A few days after the event at the farm, Yasushi found himself seated in one of the living rooms, surrounded by an assortment of maids and butlers. Among them were Anfeng, Cormac, Yunxue, Yinhaie, and Heinz. The abruptness of his summons, immediately after breakfast, left him perplexed and uncertain of the reason for his gathering.
"Um…so why am I here?" Yasushi asked, his confusion evident as he scanned the faces before him. His eyes met Yinhaie's, who offered a hesitant smile and a slow shake of her head. It became clear to him that she was unable to provide any clarity, her demeanor suggesting that Heinz and Anfeng were the ones orchestrating the proceedings.
"Today!" Anfeng declared, his finger extending toward Yasushi, "you will undertake the Yang Clan's trials!"
"What?" Yasushi responded, his bewilderment deepening. The Yang Clan's trials were entirely foreign to him; neither Jingliu nor Yinhaie had ever mentioned such a thing. His perplexity only grew, leaving him in a state of utter confusion.
"The Yang Clan trials are a long-standing tradition within the Yang family," Anfeng announced, her finger still directed at Yasushi. "Anyone who wishes to join the family through marriage must undergo these trials, which are designed to reveal their strengths and weaknesses. Those who fail to meet the standards will be barred from marrying into the family."
"That sounds ridiculous. We live in—" Yasushi began to object but was abruptly interrupted by Anfeng.
"Regardless of how it sounds, Lord Liang Yang and Lady Yuhan Yang specifically requested this, and… Lady Jingliu agreed to their conditions!" Anfeng's declaration left Yasushi stunned, his eyes wide as he processed the information.
"…And what kind of trials will I face? You mentioned they are tailored to be appropriate, so I assume they will be designed with my abilities in mind? Did Jingliu's mother have to go through this as well?" Yasushi asked, his tone now noticeably more intense as he fixed his gaze on the group.
Anfeng flashed a smile at Yasushi and remarked, "Excellent, you're taking this with the seriousness it requires. The various trials are mostly prepared; we only need an additional hour to inspect them one last time to ensure their stability. Use this hour to get ready. Also, be prepared for this to occupy the entire day, and it might even extend into tomorrow."
Yasushi nodded silently, his mind racing as the swarm of butlers and maids exited the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts. The suddenness of the situation struck him as entirely unexpected, and he found himself grappling with confusion. He had agreed to face these trials, and backing out was no longer an option, yet he was left to ponder — what exactly were these trials he was about to encounter?
Before he could even begin to speculate on their nature, the door swung open once more. Yunxue and Jingliu entered and took their places beside him.
"Did you really agree to this?" Yasushi asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Jingliu gave an awkward smile and nodded slowly. "Yes. A few days ago, my parents called me, and we had a regular conversation. During our chat, my father mentioned it as a joke. I thought, why not let you give it a try? After some discussion, we agreed that you could participate. Even if things don't go as planned, it won't affect our relationship or hinder any future proposal or marriage. It's meant to be a lighthearted challenge this time," she clarified.
Yasushi shook his head and let out a chuckle. "And here I was, thinking I had done something to upset your parents. You nearly gave me a heart attack. Well, I suppose it's all right. Actually, I'm starting to look forward to it — it's a bit like… Ninja Warrior, in a way," he said with a grin.
Yunxue chimed in, "You're not too far off with that comparison. But since I know the final trial, I'll give you a heads-up. You'll be up against either Cormac or Anfeng in a ring. It's not exactly boxing but more of a strength test, I suppose."
"Facing Cormac or Anfeng, huh? I was hoping there wouldn't be anything like that, but it seems I can't dodge a fight forever," Yasushi remarked with a sigh. "Well, I suppose I'll just have to accept it and be prepared. Anyway, I want to… get ready, I guess?" he said as he rose from his seat.
"Get ready? What exactly do you plan to do? Meditate?" Yunxue asked, standing up alongside Jingliu.
"Oh, no, I thought I'd ask Jingliu to pamper me for the next hour before I tackle the trials," Yasushi said with a deadpan expression, his gaze fixed on Yunxue and Jingliu, the latter's cheeks beginning to flush with embarrassment.
Yunxue slapped her forehead but burst into laughter, shaking her head. "I figured Young Master Yasushi was taking this seriously, but it turns out you just want to flirt with Lady Jingliu?" she asked, her laughter continuing.
Yasushi shrugged casually and added, "Jingliu gives me strength." His face remained stern and emotionless, which only made Yunxue laugh harder.
"You're such a cheese-ball sometimes…" Jingliu muttered, covering her face in a futile attempt to hide her blush.
The couple departed, with Jingliu indulging Yasushi's whims while Yunxue excused herself to leave them to their own devices. For the remaining hour, Yasushi enjoyed Jingliu's attentions, who complied with his playful requests. Throughout this time, Yasushi continued to claim that she was the source of his strength for the upcoming trials, which caused Jingliu's face to redden increasingly, as if she were a ripe tomato.
+-+
When the hour had passed, Yasushi was led to a different part of the house, one that was situated underground. The descent took a full minute, which left him astounded. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had stepped into an anime or a movie.
"So you actually have a place like this?" Yasushi remarked, his tone a mix of admiration and bewilderment. "I swear, you billionaires… or is it trillionaires?" he mused, casting a glance toward Jingliu.
Jingliu offered a smile and responded, "I wasn't aware of this place until just a few days ago. I knew about the trials, but I didn't know the specifics of where they were held or the nature of the setup. So, I'm as astonished as you are. I can understand your surprise; much of this does seem a bit… excessive."
Yasushi chuckled at Jingliu's response, and their light-hearted conversation continued until the elevator came to a stop. The doors slid open to reveal Yinhaie and Yunxue waiting outside. Stepping out, Yasushi's eyes widened as he took in the vast, metallic room before him, its space interrupted by jagged rock formations and scattered equipment.
"Yeah, I'm starting to think I'm living in an anime. What in the world is this?" Yasushi exclaimed, his gaze moving around the room and noting the various items strewn about.
Yinhaie, beginning to walk away, explained, "Lady Jingliu wasn't aware of this place, but it's where the trials are held. It was constructed many years ago and has been discreetly updated to stay modern. Usually, this is where the Yang family takes refuge."
"Wait, so it's some kind of luxury bomb shelter?" Yasushi asked, his astonishment evident.
"Oh no, that's another five-minute ride down," Yinhaie clarified. "This is just a preparatory space in case of conflict or similar emergencies. In the event of a nuclear fallout, there's a generator here capable of powering the elevator long enough for us to access a more secure area. Down there, we have enough supplies and equipment to last about twenty years before rationing becomes necessary."
Yasushi was utterly astonished by the revelation, his mind momentarily blank as he struggled to find words. Observing his reaction, Yinhaie and Yunxue exchanged amused glances and shared a quiet laugh, their footsteps echoing softly as they continued their brief walk in silence.
They arrived at a platform where a group of maids and butlers stood, peering down at them. Yasushi recognized a few faces, though many were only familiar to him from brief encounters and weren't people he knew well.
Suddenly, the lights in the room dimmed, and a spotlight illuminated him. The three women who had accompanied him vanished from view, and Anfeng's voice reverberated through the space with commanding authority.
"Yasushi Futakao! Today, you will undergo the Yang Clan Trials! For this first challenge… you will face an obstacle course! This course is designed to test both your mental resolve and physical capabilities! We have heard numerous accounts from Yinhaie and Lady Jingliu, and now we wish to witness these extraordinary feats firsthand!" Anfeng declared, her voice echoing with intensity throughout the room.
Yasushi listened attentively as Anfeng spoke, but his attention was suddenly diverted by the emergence of a large screen that appeared to be embedded in the rocky wall before him. The screen displayed a list of names along with their respective completion times.
"Displayed on this screen are the various completion times that the staff here have achieved," Anfeng said, her tone explanatory. "You understand what I'm getting at, don't you? These are indeed the trials, but they also serve as a means for us to maintain our physical condition. We adhere to a specific physical standard for those in our ranks."
Yasushi examined the screen more closely and noted that first place was a tie between Anfeng and Yinhaie, while the second and third positions were held by individuals he did not recognize. Fourth place was occupied by Heinz, which took Yasushi by surprise, though he knew from experience that the elderly butler was still remarkably agile.
Then, a multitude of lights began to illuminate the area in front of him, revealing a peculiar and formidable obstacle course. The layout and challenges presented bore a striking resemblance to the intense courses seen on shows like "Total Wipeout" or "Ninja Warrior."
"So let's be—" Anfeng began, but Yasushi cut her off abruptly.
"Hey," Yasushi called out, his voice drawing attention.
"Yes?" Anfeng responded, her tone tinged with confusion.
"What happens if I beat the times?" Yasushi asked, his demeanor casual and indifferent, which caught everyone off guard.
Anfeng hesitated for a moment before answering, "If you surpass the recorded times, that will set a new benchmark. However, Yinhaie and I have navigated this course so many times that the current record is likely the best possible."
Yasushi looked at the top time once more; it was around nineteen seconds. With a nod to himself, he remained silent and prepared for the trial. His expression showed a hint of anticipation.
At that moment, the list on the screen was replaced by a timer, which began its countdown from ten seconds. The digits gradually decreased, ticking down to single figures, until the display reached one, then zero. A resounding chime filled the space, and the word "Go!" flashed on the screen.
Without a moment's hesitation, Yasushi sprinted past the starting line, immediately launching himself onto one of the red, bouncing obstacles. The onlookers gasped in surprise; where most would have paused to assess the course, Yasushi threw himself into the challenge headlong.
He jumped from one obstacle to the next, each leap fluidly transitioning to the next as if he were floating through the air. After a series of quick jumps, he landed on a different platform and picked up his pace, eyes focused ahead. Before him loomed a rotating mechanism designed to lift him vertically. A misjudged move could send him plunging into the water below.
Yasushi's timing was impeccable. He grabbed a handlebar as it swung into position, allowing himself to be hoisted upward before pushing himself onto a new platform that began to shake violently. To everyone's astonishment, he continued running at a steady pace, seemingly unfazed by the platform's instability.
Typically, newcomers would need two to three attempts to acclimate to such challenges, but Yasushi adapted swiftly, showcasing a remarkable ability to adjust to the obstacles before him.
Yasushi continued his rapid pace, soon reaching a new segment of the course. This section presented a vertical wall equipped with bars that were designed for climbing. Each section of the wall had specific slots where the bars could be inserted to aid in the climb. To everyone's astonishment, Yasushi bypassed the bars entirely and began scaling the wall using only his fingers.
Anfeng, initially ready to warn him of the potential risks, hesitated as she watched Yasushi tackle the obstacle with the dexterity of a spider. Seeing him navigate the climb with such skill, she decided to withhold her concerns. Yasushi reached the top of the wall in an impressively brief time and immediately resumed his sprint.
A few moments later, he found himself facing the second-to-last challenge. The obstacle before him was a sizable punching bag machine. To proceed, Yasushi needed to strike the bag with enough force to register at least 500 points on the machine. This would trigger the lowering of a small bridge, allowing him to make a running leap to grab a rope that awaited him beyond.
Yasushi pulled his arm back, positioning his fist for the strike. As he approached the punching bag, he threw his punch with force, landing a powerful hit. The impact was so intense that its echo traveled down the course, startling the maids and butlers stationed along the way.
The screen displayed the numbers climbing rapidly, eventually maxing out at 999. The small bridge lowered in response, and Yasushi continued his run, timing his leap off the bridge perfectly to grasp the rope. With a firm grip, he pulled himself upward, swinging onto the top platform and striking the buzzer to signal the end of his attempt.
Everyone's attention moved to the timer, their faces showing shock as they saw Yasushi's time: ten seconds flat. This remarkable performance surpassed Yinhaie and Anfeng's record of nineteen seconds, securing Yasushi the top spot on the leaderboards.
Yasushi exhaled deeply and chuckled, his face lit with a confident grin. "Looks like I've set a new record," he remarked, looking ahead with a self-assured smile.