The meeting hall had yet to recover from Su Yin's earlier outburst when he spoke again.
"I trust everyone understands the reason for today's gathering," he said, his tone steady but firm. "My father's funeral will be held in seven days."
The room grew still.
"I am open to suggestions regarding the procession. How he will be escorted through the city before reaching the ancestral grounds."
He paused.
"But one thing is certain. There will be no interruptions. No disturbances." His eyes shifted slightly toward the garrison commander who had challenged him earlier. "Is that clear?"
The commander stiffened. "…It is clear, my lord."
"Security will be tightened," Su Yin continued. "After he is laid to rest, the ascension ceremony will begin immediately."
He sat back.
No one objected.
This was not a matter for debate. To question funeral rites was to question filial piety itself. And no official wished to stain their name over something so sensitive.
"We are all in favor, my lord. In that case—" the Chief Steward began.
BOOM!
The wooden doors exploded inward.
The sound shook the hall. Splinters and broken pieces flew across the room. One sharp fragment grazed Su Yin's cheek.
A thin line of red appeared.
Silence fell.
Su Yin slowly lifted his hand and touched his face.
His fingers came away stained with blood.
"How dare— My lord, are you alright?!" Lu rushed forward from the side of the hall, pushing past stunned officials.
He reached Su Yin's side, and the moment he saw the blood, his face drained of color.
My lord… no… not now…
He hadn't forgotten.
Not the look in the late lord's eyes when he explained it.
Su Yin's alter ego.
***
Years ago.
"Lu. You are aware of the incident that occurred months ago?"
The calm voice echoed through the dim hall.
"Yes, my lord. The young master's kidnapping," Lu replied carefully.
A low grunt came from the shadows.
"The story given to the public is that the guards tracked him down and rescued him." The man stepped forward slightly, though his face remained half-hidden. "That is not the truth."
Lu's brows tightened. "It was fabricated? But… why?"
"I found him myself. At the edge of the inner garden." The man's voice lowered. "He simply… appeared."
Lu's expression shifted.
"Did someone return him in secret?"
"No."
The answer came without hesitation.
"By the grace of the heavens, my son returned alive. At that moment, I did not question how. I did not care." His voice trembled faintly. "But the heavens do not give without taking."
Lu felt a chill.
"When I approached him… what I saw was not my son."
Silence.
"It was something else. A child standing in blood. A demon. The bandits who took him…" His jaw tightened. "They were no longer whole."
Lu's breathing grew shallow.
"My son was once innocent. Naive. Soft-hearted." The man's voice cracked. "But whatever happened during those days… something changed."
"My lord… I have never seen such behavior from the young master—"
"You would not," the man cut him off. "It does not show itself unless triggered."
He stepped fully into the faint light now. His face looked older than it should have.
"I believe it is a self-defense instinct. When his body or mind faces extreme danger… something takes over."
Lu remained silent.
"If he is injured," the man continued slowly, "if he smells blood—especially his own—he changes."
"A wild demon," he said bitterly. "One that will exterminate anything it deems an enemy."
Lu's heart pounded.
"You must stop him if that day comes," the lord said firmly. "Immediately. Without hesitation."
The weight of those words pressed down heavily.
"After I pass… I fear there will be no one else capable of restraining him."
Lu straightened at once and dropped to one knee.
"I will remain at the young master's side, my lord. In life and after death. Even if I must stake my own body in front of him."
The lord closed his eyes briefly.
"That is why I trust you, Lu."
***
"Damn brat! You dare sit in my chair?!"
The sharp, arrogant voice tore through the meeting hall.
Heavy footsteps followed.
The officials immediately straightened before dropping to their knees.
"Lord!" they greeted in unison.
"My lord! You must calm down! Do you hear me?!" Lu's voice cut through the noise as he stood beside Su Yin, ignoring everyone else.
Su Yin had not moved for several breaths.
That was what frightened Lu the most.
Then—
A slow breath left Su Yin's lips.
He smiled faintly.
"I am fine. Thank you, Lu."
Lu checked his face for a moment before turning sharply toward the man who had entered.
"What treacherous behavior is this? To injure the Lord of the Su Barony? Kneel and beg forgiveness, you unfilial subject!"
There was real anger in Lu's voice.
Su Yin almost showed surprise.
Since birth, he had only seen Lu lose control once.
The officials hurriedly rose to their feet, unsure where to stand. Moments ago they had knelt to Su Yin. Now they faced the man who had ruled them until yesterday.
The City Lord did not kneel.
He laughed.
Su Yin finally turned his gaze fully toward him.
The man was enormous.
His robes stretched over layers of fat, his cheeks hanging low enough that his eyes seemed nearly swallowed by flesh. Yet those small eyes were sharp with malice.
Behind him stood Lady Yue.
"Lady Yue…" Lu muttered, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice.
Su Yin's stepmother stood calmly beside the obese lord, her face composed. Behind them, more than twenty armed soldiers filled the doorway.
Steel glinted in the light.
Su Yin understood immediately.
So this is the play.
"Kill the brat," the City Lord sneered. "What 'lord'? Su Zhen has already been proclaimed the heir! Kill this traitorous bastard!"
The words shook the room.
Several officials stepped back instinctively.
"Give me the blade," Su Yin said calmly.
"At your command!"
Lu did not hesitate. From within his robe, he drew a Jian and placed it in Su Yin's hand.
The blade slid free with a sharp sound.
Su Yin pointed the sword toward the advancing soldiers.
"Hear me!" His voice boomed across the hall. "Take one more step and I swear upon the Su name—ten generations of your blood will pay in suffering!"
The soldiers halted.
"As the twelfth head of the Su Barony, I vow this here and now. If I live, you will know no peace. If I die—" his eyes hardened, "—Duke Hyou will hear of it."
The name landed heavily.
Murmurs broke out among the officials.
Su Yin stepped forward instead of back.
"I am not afraid to perish today!" he roared. "But tell me—are you willing to sacrifice yourselves, your wives, your children, your entire lineage—for this pig?"
His sword shifted slightly toward the City Lord.
"Look at him."
The insult hung openly in the air.
"If I fall, he will not protect your families. He will not remember your names."
Silence.
The soldiers' grips tightened—but none moved.
Su Yin's expression did not waver. His arm remained steady despite the blood slowly trailing down his cheek.
You want to be arrogant? I'm Su Yin! I'm crazy! I'll be even more arrogant you fat pig!
Su Yin wouldn't falter now, especially with how close he was to ascending to baron. Even in the face of death would he insult it.