Forest Gate City, City Lord's Mansion
The afternoon Tahir was choosing cultivation techniques after being stabbed in the market, in the garden of the City Lord's Mansion, there was a woman with her blonde hair tied in a bun on the back of her head. She was of average beauty. While no one could call her unattractive, most would not find her mesmerizing. She held a cup in her hand, sipping her tea while Ferik, her son, paced back and forth in front of her with a worried expression on his face.
Exasperated, the woman placed her cup down on the table while sighing. "Could you stop pacing back and forth? It's disturbing my afternoon tea." She could understand her son being upset as he's never killed someone before, but her informants already told her that the little bastard survived. The fact that her son wouldn't stay to make sure the bastard actually died is what upsets her the most. In her opinion, her son was useless, but he was her only child. So, she would coddle him nonetheless.
Ferik stopped pacing, but it did nothing to stop his anxiety. "But mother, what is father find out I killed the sorry son of a bitch."
"Your father would be hard pressed to hear a tale of murder when no one died."
Ferik couldn't understand what his mother was saying. "What do you mean no one died? I saw it with my own eyes."
His mother rolled her eyes. "I've already received word about what happened in the market prior to you returning. I was disappointed to hear that you didn't finish the job after one of your pets attacked him. If he'd died, at least I'd get to see the look of sorrow on that dying woman's face. It might even be what drove her over the edge to her grave. However, that's in the past."
"But Father…"
His mother cut him off. "Don't worry about him. If he asks, blame it on that pet of yours." She couldn't help shaking her head, wishing she had another child, not that she didn't want Ferik. She just knew that his ability to rise would be limited. He would need constant guidance if he were to achieve anything significant. So, she could use a backup plan. However, she'd need her husband to be intimate with her if she wanted another child, but he hasn't touched her since she'd conceived Ferik. It's as though he just wanted her to get pregnant to have a child to succeed him and was done with her after that. However, she loved her husband. She even made sure to dispose of the first woman he was engaged to marry just so she'd have a chance to be his wife.
That's why she couldn't accept that he touched one of the servants and sired a child with her. She tried to have her disposed of as well. However, the cockroach survived the attack. She knew her husband was watching her closely. He made sure she understood that she couldn't take any additional action against her in the future. But how could she let it rest? She made sure to spread the word amongst the other wives in the upper class about her "scheming" servant. So, no one would hire her or do business with her after she left the City Lord's mansion. Even though she ensured a life of hardship for the woman and her son, they continued to survive.
She even made sure to have her son spread the story of the "scheming" servant among his own friends so that the bastard wouldn't be able to hold his head up in public, but unexpectedly he would just ignore the evil looks and snide remarks. She would make sure to settle those matters one day. Even if she couldn't settle it sooner, once her son took over as the City Lord, she could have him give an arrest order and take care of them at that time. However, she first needed to make sure her son would be accepted as the new City Lord when it was his time.
She had Ferik sit down at the table to discuss this matter. "Ferik, it's time that you started to grow up. There are too many people who would want nothing more than the chance to seize your Father's position, and subsequently, your position when you take over. If you continue the way you are now, no one will respect you as the true City Lord.
Ferik couldn't accept his mother's words. "What do you mean they wouldn't respect me? They have to respect me."
"They have to respect you now because your Father is the City Lord. However, the current you is truly not worthy of any real respect."
Ferik was truly shaken. This is the first time his mother spoke any truly harsh words to him. She usually just let him do as he pleases without any comments on his actions. Emotionally, he was a combination of furious, embarrassed, confused, and depressed. He couldn't understand why his mother would speak to him like that. Before, he could settle on one emotion his mother continued. "From now on, focus on learning how to run this city. Also, you need to work on your cultivation. You're too weak right now in comparison to your friends. I have a new cultivation technique for you to learn. It will help you grow stronger more quickly."
Ferik received a cultivation manual from his mother. Upon reading the first few pages of the technique, he immediately closed the book and looked around to make sure no one else was around. Once he confirmed no one else was in the vicinity, he breathed a sigh of relief. However, he suddenly became serious. "Mother, this technique…"
His mother cut him off yet again. "There's no need to discuss this further. You'll cultivate using this technique moving forward. Once you've grown stronger, we can talk about this again. After dinner, one of my servants will bring the materials needed to support your cultivation to your room. I expect to see results soon."