In the royal palace of the Zheng Family, located in the southern region of Bāhguh, a tense meeting was underway in the grand hall.
"We must act quickly and position our troops on the frontlines! Neighboring countries have begun to mobilize. War could resume in a matter of months!"
The voice, trembling with urgency, echoed through the hall, igniting murmurs of agreement and skepticism among the gathered officials.
"Are you mad?! Our troops are far weaker than they were ten years ago. If we position them now, we risk losing the southern territories within two weeks!"
The counterargument fueled a cacophony of voices as debates escalated into heated disputes. In moments, the once-disciplined hall became a battleground of clashing opinions.
Suddenly, a voice, commanding and sharp with authority, pierced through the chaos.
"Silence!"
All heads turned toward the source of the declaration, their noisy exchanges ceasing immediately.
A tall, lean man stepped forward. His golden-orange hair shimmered in the hall's torchlight, and his piercing yellow eyes, glowing with an almost predatory sharpness, surveyed the room. At his waist rested a long silver sword, a symbol of power and readiness. But what drew the most attention was the tiger's tail swaying behind him, its presence undeniable and unsettling.
As silence descended, the tiger-like man spoke again, his tone unyielding:
"The king will now address you."
Beside him, seated upon an ornate golden throne, was a young boy. His snow-white hair cascaded like silk, and his crimson eyes burned with an intensity that made even the most seasoned warriors avert their gaze. Behind him, nine magnificent fox tails, pure as freshly fallen snow, fanned out in a display of grace and latent power.
The boy's gaze swept across the room, his expression aloof and tinged with boredom. After a long pause, he yawned lazily before finally speaking.
"You have nothing to fear. Among us are the finest alchemists in existence."
"But Your Majesty—" one servant dared to interject, only to be cut off immediately.
"Silence!" barked the tiger-like man, his voice a thunderclap of warning.
"Calm yourself, Nam Guk," the boy said coolly, before fixing his frostbitten gaze upon the fifty-odd officials before him.
"How dare you question the strength of our army?"
A shiver coursed through the room, the oppressive weight of his presence suffocating any response.
"Have you forgotten? For twenty years, we have ruled every nation on this continent. A slight decline in numbers does not mean we should cower like frightened animals."
His words hung in the air like a blade poised above their heads. Then, as if savoring the tension, he allowed a small smile to curve his lips before continuing.
"Besides, we possess the most powerful alchemists alive—myself included."
---
Meanwhile, back at the Ha family estate, Ha Yu Han, YooXiang Jun, and Tien Yuan gathered in Yu Han's opulent chamber.
"Here," Yu Han said casually, sliding a bag heavy with gold coins across the table. The glint of gold illuminated Tien Yuan's astonished face.
"Th-this is far too much, Master... Saving my sister was already more than enough," Yuan stammered, overwhelmed by both gratitude and embarrassment.
"Don't worry about it. This should be enough to take care of you both for years," Yu Han replied with a broad grin.
Tien Yuan, overcome with emotion, lowered his head, his shame mingling with gratitude.
YooXiang Jun watched the interaction from the side, his expression inscrutable, still wrestling with the events at the ruined house.
*So this guy really can wield alchemy?* he thought, his disbelief lingering despite witnessing it firsthand.
"YooXiang Jun, isn't it?" Yu Han's voice jolted him from his thoughts.
"Yes?" Jun responded curtly.
"Thanks. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to extract the illness from that little girl!"
Jun stared at Yu Han for a moment before averting his gaze, his pride keeping him from acknowledging the compliment.
"Hmph. Your alchemy skills are still questionable. Be grateful you had my guidance," he said, his tone sharp.
The jab struck Yu Han's pride like a dagger.
"I don't owe you anything, you jerk! I've only been seriously practicing alchemy for two months!"
"Two months?!" Jun thought, momentarily stunned by the revelation.
"And you think that's impressive?" Jun scoffed.
"This guy…" Yu Han muttered internally, his irritation bubbling to the surface.
"Master…?" Tien Yuan's hesitant voice interrupted their bickering.
"Yes?" Yu Han replied, his tone softening.
"Would it be possible for my sister and me to stay here with you?"
"Why? I've already given you enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life," Yu Han said, genuinely puzzled.
"Well... I did promise to serve you. And, to be honest, I've been curious about learning alchemy," Yuan admitted shyly.
Before Yu Han could respond, YooXiang Jun interjected coldly.
"Absolutely not. Taking in a commoner like him would tarnish the clan's reputation. No one would take us seriously anymore."
Tien Yuan fell silent, the weight of Jun's words grounding him in reality.
"And why should we care what others think?" Yu Han countered, his tone filled with sincerity and defiance.
Jun and Yuan both stared at him, taken aback by his generosity—and naivety.
"You're utterly clueless if—"
"If what?" Yu Han snapped, cutting Jun off mid-sentence.
Furious, Jun's hand instinctively moved toward the hilt of his sword, but he stopped himself just in time.
"Tsk," Jun muttered before storming out, slamming the wooden door behind him.
"That jerk. Just because he helped me once, he thinks he can act all high and mighty…" Yu Han muttered under his breath.
Tien Yuan remained silent, caught between admiration for Yu Han's kindness and guilt over causing tension.
---
A few days later…
Ha Yu Han was seated beneath the sprawling cherry blossom tree after the morning training, deep in meditation as usual.
*I've been refining my soul for hours, but I don't feel any progress...* he thought, frustration creeping into his mind. For some time now, his mastery of soul refinement had stagnated.
"It's only natural," a voice said from behind the cherry blossom tree. Without needing to look, Yu Han recognized it instantly.
"YooXiang Jun? You're here?" Yu Han asked, blinking in surprise.
Jun stepped out from behind the tree, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Yes. Your skills are so pitiful that you didn't even sense my presence."
"I don't care! If you're so smart, tell me what I should do next, you jerk!"
*Sometimes, I wonder if YooXiang Jun is really my servant…* Yu Han thought bitterly.
Jun sighed, his voice steady as he replied. "You need to strengthen your body. It's that simple."
Yu Han's eyes lit up with understanding.
"Of course! How could I have overlooked that?"
Turning to Jun, Yu Han grinned excitedly. "Teach me—"
"Absolutely not," Jun cut him off sharply.
Yu Han's excitement deflated like a popped balloon.
"Tsk. Bastard" Yu Han muttered.