Myriad Rivers to the Sea

The guest courtyard assigned to them was a stark contrast to the serene beauty of Silkwood or the artificial twilight of Kyokai City. It was built entirely of dark volcanic stone and reinforced iron. There were no cherry blossoms or koi ponds here. A single gnarled spiritual tree with leaves the color of dried blood grew in the center of the stone tiles.

Li Yu sat on a heavy iron bench. He looked across the courtyard at Daiki. The giant crimson demon was staring up at the ash choked sky. The distant and rhythmic pounding of the city’s forge hammers provided a constant heartbeat to the silence between them.

"I am surprised you agreed so quickly," Li Yu finally said. He kept his voice even and free of judgment. "You are walking directly back into the life you spent years running from. You agreed to marry the hydra and give your father an heir. It is everything you dreaded and had ran from."

Daiki did not look away from the dark sky. He let out a long and heavy breath.

"It is different now," Daiki answered. "Before, my father was forcing me into a cage. He demanded I sacrifice my freedom for the sake of a political alliance I did not care about.. But today was different. Today, it was a choice that I made myself. Even if it was a path that he laid out before me."

Daiki finally turned his golden eyes toward Li Yu.

"I chose to make that deal," Daiki explained quietly. "I am not doing this for my father and I am not doing it for the Blood Iron Clan. I am doing it for Sora. There is a difference between being forced to kneel and choosing to kneel to save someone you care about."

Li Yu listened and nodded slowly. He understood the distinction perfectly. It was the mark of someone who cared for something other than himself.

"You and Sora have not been together that long," Li Yu pointed out gently. "It is a massive sacrifice for a relatively new bond."

"Time is a strange measurement," Daiki replied with a faint and sorrowful smile. "I have lived for centuries. I have met countless women from powerful clans and noble lineages. But I care for Sora more than I have ever cared for anyone else. She showed me what it actually meant to be in love. More importantly, she showed me what it meant to have an iron will. She never backed down from a challenge. She never complained about the pain. She just pushed forward."

Daiki looked down at his massive hands.

"I am willing to do this," Daiki continued. "I will stay here and I will marry the hydra. Sora will likely hate me when she wakes up and realizes what I traded for the medicine. She might view it as a betrayal of our bond. She will have to forgive me for that betrayal later or perhaps she never will. But she will be alive. She will have a chance at her foundation being repaired and she will be able to swing her sword again. That is all that matters."

"She is very lucky to have met you, Daiki," Li Yu said with absolute sincerity after some thought.

"No," Daiki shook his head firmly. "I am the lucky one."

‘You are both lucky to have each other.’ Li Yu thought with a smile on his face.

The heavy iron doors of the courtyard suddenly ground open. Captain Amrak stepped through the threshold. The guard captain offered a deep bow to Daiki before turning his attention to Li Yu.

"Honored guest," Captain Amrak spoke respectfully. "Lord Tarkan requests your presence in his private study. He wishes to speak with you alone."

Daiki frowned instantly. He stood up from his stone seat and his massive frame tensed. "Why does he want to speak with Li Yu alone? If my father has something to say, he can say it to me."

"It is fine," Li Yu interjected calmly. He stood up and brushed the ash from his dark robes. "Your father is the Clan Lord. It is only polite that I answer his summons. I will go and see what is going on."

Daiki looked uncertain but he slowly nodded. "Be careful. My father rarely does anything without a hidden motive."

“I understand.” Li Yu replied while leaving with a carefree smile on his face. Li Yu followed Captain Amrak out of the courtyard. They navigated a series of winding stone corridors within the palace. The air grew significantly hotter as they approached the central core. They eventually arrived at a set of heavy wooden doors reinforced with glowing red steel.

The captain opened the doors and stepped aside. Li Yu walked into the room.

It was a spacious study. The walls were lined with ancient scrolls and heavy ironbound tomes. A large balcony opened up to a sheer drop overlooking the main river of magma that powered the city's forges. Lord Tarkan stood by the balcony and he was looking out over his industrial empire. He had removed his armor and wore a simple tunic of dark grey silk that highlighted the thick web of scars across his arms and neck.

"Come in," Tarkan commanded without turning around.

Li Yu stepped further into the study and the doors closed behind him. He stopped a respectful distance away and waited. After a tiny bit, Tarkan turned around and walked over to a heavy stone table. He poured two cups of a dark and steaming liquid from an iron carafe. He pushed one cup across the table toward Li Yu.

"Volcanic wine," Tarkan offered. "It is harsh but it warms the blood. Drink up."

Li Yu stepped forward and accepted the cup. He took a small sip. The liquid tasted like ash and sharp spices. It burned pleasantly as it traveled down his throat. He set the cup back down on the table and they discussed a few random topics for a few minutes. Tarkan asked about the climate of Kyokai City and the architectural differences between The Veil and the Kurogane Realm. Li Yu answered politely and kept his responses brief and to the point.

Tarkan finally set his own cup down. He leaned against the edge of the stone table and crossed his arms. He got straight to the point.

"I brought you here because I want to hear about my son," Tarkan stated. His deep voice resonated through the quiet study. "Daiki gave me the summary of his survival. He told me about the pagodas and the ancient artifact. But a man rarely tells the full truth about his own character. I want to hear your perspective. Tell me what Daiki has been doing."

Stolen novel; please report.

Li Yu looked at the towering Clan Lord. He considered his words carefully.

"I cannot give you a complete picture," Li Yu admitted honestly. "I arrived late to the Trial Grounds. Daiki was already there for quite some time before I met him. But I can tell you what I have seen since our paths crossed."

Tarkan nodded once. "Proceed."

Li Yu spoke plainly. He did not exaggerate Daiki’s achievements and he did not hide his flaws that Li Yu saw. Li Yu decided to just be honest because he had no idea what kind of answer Tarkan was looking to get.

He told Tarkan about Daiki’s initial reliance on his overwhelming physical strength and his reluctance to engage with complex arrays. He talked about Daiki’s deep seated fear of returning home. Then Li Yu shifted the narrative. He explained how Daiki had changed since he had met him and the panic and desperate speed Daiki had shown when Sora was injured.

"He is a good man," Li Yu concluded quietly. "He cares deeply for his friends. He is willing to sacrifice everything he desires to protect the people he loves. He is not the person that he describes himself as when he left here."

Tarkan listened to the entire recounting without making a single sound. His scarred face was a mask of unreadable iron. He did not frown and he did not smile. He simply absorbed the information with a piercing intensity.

By the end of the story, Tarkan’s expression remained exactly the same. Li Yu studied the older demon carefully throughout the story. He tried to search the dense and oppressive aura of the Tribulation realm expert for any signs of hidden malice or cruel plotting. He found nothing.

For one reason or another, Li Yu did not feel like Tarkan was acting with malicious intent. The Clan Lord was ruthless and strict, just as Daiki had mentioned. He was certainly manipulating Daiki with the marriage arrangement but the underlying foundation of his actions felt strangely devoid of hatred. It felt only calculated.

"Thank you for your honesty," Tarkan finally said. He turned back toward the balcony and looked out at the magma river. "You may return to your courtyard."

Li Yu bowed slightly and left the study. He navigated the stone corridors and returned to Daiki. The giant demon was pacing around the gnarled tree when Li Yu walked through the iron doors.

"What happened?" Daiki demanded immediately. "Did he threaten you?"

"No," Li Yu answered. He sat back down on the iron bench. "We drank some terrible wine and he asked me about you. He wanted to know what you have been doing from an outside perspective. I told him the truth from what I have seen. I didn’t even know how to begin to lie because I have no idea what kind of answer he was looking for.."

Daiki looked confused. "He just wanted to talk about me? That makes no sense. My father does not engage in casual conversation. He is not such a person."

"He is not acting like how I thought he would from what you had told me." Li Yu admitted. He rested his hands on his knees. "He is stern and he is demanding but he did not feel malicious. I could not sense any cruelty in him."

Daiki rubbed his massive jaw and frowned deeply. "He has changed slightly. When I lived here, he was a storm of constant rage. He punished weakness with brutal beatings. He did not ask for outside perspectives. He only issued orders to people. Something is different."

They discussed the strange meeting for a while longer but neither of them could figure out Tarkan’s true angle. They eventually retired to their respective stone rooms to rest. The heat of the Kurogane Realm and what had happened this day made sleep difficult but Li Yu managed to enter a light meditative trance.

The next morning arrived with a slightly brighter shade of red in the ash filled sky.

Li Yu stepped out into the center of the courtyard. He stretched his limbs and welcomed the harsh Qi of the realm. He reached into his inner world and drew Gilded Calamity. The sword materialized in a flash of light. It stood out in stark contrast to the brutal aesthetic of the Blood Iron Clan.

Li Yu began his morning routine. He moved through a series of slow and deliberate forms. He swung the ornate blade through the thick air. Daiki stepped out of his room a few minutes later. The giant demon sat on the bench and watched quietly. He had seen Li Yu perform this routine several times back in Kyokai City.

The heavy iron doors of the courtyard opened suddenly.

Lord Tarkan walked in. He was accompanied by another man. The newcomer was a middle aged human. He wore flowing robes of deep midnight blue that clashed violently with the red and black surroundings. He had silver hair tied back in a neat knot and carried a scholarly, refined aura. However, beneath that scholarly exterior, Li Yu could sense a dense and terrifying power. The man was easily in the Tribulation realm alongside Tarkan, most likely a bit stronger.

Li Yu paused his forms and lowered his sword. He turned to face the two men.

The middle aged man stopped walking the moment his eyes landed on Gilded Calamity. He flinched visibly. It was a subtle movement but Li Yu caught it instantly. The man’s eyes widened and a flash of suppressed terror swept across his refined features. He recognized the sword. Just like Old Du had recognized it.

However, the middle aged man quickly regained his composure. He forced a polite smile and offered a slight nod.

"That is a very fine blade." The man commented smoothly. He did not ask where Li Yu had acquired it. It would seem that he knew of the weapon but he wanted absolutely no part in questioning the wielder.

"Thank you," Li Yu replied. He casually returned the weapon to his inner world. The blade dissolved into light and vanished. Tarkan stepped forward and gestured toward his companion.

"This is Master Harrow," Tarkan introduced him. "He is an old friend of mine from long ago. We adventured together and explored ancient ruins back when we were still fighting to establish our foundations. We have been friends ever since."

Master Harrow offered a respectful bow to Li Yu and then turned his attention to Daiki.

"It is good to see you again, Daiki," Harrow said with a warm smile. "You have grown significantly since the last time I visited the Kurogane Realm."

Daiki stood up and offered a polite bow in return. "Master Harrow. It has been many years."

Tarkan continued the explanation. "Master Harrow hails from a neighboring realm. It is a realm that is overall much stronger and more established than our own. He is here today as part of an ongoing agreement between our two lands."

Daiki looked confused. "An agreement? I was never made aware of any formal ties outside of the surrounding demonic territories."

"You were not ready to know until now," Tarkan answered flatly. "Master Harrow represents a prestigious martial academy in his home realm. He travels here periodically to recruit talented individuals from our clan. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Harrow nodded and stepped forward to elaborate. "Indeed it is. The talented cultivators from this realm are given the opportunity to travel to my academy. They get to see a broader cosmos, earn significant resources and fight in our grand tournaments. In return, my academy benefits from their strength. They fight for our honor against rival academies and bring in resources through their victories. Some even choose to stay and establish new lives there."

Li Yu listened with keen interest. The political landscape of the stronger realms was far more interconnected than he had realized. Tarkan was not just an isolated warlord. He was actively cultivating talent and trading it with stronger realms for mutual gain.

"I arrived yesterday," Harrow explained as he looked at Daiki. "Tarkan informed me of your return and your recent breakthrough. It is quite an accomplishment . We are always looking for fresh talent."

Li Yu stood quietly near the gnarled tree. He watched the interactions between the three men. The introductions had been made but the true purpose of this morning visit was still hanging in the hot air. Tarkan had brought a recruiter from a stronger realm directly to Daiki’s doorstep right after trapping him in a political marriage.