Jason Wu had faced terrifying things before—but hearing the words "another Wu survived… and they betrayed the clan"felt like someone had unplugged his bones.
He stared at Wu Zhen.
Ancient.Star-punching.Cosmic-warrior-general Wu Zhen.
His golden eyes were calm, but behind them swirled old storms.
Jason swallowed.
"Okay. So. Just to confirm—there is another member of my clan alive?"
Wu Zhen did not blink.
"Yes."
"And they're hunting me?"
"Yes."
"And they betrayed the entire Wu Clan?"
"Yes."
Jason raised a hand.
"Okay cool, pause. Could Fate STOP sending me family trauma DLC?"
Longwu buzzed.
["Boy, this isn't DLC. This is a cursed family subscription you didn't cancel."]
Jason groaned into his palms.
THE NAME THAT SHOULD NEVER BE SPOKEN
Jason paced in a small circle, kicking a root and nearly tripping on it.
"Okay—tell me straight. Who is this traitor Wu? What's their name?"
Wu Zhen's jaw tightened.
Jason blinked.
"…Why do you look like you tasted rotten spirit fruit?"
Wu Zhen exhaled once.
"Because his name is forbidden."
Jason froze.
"Forbidden? Like… taboo forbidden? Or 'Mom gets mad if I say it' forbidden?"
Longwu snorted.
["Jason, your clan's 'taboo' usually involved explosions."]
Wu Zhen finally spoke the name.
Very quietly.
"Wu Jian."
Jason… waited.
Wu Zhen did not continue.
Jason frowned.
"That's it? Just Wu Jian? That sounds like the name of a guy who loses at card games."
Wu Zhen's eyes flared.
"Do not underestimate him."
Longwu whispered in Jason's mind.
["…I remember him."]
Jason froze.
"You do?"
["Barely. Faint echoes. He was brilliant, powerful, and—"]
The sword hesitated.
["—deeply broken."]
Jason processed that.
Then held up a hand.
"Wait. Are you telling me the traitor Wu is… smart? Strong? Emotionally unstable?"
Wu Zhen nodded once.
"Correct."
Jason dragged both hands down his face.
"Great. A genius maniac with my bloodline. A cosmic disaster waiting to happen. A walking spoiler alert."
Longwu hummed.
["Think of him as… you. But more efficient."]
Jason gagged.
"EW."
THE HISTORY OF A TRAITOR
Jason crossed his arms.
"Fine. Tell me what he did."
Wu Zhen stepped forward, shadows twisting around him as if afraid.
"Wu Jian was the youngest prodigy of our clan.He rose faster than anyone else.Stronger than anyone else.Too fast."
Jason raised a brow.
"How fast are we talking?"
Wu Zhen's voice sharpened.
"At your age, he could crush mountains by accident."
Jason glared.
"Okay, rude. You didn't need to say 'by accident.'"
Longwu added helpfully.
["He also had better posture."]
"TRAITOR!"
Wu Zhen continued:
"But power came with hunger.He wanted more—not for the clan,not for freedom,not for survival…"
Jason felt a chill.
"…for what?"
Wu Zhen's eyes darkened.
"For himself."
The trees rustled as though recoiling.
Wu Zhen continued:
"He believed the Wu Clan should rule everything.Realms.Systems.Narratives.Even Fate itself."
Jason whispered:
"…He wanted to replace Fate?"
"Yes."
Jason stared wide-eyed.
"That's insane!"
Longwu hummed.
["Ambitious."]
Jason pointed angrily.
"That's NOT a compliment!"
THE MOMENT JASON REALIZES SOMETHING HORRIFYING
Jason clasped his head.
"So this Wu Jian betrayed the clan to follow Fate? To survive?"
Wu Zhen paused.
A dangerous pause.
"No."
Jason blinked.
"No?"
Wu Zhen shook his head.
"He didn't join Fate.He didn't serve Fate.He didn't obey Fate."
Jason felt his heartbeat climb his spine.
"Then what did he do?"
Wu Zhen said the words like a death sentence:
"He tried to kill Fate."
Jason stared.
"…I'm sorry—WHAT?!"
Longwu buzzed like a panicked mosquito.
["Oh yes. I remember now.He tried to assassinate the concept of Fate.He marched into the cosmic system like it was a bakery."]
Jason was losing hair by the second.
"And he failed?"
Wu Zhen nodded.
"Fate crushed him.But did not kill him."
Jason stopped pacing.
"…Why?"
Wu Zhen looked straight at him.
"Because deleting him would break the laws even further."
Jason's knees weakened.
"So he became…"
Wu Zhen finished:
"…the anomaly BEFORE you."
A long silence.
Jason breathed once.
Twice.
Then said:
"Okay. So I'm basically Wu Jian's spiritual sequel. Good to know. Love this for me."
Longwu hummed sympathetically.
["You're the better-written version."]
That helped a little.
A little.
THE REAL REASON THE TRAITOR IS COMING
Jason rubbed his temples.
"So this Wu Jian survived being erased. But why hunt me?"
Wu Zhen's answer was immediate.
"Because you threaten what he wants."
Jason frowned.
"And what does he want?"
Wu Zhen's expression darkened.
"To become Fate."
Jason swallowed.
Then his eyes widened.
"Oh no."
Longwu buzzed.
["Jason, he's coming."]
Jason stiffened.
"How do you know—"
But then—a wave of pressure shattered across the realm.
Not loud.Not violent.Not explosive.
It was clean.
Surgical.
Cold.
Reality didn't shake—it simply aligned, as though something higher slid into position.
Jason whispered:
"…That's not a realm. Or a Riftbound. Or an Administrator."
Wu Zhen nodded grimly.
"It is him."
Jason felt sweat gather at his back.
"Oh no no no—this fast?! I haven't even eaten lunch!"
Longwu tried to be supportive.
["You can eat after not dying."]
"THAT DOESN'T HELP."
A presence approached.
Jason couldn't see him.Couldn't hear him.Couldn't sense him the normal way.
But his blood knew.
Every drop in his veins heated.
Every bone hummed.
Every heartbeat answered to another.
A voice—smooth, calm, almost gentle—echoed through the forest:
"Descendant."
Jason's breath hitch.
Wu Zhen stepped in front of him instantly.
"Stay behind me."
Jason peeked over his shoulder.
"…Can YOU beat him?"
Wu Zhen paused.
A long pause.
Too long.
"No."
Jason nearly fainted.
Longwu muttered:
["Fantastic. Wonderful. We are officially doomed."]
THE TRAITOR ARRIVES
The trees didn't part.
The shadows didn't shift.
The air didn't twist.
Nothing dramatic happened.
Instead—
A man simply was there.
Standing calmly at the edge of the clearing.
Black hair tied neatly.Clothes simple—gray, clean, too clean.Eyes golden, but unlike Wu Zhen's cracked-fire,these were polished metal—refined, perfect, terrifyingly calm.
He smiled.
A soft, warm smile.
"Jason Wu."
Jason froze.
That voice—
It was the same tone Jason usedwhen greeting disciples he wanted to borrow food from.
Casual.Friendly.Disarming.
But something beneath itfelt like it could erase stars by sighing too loudly.
Jason whispered:
"…Wu Jian."
Wu Jian's smile widened—not insane,not villainous,not twisted.
Just… gentle.
"Yes.I have been waiting for you."
Jason felt Wu Zhen tense like a drawn bow.
"Jian," Wu Zhen hissed. "Stay away from him."
Wu Jian tilted his head, confused.
"Why would I?He is family."
Jason gulped.
"Are you here to—uh… recruit me? Fight me? Kill me? Kidnap me?Please choose one so I can mentally prepare."
Wu Jian chuckled softly.
"None of those."
Jason blinked.
Wu Jian stepped forward—smooth, calm, every movement flawlessly measured.
He raised one hand.
Not in attack.In greeting.
"Jason Wu."A drop of power rolled from his fingertips—and the entire Silverwood Realm bent slightly."I have come to teach you."
Jason's brain blue-screened.
"…HUH?!"
Wu Jian smiled kindly.
"You broke a cosmic rule improperly."He tapped Jason's forehead lightly from afar—the air rippled."Allow me to show you how to break the rest… correctly."
Jason shouted:
"WHY WOULD I WANT TO BREAK MORE RULES?!"
Wu Jian answered:
"Because Jason…Fate has begun moving against you."
Jason paled.
"…What?"
Wu Jian smiled.
"And I'm the only one who can help you survive it."