Luckily for Kailen, he didn't have to carry Kenneth very far as every step was excruciating especially with the added weight. As he carried him through the gates the doors to the mansion opened as Sarah came bursting out in a panic.
"Oh my god! What happened? Who did this?"
She fired off multiple questions anxiously while examining Kenneth's injuries with tender care. William came out not too long after with an extremely displeased expression.
"Kailen, who did this to you?"
"Nilen and some thugs he'd hired from what I could gather..."
"Is that so... It seems there's a silver lining to everything after all."
A cruel smile appeared on William's face, Kailen was perplexed by his words but didn't dwell on it as the weight was lifted off his shoulders.
"How are your injuries?"
William asked as he saw Kailen grimace while holding his ribs.
"Not too bad, a few broken ribs and some cuts and bruises. All should be healed after a couple of hours of cultivation."
"Good, if you want to see something interesting come back here tomorrow night."
"Interesting? How so?"
"Well, let's just say you can have your revenge on that Nilen boy..."
It seems that William must have something planned in advance, and now he had a valid excuse to strike at his local rival.
"Hm, sure I'll be here. I wouldn't want to miss out on the fun."
After helping Kenneth back inside, William and Sarah offered him to stay the night. Inside a large luxurious bedroom, Kailen sat crosslegged on the bed and calmed his mind. Allowing his mind to fall blank and focus on the present sensations, he started to slowly gather the surrounding qi into his body to help repair his injuries.
He started with the bruises formed on his face, the swelling slowly reducing after a while before moving onto his ribs. The pain was intense as his ribs slowly repaired themselves with the help of the natural qi, sweat quickly soaked his clothes and body.
After a few hours bearing with the pain, his ribs had finally healed. Kailen was left mentally exhausted and also very sweaty so he decided to have a wash in the cold tub of water the maids had provided hours ago. After cleaning himself, he allowed his mind and body to rest as he fell asleep on the large comfortable bed.
***
Nilen was running through the streets with a panicked look, his breaths quick and short as he struggled for air. His mind was in turmoil as he imagined the whole variety of problems that would arise from his monumental fuck up.
Surely father will be mad, a scandal such as this would inevitably cause clients to look down on us. Nilen's body shook as he imagined his father's reaction to such news, though that pair of glowing blood-red eyes resurfaced in his mind's eye.
Human's eye colors don't suddenly change, Kailen's grey feline eyes were odd enough though there were instances of certain human's having such features in other parts of the land.
He'd never heard of a human's eyes turning red was he a beast then? A devil? Whatever thoughts occurred freaked him out further. After a few minutes running frantically through the dark streets of Lanza, he arrived at his large mansion home and burst through the doors of his father's office.
"Father!"
"What are you doing? Barging in like this?"
Before Nilen stood a handsome looking man with long blonde hair, he stood gripping a large cane in his hand with a bloodstained tip. On the floor before the man was a pretty young lady with long fair blonde hair clutching her arm, tears staining her pretty face.
Nilen pretended not to notice his sister on the floor his fists gripping ever so tightly.
"Father, I think I've messed up."
"Well, tell me something new. What have you done this time?"
Nilen then cautiously told his father what occurred while watching his father's face grow gradually more wrathful.
"You fucking idiot! All of this over some girl? And you're so incompetent that you can't even kill some nobody. Well done, boy. Truly."
Steve Stanly's rage grew to a boiling point as he swung his cane at Nilen smacking him hard across the face. His rage quickly died down as he saw his son holding his bloody nose.
"I'm sorry Nilen, but you are to be my successor. You can't be messing around like this anymore... Besides this time you've really caused me trouble."
"Trouble? Isn't it just the Carth family? What can they do to us?"
"What do you know!"
Steve loudly exclaimed, before calming again. Nilen quickly understood that matters weren't as clear cut as he'd understood seeing his father's emotional burst.
"William has secretly been gathering a mercenary force for the past few months, though he hasn't attempted anything as he needed a valid reason to. After all, a merchant's reputation is everything."
Nana watched the two as she still knelt clutching her arm supportively, she glared at her father silently.
Nilen's face turned terrified at the prospect and quickly asked his father.
"Surely they won't do anything right? Surely we have some forces right?"
"Of course, I've prepared slightly. Though I only heard about it recently, so I'm not sure it will be enough. You've really dropped me in the shit this time you brat!"
Nilen's trembled as the weight of what he'd done now finally dawning on him, his attention was drawn back to Nana beside him.
"Father we need to get mother and Nana away at least."
"No, I haven't finished with Nana here. Surely she must be passing information to them, through that shitty Carth boy."
Steve was preparing to strike Nana again as Nilen quickly changed the topic and diverted his attention.
"Surely we have more pressing matters? What if they do attack?"
Steve and Nilen talked about the possible incoming offense of the Carth family while Nana silently slipped out of the room with a worried expression.
Nilen failed to mention Kailen's red eyes to Steve, his mind too preoccupied with the possible assault incoming.