Chapter 37: Confrontation with the Shen Family
The day after the weapon selection, Miang approached Sanjeev with a proposition. The initial shock of the divine realm and Lord Krishna's revelations had subsided, replaced by a burning curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.
"Sanjeev," Miang began, his voice surprisingly earnest, "I must know more about your world. The cultivation methods you use, the very fabric of your reality... it's all so different, so... potent. You mentioned that your cultivation methods could allow mortals to become gods, and even allow beings to fight toe-to-toe with them. I am incredibly impressed."
Miang paused, his eyes gleaming with a newfound respect. "In exchange for your knowledge," he continued, "I will teach you the art of weapon refinement. I was, after all, a deity of weapon refinement in the divine realm. You can trust me on this; my skills are unparalleled."
Sanjeev considered the offer. He knew the value of his world's knowledge, the profound spiritual truths contained within its ancient texts and practices. But he also recognized the potential benefit of learning weapon refinement from a god. The mace he had acquired in the Weapon Hall was clearly extraordinary, and mastering its full potential would be crucial for his survival and his quest for revenge.
"Very well, Miang," Sanjeev agreed. "I accept your offer. I will share the knowledge of my world with you, and in return, you will teach me the secrets of weapon refinement."
The next day, Sanjeev and Aarav were summoned to the main hall by Elder Ye Tan. The elder's expression was serious, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a grim determination.
"I have a mission for you two," Elder Ye Tan announced, his voice heavy with urgency. "A village in Dragon Town is under attack by demonic beasts. You are to go there and eliminate the threat."
Aarav groaned. "A beast hunting mission? Again?" he complained, though there was a hint of excitement in his voice. He enjoyed the thrill of combat, the challenge of facing powerful creatures.
"What rank of beasts are we dealing with, Master?" Aarav asked.
"Third and fourth rank," Elder Ye Tan replied. "We believe there are no high-rank monsters in the area, but remain vigilant."
Sanjeev and Aarav nodded, acknowledging the mission. They knew the importance of protecting the innocent from the ravages of demonic beasts. They began their preparations, gathering their weapons, supplies, and spiritual energy.
As Sanjeev prepared to depart, Blackie, his enormous beast companion, nudged him insistently. Blackie, whose size had grown to an astonishing twenty-five feet, clearly wanted to accompany Sanjeev on the mission.
Sanjeev initially refused. "Blackie, you're too big," he said. "You'll terrify the villagers. It's too dangerous."
But Blackie, with his surprisingly expressive eyes, made a series of imploring faces, his huge form shrinking slightly as if to emphasize his desire to be small and harmless. Sanjeev, who had a soft spot for the giant beast, eventually relented.
"Alright, alright," Sanjeev sighed. "But you have to stay hidden. And you absolutely cannot harm any humans unless I give the order."
Blackie chirped in delight and, in a matter of seconds, shrunk down to a mere foot in height. He then scampered up Sanjeev's leg and nestled comfortably inside his shirt, becoming a hidden, furry stowaway.
With Blackie safely concealed, Sanjeev and Aarav set off for Dragon Town. Their journey took them through winding roads and lush landscapes, the scenery a stark contrast to the grim task that awaited them.
As they traveled, they came across a disturbance on the side of the road. A small crowd had gathered, their faces filled with fear and anger. Sanjeev and Aarav approached to investigate.
They saw a young man, dressed in ostentatious robes and surrounded by a group of menacing-looking thugs, bullying an elderly shopkeeper. The young man was shouting and gesturing angrily, while the shopkeeper cowered in fear.
"Let's help him," Sanjeev said to Aarav. "We can't just stand by and watch this happen."
Aarav hesitated. "We're on a mission, Sanjeev," he reminded him. "We don't have time for this."
"We have time to do the right thing," Sanjeev insisted. "Besides, we can't ignore someone in need."
Aarav sighed, but he knew Sanjeev was right. He couldn't bring himself to abandon the shopkeeper to his fate.
Just as the young man raised his hand to strike the shopkeeper, Sanjeev stepped forward, placing himself between the attacker and his victim. The young man's attack harmlessly dissipated against Sanjeev's energy barrier.
"What do you think you're doing, interfering with my business?" the young man snarled, his face contorted with fury.
"I'm asking you to stop bullying this innocent person," Sanjeev replied, his voice calm but firm. "He has done nothing to deserve this."
"Mind your own business, you meddling fool!" the young man shouted. "I am the Young Master of the Shen Family. I can do whatever I please!"
The arrogance in the young man's voice, the blatant display of power and entitlement, ignited Sanjeev's anger. He had seen this kind of behavior before, the abuse of power by those who believed themselves to be above the law.
"Your family name means nothing to me," Sanjeev said coldly. "No one has the right to mistreat others simply because they have power."
The young man lunged at Sanjeev, unleashing a flurry of attacks. But Sanjeev, whose cultivation level was a full stage higher than his opponent, easily dodged and deflected every blow. With a swift counter-strike, Sanjeev subdued the young man, leaving him defeated and humiliated.
The thugs, seeing their leader defeated, quickly scattered, leaving the young master to lick his wounds. The shopkeeper, trembling with gratitude, bowed deeply to Sanjeev and Aarav.
"Thank you, thank you so much," the shopkeeper stammered. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't arrived."
"You're welcome," Sanjeev replied. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine, thanks to you," the shopkeeper said. "But... but who was that young man? He mentioned the Shen Family. Are they... are they dangerous?"
"The Shen Family is one of the most powerful families in Dragon City," the shopkeeper explained. "They have a genius strategist and formation expert serving as their butler. His knowledge is the foundation of the Shen Family's power and influence. They are not a family you want to cross."
Sanjeev nodded, absorbing the information. He had a feeling that this encounter with the Shen Family was not a mere coincidence.
"Thank you for the warning," Sanjeev said. "We must be going now."
Sanjeev and Aarav continued their journey to Dragon Town, their minds filled with thoughts of the Shen Family and the challenges that lay ahead. They knew that protecting the city from the monster waves would not be their only task.
Upon arriving in Dragon Town, Sanjeev and Aarav headed straight for the city lord's residence. The mansion of the city lord was a sprawling complex, a testament to his wealth and status. It was a grand structure, adorned with intricate carvings, shimmering jewels, and towering pillars that seemed to reach for the sky. The gardens surrounding the mansion were meticulously manicured, filled with exotic plants and fragrant flowers.
Sanjeev and Aarav presented their Lotus Blade Sect tokens to the guards at the entrance, informing them of their arrival and their mission. The guards, recognizing the authority of the sect, immediately dispatched a messenger to inform the city lord.
To their surprise, the city lord himself, accompanied by a retinue of officials, came out to greet them personally. He was a dignified man, dressed in opulent robes, but his face was etched with worry and exhaustion.
"Welcome, esteemed cultivators," the city lord said, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and gratitude. "I am City Lord Wei. I have been informed of your arrival. We are in dire need of your assistance."
Sanjeev and Aarav followed the city lord into his mansion. The interior was even more lavish than the exterior, filled with priceless artifacts, exquisite tapestries, and ornate furniture. But despite the opulence, there was an air of despair hanging over the place.
As they sat down to discuss the situation, Sanjeev couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the city lord's wealth and the suffering of his people. He had seen signs of poverty and hunger on the streets, a stark contrast to the city lord's luxurious lifestyle.
"Your Excellency," Sanjeev began, "we have seen the state of your city. Your people are suffering from hunger and monster attacks. Why is this happening?"
City Lord Wei sighed, his face filled with sorrow. "I have tried my best to protect my city," he explained, "but I lack the manpower and resources to effectively combat the monster waves. The powerful families in this city recruit all the talented and strong individuals, leaving me with little to defend my people. And the waves... they have taken so much from us."
His voice cracked with emotion as he spoke of his daughter. "In the last wave, my daughter... she tried to fight the monsters, to protect the city. But she was too young, too inexperienced. She died... in the claws of those beasts."
Aarav and Sanjeev exchanged sympathetic glances. They could feel the city lord's pain, his desperation.
"We will protect your city, Your Excellency," Sanjeev said with conviction. "You have my word. We will do everything in our power to stop the monster waves."
"When will the next wave arrive?" Sanjeev asked.
"In two weeks," City Lord Wei replied. "We have very little time to prepare."
"And what about the other families in the city?" Sanjeev asked. "Can't they help defend their own people?"
City Lord Wei shook his head sadly. "They send their troops," he said, "but their forces are weak, poorly trained. Some of them are not even cultivators. They offer little real assistance."
Sanjeev frowned. He had a feeling that the city lord was not telling the whole story. He sensed a deeper, more insidious reason behind the families' lack of cooperation. He thought to himself, "These big families are incredibly cruel. They aren't even putting in a token effort to protect the city."
"Your Excellency," Sanjeev said, "may we see the city walls, where the monsters attack?"
"Of course," City Lord Wei replied. He led Sanjeev and Aarav to the city walls, a massive structure that had been battered and scarred by countless monster attacks.
As Sanjeev surveyed the walls, an idea began to form in his mind. He saw the weaknesses in the city's defenses, the areas where the monsters were most likely to breach. He also saw the potential for a more effective defensive strategy.
Meanwhile, in a hidden chamber beneath the city, the heads of the five most powerful families in Dragon City were gathered. The atmosphere was thick with greed and ambition. Among them was the head of the Shen Family.
"The city is on the verge of collapse," the Shen Family head said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "In two weeks, the next wave will hit. And when it does, the city will be devastated."
"And that's when we make our move," another family head added, his eyes gleaming with avarice. "We will offer to rebuild the city, but we will charge exorbitant fees. We will bleed the city lord dry, and slowly, we will take control of the city's resources and its governance."
"And once we have control," a third family head chimed in, "we will divide the city amongst ourselves, ensuring our families' prosperity for generations to come."
The family heads chuckled, their hearts filled with cold calculation. They were willing to sacrifice the lives of countless innocent people for their own selfish gain.
Unbeknownst to them, Sanjeev and Aarav were secretly listening to their conversation. They had used their spiritual senses to eavesdrop, their anger growing with each word.
"These bastards!" Aarav growled, his fists clenched. "They're willing to let the city be destroyed just to line their own pockets!"
Sanjeev's expression was grim. He had suspected that the families were not as benevolent as they seemed, but he had not imagined the extent of their depravity.
"We can't let them get away with this," Sanjeev said. "We have to do something."
After the meeting, Sanjeev devised a plan, a way to force the families to become involved in the city's defense, whether they wanted to or not. It was a risky plan, but Sanjeev knew it was the only way to save Dragon City.
The next day, Sanjeev and Aarav, along with City Lord Wei, began to implement Sanjeev's plan. They worked tirelessly, preparing the city for the coming wave, reinforcing the defenses, and training the city's militia.
As the day of the wave approached, tension hung heavy in the air. The citizens of Dragon City braced themselves for the inevitable onslaught, their hopes resting on the shoulders of Sanjeev and Aarav.
Then, on the day of the wave, chaos erupted. A servant rushed into the Shen Family head's mansion, his face pale with terror.
"Master! Master!" he cried. "The beasts... they're attacking! They're heading straight for our estate!"
The Shen Family head was stunned. He had expected the beasts to attack the city walls, not his own home. And the same scene was playing out at the other four family estates as well. The beasts, as if guided by an unseen hand, were targeting the very heart of the families' power.