A Waste of Time

Chapter 27: Ashen Path

"Kid. Gotta hand it to you… you’re pretty funny."

"Yeah. Been a while since anyone here dared take the old man on."

"Now I’m itching. I’ll retire him for good, claim the forge myself."

"Hmph. As if I’d let you boss me around. Keep dreaming."

"Keep running your mouths. I’ll just wait, then beat you both when you wear each other out."

"Smart guy, huh? All talk—talk’s cheap."

Chaos simmered as the six brothers bickered and jabbed at each other. Through it all, Daemon didn’t flinch. His eyes stayed locked on the one man that mattered.

"Fine clothes and fancy manners give you a taste of power—don’t let it go to your head." The big man gave his belly a lazy pat, a smirk tugging at his lips. To him, this was just some cocky brat who’d gotten lucky and thought the world would kneel.

Daemon ignored the smirk and pointed with his finger towards his guard's chest then gestured with his hand and the swordsman handed it over. He dropped Ru’s two leather pouches on the steel bench, coins clinking as they spilled out. Then he planted his elbow next to them.

"All the money I’ve got," he said evenly. "Win—take it, no hard feelings. I’ll walk out and never bother you again. You have my word. Lose—and you give me the respect you’ve never shown me since we met."

Nie Leixu’s eyes narrowed, testing the boy’s face. "That’s it?"

"That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. I felt insulted—so I’ll prove you’re weaker than me. That’s enough payment for myself."

The mood shifted. Metal clanged in the forge behind them, but the brothers fell silent.

"Damn… that’s pretty manly."

"He’s just a kid, but he’s got more guts than me."

"I never dared square off with the old man."

"He’ll snap your wrist if you’re lucky."

"Ugh… reminds me of that time I got drunk and crawled home late."

"That wasn’t the neighbor lady—it was her daughter, you bastard. I wanted her first."

"Shut it!" Nie Leixu barked at his sons. He stepped to the bench, rolling one thick shoulder. "I won’t go easy on you." He stuck out a hand big enough to swallow Daemon’s.

"That’s my line," Daemon shot back. "Name’s Daemon, by the way."

"Nie Leixu."

The eldest brother stepped in, looking between the two of them like a judge in a ring. "Ready?"

Both locked eyes. Neither blinked.

"On three. One… two… three—go!"

Their hands slammed together, muscles tensed, metal bench creaking under the force.

Daemon gritted his teeth. He wanted to see how far his raw strength alone could go—no tricks, no Asura’s Buff. But Nie Leixu was stronger. The older man’s arm pushed him back an inch, then another.

"Hnnngh—"

"Holy hell…"

"He’s actually holding him!"

"A kid like that—how’s he so strong?"

"What do they feed him back home?"

Damn it. Daemon’s shoulders strained. I really don’t want to cheat… but I’m not giving up my money either. He felt the tremor run through his arm. Ah, screw it. Asura’s still mine. Doesn’t count.

The power coiled in his blood, subtle, but enough.

"Hmmm…"

A hush fell as Nie Leixu’s arm began to buckle.

"He’s winning—!"

"Don’t lose, old man! Not to him—wait for me to beat you!"

"I’m dreaming. Gotta be dreaming."

"We getting a new boss today? A kid’s retiring the old man!"

Nie Leixu’s teeth ground together. His sons’ chatter only fueled the fire in his eyes—but the boy’s steady force was too much. Inch by inch, his wrist dipped lower.

Just before his knuckles slammed the steel, Daemon gave him a wink—and finished it clean.

Slam.

A heavy silence. Nie Leixu’s sons all stared, heads dropping like guilty pups.

Daemon let go, breathing steady. "Hope that earns me your respect." He offered his hand.

Nie Leixu stared at the thin wrist, the small palm. Then a grin cracked through his beard as he clasped it hard. "Heh. You’re the kid most worthy of my respect in this whole damn world."

Daemon scratched the back of his head, grin crooked. "Now you’re exaggerating."

"Maybe I am—" Nie Leixu barked a laugh, loud enough to shake the forge. The tension bled out of the room like air from a punctured bellows.

"You brats! It’s not dark yet—get back to work!" Nie Leixu barked at his sons, who scattered like kicked dogs. He nudged Daemon to a stool near the back, not missing how the boy hadn’t looked at the coins even once.

"Here." Nie Leixu shoved a cup into his hand. "Drink."

Daemon took it with a grateful nod.

Nie Leixu poured himself a mug of ale, took a heavy swig, burped like a bear, then squinted at Ru. "Aren’t you gonna sit? It’s just us three."

Ru flicked him a look, stone-faced, and didn’t budge.

"I’ll be damned… really is your follower, huh? Did he owe Da Wei a favor—watching you now like this?"

Daemon shrugged, half a smile curling his lips. "You’re overthinking it. Ru never knew my father. He’s here because I’m worth the gamble." He nudged a stool out with his boot. Ru sat without a word, grabbed the ale jug, and poured himself a cup without asking.

Nie Leixu let out a bark of laughter. "Hah! Now that’s how a man acts. Cheers!"

Ru hadn’t expected the big man’s grin. He raised the cup anyway.

"So." Nie Leixu squinted at Daemon. "What do you need?"

"A Great Axe. A Spear. A Two-Handed Sword. A Blade. Some Javelins. A Bow." Daemon listed it calmly, as if reading groceries.

The big man’s brow twitched. "You’re not planning to kill your way into the Royal Palace and avenge Da Wei, are you?"

Ru nearly spit his drink all over him.

Cough.

"Bfft—" Daemon broke into a giggle when Ru glared at the big oaf.

He raised a brow at Nie Leixu, eyes glinting. "And if I was—would you stop me?"

"Stop you?" Nie Leixu slapped his chest. "I’d join you!"

Daemon’s grin slipped into something darker. "What if I never planned to avenge my father? Would you look down on me?"

"Why? Da Wei always said if he died, you’d pick up where he left off."

"I barely remember him. The woman he left behind treated me like trash—kicked me out when he died. No thanks. I’ll pass." Daemon drummed his fingers on the bench.

For once, Nie Leixu studied him close. Watching. Waiting for a hint of a lie. He found none.

"Hah. Damn. You really are his son. Heartless. Cold. Just like him."

"You’re overthinking it. If I’d known him, it’d be different."

"How different?"

"I’d send Cultivators to do it for me—that different."

Nie Leixu barked a harsh laugh—then snorted. "Cultivators, huh? Think a bag of gold sways people who can fly, flatten mountains, boil seas? Don’t make me look down on you, boy. Talk big all you want—there’s limits to mortal dreams." He scowled, refilling his mug.

Daemon’s eyes gleamed, sharp as drawn steel. "One of my followers is a Cultivator. He’s sitting right in front of you—and you didn’t even notice." He leaned in. "You’re old. Blind as a bat. Judged me from your tiny well the moment you saw me. How dare you talk to me about limits? Mortal king, King of Hell, King of Heaven—if I’ve got a bone to pick, I’ll kick any door down. And I’ll be my own judge when I do it."

The forge fell silent. Ru’s eyes glowed faintly with amusement, but Nie Leixu just gaped, mug half-lifted.

The big man turned to Ru, voice dropping. "You really a Cultivator?"

Ru answered with a flick of his finger—ale rose from the jug, shaped itself into a frog, then splashed neatly into Nie Leixu’s cup.

"You’re a frog in a well," Ru said, voice like quiet thunder. "Young master gave you face—went easy on you in front of your sons—yet you bark at him like a stray mutt. Did you forget why he’s here?" His tone sharpened. "I’m the weakest Cultivator under young master Daemon’s banner. Even our strongest can’t hold a candle to him. Be glad for the chance to know his name. Count your luck—and do your damn job."

Nie Leixu just stared, stunned. "Ah! And here I was starting to think you were mute!"

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