The morning sun cast long golden rays across the Sanatan Flame Sect. The recently constructed buildings glistened beneath the gentle light.
Disciples moved through the courtyard with discipline and energy—some training, others tending to their duties.
Yet despite the calm atmosphere, a quiet tension lingered in the air.
Shaurya stood at the center of the courtyard, his hands behind his back as the wind tugged lightly at his robe. Beside him stood his elders and disciples.
Soon, the two guardians of the sect—Hee Ta and Hee La—stepped forward, escorting a group of visitors from the royal palace.
The group consisted of four guards dressed in regal armor, an elderly man with dignified bearing, and a striking young man who walked with noble poise.
The young man's golden hair shimmered like the morning sun, and his piercing yellow eyes held a quiet depth. His royal robes were embroidered with phoenix patterns, his aura calm—yet carrying an unspoken sorrow.
A warm smile rested on his lips.
The elderly man stepped forward and bowed politely.
"I am Xe Fan, personal caretaker to His Highness, the Third Prince of our kingdom," he introduced respectfully.
Shaurya nodded in acknowledgment.
"Welcome," he said calmly. "May I ask what brings members of the royal family to a remote city like ours—and more specifically, to my sect?"
The Third Prince stepped forward, his expression sincere.
"Greetings, Sect Leader Shaurya. I am Lu Fang, the Third Prince of this kingdom."
"Your sect has become quite famous recently… especially after your clash with the Gu-Lin Family."
Shaurya raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly.
"So? Are you here to object to our actions… or perhaps issue a warning?"
The atmosphere instantly thickened.
Behind Shaurya, his disciples subtly shifted into combat stances, ready for anything.
Xe Fan's face twisted with anger.
"How dare you speak to the prince in such a tone!" he snapped.
The four guards immediately raised their weapons toward Shaurya.
Before the situation could escalate—
Lu Fang calmly raised his hand.
"Lower your weapons."
"Now."
The guards hesitated, then obeyed.
Lu Fang turned back to Shaurya, maintaining his composure.
"You misunderstand me, Sect Leader. I have not come here to threaten or warn you."
"I have come to join your sect."
His words stunned everyone.
Even the royal guards stood frozen, their expressions shifting between shock and disbelief.
Xe Fan blinked repeatedly.
"P-Prince… what are you saying?" he stammered.
"Surely you came here to negotiate the sect's submission under royal authority, didn't you?"
Lin Shu leaned slightly toward Shaurya and whispered quietly,
"Something's wrong. Be alert."
Lu Fang gently shook his head.
His warm smile returned.
"I never had such intentions."
"I am not here to rule."
"I am here to become a disciple."
He turned toward Shaurya.
"Sect Leader, you may find this surprising, but I hold no real power within the palace."
"I may be a prince by name… but in truth, I am nothing more than a discarded pawn."
"A hated person."
"Someone abandoned even by his own blood."
Shaurya narrowed his eyes slightly.
Wait… this feels like one of those novels.
The trash prince who defies destiny and becomes overpowered.
But I've never read one where the prince joins a sect like this…
Suddenly, the system appeared.
[System: Just because you haven't read it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.]
[System: This is a real world, not a storybook.]
[System: Your knowledge helps—but don't rely on it completely.]
Shaurya nodded slightly.
"So, Prince Lu Fang," he asked calmly, "why do you want to join my sect?"
Lu Fang smiled faintly, though his eyes carried deep pain.
"I want strength."
"I want to break through my limits."
"And I want to leave the palace and its poisonous politics behind."
Shaurya folded his arms.
"And what led you to make this decision?"
Lu Fang paused.
"There are many reasons," he said quietly.
"But let me begin with the most painful."
He took a slow breath.
"My mother died because of palace conspiracies."
"My father—the king—has eight wives, eight princes, and four princesses."
"My mother was not from a prestigious family like the others."
"The king, in his madness, announced a competition among the concubines to determine who would become the main queen."
"My mother never wanted to participate."
"But she was dragged into the conflict…"
"And she died because of it."
His voice trembled slightly.
"I tried to fight back."
"I tried to kill them all."
"But I was too weak."
"The palace fell into chaos, and the king eventually canceled the competition."
"Yet he still chose the woman responsible for my mother's death as queen."
"The richest one."
"The cruelest one."
"I told him everything…"
"But he didn't care."
The courtyard fell silent.
Lu Fang straightened his posture.
"I heard about your sect."
"How you rose from nothing."
"How you protected your people."
"And how you destroyed evil without fearing powerful enemies."
"That is when I made my decision."
"I want to leave the royal family and live among people who stand for something real."
Xe Fan stepped forward anxiously.
"Your Highness, this is madness! If the king hears about this—"
Before he could finish—
A cold blade touched his throat.
Lin Shu stood before him, her eyes burning with fury.
"He will do whatever he wants."
"But if Prince Lu Fang wants to join our sect, then no one—not you, not your king—can stop him."
"We will take responsibility."
She turned toward Shaurya.
"Right, Sect Leader?"
Shaurya sighed heavily.
Then he smiled.
"Well… since you've declared it so passionately…"
"Yes."
"We will take responsibility."
Lu Fang stared at them in disbelief.
"You're really willing to stand against the royal family… for me?"
Shaurya smiled warmly.
"For my disciples, I will stand against the entire world."
"What is a royal family compared to that?"
Respect flashed through Lu Fang's eyes.
He turned toward Xe Fan.
"I know you were planted by the queen to spy on me."
Xe Fan's face turned pale.
"W-What?!"
Lu Fang smiled calmly.
"She believes herself clever."
"But I allowed you to spy on me."
"She really thinks such cheap tricks can fool me."
"Every maid."
"Every servant in my palace."
"All her pawns."
"I knew everything from the beginning."
"But I only showed you what I wanted you to see."
Xe Fan trembled.
"You… you were deceiving us the entire time?"
Lu Fang's smile turned cold.
"You were born fools."
"I didn't need to deceive you."
"You deceived yourselves."
"Every report you sent to the queen… was false."
"From the very beginning."
"You were all dancing in my plan."
Xe Fan stood there, completely stunned.
Even Shaurya looked impressed.
Suddenly, Xe Fan roared and lunged forward—
—but Lin Shu knocked him down with a single strike.
The guards immediately drew their weapons.
Shaurya calmly gave an order.
"Boys."
"Kill them."
In a blur of movement—
Luo Chen, Wang Tian, Xiao Rui, and Lee Bie eliminated the guards within seconds.
Blood splashed across the stone courtyard.
Lu Fang blinked.
Then he began clapping.
"Incredible!"
"This… this is exactly what I was looking for."
"Power."
"Unity."
"Loyalty."
"You have earned my complete respect."
Shaurya handed him a sect registration form.
Lu Fang signed it without hesitation.
"Welcome to the Sanatan Flame Sect," Shaurya said proudly.
"Xiao Rui. Lee Bie. Guide him."
Lu Fang bowed respectfully and followed the disciples inside.
Lin Shu approached Shaurya and teased,
"So… now we have a prince among us."
Shaurya chuckled.
"We already have people greater than kings or princes in our sect."
His gaze passed over Wang Tian, Elder Liya, Elder Wu, and even Sheng Lu.
Lin Shu smiled.
"I'll go train the disciples."
"Don't overwork yourself, Sect Leader."
Shaurya grinned.
"And you don't overwork yourself either."
As she left, Elder Wu muttered to Elder Liya,
"He never says that to us."
Elder Liya sighed.
"Yes…"
"The same man who used to shout 'Train harder!' is suddenly so gentle with Elder Lin."
At that moment, Luo Chen walked over with a smirk.
"Well, that's because Master loves Elder Lin."
"And she isn't ancient like you two."
"So ancient peo—"
Before he could finish—
BOOM!
Elder Wu and Elder Liya blasted him into the sky.
"Can't you ever speak properly?!" Elder Wu scolded.
"You're even more annoying than that stupid emperor!" Elder Liya added.
Wang Tian watched the scene and sighed.
"Sigh…"
He turned and walked away slowly, his cloak fluttering behind him.
To be continued…