Ryu's silver eyes flashed blue for a moment as they opened, swinging toward Old Mistress Holy Wing's figure.
"And what debt is that?" Ryu asked faintly.
"There are many." Old Mistress Holy Wing stretched her voluptuous body. The armor that covered her seem flexible beyond reason, following her movements as though made of latex.
"For one, I heard my son was crippled by your cuckold grandmother today. My Holy Wing Clan might have laws that bind us mothers to give our sons away, but does that dampen my motherly love? I'm truly hurting."
"WHORE!" The news that Supreme Priest Adofo was yet another man Old Mistress Holy Wing had lured into her bed sent Priest Saintess Kunan into a rage. Lightning crackled ceremonial hall, followed by an overwhelming presence. The weak immediately foamed at the mouth, unable to handle such an expert's anger.
A flash of pain lit Mistress Kunan's eyes. For her husband to still be so enraged by the actions of this woman, could it mean that he still had feelings for her? Losing control of his emotions like this before everyone… Even if he didn't have such feelings, who would believe him?
As for Old Mistress Holy Wing, she didn't care about her old lover's outburst. Considering how many years her granddaughter and Ryu had been engaged, how could she not be used to sparring with this little cripple? The first time, she took a massive loss. But, would she continue to allow that to happen? Of course not. She adapted, learned how to push Ryu's buttons, learned to goad him, how to properly attack and retreat seamlessly. Her title of genius was not empty!
"The second debt involves my granddaughter. Since she's clearly been recruited by the Tatsuya family, the Holy Wing Clan would like an appropriate price for her head. I've spent 600 years trying to change her ways, but it's now clear to me that this is impossible. I don't think my words are unreasonable, or is it that the Tatsuya Clan is so big and strong that they can take the disciples of others as they please?
"Do remember that Elena has lived more than nine cycles of one hundred thousand years? If we calculate the number of resources she's cost our Holy Wing Clan in that time, it's quite a sum. In addition, this number doesn't include blessings she's received from the Light Shrine as a Saintess and it also doesn't include the value of the Core Teachings she's taking with her. Totaling all of this together and I'd say it'd cost an arm and a leg even for your lofty Clan."
Hearing these words, the calloused Elena trembled, her eyes involuntarily watering. She had thought that by now, she would have been used to all of the words her grandmother could throw at her. But, the thought of her own flesh and blood selling her off like some cheap slave, even tallying things down to the final penny… It hurt. It truly hurt.
"The third debt is even more momentous. It can't be that your Tatsuya Clan forgets the history of this Origin Flame, right? Origin Flames themselves are the last sparks from the beginning of all things, even a Clan as powerful as yours can't lay claim to a treasure like this alone. Did you think you could just hand it out as you pleased? In case you forgot, this Origin Flame was given to the then Leader of our Founding Shrine Plane Clans, your Tatsuya Clan ancestor. It's meant to be used in the event of crisis. You can you ignore my Clan Texts, but can you ignore your own as well?
"You believe that we should sit idly by as you use such a precious heavenly treasure on a cripple who'll be dead before the next time I have an itch for a strong burly man?" The Old Mistress Holy Wing's features grew obscene as though she was imagining the next man she'd con into her bed.
By this point, there wasn't a single member of Ryu's family that wasn't trembling in rage or suffering the effects of deeply concealed scars opening once more. To describe this woman as vile… It was too good for her! Still… The only one whose visage was as calm as an iceberg was Ryu.
"Your first debt is inconsequential. You seem to love to speak of Clan Texts, so how could it be that you don't know that your Clan's laws don't simply describe 'giving your son away'. Actually, the true law of your Clan requires you to slay all male offspring. The reason you don't follow this law anymore is because a truly valiant woman of your past paid a heavy price in order to change the wording."
Old Mistress Holy Wing's playful expression froze. This was an absolute secret of their Clan's upper echelon. Even Elena wouldn't know something like this. How the hell did he find out?!
"That said, the price she paid wasn't heavy enough, so the wording only changed from sever life to sever all ties. According to your Clan's laws, he's no longer your son. Why you would bring this up knowing this truth is beyond me. Did you simply want to flaunt how far the legs an expert of your caliber can spread?"
A chilly light involuntarily emanated the moment she heard these words, but the response was eight immediate killing intents locking onto her body. Even Old Mistress Holy Wing couldn't remain nonchalant when she realized the eighth aura was her own granddaughter's.
"Your second debt is even more shameless. I seem to remember Elena selflessly sharing the Holy Ruin I found for her with your Clan. In case you forgot, it was an Origin Grade Ruin. I hadn't sought any remuneration because I had thought that we were family. But, since this is apparently not the case, after deducting the resources the Holy Wing Clan poured into Elena, I believe you are the one who still owes us the astronomical price, no? Of course, this doesn't include my personal expert's fee as the highest ranked Ruins Master of the Shrine Plane."
Old Mistress Holy Wing's features distorted. But, in the end, she gritted her teeth. She had only brought up the first two debts in order to anger Ryu's family, she had never expected to get any real compensation for it. But, the fact Ryu answered to them seriously made it feel like he was belittling her, like she was the cripple and he was the supreme expert!
However, her hopes in the third debt came crashing down in the next instant.
"As for your third debt, unfortunately for you, this Origin Flame isn't the same one you speak of. That Origin Flame is mature while this one is a mere embryo. This was found, once more, by my hand and it was by my father's prowess that it was collected.
"To claim it as the work of your vile ancestors, aren't you too shameless?"