Emperor's Reckoning

Jugen was perplexed as the place was not promising like any of the neighboring stores. Dust was all over the items on the tables and there was nothing that could catch his interest. However, since his older brother was actually looking around the items seriously he chose to keep quiet about it.

Actually Lyon only came here on a whim, he read a lot of novels about cultivation and usually, this kind of shabby place held the most treasures. "I know you are confused as to why we came here little bro, but trust me, the fact that this place still stands means that this store has amazing value," said Lyon while going through the items on the place.

Unknown to Lyon and Jugen, the old man in the back opened his eyes for a second before closing his eyes once more.

There was something that caught Lyon's eyes, the item was probably the most attention-seeking of them all. That was because this item looked normal among the rest.

"Brother, you played zither before?" asked Jugen as he saw Lyon touching the zither.

"No, I have no recollection of doing that," said Lyon as he plucked one string of the zither.

*ding

The sound reverberated inside the room like a melodious angel was playing a harp, guiding the humans to the promised heaven albeit it was a single note. But this time the old man didn't even react at all.

Lyon was confused at this item since there was no actual price tag on it, in fact, all the items had no price tags. "Old man, how much is this zither?"

With his eyes still closed, he replied, "If you don't know the true value of the item, you don't have the right to buy it.".

His reply shocked the both of them, this was their first time meeting a store like this. What kind of a store would refuse a potential buyer?

"Then what is the true value of this zither?" asked Lyon as he felt a little irritated.

The old man didn't respond to his question as he felt that this young fool would only waste his time.

Lyon squinted his eyes as he grabbed the zither and placed it on top of his thigh while one foot was holding him from falling. To the outsider, he looked like he was sitting with one leg.

He was facing the old man who seemed to be unperturbed by his action. While taking a deep breath he cleared his mind and only left with nothingness.

*ding

The first note was played and he let it echoed across the room before continuing. His fingers were moving like this was its natural habitat. With every pull of the string, the heart of the ones listening would beat along with it. Bit by bit, the sound was more and more intense as if Lyon was guiding a story about a grand battle.

Sadly, the string couldn't make enough sounds to attract the people outside the store so the ones that enjoy the melody was Jugen and perhaps the old man.

Jugen was easily entranced by the melody as his mind was somewhere else. He was imagining that he would go into war and bring the head of the enemies as presents to the world.

The old man opened his eyes wide as old memories were surging inside him. The moment of life and deaths were playing inside his head. The moment where everybody referred to him as the young genius. The moment where he was at his prime.

Then Lyon played the melody slow and long tune to change the mood.

The memories of loss and constant disappointment played inside both Jugen and the old man's mind. Death of loved ones or unrequited love, everything was attacking their heart as crocodile tears flow from their eyes.

The old man vision instantly changed as he saw his younger-self confessing to a girl which filled his mind every single day.

"I love you," said the young man.

"I know, but we can't be together yet, so get a lot stronger okay? I will wait for you," said the young girl.

Lyon slowly raised the beat, and the old man's vision changed once more to where he face hellish training. Demon beasts were his everyday meal as his cultivation rose to a fearsome level and he was known to be the prominent genius at the time.

Then Lyon slowed the tune down and finally, it was time for the young man to take the girl's hand in marriage. Backing with huge resources, fame and cultivation the young man strode through the street with pride as the happiest day of his life was about to come.

Lyon suddenly pulled four to five strings at the same time as the vision once more changed. The young man thought that it's going to be the happiest day of his life from that moment onward. But he was betrayed by the love of he would think to be everlasting.

Rage, rage, rage, was what in his mind. The young man was lost in the darkness as vengeance filled up his mind and soul. He didn't care which young lord was it that slept with the woman he loves the most, he didn't care about the heavens either at that moment.

Lyon paused the melody.

.

.

.

.

Without any warning, Lyon immediately raised the beats in his melody like it was the last thing he could do.

The young man was screaming at the top of his lung and caught both of them by surprise.

"Who dares to interrupt this young lor- AHHH!!!" the young man cut his limbs into pieces but still kept him alive for more torture. Every bone was broken as the body was full of holes in a short amount of time.

Meanwhile, the woman was fear-stricken, she was watching the horror as some blood sprayed on her beautiful face.

After the torturing was done, the young man stared at the woman which broke his heart, his personality. With tears running down his face he grabbed her by the neck. The woman was struggling before she gave up and stuttered, "I-i'm s-s-sor-."

*crack

The young man broke her neck and throw her to the side before his knees slammed to the ground but suddenly the vision stopped and the old man regained his senses but only to see no one in the store. The zither was placed back but the player was nowhere to be found.

----------------------------------------------

On the streets.

"Aiya big brother why would you lie to this little brother, you play like a master back there," said Jugen with a sneer.

Lyon was watching his hands with a confused look (Since when I could play zither?)