Takeda Estate
Elder Hall
The Elder Hall was shrouded in dim candlelight, the flickering flames casting long shadows on the walls. The remaining elders sat in a tight circle, their expressions grim as they weighed the stakes of their plan.
"The family competition draws near," the First Elder said, his tone sharp. "If Ryuji survives this, his position as clan leader will be unshakable."
"We cannot afford to fail," the Third Elder muttered, his hands clenched into fists. "The strength of the clan depends on it."
"There is... a measure we have yet to explore," said the Second Elder, his voice low. The others turned to him, their eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"What measure?"
The Second Elder reached into the folds of his robes, pulling out a small, black lacquered box. As he set it on the table and opened it, the room seemed to grow colder. Inside was a crystalline vial containing a thick, inky liquid that shimmered faintly in the dim light.
"This," he said, "is the Tenebrous Venom—a poison refined by the Yamada clan. It is said to be undetectable until it has already claimed its victim."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances.
"The Yamada clan? Are you mad?" the Fourth Elder hissed. "To involve another clan in our internal affairs could risk exposing our plans!"
"The Yamada owe me a debt," the Second Elder said, his tone laced with assurance. "They will remain silent. Besides, this poison is unlike anything our clan alchemists can produce. One drop can render even the strongest cultivator powerless."
The First Elder leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the vial. "If we use this, there can be no room for error. It must be applied during the family competition, in a way that arouses no suspicion."
"That is why we have our plan," the Third Elder said, nodding. "The series of duels will mask any signs of poison. By the time the last blow is struck, it will be too late for Ryuji to recover."
The elders fell silent, each of them contemplating the risk and reward. Finally, the First Elder spoke.
"Then it is decided. The Tenebrous Venom will be our final safeguard. If our blades and schemes cannot bring him down, this poison will."
As the elders finalized their plan, none of them noticed the faint shadow lingering just outside the hall, listening intently to every word.
***
The flickering lanterns in Ryuji's private chamber cast long shadows on the wooden walls.
Knock. Knock.
The sound was deliberate—neither hesitant nor urgent, but precise, as if calculated to avoid offense.
Ryuji's eyes, sharp and cold, flicked toward the door. He remained still for a moment, letting the silence stretch, as though testing the patience of the one on the other side.
"Enter," he said at last, his voice calm but edged with authority.
The door slid open, revealing the figure beyond to be his youngest brother Takeda Koji.
Takeda Koji knelt before Ryuji, his forehead pressed against the cold floor.
"My lord," Koji began, his voice steady yet laced with something unspoken. "The elders conspire against you. Their greed blinds them; their fear shackles them. I pledge my loyalty to you, not them."
Ryuji's piercing gaze rested on Koji. "Loyalty? A word so easily spoken. Do you offer it as a shield for me, or as a dagger poised at my back?"
Koji didn't flinch. "I have seen the futility of their schemes. The clan decays under their rule. You are its rightful future, its salvation."
Ryuji leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "The future is built not on words but on actions. Prove your worth, and perhaps, I may see your loyalty for what it truly is. Until then, keep your head low and your ambitions lower."
Koji rose, bowing deeply. "As you command, my lord. But beware the elders—desperation makes cornered beasts dangerous."
As Koji left, Ryuji's lips curved into a faint smirk. A dog that seeks to serve yet eyes the bone in its master's hand. Let him scheme. Whether friend or foe, all serve a purpose.
The bustling market outside the estate was alive with color and noise, vendors hawking wares under the glow of lanterns. Yet Koji moved like a phantom, his presence unnoticed by the rabble.
He slipped into a dimly lit tavern, its patrons a mix of mercenaries and rogues. A cloaked figure approached him, the glint of steel visible beneath their robes.
Koji leaned in, his voice cold and deliberate. "The Takeda Clan. Eliminate them all—men, women, children. Leave no trace of their existence."
The figure hesitated. "Even your own blood?"
Koji's eyes gleamed with a cruel light. "The best way to lead is not to inherit the rotten remnants of a dying tree but to plant a new seed in fertile soil. Death clears the weeds for a stronger harvest."
The assassin nodded. "It will be done."
As Koji stepped back into the market, a cruel smile tugged at his lips. A world cleansed of weakness is a world ripe for domination.
Later that day, Ryuji ventured into the same market, his gaze sharp and discerning. His eyes landed on a small stall manned by an old vendor.
"Ebonwing Beetle and Azure Frost Lotus," Ryuji said coolly.
The vendor hesitated before replying, "150 ci for the pair."
Ryuji's brow furrowed. The clan's total reserves were only 600 ci—a fortune, yet this sum was no trifle. He handed over the coins without a word, his thoughts calculating. A small price for power. Wealth can be restored, but opportunities are fleeting.
Returning to his quarters, Ryuji ground the beetle and lotus into a fine paste, swallowing the bitter concoction. Almost immediately, pain ripped through his body.
He fell to the ground, spasms wracking him as he clutched his stomach. Hours passed like lifetimes, each breath a battle. Yet through the haze of agony, his mind remained resolute. Pain is the price of growth. Weakness is the price of failure.
[System Notification:]
{Intense Pain Detected}
[+10 Perseverance granted.]
At last, the torment subsided. Sitting cross-legged, he began to meditate. Within him, he felt a faint sphere of energy fuse in his stomach, its presence unfamiliar yet potent.
He opened his eyes, rising to his feet. Reaching for a nearby sword, he swung it in a single fluid motion. The blade carved through the air, striking a tree and leaving a deep, jagged gash in its trunk.
Ryuji stood over the wound, his sword still embedded in the tree as he felt the surge of power pulsing through him. He closed his eyes, his expression becoming solemn, as though listening to an unseen force.
"Power is not a mere weapon to be wielded," he said, his voice low and measured. "It is the essence of one's will, the force that shapes destiny. With this, I shall transcend the limitations of the mortal world, and carve my name into the very fabric of the heavens."
He slowly withdrew the blade, his gaze hardening. "The path of power is long, and the price steep, but only those willing to endure the weight of it can truly rule."
...
[System Notification:]
{Insightful observation detected.}
[+10 Wisdom granted.]