Chapter 4
The days following Matsura's announcement, the Hayato family was internally divided. There were some who detested the idea of Matsura getting a second wife, a concubine at that. While there were others who really didn't care; all they wanted was drama.
In this world, polygamy was a rare occurrence, almost a taboo in some cases. The dominant religion, Zapacism, held say over everything that happened, with its seven gods and goddesses dictating the moral compass of society, anyone found erring could be sentenced to death or exiled. Its teachings labelled polygamy as unconventional at best and heretical at worst.
While the adults tangled with politics and societal norms, Ryu grew rapidly. At only seven months old, he had the physicality of a two-year-old and an intellect that far surpassed any infant. He walked, talked, and observed the world in ways no seven-month-old could.
They hadn't moved into the inner sector of the estate yet, in the fear of backlash from Lady Wuying or Miura. But they had a slightly elevated position.
Despite this, Matsura found time to bond with Naitou and Ryu, carving out special moments to bond with his new family amidst the conflict. It was during these moments that Ryu pieced together his father's condition. Matsura was afflicted by the Crimson Virus, a rare and insidious disease that targeted demons.
The illness began with an itchy red rash that led to partial paralysis of the rash infected area, a version of chicken pox that left scars that looked like cuts, and worst of all, was the constant coughing of blood.
This progressed to the loss of cultivation ability, negating his immortality and turning the infected into a frail old version of themselves that was utterly dependent on the people around them, and ended in a slow, agonizing death.
Matsura had reached the second stage. He coughed blood frequently, relying on the Heart Blossom Elixir to stave off the inevitable. But the elixir was losing its potency, his immortality was waning, as the days passed it was as if he aged a year, his once lush dark hair was now thinning and greying. For the first time, Ryu felt a pang of sympathy for the man he struggled to call "father."
One afternoon, Matsura came out of his chambers after a few days of cultivation. Ryu was sitting at the koi pond watching the fish swim around, his feet submerged in the pond as he splashed his legs in the water.
He sensed Matsura before he saw him. His menacing aura was dimming like a spent candle, the disease was taking its toll.
"Ryu" Matsura called out. Ryu ran to Matsura, his long white hair flowing behind him.
Despite his disdain, he found himself obeying. "Yes, Daddy?" The word felt foreign and awkward as it rolled off his tongue, but he played along.
"Let's go out for a ride," Matsura said, lifting Ryu into the air. As they walked on, Matsura made eye contact with Naitou who smiled at seeing her once distant husband lifting up their child.
They made their way towards the outer sector. The walls surrounding the estate were about thirty meters high and spread out across the entire estate. At the top were stone towers with guards at the top.
There was a huge wooden gate that led to the outside world. Ryu had never been to the outside world. The guards saw Matsura and Ryu approaching and they immediately opened the gates.
The scene outside was nothing short of majestic. Sprawling green meadows as far as the eye can see. Sheep grazed on the meadows and there were bright and colourful flowers that caught Ryu's attention. An unfamiliar freedom that made Ryu's chest swell with curiosity. Ryu looked around and didn't see a horse.
"Where's the orse" Ryu asked, but he still couldn't quite pronounce 'horse'.
"Oh, we don't need a horse, allow me to show you a family technique passed down from generations" Matsura began. "It's called the Dao Devilish Chariot Technique"
Matsura began by unleashing his demonic power. A black aura surrounded Matsura. He drew a sigil in the air, the sigil glowed and Matsura pulled out a purple orb from his abdomen, it glowed brightly as he tossed it to the sigil.
A rickety chariot appeared before them, there were what seemed to be the remains of horses on the ground. The chariot looked like it had seen better days.
Ryu frowned. "That's it?"
Matsura smirked. "Watch closely, boy."
He began releasing energy into the chariot. Ryu watched in awe at what his father was doing. The grass beneath them began to bloom with blood red flowers.
"I'd get away from those flowers if I were you," Matsura warned. "The Agony Empires flowers are deadly to the weak, especially weak little half demons"
Ryu backed off as more flowers began to bloom. The chariot began to form. The dead horses rose back up, this time in skeletal form with manes of dark flame. The chariot began to take form, its wheels turned to metal and orange flames surrounded them as the wheels spun.
The exterior of the chariot was filled with spikes and bones. Matsura lifted Ryu up and climbed up the chariot.
Matsura lifted Ryu onto the chariot before climbing aboard himself. "Where are we going?" Ryu asked, excitement creeping into his voice.
Matsura's smile returned, faint but genuine. "We're going demon taming."
The skeletal horses reared, their flaming hooves slamming into the ground. The chariot lurched forward, accelerating with mach speeds. Ryu clung to Matsura's robes as the world blurred around them. The wind roared in his ears as the chariot leapt into the sky, defying gravity itself.
Ryu's breath caught in his throat as he looked down. The estate was a distant speck, the vast world spreading out before him. For the first time, he felt the thrill of freedom.