Harem: Rebirth of the strongest shadow mage

Chapter Nine

Ryan's eyes locked onto his father's, a fierce determination burning within him. With a subtle gesture, he released his energy, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with power. The revelation was instantaneous: Ryan was at the eighth energy level of the Energerium.

Laycon Sunblade's eyes widened in shock, his face pale with astonishment. He had never seen Ryan exhibit such power, and the implications were staggering. But before he could process this new information, Ryan dropped another bombshell.

"I'm calling off the wedding with the Flarion family," Ryan said, his voice firm and resolute.

Laycon's shock turned to incredulity. "What are you talking about, Ryan?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion. "You've always begged for this wedding. Why are you doing this now?"

Ryan's expression remained unwavering. "I've realized that this wedding is not in the best interest of our family," he said, his voice measured. "And I will not be a part of it."

Tristan, who had been watching the exchange with growing confusion, finally found his voice. "But Ryan, what about the alliance?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. "We need the Flarion family's support to maintain our position in the province."

Ryan's gaze flicked towards Tristan, his eyes flashing with a hint of annoyance. "I'm aware of the alliance, Tristan," he said, his voice cool. "But I will not sacrifice our family's interests for the sake of politics."

Laycon's face was a mask of concern, his eyes darting between Ryan and Tristan. He knew that this decision would have far-reaching consequences, and he wasn't sure if Ryan was ready to face them.

"Ryan, please reconsider," Laycon said, his voice laced with urgency. "This is not a decision to be taken lightly."

But Ryan's mind was made up. He knew that this was the right decision, no matter how difficult it might be. And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Laycon and Tristan to grapple with the implications of his words.

As Ryan departed, Tristan's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the possibilities. He had always seen Ryan as a weak link, a liability to the Sunblade family. But now, with Ryan's sudden display of power and his defiance of the wedding, Tristan wasn't so sure. Maybe Ryan was more of a threat than he had initially thought. And maybe, just maybe, it was time to take him seriously.

As Ryan departed the grand hall, he made his way to his chambers, his mind still reeling from the events that had transpired. He knew that his decision to call off the wedding would have far-reaching consequences, but he was determined to see it through.

Once inside his room, Ryan closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. He knew that he needed to focus on his cultivation, to tap into the power that lay within him. He sat down on the floor, his eyes closing as he began to meditate.

Meanwhile, Tristan slipped into the shadows, his eyes scanning the darkness for the figure he had arranged to meet. He didn't have to wait long, as a dark shape emerged from the gloom.

"Tristan," the figure said, its voice low and gravelly.

"Kael," Tristan replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I have a job for you."

Kael's eyes gleamed with interest, and he leaned in closer to Tristan. "What is it that you need me to do?" he asked.

"I need you to take care of Ryan," Tristan said, his voice cold and calculating. "He's become a liability, and I need him eliminated."

Kael's face was impassive, but Tristan could sense a flicker of excitement behind his eyes. "I can do that," Kael said. "But it won't be cheap."

Tristan smiled, a cold and mirthless smile. "I'm willing to pay top dollar for this job," he said. "Just make sure that it's done quietly and efficiently."

Kael nodded, his face disappearing into the shadows once more. "Consider it done," he said, before melting away into the darkness.

Tristan watched him go, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He knew that he had just set in motion a chain of events that would change the course of his family's history forever. And he was willing to do whatever it took to ensure that he came out on top.

As Tristan slipped back into the shadows, Kael made his way through the winding streets of the city, his eyes fixed on the Sunblade Castle in the distance. He knew that his target was waiting for him, unaware of the danger that lurked in the shadows.

With a silent nod to himself, Kael set off towards the castle, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knew that this was going to be a job like no other, one that would require all of his skill and cunning to pull off.

But he was ready for the challenge. He was Kael, the greatest assassin the world had ever known. And he would stop at nothing to eliminate his target and claim his reward.

Ryan sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, his eyes closed as he focused on his cultivation. He could feel the energy coursing through his veins, his mind clear and focused.

Just as he was reaching a critical point in his meditation, Ryan sensed a presence in the room. He opened his eyes to find his father, Laycon, standing in the doorway.

"Father," Ryan said, his voice neutral.

Laycon's eyes narrowed as he approached Ryan. "I've been hearing rumors about your rapid progress in cultivation," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "I must say, I'm impressed."

Ryan's expression remained calm, but he could feel a sense of pride swelling within him. "Thank you, Father," he said.

Laycon's eyes seemed to bore into Ryan's soul. "I have to ask, Ryan," he said, his voice low and serious. "How did you manage to achieve this level of cultivation so quickly? You're only at the eighth level, but your energy signature is unlike anything I've seen before."

Ryan's mind racing, he knew he had to come up with a convincing explanation. He couldn't reveal the truth about his reincarnation and his connection to the mysterious expert.

"I've been working with a great expert," Ryan said, trying to sound as convincing as possible. "He's been teaching me some... unorthodox methods."

Laycon's eyes narrowed, his expression skeptical. "I see," he said. "And who might this expert be?"

Ryan's heart racing, he knew he had to think fast. "Ah, his name is... Master Lei," he said, trying to sound confident.

Laycon's expression remained skeptical, but he didn't press the issue further. "I see," he said. "Well, Ryan, I must say that I'm impressed. You've always had potential, but I never thought you'd be able to tap into it so quickly."

Ryan's expression remained calm, but he could feel a sense of relief washing over him. He had managed to deflect his father's questions, at least for now.

But as Laycon turned to leave, Ryan couldn't shake off the feeling that his father didn't believe him. And he knew that he would have to be careful, for in the world of cultivation, secrets were hard to keep, and lies were even harder to maintain.

Ryan was left alone in the dimly lit hallway, the only sound being the soft echo of his father's footsteps as he exited the building. But Ryan's sense of solitude was short-lived, as he sensed a presence lurking in the shadows.

At first, Ryan thought it was just his imagination playing tricks on him. But as the presence drew closer, he could feel a malevolent energy emanating from it.

Suddenly, a sharp pin came hurtling out of the darkness, aimed directly at Ryan's heart. But Ryan was no ordinary person. With his cultivated instincts, he was able to judge the trajectory of the pin and dodge it with ease.

As the pin clattered to the ground, Ryan turned to face his would-be assassin. "You might as well come out," Ryan said, his voice firm and commanding. "I know you're there."

The shadows seemed to coalesce into a figure, and Ryan's eyes narrowed as he took in the features of his attacker. It was Kael, the same person Tristan had hired to kill him.

Kael's eyes locked onto Ryan's, a mixture of surprise and admiration flickering across his face. "You're quite perceptive," Kael said, his voice low and gravelly. "I didn't think you'd be able to dodge that pin."

Ryan's expression remained calm, but his mind was racing with the implications. Tristan had tried to kill him once before, and now he had hired a professional assassin to finish the job.

"I think it's time we had a little chat," Ryan said, his voice dripping with menace. "Don't you, Kael?"

Kael's eyes seemed to gleam with anticipation, and he nodded slowly. "I think that can be arranged," he said, his voice dripping with malice.