The Shamanic Billionaire

NINE: The Arrows Banquet

"You’re actually here!" Andrew exclaimed, gripping Cai’s shoulders so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Look at you! I haven’t seen that stubborn face in over a decade. I used to carry you when you were a kid, remember? You’d kick and scream, never let anyone else touch you. Honestly, you were such a handful back then."

Cai didn’t pull away, but he didn’t lean in either. He couldn’t recall the hugs or the whatever the man was saying. What stuck with him was the icy bite of the mountain air and the harsh realization at five that he’d been left behind because he wasn’t wanted.

That feeling of being “discarded” was a phantom limb he’d carried for fourteen years; it didn’t just vanish because a man in a bright suit was smiling at him.

"I’m taking him," Andrew announced to the room, brushing off the angry glares from the elders. "This mansion is full of bad vibes. And more importantly, Cai needs to get ready for the banquet."

Cyril stepped forward, his face flushed with a humiliation he couldn’t mask. Andrew had never shown him that kind of warmth, not once. "Uncle, you can’t just—"

"Watch me," Andrew winked, sweeping Cai toward the door.

Silas observed them leave, his expression as hard as stone. "Enough," the Patriarch ordered. "Go. Prepare for the banquet. Remember: An Arrow flies straight only when the bow is taut. Don’t disgrace our name tonight."

As the head butler started to wheel Silas away, the room buzzed with hushed, frantic whispers. Cyril stormed over to Amelia and Dr. Thane, fists clenched. "Did you see that? Does that mountain brat really think he can disrespect anyone?"

Amelia reached out, smoothing Cyril’s lapel with a chilling calm. "Don’t worry, sweetheart. He’s nothing. Look at how your grandfather treated him, he didn’t even acknowledge him. Cai is of no value. At best, he’ll end up like Andrew: a jester with a title."

Cyril exhaled, letting the tension slip from his shoulders. His mother was right. Cai was just a ghost from the past.

"You’re the real deal in this family, Cyril," Dr. Thane added, giving his nephew’s shoulder a reassuring pat. "You’re on the right track, having been accepted into Royal Lume University with scores that demand respect. Now, I need to prepare my final presentation for the board. I’ll see you at the Plaza."

…

The atmosphere at the Lume Grand Plaza felt stiflingly extravagant. This wasn’t just a party; it was a show of power. After months of Silas Arrows lying on his deathbed, the "Arrows Recovery Banquet" had attracted every big player in the city.

Rival families, high-ranking board members, and old-money clans were all there to see if the lion was truly back or if the empire was up for grabs.

Then, the double doors swung open.

A young man stepped into the light, and for a brief moment, the buzz of hundreds of conversations dipped.

The transformation was striking. His hair, once a wild mess, was now neatly styled, highlighting his striking, handsome features. His skin looked vibrant and healthy under the crystal chandeliers.

He wore a suit that hugged his frame perfectly… expensive, sharp, and undeniably elite.

"Who is that?" a woman whispered, her glass frozen mid-air.

"Is he a new partner? Look at that bone structure..."

“Why does his features seem familiar tho?"

Cai ignored the murmurs. He wasn’t focused on the people; his eyes were locked onto the buffet. The mountain dweller in him, who had spent years eating bland porridge and wild roots, saw the silver trays and his patience snapped.

Without hesitation, Cai approached a passing waitress. He didn’t just take one appetizer, he grabbed three, then four, stuffing them into his mouth with the practiced skill of a boy who knew hunger well.

He reached for a skewer of glazed duck, then a handful of truffle tarts, his cheeks puffing slightly as he savored the flavors with pure, unfiltered joy.

"Delicious," he mumbled, his mouth full of wagyu.

The surrounding socialites gaped at him, their faces showing a mix of horror and disbelief. The handsome, mysterious "prince" who had just walked in was eating like a starving street kid.

The admiration in the room twisted into shock.

Amelia, watching from the VIP section, felt a shiver of cold relief. Look at him, she thought, her lip curling. Andrew can dress him up, but he’s still just a local boy with no class.

But as Cai swallowed the last of the tart, he lifted his head, and his Sight flared to life. The gold and glitter of the room faded into a grayscale nightmare.

He could see the " rot" now. It was thick, black, oily energy clinging to the diamond necklaces and lapels of the guests.

It was a breeding ground for spiritual decay, fed by the greed swirling through the crowd.

Then, his gaze fell on someone who stood out like a flame in the dark.

Near a tall pillar was a young woman. She looked like a delicate porcelain doll, her gown shimmering like moonlight.

She didn’t carry the rot and she seemed almost out of place, like a ghost haunting her own existence.

Their eyes locked. She didn’t smile or acknowledge him as a stranger. She simply nodded coolly.

As she passed by him, her shoulder barely grazing his, a voice, cute and hauntingly familiar, whispered in his ear.

"Watch your drink. The rot is heavy tonight."

Cai froze. That voice. That analytical tone.

The memory hit him like a punch. The girl from Lume mirror city, the one who had woven golden sigils in the air while fending off scavengers.

Cai’s eyes followed the girl in the pale moonlight gown, but she vanished into the crowd before he could move.

Just then, the lights dimmed, and a spotlight hit the center stage.

Dr. Thane stood there, adjusting his glasses with an arrogant smirk. He began speaking, his voice booming through the speakers with practiced drama.

He talked about Silas Arrows as if he were a god, and he, Thane, was the priest who had performed the miracle of resurrection.

He started outlining the "Compound X" drug, claiming it was the only thing that could’ve saved a man of Silas’s stature.

Cai lingered by the buffet, a half-eaten tart still in hand, listening to the obvious lies. He didn’t look impressed; he looked like he was stuck watching a bad street performance.

"You don’t like him either, do you?" a voice murmured from behind.

Cai didn’t need to check to know who it was.

It was Andrew. In the brief time they’d spent together, Cai had realized that Andrew was the only one who didn’t look at him like he was worthless.

He’d actually put effort into Cai’s new appearance, and for that, Cai felt oddly at ease around him.

"He’s lying through every hole in his body," Cai replied flatly, eyes still glued to the stage.

Andrew let out a genuine, bark-like laugh. "Careful, kid. If the family hears you, they might just drop dead on the spot. Though, looking at them, I wouldn’t mind a few heart attacks improving the atmosphere."

"If they even had hearts to begin with," Cai shot back, his tone dry and filled with little laughter.

"Ha! See? This is why I missed you," Andrew grinned. "You’ve got that mountain air in your lungs. You see these people? They breathe lies."

Before they could share another laugh, the air around them turned icy. Grant appeared, looking at Andrew with clear indifference before his gaze locked onto Cai.

Grant’s chest tightened. Now that Cai’s wild mountain hair was gone and he was cleaned up, the resemblance was unmistakable. Cai looked just like Chereen, his mother.

"Andrew, leave us," Grant ordered. Andrew rolled his eyes but wandered off toward the bar. Grant turned to Cai, his face drawn with fatigue. "Cai, we need to talk about what happened at the house. About the... ritual."

Cai tilted his head. "You mean the part where I saved your father?"

"Listen to me," Grant hissed, leaning closer. "Nobody would believe a boy like you could pull off some spiritual nonsense. If word got out, the board would think you’re insane, and the family would be a joke. I came up with the drug story with Amelia to protect you. I don’t want you to be a target."

Cai studied his father, seeing right through the weary eyes. He didn’t see a father looking out for a son; he saw a businessman protecting his interests. A son like him was a liability. A "genius" son saved by modern science was a PR dream come true.

"You’re really worried about me being a target?" Cai asked, a touch of sarcasm in his voice. "If you truly understood the amount of 'spiritual nonsense' this city is filled with, you’d see I’m the only one here who isn’t a target."

Grant opened his mouth to retort but was cut off.

"Grant! Grant!" Amelia’s voice sliced through the air.

She emerged from the crowd, clutching her silk purse, and shot Cai a look of utter disgust, as if he were polluting the air around him. "The investors from the Pavano group are waiting. We have a crucial meeting. Come, now."

She didn’t even glance at Cai, but her eyes told him he was lucky to be allowed to stand on the carpet.

Grant sighed, giving Cai one last warning look before following her into the VIP lounge.

Cai stood there and he glanced toward the head table where Silas sat. The Patriarch was nodding along to Thane’s speech, but something felt off.

Cai’s Sight kicked in. He noticed the silver thread he’d used to pull Silas back. It was vibrating. Turning black.

Suddenly, Silas’s hand jerked, knocking over a crystal glass of wine. The red liquid splattered across the white tablecloth like blood.

The Patriarch’s face went pale and not just that, it turned a sickly, ashen gray.

His eyes rolled back, and he slumped forward, his forehead hitting the table with a sickening thud.

The music stopped. The room fell silent for a heartbeat before a woman’s scream pierced the air.

"Mr. Silas! Mr. Arrows! He’s not breathing! Someone help!"

Dr. Thane froze on stage, his "miracle drug" speech dying on his lips as he stared at the dying man he claimed to have saved.

Cai stood at the back of the room, eyes narrowed as the darkness within the hall began to howl.