Ryushin Tenku smiled to himself as he realized he had had ridiculous ideas that he would never even realize.
He intended to walk to the center of the room and stand still with a composed look, as if he had little or no regard for the guests.
His position tonight would be at the center of everything, and so it would be for the rest of his life.
A person whose future was as bright as his simply had to stay put in his place.
Those who had to make an effort to come and talk to him were the guests.
So Ryushin Tenku took a glass of wine from one of the busy servants' trays.
The expensive and famous wine, which even a rich aristocrat only opened on special days, was distributed like cheap water.
So he took a small sip of wine, feeling its rich taste spread through his mouth, and smiled as he looked around.
He saw familiar and unfamiliar faces, all gathered to celebrate his brother's birth and his success.
Then another member of the Ryushin family approached, looking even younger than Ryushin Tenku.
The young man moved with a grace that revealed his innate elegance.
His blond hair, soft and silky, fell in light waves around his face, reflecting the light like pure gold threads.
His skin was smooth and fair, a perfect contrast to his vibrant green eyes that sparkled with intelligence and curiosity, while his finely sculpted features were framed by a straight nose and well-defined lips that often broke into a disarming smile.
Despite his youth, there was a maturity in his eyes that spoke of experiences beyond his years.
His name was Kaminari no Tsurugi.
He approached Ryushin Tenku and said:
"Congratulations, brother. May I stay by your side for a while?"
The first to speak with Ryushin Tenku was none other than Ryushin Kaminari, his younger brother.
Ryushin Tenkū looked at his brothers standing side by side and smiled.
"Of course. How is your training going these days?"
As Ryushin Tenku welcomed him happily, a joyful expression appeared on Ryushin Kaminari's face.
Amid all these guests, he wanted to use Ryushin Tenku's fame to elevate his own position and reputation. Something like 'We are close to him, all of us!'
"I'm improving these days. I think that soon I will fully comprehend a law, but then I'll need to integrate it into my combat style."
"Really? That's fantastic. It sounds like your combat power will increase significantly soon. Once you've comprehended that new law, shall we spar?"
"Of course! Naturally, we will. Direct experience is the best way to learn. It's so reassuring to know that you'll help me integrate it into my combat style."
As he responded awkwardly, Ryushin Kaminari put his arm around Ryushin Tenku's shoulders.
Meanwhile, Ryushin Tenku found his brother's awkwardness rather amusing and let him do as he pleased.
Instead, he quietly whispered into Ryushin Kaminari's ear.
"Once you've performed enough and are satisfied, move on."
Ryushin Kaminari sincerely smiled at his brother's words, aware that he understood his purpose, and discreetly nodded.
Afterwards, Ryushin Kaminari stayed chatting with Ryushin Tenku for another five minutes before taking his leave.
The younger brother's withdrawal was like breaking a dam.
Once the place was emptied, the guests who had been watching the star of the night began to approach one by one.
Thanks to him, the guests had learned that Ryushin Tenku wasn't so irritable or irascible.
"Nice to meet you. I am Ame no Tsurugi Munashi from the Munashi family."
"Pleasure to meet you, Sir Ame no Yari Munashi. Is the food prepared by the Ryushin family to your liking?"
"Nice to meet you. I am Kiri no Yari Munashi, also from the Munashi family."
"Likewise. I am Ryushin Tenku of the Ryushin family. I've always wanted to meet people from the Munashi clan, renowned for their spear skills."
"Haha, we came here as quickly as possible when we heard that the young master of the Ryushin family had become a member of the Twelve Stars. Nice to meet you!
I am Satsuriku no Hoko of the Doragon-ō no Kishi."
"Oh, so you are Sir Kobayashi Satsuriku! My nanny often told me stories of your heroic deeds when I was younger. It's an honor to finally meet you."
And so, the guests greeted Ryushin Tenku formally yet warmly, one after another.
Suddenly, a towering man loomed over Ryushin Tenku, ruffled his hair, and spoke loudly in a casual and friendly manner.
"Haha, so you're Ryushin Tenku! I was so curious to see what brat had become a member of the Twelve Stars at such a young age. Ah, you're really just a few origin cycles younger than me. Nice to meet you! My name is Fuantei-na Tsurugi."
Kurosuki Fuantei did not reveal his surname because he believed Ryushin Tenku would recognize him—and he did.
He was a talented, strong, and promising warrior from the Kurosuki clan.
Perhaps because he was respected and esteemed in his clan, Kurosuki Fuantei seemed to have forgotten that he was in the main estate of the Ryushin family and needed to show proper manners.
And so, Ryushin Tenku smiled gently and responded.
"Oh, yes, nice to meet you, Fuantei-na Tsurugi."
The tension in the air became palpable as the other guests watched the interaction between Ryushin Tenku and Kurosuki Fuantei, noting the lack of respect and the neglected manners of the latter.
The vigorous laughter and excitement of Kurosuki Fuantei disappeared and his face hardened.
One second... two seconds... three seconds... four seconds... five seconds...
Ryushin Tenku waited for Kurosuki Fuantei to correct his mistake, while the latter's expression slowly began to show displeasure.
It wasn't a complicated matter. Even Kobayashi Satsuriku, who was entering his tenth origin cycle this year, showed the due respect to a much younger boy.
Therefore, Kurosuki Fuantei, who had not yet reached five origin cycles, had no right to speak informally with Ryushin Tenku.
"Ah, I'm not sure if the food we've prepared is suitable for that rude and tactless tongue of yours, Kurosuki Fuantei."
Ryushin Tenku followed up and spoke quietly, at which Kurosuki Fuantei's ears turned red. Many guests were watching them. The anger and slander made Kurosuki Fuantei's blood boil and pump faster through his veins.
"Oi, Mr. Exceptional Brat. Are you trying to embarrass me just because I spoke a bit casually? You may be a Ryushin, but in the world of cultivators and martial artists, I am far your senior. I just wanted to be friendly since you're an exceptional newcomer, so don't overdo it!"
Kurosuki Fuantei spoke as if he couldn't believe the boy's absurdity.
But Ryushin Tenku realized he had to explain the current situation in great detail to get through to that idiot's empty head.
"Listen carefully, Kurosuki Fuantei of the Kurosuki clan. Your behavior has been an insult not only to me but also to all the guests who have shown me due courtesy. If you truly care about senior-junior relations, then you should have been much more careful than usual."
"What?"
"The next patriarch and his right-hand man of the Munashi clan, Sir Kobayashi Satsuriku of the Doragon-ō no Kishi, and all the others. Aren't they all your seniors?"
He took a pause and then added:
"If you have the right eyes and ears, you should have noticed how they have behaved towards me so far."
Munashi Ame and Munashi Kiri nodded in affirmation, while Kobayashi Satsuriku observed the interesting situation with gleaming eyes.
The other spectators sighed or whispered among themselves.
"If you behave like this, then what do you think of the others, your seniors? Acknowledge your mistake and apologize. If you do, I'll overlook this incident, since I've already said my piece."
A/N = From now on, 100.000 years terrestrials will be referred to as an Origin cycle.