World of Rules

... 

In the heart of the city, where majestic mansions stood tall, the Han Family’s palace loomed, surrounded by an aura of biting cold. This palace was different—not just in its grandeur, but in the unrelenting chill that filled its halls, as if it were trapped in an eternal winter.

Inside one of the chambers, darkness reigned supreme, and even the air itself seemed frozen. Everything within was covered in a thick layer of ice—the walls, the floor, even the furniture. At the center of the room sat an old man with hair as white as snow, though his beard remained as black as coal.

Slowly, the old man opened his eyes, and in that instant, the cold in the room turned vicious. The frost thickened, cracks spreading across the ice-covered ground, producing sharp, shattering sounds.

Throughout the palace, everyone felt it. Even the servants froze in their tracks, terror gripping their hearts. This was no ordinary chill—it was the fury of the Han Family’s Grand Elder.

Moments later, two men appeared outside the chamber. The first was tall and exuded strength and discipline, while the other was short and stout, yet no less fierce in his demeanor.

They stood before the ice-covered door, which slowly creaked open, revealing the old man stepping out with heavy steps, his expression seething with unmasked rage.

The two men immediately bowed deeply.

"Grand Elder!" the tall man spoke cautiously. "What has disturbed you at this hour?"

The old man’s piercing gaze bore into them, his voice as frigid as the ice around him.

"A rat has entered the forest palace."

The two men stiffened, instantly understanding the gravity of his words.

"The Moon Pearl?" the stout man blurted out in shock. "You mean someone is trying to steal it?"

"Fool!" the old man’s voice boomed like thunder. "It is not merely an attempt—he is already inside!"

The tall man clenched his fist in fury, while the stout man’s expression darkened.

"Who dares do such a thing?!" the tall man growled.

"They must either be insane or ignorant of the Han Family’s power!" the stout man gritted his teeth.

The old man’s expression remained eerily calm, but his words carried an ominous weight.

"Whether he knows or not… he will not leave alive."

No further words were needed. Within moments, the three figures stormed out of the palace, moving at unnatural speed towards the forest.

Their departure was anything but subtle—every person in the city felt their presence. The air grew colder, and the wind carried a chilling, oppressive aura. Even the strong among the populace could not suppress the fear creeping into their bones as they watched the Grand Elder and his men vanish into the night.

There was only one conclusion to be drawn:

A disaster was about to unfold.

---

Somewhere in the City

In the shadowed corner of an alley, a figure cloaked in a dark gray robe stood motionless, silently observing the scene before him.

No one noticed his presence, but he saw everything with clarity.

The Grand Elder of the Han Family, along with his two subordinates, had just left, moving with unnatural swiftness toward the forest. Their footsteps barely touched the ground, and with each stride, the air grew even colder, as if winter itself followed in their wake.

The cloaked man watched in silence before letting out a soft sigh, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Things are getting interesting..."

A moment later… he vanished.

---

In the Forest

Not far from the palace, two figures lurked within the shadows, their eyes fixed on the grand structure ahead.

Lian Family’s Patriarch and Mo Family’s Patriarch.

They had been in hiding since the beginning of the operation, carefully observing the situation and waiting for the return of the Xu Family’s Patriarch. But time had passed… and he had yet to come back.

The two men exchanged uneasy glances.

"He’s late," the Mo Patriarch murmured.

The Lian Patriarch narrowed his eyes at the palace.

"Perhaps he found something… or perhaps… something went wrong."

A tense silence filled the air, but anxiety slowly crept into their minds. They had no way of knowing what was happening inside the palace. The infiltration had been entrusted to the Xu Patriarch, and he was supposed to return as soon as he located the Moon Pearl. But now? Too much time had passed.

The Mo Patriarch furrowed his brows and said gravely,

"We should wait a little longer. We can’t risk entering without a plan."

But patience was not a trait the Lian Patriarch possessed. Greed burned within him like a wildfire, and with each passing moment, he felt as though the opportunity was slipping through his fingers.

"To hell with waiting!" he muttered, his voice low but filled with frustration. "If he’s in trouble, we’ll help him. If he’s not… I’ll take the Moon Pearl myself."

He clenched his fists, and without another word, he quietly advanced toward the palace.

The Mo Patriarch sighed, as if he had expected this. He watched the man for a brief moment before shaking his head slightly and following after him.

Unlike the Xu Patriarch, they lacked the skill of stealth. However, luck was on their side… no one saw them.

And so, while the Han Family’s powerhouses rapidly approached, the two men had already infiltrated the palace, unaware that the chaos was only beginning.

...