Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan hadn't yet decided whether to flee when the Mad Daoist returned.
Well, that settles it, he thought. No need to agonize over escaping now.
The Mad Daoist emerged from the forest, swigging greedily from his purple gourd with one hand while dragging an enormous, ape-like demonic beast with the other. The creature was easily three times the Mad Daoist's size, creating a truly shocking visual impact.
"What... is that?" Xu Sanyan licked his lips.
"Want some?" The Mad Daoist generously offered the gourd.
Xu Sanyan shook his head vigorously. "You drink, you drink."
Only then did he notice the gaping wound on the beast's neck, its black fur soaked in crimson blood that had spilled across the ground, forming a dark pool.
With a casual toss, the Mad Daoist lodged the gourd into the wound. The demonic beast visibly withered, as if its life force were being drained away.
The Mad Daoist retrieved the gourd and staggered deeper into the forest.
Xu Sanyan strongly suspected the Mad Old Daoist had simply been out hunting, and he had merely stumbled upon the scene, unwittingly delivering himself as prey.
As dusk fell, Xu Sanyan was thoroughly disoriented, and the Mad Old Daoist was thoroughly drunk. With a sudden "thud," the old man collapsed onto the ground, waving vaguely at the looming Black Mountain ahead. "That's our Crimson Dragon Mountain," he mumbled. "Go on yourself. This old man needs a nap."
No sooner had the words left his lips than he began to snore, not a second wasted.
Xu Sanyan glanced around. Behind the central peak, two more rose on either side, forming a triangular formation that enclosed the main mountain like protective guardians.
Four peaks in total, perfectly corresponding to the Four Factions of the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect. The central peak, he surmised, must be the domain of the Sect Leader's faction.
Stealing a glance at the Mad Daoist, Xu Sanyan cautiously ventured up the mountain alone.
Halfway up, rustling sounds emerged from the shadows. Xu Sanyan halted, observed, and called out clearly, "I am Xu Sanyan, a new disciple of the Crimson Heart Faction. Greetings, Senior Brothers."
Two figures stepped from behind a tree. Xu Sanyan looked up to see them: one tall and gaunt with a pale, beardless face, the other as short as an infant with a face as dark as charcoal.
Standing side by side, the contrast between them was striking.
The tall, slender youth scrutinized Xu Sanyan for a moment, a glint of interest in his eyes. He delicately flicked his fingers through his temple hair, striking a feminine pose, and drawled in a soft, flirtatious voice, "Where's your identity token, darling?"
As he spoke, he licked his lips and fluttered his eyelashes, oozing coquettish charm.
Xu Sanyan felt a surge of disgust, but he kept his expression neutral. "I just joined the Holy Sect and haven't received my token yet. The Hall Master is resting at the foot of the mountain. Would you two care to accompany me?"
The short, dark-skinned companion, clearly uncomfortable with his partner's behavior, waved his hands dismissively. "Let's just go inside and get him a token at the Hall of Affairs. It'll save us trouble later."
"Thank you," Xu Sanyan said, clasping his hands in a polite bow.
The slender youth winked flirtatiously. "Next time, call me 'Senior Sister', hmm?"
Xu Sanyan pressed his lips together, too flustered to reply.
Once they were out of earshot, the slender youth whined, "Aww, why'd you interrupt? That little brother was so cute! He made my heart flutter."
"You tease! You can't keep your hands to yourself when you see someone pretty. Am I not enough for you...?"
"Stop it! What are you saying? You're the best, darling..."
Xu Sanyan overheard the conversation behind him, his young mind reeling from the shock. He understood and respected gay relationships, but at least the partners should be physically compatible, right? Judging by their proportions, the shorter one would probably need a stool just to reach...
Shaking his head to clear his mind, Xu Sanyan continued up the mountain path.
The peak was incredibly high, with a single winding trail leading to the summit. He hadn't encountered a single person along the way, confirming the Crimson Heart Faction's dwindling numbers.
Midway up the mountain, a flat plateau revealed several pavilion-like structures. Here, Xu Sanyan finally saw a few people, though none interacted with each other. They merely glanced at him as he passed, showing no interest in striking up a conversation.
Xu Sanyan looked up and spotted the Hall of Affairs among the buildings. He strode inside.
The Hall of Affairs housed more disciples than he'd expected—roughly a dozen—engaged in what sounded like mission assignments.
"Senior Brother, do you need assistance?" A young man approached Xu Sanyan as he surveyed the hall.
Xu Sanyan clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. "I'm not worthy of being called Senior Brother. I've just joined Crimson Dragon Mountain and am here to register for my identity token."
"Oh... ten Spirit Stones," the young man replied. Upon learning Xu Sanyan was a newcomer, his demeanor shifted abruptly to cold indifference.
"More money?" Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow.
"Hmph, do you want this done or not? If not, scram and don't waste my time," the youth said, turning to leave.
Xu Sanyan quickly grabbed him, pulled twenty Spirit Stones from his storage pouch, and said, "I'm new here and unfamiliar with the rules. Please accept the extra stones as an apology, Senior Brother. I hope you'll forgive my ignorance."
The youth's expression softened slightly. He flipped a token out of his pocket and tossed it to Xu Sanyan. "Ding-Class Cave Dwelling No. 27 is now yours."
"As a newcomer, may I ask what the sect's rules are?" Xu Sanyan inquired politely.
For the sake of the ten extra Spirit Stones, the youth reluctantly offered a few words of caution. "There aren't many rules. Disciples aren't allowed to fight within the sect grounds—that applies to ordinary disciples, of course."
Xu Sanyan nodded silently, understanding that powerful figures like the Hall Masters were exempt.
"Each month, you must complete mandatory tasks. If you fail, you can pay Spirit Stones to cover them. Again, this only applies to ordinary disciples."
Xu Sanyan blinked. This demonic sect doesn't seem so different from a Righteous Path sect after all.
It made perfect sense. Every organization, regardless of its nature, needed rules to maintain order; otherwise, chaos would reign.
If the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect had no rules, and disciples killed each other over petty grudges, they would have annihilated themselves long ago.
"Here, take this Sect Rules manual and study it thoroughly," the young man said, tossing Xu Sanyan a thin booklet before turning to leave. Suddenly, he paused, as if remembering something. "How old are you?" he asked, glancing back.
"Forty," Xu Sanyan replied, indulging in a harmless little lie.
The young man's eyes lit up. "Do you want to make some serious money?"
Xu Sanyan seemed to guess what he was getting at. "Are you referring to the Holy Son selection?" he countered.
The young man raised an eyebrow. "You know about that?"
"Heh..." Xu Sanyan shook his head with a wry smile. "The Hall Master himself appointed me."
"Tsk, tsk. Good luck with that."
The young man's gaze lingered on Xu Sanyan as if he were already a dead man, and he even looked like he wanted to snatch back the booklet he had just given him.
The Holy Son competition pitted fifty disciples from each of the Four Factions against one another—two hundred participants in total—with only five survivors. The odds were appallingly low, and the young man couldn't believe this newcomer stood any chance.
Moreover, the sect boasted numerous rising young prodigies, each with formidable strength. Eager enthusiasts had even ranked them, dubbing them the "Ten Prodigies of the Holy Sect." These ten were the clear frontrunners for the Holy Son positions, and everyone knew that the five final Holy Sons would inevitably emerge from their ranks.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (HB) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c174. [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (3.6K+) Chapters, (5.1M+) Words.