The morning sun cast long golden rays over the Sanatan Flame Sect. The recently constructed buildings glistened under the gentle light. Disciples moved about the courtyard with discipline and energy, some training while others tended to their duties. But amidst the calm, the air carried a quiet tension.
Shaurya stood in the heart of the courtyard, his hands, the wind tugging at his robe. Beside him stood his elders and disciples. Then, 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 a dignified bearing, and a striking young man who walked with noble poise. He had golden hair that shimmered like the morning sun and piercing yellow eyes. His royal robes were adorned with phoenix embroidery, his aura calm yet filled with unspoken sorrow. A warm smile played on his lips.
The elder 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 returned the greeting with a nod. "Welcome. 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 took a step forward, his expression sincere. "Greetings, Sect Leader Shaurya. I am Lu Fang, the Third Prince of this kingdom. Your sect has become quite famous lately... especially for your recent clash with the Gu-Lin family."
Shaurya raised an eyebrow and gave a small chuckle. "So? Are you here to object to our actions... or perhaps issue a warning?"
The atmosphere thickened. Behind Shaurya, his disciples subtly shifted into fighting stances, ready for anything.
Xe Fan's face twisted in anger. "How dare you speak to the prince in such a tone!" he snapped. The four guards immediately raised their weapons toward Shaurya.
But before anything could escalate, Lu Fang calmly raised a hand. "Lower your weapons. Now."
The guards hesitated, then obeyed.
Lu Fang turned back to Shaurya with composure. "You misunderstand me, Sect Leader. I've come not to threaten or warn you. I've come to join your sect."
His words stunned everyone.
Even the royal guards stood frozen, expressions shifting between shock and confusion. Xe Fan blinked. "P-Prince... what are you saying? Surely, you're here to negotiate the sect's submission under royal command, are you not?"
Lin Shu leaned closer to Shaurya, whispering, "Something's off. Be alert."
Lu Fang shook his head gently, his warm smile returning. "I never had such intentions. I'm not here to rule or command. I'm here to become a disciple."
He turned to Shaurya. "Sect Leader, you may be surprised, but I have no power in the palace. I may be a prince by name, but in truth, I'm a discarded pawn. A hated person. Someone thrown away by even his own blood."
Shaurya's eyes narrowed 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...
The system suddenly popped up.
[System: Just because you haven't read it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. This is a real world, not a storybook. Your knowledge helps, but don't depend entirely on it.]
Shaurya nodded to himself.
"So, Prince Lu Fang," he asked, "why do you want to join my sect?"
Lu Fang smiled, but his eyes were filled with pain. "I want strength. I want to break through my limits and leave the palace and its poisonous politics behind."
Shaurya asked, "And is there a specific reason for this decision?"
Lu Fang paused. "There are many reasons. But let me start with the most painful."
He took a breath. "My mother died because of palace conspiracies. My father, the king, has eight wives. Eight princes. Four princesses. My mother wasn't from a prestigious family like the others. The king, in his madness, announced a competition among the concubines to choose the main queen. My mother didn't wish to participate, but she was dragged into it and killed in the process."
His voice cracked slightly.
"I tried to fight back. I tried to kill them all. But I was too weak. The palace spiraled into chaos, and the king eventually canceled the competition. Yet, he chose as queen the very woman who orchestrated my mother's death. The richest one. The most vile. I told him everything, but he didn't care."
The courtyard was silent.
Lu Fang straightened his shoulders. "I heard about your sect—how you rose from nothing, how you protected your people, and how you destroyed evil without fear of power. That's 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, visibly shaken. "Your Highness, this is madness. If the king hears of this..."
Before he could finish, the cold edge of a blade touched his throat. Lin Shu stood before him, her eyes blazing with fury.
"He'll do what he wants. If Prince Lu Fang wants to join our sect, then no one—not you, not your king—can stop him," she said. "We will take responsibility."
She turned to Shaurya. "Right, Sect Leader?"
Shaurya let out a long sigh, then smiled warmly. "Well, now that you've said it so passionately... yes. We'll take responsibility."
Lu Fang looked at them, stunned. "Are you really standing against the royal family for me?"
Shaurya's smile deepened. "For my disciples, I'll stand against the entire world. What's a royal family compared to that?"
Lu Fang's eyes gleamed with respect. He turned to 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 thinks herself clever. But I let you spy on me. She really think these cheap tricks work on me. Every maid, every worker in my palace quarters... all her pawns. I know from starting. But I showed you only what I wanted you to show."
Xe Fan's lips trembled. "You... were fooling us all along?"
Lu Fang's expression hardened. "You were born fools. I didn't need to fool you. You fooled yourselves. Every report you sent to the queen—false. From the beginning. You all are under my plan."
Xe Fan stunned and shocked after hearing this. Even Shaurya is impressed.
Xe Fan, enraged, lunged forward, but was knocked down in one clean strike by Lin Shu. The guards drew their weapons, but Shaurya gave a calm command.
"Boys. Kill them."
In a blur, Luo Chen, Wang Tian, Xiao Rui, and Lee Bie dispatched the guards in a heartbeat. Blood splattered the stones. Lu Fang blinked and then clapped.
"Incredible! This... this is what I wanted. Power. Unity. Loyalty. You've earned my complete respect."
Shaurya handed him a sect registration form. Lu Fang signed it with steady hands.
"Welcome to the Sanatan Flame Sect," Shaurya said with a proud smile. "Xiao Rui, Lee Bie, guide him."
Lu Fang bowed respectfully and followed the disciples inside.
Lin Shu walked over and teased, "So, now we have a prince among us."
Shaurya chuckled. "We have people far greater than kings or princes in our sect." His gaze swept across Wang Tian, Elder Liya, Elder Wu, and even Sheng Lu.
Lin Shu smiled. "Then I'll go train the disciples. Don't overwork yourself, Sect Leader."
Shaurya nodded with a grin. "And you don't overburden yourself either."
As she left, Elder Wu turned to Elder Liya. "He never says that to us."
Elder Liya sighed. "Yes... The same man who used to shout 'train harder!' is so gentle to elder Lin."
Just then, Luo Chen strolled over and smirked. "Well, that's because Master loves Elder Lin. Plus, she's not ancient like both of you. So ancient people's don't compl—"
Before he could finish, Elder Wu and Elder Liya blasted him into the air with a single strike.
"Can't you ever speak properly?!" Elder Wu scolded.
"You're more annoying than that dumb emperor!" Elder Liya added.
Wang Tian watched the scene and shook his head. "Sigh..."
He turned and walked away, his cloak fluttering behind him.
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To be continued...