14 I'm cruel? Deal with it.

What the heck was this?

At the time when Ben Li saw the two young men by the far distance, he wanted to greet them out in hopes that they could point out the way towards the entrance gate of the Helios Dragon sect. Because he totally got lost and didn't know where to go. Although he did see the mountains of the sect territory, if he were to carelessly enter the boundaries other than the entrance gate, then he may get subdued by the Matrix Formations set up all around territory.

But this happened?

He rushes towards the pair as fast as he could in order to have his questions answered. He had heard the other party's mind-shaking voice filled with wariness but he couldn't possibly reply properly if he was still too far away, right? So, he didn't stop yet until he got close enough to have a conversation.

Yet, the young lad before him actually rushed forward to attack. He was shocked but he managed to subdue the other party under his crushing foot in a matter of seconds.

But just when his companion was about to unleash his attack, he suddenly saw him stopping to stand attention like a soldier ready to salute his commanding officer.

"Junior brother pays respects to Elder brother Wang!" that's what he said. Which left Ben Li dumbfounded in is mind.

The heck?

I knew some plot was cooking back at the sect but I didn't expect that I would get attacked by my own fellow sect brothers.

Meanwhile, senior brother was sweating profusely on his forehead. It drenched his face wet as sweat began to trickle down all the way to the tip of his nose. He was cursing incessantly on himself in his heart.

Out of all the people I could have provoked, it had to be this local tyrant?!

The heavens must have mistaken this day for April fool's!

He discreetly gazed at his junior brother lying on the ground with Ben Li's foot crushing him down. There he saw that he was completely powerless with a pale face stricken in fear knowing who this interloper was who had subdued him in 3 moves. He also saw him rolling his eyes to look back at him. Seeing his cheekings twitching violently, he knew he wanted to curse at his senior brother for sending him out first like cannon fodder.

Senior brother, why?!

Why did make me attack a Core Disciple in a spur of a moment?!

And not just any Core Disciple, it had to be this local tyrant who cripples anyone pissing him off! Junior brother shed tears of pity for himself.

Core Disciples. They are not just renowned for being prestigious talents belonging to prestigious sects but they also possessed the incredible strength to represent the strength of the Core teachings of the sect. Making them extraordinary individuals with the Arts practiced to subdue opponents with cultivation levels higher than them.

Senior brother was confident in his strength but not in his talent. He didn't have the confidence to keep his growth steady and strong unlike his junior brother who had the talent to surpass his fellow peers.

But in front of the talent of this genius, his junior brother was nothing in comparison.

Potential. Background. Resources. Battle prowess. You need so much more to reach the apex yet this young man before them had all of it in his fingertips.

And he didn't have to lift a finger to kill them. One word from him mentioning them would have them removed from their careers along with their accumulated Cultivation levels.

That's why the Disciples of the Helios Dragon sect are so fearful of him. Out of all the Core Disciples belonging to the sect, Wang Xie is the last one you want to piss off.

"You?" coldly asked Ben Li as he assessed the young man before him.

Casual tight-fitting clothes. Spear in hand. Advance stage Foundation Formation Realm. Complete stranger yet seems to know him and proclaims himself a junior brother of the same sect.

Ben Li's eyes squinted as his wariness heightened.

Even though Ben Li was confident in subduing Advance stage Foundation Formation cultivators, that's only if he had the odds on his side. If the other party had some trick up his sleeves, then even with his astonishing speed here, he can't hope to protect Lu Qing when the danger comes close.

Speaking of Lu Qing, she was being carry by Ben Li on a piggyback ride. Due to how fast Ben Li was running, Lu Qing's head was spinning dizzy as her whole world went around and around. However, she was thankful that she had Qi of her own to keep herself from barfing. She would not know how to deal with it if she had accidentally vomited on her young master's figure while being carried like a bag.

Now that they've stopped for a bit, she could finally get some air to breathe. Looking around, she saw her young master had crushed a stranger down to the ground while he was looking coldly at the other stranger who had a complex expression plastered on his face.

She was confused for a bit but she knew that her young master wouldn't attack without a reason. Thus, she concluded that they were being ambushed a moment ago but her young master had managed to turn the tables and subdue one attacker before she could even notice.

Amazing!

Lu Qing couldn't help but admire her young master's power and buried her face deeper into his nape. Snuggling and smelling his scent like a kitten in love.

Ignoring Lu Qing tickling his back, he spoke coldly at this young man who proclaims to be his sect brother. "All right, talk. Why did you lots attack us?"

"E-elder brother Wang, please understand." stuttering in his reply, senior brother began to explain. "We are just two brothers who were tasked to patrol this area. I detected you but you were running too fast to be assessed earlier. So, I didn't know if you were friendly and deemed you as an enemy since you didn't answer our question. So, that's why..."

"Oh, so, that's why. No wonder." Ben Li's voice turned colder as he cut him off. "Because this Master, Wang Xie was running a bit too fast for you to see, you decided it was good idea to poke me with your long metal toothpicks just to get my autograph. Bravo...

"Shame though. I don't plan to give any face towards fans who want to kill me. Tell me both you're names now and point to where the entrance gate of the sect is located. I have vital information that I must report immediately."

"E-elder brother Wang..." senior brother felt like crying. If he could, he would have wanted to appease him and settle this dispute down as a misunderstanding but seeing how he was giving him little chances to drop the matter, his heart fell dejectedly.

Clearly, he wouldn't let this go with just an explanation. But what else can he do?

Seeing how the other party was silent afterwards, Ben Li's eyes flickered with killing intent.

He did know via Wang Xie's memories that there were such Disciples tasked to patrol the outskirts but he had never met them before. Besides, for all he knew, this young man calling him Elder brother Wang might just be acting in his despair and was actually a bandit stalling for time as he discreetly calls for back up to surround him.

But such notion was off the marks as Ben Li could deduce after he confronted against the '13 Mirage of the Sun Spears' and immediately concluded that the chances of them being sect brothers were actually higher.

Although Ben Li didn't know such a Spear Technique existed in the Sect's teachings, he did deduce that the essence of the Technique used the principles of the heating days of the sun to induce a mirage like a person seeing illusions from his dying thirst in the middle of the desert. Thus, he was able to conjure 12 more attacks to strike his consciousness. Considering such profound technique using the principles of the sun was displayed in Major Accomplishment, he had figured that these people did indeed came from Helios Dragon sect because that's the only sect that majors in it.

It was a good thing Ben Li attained Soul Sense which could see things the soul can different from the mind. Otherwise, he might have fallen victim to the Spear Technique and got rekt very easily.

But still, Ben Li remained high alert and ready in case he had to battle these two. After all what he has experienced before, he knew there was nothing wrong with being wary against everything especially towards a sword freak sis-con and a pitch-black rose. In fact, it had actually saved him from digging his own grave a couple of times.

So, even if he knew this was all just a misunderstanding, there's no way he's gonna drop the matter without benefiting from it, right?

Ben Li looked for an opportunity to fork something from this 'junior' of his and spoke so arrogantly in fear that they won't take him seriously.

But after this, Ben Li may have to reflect badly on himself that he's unconsciously taking the notorious legacy belonging to the Antagonist, Wang Xie.

Ben Li broke the silence as his eyes turned colder. "What are you wasting my time for? Hurry up and give me your names so I can remember. I have to get back to the sect ASAP and report some crucial discoveries before I start forgetting." He sent a Qi surge through his foot and attacked junior brother beneath him. Making him groan in anguish.

Junior brother could feel a foreign substance was violently rumbling his Spiritual Vessel to a collapse. Threatening to cripple his foundations. He tried to resist by driving his Qi but it was futile as Ben Li's Qi surge was stronger in quality. Thus, his Qi defense was broken easily and only made the pain more agonizing.

Senior brother face contorted badly seeing his junior brother suffering.

This is bad. Bad. Bad. Bad.

If I tell him our names, he's definitely going to report us for insubordination. But if don't tell me then junior brother's foundations will be crippled. He'll have to trained gruesomely and arduously again to get back where he left off but the psychological trauma left from this event will haunt him and halt his future progress as it turns into his heart's Devil.

And he, the one who sent him to attack like cannon fodder will have to bear this sin for the rest of his life. Forever repenting to atone for his sins.

Left with no choice, senior brother knelt in surrender and pleaded to Ben Li. "Please understand, elder brother Wang. It was all my fault. I told my junior to attack you without considering the consequences..."

"Ah, I see..." because this guy was too long-winded in pleading, Ben Li decided to cut him off and spoke. "So, you have sinned greatly for sending your junior to attack this Master as a cannon fodder. This is an action that cannot be overlooked according to our Sect's beliefs. Thus, this Master, Wang Xie shall punish you here and now."

"I have erred greatly. I shall accept any punishment Elder brother wishes to bequeath upon me." realizing that Wang Xie had shifted his wrath on him, he sighed in resignation and relief that he has a chance to save his junior brother.

After all, Core Disciple did possess enough authority to punish any disciple had desecrates their Sect's beliefs or had impudently challenged the authority of those higher ranked to make an example that in this world, only those with strength has justice in their side. Weaklings will only die if they rebel.

It's a rule from the cruel world they knew all too well.

Senior brother was determined to save his junior brother from getting crippled. Even if it cost his life in slavery. But the next words uttered by Wang Xie was so cold that it shivered his beating heart.

"Kill your junior brother."

"What?!" senior brother couldn't believe his ears. And his face was plastered with all kinds of shocking expressions.

"Didn't you hear me? I said kill him. To atone from your sins, you must server and destroy what keeps you sinning. Considering that it was your junior brother who attacked despite knowing who I am, you must kill him to atone for both of our sins. Thus, your soul will be cleansed and you will be forgiven. In our beliefs, Dragons must behead the mischievous snake before it grows any longer. To achieve that, beheading your junior equates beheading future troubles. Because I wouldn't let this go if some small snake had dared to lay his hands this Master.

"So, kill him. That way, all will be well." Ben Li shrugged nonchalantly and looked down on junior brother, who was petrified paper white with emotions that cannot be described.

"Elder brother Wang..." There was no righteousness uttered by Wang Xie's words. Only the baseless, shallow logic blindly followed by those Satanic Cults.

Kill his junior brother to atone from his sins? Hogwash!

It was pure nonsense whispered by the devil himself!

Senior brother felt infuriated. Yet he can't vent his anger as his survival instincts were demanding him to self-preserve. In this world, whatever that was living and breathing had to obey the Heaven's Will. And the Heaven's Will stated the Survival of the fittest and the weak must feed the strong. What was ingrained in their souls was the shallow program to blindly obey the kings of the sky as crawling ants no matter how cruel or life-threatening the orders are.

And what Wang Xie had bequeathed upon him was normally followed in the current society's curriculum. In fact, if he followed it without guilt then he will improve in his Cultivation path without getting his heart stained by a Devil. But there was no way he can do that to his own junior brother who he deemed as his blood brother.

Right now, senior brother was cornered completely as his emotions were conflicting. What choices does he have now?

Ben Li could see with his Soul Sense the conflicting emotions whirling around senior brother like a fog of hues. Clearly, he could see a bit of anger but it was all suppressed by fear and confusion. It was about it funny to him how this little dilemma he effortlessly put up could easily faze them who are actually experienced veterans with Foundation Formation Cultivation levels.

But he knew what he had said and even he felt guilty for talking like some heretic priest giving a false sermon.

But if you haven't wasted my time with your long-winded pleading that sounded like ass-kissing and had instead showed me some good loot, none of this would have happened!

Seeing senior brother trembling in despair, Ben Li suddenly laughed uproariously and his coldness disappeared into thin air.

Having his mind jolted by his sudden laughter, senior brother was bewildered by it and he looked at Wang Xie in confusion. Then the latter said.

"Did you actually take me seriously?! I'm not making anyone kill anyone. If I wanted someone dead, I'd do it myself.

"What? Why did you even believe the heretical nonsense I said earlier? It was all a joke so smile. Cheer up, lad. No one's dying today. Hahaha!"

"ha hahaha..." senior brother couldn't help but bitterly laugh to himself. His shoulders fell as he lost all strength.

That's right, the Heavens weren't done pranking him. But even though it had gone overboard, no one has to die at least.

But soon Ben Li turned quiet and gave senior brother a cold look and spoke coldly. "But even though I'm joking around, you guys still haven't apologized to me for attacking me. All I heard was that it was your fault but it still doesn't change the fact that both of you shall bear this sin.

"I intend to drop this matter but you guys had wasted my patience. Thus, I demand compensation for wasting my time and I won't bother taking this to the higher court.

"Cough up your 200 spirit stones here and point me to where the entrance gate of the sect is located. Then I shall be on my way."

"..."

What the heck?!

If you wanted money you could have just said so earlier!

But 200 spirit stones?! That's extortion!

Even if we go procuring that amount, we will be stripped naked from bankruptcy.

At the very least, 100 spirit stones were all we have.

Sensing the fluctuating emotions filled with conflicted hesitations, Ben Li could deduce that they really didn't have much in their pockets to fork out. Thus, he sighed indignantly and gave them a chance.

"150 spirit stones."

"..."

...

In the end, the two young men finally conceded in defeat. Dejectedly stripping themselves from their hard earned 100 spirit stones and 1 life-saving artifact capable of shielding a full-powered attack from a Pinnacle stage Power Core realm, all as compensation for Ben Li to excuse them.

The two young men just stood where they always were motionlessly. Looking off at the distance to where Ben Li and Lu Qing had run off to.

"Wow. So, that was the power of a Core Disciple. So cool..." junior brother couldn't help but mutter those admiring words under his breath. His eyes gleamed in idolization and was so shocked by today's events that he'll probably brag this to his friends for weeks.

Senior brother was shocked as well. However different from his junior brother, he was shocked that his junior brother didn't take this to heart and target Wang Xie with grudges but had instead looked at him as a target for admiration.

Meanwhile, he hated Wang Xie for pranking them under extortion but his hatred immediately dissipated as he saw his junior brother getting over it rather quickly.

Was this the difference between him and the talented? Was it because their grudges and resentments don't hold them back and would cast them aside if they wanted to achieve their lofty ambitions?

Senior brother thought that was the case and was suddenly enlightened.

"Man, I want to be strong as elder brother Wang when I become a Core Disciple!" said junior brother which made senior brother sneer at him.

He clicked his tongue and elbowed his arm as he said. "Don't get arrogant then if you want to achieve the level of strength elder brother Wang has displayed. Remember what Master has thought us; Humility opens our eyes while arrogance blinds us. If we were to start acting arrogantly then there's no way we can improve."

"Heh? Then why elder brother Wang is so arrogant yet he still improves?" to that question, senior brother shook his head and said.

"It's not that his arrogance allows him to improve but it is his pure talent of a genius. His arrogance only protects him from everything else he will regret."

"Huh?" junior tilted his head as he was confused. Then his senior brother said.

"Humility opens our eyes while arrogance blinds us. It goes without saying, elder brother Wang just acts arrogantly because he fears seeing things he doesn't want to understand. Being a genius that he is, he can understand the unfathomable things of the world faster and clearer than anyone can but he grows afraid that if he starts understanding, he'll start understanding that he isn't human."

"Oh, I see... " said junior brother as he was enlightened.

Some said that everyone is a legitimate genius.

However, if you told a fish to believe it can climb a tree, then it will think that it is stupid.

It goes without saying that everyone has their strength and weaknesses. And Wang Xie must feel the same for himself.

Growing to understand the world we couldn't even fathom yet refuses to fathom what he should understand.

And everyone thought that geniuses had it easy in life. Looks like even they had their own bothersome issues to get by.

Then senior brother laughed ad he gripped junior brother's shoulder hard. "Come, junior brother! I want a rematch! I'll vent all my frustrations on you today!"

"Eh?! But I'm injured, y'know!" junior brother cried.

...

"Do you think this world is cruel, Lu Qing?"

Ben Li suddenly asked this question as he carried Lu Qing on his back.

Lu Qing didn't know how to answer that question. To her, the world had always been cruel yet she could only blame nothing to vent her frustrations. Thinking about how her life had gone through so many things, she couldn't help but grow afraid again.

She slowly snuggled her forehead at the back of his head and said slowly.

"It's cruel. It's cruel that I lost my parents. It's cruel that my caring older brother had to stake his life to protect me. It's cruel that you forgotten me for 3 long years along with your promises. It's cruel that you don't love me. It's cruel that I have to love you. It's cruel...

"It's all too cruel..."

"Lu Qing..." Ben Li wanted to comfort her, but he realized that Lu Qing was already doing that herself as her arms wrapped around his neck and said. "But it's okay...

"The world can be cruel to me all it wants. It won't affect me by a bit. Just as long as you won't be cruel to me ever again."

"Lu Qing..." Ben Li slowly turned his head to look at Lu Qing in the corner of his eyes.

"Young master..." seeing her young master's crimson eyes looking at her, she blushed red and fidgeted but drew her lips closer to his.

But just before she could kiss him...

"You're getting too clingy again!" Ben Li abruptly severed his left away from her embrace but pulling back her arms.

"Ah?" Having her only leverage pulled out, Lu Qing fell on her butt to the ground. She stood up from the ground in a hurry and pouted at her young master who was walking away.

"Young master, you're so cruel!" complained Lu Qing with teary eyes.

Hearing that, Ben Li just scoffed.

I'm cruel?

Little girl, just one time I actually feel sorry for you then a second later, there you go stealing my lips again.

I told you, let's be friends again. And just so you should know, friends don't kiss each other, dammit!

They shake hands, fist pump, hug each other, Morse code, provoke each other, anything else aside from kissing and more kissing.

Cause if you keep doing this again, then you'll be sorry one day if I drag you to bed.

"I'm cruel? Deal with it."