Ch-190 the legacy we want we get

Ethan walked down the long marble corridor toward the front hall, his sharp footsteps echoing through the cold stone. His amber eyes darkened as he saw the black carriage marked with the silver serpent of the Fang family waiting outside. Two elite guards in crimson armor flanked the entrance.

The massive oak doors creaked open, revealing a figure stepping into the hall.

A tall man dressed in sleek black robes with silver lining strode forward, his dark hair falling over his cold, pale face. His sharp gray eyes glinted with amusement as he approached.

"Ethan Valtieri," the man's voice was smooth and controlled. "It's an honor to finally meet you."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "And you are?"

The man smiled faintly. "I am Ren Fang. I speak on behalf of my sister, Fang Hua."

Ethan's gaze sharpened. "Fang Hua couldn't be bothered to come herself?"

"She thought it would be more… diplomatic to send me first," Ren said smoothly. "After all, tensions are high—and it wouldn't do to escalate things unnecessarily."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "State your business."

Ren's smile widened slightly. "My sister offers her condolences for your father's passing. His death was a great loss—not just to the Valtieri family, but to Vintressa as a whole."

Ethan's fists curled at his sides. "Cut to the point."

Ren's smile sharpened. "Very well. The Fang family is prepared to offer… protection."

"Protection?" Ethan's gaze turned cold.

Ren stepped closer, his eyes gleaming. "Vintressa's power structure is shifting. Without the Wine God to stabilize the balance, rival factions will begin circling. Some already have. My sister believes that an alliance between the Fang and Valtieri families would… prevent unnecessary conflict."

Ethan's amber eyes glowed faintly. "An alliance?"

Ren's smile turned predatory. "It's simple. The Valtieri family's vineyards and trade routes—secured under the Fang family's banner. In exchange, the Fang family will provide protection. Influence. Power."

Ethan's eyes darkened dangerously. "And what's the price for this so-called protection?"

Ren's gaze turned cold. "You'll renounce your claim as heir."

The room's temperature seemed to drop.

Ethan's fists clenched as raw energy pulsed beneath his skin. "Get out."

Ren chuckled softly. "I expected resistance. But do consider it carefully, Ethan. You have enemies now. Even within your own house."

Ethan's gaze sharpened. "If you think I'm afraid of the Fang family, you're mistaken."

"Oh, I know you're not afraid," Ren said, his smile razor-sharp. "But fear is not the only weapon we have."

Before Ethan could respond, Ren's gaze flicked toward the entrance.

The massive doors opened once more, and Seraphina strode into the hall. Her crimson gown trailed behind her, her dark eyes flashing.

"Brother," Seraphina said coolly, her gaze cutting toward Ren. "What's going on here?"

Ren's smile widened. "Ah, Lady Seraphina. I was just extending an offer from the Fang family."

Seraphina's gaze sharpened. "And?"

"Your brother refused," Ren said casually. "Pity. We could have made history together."

Seraphina's eyes darkened, but she said nothing.

Ren turned toward the door. "Very well. I'll inform my sister that you've chosen war."

Ethan's voice was ice. "I haven't chosen anything yet."

Ren's smile was cold. "Oh, but you have."

He turned and walked toward the open doors, the guards stepping aside as he passed. Just before leaving, he glanced back over his shoulder.

"Vintressa is changing," Ren said softly. "You can either evolve with it… or be consumed by it."

The doors closed behind him with a heavy thud.

Ethan stood rigid, his jaw tight with fury. His amber eyes glowed faintly as his power stirred beneath his skin.

"Seraphina," Ethan said darkly.

"What?"

"You knew about this," he accused.

Seraphina's gaze narrowed. "I knew the Fang family would make a move. But I didn't expect them to be so direct."

Ethan's eyes sharpened. "And you were considering their offer?"

Seraphina's lips curled. "Don't be naïve, Ethan. This isn't about pride. It's about survival."

"I'm not surrendering this family's legacy," Ethan said coldly.

"Then you'd better figure out how to defend it," Seraphina shot back. "Because Fang Hua won't wait for you to get your act together."

Luna and Selene appeared at the far end of the hall. Luna's cold blue eyes narrowed. "Ren Fang was testing you."

"And he's not done yet," Selene added with a soft smile. "This was only the beginning."

Ethan's gaze hardened. "Good. Let them come."

Seraphina's eyes flashed. "If you want to win this war, you're going to need more than courage."

"I know," Ethan said darkly. His hand brushed the hilt of the ceremonial dagger at his side. "That's why I'm going to Vintressa's oldest vineyard tomorrow."

Luna's gaze sharpened. "The Forbidden Vineyard?"

"Father left something there," Ethan said. "Something powerful."

Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "And you think that's going to be enough to stop the Fang family?"

"I'm not planning to stop them," Ethan's gaze darkened dangerously. "I'm planning to bury them."

Seraphina's smile widened. "Now that's the brother I raised."

Ethan turned toward the closed doors. The Fang family had declared war.

He intended to finish it.The silver-eyed man smiled coldly, his gaze sharpening as dark energy gathered around his hands.

"So predictable," he murmured. "But then again, you wouldn't have been able to find this place without us."

Raghav's eyes narrowed. "You're stalling."

The masked figures behind the man spread out, surrounding them in a loose circle. Their dark robes shimmered faintly as magic sigils glowed along the edges of their sleeves.

"I'm not stalling," the silver-eyed man said, his smile widening. "I'm making sure you don't leave."

Crack!

The ground beneath them split as dark vines erupted from the soil, twisting through the air and lashing toward Raghav and his wives.

"Formation!" Raghav barked.

Olivia's hands lit up with divine light as her violet eyes flared. She swept her arm, releasing a surge of golden flames that burned through the dark vines.

Qian Yan stepped forward, her sword gleaming with white-blue light. She flicked her wrist, cutting down the vines before they could reform.

Lao Shandong grinned, her amber eyes flashing dangerously. "Time to cut loose."

She dashed forward, her twin blades glowing red as she carved through the dark energy like paper.

The silver-eyed man raised his hand, forming a series of dark seals in the air. "Interesting... but insufficient."

A surge of black mist exploded from the ground, condensing into the shape of a massive, fanged serpent. Its glowing silver eyes locked onto Raghav.

"Kill them," the silver-eyed man commanded.

The serpent lunged forward.

Raghav's eyes glowed gold as he drew his blade from his side. Energy surged through him, his aura exploding outward in a wave of pressure that cracked the ground beneath his feet.

"Try it."

The serpent struck—Raghav's blade met its fangs in a flash of gold and black. The serpent hissed as dark energy clashed with divine power, sparks flying through the air.

"You shouldn't have come here," the silver-eyed man said. His hands formed another seal.

The serpent's body split into multiple smaller shadows that slithered toward Raghav's wives.

"Annoying," Qian Yan said calmly.

Her sword pulsed with radiant white energy as she slashed through the approaching shadows. Olivia stood behind her, both hands raised as flames spiraled around her.

"Let me clean this up," Olivia said.

A wave of golden fire surged outward, incinerating the shadow constructs. The heat forced the silver-eyed man to step back.

Lao Shandong blurred forward, appearing in front of the silver-eyed man. Her blade flashed toward his neck.

Clang!

He blocked it with a thin, black dagger that pulsed with dark energy.

"Fast," he admitted. "But not fast enough."

Lao Shandong's grin widened. "Wanna bet?"

A surge of silver light exploded from her blades as she pressed forward. The silver-eyed man's footing faltered for a moment—just long enough for Raghav to capitalize.

Raghav vanished from where he stood, appearing behind the silver-eyed man with his blade raised.

"Checkmate," Raghav said.

He swung his blade down.

The silver-eyed man twisted, his dagger glowing with dark runes. The two weapons clashed, and a shockwave blasted through the vineyard, shattering vines and kicking up debris.

"You're strong," the silver-eyed man admitted.

"I'm more than that," Raghav said darkly.

A golden glow erupted from his blade as he drove his knee into the man's chest. The silver-eyed man coughed, stumbling back. Lao Shandong's blade flashed through the air, cutting through his side.

The man hissed as dark energy bled from the wound.

"You…" His silver eyes flashed dangerously. "You'll regret this."

He raised his hand. A dark mist began to gather around him.

"Oh no, you don't," Olivia said, her violet eyes burning with intensity.

Golden light exploded from her hands, crashing into the dark mist and forcing it to scatter.

The silver-eyed man's form flickered.

"Tch." He smirked faintly. "Next time, Raghav Ye King."

His body dissolved into black mist and disappeared.

The vineyard was quiet once more.

Lao Shandong wiped her blade on her sleeve. "Coward."

"He'll be back," Qian Yan said.

Olivia walked toward Raghav, her gaze sharp. "That wasn't just any assassin."

"No," Raghav said, his expression hard. "That was a high-ranking enforcer of the Fang family."

Qian Yan's gaze darkened. "Fang Hua sent him."

"And she wanted to see how strong we are," Olivia added.

Raghav's eyes narrowed. "She knows we're after the legacy."

Qian Yan walked toward the shattered ground where the serpent had emerged. She knelt, brushing her hand across the soil. Faint golden runes pulsed beneath the dirt.

"This vineyard is protected by ancient wards," Qian Yan said. "Whatever the Wine God left behind—it's hidden beneath these seals."

Raghav's hand tightened around his blade. "Then we break the seals."

Qian Yan stood, her eyes calm. "That will take time."

"We don't have time," Olivia said sharply. "The Fang family won't sit back and let us dig."

Lao Shandong cracked her knuckles. "Then we do this the fast way."

"Agreed." Raghav stepped forward, his blade glowing with golden light. His wives stood behind him, energy building around them.

Raghav's eyes glowed.

"Let's tear this place open."

He raised his blade and slashed downward.

A surge of golden energy exploded from the blade, crashing into the ground. The soil cracked and split apart, revealing a hidden staircase spiraling downward into the earth.

A pulse of ancient power surged upward from the darkness below.

Olivia's eyes sharpened. "It's down there."

Qian Yan's gaze darkened. "And we're not alone."

Raghav stepped toward the staircase, his aura blazing around him. "Stay close."

He descended the steps, Olivia, Qian Yan, and Lao Shandong right behind him.

At the bottom of the staircase, a massive stone door stood sealed with ancient runes glowing faintly. Carved into the center of the door was the emblem of the Valtieri family—a silver grapevine wrapped around a golden chalice.

"The crest of the Wine God," Olivia said softly.

Raghav raised his hand toward the door. As his palm touched the surface, a cold pulse of energy shot through his body. His eyes flashed gold.

The runes pulsed brighter.

Then the door began to open.

As the heavy stone parted, a deep, cold light filtered through the widening gap.

Raghav stepped forward, blade in hand.

Behind the door, the legacy of the Wine God was waiting.

And so were the enemies who sought to claim it.