Chapter 31: The Brothers of the Yu Family

Yu Family Mansion / Training Grounds

The training grounds at the Yu family mansion were where all members of the Yu family, from direct descendants to knights and soldiers, trained. It was a place where all the warriors gathered to practice. The most famous area within the training grounds was the combat arena, where warriors fought to showcase their skills or to teach each other martial arts.

In one of these combat arenas, the Yu family warriors had gathered to watch a fight. While it wasn't unusual for warriors to gather, the larger than usual crowd indicated that the fight must be between very important individuals or had a special significance. The sounds of cheering and chanting filled the air as the spectators watched two figures moving at blinding speeds within the ring, wielding their swords.

Clang, clang, clang...

"Young master, your swordsmanship has improved greatly. I believe you will become a great swordsman in the future."

"It's all thanks to your teachings, master. Without them, I wouldn't have reached this level."

"A good student indeed. I am proud of you."

The combatants were revealed to be a fifteen-year-old boy, muscular and full of vitality. He had short white hair, blue eyes, and wielded two short swords. He smiled proudly, sweat dripping from his face due to the intense fight, and looked at his opponent with determination. In contrast, his opponent was a thirty-year-old man, muscular, bald, with black eyes, wielding a single sword. He appeared very relaxed and showed no signs of fatigue. After observing the boy, the man said:

"Young master, let's stop here for today."

"Why? I can still fight!"

"That's true, but it's not good to overexert yourself. Rest is part of the training, remember that, young master."

The boy wanted to protest, but at that moment, he heard a voice from outside the combat ring saying to him:

"Brother, your master's words are correct. Rest is part of the training."

Although the boy couldn't see the owner of the voice, he easily recognized it. He turned towards the voice and, at first glance, saw a tall young man with a lean muscular build. He had long white hair and sapphire-like blue eyes, radiating a heroic aura with a carefree smile. The boy immediately recognized him and shouted, moving towards him:

"Brother Yan, you've returned from the northern campaign! How come I didn't know about it?"

"I wanted to surprise you and mother. Isn't it a good surprise?"

"Of course, it is."

The boy reached the young man and they hugged after a long separation, paying no attention to the warriors around them. After a few moments, the boy pulled back and exclaimed after examining his older brother:

"Brother, you've reached the fourth level of the Mortal Sphere! This is unbelievable!"

Upon hearing this news, all the warriors shouted in unison with surprise and began praising their young master. Reaching the fourth level of the Mortal Sphere at around twenty years old was a miraculous feat, seen only once in a century. Some of the warriors started chanting his name:

"Yu Yan, the pride of the Yu family!!!"

Yu Yan tried to downplay the excitement by saying:

"It's not that big of a deal. It was just a stroke of luck when I found a spiritual fruit in the Abyssal Forest, and it allowed me to break through to the fourth level of the Mortal Sphere!"

"Lucky? Are you saying it was just luck? Brother, are you saying my hard work was for nothing!"

"Calm down, brother. Even though you're fifteen this year, you've also reached the third level of the Mortal Sphere. I'm sure you can break through to the fourth level before you turn twenty!"

"What? Has the second young master reached the third level at fifteen? This is unbelievable! The talents of these brothers are equally terrifying!"

"The Yu family will flourish like never before with these two brothers!"

"Long live young master Yu Yan and young master Yu Hai!"

...

The place erupted in cheers and shouts to the point where Yu Yan feared being overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. So, he grabbed his younger brother Yu Hai's shoulder and quickly leapt out of the training grounds. Yu Hai didn't resist. They headed to one of the tall buildings within the Yu family mansion and then landed on its roof. They sat on the roof, side by side, looking up at the sky together. After a moment of sky-gazing with his brother, Yu Hai asked curiously:

"Brother, I want to know the details of your journey to the northern borders of the kingdom."

Yu Hai asked with enthusiasm. Seeing the hopeful look in his younger brother's eyes, Yu Yan sighed with sadness. He couldn't describe the feelings swirling in his heart. After a few seconds of silence, Yu Hai noticed his brother deep in thought and asked:

"Brother, is something wrong?"

"There's nothing significant, but the beautiful image of the northern campaigns filled with spirit, honor, and the noble purpose that drives soldiers to fight for their families, sharing life and death together, is not true at all!"

Yu Hai was shocked by this statement. He couldn't understand why his elder brother was sharing such information with him. But when he looked closer, he saw sadness on his brother's face. Before he could respond, Yu Yan added:

"Yu Hai, although it's impossible, I hope you never have to go there in the future, no matter what!"

"Brother, what did you see there that made your face, which once shone with courage and nobility, become so lifeless just from going to the northern borders?"

"Unfortunately, as you know, I can't tell you about the members who were with me on the northern borders due to the soul contract I signed with the imperial family. All I can share are some vague stories without clear details, and that's the most painful part. The people I shared life and death with, I can never speak their names aloud!"

Yu Hai was stunned by what he heard. In his entire life, he had never heard his elder brother speak like this or with such a tone. In his mind, Yu Yan was like a mountain, unshakable by storms or earthquakes. But this mountain, after just two years in the northern borders of the Iron Kingdom, was now broken. Yu Hai didn't know what to say, but he was sure there was nothing he could say. The best thing he could do was stay by his brother's side.

After a few minutes of silence, Yu Yan finally regained his carefree smile and sat up on the roof. Seeing this, Yu Hai said happily:

"Welcome back, brother!"

"I'm sorry you had to see that side of me. I promise it won't happen again!"

"How can you say that? We're brothers. If we don't share our burdens, what's the point of being brothers!"

Yu Yan laughed at this statement. Then he turned to his younger brother with a mischievous smile. When Yu Hai saw that smile, he felt a chill and a sense of impending trouble. At that moment, he realized he had said something that could cause a lot of trouble for him. Before he could say anything, Yu Yan spoke:

"Speaking of trouble, have you heard about the Avenger Ghost?"

"The Avenger Ghost? You mean the mysterious fighter who kills gangs in the name of justice?"

"Brother, are you naive enough to believe that someone would fight for justice?"

"I can't judge that way. If I haven't seen anything bad from the Avenger Ghost, even if he has other motives, he supports justice in the end!"

"That's true, but let me tell you that the Pure Sword Temple is interested in discovering the Avenger Ghost's identity!"

"What!!!"

Yu Hai was shocked by this news. The Pure Sword Temple interested in the Avenger Ghost's identity? To Yu Hai, the Pure Sword Temple was a secluded place that wouldn't move even if there were fights and massacres among the aristocratic families killing hundreds of thousands. Why were they moving now? Yu Hai knew the Pure Sword Temple would only act if members of the Dark Demons appeared. He quickly asked:

"Brother, is the Avenger Ghost a Dark Demon?"

"Let's move, brother. I think that's what we need to find out for ourselves. Will you help me?"

"Does that even need to be asked? I'm with you!"