In the beginning, those few thousand guests who hadn't dared to make a sound until now were wondering why it was that the lofty Tatsuya and Kunan Clans were allowing a little boy to handle their problems. Weren't you powerful Clans? Weren't you the number one and two existences on this Plane? How could you allow a baby to do your bidding?
However, the more Ryu spoke, the more shocked those in attendance became. Even someone as experienced and intelligence as Old Mistress Holy Wing was pushed into a corner in just a few moves.
It wasn't just that Ryu had won a battle of words, but he also understood propriety in his measured attacks. He never went forward too fiercely, but he also didn't hold back too much either.
For instance, Ryu revealing the dark and disgusting past of the Holy Wing Clan could be considered a severe punishment. In fact, many began to look upon the Holy Wing Clan with contempt. It was one thing to hand baby boys to their fathers, but to kill them?! How inhumane!
Did your vile ancestors really hate men so much? It wasn't as though the Holy Wing Clan practiced techniques of lovelessness or abstinence. If they had, they wouldn't choose men at all, instead, they would recruit young women from society and become a Sect. However, they didn't do this because there was no need to.
What did this mean? Didn't it mean that the Founding Members of the Holy Wing Clan were simply immoral deviants of society? What was the difference between them and a Cursed Cult? And they actually dared to take the namesake of 'Holy'? Did they believe that their shit smelled of roses and lavender too?!
It could be said that this was a heavy blow for the Holy Wing Clan. Whether it be prestige or Secular Fate, both would take a substantial hit, all because of Ryu's words.
Still, this wasn't so far that it caused irreconcilable hatred. This was why Ryu's attack could be considered to be measured. Didn't Old Mistress Holy Wing dare to call his grandmother a cuckold? Dare to call him a cripple? Dare to sell off her granddaughter like a slave? It was clear to everyone here that Ryu's counter was what she deserved! At the same time, this meant that if the situation escalated, the moral high ground would still lie with the Tatsuya Clan!
These sort of trivial nuances about moral superiority and equivalent exchanges might seem meaningless to normal society. But, in an Era where Fate was the most important commodity, and public image was something it was heavily reliant upon, these things were necessary.
At the same time, Ryu's family members suddenly felt incomparably comfortable, as though all of their grievances had found a debt and debtor all at once. Their Ryu had protected not only their honor, but he had desecrated the honor of this vile woman.
"Since the debts have been laid out appropriately, why don't you tell me the real reason you came here today?" Ryu watched as his once bloody palm dried, flaking with red and white before revealing a completely healed hand beneath. After eating so many heavenly treasures, it was quite easy for Ryu's weak body to heal.
Ryu's words made those who heard them tremble. He's still unwilling to let her go? Isn't it obvious that she came to make trouble about the Origin Flame? Since you've already exposed the hoax, is there a need to continue? You'll just embarrass her more!
Anyone with intelligence could understand Ryu's meaning. 'It can't be that someone of your stature came here to make trouble about something so trivial, can it? Go ahead, tell me the real reason you came.'
Ryu was pretending not to understand her true purpose, but if Old Mistress Holy Wing admitted that this was all she came for, wouldn't she be slapping her own face?
Old Mistress Holy Wing's face shook violently, but she didn't have a response. She could only feel the several thousand gazes on her as her skin flew through all the colors of the rainbow before settling on a deep black.
She didn't want to take a step back, but at the same time, she didn't want to take a step forward. Had she really lost to a cripple again?
However, that was when her eyes lit with a disgustingly contorted light.
"Young Master is correct, I have been quite shameless and thick-skinned today. Your Third Grand Elder can't be considered my son, I've cut ties to him. I also concede that you are an outstanding Ruin Master, I don't doubt for a moment that your words are the truth. Truly amazing, to actually find an Origin Flame on your own, I must say that I'm very impressed."
Many felt like cleaning out their ears, were they hearing all of this properly? Had she lost her mind? Or was she truly taking a step back?
"And finally, I lost my mind in anger. My precious Elena will always be my little granddaughter. It was I who held her small body in my arms, it was I who nurtured her and watched her grow, how could I ever sell her off to another family?"
Black lines grew on the faces of those watching this spectacle. She was clearly only saying all of this so that she wouldn't have to reimburse Ryu for the Holy Ruin.
"I apologize. I've never been very good at tempering my Mental Realm. In fact, it's a terrible weakness of mine. You're right, I did forget my true purpose in coming here.
"About six or so cycles of one hundred thousand years ago, I had a meeting with Priest Saint Ventus. Of course, this was before I abdicated my position to my lovely daughter and Elena's mother, so we spoke as equals then. At the time, young Gale had just completed his Core Training and Little Elena was just about to exit hers.
"Back then, we had decided Little Elena's first male partner." Old Mistress Holy Wing paused. "I'm aware that I've told you this story before and it was handled properly then, I wouldn't be so foolish as to bring the same issue before such a mighty Ruin Master once again, it would be an insult to you and me.
"Instead, I bring this up for the sake of Little Gale. He's given way to Young Master Ryu already, allowing a lady he saw as his own to be taken away, but the affair left a dark shadow over his heart, making his cultivation slower than it ought to be.
"Would the esteemed Tatsuya Clan would allow this young man the chance to remove his inner devil?"