One by one, candidates entered the hall, each carrying the weight of generations' expectations. Some emerged with tears barely contained, others with tight-lipped resignation. The doors remained stubbornly still for most, though a few experienced that cruel flicker of hope, the initial response that had teased Xinyi before facing the same crushing disappointment.
As the afternoon stretched into evening, the line of hopefuls dwindled. Those who had already attempted the trial lingered in small groups around the candidates that hadn't gone yet, their whispered conversations a mix of consolation, envy, and speculation. The few remaining candidates shifted nervously, each failed attempt seeming to drain what little optimism remained in the air.
By the time the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ancestral grounds, it was finally Jia Zhenya's turn. But seeing the faces of every other candidate that went before him, he couldn't help but become very nervous.
Doubts started appearing in his head. 'What if it isn't me? and the suffering I went through yesterday was for naught.' As he kept doubting himself, it was finally his turn; slowly entering the huge ancestral building, he walked step by step towards where the patriarch was waiting.
As Zhenya ventured deeper into the hall, rays of dying sunlight filtered through the high windows. His footsteps echoed against the stone floor; he could hear his own heartbeat reverberating through his throat.
Ahead, the massive double black doors loomed. Beside them stood the patriarch, his imposing figure framed by the flickering light of lanterns.
As Jia Zhenya approached, he felt the weight of countless eyes on him. His heart pounded, but he kept his steps steady. When he reached the patriarch, he bowed deeply, his movements deliberate and measured. Better to be overly respectful than risk offending anyone, he thought, the memory of past slights gnawing at the edges of his mind.
The patriarch regarded him with a neutral gaze, his voice firm but not unkind. "Name?"
"Jia Zhenya," he replied, his voice soft but steady, his eyes fixed on the ground.
"Age?"
"I just turned ten," Zhenya said, keeping his posture rigid and his tone polite. His fingers twitched slightly at his sides, a small betrayal of the nerves he fought to suppress.
The patriarch studied him for a moment longer, the silence stretching thin. Zhenya felt his breath hitch, but he didn't dare look up. Finally, Jia Fu nodded, a subtle acknowledgment.
The patriarch's gaze shifted, his sharp eyes scanning Zhenya thoroughly, which made the boy's pulse quicken. For a fleeting moment, his eyes lingered on Zhenya's forehead.
A faint crescent shape was pulsing softly. Jia Fu's expression didn't change, but a spark of something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
"You carry yourself well," he said at last, his tone steady. "Have you prepared yourself for what lies beyond these doors?"
Zhenya hesitated, unsure how to respond. He lifted his gaze slightly, daring to meet the patriarch's eyes for just a moment before lowering his gaze again. "I will do my best," he said, his voice still quiet but resolute.
Jia Fu nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping over Zhenya for a final time. "Good, now step forward and see if you're the one that awakened the true bloodline."
Zhenya's breath hitched as he took a step toward the huge doors. He could feel a faint connection to the doors, as if he was the missing piece for them to open for the first time since the establishment of the Jia family. As he got closer and closer, the crescent on his forehead started to glow brighter and brighter.
Behind him Jia Fu's fingers tightened ever so slightly, betraying the anticipation he hid from the boy. 'Could it be? After all this time... a true heir?' He forced his hands to relax, looking expectantly at the young boy in front of him.
As Zhenya approached the doors, the crescent was illuminating the whole room. They slowly groaned open, revealing a winding staircase.
A triumphant grin spread across Zhenya's face, and he couldn't hold back the surge of joy. He punched the air, his exhilaration breaking through his usual restraint. He had done it—this was his opportunity.
Behind him, Jia Fu cleared his throat, his voice measured despite the flicker of pride in his eyes. "Well done, Zhenya. Enter the tomb. I will ensure all preparations are made."
Zhenya composed himself at once, turning back to the patriarch with a deep bow. "Yes, Patriarch. I will not disappoint you."
With that, he turned again, stepping into the stairwell. The doors groaned shut behind him, sealing him away from the world above.
The stairs spiraled downward, each step echoing faintly in the oppressive silence. The air grew colder as he descended deeper and deeper. The glow of the crescent on his forehead was the only light in the staircase. Despite the chill, his heart burned with anticipation. "This is it," he exclaimed, steeling himself as he slowly approached the bottom.
As Zhenya's footsteps faded into the depths below, Jia Fu remained motionless before the doors, his expression thoughtful. After a long moment, he turned sharply on his heel. his robes sweeping across the stone floor. There was much to be done and little time.
Exiting the building, he looked at everyone still waiting. "Jia Zhenya has entered the ancestral tomb. You all can leave; only the elders need to stay." After giving his orders, he turned to his right and saw all the elders look dumbfoundedly at each other.
"Is there a problem?" he asked, raising his eyebrow. Jia Zhong stepped forward, lowering his head slightly. "No problems here. But I don't remember there being a Jia Zhenya in the main family."
Jia Fu could only shake his head slightly. He had forgotten, in his excitement over finally finding someone to awaken the Heaven's Fall bloodline. These elders were extreme purists, having gone as far as cutting support for struggling branch family members. He had let it slide before due to more pressing matters, but now...
"Well, of course that's because he isn't from the main family," he said matter-of-factly. "Now onto the preparations that need to be done. Jia Rui and Jia Lian, you two will look for beautiful girls around 10 years of age among all the servants in the estate and bring them here as fast as possible."
Jia Rui and Jia Lian looked at each other, mouths agape. But quickly composing themselves, they swiftly left to finish their task. "And you, Zhong, you will be coming with me to the main quarters."