The night air was cool and still, a slight breeze rustling the leaves of the Qin family estate's gardens. Qin Yu sat in his dimly lit residence, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips after his earlier confrontation with his second brother. The weight of the Void Splitting Sword rested comfortably at his side, its cold steel an ever-present reminder of the power he now held. Yet, something stirred within him, an unsettling presence approaching his courtyard.
His senses sharpened as he felt a familiar energy closing in. Multiple people, their cultivation levels radiating like beacons in the night. His second brother Qin Zhi was returning, but this time, he was not alone.
Qin Yu stood, rolling his shoulders as he glanced down at his bare chest, faintly glowing from the aftermath of his recent cultivation surge. "Well, this should be interesting," he mused. Moving with deliberate slowness, he reached for a long, flowing robe—a deep black one embroidered with silver threads that caught the faint light of the moon. As he slipped it over his shoulders, his presence seemed to magnify.
In the shadows, his Phantom Assassins moved silently, acknowledging the unspoken command to fade away. Their forms blurred and vanished, leaving the courtyard empty but for the eerie silence that lingered. Qin Yu tied his robe, the simple act filled with an unwavering confidence that came naturally to him now.
The heavy footsteps of his visitors grew louder as they neared his courtyard entrance. His father, Qin Zheng, the patriarch of the Qin family, had come in person. His immense cultivation, at the peak of Heavenly Ascension Realm, was a force to be reckoned with—nearly god-like in comparison to most cultivators. Behind him walked a contingent of guards, their cultivation levels impressive by any standard. Among them were the elite of the Void Severing Realm, towering figures of immense strength and discipline, while others stood at the Soul Transformation Realm, silent and disciplined, their expressions blank but attentive.
Beside Qin Zheng, like a shadow, stood Qin Zhi, his second brother. His cultivation was a paltry Core Formation Realm—nothing remarkable to Qin Yu now, but it was clear that Qin Zhi had brought his father here as a show of force. The thought made Qin Yu's smirk widen.
The gates to his courtyard opened with a creak, and the entourage stepped inside. Qin Yu stood tall, waiting for them with an air of calm confidence. His eyes flicked over to his second brother, who tried to look aloof, as though he had not been the one to come crying to their father for help. Then his gaze shifted to the guards and finally settled on Qin Zheng himself.
"Father," Qin Yu greeted, his voice low and steady, as he stepped forward to meet them.
Qin Zheng's gaze was as piercing as ever, his tall frame exuding authority. His robes were immaculate, golden designs woven into the fabric that reflected his status. The faint glow of his cultivation hung around him like an oppressive aura, but Qin Yu, unfazed, met his father's eyes without flinching.
"Qin Yu," Qin Zheng's voice was measured but firm, the weight of his authority behind every word. "Do you know why I'm here?"
Qin Yu crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Why, of course, Father. You've brought half the elite guards of the estate with you. How could I not guess?" He let his eyes roam over the Void Severing Realm elites, taking in their rigid stance and cold eyes. "What I don't understand, however, is why you feel the need to bring so many. Surely, you don't feel threatened by me?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Qin Zheng's face, but it was quickly masked. "Your second brother tells me you killed two of the family's elite guards. Men of the Soul Transformation Realm. Care to explain yourself?"
Before Qin Yu could respond, Qin Zhi stepped forward, wearing a smug expression. "Father, it's true. Qin Yu slaughtered them without reason—completely unprovoked. I was there." His tone was filled with self-righteous indignation as he eyed Qin Yu with barely concealed glee, believing his father's presence would spell the end of his younger brother's newfound arrogance.
Qin Yu met his second brother's gaze, his smile never faltering. "Unprovoked?" he asked slowly, his voice dripping with amusement. "Interesting. I seem to recall you attacking me first, Qin Zhi. Or have you forgotten already?"
Qin Zhi's face twisted in anger, but he quickly masked it with a sneer. "You're lying! Father, you mustn't believe him! He's trying to twist the truth."
Qin Zheng raised a hand, silencing them both. His gaze remained on Qin Yu, cold and assessing. "I didn't come here to listen to petty bickering. Two of the Qin family's elites are dead. That is a fact. The question is why."
Qin Yu's eyes gleamed with a confidence that radiated from every fiber of his being. "I'll be direct, Father. Your so-called 'elite guards' attacked me first. I merely defended myself. If that offends you, then you should choose your subordinates more wisely." He shrugged as though the deaths of two powerful guards were of no consequence.
Qin Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly, but he did not react otherwise. "You speak as though killing men of the Soul Transformation Realm is a trivial matter. I'm not sure whether to be impressed or concerned."
Qin Yu chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled guards. "Concerned? There's no need for concern. Unless you plan on using numbers to intimidate me." His tone was casual, almost mocking, as he looked back at his father.
Qin Zheng's brows furrowed, and Qin Zhi smirked, thinking the tide had turned in his favor. But Qin Yu wasn't finished.
"You see, Father," Qin Yu continued, his voice lowering, becoming more dangerous, "numbers won't work against me."
As he said this, the shadows around the courtyard began to shift and darken, as though they were coming alive. One by one, the five Phantom Assassins appeared around Qin Yu, their cloaked forms standing tall and ominous, completely surrounding the group.
The guards stiffened, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. The aura of the Phantom Assassins was suffocating—Earthly Ascension Realm cultivators, their power far beyond that of the guards.
Qin Zhi visibly paled, taking a step back as he realized the gravity of the situation. "W-What is this...?" he stammered.
Qin Yu ignored him, his eyes never leaving his father's. "You brought your elite guards, and now I've shown you mine." He tilted his head slightly, his smile widening. "So, Father, are we really going to settle this with numbers? Or do we have a real conversation?"
For the first time, Qin Zheng's eyes widened, a flicker of something akin to caution crossing his face. His gaze shifted to the Phantom Assassins, taking in their cultivation levels, and then back to Qin Yu. There was no fear in the patriarch's expression, but there was something else. Something that hadn't been there before: respect.
Silence hung heavy in the courtyard as the tension thickened. The guards remained on edge, unsure whether to act or stand down, while Qin Zhi stood frozen in disbelief.
Finally, Qin Zheng let out a slow, deliberate breath. "Impressive, Qin Yu," he said softly. "I did not expect this from you."
Qin Yu said nothing, but his smile never wavered.
Qin Zheng's gaze hardened again, but there was no hostility in it now. Only a calculating coldness. "I will not waste time dwelling on the deaths of those guards. If they were weak enough to die at your hands, then they were not as elite as they were made out to be."
Qin Zhi gaped at his father, unable to believe what he was hearing. "But Father, they were—"
"Enough," Qin Zheng cut him off, his voice sharp. "This is not your matter to handle, Qin Zhi. Return to your residence."
Qin Zhi looked as though he wanted to protest, but the look on his father's face silenced him. He shot a venomous glare at Qin Yu before turning and storming away, his fists clenched in frustration.
Qin Zheng watched his second son leave, then turned his attention back to Qin Yu. "You've grown bold," he remarked, his voice thoughtful. "And powerful. But remember, no matter how far you rise, I am still the head of this family."
Qin Yu's expression didn't change, but his eyes gleamed with an unspoken challenge. "For now, Father," he replied smoothly. "For now."
The silence between them was thick with meaning, neither willing to back down.
Finally, Qin Zheng nodded. "Very well. We'll see how far you go, Qin Yu. But for now, I will not act against you." His gaze flicked briefly to the Phantom Assassins before he turned to leave, the guards following closely behind him.
Qin Yu watched them go, his smile widening once more as he folded his arms across his chest. "This is only the beginning," he whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Soon, they will all know the power I hold."
As the moonlight bathed the empty courtyard, Qin Yu stood tall, knowing that this confrontation had been but a small taste of the power he would one day wield over not just his family, but the entire world.