Ascent of the Beast King

The First Night

The man slipped inside and the door closed behind him, not a sound escaped from either man or door. He threw back his hood to reveal a head of shoulder-length, unkempt, brown hair and a handsome face. He placed his palm down on the table, when he removed it, there were another three gold coins.

"The boy took the first three so those are for you." He motioned to the girl with a smile. Li Dan moved to grab but the man gently motioned him away with a single finger. She just stared at him, hesitant to move.

"Take them. These ones don't bite." He chuckled, "may I ask who my hosts are?"

The young boy thumped his chest, "I'm Li Dan, and this is my sister, Li Jia." A brief pause. "You know senior, big sis only made enough rice for two but... I'm willing... to share mine with you. Of course there is a measly fee of one gold coin but I assure you, big sis' cooking is totally worth it!"

"Li Dan! Senior, this junior is sorry..."

"Not at all, it's okay." He reached across and ruffled Li Dan's hair, "I made myself a customer, he's just doing good business. It's only fair I pay the price." He flicked his sleeve and a gold coin came spinning through the air. Li Dan caught it, hehe, his pockets were feeling heavy.

Li Jia just stared some more. Who was this guy? Could he be a friend of mum's? But if mum had known somebody so rich then why would she have chosen to struggle in poverty with two children. For their sakes alone, she would not have done that.

"Senior," she clasped her hands to prevent them trembling, "may this junior ask who you are?"

"Such formalities! Just call me Lin." He chucked his cloak over the chair then sat down, again, not a sound escaped, chopsticks in hand, he tried some of the rice. "Very good, your mother taught you?" Li Jia nodded. "She must have been a great cook. As for me, I was a resident of this but I left. I had my reasons. Now I have returned to settle some accounts. Tell me, what has happened to my city while I was away these past ten years?"

Li Dan had been feeling a little left out, he took this as his cue to speak. A single, deep breath and off he went.

"In the year 4018 since the Holy Emperor unified the continents, the sword-lord Yu Dao vanished, no-one knows where he went, some speculate that he died, others say he grew bored with the life of an official and left to seek adventure and fortune, still others say he secluded himself in meditation as he sensed an imminent breakthrough and is actually still within the city, biding his time."

"Li Dan! What if someone hears? You know the troops patrol all night." This boy truly could not hold back.

"And what if they do? I'm only repeating what Old Lu says, I'm only 12 years old; how can I understand such matters?"

Lin raised his hand, a wry smile on his face, "let him speak. I want to hear what old man Lu has to share."

"Almost immediately after this disappearance, the villain Igbo, previously Yu Dao's brother in arms and a noble knight in the Imperial Regent's personal bodyguard troop, seized power for himself. The regent remains upon the seat of power, but he is just a pawn who does as Igbo dictates having been filled with so many doubts towards his own citizens that he will not even make public appearances for fear of being assassinated.

"Meanwhile, Igbo's personal legion of death-knights patrol the streets of all major cities oppressing citizens and silencing any voices of dissension. Of course, Yu Dao shall return soon to save the people. We must keep patient then."

Li Dan took a bow.

"That information is priced at another gold coin Lin." Li Jia almost choked on the air.

Lin let out a hearty laugh. He chucked another gold coin out. Was this man a bank?

"This Yu Dao... I have heard of him. Was he as strong as they say?"

"He's the strongest! One time, he even slayed a beast that was going to eat the whole city. And, he even invited all the strongest people from all of the provinces to fight but he never lost, not even once." A lustre had come across Li Dan's eyes. "One day... one day, I want to be as strong as him."

Lin raised his eyebrow, "as strong as him?" He shook his head. "Never, always aim to be better. You're going to be stronger. But... right now the food is getting cold." He took his chopsticks and dug into the rice, chomping down before looking expectantly at the brother and sister duo, "it's rude to make your guest eat alone."

They sat and ate, Lin turned to Li Dan.

"If you want to be a great warrior, start by training unarmed combat. You have to learn to make use of the weapons gifted to you by the heavens before starting with external weapons. Think about it, what happens if you are caught without your weapon? Or you are disarmed? Will you flee like a chicken with your head between your legs?"

Li Dan nodded contemplatively.

"That is why, individual power is the most important thing in this world. Even with a strong backing, you must first rely on yourself."

Li Jia simply observed. She still did not fully trust this man but he had not been violent or harmful as of yet and he got along well with Li Dan. They had never met their father, but watching the two of them, she could imagine what it might be like if he was around.

Their mother had passed away three years ago now and she was left in charge. It was a lot of responsibility for a girl of 15 years but she had adapted well, so she thought. The money she earned working for Mr Jin, the baker, was just enough to get by.

Her night passed sleeplessly. Before lying on the floor to sleep, Lin had assured her he meant no harm but she still did not understand why he had chosen this house. Perhaps it was just a chance but something told her it was not.

As the first rays ofthe Sun shimmered through the window, she rubbed her eyes and went to lookoutside. She enjoyed feeling the cool morning breeze on her cheeks. She lookedout but just then she noticed something strange...