Jiangnam Region, Demonic Sect, year 761
There is in total 5 Academy here in Hazhui.
With only 2 of them being the one that trains Martial Artists.
The prestigious Martial Academy Lin-Ren-Bei in the Eastern Province and the Southern Academy that is under the control of the Wu Clan.
And as such, those two attract entirely different spectrums of Jianghu as a whole, with the former appealing to the honorable East while the latter holds those who prefer the purest value of Martial Might.
The Southern Academy has finally started for this year's term, the prestigious academy, under the direct surveillance of the Demon King and the Seven Lord, viewed everyone as a student.
No matter what their background is, if they pass the test, they are welcomed
"Viren, how many children are applying?"
The Demon King, who sits in his veranda, donning the white mask while observing the Academy ground with 'Distant Sight' asks Viren, the masked Heavenly Demon who stands beside him
"Exactly 1000, among them are the 3rd, 4th, 5th,6th and 7th Demonic Prince and Princess. Also among them are the Eastern Kingdom Gu family young lord and young lady, One Blade Sect's Sect master disciple, The Mugeon family 4th Prince and countless others"
The Demon King nods, he then said.
"…Any thing else you would like to add?'
"There is a complication regarding the admission process for—"
"Viren, cut to the chase!"
The Demon King said as if he had seen through Viren round-about way of reporting
"Yes, your lordship, forgive me! The Royal Family wanted the 4th Prince to be able to enter the Academy without any disturbance"
Viren reports are flawless, though he always plays with The Demon King.
He is always praised for being competent in handling external matters despite the task being completely outside of his job desk.
The Demon King, however, finds his playfulness a bit annoying to deal with.
But now, the Demon King really isn't in the mood to joke around after hearing the 'request'
"To dare covet our land, and now they want their child to just waltz into our Sect and let him be free? Tell the Mugeon bastard this, Fuck off"
He said, Viren noted this down and excused himself to deliver the message
"As you wish your lordship. I shall excuse myself"
Viren then disappeared into the thin air
The Demon King sat solemnly in the Veranda, still observing the Academy Ground. There he saw a peculiar scene regarding his kin.
The Academy Ground was filled with children around the ages of 8 to 11, this courtyard was by no means small, it's just that the sheer volume of people here makes the place seem crowded.
Pairing that with the way the crowd chaotically positioned themselves, making the place more crowded than it already is
"Why are there so many people!"
Chen protested as he scratched his own hair.
Nanming on the other hand, was deep in thought.
His nightmare, a few days back, continued to haunt him with both dread and confusion.
Because why would he pull his own heart out? If he did, he wouldn't be here
"Hey Nanming!"
Chen called him out, but he was unresponsive
"Naaaaaanmiiiiiing"
He called out again while waving his hand in front of Nanming face
Nanming then wakes up from his trance, and answers Chen call with a simple
"What?"
"Doesn't this bother you in the slightest?"
Chen looks around warily
"Why?"
"I mean, there are some famous faces around here. The Gu family is here. The one blade direct disciple is here, and I swear I just saw Yuen"
Nanming doesn't recognize any of them, either their names or their presence.
It's either because of the volume here blur his senses or it's just that they are too weak to be able to trigger his senses to begin with
"But that's not what's important, both of our sisters are here!"
Chen looks around in fear, observing any girl he can look at.
Some girl notices his gaze and moves out of the way in disgust while muttering some unpleasant words.
'They really didn't joke around when they said everyone is treated equally here'
Nanming thought to himself, while trying to look for the 'sisters' he mentioned
Then, a figure with the same aura as the Demon King shows up in pair.
They are beautiful. In fact, several male students were gazing upon their forms. Some even do so much as to follow them around.
But then, one of the girls looks at Chen and immediately, both dash towards him
"Chen!"
Both said in unison, Chen was in turn, very surprised and hid behind Nanming
"I-Im not Chen!"
He mutters
The two sisters, however, with their deadpan face. Grab at Chen hands and pull him out of Nanming grace
"No! help me Nanming!"
Chen said he was helplessly being dragged around by the sisters
Nanming has no experience dealing with this kind of situation.
So, he just stood there, motionless.
The truth is, he also doesn't want to suffer the same fate
"Chen! You promised us that we will go to the market yesterday morning!"
One of them said she wears a red hairpin
"…To dare break our oath"
Another one said, she wears a Black hairpin. Otherwise, they look completely identical
Chen can only cower as his face filled with sorrow and regret.
He tried to lower their guard so that he could escape, but the sisters were all too familiar with his trickery and had prepared beforehand
"Don't you dare escape!"
The black hairpin said as she circles Chen hands with a fierce look
"…Forgiveness is impossible"
The other one said, posing with commanding poise
Meanwhile other students were bewildered by this scene, some laugh meekly, others gaze with malicious intent while the majority is angry at Chen for getting the two sister's attention all for himself.
During the sibling's brawl, an unwanted student barges in.
It was the Prince, Edward
"Well, well, well. Who is this lucky fella to be graced with both Demonic Beauty?"
He said with regal tone and posture
Chen immediately tensed up, replacing his playful scared look just a moment ago.
The two sisters look at him, before the red pin one asks
"Who are you?"
"Well Princess Laizha, I am the Royal Prince Edward"
He then took her hand and kissed the top of her hand in regal manner
"Woah, the royal prince?"
"What is he doing here?"
"Kyaaaa we are in the same year as the prince!"
Murmur goes back and forth about his presence, but the red pin sister, Wu Laizha. With her deadpan face just coldly pull her hands back and retreat
"I don't know you…"
She said while her sister, Wu Liza holds her hand
Prince Edward though, remains unbothered as he keeps his regal demeanor.
He then slowly walks towards the two sisters and extends his hand
"Well, I suppose I wasn't worth remembering about. But tell me Princess, the Academy test requires us to have a group of 5 people. Surely you would rather me then this stinky brat?"
He refers to Chen that is still on the ground with a cold look, prince Edward finds it uncanny that he looks just like the two princesses and is somewhat irritated by his demeanor.
He approaches him with fierce look
"Well, stinky brat is too kind of a name for you, how about. Mmmm, Stinky mutt?"
Instantly, the crowd around them erupted laughing, but Chen remained fierce.
He knows that acting out of emotions now is foolish, a lesson he learnt a long time ago now.
And it seems, he wanted to test a new 'mask'.
"The fact that your majesty refers to me as such. Must mean that your majesty knows too well about dogs, well looking at you, I can certainly find the resemblance"
Chen said, an insult that might be too advanced for his age.
The gullible children immediately follow up with a mocking and laughing voice while others prefer to stay silent.
Prince Edward was angered
"You! How dare you insult me!"
Prince Edward then grabbed Chen collars as he prepared to punch him.
Chen remains still, not even bothering to fight back, this is served as a seeding phase for when he wanted to attack him.
Because if the prince did attack Chen now, he would have a perfect excuse to kill the prince—
BLAM
Suddenly, a hand struck Prince Edward cheeks and sent him flying into the air before he hits his head into the marble floor
Chen was dropped back in a thud; surprised expression took over his face.
The one who just defended him clearly took it a step too far to be counted as 'self-defense'
And that figure has a face as white as the moon itself with white hair as soft and silky like an actual silk.
Some girl squeak, some boys were utterly dumbfounded by this beauty out of nowhere
Both the princesses are also shocked, but not by his beauty, they were shocked upon recognizing him during that brutal adoption announcement.
The boy that has killed 3 scary guards that both princesses could never even lock eyes with.
Chen on the other hand, smiles meekly, it's a surprise of course, but a welcome one.
"Thanks, Nanming! I know you would come!"
Chen said, immediately the crowd went to another fit of discussions
"Nanming?"
"Who is she?"
"Oh my god she was beautiful"
"Dayum…"
"Was she someone sheltered? I haven't heard about beauty like hers"
Chen found the conversation hilarious, and Nanming just brushed it off as a mere word.
Prince Edward though, his pride was shattered, he rises once more.
Face as fierce as a tiger as he locks his sight to Nanming
"You Bitch! How dare you wench humiliate me like this!"
He said, he then called his friends.
Two burly boys with bald heads, one had a scar in his eyes and is intimidating.
Several children go out of their way and even run all together
"Ruined her! Oh, don't do it too hard though. I myself, wanted to break her personally"
For some gullible child, they think what he means was beating her up.
But for those who had seen the darkness of this world know exactly what he meant.
Chen then springs up into action, knowing that Nanming was in danger.
But he quickly drops his guards remembering just how strong he is and just decides to stay silent
"Haha, boss. You are a kind man, I'm sure you don't mind if we have a taste of her first, right?"
The scarred boy asks while slurping his mouth in an obscene way
"Hehe, of course! But only once!"
"You sure are kind boss"
The other burly boy said as they both approach Nanming with vulgar look
"Come here sweetheart! Don't make this difficult for us~"
BLAM-BRUK BRUK BRUK
And just as he finished that sentence, Nanming had already begun banging his head on the floor.
Chen couldn't see clearly what just happened, but he knows that a bloodbath will soon begin
The burly boy's head was smashed multiple times that the skin in his head has started to fall off, Nanming stop for a seconds before letting out a deep, unsettling voice.
Truly out of sync with how he looks
"Say that again…"
He said, the scarred burly boy, who can only watch as this scene unfolds were utterly terrified, Prince Edward also has the same reaction
"…Not saying a word? Alright then"
Nanming then drops the burly boy heads onto the floor in his own blood before turning his attention to the scared boy
"…"
Not a word escapes his mouth, but the message is clear. He was next
"P-Please, forgive me young lady I-I mean young lord"
He kowtowed
But Nanming said a word that is a surprise to even Chen
"Forgive you? Tell me"
He then grabbed his head and forced it to look at him
"Why should I forgive you? Are you worthy of forgiveness?"
He said with threatening voice as his face darken
"Did you want to die? If not, then don't challenge death recklessly"
The scared boy peed himself, other children who are present did the same.
But the stench was overpowered by the intense feeling of dread and terror Nanming gave off
"And death is true; no amount of wealth can bring the Dead back to life"
His statement shook many, yet Chen wonders, what kind of life does Nanming had for him to speak about Death so intimately?
Nanming then left both the burly boy and Prince Edward alone, he then looks at both Chen and the two sisters.
They were sterilized by this level of violence anyway so there is no reaction.
Nanming specifically, look at others who have the same neutral face, because it means they are used to this level of violence.
Unknowingly, Chen also did the same thing as Nanming, tagging potential threats.
But for the rest of the students.
The message is clear, what the students can learn from this confrontation is that
1= Demonic Sect is filled with beauty.
2= Demonic Sect is scary.
3= You die if you are killed.
Quite a childish lesson, but a lesson is a lesson.