12 Recovery (2)

After a long while of deliberation, Leto came up with a simple method of ridding himself of the worms.

For the following days, those who saw him thought he was acting eccentrically.

His weird behavior was shown in his actions. He got up early, barely past midnight and went to the hilltop in front of the palace. There, he always did some weird exercises, which was so slow and harmonious, it lacked any form of strength.

To those, who've seen him, they felt it was strange. They didn't even take his 'exercise' seriously, as they thought it was just a waste of time, as they've never seen such sloppy exercise. Some servants and even his family secretly thought he was crazy.

''Big brother, what are you doing?'' A younger sibling of his asked on day 5 of his unusual practice.

Leto didn't even seem to hear him as he continued his thing.

The young boy blinked curiously, observing his movements as he didn't get an answer. He called several more times, but Leto seemed to be too absorbed in his practice.

The boy was disappointed and naughtily tried to disturb him in various ways, which still didn't work. He wanted to shake him, but knowing he was the future heir, he hesitated, afraid to offend him. He and his mother would have to depend on him in the future, after all.

Leto straightened his body and exhaled, finishing the exercise. As daybreak just arrived, the sun didn't give much warmth, so it was kind of cold.

''So, what have you been going on about for a while now? Is there anything?'' Leto asked with a frown.

''Oh, you noticed me?'' The boy yelped in surprise.

''Of course, but I couldn't abandon my practice, sorry about that.'' Leto rubbed the back of his still bald head, while secretly trying to remember the name of his sibling. He had many siblings, all younger him, as he was the eldest son from Gile's first wife, Maria, his mother who passed away giving birth to him.

''Uh, umm, sorry for disturbing you.'' The boy bowed, feeling he had done something wrong.

''It's fine. So, is there anything?''

''Oh, uh, I was just curious...and, and...''

''What is it?'' Leto realized he had something to say.

''Rudolph threw a tantrum yesterday. Father's out. Third mother and others didn't step in.''

''Him..? What's the situation?'' Leto inquired while trying to recall who Rudolph was.

''He, he said...Leto's not worthy to be the heir. He said a lot of bad things too. He's challenging you right now as we speak.'' He explained nervously.

Leto winced as he remembered Rudolph's profile.

Rudolph was Stella's younger brother with less than 1 years age gap. He was 13 years old.

Former Leto didn't have much contact with him, just bits of memory of their coincidental meetings, which ended with neither side speaking with each other. Rudolph had an air of hostility to him, but he didn't show it much, so former Leto considered it his character, so he didn't mind him much.

''Alright, let's go.''

Nodding, the boy led the way.

As they stepped into the courtyard, Leto noticed a small crowd, which consisted of his step-mothers, younger siblings and other older relatives. Rudolph was standing in the middle and shouting something. He seemed to be talking about him too.

''Is nobody concerned about the fate of our family? He has no capability to manage the family. He's weak! He can't protect us. He's a lunatic! He can't lead us. He...''

''Rudolph, you..!'' Stella was so angry, but she didn't know how to scold him. She knew how hard his younger brother worked. She knew about his ambitions, but she thought it was a good thing, that he would become more reliable.

She didn't expect him to show his fangs so early and so spitefully too. Looking at her younger brother's fierce and determined expression, she suddenly couldn't recognize him anymore.

''Listen, brother, what you're doing is wro...'' Before she could finish speaking her mind, Rudolph interrupted him.

''No, you listen to me! Outside seniority, he has nothing, neither power, brains nor the drive. He's unfit for this role. I, on the other hand, am well learned, and my world vision is wide. I'm destined to not be mediocre and die in this piece of limited land. I have reached the 2nd level of body tempering at such a young age. I can lead you all to the wider sky. Can he do that?''

Murmurings arose from the people. Evidently, they were swayed. They weren't angry at him indirectly calling them shortsighted, as the temptation of a better future made them hesitate. His last rhetorical question made them deepen the doubt about Leto's competence, which always existed.

Even Stella couldn't find words to refute him, as deep in her heart, she never thought Leto had the ability to be the heir of their family.

''Wow, someone's blowing his trumpet too much. Aren't you afraid you'll bite your tongue, huh, younger bro?'' A lazy voice caught everyone's attention.

''Leto!'' Someone exclaimed.

''Good, you're there.'' Rudolph showed a vicious, satisfied smile. Despite his young age, he was quite robust and not so innocent looking.

''Is that how you speak to your seniors? Didn't elders teach you, speaking behind someone's back is rude?'' Leto stepped into the courtyard with a slight smile on his face. His hands were clasped behind his back.

''You! You aren't qualified to lecture me, weakling.'' Rudolph called out angrily.

Leto suddenly felt funny, realizing how much forethought and effort Rudolph must have put to make this leap. If it was former Leto, Rudolph would have succeeded in pulling him down, but this would no longer be the case. He, Calamity wouldn't allow it, as he was now Leto, and Leto was him.

He didn't care about becoming a family head or whatnot, but he refused to be beaten by his younger sibling, which would shame him for life. For a man such as him, dignity was extremely important.

''Seniors, it seems my younger brother is causing mischief. Don't condemn me if I teach him a lesson and rough him up a bit.'' Leto slightly bowed to his seniors humbly. In return, they looked at him weirdly.

'Teach him a lesson? Is this kid dreaming? Sigh, seems he really has a few screw looses. Indeed, such a young man mustn't inherit the family head's seat, else we'll be seriously doomed!' The elderly relative of his grumbled in his heart but didn't voice out his opinion.

''Go ahead, child. Just don't hurt each other.'' The second mother smiled mildly.

''You too, mother?!'' Stella looked at her own mother's kind natured smile with disbelief.

She realized, her own mother wasn't against this. She might have even instigated Rudolph and schemed against Leto! Stella felt so cheated as she only realized it now.

''Haha, teach me a lesson? Not qualified. You forced my hand.'' Rudolph laughed and charged at him with a raised fist.

Leto maintained his smile and just stood there.

Seeing him standing motionless, people sighed and shook their heads in disappointment.

Leto had never trained and he was 15 years old, while Rudolph was at the 2nd level of body tempering at 13 years of age already!

The difference was too obvious. Yet, Leto just stood there, waiting for Rudolph to beat him up after bragging about thrashing him. What could be more ridiculous than this? People seriously doubted his intellect.

Rudolph sneered, seeing Leto not react to such an obvious attack. He looked down on him even more.

Meanwhile, Leto suddenly lifted his hand, his open palm about to meet the full force of Rudolph's punch.

''Don't hurt him!'' Stella shrieked. Some younger siblings of his stared at the two timidly with an anxious heart.

The adults didn't stop them, however. Two tigers couldn't live in the same mountain. The leader's position had to be decided!

The fist struck with an impact, but the expected sound of Leto's bones snapping didn't ring.

''H...huh?'' Rudolph's fist was stopped by Leto's palm.

'But how is this possible?' The elder rubbed his eyes, not believing what he was seeing.

'Huh? Are my eyes deceiving me?'

'What's happening? Why wasn't he beaten?'

Everyone stared at the duo with incredulous expressions. Rudolph froze as he stared at him dumbly with mouth agape.

Suddenly, Leto closed his palm, clutched his fist and threw Rudolph over his shoulder, who fell down on his back with a thud and spat some blood.

''My child!'' The second mother shrieked, seeing her son beaten down. She intended to run to him to see his condition, but Rudolph stood up on his own while wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.

An elder stopped the frantic second mother, who glared at Leto venomously, her thoughts unknown.

''H, how?! How is this possible?!'' Rudolph growled with crazy expression.

''Sheeh and you guys still call me crazy. Ridiculous.'' Leto shrugged, disdained to even explain.

''Impossible, I've never seen you train!'' Someone exclaimed.

''What? Weren't you guys discussing how this crazy me was practicing on top of the hill every morning? If it's not a practice, then what is?'' Leto felt amused, looking at the dumbfounded crowd.

''Sigh, alright, let me explain. Some people are strong, no? But everyone gets old. They get weaker and weaker before their life extinguishes completely. Still, some people who used to be strong in their youth might even have trouble walking in advanced ages, but they still retain some or sometimes even most part of their power. Why is that?''

The people sank in their thoughts, but couldn't find the answer. They looked at each other, only to notice more puzzlement in them. In the end, they stared at Leto, expecting the answer.

''Indeed. My grandpa was so feeble before he passed away, but once, he got angry and struck my chest. It took me a whole month to heal. It still puzzles me.'' Middle-aged uncle nodded and stared at Leto expectantly.

''The reason is simple.'' Leto rubbed his nose. ''When body ages, physical strength deteriorates, but internal energy remains.''

''Internal energy?'' That middle-aged man's eyes lit up.

''That's right. People unknowingly gather a little amount of it the more they train, but it's hard to detect, as it doesn't have clear form, so the most don't know how to use it or whether they have it or not. No, in the first place, they are not aware of its existence.''

''You...then, what you used right now...'' The fifth mother almost shrieked in surprise, as she trembled.

''That's right. I know how to train internal energy. Don't ask me how. The ancient book I learned it from has long since turned into dust, as it was so old.'' Leto nodded and made up excuses before they could even ask.

Now, everyone looked at him with a new light. They weren't so biased against him anymore. Was this the useless young master they were speaking about?

''I refuse! You cheated! Bastard. Fight me fair and square!'' Rudolph roared fiercely, staring at him hard with his bloodshot eyes, seemingly wanting to devour him alive.

Leto chuckled as he mockingly stared at disheveled Rudolph. ''Fair and square? Tell this to the enemy who will strike when you least expect. Tell this to the enemy who captures someone you hold dear as a hostage. Tell this to the enemy who ambushes when you're injured.''

Leto's expression strangely twisted as suffocating bloodlust around him made the air heavy. He slowly walked towards Rudolph with hands behind his back, while speaking.

For the first time, Rudolph felt terrified. His legs grew weak as he was absorbed in Leto's abyss-like eyes.

The crowd felt like they lost the ability to speak. Some wanted to say something, but they felt like choking. They looked at the bald young man with eyes full of dread.

''You are worth nothing. Your ambition without strength is just laughable. You grew sheltered. You know nothing of human's treachery. You know nothing of beast's viciousness. You don't know the value of your and others' life.'' His every step suffocated Rudolph, who took a step back in fear, and again, and again before he stumbled.

''Ah~'' He shouted, appearing to have lost his mind.

''You are pathetic, brother. Your ambition is your greatest asset, as, as you said, you were destined to be extraordinary the moment you realized, there's no limit to the sky, but...''

The fierce aura around him suddenly vanished as he held out his hand to help him up.

''Just because you know, doesn't mean you can, doesn't mean you're invincible. This arrogance will one day be the cause of your and our downfall, even if you replace me. Now, tell me, if you couldn't even beat this useless brother of yours...just what can you achieve?'' Rudolph froze as his eyes contracted.

A few moments later, he stopped trembling. Closing his eyes, he grabbed Leto's hand and stood up with his help.

''I get it. I couldn't have seen my shortcomings without you, brother. I'll leave everyone to you. Don't let anything happen to them until I come back, or I'll kill you!'' He passed by him with a serene expression.

''Of course.'' Leto laughed contentedly.

The conflict concluded in this strange manner.

Leto continued practicing in the following days, but there was a small change. Now, the younger generation, mostly his siblings were training alongside him.

There were some, who picked up after him easily and some, who didn't understand, but everyone put in the effort, inspired by him from the other day.

Leto couldn't be happier. He loved the feeling of caring about others, especially family, the family that he lacked in his previous life.

Now, he wasn't like a drifting leaf without a purpose anymore. He had the place he could call home, and before he realized, he treasured it a lot.

Rudolph left home to seek what he lacked the most, experience, so that one day, he would beat Leto and take his position to lead the family.

And so, in this manner, the days passed peacefully.