"Now that I tell you the story of our ancestor, let us proceed with these things." The patriarch pointed at three things on the table.
"This ladle was made with a special kind of stone, it will away point to the north. This block of woods is the ancient alphabet we used, you blushed it with ink then put it on the paper. This is the fire drug that can explode." The patriarch explained but Nezha did not truly listen, because Nezha knew that what these things were from the start.
"Patriarch! I have a question?"
"Go on."
"If you have this gunpowder, no, black powder why don't you fight back. Is'nt this the time to use it?"
"Black powder? Well, it true that it was black. Let's called it black powder instead of fire drug from now. As for your question, there were many reasons but I think the most critical ones was my own incompetent."
"Patriarch…" Nezha did not refute, the patriarch was right. If it was him he would do something else, not waiting for the other side to completely surround the mountain like this. The patriarch should surrender from the start or ran away if the odd was too much.
"I could not make a decision and I was too loose with my people, I knew about the corruption in our clan yet I did not punish your fa… my third son. And for the matter with the empire, my hesitant did not cost only my life but other people too. There was no room for winning and I should surrender, but I could not. Do you know why?"
Nezha nodded.
"I knew I was incompetent to be a leader as I was indecisive, but I was not a fool and stubborn when I completely aware of a difference in power. However, the opponent was my nemesis, he killed my father and uncles. Everyone could surrender but not me!"
"…"
"My regret was that I brought my kin down with me. But it was not like God had abandoned us, we got 2000 reinforcements."
"But the enemy still outnumber us by far, I don't see any difference between 1000 and 3000 against 100000. Even if we were mostly magicians, I don't think we have any chance of winning. First young master was right in his own way, at most we can get a glorious death."
"That's not true, there was a secret escape passage in this room. See that door, that was your chance to survive." The patriarch slightly smiled at Nezha, he then took out the jade ring on his right hand and gave it to Nezha.
"Patriarch! This is the patriarch's ring, why would you give it to me!"
"I don't ask much from you, I know you hate this place. All I want from you is just for you to lead them to somewhere safe. The exit should be outside the enemy's wall and there would not be much danger, but they are young and still need someone to become a leader."
"Patriarch, what's about the other people? There are first young master and second young master." Nezha talked about the first and second sons of the patriarch, he happened that there was an escape route but he did not want to do anything with this sect.
"No, only the young people will escape. All of you will escape tonight, while we will be here until the food runs out and when the time comes I will ignite all the black powder and destroy every evidence that could tell about the real number of deaths. No one would know if 100 or 200 persons were gone, just from looking at the scattered flesh and blood. The most of the long-lived provisions and the gold are ready for you and the others to escape and survive in the outside world, jewelry was not included as we need it for the empire loot to ease their curiosity."
"Patri…Grandfather." Nezha mental age was already at a middle age so he did not worry much about honorific with the elder and did not care for seniority, only those like his mother was good enough for him to respect. This patriarch may be a good grandfather loved by every youngling in the clan but not for him who was under mistreat from the start. It was at this time that he finally called the man as a grandfather.
"I don't want you to revenge, just go on and live your life. If you want to abandon them after you reach a safe place then do it. Also what you want to do with the three technologies, It will be your decisions."
"Grandfather, Is the emperor that strong?" Nezha knew only the name David and only a rumor but he did not know much, he wanted to know from his grandfather who saw David abilities at the ringside.
"Yes, unbelievably strong. This may be the last time for me to teach you magic, let me teach you something."
The patriarch then led Nezha to the outside, when they reached the outside the patriarch called the servants and ordered every youngling to gather at the hall in 3 minutes. He led Nezha to the room with paper and ink.
"Nezha, can you cast two magic at the same time?"
"No, grandfather."
"Try this." The patriarch then took two writing brush at the same time, wrote a circle with one hand and square with another hand.
"Yes, grandfather." However, Nezha can't draw two pictures at the same time.
"The principle is the same, look." The patriarch raised both his hand and cast water spell in the form of ice on the left and ball of fire on the right.
Nezha amazed at his grandfather skill, he knew that this grandfather of him was a capable magician but never thought of him much as the man afraid to challenge his enemy for a duel.
"In the case of some outstanding person, he or she can write an alphabet in one hand and making a calculation of simple math question with one hand at the same time. The guy name Woden former grandmaster of light tower was such a person. He can use both martial art and magic at the same time. But I won't recommend this, as most of the time you need to concentrate to cast a very powerful spell and put all control toward one point or put your concentrate to enhance the power of your limbs beyond the limit."
"What's about the emperor?"
"…It is different, that man was too much of extraordinary. Using this example, that man is capable of drawing a picture while calculating hard equation. Almost like he is not a human using both martial art and magic at the same time, besides all things he uses are the powerful ones in need of delicate control. That's why you don't need to revenge, I can't imagine anyone alive to fight him in a duel and win."
The two talked and did not notice that someone secretly went inside the secret room. The patriarch was careless forgetting to lock the door as he was happy with his favorite grandchildren calling him a grandfather for the first time, and this changed Nezha life forever.