"I'm the definition of beautiful."

A young woman observed herself in front of a mirror, having a smug look.

Milky white skin, almost translucent. And her long hair, tied to a silky bun was as clean as her skin. Her eyes shone like diamonds, twinkling in front of the mirror.

And the lightning crest on her chest in harmony with the blue robe she wore.

Lightning crest?

This must mean that she was a disciple of the 'great' Thunderous Sky Sect then.

Her whole appearance was incomparable to anyone in the sect.

"I, Soo-yeon, is truly beaut—"

"Don't go there!"

"Please!! Don't!"

"I don't care!"

Soo-yeon glanced at her door and she took a few steps forward.

'A commotion outside?'

The sound seemed to be coming closer to her, and steps that sounded like thunder began to become clearer for her to hear.

"Whoever that is, I'll teach it some discipline!"

"Please! Don't! You'll bring the death of us!!"

"Then, all of you should die!"

Bang!

The door to Soo-yeon's room busted open as if whoever opened it intended to break it. Soo-yeon's eyes widened as she saw three men enter the room.

"A woman?"

It was Yeong-jeon. And from his leg was a disciple, being dragged as he walked forward.

Behind them, Dong-rae followed silently. He looked like he had enough.

"Ah..."

Soo-yeon stood frozen in shock, her eyes and jaw gaped as she watched an intruder enter her room.

How dare these filthy men leisurely barge into her room? Don't they have a sense of respect?

Her shock quickly turned into anger as she glared at the intruders who had barged into her room without warning. Her eyes flashed dangerously, reflecting her annoyance at being interrupted.

"Who do you think you are, barging into a lady's room like this?"

Yeong-jeon crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. The disciple, holding the madman's leg, scurried back and rushed outside.

And Dong-rae, trailing behind, glanced at Soo-yeon, immediately sensing that this was not going to end well. He clasped his hands and looked upwards. He prayed for this girl's safety.

"Lady? You call yourself that? You're out here hogging this room for yourself!"

Yeong-jeon shouted. All must be treated equally. And there are no exceptions to that. The teachings of his father resound with his voice.

The bed was barely fit enough for two people to share. So, the third person will have to sleep somewhere else. He opposed that idea. First of all, he didn't want to sleep anywhere other than the bed. And second, a person must sleep soundly and comfortably.

Many martial artists from before suffered because of the war. What for? There was no reason as to why they had to suffer.

"Why can't you share your room? Don't make our brothers suffer because of your woman-ness."

His eyes wandered around the room. It is cleaner and much more decorated than the other room. And in his eyes, she seemed to value this room more than her peers.

'Don't make our brothers suffer.'

Dong-rae raised an eyebrow at those words. There was no way in hell Yeong-jeon said that after raising his fist against someone who had been here longer than him.

'You just want to have the bed, aren't you?! Cheeky bastard!'

This little squabble caught the attention of the other disciples who had heard the shouting. The rooms opened and the disciples all came out from it, gathering outside of Soo-yeon's room.

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Dong-rae, watching the scene unfold, lowered his gaze.

'It hasn't even lasted a full hour since our arrival and we've created such a mess.'

Soo-yeon's fury only intensified as Yeong-jeon's words echoed in her mind. Her room? Hogging it for herself? The audacity of this man, this stranger, to accuse her so boldly.

"My woman-ness?" she hissed through gritted teeth. "You think this is about me being a woman?" Her voice grew louder, challenging. "How dare you presume to lecture me on sharing and equality when you've barged in here like a brute!"

Yeong-jeon glanced at the gathered crowd over his shoulders, smirking. Every single one of the disciples gathered seemed weak, incomparable to the past.

'If these brats even got the slight taste of the past disciples' training, they would die. Don't worry, younglings. I will nurture you all.'

"I don't care who you are," he replied calmly. "This room isn't yours alone. If you want to live comfortably, you can do it outside the sect."

Soo-yeon's eyes blazed with fury. "You think you can speak to me like that?" She stepped forward, her aura radiating as the air crackled slightly.

'Perfect.'

Although the current sect leader had kindness, he lacked something that Yeong-jeon had, something brutish.

'I'll engrave respect on their hearts. And this is the first step.'

Dong-rae watched as. Soo-yeon approached Yeong-jeon with a nervous expression. It's their first day and this madman was immediately causing a ruckus with someone he didn't know.

He glanced around the gathered disciples, their eyes indicating that they'd not step out and stop this. At that, came a decision out of a whim.

"Perhaps we can talk this out? Let's be respectful and responsible about this."

"Uh?"

"Huh..?"

Yeong-jeon turned his head slightly, giving Dong-rae a side-eye. The smirk was still on his face, but there was a flicker of curiosity behind his sharp gaze. Dong-rae's words reminded him of someone; the way of speaking and actions it was all familiar to him.

'This feels too familiar...'

***

"Yeong-jeon! Apologize to Mu-hyeon right now!"

The voice resonated throughout the mountains. And disciples, wearing a striking blue robes with lightning crests on their chests, gathered, forming a circle around them.

"Ugh..."

A groan of distaste left Yeong-jeon's lips. And he glanced at his side, seeing Mu-hyeon covered in lumps and bruises, his clothes tattered and dirty.

"What're you doing? Apologize now!"

"Yes, father."

Yeong-jeon reluctantly straightened his position and turned to Mu-hyeon, extending his hand.

"I apologize, Mu-hyeon... Uhh... I would never do it again."

Yeong-jeon's voice lacked any sincerity as he extended his hand, his eyes betraying his disinterest in the apology. Mu-hyeon, still trembling from the earlier beating, hesitated before grasping Yeong-jeon's hand. There was a moment of silence, thick with tension as the crowd of disciples watched, holding their breath.

Mu-hyeon's grip was weak, and as soon as the handshake ended, Yeong-jeon turned his back, not even bothering to hide his contempt.

"Good," his father's voice rang out, commanding authority. "Now remember, Yeong-jeon, strength isn't about domination. It's about respect and responsibility. Never forget that."

Yeong-jeon clenched his fists, his jaw tight. His father's words echoed in his head, but they only fueled his resentment. 'Respect? Responsibility? That's what weakens people. I'll show them what real power is.'

***

'Respect...'

Yeong-jeon blinked, his eyes focusing back on Dong-rae, who stood in front of him now. The familiarity of the scene made something stir within him, but he quickly brushed it off.

"So, you really think talking will fix this, huh?" Yeong-jeon said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Dong-rae nodded cautiously. "It's better than spilling blood over a bed, don't you think?"

Well, arguing with a brick wall wouldn't solve the problem at hand so he turned to Soo-yeon. Surely, she'll comply and calm the situation.

"As of right now, I, Dong-rae, and Yeong-jeon are in the current possession of the room... Uhh..."

"..."

"..."

"Anyways. Perhaps we can discuss a—"

"Ugh. Stop talking like a noble bastard, street rat."

Dong-rae froze at Soo-yeon's sharp words, her disdain cutting through the tension like a blade. His attempt at diplomacy, however awkward, was met with nothing but scorn. Soo-yeon's gaze was cold, her earlier fury simmering beneath the surface.

"Street rat?"

Dong-rae echoed softly, his expression turning blank.

He had grown used to insults, but the way she delivered it, with such venom, stung more than he expected. Well, she isn't too far from the truth.

Soo-yeon stepped closer, towering over Dong-rae, her aura radiating arrogance.

"Listen here, I'm not going to share a room with anybody! Etch that on your skulls!"

Dong-rae took a few steps back.

"Let's solve this without vio—"

"Solve what? Do you think I'm going to give up my room because you asked nicely? You're both out of your minds."

Soo-yeon scoffed.

Yeong-jeon stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. He stretched his neck a few times, creating a cracking sound.

"Then maybe it's time you learned a lesson in humility."

Soo-yeon's aura flared again, the air crackling with tension. "You want to fight me, brute? I'll make sure you regret it."

Before either could make a move, Dong-rae raised his hands, stepping between them again. "Wait! We don't need to fight. This isn't worth it. Look, we just got here. Can we at least try to get along?"

"Get along? You two urchins getting along with me? Impossible!"

"I've had enough of your mouth," Yeong-jeon muttered, his voice low. His hand twitched, his body ready to act.

But before things could escalate further, Dong-rae stepped between them once more, his hands raised in a desperate attempt to calm the situation.

"Please, let's not make this worse. We're all new here, and we're going to have to see each other every day. Can we just—"

"Stay out of this urchin! Stop acting all pacifist, you're annoying m—"

Thwack!

At that, Yeong-jeon's fist moved instinctively, connecting with Soo-yeon's lower jaw, launching her upwards.

"...?!"

'Now, he has done it... We're dead.'

The other disciples outside had their mouths wide from shock as this new disciple mercilessly struck Soo-yeon.

With a large grin, Yeong-jeon turned to the crowd of disciples.

"Don't speak a word of this outside or..."

"We will not!"

Dong-rae looked upwards, sighing in defeat.

'I can't believe this... Now an asura has entered hell.'

Yeong-jeon sneered mischievously, closing in on the other disciples.

'I'm the one who will teach you all discipline. Hehehe~'

Slowly, he raised his fist against the poor disciples.

-Yeong-jeon, please don't do it...

A large scream erupted from the boarding house at that time. And Dong-rae watched as the other disciples screamed and ran in fright. Yeong-jeon, no matter how fast the other disciples ran, would always catch up to them and beat them to a pulp.

Now, Dong-rae watched from the corner as Yeong-jeon sat atop a poor disciple's back. The other disciples were bowing their heads to this madman in front. What's more surprising was the arrogant woman earlier who was bowing alongside the other disciples.

Actually, he felt pity for them and wanted to pat them all on the back as he watched them.

'This is a sight.'

But he can't deny that this scene was an amusing sight.

"Well, I think that settles things," Yeong-jeon said, cracking his knuckles. "Now, remember—this place runs on respect. And you're going to respect me from now on, got it?"

The gathered disciples nodded weakly, too beaten down to argue. Soo-yeon's glare from earlier was nowhere to be found.

Yeong-jeon, who noticed this, gestured for her to come closer. Now that he had ensued discipline onto them, it was time to gather information.

-Discipline? You brat!

'Don't ruin the moment now, father.'

Taking a deep breath, Soo-yeon stepped forward reluctantly, her face betraying her fury, but her voice remained coldly composed.

"What do you want?"

Yeong-jeon grinned, leaning back casually.

"Why is this sect such a shithole?"

The Thunderous Sky Sect was pushed out of its glory. How did it become like this? He had to know. But there's something more important to him than this sect.

"Uh?"

"Please, answer."

"It—"

"Stop. Please answer this other question instead."

Soo-yeon clenched her fist but only nodded and let Yeong-jeon continue.

"Do you know who the Heavenly Lightning Advocate is?"

"Heavenly Lightning Advocate..?"

It was the title of his father in the past. Although his father hated it, the people kept calling him 'The Heavenly Lightning Advocate'.

"You really don't know, do you?" Yeong-jeon's voice was low, almost disappointed.

Soo-yeon, still seething from the earlier confrontation, shook her head, narrowing her eyes. "Heavenly Lightning Advocate? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Yeong-jeon's smile faltered for a brief moment before he regained his composure, his eyes sharp.

Every disciple in the past was lectured about the history of the sect. Of course, as the only son of the sect leader, he learned it too. To be precise, he had thousands of volumes worth of martial arts and history in his brain.

For once, he wanted to lecture these brats about the history of the Thunderous Sky. Fortunately, he stopped himself from doing so.

'This is hell.'

"Ah, forget it. It's getting late, go to sleep."

'Rest and recover. You'll need it for my training. Hehehe...'

The heavens will not expect what Yeong-jeon was going to do to 'nurture' these disciples. The sect was in ruins, not even comparable to a third-grade sect. For now, he could only do one thing; that is to build these brats and make their strength known all throughout the land.

He will take the first step and the others will follow until they've found their path.