Chương 9: Some Unruly Brats

Ren rarely fretted about doing something once he made up his mind. And he thought he was doing alright since his little chat with the Ancestor, which gave him what he lacked. Something to strive for. Carrying the dear memories and paying back their goodwill. And maybe inheriting my soul brother's mantle in the truest sense. He had steeled his heart for the first two, but inserting himself into a life he had no right to enter? Yeah, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing.

One minute, he leaned into immersing himself and pursuing a persona he never had. The next moment, he refused adamantly.

"Ugh, it seemed way easier on paper," Ren muttered in front of a huge, arched gate, hearing the hushed voices from inside. He tried to kill time and delay his arrival by inspecting the warrior carvings on the gate, yet he found them boring as he knew every one of them like the back of his hand. Hell, he could navigate around the arena blindfolded. It shouldn't be this hard. He had already faced the closest people he inherited other than his family. Then why… Because of 'fame'.

Such a funny, intangible thing shouldn't be so scary, right? But he couldn't help but feel a tight knot twisting in his stomach.

"Don't tell me you're scared of a few brats who are still wet behind their ears?" Ren felt her grip on his shoulder before her words. He rolled his eyes.

"Look who's talking, aren't you the one who dragged me here just not to embarrass yourself?" Baozhai smiled sweetly, though he noticed the flickering schadenfreude in her gaze.

"Be the stern elder brother, that's enough. Fun's heaven-guaranteed, what are you waiting for?" For you, of course, he shook his head. Despite that, he let her drag him. Being the wise, powerful elder? He didn't know anything about that. But just watching them sternly and acting like a scary, powerful elder brother. Now that Ren could do. Just think of it as another meeting with the investors. Stay silent mostly, and it'll end in the blink of an eye. He looked around the huge area.

And a slight change of scenery shouldn't be that bad. It didn't take long for him to find himself standing before a sea of blue-and-white robes— Mundane Peak's new recruits. Restless, loud, and radiating the pure energy of inexperience. The kind that asked too many questions and remembered none of the answers. The most troublesome batch.

"Greetings, senior sister! Senior brother!" A chorus of voices erupted as they all shouted at once. It feels already exhausting… Ren held back a wince.' Isn't this too much for a single instructor?' He threw a look at Baozhai, showing them. She only smiled and pointed at him.

'Aren't you here?' Ren didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the faith she had in him.

"Morning, junior brothers, sisters," Baozhai said, stepping forward. Her face turned stern, and it worked wonders as everyone quietened.

"We will be your instructors for building your first foundation. For that, I need absolute obedience. Don't make me repeat myself, as I hate to see one of you ruin your future just because of momentary greed or excitement. Cultivation isn't child's play. Nor is it the glorious way of living you think it is." She approached them, her steps slow and deliberate, her aura spilling out of her body.

"You think you'll be a hero? Then you'll die at the first step you take outside the sect boundaries. You wanna be admired by everyone and have a harem of yourself? Rule some no-name territory? You'll be torn between the claws of beasts in no time, or a fiend will happen to wander into your 'little kingdom'. It's not something extremely rare, after all. Let me tell you the result: you won't even leave a complete body to bury." She is a natural. Ren rubbed his chin, remembering his days in the army.

There was one drill sergeant everyone called a hell of a man, who could crush your pride with a glance. And yeah, he had torn into them just like this on their first day. I even miss that guy, especially after I found out he had a sweet tooth. Baozhai waited a little, inspecting their faces. Even some of the clueless ones had already begun to frown, their expressions slowly darkening. It might be a little cruel, as most of them were around fifteen, but he didn't interrupt.

"You might think I'm too cruel or I'm doing this just to break your morale, after all, you think you will obtain greater power in no time, or you will rise above everyone else even if you seemed to have low talent just as the legends you heard growing up," her lips curled up— a vicious smile that would've made even Ren uneasy had she directed it at him.

"But I'm only doing this to prepare you for the path you've set foot on. That," her aura fully flared to life, "is the reality of cultivation." Thanks to her 'heartening' speech, even the most fearless, hot-blooded teens went pale. A few at the front shifted uneasily and turned to him for confirmation, their gazes desperate. Though Ren pretended to be blind, he was just a little helper, someone who came just for the formality of it. And she wasn't wrong in warning them. You could be reading stolen content.

Head to the original site for the genuine story. Sorry, kids, but this is a dog-eat-dog world. You should just accept it and go on with your lives. He stood there with his arms crossed, gaze unmoving.

"I don't want you to overstate your abilities," Baozhai continued, reining her aura back to let them breathe.

"Cultivation is tough. Lonely. And it's definitely not a race. But it also makes you more than mere mortals. It grants you the means to transcend your shell and be something… more." She suddenly broke into sparks and appeared way over them, floating down gracefully.

"If you have any hesitations," her voice echoed, "then you can leave. Return to your abode. Someone will be there to help you return to your family. You can continue your mundane but mostly safe lives." She landed beside him, throwing a glance as though asking, 'How did I do?' Ren couldn't help but chuckle and flash a thumbs-up. She smiled sweetly. The ball's in your court, kids, even if the offer looks irresistible. His gaze swept them.

He could see their hesitations, fears, and even the fierce conflict they found themselves in. To think they'd be put in this position on the first day… it must be overwhelming as they remained silent. He also asked himself what he would do if he were in their place. Can I resist? The promise of immortality, the power of deciding your own fate. He furtively let out a sigh. I wouldn't be here if I could. Which was probably something he wouldn't regret. And just as he expected, nobody left.

A boy with curly hair from the front row raised his hand. He was tall for his age, though he looked like any wind could blow him away. Baozhai nodded at him.

"Our family already taught us these facts, Senior Sister." He stopped, probably because all the gazes had turned to him. Still, he didn't cower.

"They also assured us that the Supreme Judgment Sect isn't like the other sects. We learned everyone is one big family in here, but your style…" scratching his head, the boy seemed as though searching for the right words to avoid offending her, "resembles more like a Thronebonded sect's army drills." She opened her mouth in an instant, but Ren raised his hand as if saying 'let him finish' to her annoyance. She glared at him, but nodded for the boy to continue.

The boy furtively looked back and forth between them, then clicked his tongue as though he had already steeled his heart.

"I can't say I'm not disappointed. We aren't soldiers raised just for the benefit of the sect. And if I'm wrong, please enlighten me, seniors." Huh, so much for staying silent, Ren chuckled slightly, seeing Baozhai's hand slightly tremble. He stepped forward.

"I guess old habits die hard," he said, mustering a charismatic smile— at least he assumed it was.

"She grew up in a Thronebonded sect, so don't hold it against her. And no matter how cruel it sounded, she actually told the truth." He furtively tried to rub Baozhai's head, but was only answered with a harsh slap. Then he turned to the boy.

"You're daring, but also humble enough to know your place. What's your name, kiddo?"

"Liu Wenhai, senior brother," the boy answered, bowing his head and clasping his fists.

"I only said what I believed to be fair, after all, my family spent a lot of effort to enroll me here."

"Liu Family of the Goldensky City or Liu Clan of the Bloodbright Fortress?"

"Liu Clan of Bloodbright Fortress, senior brother. You might've heard my big brother, Bloody Asura Liu Zhenyan." Liu Wenhai's eyes glimmered with pride, though that only made Ren burst into laughter.

"That brainless barbarian— ahem," he quickly stopped himself, yet the deed was done.

"I mean, I didn't expect fearsome Bloody Asura had such a remarkable younger brother. Ahem. Yeah." Goodbye,'stern but insightful teacher' air… Liu Wenhai winced a little, but he still asked politely.

"You know my brother?" Ren scratched his chin, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. That burly man crying and clasping at his soul brother's legs, begging him to accompany him, lingered in his mind.

"Yeah, you can say so. We've clashed a few times, and it was fun. Let's hope he's learned to rein in that impulsive streak of his and you didn't inherit it as well." The more he thought about it, the more he found it funny that a tactless brute had such a frail and polite-looking brother. Liu Wenhai frowned slightly and narrowed his eyes.

"Strange, you are talking as if big bro is your junior, and you also look familiar… wait—" suddenly, he jumped forward with his bead-like eyes stretched so wide that they nearly popped out of his skull.

"You are The First Light of Judgment! The Eldest of Judgment! T-The living legend!" With his outburst, a huge ripple spread among the crowd. They were an energetic batch, of course, but even with that, Ren couldn't help but slap his forehead. Freaking hell, that's all it took for you to recognize me? But the die was already cast.

"What?! Eldest Sect Brother is our instructor?"

"Eldest Brother Ren! I'm your biggest fan!"

"Fuck off, I'm his biggest fan! I even fought with my parents just to come here."

"Hey, you blockheads, don't you have any shame! You act like you're little girls falling in love."

"Your sister! You think we can't tell you're practically drooling all over yourself, you shameless girl!" Some of them even started to chant:"Eldest brother! Eldest brother!"

"First to rise, last to fall!"

"Judgment's Light, we heed your call!" I… don't know what to say… Even though I knew he was very famous, I guess experiencing it firsthand is always different. Still, Ren glared at the chuckling Baozhai.

"Look at what you've done— happy now?"

"What?" Her expression shifted instantly, becoming a mask of innocence.

"I didn't do anything. I wasn't gonna introduce you, but you had to tease him and give yourself away."

"Don't lie, I can see your lips twitching."

"Believe that if it helps you sleep at night, hmph." She turned away, but not fast enough to hide her smirk from him. We play like this, huh? However, before he could even open his mouth, Liu Wenhai once again shouted, and the crowd quietened for a moment.

"Wait, guys!" He nodded as if confirming something to himself.

"I think I know who our other instructor is." She snapped around, eyes blazing with sparks, but it was too late as she couldn't react to how quickly Ren clasped his hands over her mouth, probably because she was too busy basking in her smugness. Encouraged by that, Liu Wenhai continued.

"Since she grew up in a Thronebonded sect and is close with Eldest Brother, she must be the Princess of Stormwhisperer! We got the most anticipated couple of the century as our instructors!

""WHAAAT?!" The uproar only heightened with this revelation, this time, girls taking the lead.

"I should've noticed it! I even have a painting of them from the time they crushed a budding tide in Newdawn Town, I'm such a fool."

"I can't believe I'm in such close proximity with the princess, ahhh, my heart can't handle such cuteness."

"Right, right! And look at them, they are too cute together!"

"They really suit each other."

"Dream couple, hell yeah!" Ren silently let go of her mouth, right before a ripple of pure electricity covered her body. He also made sure to spare the boy a glance full of pity. Sorry, kid, but even I can't save you…