A Dangerous Line
The "young rising stars" of the orthodox faction refer to the promising young martial artists belonging to prestigious groups like the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Clans. The expectations placed on these young martial artists, especially those from renowned clans or sects, are extraordinary. At prestigious events like the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, these rising stars compete against one another to showcase the underlying strength of their respective sects. It is essentially a grand display to boast, "The future of our sect is incredibly bright!"
If they achieve great results there, the elders of their sects or clans walk with their chests puffed out in pride, and the young martial artist who brought them such glory becomes an object of admiration for many. Indeed, if one looks at the countless heroic tales passed down like fairy tales—stories of defeating the devils of the unorthodox factions and the Demonic Cult—most of the protagonists were renowned rising stars of the orthodox sects. Any young master naturally harbors a secret hope in their heart that they might one day become the main character of such a legend.
What happens when these hot-blooded young martial artists hear the townspeople singing their praises, whispering things like, "I heard so-and-so is incredibly strong," or "Did you hear what title they received?" Naturally, most talented rising stars of the orthodox faction end up incredibly arrogant. Drunk on their own greatness, they act as if they are uniquely special entities. Of course, they are special, but as the saying goes, there is always a bigger fish.
There are young experts of the unorthodox factions who hone their skills in environments far more brutal, where life and death hang in the balance daily. There are also youth of the Demonic Cult who endure training akin to torture, sharpening their blades of vengeance against the Imperial Court and the Central Plains. Thus, the world is full of hidden geniuses who have yet to reveal themselves, as well as peers with far more practical experience. Consequently, the rising stars of the orthodox faction often make critical mistakes, intoxicated by their own abilities and fame.
This phenomenon occurs because, although they carry the immense burden of being called the "future of the martial world" on their shoulders, they do not truly understand the actual weight of that responsibility. They frequently forget that their every action could ultimately bring shame to the names of their masters, sects, or clan elders. Of course, if their blunders are within manageable limits, it can serve as a valuable learning experience. It is better to make mistakes in one's youth so as not to repeat them in old age.
Besides, the "mistakes" of these young masters usually amount to nothing more than picking street fights or throwing tantrums in taverns. However, a real problem arises when they pick a fight with a master or a powerful figure whom even the elders of the orthodox faction would not dare treat lightly. In such cases, things escalate rapidly. If the opponent is an influential figure in the Imperial Court, the matter can usually be settled with money—though the required sum is often outrageously exorbitant.
But what if they offend a powerful martial arts master? If a young orthodox rising star causes trouble without recognizing who they are dealing with, chances are high that the target is not part of the orthodox faction. After all, these rising stars are usually familiar with the masters of other orthodox sects and clans beyond their own. Therefore, a master provoked by these youngsters is highly likely to be an unorthodox martial artist. As everyone knows, those from the unorthodox path have survived a harsh, lawless world, and they are not soft-hearted. If someone harms them or offends their dignity, letting the offender off with a simple beating is considered highly merciful. If things go truly awry, they might just make the young star disappear without a trace, regardless of their status. Indeed, there are occasional cases where promising young masters meet an absurdly premature end in this exact manner.
In that regard, Jin Jong-gang, the rising star of the Guangdong Jin Clan who had just barged into the private room of the Suban-gaekjan, was currently teetering on the edge of an extremely dangerous line. Offending an unorthodox master was madness in itself, but to dare cause a scene in a room filled with the masters of the Blood Heaven Sect—an entity far more vicious and ruthless? Frankly, it would be a miracle if he walked out alive. Of course, neither Jin Jong-gang nor the other orthodox rising stars beside him had any inkling of this. Oblivious to the fact that he was standing right on the threshold of death, Jin Jong-gang continued to vent his frustration.
"Ahem! Even though rising stars of prestigious orthodox sects like us have arrived, we haven't received the proper hospitality we deserve. I merely lost my temper for a moment and committed a slight discourtesy!" He looked down upon Unwol's group with a condescending gaze. But when his eyes fell upon Biwol and Yeon So-o, a sinister, lustful glint crept into his eyes. It was boundlessly rude. And incredibly dangerous.
Biwol's hands turned a deadly, pale blue as her Sosu ice energy began to drift beneath the table. Lee Hak noticed this immediately. Given the circumstances, he sent her a message via sound transmission to calm her down.
-Not right now.
Biwol replied to Lee Hak with an irritated tone through her own transmission.
-But those bastards...
-Calm yourself. I will arrange a private meeting for you with them later. But not right now.
Of course, Lee Hak was not stopping her to save their lives. He fully intended to kill them. He simply meant that since there were too many eyes watching here, he would set up a proper stage for their demise later.
-Withdraw your Sosu demonic energy. If you act rashly, you might put Lord Blood Demon in an awkward position.
Even the usually playful Lee Hak was dead serious now. Having his pleasant time with the lord he served so absurdly interrupted was something even he could not tolerate. Though he maintained a smiling face on the outside, his mind was racing with calculations on how to murder them without leaving any loose ends.
'There are plenty of mountains nearby, so disposing of the bodies will be easy. How should I do it to feel truly satisfied? Plucking out those narrow eyes of his might be quite a sight. Hehe. Once I gouge his eyes out, what will happen to that smug expression of his? I wonder if he'll weep or rage. Pfft.'
To look at Lee Hak, one would think he was a perfectly gentle and refined gentleman. But that was merely a mask crafted to thoroughly conceal his cruel and sadistic nature. Biwol simply killed anyone who got in her or Unwol's way. While she could commit murder with ease, she did not do it for amusement. In this regard, Lee Hak was far more dangerous than Biwol. If the conditions, circumstances, and justification were met, he would gladly play with his victims slowly, with a smile on his face, only killing them once he grew bored.
The Blood Wolf Disciple, Lee Hak. Renowned even within the Blood Heaven Sect for his exceptional cruelty, he and his army of Jiangshis were always dispatched to hunt down traitors, deserters, and the sect's primary enemies. Once he was on the hunt, his targets could not die even if they wanted to. When they were on the verge of breathing their last, he would turn them into Jiangshis to ensure they suffered for eternity. It started with his own family, and ever since, he had been collecting those who left a deep impression on him or amused him, turning them into Jiangshis like personal trophies. Therefore, one must never mistake him for a cheerful, good-natured man based solely on his smiling face and his sincere loyalty to Unwol. One must not forget that Lee Hak, too, was an executive of the Blood Heaven Sect. He might appear to be the most normal among them, but that was only because his mind was the most broken of all. He simply knew exactly how to hide his shattered psyche and pretend to be perfectly sane.
Having no way of knowing this, Jin Jong-gang of the Guangdong Jin Clan addressed Unwol and his companions in a slightly provocative tone. However, because of the presence of two stunning beauties, Biwol and Yeon So-o, his voice was significantly softer than before.
"Hmm, I don't believe we've met. I am Jin Jong-gang of the Guangdong Jin Clan. As you can see, we came to this inn to rest, but we found ourselves in a difficult spot as there were no tables left."
"Ah, Jin Jong-gang of the Guangdong Jin Clan."
Lee Hak spoke, covering his mouth with his folding fan. The boy had just revealed his affiliation and name to a dangerous demon. Since the Guangdong Jin Clan was isolated at the southern tip of the Central Plains, disposing of them would actually be quite simple. If Lee Hak's whims took a strange turn, the Guangdong Jin Clan could be transformed into a den of Jiangshis overnight. He pondered how to kill him in the most "entertaining" way.
Completely oblivious, Jin Jong-gang assumed Lee Hak and his group had frozen in fear upon hearing his name. He lifted his chin and smirked. At that moment, Chang-gung, the young Hainan Sect disciple standing beside him, spoke up hesitantly.
"Uh, Jong-gang. No matter the circumstances, isn't this a bit too rude?"
He was at least a sensible person. Chang-gung was also one of the highly anticipated rising stars, and he too possessed a fair share of overconfidence relative to his skills. However, due to the nature of the Hainan Sect—which, like the Guangdong Jin Clan, was practically an outer-realm sect isolated on a southern island—he had been strictly disciplined by his elders and knew the bare minimum of etiquette.
Just then, a young man dressed in luxurious blue robes standing next to Jin Jong-gang turned his head slightly and locked eyes with Yeon So-o.
"Oh? Yeon So-o?"
"...Namgung Man?"
Namgung Man was the eldest son of the Namgung Clan, a young master known as the "Jade-Faced Noble Son" thanks to his striking good looks. Leveraging his handsome face and powerful family background, he constantly seduced women. He was so notoriously promiscuous with his admirers that he even carried the unofficial moniker of "Lustful Demon."
"To think I would run into you here."
"..."
An uncomfortable expression instantly clouded Yeon So-o's face. In contrast, Namgung Man's eyes swept up and down her body with a sleazy, lingering gaze. As the one possessing the most balanced and athletic physique among the Five Flowers of the Martial World, Yeon So-o perfectly matched Namgung Man's tastes, and he had been eyeing her for a long time.
"My lady, I never expected to meet you in a place like this. Have you been well—hm?"
At that moment, Namgung Man's gaze drifted to Biwol, who was sitting right next to Yeon So-o.
"...Gasp!"
He had always believed Yeon So-o was the pinnacle of beauty, but before him sat an even more flawless existence. Of course, her hips and chest were significantly more voluptuous than Yeon So-o's—which he hardly considered a flaw—but her face was so breathtakingly beautiful she could easily be mistaken for a heavenly maiden. Her pale skin and silver hair exuded an incredibly mystical aura, and her crimson eyes were utterly captivating. Having never seen such a stunning, perfect woman in his entire life, Namgung Man stared at Biwol, completely spellbound.
Then, Unwol, who was sitting next to the beauty, entered his field of vision. The moment Namgung Man saw him, his brow furrowed in spite of himself. He had never met another man who surpassed him in looks, yet the white-haired man before him was undeniably, vastly more handsome than he was.
'But don't they share a similar aura? They don't look like lovers... perhaps they're family? I certainly hope so.'
Since white hair was hardly common, the thought crossed his mind that they might be family members who had traveled together from the North Sea Ice Palace. As a tense silence stretched between them, Cheong Ong, the branch manager who could no longer bear the situation, spoke up. His face was flushed red with rage, and his entire body trembled as he slowly forced the words out.
"How dare you be so insolent! What is the meaning of this outrageous disruption?!"