Night of the Broken Gliph

The Chor Mansion, Clan Leader’s Courtyard. 

The Clan Leader’s residence was located in the depths of the Chor Clan. 

Ignoring the other’s glares and dissent, Chor Shing Chit entered the courtyard with Chui Yim. 

There wasn’t a single servant found in the courtyard. It was the same in the entire Chor Mansion; there weren’t many servants since their clan led a militaristic and simplistic lifestyle. 

Creak. Chor Shing Chit pushed the door open and entered with Chui Yim. No other clan members, including Chor Chong Hoi, followed him. As soon as the door opened, Chor Shing Chit saw a man sitting cross-legged on the bed. 

The man opened his eyes the moment he heard the door’s sound. 

Chui Yim’s heart dropped as their eyes met. 

As a doctor, Chui Yim could tell many things just by glancing at Clan Leader Chor. Clan Leader Chor didn’t have much time in this world left and was radiating his final brilliance, but he had an expression so cold and sharp that it seemed nothing in the world mattered. Not even life itself mattered.

This was Chui Yim’s second life, and he knew that such a man could kill without hesitation and emotions. 

But the murderous intent disappeared as soon as the old man saw Chor Shing Chit. 

“Shing Chit?” Clan Leader Chor’s voice was hoarse due to having kept silent for a long time. However, the surprise and uncertainty in his voice were evident. 

Tears welled up in Chor Shing Chit’s eyes as memories of himself and his grandfather flooded in. When he had been a kid, Chor Chun Ping was a strict tiger father, while his grandfather always doted on him and even argued with his father on his teaching methodology despite being just as strict to his own son. He was a fierce and strict father, but the only person he doted on was Chor Shing Chit. 

This man was the clan leader of the Chor Clan, Chor Huet Zhin. 

“It’s me, grandpa!” Chor Shing Chit hurried forward to support Chor Huet Zhin, who laughed loudly in response. But Chui Yim noticed his ragged breathing concealed by the laughter. 

“Brother Chui, please help check my grandpa’s health.” 

Chui Yim nodded and hurried forward. “Mr Chor, pardon me.” 

Chor Huet Zhin didn’t spare Chui Yim a glance; he barely even noticed Chui Yim. It was hard to believe that a four-chambered glipher was so careless, but Chor Shing Chit was the only person Chor Huet Zhin cared, and he was still the child he saw twenty years ago, the kid that always followed him around. 

After some time, Chui Yim sighed and shook his head. “Half a month.” 

Chor Shing Chit’s heart broke at the news, but he was fuming with anger at the same time. “Grandpa is so sick, yet father knows nothing about it!?” 

“Life and death are ruled by fate.” Chor Huet Zhin only regained his senses after hearing Chor Shing Chit. “I’ve lived for hundreds of years, and that’s enough. As for Chor Chong Hoi, he’s just waiting for me to leave for heaven. 

“Shing Chit, you’ve returned at just the right time. I was planning to end my seclusion in a few days anyway.” 

“So that’s why you decided to self-destruct your vitality?” After some time, Chui Yim spoke. 

This was the first time Chor Huet Zhin bothered to look at Chui Yim, mostly out of surprise. Even though he heard his grandchild address the boy as his brother, he thought Chor Shing Chit was just fooling around, only to realise that Chui Yim was a medicinal genius. 

“Self destruct your vitality?!” Chor Shing Chit immediately thundered.

Regret instantly washed over Chui Yim as he shut his mouth. He realised that he shouldn’t have said anything, but he was born honest and straightforward. 

“It's fine. You can tell him.” Chor Huet Zhin laughed as he favoured Chui Yim even more. 

“Mr Chor sacrificed his remaining lifespan, of five years, to live in his strongest condition for half a month,” Chui Yim answered unwillingly. Chor Shing Chit turned to his grandfather sorrowfully after being shocked by the news. 

However, Chor Huet Zhin was still as calm as before. “Like what I said, I’ve lived long enough. I’d rather live a happy and interesting life for half a month than spend five years as a cripple. I’m also not at ease to hand the clan to Chor Chong Hoi.

“Chor Chong Hoi is qualified in his strength and schemes, but he’s too short-sighted. He only looks at the Chor Clan, and his aim is just to become leader of the Chor Clan leader. The big picture is important, but he doesn’t understand 

“I’m not biassed, I’m objective when it comes to matters of the clan, but your father’s the only person qualified to become the clan leader.” 

The benevolent Chor Huet Zhin was replaced by a confident Chor Huet Zhin, a leader that had been holding his position and leading one of the most powerful clans in the South for decades. 

“So, what’s grandpa’s plan?” Despite being extremely upset, Chor Shing Chit was still respectful. 

“Let’s talk about that tomorrow.” Chor Huet Zhin shook his head and stared at Chor Shing Chit with anticipation. “Come, sit down and chat with me.” 

Night fell. Chor Chong Hoi sat in the mansion with an unreadable expression while Chor Sing stood before him. 

The evilness in Chor Sing’s expression was passed down from his father. “I never imagined Chor Shing Chit to have reached the three-chambered state… Sing, are you confident?” 

Chor Sing had a calm expression. Instead of being taken aback, Chor Sing heaved a sigh of relief hearing the news. 

He was a member of the Chor Clan, which taught its members to be honest and straightforward unlike most other clans. That was exactly why Chor Shing Chit was Chor Sing’s inner demon, since everything he possessed today was because he had left. 

Nothing was intended to be given to him, so how could he be at ease? 

He hoped to beat Chor Shing Chit openly and fairly to overcome his inner demons. But if Chor Shing Chit was of the two-chambered state and weaker than him in terms of cultivation, things would remain the same since it was an unfair fight. 

Now that both of them were three-chambered gliphers, they were in the same stage. The position would only truly belong to Chor Sing when he fairly beat Chor Shing Chit. 

“Father, no battle is certain. We must fight no matter what.” Chor Sing’s passionate voice filled the hall, making Chor Chong Hoi laugh. 

“Our fourth Clan Leader, Chor Lit Fung’s famous quote. Great. It seems you’re prepared.” 

Chor Sing didn’t reply, but his expression showed that he wouldn’t regret it. 

It was a fight he was destined to have, be it to resolve his inner demons or to ensure his father’s clan leader position.