"... What a bunch of wusses."
Celia downed another can of beer. Feeling the emptiness in her hands, she pushed it aside on the counter, letting it fall to the floor. The bartender scowled at her, but she was too drunk to notice his fury.
Conrad lowered his gaze, cradling the can in his hands.
"Keep your voice down. No matter what, they're a clan. We are… just first-rankers."
He didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about mincing his words, but must've been an exception. That being said, Jin hadn't expected Dean to show up either. His demeanor toward Jin was justified, but it still stung him quite a bit.
"This is… frustrating."
His voice was low, barely audible to himself. Sitting between the two, Celia leaned toward him.
"Huh? What was that?"
Glancing at her briefly, he pushed her back slightly.
"You should take her home."
Conrad was about to take another sip, but seeing Celia's condition, he placed the can back down.
"I think so too… Wait. Why am I the one taking her home? You're the one who hasn't had a single drink. Shouldn't you take us both to our respective homes?"
Jin gave him a deadpan expression.
"Do you really want me anywhere near your house?"
Conrad stared at him for a while, unable to grasp the meaning behind his words. The realization came late, but he seemed glad that it did.
"I get it… You don't have to explain."
Exhaling deeply, he stood up. Celia looked at him, her eyes squinted.
"You know what. Let's throw a bunch of rocks on their estate tonight. They might be a clan, but their windows are made of glass at the end of the day. We can also—"
Wrapping one of her arms around his shoulders, Conrad lifted her to her feet.
"That's enough. We don't want more trouble than we're already in. You keep that mouth shut till we get to your house."
Celia parted her lips to say something, but seeing Conrad's sober expression, she lowered her head. Lightly tapping the wooden counter, Jin stood up and followed the two out. The bar was eerily quiet, void of any patrons, which felt strange to him in hindsight. His thoughts were too clouded to notice the absence of noise earlier.
Once they reached outside, Conrad paused and glanced back at Jin. Celia had already passed out, her head hung low as he supported her. The night air felt cool against their skin, a stark contrast to the cramped, smoky environment of the bar.
"Don't do anything reckless."
Jin wore a polite, empty smile and spoke.
"Why would you say that? Do I look like a troublemaker?"
Conrad shook his head.
"You know what I mean… Believe it or not, we're just as much screwed as you are. The best choice we have is to lie low until the Halden Clan and the Hope Guild settle this between them."
He remained silent, then spoke with a wry grin.
"I don't mean to upset you, but you have been sticking out like a sore thumb lately. A month ago, no one knew you even existed. Now, you're being chased down by a recognized clan. I would hole up in my basement for the next few months if I were you."
Jin turned to the other side.
"I don't have a basement."
Conrad wanted to retaliate, but Jin had already slipped away into the shadows. With a disappointed look, he dragged Celia back to their homes.
Jin strolled along the bustling main street, where the soft glow of luminescent lamps illuminated the path ahead, casting a warm light that flickered like tiny stars against the pavement. Each lamp created pools of brightness, framing the darkness that danced between them. Unlike others, he found comfort in the obscurity. To him, those shadows were a refuge, concealing the unspoken stories and hidden fears of the world around him.
The funeral had left him feeling wistful. Before transcending, he had let go of most of his emotions. He didn't feel shame, nor did he feel guilt. Regret had space in his heart, but his mind was too vast to be bothered by it.
However, it wasn't the same for Lian. Transmigrating to this world… to Lian's body, wasn't a pleasant experience.
'Is this really an opportunity from the heavens… Or are they just mocking me?'
His memories were still there, but so were Lian's. The two visages clashed against each other in volatile situations, making it hard for him to differentiate heads from tails. His morality was skewed, and his thoughts were a blur of unresolved feelings.
Of course, he knew what caused it. Clenching his fist, he glanced over his shoulder and entered a narrow alley.
Shifting his consciousness to the Demonic vital qi nestling in his chest, Jin mumbled under his breath.
"You shall open up to the world. Thus, the world shall open up to you."
He had once heard the teachings of the Heavenly Demon Sect, if only briefly. They barely made any sense back then, but now, he felt each word seeping into his feeble soul.
Jin hadn't used a single martial art technique or even practiced martial arts as Lian. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't do so. To be precise, he was far too weak to practice any of the martial arts that he knew of. And he knew too many of them, such that if he had been transmigrated into the body of a fourth-ranker, he could naturally ascend to the fifth rank without even having to attempt the tower's trial.
Nevertheless, he had to play with the cards he had been dealt. He had neither the talent of his past life nor the strength he had accumulated over the course of his life. However, he had something greater than that.
He had the cultivation technique of the Heavenly Demon himself. Backed by Muyeon's vital qi and Jin's experience, he had only limited routes he could take in his life. All those routes led to relying on his vital qi.
And the Demonic Martial Arts were more than just martial arts—they were a way of living. It meant staying true to oneself, opening up to the world for what it was.
'Staying true to myself… How can I do that when whatever I try to do ends up blowing in my face?'
Inhaling deeply, he let out an exhausted sigh.
"Well, when has my life ever been a bed of roses? At least I know better than to kidnap the heir of a renowned clan, considering how it went the last time."
He stopped and turned around, facing the man behind him.
"What do you think, Dean?"
Removing the hood over his head, Dean looked at Jin with a complicated expression.