know any better, I would have thought you were younger than even your brother!"
"No, I meant, I was born before mother became an immortal!"
"Do you think she would not be capable of such things before becoming immortal? One's character does not correlate to one's cultivation! If it did the way you imply, between the multitude of paternity claims and the fact you still have the gall to call the woman you spoke so ill of as your mother, you may yet become a heavenly immortal still! Your parents are no less yours than they are your siblings, even if you do not deserve them!"
"Is that what Xing told you? That I'm not my father's child? Is that why you won't believe me?"
"Don't mistake your own words for your brother's nor me for your father! I will not coddle you, nor your brother just for having my blood, nor will I believe you unconditionally for you have not earned my trust! I was too soft when raising Ming and so I failed to raise him into a worthy successor, but I have long since hardened my heart to not repeat this mistake with Xing!"
"…!"
"Your only saving grace is that you had enough sense to speak your asinine delusions in privet this time! God knows what shame you would have brought upon us had you spouted all this nonsense in a public setting! If there is nothing else, then go reflect on your words in the ancestral hall until you've learned to respect your own family!"
My grandfather was obviously covering for Xing, but he was right about one thing. I was immature and rushed into things without a proper plan. It was only when I stayed calm and took things one step at a time that I began to see some results.
While my brother was set out on his journey to the 2nd continent, I began expanding my own connections to build my own strength and supporters, independent of my brother or grandfather's control. I believe this is what would eventually allow me to take back what rightfully belonged to me. I just needed to be patient and wait for the opportunity to arise, and one day it did.
"You did what?"
"I am sorry Patriarch! Really, I am! I know I should not have brought our clan into this! I just! I didn't know what else to do!"
My incompetent brother had brought shame upon the family by fooling around with a lady engaged to a man from another clan, going so far as to using the name of our clan to try and force the matter, bringing great turmoil to our doorstep.
"*Sigh* There are plenty of fish in the sea! Why do this over one mere woman!"
"There might be plenty of fish in the sea, but there is only one Chrystalla!"
"…! Tell me Xing? Are you willing to give up your right to the clan over this girl you're so taken with?"
"Yes!"
When I heard him answer as such without a shred of hesitation, I was filled with two unbridled emotions. I felt joy, as with Xing out of the picture, I would be the only remaining candidate to become the next patriarch. And I felt insulted by how easily he threw something I valued so much, away, just for a single woman. Unfortunately, the joy was short lived.
"*Sigh* I suppose the heats of passion burn the hottest in one's youth! Fine, if you are really willing to take it this far! It may come at a loss to our clan, but I will see to it you get your precious woman!"
"Thank you, Patriarch! I'm forever grateful!"
"You may show me your gratitude by letting me retire once this is over!"
"Huh?"
"I am too old and too tired to be holding the reigns any longer! Besides, the Lunaria would surely be more agreeable to the proposal knowing their in-laws with the Yang clan Patriarch!"
"GRANDFATHER! STOP!!!"
"Ping?"
"Ping-Ping! This might not be the right-!"
Seeing this situation, even as my parents tried to talk me down, I could not hold my tongue at the injustice.
"Hm? *Sigh*"
"Grandfather! I feel I must object to making Xing your successor!"
*Sigh*
"Do I even need to say it! In the past, you have always been quick to scorn and punish those of us who made mistakes, yet, today, my brother has made such a blunder of a serious matter, but you let him go unpunished! So, I argue he should be stripped of his title!"
"Well at least your argument is somewhat sound this time, but you're mistaken about one thing!"
Just then, I felt a heavy weight pressing me to the floor, squeezing the air out of my lungs as blood began running out of my every orifice.
"I never said I would not punish Xing for his actions, speaking of, I do not believe I gave you permission to speak your mind, nor did I ask you for your input on the matter!"
"Patriarch! Please! My brother is right to be upset at me!"
"…! *Sigh* If only you had a fraction of the quality, he seems to have in excess you'd be a perfect leader!"
"…!"
"*Sigh* Xing, you are to follow me to receive your punishment! The rest of you are dismissed! Oh, and Xing?"
"Yes?"
"Call me grandpa from now on!"
It was so unfair. I had been humiliated and punished for no reason, yet my brother got off basically scot-free. However, I had learned my lesson, and in the end, I would be the one to get the last laugh over that old tyrant.
*BOOM*
*Whistling**Clang*
"Grand … pa?" Xing muttered as he knelt down in disbelief in front of the large white blade of our grandfather which landed right in front of us.
In the early stages of the war, I had deliberately leaked information to the enemy side to allow for the old scoundrel to be cornered by the sages. Though I was a little skeptical of what a ragtag group of mortals could do against a heavenly immortal, the presence of the spirit king of light proved too much for even that old monster. And with him out of the way, all that remained was seizing back the power that thieving younger brother of mine took from me. Unfortunately, that proved more difficult than I initially thought.
"The patriarch believed you could lead us, so I shall as well!"
It started with a word of support for my brother coming from one of our clan elders, the greatest experts within our clan, second only to the late patriarch and our ancestral dragon.
"And so shall I"
"I as well!"
"If they believe in you, then I will too!"
And one by one, he got everything thrown into his lap without even trying, as always. After that, it all just went to shit. No matter how much I tried to sabotage him, between leaking information to smuggling in enemy assassins, he always seemed to improvise something at the last moment to avoid a total defeat, until that one night.
My secret contacts from the Yin clan had asked me to deliver a letter to Xing in secret to lead him into a trap. And finally, as Xing lay broken, slowly driven mad by the drugs I would sneak into his meals, I was given the reigns of the clan that I rightfully deserved. However, there were a few major issues.
First of all, my allies who helped me get to my position were demanding I repay my debts by giving them the Yang Dragon Ring, an artifact of my grandfather's. Unfortunately, everything but my grandfather's main weapon had been disintegrated in his final battle. Hence, the ring they spoke of were no more.
Second, and more urgently, was tying up a loose end, namely, my mother. Unfortunately, my mother had spotted me leaving Xing's room after leaving that letter which sent him to his doom on his desk for him to find. The reason my brother survived that night was because my mother had likely noticed him sneaking out and followed after him. If she hadn't already figured me out, it was only a matter of time, and once she did, she would tell everyone and I'd lose this seat forever.
That is why…
*Stab*
*Bleurgh*
"Ping. Why?"
*KA-BOOM*
During my mother's advancement to heavenly immortal, I had taken advantage of an ongoing siege to divert the manpower guarding her towards the front line. Then it was simply a matter of killing one unfortunate clansman, dressing him up like an assassin, and frame him for interrupting my mother's advancement. With that out of the way, I would simply surrender our forces to my allies on the other side, then negotiate some kind of agreement to make up for the missing ring. It would have been as simple as that, had they just done as I said.
"YOU IDIOT! WE TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU LEFT THE RARE UNGUARDED LIKE THIS!"
For the first time in my life, my father raised his voice towards me. It was a bit jarring. No matter what I did in the past, had never gotten really angry like this before. And so, I did not know how to respond and before I knew it, my father had taken charge of everything. At the cost of many lives, he had managed to get a hold of a vessel capable of traveling through the great continental barrier, though not entirely unscathed might I add. By the time we made it through, the majority of the people we brought with us had died or disappeared to who knows where. Still, the pursuit was not over just yet.
The dragon clan alliance and the sages have connections outside of the 3rd martial continent, so even if they could not easily follow after us in person, they could very easily send those already there to kill us. During this voyage, however, I had forgotten to feed those drugs I had been using on my brother to keep him unstable, and he managed to snap back to his senses for a little bit, just long enough to lead us to that stingy friend of his Takeru.
However, that wasn't the end of this. Though our clan might have been ruined by my brother, and my father had taken the power away from me, with my brother broken and fated to die sooner or later, and my ailing father risking his life every day searching in vain for a miracle that might save my mother, it would only be a matter of time before I became the clan's patriarch once more. Once that happens, it will only be a matter of time before I lead us back to the prosperity we once had.
That's what was supposed to happen anyways, but then that little bitch had to ruin everything. Like father like daughter, I suppose.
*Clap**Clap**Clap*
"Hey, look! A rat! … *Bonk* … Pathetic, I know! Two weeks and this lazy slob can't even walk straight yet! … Trust me! I don't think you want to know the answer to that question! … Why don't you get married instead! … Hey could you move? You're blocking my sun! … Oh, no! I can't move! Someone must have spiked my drink! … COME ONE, COME ALL, TO THE AMAZING YANG PING'S WHORE HOUSE! … Happy birthday to he! Happy birthday to she! Happy birthday everybody! … I wish to own the Yang clan!"
From the moment she first appeared, she has done nothing but make things worse. First, she cures my brother, then my mother, and then she has the gall to declare herself in charge of the clan, and as if spitting in our clan's traditions were not enough, she even tried to appoint an outsider to become the new clan leader. For a moment, there was a point where I thought I might be rid of her once she whored her way into the dark lord's bed, but then all of a sudden she returned, somehow having angered the sages to such an extent, even our clan became inconsequential so long as they got their hands on her.
If there was one thing she was good for at least, it was her talent for inciting anger in others that had allowed me to reopen some negotiations with the Yin clan at the urging of the sages.
Of course, even this all came bittersweet.
"Father? What are you doing? Aren't they the enemy?"
"Husband!"
It was a necessary sacrifice.
*Sizzle**Sizzle**Thud**Thud*
"It is all for the greater good of our clan! If you have to blame someone, then blame the brat who forced you to come here!"
That bitch who stole my birthright had forced my son and wife to come along to the location I was to oversee. An obscure, yet vital weak point in the defensive line. Of course, wishing to resolve this with as little bloodshed as possible, I had informed the other side of this place, intending to grant them free passage. Unfortunately, my son Feng, well, he wouldn't understand, and my wife Jing, well, she was never really all that important anyways, so better to be safe than sorry. Hence, I had to silence them to prevent them from ever spreading word of it to others. It would look much better if I was known as the one who negotiated a ceasefire rather than the traitor who helped the enemy defeat us. Of course, the clans and sages would win anyways, but it would look better if nobody knew I helped the enemy, even if it was for our sake.
"Now I just need to sit back and wait for them to capture my brother and his bastard daughter up west! Then, of course, there is the matter of removing my mother before she remembers what I did!" I said as I leaned back in the chair of the watchtower and took a sip of my tea.
"How diddle you do, rat-man!" I suddenly heard from behind me.
*Cough**Cough*