A Chaotic World

"Sincerity?" Ruan Ling said with furrowed brows. "May I know what exactly do you mean by that?"

She was not the only one who had a frown on her face right now.

Lu Tianzi, Nanlan Qianxue, and even Longshao Wenqin could not help but show the same expression upon hearing what Xizhen Hui said.

"I believe we all understand what I meant, so I will not elaborate further," Xizhen Hui crossed her arms as she casually leaned back into her seat. "I will not ask for a specific amount, but do take note that the extent of protection we can provide will also differ accordingly. The lot of you look quite capable, so... who knows? If things turn out well, I might even consider recommending you to take the entrance test of the Thunder Hawk Sect. If you are capable enough to pass, your life would totally change from then on!"

"Senior Xizhen Hui, this isn't too appropriate, is it?" Longshao Wenqin interjected. "It is one thing to invite my friends to take the entrance test, but doing it in exchange for gifts is a little..."

"Why don't you stay out of it, Brother Longshao?" Xizhen Hui replied with a smile. "You might not understand this now. However, what you are doing is not helping them, but harming them. If they really manage to join our Thunder Hawk Sect in the future, it will be akin to having hugged the thighs of buddha, giving them the status they need to scare away any enemies they have now!"

"No, Brother Longshao is right," Ruan Ling said. "You have our gratitude for extending this offer to us, but we will have to politely decline."

Lu Tianzi and Nanlan Qianxue did not add any words of their own, merely nodding at the side to show their agreement.

To Xizhen Hui, this was a completely unexpected response.

"How pathetic. It seems like you lot don't even know what kind of good opportunity you have just chosen to give up," Xizhen Hui scoffed. "I am asking out of pure goodwill here, because I feel pity for you lot and want to offer you a way out of the shithole that your lives are. But you actually chose to decline my offer? Perhaps this is a wasted trip after all. People with zero ambitions in life are simply not worthy of my time!"

The atmosphere turned cold immediately.

"Excuse me?" Ruan Ling said with a deep frown.

She tried to remain polite on the surface, but she was actually boiling inside at the moment.

The Thunder Hawk Sect?

While it was indeed a relatively strong influence directly subordinate to the Timeless Flame Sect, her Soft Stream Clan was no weaker in comparison. Not just that, but Ruan Ling was even the daughter of the Soft Stream Clan Leader.

As for Xizhen Hui, she had never even heard of the name before!

Just who the hell is this Xizhen Hui to dare speak to her in such an arrogant manner?

If not because of that fact that they had gathered here to show their gratitude towards Longshao Wenqin, and that Xizhen Hui happened to be Longshao Wenqin's companion, Ruan Ling would have flared up long ago!

"Perhaps my words are not pleasing to the ears, but why don't you touch your heart and ask yourself if I am wrong?" Xizhen Hui replied. "Or are you really too ignorant to even recognise what kind of golden opportunity it is that I have offered you?"

"Senior Xizhen Hui! Please stop!" Longshao Wenqin finally could not hold back any longer. "I invited you here to meet my friends so we can all expand our connections, not for you to snub them! If you are going to keep speaking like this, then I would have no choice but to ask you to leave!"

"Brother Longshao, are you really raising your voice at me?" Xizhen Hui narrowed her eyes at Longshao Wenqin. "It seems that your ego has inflated just because you are in the presence of y our friends. Your Dragon Cauldron Kingdom might have a trade relationship with our Thunder Hawk Sect, but do let me remind you that we are not equals. Of course, I don't have to say who is dependent on who. That said, we are only allowing you to travel with us out of goodwill, so know your place!"

"Senior Xizhen, if you are going to go that far, then I shall speak my mind as well. Honestly, I am only travelling with you only out of convenience. Even without you, do you really think that I am unable get here by myself?" Longshao Wenqin retorted. "And if the Thunder Hawk Sect is made up of people like you, then I believe that my Dragon Cauldron Kingdom would do better without such a trade relationship either!"

Ruan Ling, Lu Tianzi, and Nanlan Qianxue could not help but exchange shocked glances.

Just what kind of situation is this?

"It seems that being in front of your friends have inflated your sense of pride to the point of losing your mind!" Xizhen Hui stood up from her seat. "Since that is the case, you losers can continue hanging out together. We shall not degrade ourselves by remaining here in your presence. And don't even think of rejoining us after this!"

"I won't be seeing you off then!" Longshao Wenqin snapped back as he stood up in response.

Xizhen Hui harrumphed in displeasure. "You will definitely regret this!"

With that, she immediately turned and left with Xizhen Hancheng in tow.

Bang-!

The door to the private room slammed shut behind them, leaving an awkward atmosphere within.

"My apologies, everyone," Longshao Wenqin sighed as he clasped his fists towards them. "Please forgive me for ruining the mood."

"How is this your fault?" Ruan Ling shook her head. "Please, take a seat. We will just pretend that they were never here."

"Is this really all right though?" Lu Tianzi asked. "They are your friends, aren't they? And what about the trade relationship between your Dragon Cauldron Kingdom and the Thunder Hawk Sect?"

"It's fine. We are not friends by any measure. If anything, we have a purely business relationship," Longshao Wenqin explained. "And even if the trade relationship between us gets cancelled because of this, the Dragon Cauldron Overlord will only reprimand me a bit. After all, we have already began trading with the Scarlet Moon Kingdom so that could act as an alternative."

"So that's the case," Lu Tianzi nodded.

"Are you convinced now?" Ruan Ling asked with a smile.

"I have to say that I never expected him to react in this manner," Lu Tianzi admitted.

He had still been wary before this, thinking that Longshao Wenqin might have approached them with ulterior motives. But with what happened earlier, Lu Tianzi could not help but be surprised.

While he still did not completely trust Longshao Wenqin, his guard against Longshao Wenqin had definitely lowered a little.

"This..." Longshao Wenqin let out a bitter smile. "As I have told Miss Nanlan, we fought in the past only because we belonged to opposing factions. There is no reason for me to plot against you, especially since you have already left the Scarlet Moon Kingdom. And in the first place, shouldn't I be the one who is more apprehensive of you? After all, you are the one who almost took my life in the past!"

"He almost took your life?" Ruan Ling widened her eyes in shock. "What exactly happened back then?"

"War," Longshao Wenqin answered. "Given our circumstances, it is not exactly his fault. But I sincerely hope that we can resolve our differences from now on."

Lu Tianzi noticed Nanlan Qianxue glancing over at him, and could not help but let out a helpless sigh. "All right, let's try to forget about the past then."

"I'm relieved to hear that," Longshao Wenqin nodded before raising his cup. "Then let us cheers to the end of our previous feud, and to the beginning of our new friendship!"

"Cheers!"

The rest of them raised their cups and downed their wine in response.

As Longshao Wenqin had said, this wine would wash away any past grievances among them, symbolising a new beginning to their relationship.

From today on, even if they could not be considered comrades, they would at least no longer be enemies.

"So is anyone you know participating in the Inscription Meet?" Longshao Wenqin asked.

The Inscription Meet organised by the Timeless Flame Sect might have started off as a friendly competition between two of their internal members, but they had since extended the invitation to any interested parties.

It would not be surprising if any of their acquaintances had decided to participate as well.

However, the three others only looked at him in surprise upon hearing that.

"Brother Longshao, have you not heard about the two main characters of the Inscription Meet?" Ruan Ling asked.

"Senior Ruan Ling must be joking by asking me such a question. Everyone in the city is talking about the upcoming Inscription Meet these days, so it would be difficult even if I didn't want to hear about it!" Longshao Wenqin laughed. "I heard that they are both internal members of the Timeless Flame Sect, a Manor Lord Lu and a Grandmaster Xiqin... wait, don't tell me that you know any of them?"

Ruan Ling and Nanlan Qianxue simultaneously glanced over at Lu Tianzi.

"From your reactions, I guess Sir Nanlu is the one who is acquainted with them?" Longshao Wenqin asked.

"You can say that," Lu Tianzi nodded. "That's not important though. If we are done with the meal, why don't we take our leave? Wait, are you staying with the guys from the Thunder Hawk Sect right now?"

"Yeah," Longshao Wenqin sighed yet again. "Thankfully, the Inscription Meet is just tomorrow. I would just have to put up at another inn for a night, so the costs would not be too high."

"If Brother Longshao is agreeable, why don't you come back with us instead?" Ruan Ling offered. "That will spare you the trouble of looking for a new place to stay. It's all right, isn't it?"

By that last line, Ruan Ling was asking Lu Tianzi.

She understood that he was the only one who had a bad impression of Longshao Wenqin.

Even with the downing of wine to bury their past grievances, she did not know how Lu Tianzi truly thought at the moment. If Lu Tianzi was not agreeable to the matter, she would definitely respect his decision.

"I have no objections as long as Sir Longshao and Brother Xuan Hao are agreeable to it," Lu Tianzi shrugged.

"Brother Xuan Hao won't have a problem with it!" Ruan Ling said confidently. "How about you, Brother Longshao?"

"This..." Longshao Wenqin hesitated for a moment. "Since Senior Ruan Ling has already offered, I shall not stand on ceremony then!"

The Inscription Meet was just the next day, so Eternal Flame City was crowded with people from all over the continent. It would not be easy for him to find an available room, so he might as well take Ruan Ling up on her offer.

After obtaining Young Master Xuan Hao's permission through their communication rings, the group promptly finished up their meal and left.

But unknown to Longshao Wenqin, he was in for a huge shock.

***

"Erm... pardon me for saying this, but what are we doing here?" Longshao Wenqin felt the corner of his lips twitch.

He had thoughtlessly followed the group, but they ended up leading him straight to the entrance of the territory of the Timeless Flame Sect.

This was one of the four ancient sects, the absolute ruler of not just Eternal Flame City but the vast lands surrounding it. Even influences like the Thunder Hawk Sect were akin to ants in comparison.

If they continued loitering in front of their gate, it would be really bad if any of its members got irritated and decided to take it out on them!

Right as he was worrying about that, the gate really opened and a young man walked out towards them.

Longshao Wenqin's body stiffened, and he subconsciously swallowed his saliva in nervousness. He glanced over at his companions, only to see that they had started walking towards the young man as well.

Just what kind of situation is this?

"Brother Xuan Hao!" Ruan Ling greeted excitedly.

"You are back," Young Master Xuan Hao nodded with a smile. "My apologies for not being able to go with you earlier. This must be Brother Longshao?"

"Y-Yes, Senior," Longshao Wenqin subconsciously bowed when greeting him.

To Longshao Wenqin, even Ruan Ling who was at the Fifth Cycle Origin Core realm was considered a senior, not to mention the Seventh Cycle Origin Core realm Young Master Xuan Hao.

"Haha, Brother Longshao doesn't have to stand on ceremony," Young Master Xuan Hao laughed. "You helped out Sister Ruan Ling when she was in danger, so you can be considered a brother to me as well. I've heard about your current situation from Sister Ruan Ling. You have my gratitude for standing up for her in front of your friends."

"No, no, it's nothing at all! This is what I should have done!" Longshao Wenqin hurriedly said.

"Well then, this is not the best place to talk, so shall we go in?" Young Master Xuan Hao suggested.

"Go in?" Longshao Wenqin swallowed another mouthful of saliva. "Pardon me for asking this, but is Senior part of the Timeless Flame Sect...?"

The moment those words escaped his mouth, Longshao Wenqin felt like hitting himself on the head.

What a stupid question!

Why else would he be coming out from there?

Young Master Xuan Hao was surprised by the question as well, and turned towards Ruan Ling. "You brought him here without telling him about me?"

"Now is not too late either," Ruan Ling snickered and placed her hand on Young Master Xuan Hao's shoulder before continuing. "This young man here is Xuan Hao. As you have guessed, he is a member of the Timeless Flame Sect. However, he is not just any ordinary member. Brother Xuan Hao is, in fact, one of the heir candidates of the ancient sect! This is the person whom you are going to stay with for the night!"

Longshao Wenqin widened his eyes in shock, dumbfounded by the sudden revelation.

Not just a member of the Timeless Flame Sect, but an heir candidate?

That was a lofty character far beyond the reach of regular martial artists like him!

In the presence of someone like that, even the leader of the Thunder Hawk Sect would have to step aside in deference!