Emperor's Reckoning

In one of the rooms inside an inn in Mabia was two people sitting across each other. The young man wore nothing but a bathrobe while the young woman wore her battle attire. Her sword was hidden yet her eyes showed how sharp it was. Despite being in the presence of such a capable woman, the young man didn't feel any sense of nervousness, all he could feel was the warm tea running through his throat.

"Ah, such a bland tea, I don't feel anything but water inside my mouth," said the young man before putting the cup on the table.

"Answer my question, Lyon, stop stalling," said the woman with her eyes sharpened.

"Yes, I killed him," answered Lyon.

The woman suddenly stood and cupped her hand, "Then I offer my gratitude."

Lyon was surprised at this weird twist. He expected some retaliation or at least some questions but not direct gratitude.

"You must be confused as to why I did this."

Lyon shook his head, "Everyone has their reasons, it may be dark, it may not be the truth, but everyone has their reasons. I know you have your reasons, Chloe."

Chloe was surprised at his reply before smiling wryly at her own thought. "Despite your childish act, you are actually mature in some aspect."

Lyon smiled, "Your sister must be pretty important to you huh?"

Chloe shook her head, "You're wrong, I don't care about her nor the other relative, however, I do owe father his time of nurturing me."

Lyon could only speculate what happened between the king and the first prince. After a train of thought, he decided to drop the matter. The conflict was over, there was only time to be wasted if he brought that up again.

"So, what are you going to do now Chloe?"

Chloe closed her eyes and turned her back, "What does that matter to you? Maybe when we meet again, I will be stronger, or maybe we will be enemies."

She walked away to the door before Lyon said, "Maybe we will be lovers then."

Her pace stopped right in front of the door before saying, "Is my sister not enough for you?"

"Well, we too have special connections as well, we share a kiss remember," said Lyon before he stood up with his hands behind his back.

"We don't share a kiss, you took a kiss, what we share were fists and kicks."

"Like husband and wife right?"

Chloe opened the door before muttering, "Goodbye."

Lyon shook his head with a smile on his face. He could feel that they most probably will meet again in the future. "I wonder what would happen then."

He flicked his fingers as his usual set of clothes appeared in front of him. His compressed clothes felt like home as his refined muscle was hugging it tightly, yet, the air still got in to breathe his skin. The golden-cloud pattern on his black sarong matched perfectly against the contour of his legs as he slowly floated.

His arms were crossed as he said, "Grandpa since I'm a peak Divine Realm cultivator, can I slit the space and traveled through the storm?"

"Hahahaha!"

Shen slowly revealed himself perching on Lyon's right shoulder with his long whiskers ever waving. "Don't be too hasty now, your cultivation level is still low in my eyes. though you can try slicing it, it won't be big enough for you to get in."

Lyon sighed, "If you say that then it must be true."

"Take it slowly, always make a step and even a mountain can be conquered. Those who only stood still will get nowhere but his own soles."

"Yes, grandpa."

Shen nodded before Lyon descended. "It's time to meet the others."

However, before Lyon moved an inch from his spot, the door was pushed open.

Lyon immediately furrowed his eyebrows as he could feel the atmosphere getting heavy. "Hide grandpa," he muttered.

Shen nodded before disappearing from any sight.

A black boot stepped inside before a figure of a well-built man appeared in front of his eyes. His face was hidden by an expressionless mask with a pair of uneven horns. Lyon could see his blonde hair but the rest was covered. Clad in all black including his gloves, the man crossed his arms as he faced him.

"Oh, how the fate turned out to be," said the man with a laugh.

"Judging by your clothes and your tone, are you perhaps one of those assassins?" asked Lyon with a smirk on his face.

"Ah, you got a good memory. Yes indeed, I was one of those behind the clouds at the time," answered the masked man.

"I see, then your objective is quite obvious," said Lyon.

"I like it when my target is understanding the situation, however, this time is quite special with the trickery of a being called fate."

"Oh? Amuse me then."

The man opened his arms, "Gladly. You see, every time this tournament is held, there will be a single winner to proceed to the next grander tournament. However, every time the winner is picked, this particular region never gets its winner to proceed to the said tournament. Now, why is that?"

Lyon nonchalantly answered, "Because you always killed the winner."

"Exactly! Every time we have a contractor who wanted to kill the winner. Now, of course, I can't go into the details since I am a professional, but I can tell you that we always make the case as an accident to the public."

"Accident?"

"Mana deviation, alchemy explosion, killed by a demon beast. you name it. But then again, I never thought the winner of the tournament this time is you, a Soul Cultivator. However, you, you are a special Soul Cultivator, I've seen your action on top of the tower myself. So I know you won't die just by one attack from me right? Ah please make this entertaining, killing god-level talent such as you is always mesmerizing!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Lyon laughed with his crossed arms to the mask man's disbelief.

"Oh I get it, you are now depressed with no way out, but don't worry! I will make this a bit entertaining, for me that is!"

"You are really stupid aren't you," said Lyon with a smile.

"What do you-" his word's stuck in his throat as his eyes stared in disbelief. The Soul Cultivator he was talking to slowly risen without any hint of magic.

"You said it yourself, a god-level talent, what makes you think I will stay at Soul Realm for long?"

The masked man suddenly made his stance as a cold sweat started to appear on his forehead. "Impossible! You must be at least an early level of High-Divine Realm, to float! It's not even a year since I last saw you! That's impossible!" (Damn it, I can't sense his level! Impossible! Impossible! Is he of a higher level than me?!).

"Hmph! Since you're here to kill me, then I must return the favor as a host!"

Lyon's entire body slightly vibrated before he brutally disappeared in front of the mask man's sight.

The masked man's felt a stinging pain as he opened his eyes wide. His head slowly tilted down and saw a red blood sword had pierced through his chest. He could feel the blood rushed to his mouth before finally made its way out like a streaming waterfall.

"Y-you think, you...have killed me.. but."

The masked man snapped his finger before a Returning Jade Stone appeared in both of his hands.