The air in the grand hall seemed to grow heavier with every passing moment as Shiao Zhen's cousin, Shiao Lin, stood before them, his cold smile widening. The shadows cast by the broken windows seemed to stretch around him, turning the once grand hall into something otherworldly, almost as if time itself had frozen the moment in place.
Shiao Zhen's heart skipped a beat. He had not seen his cousin in years, not since they were children, playing in the gardens of their family's estate. The years had passed quickly, but the memory of their family's fall remained sharp in his mind. His father's obsession with power, the way it had divided the family—Shiao Lin had always been on the periphery, a distant relative, but one with a hunger that had been undeniable. Yet now, standing before him, Shiao Zhen felt a sinking realization that his cousin's return was not one of coincidence.
"Shiao Lin?" Shiao Zhen repeated, trying to steady his voice, though the knot in his stomach was tight. "What are you doing here?"
Shiao Lin's smile deepened, his eyes glinting with an unsettling gleam. "Isn't it obvious, cousin?" he said, his voice smooth, almost mocking. "I'm here to claim what's rightfully mine."
Cheng Fusheng, ever vigilant, stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "Claim what?" he asked, his voice firm and commanding. He had sensed something dangerous in the air the moment they saw Shiao Lin, and now that instinct was screaming at him. Shiao Lin's presence felt like an intrusion—an unwelcome return that threatened to unravel the fragile web of secrets they were just beginning to understand.
Shiao Lin's gaze shifted to Cheng for the first time, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Ah, the famed Cheng Fusheng. I've heard much about you," he said, his tone dripping with disdain. "But I believe we are talking about family matters here. This isn't a place for outsiders."
Shiao Zhen, unwilling to back down, took a step toward his cousin. "What are you really after, Shiao Lin?" he demanded. "Why are you here? You left the family years ago, disappeared without a trace, and now you return—after all this time, when we've discovered the Bronze Dragon? What do you know about it?"
Shiao Lin's smirk faded, replaced by a calculating look. "I know more than you think, cousin. I've always known. The Bronze Dragon isn't just a trinket to be displayed. It's a key, a piece of a much larger puzzle. And I've been studying that puzzle for years. While you and your father wasted time chasing shadows, I was preparing."
Shiao Zhen's blood ran cold. "Preparing for what? What are you talking about?"
"You still don't understand, do you?" Shiao Lin said, his voice laced with condescension. "The Bronze Dragon was never meant to be found by you. It was meant for me. The Shiao family's true legacy isn't about reclaiming what was lost. It's about the power that was hidden away—the power my ancestors tried to protect from greedy hands like yours."
Cheng Fusheng's grip on his blade tightened. "You're saying your family—your ancestors—hid something in that statue? And you think you're the one meant to find it?"
Shiao Lin's smile returned, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Exactly. You and your father, Shiao Zhen, you've been chasing after the wrong thing all this time. The Bronze Dragon was never just a symbol of the Shiao family's wealth. It's a key to an ancient power, a force that can't be controlled by ordinary men."
Shiao Zhen's mind was reeling. The pieces of the puzzle were coming together, but they didn't make sense. His father's obsession with restoring the family's power, the years of searching, all seemed irrelevant now. Shiao Lin had been waiting for this moment, watching from the shadows, preparing while everyone else had been blind.
"Why didn't you come back earlier?" Shiao Zhen asked, his voice strained. "Why leave us to search in the dark?"
Shiao Lin's gaze darkened. "I didn't leave. I was waiting for the right moment. Your father's death, your failure to see the bigger picture—these were all part of the plan. You were never supposed to be the one to unlock the power. It was always meant to be me."
The words hit Shiao Zhen like a slap. His father, the man who had devoted his life to restoring the Shiao family, had been nothing more than a pawn in a larger game. And now, Shiao Zhen realized, he was being pulled into that game, whether he wanted to or not.
Cheng Fusheng took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. "What's your plan, Shiao Lin? Are you going to use the Bronze Dragon to claim this power for yourself? To what end?"
Shiao Lin's eyes flashed with dark amusement. "You really don't understand, do you? The power isn't something you can just claim. It's not about riches or influence. It's about control over something far older, far more dangerous than any of you could imagine. My ancestors believed that the Bronze Dragon would grant the rightful heir dominion over this force—over the balance of the world itself. I plan to finish what they started."
Shiao Zhen's stomach twisted at the implications of his cousin's words. The legacy they had inherited was not simply about wealth or status; it was about a force, a power that could change the course of history. And it was clear now that Shiao Lin had no intention of letting anyone else take control of it.
"You're insane," Shiao Zhen spat, his hands clenched into fists. "You think you can control something like that? My father tried to understand it, but he failed. What makes you think you're any different?"
Shiao Lin's smile grew wider. "Because I'm not blinded by your foolish ideals. I understand the true nature of power. You and your father were always too focused on restoring the family name, too consumed by vanity. But I see the bigger picture. The Bronze Dragon is the key to something much greater than anything your family could ever hope to regain."
Cheng Fusheng stepped forward again, his voice low but filled with warning. "And what exactly is that 'greater' thing, Shiao Lin? What do you think you're going to unleash?"
For the first time, Shiao Lin hesitated, his expression shifting slightly. "It's not something I can explain in simple terms. But what I can tell you is this: I've studied the markings on the Bronze Dragon. They lead to something hidden—something that will give me control over forces that have been forgotten for centuries. And when I unlock it, there will be no one who can stand in my way."
Shiao Zhen's thoughts whirled. He had been led down this path by his father's obsession, but now it was clear that his cousin, Shiao Lin, had a much darker vision for their family's future. What had once seemed like a quest for restoration now appeared to be a race for control over something that could change the world—something that could destroy them all.
"How do you plan to unlock it?" Shiao Zhen asked, his voice hoarse with a mix of fear and defiance.
"I don't need to explain myself to you, cousin," Shiao Lin said coldly, his eyes narrowing. "But I will tell you this: You're too late. The Bronze Dragon is just the first step. I've already made arrangements. There are others—people who will help me unlock its full power. It's only a matter of time before I finish what my ancestors started."
Shiao Zhen's mind raced. He had to stop this. He couldn't let Shiao Lin unleash whatever this was. The consequences would be catastrophic, not just for their family, but for the world.
"We won't let you do this," Shiao Zhen said, his voice steely with resolve. "I won't let you."
Cheng Fusheng's gaze locked with Shiao Zhen's. "He's right. We won't let you succeed, Shiao Lin. No matter what it takes."
Shiao Lin's expression darkened, his smile fading. "You really think you can stop me?" he said, his voice now dripping with malice. "You're too weak. You always have been."
With a swift movement, he turned and walked toward the large wooden door that led to the inner chambers of the estate. "Goodbye, cousin. I'll be waiting for you at the end."
Shiao Zhen and Cheng Fusheng exchanged a grim look. They knew this was far from over. Shiao Lin had just revealed his intentions, and now they had to act quickly before he could put his plan into motion.
"Let's go," Cheng Fusheng said, his tone resolute. "We need to find out what he's after—and we need to stop him before it's too late."
Shiao Zhen nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of the legacy his family had left behind. It was no longer just about reclaiming the past. It was about preventing a future that no one could control.