Chapter 18: Passing the Golden Pavilion

A piece of paper glows brightly in the air above the table where Rihan sits cross-legged on top of the floor. Its brightness forced Sung Li to squint his eyes, blinking furiously.

"What is going on?" He asked curiously.

Sir Wennen stared at Rihan with astonishment, stumbling backwards as if struck by lightning. "That's impossible!" He whispered.

Another Golden Contract appeared from within Rihan's pocket, floating gently inside the room before slowly moving toward Rihan's feet. This second golden contract looked exactly like the one floating in the air—like an exact duplicate.

It floats next to its counterpart until both of them reached the edge of the cabinet. They hover there momentarily, hovering near each other, but not touching.

Everyone stares at the two contracts. When the light faded, a Golden Key shaped like a pavilion was resting upon the table.

"What are you trying to pull here!?" Sir Wennen stares at Rihan angrily, his lips curled upward. "That key is the property of the Blackwell Union! You cannot have it."

Rihan scoffed. "Don't be so arrogant." He stares at Sir Wennen in front of him, smiling smugly. "You don't know anything about the Golden Pavilion."

Ijohen stares at the keys, curious. His eyes widened with shock and fear. Suddenly everything clicks in his mind; why would jump into the lion's den but steal the Pavilion Key?

"Are you insane?!" Silver Beard stares wide-eyed.

Sir Wennen stares hard at Rihan's face. A look that could kill gleams from beneath his dark grey hairline. He wanted to stab that boy right now—but the soldiers held him firmly.

Silver Beard stares at the kid, his voice quivering with anger. "This is getting serious now," his eyes narrowed.

Rihan smiled wickedly. "So what do we do now?" He stares at Sir Wennen, waiting for his answer.

Silver Beard looked between the two of them. Clearly, there's a grudge or feud between these two. But how could a little boy like this harm the old fox like this? This isn't possible.

He ponders over the situation for a few seconds. Finally, after some deep thought, his decision became obvious—to himself.

"Maybe he's the son of some unfortunate bloke that Sir Wennen killed." Silver Beard smirked as if pleased by his own conclusion.

Rihan grabbed the Golden Pavilion Key from the table, looking at it in satisfaction. The rest of the people in the room stared at the young master in awe.

No one ever dared to treat the Blackwell Union in such a way before. To even think about stealing its key is considered a grave insult against its leader and the entire organization.

The Blackwell Union was founded centuries ago during the Great War. At first, they were only an army but then eventually they transformed into something greater than that—a roundtable of select top clans and powerful merchants that dominated their era. Even the Royal Family feared the Blackwell Union.

They are known throughout history as the collection of some of the most elite members among each clan; together forming a perfect union, unmatched anywhere else in all of Irricester City.

With them controlling the majority share of food trade, weapons production, and economic wealth, no force could defeat them. That's why everyone stares at Rihan with awe.

Sir Wennen stares at Rihan with utter disdain. "That key doesn't belong to you!" He snarled. "Give it back!!"

"What did you just say?" Rihan asked curiously, turning his head towards Sir Wennen slowly, narrowing his eyes. "Are you saying that I stole your key? What about my stolen contract? Do you have any idea what's going on here?"

The rage in his voice made all those present flinches, including Ijohen and Sung Li who both backed away, the latter cowering behind Silver Beard.

Silver Beard gulped. This boy is crazy. How can we deal with this situation!

"This kid is nuts," Ijohen spat, his lips puckered.

"Maybe we should get some help from the soldiers outside," Silver Beart whispered to him softly. "Just don't draw too much attention to yourself young master." He pats Ijohen lightly to calm him down. If the kids do anything reckless right now, they'll surely regret it later.

Sung Li stares at Rihan intensely; not quite sure if the rest of the people's words were true or not.

But he is in awe of Rihan's courage in pulling off such a stunt; knowing that it is risky—the tension between the Blackwell Union leader and the Royal Family of Irricester Kingdom—could easily cause one to lose everything—even life itself.

Yet somehow this little kid pulls that kind of stunt. The more Sung Li stares at the boy, the calmer his heart became, "This is the leader that I follow," his eyes gleamed with admiration as well as a terror for his future fate.

Rihan inserted the Pavilion Key into a keyhole that formed in between the two Golden Contracts which floated next to each other above the table. Suddenly a golden light enveloped Rihan's body before receding until the glow disappeared, leaving Rihan unharmed.

He removed the key and stared at the glowing paper carefully, his eyes glistening with excitement.

Sir Wennen scowled when his gaze falls on the new contract, holding back an urge to grab it and rip it apart piece by piece. He didn't know why but this contract felt different now.

Felt uneasy when faced with this arrogant little brat—no one had ever dared to challenge Sir Wennen in such a manner before—even as the Royal Family.

You are reading story The Ash Earth at novel35.com

Rihan ignores Sir Wennen completely while strolling across the room to approach Ijohen who stares quizzically at him. Sung Li looks from behind Silver Beard's armoured frame.

"What's going on, young master?" Silver Beard asked quietly.

"This will change your world forever," Rihan whispered slowly.

"Huh?" Ijohen blinked twice, not understanding what was going on around him. "What are you talking about?"

"This is the Golden Contract," Rihan smiled. "And the Golden Pavilion's Key." The boy smirks, looking at Ijohen with anticipation as if savouring the moment of triumph and victory. Then the boy stares straight into his eyes.

"I'm handing these over to you, Young Master Ijohen of the Royal iJo Family. A gift to be given to the one worthy of it." Rihan stares deeply into his friend's eye, willing to understand what this child said in his past life.

Suddenly, a cold chill pours down Ijohen's spine—something deep inside him stirred in response to that gaze—a memory that feels like an illusion or a dream that might have been forgotten for too long; yet suddenly resurfaced right now.

"What the fu-!" His heart skipped a beat. Suddenly the realization dawned upon him, he's already holding the two Golden Contract and The Golden Pavilion's Key! "You bastard—" He stares at the kid with hateful glares and sharp fangs bared.

He couldn't believe that Rihan had just given him an amazing treasure and opportunity for the Royal Families—yet here Rihan was smiling wickedly with glee on his face as if knowing all the headache and trouble it'll bring to Ijohen and the entire Royal Family.

Sir Wennen scowls hard at this. If this brat could get this far without any resistance, then this boy will become a very dangerous existence. Not only him but the Blackwell Union itself will suffer immeasurable consequences.

Sir Wennen knows better than anyone else that no force can defeat the Blackwell Union—it has survived through the centuries by its strength and cunningness. But if they were taken out of the picture by some quack, what would happen next?

But alas—there is nothing he could do now. It is too late to stop them now, and it is pointless to waste more time thinking about it. "I won't let you take away my rights," his voice shook with anger.

"Take them away," Silver Beard shouts. "We have to hurry up."

Now that the contract and key to the Golden Pavilion from the central part of Irricester Kingdom—the most coveted building in the Kingdom—is in the hand of the Royal Family's top clan, the iJo Clan, the people in the room felt like cheering in the celebration. Forget stealing the pavilion key, this child pulled off a grand feat. Now that Ijohen, the leader of the Royal family, holds this key, the entire kingdom will be affected.

Rihan smirks, strolling past Ijohen's side. Go take care of the rest, I'll wait till everything is settled on your side." Then stares straight at Sung Li.

Sung Li stares back at Rihan with confusion as his friend leaves. "Young Master Ijo—" Sung Li stops halfway, turning his head towards his friends' direction before stopping dead still when his eyes locked with Ijohen's.

"Sure bring back memories," Sung Li said slowly.

Silver Beard sighs. "But now we should get moving to the main gate." He pushes ahead to leave the room first followed by Ijohen, Sir Wennen and the other Royal Soldiers who quickly push through the door into the hallway where more soldiers are already waiting for them.

"Hey!" Sung Li stares wide-eyed in Rihan's direction, his mouth hanging open in awe. A huge grin spreads across his lips, unable to contain his excitement. Thumbs pressed together in triumph while stabbing himself in the chest repeatedly for emphasis; as if declaring victory before everyone in the room, proving that the kid really did steal their golden key!

Ijohen sweated profusely and stared wide-eyed as his mind swirled between thoughts. We might make it if we can bring the contracts and the key to the Royal Roundtable; then they will have no choice but to negotiate peacefully or otherwise—

He pauses for a second, trying to grasp what exactly happened right now. It felt so real—so surreal at the same time.

"Damn you Rihan! You could've told me this earlier!" Ijohen shouted after him. The young master of the Royal Family doesn't even spare a glance behind him—he just puffs out his chest arrogantly.

"Is this what you mean by earning big bucks!? A worthless brat like you wouldn't have a chance of taking anything from here without me anyway!"

He could feel an impending headache coming from this ordeal, but one thing that pleased him is that the Blackwell Union will be stopped from doing any harm to the city anymore, saving its citizens from further danger.

If not, the entire Kingdom will suffer immeasurable consequences in the near future. He could feel an impending headache coming from this ordeal, but one thing that pleased him is that the Blackwell Union will be stopped from doing any harm to the city anymore, saving its citizens from further danger.

If not, the entire Kingdom will suffer immeasurable consequences in the near future.

Silver Beard and the Royal Soldiers hurried forward immediately, escorting Sir Wennen and the rest of the guards out from Sir Wennen's office. As soon as they reach the hallway outside, Sir Wennen pauses suddenly—he pales and clutches at his heart suddenly—he stares hard at a black figure standing nearby.

His face pale with fear, stares straight into those cold eyes—a blood-red shadow hovering behind the silhouette of an armoured soldier. The shadowed one smirk, making eye contact with him—then disappears instantly when Sir Wennen stares back at it. The air around him shudders slightly like an invisible wave passing over him.

The surrounding soldiers stare warily, ready to draw their weapons, waiting for instructions.

Silver Beard gulps heavily, reeling inside after seeing that chilling image clearly—something just strolled through this building which was supposed to be heavily guarded by the Royal Soldiers and Hall Guard. An Arch Cultivator! And a very high-ranked one too.

Without hesitating, he quickly escorted Sir Wennen along with Ijohen towards the safety of the Royal Soldier deployed outside the Hall.

"We need to hurry and prepare before the news of Golden Pavilion reaches 'Him'," his voice quivers as if someone else were speaking his words. "It might be too late—"

That brief glimpse stares so vividly, imprinted in his memory, "That must be Lord Raukaku!"

You can find story with these keywords: The Ash Earth, Read The Ash Earth, The Ash Earth novel, The Ash Earth book, The Ash Earth story, The Ash Earth full, The Ash Earth Latest Chapter