Chapter 10
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"Second: One is not allowed to reveal or display their true strength to anyone."
He paused briefly, as if recalling a distant past, before speaking again.
"This rule… was personally emphasized by Master Alok himself," the old butler said, lowering his gaze slightly. "He understood the nature of power better than anyone. Power attracts greed, envy, and fear. If the world were to discover the true capabilities of the Ashbound bloodline, it would not bring admiration… but calamity."
He took a slow breath.
"Master Alok did not wish for his descendants to live their lives under constant threat—hunted, studied, or even worshipped as anomalies. By hiding your strength, you hide your existence from those who would seek to exploit it. In secrecy… lies survival."
His eyes lifted toward Ansh.
"Young Master, in this world, the most dangerous weapon is not power itself… but the knowledge of its existence."
After a brief silence, he continued.
"Third: Every descendant must wear the family pendant at all times. It cannot be removed and must be passed down to their successor when they turn eighteen. It must be protected at all costs."
"I believe… the Young Master already understands the reason behind this rule. Better than me"
The butler's expression soon turned serious again.
"Fourth: No one is allowed to sell the family mansion, and every descendant must live here."
He slowly turned his head, glancing at the vast estate around them, as though seeing beyond its walls.
"This mansion is not just a residence—it is a fortress of secrets. Master Alok personally instructed me to oversee the construction of a hidden underground facility beneath this estate. A place where members could train By me… away from prying eyes."
His voice grew firmer.
"If this mansion were ever sold, or abandoned, the hidden chambers beneath could be discovered. And if that were to happen… the truth of the Ashbound lineage would no longer remain a secret."
He turned back toward Ansh.
"That… is a risk Master Alok was never willing to take."
A moment of hesitation followed before he spoke again.
"Fifth: No one is allowed to tame, adopt, or keep any kind of animal."
For the first time, the old butler showed uncertainty. His brows furrowed ever so slightly.
"…This rule, I must admit, was never explained to me. Master Alok gave the order, but did not reveal his reasoning. And I… did not dare to question him."
Silence lingered.
Ansh's eyes narrowed slightly as a thought surfaced in his mind—a quiet, unsettling realization.
Animals lived shorter lives than humans.
If an animal stayed long enough with the Ashbound family… it would eventually die.
And if the Ancestor said were true—if their bloodline truly possessed the ability to bind wandering spirits…
Then those very animals… could return.
Not as companions.
But as a Spirit beast.
And since a great grandfather doesn't want anyone to know about anything related to the Ashbound Family, It was his best choice to develop this rule.
Ansh exhaled slowly, his gaze darkening.
"…So that's why."
The old butler did not respond. But the faint shift in his expression was enough to confirm that the Young Master had reached the truth… one perhaps even Master Alok had foreseen long ago.
And in that moment, the rules no longer felt like restrictions.
They felt like warnings.
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After a moment, Ansh spoke again.
"Since you mentioned that my great-grandfather instructed you to train personnel… how many did you train?"
The answer came without hesitation.
"Fifty."
Ansh frowned slightly. "Only fifty?"
A calm smile appeared on the old man's face.
"Young Master… these are not ordinary men."
He stepped forward.
"Each one was personally chosen by me—not just for talent, but for loyalty and character. They are all orphans… individuals who had nothing, no one to rely on."
His voice softened slightly.
"To them, this family is not a master—it is their home."
Ansh remained silent.
"They have no ties to the outside world. No reason to betray us. I can assure you… each one of them would give their life without hesitation."
Then his tone shifted.
"And more importantly…"
"They have all been trained in the Eight Body Trigram."
Ansh's eyes sharpened.
"What is this Eight Body Trigram?"
The old butler straightened slightly.
"It is not a mystical art, nor some supernatural technique," he explained. "It is a system—a method designed to remove the natural limiters of the human body."
"Limiters?" Ansh asked.
"Yes. The human body is capable of far more than it allows. To protect itself, it restricts strength, speed, endurance—even perception. Without those limits, the body would destroy itself."
He continued,
"The Eight Body Trigram safely removes those restrictions, step by step."
He raised his hand, counting each set.
"First Trigram — Muscular Release: Unlocks greater muscle usage, increasing strength without added mass."
"Second Trigram — Bone Reinforcement: Strengthens the skeletal structure to withstand increased force."
"Third Trigram — Tendon and Ligament Conditioning: Enhances flexibility and explosive movement."
"Fourth Trigram — Cardiovascular Expansion: Improves stamina, endurance, and recovery."
"Fifth Trigram — Neural Acceleration: Increases reflexes and reaction speed."
"Sixth Trigram — Sensory Enhancement: Sharpens the five senses to their peak human limits."
"Seventh Trigram — Pain Control: Trains the mind to endure and regulate pain."
"Eighth Trigram — Cognitive Focus: Perfects mental clarity, awareness, and decision-making under pressure."
He lowered his hand.
"It is not about gaining something new… but becoming what a human body is already capable of."
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Ansh absorbed every word.
Then he asked,
"Have all of them mastered every set?"
The old butler smiled bitterly.
"If only it were that easy."
His voice grew heavy.
"Each step comes with immense pain. The body is pushed beyond its limits—muscles tear, nerves burn, bones feel as though they are breaking from within."
"And if someone stops midway… they fail."
Ansh's expression tightened.
"They must rest for five to six days before attempting again. The toll is severe."
He continued,
"To truly cross one trigram, a person must endure the full set at least three times."
A pause.
"And even now… no one has reached the Eighth Trigram."
He began listing their progress.
"Thirty have reached the Third Trigram. They can easily defeat two opponents… and hold their own against three."
"A few are close to the Fourth."
"Eleven have reached the Fourth Trigram—capable of handling three opponents with certainty."
"Five have reached the Fifth Trigram—able to defeat four enemies."
"Three have reached the Sixth Trigram—strong enough to handle six."
"And only one… has reached the Seventh Trigram."
Ansh's breath slowed.
"At that level… even ten opponents are not a threat."
Silence followed.
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Ansh then asked,
"And you?"
The old man looked away briefly.
"You haven't reached the Eighth?"
After a pause, he replied,
"It is not that I cannot."
His voice was calm.
"I am confident… that I can reach it."
"Then why haven't you?" Ansh pressed.
The old man met his gaze.
"Because the cost is too great."
"The Eighth Trigram places unbearable strain on the body. There is a high chance I may lose consciousness… or be unable to move for several days."
A brief silence.
"And in that time…"
"…I would be powerless."
He bowed his head slightly.
"My duty is to protect you, Young Master. If I lose my strength—even for a single day—I would be failing Master Alok's command."
His fists clenched faintly.
"That is a risk… I cannot take."
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The room fell silent.
Ansh understood.
This was not fear.
This was responsibility.
A man standing at the edge of ultimate power… choosing restraint.
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Ansh's gaze hardened, a quiet resolve forming within him.
"Then I'll reach it," he said.
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The old butler looked at him.
For the first time—
there was no hesitation in his eyes.
Only certainty.
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And in that moment, something shifted.
The heir of the Ashbound family had finally taken his first step.