"Young Kun, why are you here drinking all alone? " Bai Kun asked, his tone cold and his face stern, like a commander leading hundreds of troops.
One word of his dictated the fate of countless beings, including his. In his stupor he'd forgotten that he was no longer the boy from the past and was instead burdened with a heavy mission. His life was no longer his own.
Spotting the flustered look on the young recruit before him, Bai Kun's expression softened and soon turned into a resounding laughter.
"What are you getting all worked up for?" He said, wrapping his massive arm around Wei Kun's neck, squeezing him into his embrace.
His actions discouraged many practitioners who were thinking of recruiting Wei Kun into their factions. Though the overall strength of the small squad was not a match for all the cultivators, they did not dare make a move.
After all, one must recognise the owner before beating the dog and this hound was within the hands of the Sea Emperor. Some sighed, but those in the know knew that a great change was coming.
"Come, I'll show you what man's true meal tastes like," Bai Kun continued, while dragging Wei Kun out of the tavern into the dark street.
Inside the tavern, the cultivators let out sighs of resignation. They had hoped to perform meritorious deeds by recruiting the young talent into their forces, but it seems the imperial eye had gotten ahead of them.
While they shook their heads in resignation, the young disciple paid his bills and quickly fled the scene before anyone noticed the insignia on his robes – Crimson Blade Sect.
"The Fragrant Pavilion has just unveiled a new group of dancers with large melons." The Squad leader let out a lewd smirk and urged Wei Kun to move faster.
Along the way, he'd shove passerbys out of his way, wishing he could grow two more legs. His perverted words and fantasies continued to the red light district.
All the while, he never noticed the red glint that would periodically flash in Wei Kun's eyes.
This was his chance. His wait finally paid off.
A few days ago, the same troops that had massacred his clan issued a martial order and began accepting recruits. After suffering heavy casualties from the barbarians, they had to replenish their lost men and maintain a strong front against the immortal sects.
It was by taking this chance that Wei Kun joined the army. With his build and less hairy physique, he was taken for a young adult and was naturally accepted.
When it was time for some martial drills: press-ups, squats, and so on, his barbarian heritage gave him an edge and outshone other mortal youths, and naturally gained the favor of the squad leader.
Bai Kun, who valued talent, would've never imagined that he was raising a tiger.
Now he was gonna pay for it.
One.
Just one fatal blow, and he would make Bai Kun breathe his last today.
Then all those dead relatives would finally rest in peace.
However, those murderous thoughts dissipated as soon as they emerged.
Not to mention useless, but Bai Kun was a cultivator. Such an existence was able to crash boulders and move mountains, and Wei Kun was just a mortal; his hand might not even be able to penetrate Bai Kun's thick skin.
Before he realized, they had already arrived at the pavilion. On its entrance was a wooden plank written 'Fragrance Pavilion'.
"Hah aha, this daddy is home," Bai Kun laughed as he hurried inside, forgetting that he didn't come alone.
Wei Kun clenched his fists as he watched the departing back of the Squad Leader. He hesitated. Sometimes he doubted whether he was truly a barbarian. The restraint he had shown was nothing like the rumored savages who even ate human flesh.
However, he knew that this was the wisest choice given his current circumstances. He hadn't truly wasted the opportunity. A smirk surfaced on his slightly immature face as he grasped a small pouch.
Naturally, he didn't spend his solitary days just staring at the passing caravans. When the coachman stopped to take a leak or dump, he would sneak in on the cargo… Throughout the years, apart from human etiquette, his thieving skills had also improved.
Swiping a small bag from Bai Kun, who was already drunk and distracted, was too easy. He slowly opened it, and the golden light came as expected.
A few gold coins.
Such wealth should be enough for him to purchase a good weapon and a wine gourd.
Yes, wine.
Every day that passed with him breathing the scent of humans only increased his blood lust; if he didn't periodically drown himself in wine, he would've lost himself a long time ago.
…
The cold wind rustled under the moonlight, carrying up the powder makeup from the countless brothels nearby. The entire street was decorated with red lanterns, creating a pink glow that earned its name.
Red light district.
Wei Kun could barely stare in one direction for more than two seconds before swaying to the opposite direction. If he didn't catch a couple smothering each other, then he'd find luxuriously dressed young masters courting beauties.
This scene was a stark contrast to the silence of the Kunlun fields. That greenery plane, filled with singing cicadas. He didn't know how long it'd take to get back to the fields.
Would the grass have grown taller when he returned? He wondered as he continued his straw. No. He wasn't enjoying the scenery. If he wanted to enjoy himself, he'd have followed Leader Bai into the brothel and indulged in women.
He was looking for something. Somewhere among all these stalls, there had to be someone selling cheap goods. A moment ago, he had taken a glance into Bai Kun's pouch, and there were fifty gold coins.
Such an amount, if turned into silver coins, could even fill a small jar. So, even if he bought himself a diamond wine cup, he'd still have enough money left to purchase a good weapon. But that's where he differed from normal barbarian brutes, thinking of only pleasure and short-sighted gains.
During his two-day stay, after he had joined the army recruits, he had already asked Leader Bai for some pointers on gaining strength. This was one of the main reasons for his infiltration.
From Bai Kun's mouth, he found out about the mysteries behind human power – 'cultivation'.
Which is just a fancy way of training till invincible.
Those who had trained longer than others had more strength and could command the weaker ones. This was the strength he needed to take his revenge, and to gain that power, he had to undergo a metamorphosis.
The first step was to clean one's body of the mortal impurities acquired during birth, and only then can one sense spiritual energy.
A realm also known as Body Tempering.
To achieve that purification, one needed to soak in spiritual herbs and other special resources. All of which cost a fortune.
Sigh.
Just then, a glint flashed past Wei Kun's vision. His head turned to face a carpet that had been spread over the street. On it were artifacts arranged in rows.
His interest was piqued by the dusty gourd, with a red strand tied on its neck. That silver glint had come from the gourd's side. Something must have brushed off the accumulated dust on its body, and by the silence on the stall, no one must've noticed the anomaly.
Wei Kun's eyes gleamed with surprise. He had found a hidden gem.