Maybe a demonic sect would suit me better?
Pluck Yin to Supplement Yang seems like it fits right in with a demonic sect.
Even if I got branded as a deviant by the orthodox sects, in a demonic sect, they'd probably hail it as some great merit or whatever—no finger-pointing there.
Of course, even in a demonic sect, getting caught using Pluck Yin to Supplement Yang would be dangerous. But hey, it's a tempting skill. Stealing abilities through sex and all.
Yeah, I've made up my mind.
I'm going to join the most notorious demonic sect in history!
And become the ultimate demonic beast, rampaging across the world until I ascend to immortality! A demonic sect that accepts perverts? Sounds perfect!
Yuk-gyeong finished off his bowl of thin noodles and did the math.
"What? Three copper coins for one bowl of thin noodles?"
"Hey, customer. This is Ten Lakes, Ten Lakes. Do you know how high prices are here? Making a fuss over three coppers? Goodness, all kinds of people come through. We're barely breaking even here. Pay up quick and go. There's a line behind you."
Yuk-gyeong tossed three copper coins at the server and left, screaming internally.
No wonder the people walking around here had such fine clothes. This was a rich neighborhood?
If I don't pass the sect entrance exam on the first try, I'm in trouble. No money left. A few more meals and I'm bankrupt.
Just wait till I become a demonic beast. I'll smash this lousy inn to bits. Charging three coppers for thin noodles, of all things.
After grumbling for a while, Yuk-gyeong left the inn and headed into the streets.
He planned to ask passersby about the three great capital sects and such.
"Excuse me, which is the most infamous sect around here? The really vicious and ruthless one."
"The most infamous sect? Obviously the Radiant Moon Sect. Vicious beyond belief. If they catch you, you're done for—done."
Oh, Radiant Moon Sect.
Nice ring to the name. Sounds subtly villainous and cool.
"So the Radiant Moon Sect has that kind of reputation? How does one join the Radiant Moon Sect?"
"Eek! You want to join the Radiant Moon Sect? They're holding their entrance exam tomorrow! Joining a horrific sect like that..."
The man made a huge fuss, staring at Yuk-gyeong like he was insane.
Yes, yes. That's the proper look for spotting a true demonic beast.
I need to get used to these fearful gazes.
Yuk-gyeong felt a strange swell of pride in his chest as he bowed his head slightly and left.
"Thank you for letting me know."
Good. Radiant Moon Sect it is.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The passerby left behind after Yuk-gyeong departed,
stared at his retreating back with an expression like he'd seen a total lunatic.
Looking like some gigolo, asking about the most infamous righteous immortal sect?
"He asked me for the most infamous righteous immortal sect and said he was going to join it? What a weirdo."
What were the entry requirements for the Radiant Moon Sect again?
You had to be young, have a solid foundation, sharp wits. And of course, Immortal Affinity, and a Spiritual Root was a given.
Only those meeting all those conditions could join the Radiant Moon Sect.
The man had trashed it as the worst sect, but the Radiant Moon Sect's entry bar was sky-high.
The man shook his head.
"No way some drifter like that gets in. Whatever, time to go make a living."
The man pulled on a mask.
Which merchant caravan had set out today with sloppy preparations?
If he caught them, they wouldn't even get their bones back.
The man was a notorious bandit.
He was the faceless mountain bandit operating near Ten Lakes, a vicious criminal with a fifty-tael bounty from the authorities!
For a notorious bandit, the most infamous sect...
...was one of the righteous orthodox sects upholding justice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Radiant Moon Sect!
The foremost sect in the Moon Kingdom!
Among the sects in Ten Lakes, it proudly held one of the three great sect positions—a colossal immortal sect!
The Radiant Moon Sect, which claimed entire mountains as its grounds, was more crowded than ever before with people buzzing about.
All mortals gathered in hopes of Immortal Affinity and becoming cultivators.
A rare few had already laid some foundation in cultivation, but to the Radiant Moon Sect, they were all much of a muchness.
At the forefront of these dozens of mortals stood people who had come down from the mountains.
These were true disciples of the great Radiant Moon Sect—outer sect disciples, to be precise.
They exuded an aura utterly unlike that of worldly mortals, as if they possessed something called immortal bones.
Though breathing the same air, the outer disciples seemed to float in a clear breeze, while the mortals wallowed in muck and mire.
Perhaps it was because they were merely outer disciples that they gave off this vibe.
These were the ones who had achieved the dream every mortal here yearned for.
Similar to the envy Yuk-gyeong felt in his past life as a job hunter toward office workers.
And that envy might be creating this intangible aura.
They're outer disciples.
Probably the lowest rank in the Radiant Moon Sect, so they're handling menial tasks like helping with the entrance exam.
Yuk-gyeong was the only one here fully taking in the outer disciples.
Of course, that didn't change anything.
One of the Radiant Moon Sect outer disciples stepped forward and shouted loudly.
"The Radiant Moon Sect entrance exam begins!"
Yuk-gyeong, who had finally gotten a good night's sleep at an inn, gazed at the Radiant Moon Sect's mountain with clear eyes.
It was imposing, as befitting a place where immortals lived. Clouds clung to the peak, trees blanketed the slopes thickly, and the grandeur was awe-inspiring. The massive mountain seemed to loom over humans, somehow making one feel small.
Ugh!
Yuk-gyeong stretched, shaking off the oppressive feeling.
After days of sleeping rough, he'd finally crashed at an inn. His body felt refreshed.
Of course, Ten Lakes prices being insane meant the room cost a fortune too.
So he'd figured one more night roughing it after all the previous ones, but today was the entrance exam. He decided to splurge on condition management and stay at the inn.
Worth it.
Sleeping in a bed beat the hard ground by miles. This felt like actual rest. Sleeping outdoors never quite satisfied.
Though his wallet felt refreshed too—no money left at all. Cleaned out.
Yuk-gyeong rubbed his neck and did some light stretches as he pondered.
'What could the entrance exam for this infamous Radiant Moon Sect be? Lock candidates in solitude like in those survival shows and tell them to kill each other, picking just one survivor? Sect seniors roaming around killing applicants, selecting only those who cross the boundary line?'
Yuk-gyeong's mind spun with gruesome scenarios.
But whatever the test, he had Foresight Fist.
He could easily handle these scrawny cultivator wannabes—immortal wannabe wannabes, really.
Whoa, that muscular guy's trouble.
Skip him. Tell him to go first or whatever. It's not like they're picking just one person.
Yuk-gyeong scanned the crowd, classifying who he could take, who he could handle, and who was impossible, while awaiting the exam's start.
At last, the entrance exam commenced!
The outer disciple in charge shouted.
"Now, we will begin..."
Kill each other?
Run if you don't want to die?
Yuk-gyeong's heart pounded. What to do? Whatever they say, I'll do it.
As Yuk-gyeong's tension peaked!
"The mountain hike!"
Huh? Mountain hike?
The real deal, like those hikes small-company managers love so much?
Yuk-gyeong didn't know it, but joining the Radiant Moon Sect was called "entering the mountain."
It was a hike to the sect's mountain gate at the foot of Heavenly Wall Mountain, where the main sect was based—a vast trek.
To Yuk-gyeong, it was utterly deflating.
He'd steeled himself for anything, and they wanted a hike!
No greater letdown.
Well, better than something hard.
Everyone gathered and started climbing.
The sight of what looked like over a hundred people ascending—exaggerated, but impressive nonetheless.
The foothill hike was a breeze.
Not even out of breath—a light stroll.
But some elderly folks occasionally dropped out.
A hoary-headed old man gave up and headed down.
A frail young man whose limbs had been shaking gave out too and fell behind. Couldn't even handle this level of hike? His stamina was abysmal.
Dropouts dropped out, leaving only those who could keep up.
Not that no one tried approaching the leading outer disciples to chat.
But they were all rebuffed by the disciples' intangible aura, unable to get a word in. The closer they got, the harder it was to even speak.
The outer disciples clearly had no desire to mingle with mortals.
Yuk-gyeong, uninterested in chatting them up, climbed effortlessly.
Though midway in the pack, doubting everything about the scene.
Still convinced the Radiant Moon Sect was an ultra-evil demonic sect, he didn't buy that the exam was this simple.
Senior demonic beasts jumping out mid-hike to kill? Beasts released into the woods? But the hike was too peaceful.
So his tension gradually eased.
Then a scholarly-looking middle-aged man in his forties, who seemed suited to be a scholar, spoke up.
"Greetings, brother."
"...Greetings."
"We're taking the Radiant Moon Sect exam together—shall we exchange names? I'm Ho Wol-cheon."
Huh? Exchange names?
Who knows how many they'll accept into the Radiant Moon Sect—why buddy up with a rival?
What test does this infamous sect have in store that you're building rapport?
Yuk-gyeong found it odd but answered readily. Names were free.
"Yi Yuk-gyeong."
"Brother Yi, our taking the Radiant Moon Sect exam at the same time is fate, don't you think? On that note, let me give you some advice."
This fate stuff again. Even the innkeeper in Ten Lakes pulled that line.
A city with capital sects, alright—everyone spouts immortal-sounding nonsense.
Yuk-gyeong grumbled inwardly.
His nerves were on edge from staying vigilant.
While he scanned everywhere in tension, this guy casually offered advice—enough to sour anyone's mood.
"Advice? What advice do you have for me?"
"You seem short on Immortal Affinity, brother. Doesn't suit the Radiant Moon Sect. Why not head back down? Save your time."
What?