Page 98 of Sweet Dominion

Moni blinked. “Jo, would you relax?”

I spoke, “You’re correct, Jo.”

They both went silent and looked at me.

I watched as Jo slowly lowered her finger. The fire in her eyes dimmed just slightly.

It was not a victory, but it was a shift. I was pretty sure she had expected me to push back, to assert my dominance. Instead, I had shown her that I was willing to listen and understand.

Now what do I say?

The situation had escalated quickly, far more quickly than I had anticipated. I could still feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy, as Jo’s aggravated words echoed in my mind.

Her defiance was a challenge—a challenge not of the physical kind, but one rooted deep in the complexities of human emotion and familial loyalty.

In the heat of that moment, when Jo had pointed at my chest, her eyes blazed with protectiveness for her sister. Therefore, here I was again for the second time today, reminding myself of Sun Tzu’s teachings.

Know your enemy and know yourself and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

Jo was not my enemy, but her hostility toward me was a barrier, an obstacle that I needed to navigate with care and precision.

This was not a battle of weapons but of wills.

Of hearts.

I had to understand her position, her fears, and her motivations if I were to have any hope of overcoming this challenge.

All warfare is based on deception.

Deception here did not mean lies, but the ability to present oneself in a way that disarmed suspicion and hostility.

Jo expected me to be a domineering force, to use my position and power to control her. I could see it in Jo’s eyes, the way she braced herself for a fight, expecting me to impose my will upon her.

But I would not give her what she expected.

Instead, I had to approach this with humility, with understanding. I had to show her that I was not here to take Moni away from her family, but to become part of it.

This was a battle of perceptions and I needed to change hers.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Subduing Jo’s hostility without engaging in a direct confrontation required patience, restraint, and. . .most importantly, respect.

I could not allow my own pride or position as the Mountain Master to dictate my actions. This was not about proving my strength or authority; it was about building trust and creating a bond that would withstand the trials ahead.

Wait a minute.

This odd, twisted sensation surged through me.

I’m fucking thinking like my father. Jesus Christ.

I tensed.

Is that bad or good?

They watched me.

I cleared my throat. “Like I said, you are correct.”

---