“I give my thanks to the esteemed senior for saving my life” I say with my voice still unsteady as I bow respectfully, hoping it would be enough to have him spare me.

I stand back up after not receiving a response and I truly observe him for the first time.

Short white hair, entirely black eyes with golden pupils, a bunch of tattoos on his arms and a weird outfit made of tight pants and an exaggeratedly large top with some kind of hood, all in black and a snake-like texture. Is it some kind of divine artifact? It could be. His sword is surely one.

As I observed him, while it might have been rude, I realize that he had been observing me for a while too.

Then, he asked me with a very steady voice devoid of emotions: “Where are we?”

“Mt Gehnikjen” was my answer.

He seemed to not know so I decided to elaborate: “It is within the Quin prefecture, Senior”

I call him senior but he looks my age... Though with that power, he is probably an old cultivator who went through rejuvenation, returning to his peak physical body.

I never thought I would ever meet such a strong cultivator. If only the circunstances were different...

Still, even now, after elaborating, he looks like he does not know where we are. No, he looks like he does not know the Quin prefecture at all.

Did he randomly arrive here through some mystical arts?

Is it all simply a coincidence?

Was it simply luck?

Was our fate nothing more than a random happening?

Were the heavens so uncaring about us? Did we matter so little?

“Who are you?” he asked me.

I introduced myself with the utmost respect to him: “Esteemed senior, this lowly one is named Rongxia , meaning "Glorious Sunset" and I am the successor of the Rong clan and the Sunset Blade Style”

He seemed mostly uninterested. Then he said: “So, you're not from the Azure Sky Clan or Iron Blood Pavilion, right?”

“No, esteemed senior” I answered honestly.

He knew the two greatest sects.

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But it felt like nothing else mattered to him when he said that...Could it be that if not those two sects, there was no one worthy within his eyes?

Was he that powerful?

Then, I saw him point at the demons and ask me: “What are they?”

I could not believe my ears. Did he kill them without even knowing they were demons? Would he have killed whatever had been there?

Was he someone not from the righteous sects but from the demonics ones?!

I tried hard to calm my breath, trying to hide my fear, as I answered: “They are demons, esteemed senior”

He smiled: “Right, good, demons”

He seemed oddly satisfied.

So scary!!

Was he a murderous fiend?!

He then asked me: “Where are the Azure Sky Clan and the Iron Blood Pavilion?”

Where? Well, not here!

We are so far from them...Far from anything in fact...That's why everyone died so helplessly...

Forget it, he would not care. Let's focus on remaining in his good book and not being murdered like those demons.

I answered him: “They are very far, esteemed cultivator. It would take weeks to get to either of them”

He seemed deep in thoughts for a while before he simply stated: “Lead the way”

- * -

Meanwhile, back at the Agency, N went to get a coffee after sending Lark away to his first mission.

As she drank a sip within the common room, her female coworker and friend, J, arrived ans started a talk as she made herself a coffee too.

“Heard you received one of the picks from M, lucky girl, you~” she teased.

However, N sighed: “Sure, they are strong but they always die so fast!”

J nodded thoughtfully: “True. It can't be helped that they think they can kill M as soon as they get a little more than 100 Divinity points.”

N agreed sadly: “Yeah...If only those idiots could go past their grudge towards him... No, if only he wasn't such a bitch to them in the first place...”

J chuckled as she told N: “You know that he rarely has a choice. Most of the candidates he picks are those who would be labeled as their world's danger if they refused to sign with us. It's like using death row inmates.”

N nodded: “I know but still, it does leave a bad taste everytime. All those people grew so strong and capable yet they end up having to be disposed of every time, in the same way, because of the same reasons... Why couldn't M simply be nicer? I can't help but question it, you know”

It was at that moment that one of their seniors sitting at the table close-by intruded in the conversation and answered them: “Eons ago, when he began, M was like you wish he was. He used to be incredibly nice. But as the time went on, more and more of his targets refused him. He kept trying to convince them throughout the years until the first became evil and was labeled a 'danger' to his own world. Then the second, the third...And so on. After a century or so, nothing remained of the gentle M, you see. Because he learnt from experience.”

J could not help asking: “What did he learn?”

The senior chuckled as he stated: “A lesson everyone here will learn at some point: Die a hero or live long enough to become the villain.”

“The heroes live in constant search of a higher power and, inevitably, it brings them on a path of ruin where they will have to fight against their own 'World' and become a threat. It is the only outcome and it has always nearly been that way”

N asked: “Is there truly no other options?”

The senior chuckled as he got up. As he left, he told her: “If you find it, make sure to share it”

- * -