Damon's Ascension-Chapter 107: War in Xiangyang 8

The late evening wind settled softly over Crane Ridge Villa, brushing over plum blossoms and rustling bamboo screens as if the very air was holding its breath.

Damon stood alone on the central courtyard’s stone path with his hands behind his back and eyes closed. He had sensed the approaching presences well before the newly acquired guards by Chen Yuan at the front even knew someone had arrived.

A cadence of collective footsteps sounded out, steady and deliberate while full of a certain confidence and arrogance that came with nobility.

One of the newly hired servants’ voices called out hesitantly from the front hall. "Master Damon... you have visitors."

"Send them in," Damon replied calmly without turning around.

A moment later, three figures stepped through the carved double doors of the main hall and entered the open courtyard.

Leading them was a sharply dressed youth in flowing green robes embroidered with mountain clouds. His features were refined, his posture casual yet composed, and his bright eyes— but not frivolous— landed on Damon with directness.

Second Young Master Liu Yuren.

Flanking him were two Elders of the Liu family.

One was a thin, hawk-eyed man with gray streaks in his temples, the Second Elder Liu Fan.

The other was broader, with a short beard and a cautious expression, the Fourth Elder Liu Qishan.

Both men moved with the grace of experienced martial artists and even without cultivating this so-called Internal Force, Damon could tell that they were extremely dangerous to him.

Second Young Master Liu clasped his hands in greeting. "Crane Ridge Villa suits your presence, Scholar Damon."

Damon finally turned, his expression neutral. "And here I thought my presence disturbed the local sensibilities."

The Second Young Master chuckled. "Only those who lack discernment are disturbed by excellence."

Damon nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "You’ve come quickly."

"I was impressed by your performance at the square," Liu Yuren explained simply.

He then added with a chuckle. "And more impressed by the silence that followed. Even the Sun family’s young fools are treading lightly now. It was only right that I pay my respects—and offer an invitation."

The Elders behind him exchanged looks, surprised by the position the Second Young Master was taking. Damon casually met the eyes of the two Elders who were now looking at him with mild curiosity, then stepped aside and gestured to the tea table.

"Then please speak. I have time." Damon prompted with a smile.

They all sat down while tea was poured by Xue Rou, who bowed once and remained by Damon’s side like a quiet shadow.

The Second Young Master did not fail to notice the careful poise of his host’s companions, nor the subtle pressure that emanated from Damon’s very presence, which was like an icy blizzard— one that could freeze the very soul.

Second Elder Liu Fan was the first to speak. "Our Liu family is one of the three pillars of this county and we handle trade, taxation, as well as internal order. In recent years, the nobles have grown... divided and fractured."

Fourth Elder Liu Qishan continued. "With the disappearance of the County Martial Judge, chaos is spreading. Rumors of rebellion, collusion with rogue sects, assassinations. We need... stabilizing presences."

Second Young Master Liu smiled faintly. "And I believe you are most suitable to act in this role."

Damon raised a brow. "A stabilizing presence? You sure you didn’t mean to ask me to become a deterrent weapon?"

"Whichever you prefer to be," Liu Yuren replied smoothly.

He showed his open palms in a gesture of sincerity. "We’re not here to chain you, but rather to offer you the freedom to move within our protection. You would be under our banner in an unofficial capacity, allowing you to act as you see fit, while we provide you the resources and space to do so."

Damon studied the young noble in silence, his opinion of the presences within this Instance fixing itself. Clearly, not everyone was a terribly cliché idiot who only spouted typical third-rate villain lines.

After pondering this, Damon’s eyes slid to the two elders by the side who seemed to be here as attaches at best.

"And in return?" Damon inquired softly.

Liu Fan answered first. "You serve as a deterrent against the Sun and Cao families. You show the court that the Liu family still commands strength and wisdom."

Damon’s expression didn’t shift. "Hmm, so you want to wear me like a medal?"

"It is mutual prestige, a fair exchange." Liu Qishan answered mildly.

There was a long pause as Damon refilled his own cup, his thoughts condensing as he considered this position genuinely.

After making a decision, he raised his head to meet Liu Yuren’s gaze.

"I appreciate your restraint since your group could have brought ten men along with a writ of coercion. Instead, you came with words and a sincere intention to cooperate. That alone earns respect." Damon commented with a nod of admiration.

Second Young Master Liu tilted his head with a smile. "We of the Liu believe in negotiation before force."

"That’s wise," Damon nodded.

He then shook his head with a sigh. "But not all wisdom leads to success."

Damon set his cup down, the sound gentle but final as he raised his head to glance at his visitors placidly.

"I refuse."

The table grew still as the three Liu’s stiffened. They had considered the chance of failure, but things were looking to be going so well, so why the sudden shift?

Liu Qishan’s brows twitched as a hint of anger appeared in his heart involuntarily. Still, he managed to ask the following question with a strained smile: "May I ask why?"

Damon folded his hands on his lap and crossed his legs in a gentlemanly manner, leaning back into his seat with half-lidded eyes, making him look like a lazy ruler who couldn’t care for diplomatic affairs of the state.

"Because I have seen enough dynasties, regimes, and families behave like yours. You can sugarcoat it as much as you like, but you’re not looking for balance, but rather for leverage. You want to secure your place in this crumbling county by placing an unknown variable, myself, on your own chessboard."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze intensifying. "However, I have no intention of becoming someone’s chess piece, nor do I wish to follow the orders from those who are not stronger than me and are definitely not as smart as me."

Liu Fan’s eyes narrowed. "That’s a dangerous line to walk, Scholar. Even swords break when tempered too hard."

"I’ve broken better ones," Damon replied without a care, not taking the threat to heart.

Second Young Master Liu exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening briefly around his cup. This was the worst possible outcome and one he hoped not to encounter because it would also affect his own position in the clan.

The next time he stood up to try and have the clan act according to his wishes, his words’ persuasiveness would be greatly weakened, and in certain situations, his opponents within the clan might bring up this failed recruitment as a reason to prevent him from speaking on important topics.

Thinking about the ’’losses’ and ’damages’ he had suffered because of Damon, Second Young Master Liu set his cup down and stood.

"I had hoped we might speak as allies, Scholar Damon, not as pawns or patrons. It seems I was mistaken."

Damon shook his head as he stood as well. "No, you weren’t mistaken. Just a little bit too hasty."

The two Elders rose after their Young Master, standing beside Liu Yuren while Liu Fan gave Damon one last look, calculating and cold. "You may find yourself in need of allies before this is done."

"You are correct, but I need allies that can actually enhance my power and grant me new functions, not something I can do myself," Damon replied.

The Fourth Elder hesitated, then turned away silently without saying anything, because at this point, anything said would be superfluous.

At the threshold, Second Young Master Liu looked back.

"I still admire your boldness and courage, Damon Arnan, but you should understand this. Jing Province is not a place where you win by standing alone, and it devours those who do not pick a side."

Damon nodded in agreement. "I appreciate the advice. It is very free to try."

With that, the Liu delegation departed, leaving the villa steeped in quiet tension as Xue Rou closed the courtyard doors behind them.

Sun Liang peeked in a moment later, muttering, "So... negotiations didn’t go well?"

"They went exactly as expected," Damon replied.

Chen Yuan joined them next, arms folded. "It seems we’ve made enemies of the Lius now?"

Damon’s voice was calm. "It can at most be considered a slight on their prestige, but to hold murderous intentions for this... I would doubt their sanity if so."

He turned to face the villa grounds again, eyes reflecting the endless silvery glow of the rising moon, matching the color of his own eyes.

"Noble families like theirs want to control the chaos of the times, and I simply want to make use of it. They need order, I precisely need chaos, so our goals will never align." Damon explained simply.

With his retainers pondering over those words, the evening light dipped beyond the Crane Ridge Villa’s outer walls, leaving the area around Damon in deepening shadow.