Liang Huiyan stepped through the thick wooden doors that led into his father's private study. The familiar scent of polished mahogany and rich leather filled the room, blending with the quiet crackle of the fireplace in the corner. Bookshelves lined the walls, stacked with an array of leather-bound volumes on economics, politics, and ancient martial arts history. Liang Wei, his father, sat behind an imposing desk made from dark wood, its surface impeccably clean save for a few neatly arranged papers. The elder Liang glanced up from the document in front of him, his stern expression softening slightly as his son entered the room.
Liang Huiyan stood for a moment, his posture straight, though the arrogance that often shadowed his steps was now a bit more subdued. His father's study always had that effect on him. This was a place of power, where decisions that influenced their family's vast empire were made. Still, he couldn't fully mask his self-assured smirk as he sauntered forward.
"Huiyan, sit down," Liang Wei said, gesturing to the plush chair opposite his desk. His voice was deep and steady, with the unmistakable authority of someone who had long held control. Liang Wei's face, though weathered by years of managing the family's business and underground connections, still carried a certain gravitas. His eyes, however, reflected a more nuanced emotion as he observed his son—something close to regret, perhaps guilt.
Liang Huiyan slumped into the chair, his usual arrogance returning as he draped one leg over the other. "Father, I don't know why you wanted to see me so urgently," he began, his tone laced with indifference. "I was busy handling some things."
Liang Wei's eyes darkened at his son's insolence, but he remained composed. "Busy? Is that what you call it?" His voice was sharp, and the weight of his disapproval hung in the air. "You've been reckless, Huiyan. I've heard about your behavior—acting out, disregarding responsibilities, surrounding yourself with people of questionable character."
Liang Huiyan shrugged dismissively. "I'm just enjoying life, Father. You didn't raise me to be a monk."
Liang Wei sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair as he regarded his son. The tension between them had been building for years. Ever since Huiyan was old enough to understand the immense power and wealth his family wielded, he had grown arrogant. But it was more than that. Liang Wei knew that the environment in which Huiyan had been raised—the protection, the isolation, and the knowledge of their family's darker dealings—had warped his son's perspective on the world.
"This isn't about enjoyment, Huiyan," Liang Wei said, his tone softening. "I've given you everything—opportunity, wealth, influence. But you've squandered it. You've become careless."
Huiyan's smirk faltered, just for a moment, but then he quickly regained his composure. "Careless? I think I've done just fine, Father. In fact, I've been following up on some of our family's interests."
Liang Wei's brow arched slightly. "Interests? You mean the martial artists—Yi Chang and Old Man Feng?"
Liang Huiyan straightened slightly at the mention of the two names, his earlier arrogance creeping back into his expression. "Yes. I've had some contact with them. They're the ones who hunted that Grade 2 beast the DMCO discovered."
Liang Wei's eyes narrowed. "And what information did you manage to gather from them?"
There was a pause, a flicker of uncertainty crossing Huiyan's face, but he quickly masked it with a confident grin. "Well... they didn't say much, Father. They were a bit... tight-lipped."
Liang Wei stared at his son for a long moment, the silence in the room growing heavier. "Tight-lipped? You mean to tell me that you, my son, couldn't get anything out of them? Nothing?"
Liang Huiyan bristled at the implication. "It's not that simple, Father. These people are different—secretive. Besides, I wasn't exactly in a position to press them too hard."
Liang Wei let out a low sigh, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "Huiyan, this isn't a game. Those who can hunt a Grade 2 beast are not ordinary martial artists. And the fact that they were robbed of that beast core means someone far more dangerous is involved."
Huiyan shifted in his seat, his confidence wavering under his father's intense gaze. "I understand that, Father. But—"
"No," Liang Wei interrupted, his voice firm. "I don't think you do. This is bigger than you realize." He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk as he spoke with deliberate care. "Martial artists of this caliber are not like the thugs and fighters you're used to dealing with. These are people who live by a different code, a different set of rules. And the ones who stole that core from them? They're even more dangerous."
Huiyan frowned, his arrogance giving way to genuine curiosity. "Who are they, then? If they're not just martial artists, what are they?"
Liang Wei's eyes darkened further, a grave expression settling on his features. "There are whispers, Huiyan. Whispers of individuals far more powerful than martial artists. Beings known as cultivators."
Huiyan's brow furrowed. "Cultivators? I've heard the term, but I thought it was just a myth."
Liang Wei shook his head slowly. "They are not a myth. Cultivators are real, and they operate in realms beyond what ordinary martial artists can comprehend. Their abilities surpass anything you've ever seen. They don't just train their bodies and minds—they cultivate their very essence, unlocking powers that defy the natural laws of this world."
Huiyan stared at his father, trying to process the information. He had grown up in a world where power and influence were everything, but the idea of people who could transcend even the limits of martial arts was... unsettling. And yet, it intrigued him.
"Why haven't I ever encountered one, then?" Huiyan asked, a trace of disbelief in his voice.
Liang Wei's lips curled into a faint smile. "Because they don't often reveal themselves to people like us. To the ordinary world, they are ghosts—legends. But make no mistake, they are out there, and they are dangerous. The ones who stole that beast core... they might be cultivators."
Huiyan's arrogance flared up again, as if to compensate for the unease growing inside him. "So what if they are? I can handle myself, Father. And besides, those two—Yi Chang and Old Man Feng—they didn't seem like that."
Liang Wei's eyes flickered with a hint of disappointment. "You're underestimating them. They may not have shown you their full capabilities, but trust me when I say that anyone who can hunt a Grade 2 beast is far from ordinary. And if they were targeted by another cultivator, then they are even more entangled in a world you do not yet understand."
Huiyan scoffed, trying to maintain his bravado. "So what do you suggest I do? Leave them alone? Run away?"
Liang Wei's gaze hardened. "No. But you need to tread carefully. You are my son, and I will not have you getting involved in something you're not ready for." He paused, his voice softening again. "I've protected you, Huiyan. Perhaps too much. Our family's connections, the wealth and power you were born into—it has shielded you from the harsher realities of the world. But now, you're playing a dangerous game, and I can't protect you forever."
There was a long silence as Huiyan absorbed his father's words. For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of doubt. His whole life, he had been untouchable, moving through the world with a sense of invincibility. But now, hearing his father speak of cultivators, of powers beyond his comprehension, that confidence was shaken.
Liang Wei watched his son carefully, noting the shift in his expression. "You need to be smarter, Huiyan. You're walking a fine line, and the enemies you make now might not be ones you can simply bribe or intimidate."
Huiyan looked away, staring at the floor as he mulled over his father's words. After a moment, he glanced back up, his voice quieter than before. "So what do we do about Yi Chang and Old Man Feng?"
Liang Wei's eyes narrowed slightly. "For now, we watch. Gather more information, but don't provoke them. If they are what I suspect they are, then we might be able to use them to our advantage. But if they're connected to cultivators, we tread carefully. Very carefully."
Huiyan nodded slowly, the weight of the conversation finally settling on his shoulders. His arrogance had been tempered, if only for a moment, by the realization that the world he thought he understood was far more complex—and far more dangerous—than he had ever imagined.
Liang Wei leaned back in his chair, the conversation seemingly over. "Go get some rest, Huiyan. We'll talk more about this later."
Without another word, Liang Huiyan stood up, his movements slower, more deliberate than when he had entered. As he walked toward the door, he glanced back at his father, who was now staring out of the window, lost in thought.
The world had shifted beneath Huiyan's feet, and for the first time in his life, he wasn't sure where he stood.