The king, mind, with his ministers, three days after the Awakening Festival made proclamation, and said:
> "The Myung family is the lowest, but the head of the clan is really scary. He's a thorn in my throat. And its bothersome that his ancestors predicted that someday he would be a General and a king."
And one of the ministers rose and said:
>_****_"Eight years ago, I sent an assassin to kill him in his crib, and to this day, I am not sure if I succeeded or he just peed himself"_ I sent an assassin to assassinate him to test his strength. I heard second hand from spies that when Ming had the killer weeping, Wang became angry and the next minute the man was gone – gone in as single wave of Wang's hand…just vanished the assassin.
The king shook at the words, the ministers about him shook, as though Wang was the real power behind the throne.
All of a sudden, Wang sneezed and exclaimed:
> "Fools… they keep repeating my name as though it were some sort of lullaby.
Returning to the council scene, the king added:
> "No one has a solid plan."
Another minister said:
> 'I have heard spies say that Wang brings up his sons in the mountains.'
The king replied:
> "Then he's already sped up their training,'' expressed one man.
The heir apparent Yang inquired:
> You said you had a plan, my king? "
The king answered with a wicked smile:
> "Imagine the kind of public relations disaster it will be if they see our proud sons frightened, or worse yet, bested by them Myung." They'll claim the Juan family got beat by some peasants."
Yang nodded:
> "I understand now."
The king grinned darkly:
> "Good. I need you to take five assassins with you, Yang. You woke up a bloodline of an almost-rank- General for me, so you are fit for this task."
The king continued:
> "Focus on Ming or Wong. Once Wang learns Yang was with us, he won't kill us — he took an oath never to kill royalty or turn against the crown."
> "We'll bash him with a sealing strike which will temporarily lock his energy. Then we'll expel the Myung clan from the kingdom and put them to the sword with the military."
Yang said:
> "I want Ming's core."
Rong added:
> "And I want Wong's."
The King answered with an evil grin:
> "Fine. You will each carry an Emperor level core. I will pay you whatever reward you desire."
Yang said:
> "Then I want that face of Mina's with the very white skin and red blue eyes that I never saw their like.
The king laughed:
> "You shall have it."
---
Two days later, Wang addressed his sons.
> "Focus on your training. Come to the level of Mind Opening and I will give you it as a prize.
Just before they walked out, Wang stopped Ming:
> "Ming, come here. You are excellent at making poems… You will give me a verse on love and I will grant a Cloud Crystal for it."
Ming nodded and recited:
> " 'If ever the stars spoke your name,
And the very Sea confess its perjury,-
The world would put up for you punt
But I, I would still believe you."
Then Wang was struck by the talent of his own son, a son he had never seen, and he gave the boy a dagger:
> "Take this. You've earned it."
Ming thanked him and left. Wang turned and said:
> "I should tell Mina."
Ming ran to Mina and said:
> Father listened to the poem... He gave me what he liked. Now let me take what I want."
Wong asked:
> "What did he give you?"
Ming replied:
> "A dagger. It's clearly not ordinary."
---
Yang was observing them from a distant training mountain, and whispered when they arrived:
> "Assassins, prepare."
They made an unexpected attack. Wong shouted:
> "Ming, behind you!"
Ming moved quickly and avoided it, and Yang used the momentum of his slashing motion to send his arm around, aiming the dagger at Wong. Distracted, the ball hit Wong on the leg and he started to bleed.
Ming's fury ignited:
> "And so… today is the day you will die."
Yang mocked:
> "What power? You're nothing!"
Suddenly a voice sounded in Ming's head—a memory of who he once was:
Don't die as a coward. Live as a king."
Ming's aura exploded. Quick as a snake, he whipped out his dagger and slit three throats in a heartbeat. Darkness radiated around him.
> "You little mantises." he snarls, "never wake a sleeping dragon. He will sweep away your whole nest.
Yang felt overwhelmed by the pressure, and she buckled. Ming materialized before him, snatched his finger and broke it.
> "Yang… I know those eyes. The Myung family will get their revenge. Now run."
Yang ran in terror and the final assailant attempted to flee as well. But Ming tossed a dagger clean into the spy's forehead.
After that he picked up Wong and, taking him on his back down the slope, started racing toward the Myung Palace.
They gasped in shock when they got there, at Wong's condition.
Wang said in shock and disbelief.
> "Who did this?!"
Ming replied coldly:
> The king is playing.
Wang clenched his fists:
> "I promised myself I'd never kill royal —" "A man must have a code. I bet you I'll break that hand myself."
To be continued