Grand Return System-Chapter 38: The Price of Arrogance

The Price of Arrogance

"Young Master... I’m afraid we’ve gotten into big trouble this time."

Color fled Elder Black’s face while he talked. Decades spent unwavering in the GrandMaster Realm meant nothing now - this man, once solid as stone for the Taylor family in Ashford City, seemed to float above sinking earth. Habit kept his spine rigid. Yet his shaky voice betrayed everything. The stillness cracked from within.

In front of a King realm expert—

Status meant nothing.

Titles, lineage, wealth... all of it was fragile glass before absolute strength.

Even the head of the Taylor family would hesitate before offending such a terrifying existence. Elder Black’s throat tightened. How had someone of this level appeared in a remote wasteland town like this? It made no sense. King realm experts were figures who shaped cities, who decided wars, who made lesser families kneel with a glance.

And that sword intent just now...

It wasn’t merely sharp.

It was annihilating.

It had swept over them like a silent storm, heavy and suffocating. The air itself had seemed to bow. Elder Black had felt it in his bones — a pressure so pure and refined that resisting it would have been like trying to hold back the ocean with bare hands.

Even the household head might struggle to endure that kind of force.

Too strong.

Far too strong.

Beside him, Harry Taylor’s face went deathly pale.

The arrogance from earlier had evaporated, leaving behind something raw and ugly — fear. He swallowed, but his mouth had gone dry. A moment ago, he had still believed he understood the situation. He had assessed Leon, weighed him, judged him.

He had been wrong.

Painfully wrong.

He had offended someone he should never have provoked.

Harry forced a stiff laugh, though it sounded hollow even to his own ears. "E-Elder Black... you’re exaggerating, aren’t you? He’s just one person."

Elder Black didn’t even look at him. His eyes remained fixed on Leon, wary, calculating, almost pleading.

"Young Master," he murmured under his breath, low enough that only Harry could hear, "lower your head."

Harry’s fingers curled into his palms.

Lower his head?

To a nobody from a backwater town?

A hot shame sat heavy behind his ribs. Yet the weight of that killing gaze stayed fixed in his mind - cold, silent pressure where a knife might lie.

Tension tightened his face.

Over by the tree, Leon waited without moving. Not a spark around him, not even a flicker of force in the air. Silence hung there instead - deeper than shouting ever could be.

A flick of his hand sent nothing scattering from the fabric, slow like he did not care. His arms moved without hurry, as if even pretending to clean tired him out.

Silence stretched.

It was unbearable.

Into the silence he moved, just slightly. Standing firm tugged at him, a shout inside demanding honor, yet deeper down, caution curled around better sense.

"Sir... earlier, perhaps there was a misunderstanding."

A whisper of motion shifted his head sideways, like a name half-remembered on the edge of speech.

A question mark hung in his tone - soft, nearly smiling.

Harry forced himself to continue. "If my words were improper, I can - "

Leon tilted his head slightly. "You really can?" he said, voice low.

Soft came the two words. Quietly they landed, like snow on grass.

Funny how something so quiet could cut just the same.

Faster than a drumroll, Harry’s pulse pounded loud. Raised under the Taylors’ shadow, he never knew life beyond their name. Others kept distance, eyes lowered. Some praised too much, too fast. Quiet power sat heavy on his shoulders.

It was the first time he’d felt so tiny.

Elder Black suddenly stepped forward and bowed slightly, his posture respectful but controlled. "Senior, my Young Master spoke rashly. It was our fault for failing to recognize Mount Tai."

He took the bitter pill without spitting it out. Staying alive mattered far more than saving face.

His eyes settled on Elder Black, watching quietly. The man showed no anger, nothing sharp in his face. But that calm - somehow it cut deeper.

"So," Leon said calmly, "you’ve realized it now."

Again the air thickened, despite him holding back every bit of aura.

Fingers clenched tight, Harry’s hands turned pale. Back came the things he’d said - teasing, warnings, tossing aside what mattered. One by one, those moments marched through his thoughts, ticking slow toward ruin.

What had possessed him to act so recklessly?

"Young Master Taylor," Leon said lightly, a faint teasing curve at the corner of his lips. "What were you saying just now? I wasn’t paying attention. Say it again?"

Harry’s heart nearly stopped.

Say it again?

He cursed violently in his mind.

Say your head! Are you pretending to be weak just to toy with me? Are you doing this on purpose? And you want me to repeat it? Do I look like an idiot? Since when did powerful experts enjoy playing pig to eat tiger like this?

Regret swallowed him whole.

Before leaving Ashford City, his father had warned him repeatedly. The Drake Empire and other Powerful Sects were mobilizing experts to quell the beast riot. He had been told to restrain himself — not to provoke anyone recklessly.

The Taylor family could not afford such consequences.

Harry had dismissed it as exaggeration.

Until now.

Standing amid the ruins of this shattered town, facing a young man who could erase him without lifting a blade—

He finally understood.

His father had been right.

Utter despair crept into his bones.

At first, he had thought Leon was a clown.

Now he realized—

He was the clown.

When will I ever rid myself of this filthy habit? Harry clenched his fists. How could an ordinary man possess a woman like that?

The thought burned in him.

And then—

He dropped to his knees.

With a dull thud. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Senior... I was blind and offended you. I beg you, spare my life. I am still young. I still have parents to care for."

Behind Leon, Selena couldn’t help it.

"Pfft—"

The sound slipped out before she could stop herself.

Her silver hair swayed softly in the smoky wind, blue eyes curved with amusement.

So this is what true strength feels like...

Teacher is too wicked.

But I like it.

She felt safe standing behind him.

Completely safe.

Leon looked down at Harry, mildly disappointed.

He had half-expected some resistance. Perhaps the fool would threaten him with his ancestors or household influence.

Instead—

This batch of spoiled sons truly lacked backbone.

"Looks like Young Master Taylor is quite filial," Leon said calmly. "Mm. Not bad. I admire people who are devoted to their parents. Fine. I won’t argue with you this time."

Harry nearly wept with relief.

He could breathe again.

He had survived.

But before his heart could fully settle—

Leon added casually,

"When I have time, I’ll personally make a trip to the Taylor family in Ashford City... and see just how filial Young Master Taylor truly is."

"What—?!"

Harry collapsed back onto the ground as though struck.

His mind went blank.

Leon’s smile deepened slightly.

"Young Master Taylor, you’d better not lie to me. If I visit the Taylor family and find things are not as you said..." His voice turned soft — too soft. "Then it means you lied to me."

A pause.

"I dislike liars."

His gaze cooled.

"Normally, I use extraordinary methods to slowly torture such people to death."

The air grew colder than winter.

Harry’s blood froze.

He was finished.

Completely finished.

Behind Leon, Selena covered her lips, shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.

This was the first time she had seen this side of her teacher.

Calm.

Gentle.

Utterly merciless.

These few sentences alone would haunt Harry for the rest of his life. He would never know when Leon might appear at the Taylor household.

Even if he wanted to fake filial piety—

He couldn’t risk it.

He would have to live like a devoted son.

Every single day.

"Alright, Young Master Taylor," Leon said lightly, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. "If there’s nothing else, hurry back and be filial to your parents."

Harry didn’t dare respond.

He scrambled to his feet and fled, stumbling across broken stone and ash. Only after running far enough that Leon was no longer visible did he finally collapse against a shattered wall, breathing heavily.

"Damn it... damn it!" he muttered hoarsely. "I’m dead this time... I’m really dead..."

Elder Black approached slowly, his expression grave.

"Young Master... I advise you to do exactly as he said."

Harry turned to him weakly.

"I felt it clearly," Elder Black continued, voice low. "His aura... it is more terrifying than the household head’s. And that sword intent... even a sage Realm expert may not be his opponent."

He exhaled slowly.

"This time... you truly offended someone you cannot afford to offend."

Harry closed his eyes.

Normally, Elder Black never exaggerated.

If he said the man was terrifying—

Then he was beyond terrifying.

And somewhere behind them, amid drifting smoke and shattered stone—

Leon simply turned away, as though nothing significant had occurred.