Chapter 17: The Grudge
Heng drove us silently, it was the first time since I had met Heng that he drove himself. The trip seemed awkward, Yi Meng was fidgety and wouldn't sit still. Her eyes looked worried.
"What's wrong with you guys?" I asked looking at Heng through the rearview mirror.
"This competition isn't a friendly one Jason. They will try everything they can to kill you. These guys are barely family to me. They scheme in the shadows, trying to use everything to satisfy their greed. Do not trust anyone." Heng replied.
"Am I allowed to try and kill them back?" I replied.
"That's up to you." He looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
I just smiled at him. If they wanted blood, then blood is what I will give them. My mind was made up. Mercy wasn't something I could afford to give on this path. I knew after Scott that I would have blood on my hands either way so why be worried about it. From the sounds of the situation that's the same kind of attitude they held.
"Jason are you not worried?" Yi Meng asked with a slight touch of fear in her eyes.
"I will only say this once, I was shown the true reality of living in fear, of living afraid of what was to come next. Every day was miserable till I stood my ground and fought back. They will not take my life easy, that I can promise you, sister Yi. I will not disappoint our master. He shall know that he made the right choice in picking me." I said while looking out the window.
Yi Meng just looked at me with sad eyes. My abuse was something I still had to come to terms with. I know they wouldn't understand the full scope of truly living in terror, or so I had thought. We arrived at a private train station. Heng opened the door for Sister YI and me. Stepping out of the car I was immediately hit by a wave of strong energy. Before I stood the patriarchs of the sects involved in the Heng family. They stood in a group chatting amongst themselves until they saw Heng.
"Oh, Elder Heng it's so wonderful to see you this year. What has it been five, six years since you participated in the last Family ranking competition?" A weird-looking old man asked stroking his beard.
Heng glared at him before walking toward the train.
"I'll go get our cabin reserved." He said without acknowledging the old man.
The old man turned to me, his eyes looking me over. He stroked his beard a few times and pointed a boney finger at me.
"You're going to be trouble boy. Maybe you should watch yourself out there. You never know what could happen to you." The old man bellowed with laughter.
I looked at him unphased and replied; "You should worry more about your disciples rather than me. It would be better for their health old man."
The old man glared at me with pure hatred, I could feel it radiating off him. He swished his robes around himself and walked away muttering how I would rue the day. The other old men glared at me as well. Yi Meng sighed as she tugged me to the train.
"Jason you either have the biggest set of balls on you or you are the most empty-headed kid I have ever met," Yi said as we found Heng.
"What did he do now?" Heng asked looking worried.
"Well Elder Feng had a few words to say about Jason, more like a threat really and Jason told him to shove it. He was not very happy about Jason's response." Yi replied putting her face in her hand.
She shook her head and Heng looked extremely worried.
"Jason, you need to apologize to elder Feng! He is a blood-thirsty giant in the family." Heng said grabbing my arm.
I shook him off and smiled at him. He took a step back in shock.
"Master Heng please put your faith in me. I have survived this far; I have no plans of falling yet." I replied sitting down.
Heng sighed and sat next to me.
"Master, don't you know how you get if you bring him up," Yi said softly touching Heng's shoulder.
"He should know. A while ago, I had another disciple. He was extremely talented, not as good as you, but he was a force to be reckoned with. We participated in the Family rankings, He placed higher than any of Feng's students. However, Feng was extremely upset, and the next year he went to fight and was poisoned by a female disciple of Feng's. So, when he went to fight, He wasn't at his best and was brutally killed by Feng's best disciple Torok. Since then, I vowed I wouldn't participate in this stupid competition, but someone got word of your skill and decided to force me to show my face or be exiled from the family. I am sorry that you were drug into my family's issues." Heng said bowing his head at me.
" Our family Master Heng, I am your son now, so your burdens are mine as well," I replied smiling.
Heng's eyes welled up with tears as he wrapped me in a massive bear hug. He squeezed me hard before letting me go.
"I am so proud of you Jason, I hope you stay safe, winning isn't necessary. Just come back with us." Heng said wiping his eyes.
I smiled, I wasn't planning on losing, but rising like a phoenix from the ashes. This was my chance to repay Heng for everything he has managed to help me with. I would bring glory to our family name one way or the other, showing these other sects that they couldn't bully Heng anymore. Yi Meng hugged us both and wouldn't let go.
"You're suffocating me with your chest fat!" I gasped trying to get a breath of air.
"Most boys would kill to be in your position." She claimed to laugh.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone