Chapter 12: Blood on the Horizon
The winds howled across the dark ridges of the Blackflame mountains, carrying with them the cries of unseen beasts. Beneath the shadow of jagged peaks, the Lian Clan's banners fluttered in the moonlight, their crimson insignias glimmering like drops of fresh blood against the night sky.
Inside the Grand Hall, silence reigned. Elders sat upon obsidian seats, their eyes glowing faintly with malice and curiosity. At the center, the Patriarch, Lian Xu, sat upright with the commanding aura of a sovereign. Before him, kneeling, was his son, Lian Zhen.
Though to the Elders he was nothing more than the Patriarch's son being prepared for his first mission, Zhen knew the truth. He was not merely a young cultivator embarking on his first step. He was the bearer of the 100,000 Villains System, the vessel of countless dark legacies waiting to be unleashed.
The System had spoken to him just days before, its words branded into his mind:
[Villain Quest Generated: Blood on the Horizon]
Objective: Establish the Lian Clan's dominance in the nearby Crimson Fang Territory by sowing fear and submission.
Options of Execution: Assassination, Manipulation, Subjugation.
Reward: Unlock 50 Villain Archives + Blood Arts (Basic).
Failure: Loss of one Villain Archive permanently.
Zhen had read it again and again, his heart torn between excitement and unease. Unlike the quests of so-called protagonists he had read about in his past life, his tasks weren't about saving damsels or building righteous glory. They demanded shadows, betrayal, and cruelty. Yet, in his core, something stirred. Something that whispered: This is who you were meant to be.
"Zhen," Patriarch Xu's voice shattered the silence, dragging him back to reality. "Tonight, you will travel with your unit to Crimson Fang Valley. The bandit sects there have grown arrogant, preying on merchants that once paid tribute to us. The Elders demand we remind them who rules these lands."
One of the Elders sneered, his lips curling. "Let us see if the Patriarch's son is worthy of the blood he carries. If he fails, then he is no true Lian."
Zhen bowed, masking his racing thoughts. "Yes, Father. I shall not disappoint."
Inside, the System pulsed coldly.
[Quest Active: Blood on the Horizon begins.]
The journey to Crimson Fang Valley stretched over two nights. Zhen rode at the front, clad in black robes stitched with crimson thread. Around him, ten Lian clan guards marched silently, each one exuding killing intent. Though they were assigned to protect him, Zhen could sense their disdain. To them, he was still an untested youth, thrown into blood far too soon.
On the second night, the valley appeared beneath the silver moon. Jagged cliffs rose like fangs, their shadows twisting across the narrow pass. Fires glowed faintly in the distance—bandit camps scattered across the valley floor.
One of the guards grunted. "Young Master, there they are. The Crimson Fang Dogs. Shall we storm them?"
Zhen's eyes narrowed. No. A frontal assault was the path of fools. He had read enough in his past life to know how arrogance destroyed even the strongest clans. Instead, he whispered: "No. We break them without lifting our blades."
The guards frowned, confused. But Zhen was already listening to the whispers in his mind.
From the System Space, a voice purred:
"Use my gift, child."
It was the Shadow Maiden Yue, her tone like poisoned silk. "Fear spreads faster than steel. Let me show you how."
Zhen's vision blurred, and when it cleared, the world was draped in shadows. He could see the campfires flickering below, the bandits laughing over stolen wine and spoils. He extended his hand, and from the darkness, tendrils of mist rose, curling and slithering like serpents.
Moments later, the first scream split the night.
A bandit stumbled from his tent, his eyes wide with terror. He clawed at his chest as though unseen blades tore into him. Another followed, shrieking about ghosts in the dark. Panic spread like wildfire. The bandit camp, once filled with drunken laughter, dissolved into chaos.
Zhen stood above them, his expression calm, yet inside, his pulse hammered. He was doing this. He was becoming this.
The guards around him shifted uneasily, watching as shadows coiled around their young master. One whispered, "This… this isn't the power of our clan."
Zhen smirked faintly, eyes never leaving the chaos below. "What does it matter? Power is power. And tonight, the Crimson Fang shall learn to fear the name Lian."
The shadows descended fully, weaving illusions of endless specters. Bandits turned on one another, slashing wildly in madness. By dawn, the valley floor was painted crimson—not by the blades of the Lian Clan, but by the bandits themselves.
When silence finally fell, only a handful remained alive. Zhen strode into the valley, his steps echoing with calm authority. The survivors looked up at him with hollow eyes, broken by fear.
He raised his hand. "Submit, or perish."
Their heads lowered at once. Not out of loyalty, but terror.
The System chimed in his mind.
[Quest Complete: Blood on the Horizon.]
Reward Unlocked: +50 Villain Archives, Blood Arts (Basic).
As they rode back to the clan, the guards cast him strange looks. Fear. Respect. Wariness. Zhen could feel the seeds being planted—not just in the Crimson Fang, but in his own people. The whispers of villainy were already taking root.
He looked down at his hands, faint traces of shadow still clinging to his skin. Once, he might have shuddered at the thought of what he had done. But now… he felt only a quiet thrill.
In the void of his System Space, thousands of doors trembled with anticipation. The voices whispered in unison:
"Yes… Yes… That is the way."
Zhen smiled faintly, a cold, dangerous smile.
The Lian Family's rise had begun.
Author's Thought:
This chapter marks Zhen's first step outside the clan's walls—a trial not of strength, but of shadow. Instead of brute force, he chose manipulation and fear, carving his name into the minds of his enemies. These are the seeds of subtle villainy, the path that will slowly erode his humanity and forge the cold, ruthless figure he is destined to become.