Lu Zheng was bewildered.

He asked, “Why do I need to learn internal techniques if your Technique is unity to both?”

Ravyn laughed lightly.

He replied, “I said it is the unity, so if you treat it as an external technique, then you can have an internal technique. After all, the internal technique in my Technique only helped you feel the mana, absorb them, make them your own, and attain higher rank through it with comprehension. If you get rid of that with the same level of internal technique, then you can acquire the external technique concept of my Technique.

By then, it will completely remove the tyrannical effect of the Technique, preventing you from going completely insane.

Do you remember the effect of Ocean’s Qi Heart Technique and its rules? It was the same on the internal technique on my Technique.

If you refuse to abide by the internal technique of my Technique, it will consume you and even break your mana core, to which what you called Qi Deviation.”

Lu Zheng could remember the effects and rules of the Ocean’s Heart Qi Technique, which increases inner peace and mental clarity.

If he continued to oppose them, it would result in a backlash, leading him to receive Qi Deviation.

He certainly did not want it to happen.

Although he was still having a headache processing Ravyn’s information, he got the gist of it.

“So, I must obtain the internal technique equal to your technique, right?” Lu Zheng asked for clarification.

Ravyn hummed in response.

“That’s right.”

“But, what specific rank is it?”

“...”

Ravyn was silent for a while, before replying, “I will just tell you. I still can’t grasp your world currently. You need to explore more.”

Lu Zheng nodded.

Despite having a slight heartache knowing he could not obtain Ravyn’s Technique yet, he knew he would still obtain it in the future.

There was no point feeling depressed about it.

What he focused on now was the future.

“I did not think you are that talkative,” commented Lu Zheng out of the blue.

He even did it subconsciously.

“...”

He received no words from Ravyn, but he felt chills crawling on his spine.

He knew he did something wrong.

“S-Sorry…”

The sudden terrorizing sensation vanished, giving him a big sigh in relief.

Lu Zheng focused on the present, sweeping his eyes to his surroundings and concluded there were no enemies for his sword to be unsheathed.

He mumbled, “I will find a room first and use the Qi Gathering Pills to finally ascend the Intermediate Rank.”

He glanced at the moon and perceived there were still three hours left before dawn.

He could use one hour to rent a single night private room and eat the Qi Gathering Pills to have ten yello Qi Pills.

By then, he would have become Intermediate Rank.

Lu Zheng stride towards the headless body of Yu Long, grabbed the leather pouch, seized the two silver coins, and pushed it on his leather pouch, closing them tightly.

Now, he had three gold coins, fifteen silver coins, and two Qi Gathering Pills, causing it to bulge on his waist, becoming conspicuous.

Yu Long’s leather pouch held no more value on him, as it only possessed hundreds of copper coins, so he casually threw it randomly.

It dropped near the head, causing Lu Zheng to glance at it without changing his expression.

He turned his back from the horrible scene and began to walk away.

Minutes after, there was a noise of hurried footsteps, consisting of hundreds of individuals, arriving at the scene.

Their expression turned ugly when they saw severed limbs, headless bodies, and decapitated heads of the internal members.

Their hearts palpitated.

After all, they were external members of the Scorching Blade Clan, and the corpse of internal members they were seeing was someone they knew… they acknowledged as stronger than them.

However, seeing them in a state where they lost their head, even painting their face in horrified expression on their death – appearing like they saw the God of Death coming to take out their life – instilled fear in their hearts, causing their body to tremble in terror.

The external members on the front even took a step back, their foreheads sweated with bullets, and their breathing quickened.

“Give way!” A shout thundered from the back, snapping them awake.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Soon, they opened a path and looked behind, seeing ten internal members walking past them with an unsightly expression.

They arrived at their fellow internal members’ corpses, and they gritted their teeth in anger.

They closed their fist tightly, causing it tremble, as their eyes burned in rage.

Ever since the sudden war with the Azure Tide Clan, they believed no one would attempt to humiliate them like this, massacring even their internal members, severing their limbs and heads, like it was nothing.

They must provide an explanation about the horrible incident tonight to the Clan Head, or their head would roll to the ground like Yu Long and others.

The most front internal members, while fuming in anger, faced the internal members, sweeping his gaze on the external members.

Randomly stopping his eyes on a certain individual, he pointed at him, saying, “You. You are the oldest here. Report this matter to the elders. Immediately!”

The individual quivered, his lips trembled, as he replied, “B-But–”

“Don’t you hear me?” He received a death glare, and his heart jumped.

He could not refuse anymore as he lowered his head and nodded.

“What are you waiting for? I said, Immediately!”

He was startled, soon turning their back on them as he hurried towards the Scorching Blade Clan headquarters to report it.

He was not expecting to live longer after he reported.

He knew he was chosen because he was older and it would be much better than choosing younger to die early.

He knew the internal member must have a scapegoat to appease the anger of the elder.

And he was unfortunately chosen…

He could only curse his bad luck.

***

Five minutes later, Lu Zheng arrived in an inn near the previous headquarters of the Azure Tide Clan.

He lowered his head, not daring to meet the hurried pace of the members of the Scorching Blade Clan, as though they were panicking.

He glanced at his scabbard, filled with viscous dirt, which he purposely painted earlier to avoid catching others’ attention.

Although it would have been conspicuous to act like a swordsman who could not even take care of his scabbard, it would be much better than to get their attention due to how attractive his scabbard, and possibly his sword.

If that was the case, he would draw their attention longer.

He certainly did not want it to happen.

Furthermore, he also changed his clothes when he saw dried clothes hanging in a line.

After all, his shabby clothes were filled with blood.

When he entered the inn, he was welcomed by the sleeping receptionist, having his hand on his cheeks to avoid falling his head on the table.

Lu Zheng slid his vision inside the place, and saw some group sleeping on the table filled with drinks and empty plates.

All of them were asleep, except the restaurant manager, acting like a bartender, as he was cleaning the bottle of wine.

Since Lu Zhen had a business first with the receptionist, wanting to ask about the free private room he could take, he walked in front of him.

“He–”

“Lu Zheng?”

A familiar voice called him, startling Lu Zheng.

The receptionist awoke. He and Lu Zheng turned their heads simultaneously at the stairs, leading towards the rooms.

There was a boy of Lu Zheng’s age, with average black eyes and hair, staring at Lu Zheng in shock.

Lu Zheng, too, was surprised to see a familiar person appearing before him.

Furthermore, it appeared he had just come from the rooms of the Inn, meaning he had been there for a while now.

Lu Zheng was befuddled why only now he saw him.

Seeing him in the same shabby clothes, he could guess his intentions of coming here.

He was delighted to see him.

Hence, without hesitation, he walked towards him and waved with a smile on his face.

“Zhong Chun? Why are you here?”

Zhong Chun, who appeared genuinely surprised, was filled with trouble when hearing Lu Zheng’s question.

Lu Zheng formed his speculation.

‘He might not want me to take revenge on the clan. I know my brothers really well.’

“Don’t you learn your lesson?” Ravyn’s voice echoed inside his mind, startling him.

“What do you mean?” Lu Zheng asked inwardly, not wanting to act weird, as though he was speaking by himself.

“Whatever,” Ravyn indifferently replied, puzzling Lu Zheng.

“I-I…” Zhong Chun’s voice snapped Lu Zheng awake.

“Don’t worry.” Lu Zheng walked towards him with a reassuring smile.

He moved forward and whispered in his ear, “I will help you.”

Zhong Chun, as though feeling the strike of the lightning, was jolted awake, staring at Lu Zheng in disbelief.

He sighed and nodded.

“Thank you, Lu Zheng. You are really a brother to me.”

Lu Zheng nodded, patted his shoulder, and laughed lightly.

“Of course. Do you think we have forgotten our brotherhood? If you really want to avenge the clan, and so am I. We will accomplish it together!”

Lu Zheng smiled ambiguously, as he focused his gaze on Zhong Chun’s facial expression, which changed after he said the last sentence.

He saw Zhong Chun’s left eye twitch for a second.

Zhong Chun then turned his head and faced Lu Zheng, beamed a smile, and nodded.

He hugged Lu Zheng, patted his back, and said in a grateful tone, “We will accomplish it together, Lu Zheng. Thank you.. Thank you, I am not alone. I hope so…”

Lu Zheng chuckled and patted his back.

“Don’t overthink it. We will be.”

They hugged for three seconds more before Lu Zheng pushed Zhong Chun’s away, his hands on his shoulder, as he said, “Will you not invite me to your room? Let’s discuss more together!”

Zhong Chun hesitated for a while, steeling himself, and nodded.

“Alright. Let us go.”

Lu Zheng glanced at the bartender, staring at him ambiguously.

His stomach growled, but not louder for Zhong Chun to hear it since he had long walked forward.

Lu Zheng patted his stomach, smiled at the bartender who kept his expression vague, as he followed Zhong Chun.

As for the receptionist, he had long back to sleep, dreaming of the woman he had long wanted to bring on his bed.

***

Lu Zheng walked beside Zhong Chun as they arrived on the second floor, seeing a long hallway, filled with doors left and right.

Lu Zheng took the chance to talk with his brother, as he had not seen him for a week.

“How did your mission outside go? I was tasked to catch fifteen horn rabbits. Enough for me to waste a week, running, instead of helping the Clan Elders and the Head to fight against the Scorching Blade Clan.”

Lu Zheng was staring at him, expecting for his answer, while Zhong Chun kept his face straight, seemingly not wanting to meet Lu Zheng’s gaze.

He replied, “We have the same mission. All of us did. Didn’t you meet other members when you were on your mission?”

“Uh… I did. On the first day, I went too far up the mountain to avoid meeting them and fighting to catch the rabbit. You know me, as your brother. I love to fight but I don’t want conflict. I did ask them for a fist fight, they agreed, but they were too weak. Even the top ten external members might not be on the same level as me.” Lu Zheng guffawed.

Zhong Chung laughed lightly and nodded.

“Right? You only entered the clan for a year, but you were the most promising of your batch. You even surpassed me, who was five years in the clan. If we waited for weeks for the examination to determine the top ten external members and the test to become an internal member, I would not have been surprised if you entered the top ten external members.

If best, become top 1!”