That night, Xie Yue went to visit another fire-type Soul Master. He used the same method as last time—offering money to have the Soul Master melt his whale glue.
He spent four hours there and obtained two melted portions of whale glue. After receiving them and placing them inside his heat-preserving storage soul tool, Xie Yue swiftly killed the fire-type Soul Master. He cleaned up the scene thoroughly and left in another direction, searching for a beautiful woman.
In one of the nearby houses, he found an acceptable target—a family of three: a husband, a wife, and a daughter.
After selecting his prey, he took out one of the melted whale glues and consumed it before entering the room.
Once inside, he unleashed his lust upon the two women. He violated both the mother and the daughter in front of the man, using them however he pleased. He sucked their breasts like a beast and climaxed all over them. After satisfying his desires, he killed them all and cleaned up the crime scene.
Xie Yue didn't feel even a shred of guilt for destroying that happy family. It wasn't that he was emotionless—he could feel pain, he could feel anger, and he could feel joy. But he never placed any importance on things like love, friendship, righteousness, or any other meaningless ideals.
It wasn't as if he had lived his entire past life as an evil person. He knew what was right and what was wrong. He understood love and hate. In his sixty years of life, he had experienced it all.
But in the end, despite knowing everything about good and evil, he still chose the path of darkness.
Why?
Because he understood the true nature of the world. Even within so-called goodness, what lurked beneath was the hypocrisy of human greed.
That didn't mean pure and innocent people didn't exist. They did. But those with pure hearts would ultimately be destroyed and exploited by the so-called righteous people the moment they stepped into society.
So, what shapes a person's character?
It's the environment they grow up in, the people they interact with, and the things they experience firsthand.
People may think their decisions are their own, but in reality, they are merely thinking based on what the world has taught them and imprinted into their minds.
Has anyone ever had the choice to decide what to hear and what not to hear?
The answer is a big NO.
You can't control your ears. If someone talks about something vile while you're walking down the street, your mind will remember it. Even if you don't understand what they said, curiosity will push you to find out. This happens every day. We hear things, we learn things, and we use that information to form our thoughts. That is human nature. And that same nature is what creates the countless different personalities in this world.
If a person's mind is corrupted before they understand the so-called righteousness, they will never truly become a good person again.
Even the purest heart can turn evil, depending on the circumstances they face in life. After all, every child is born innocent, but does anyone remain the same after spending years in this world?
Heh. There are billions of people, each with their own unique character. Their paths may be similar, but no two are exactly alike.
Xie Yue was just another one of those people. But the world he had lived in had shaped him into a monster. A monster who understood both good and evil—and that was what made him truly dangerous. A person born evil was nothing compared to someone like Xie Yue.
So, would he feel pity for that happy family?
Heh. Not a chance.
His goals were all that mattered. The current him had no room for insignificant emotions. His selfishness knew no bounds, his hunger for power was insatiable, and he would destroy anything that stood in his way. He would become the very embodiment of evil itself.
There was no place for foolish sentiments in his life.
---
The next day, around noon, he arrived near the Moon Pavilion after a long journey. He boarded his sect's carriage and prepared to leave. Before departing, he summoned all his hidden guards, observing their expressions. Seeing that their reactions were normal, he continued on his way.
After a full day of slow travel, they reached the STGT Sect by the following morning.
Xie Yue headed to his residence to freshen up. Afterward, he went to meet his father, Ning Fengzhi.
---
Inside the main hall, Ning Fengzhi sat in his designated seat.
Standing before him was a young man—
The young man was handsome, with blond hair and a medium build. His nose was tall, his jawline square. His short, yellow-white hair was neatly combed, and he wore an ornate red-and-gold robe. His presence exuded extraordinary charisma, giving off a refreshing and composed aura.
That blond youth looked at Ning Fengzhi with reverence, while Ning Fengzhi himself smiled warmly during their conversation.
At that moment, Xie Yue entered the hall.
"Fath… Sect Master," he quickly corrected himself upon noticing the presence of another person.
Hearing Xie Yue's voice, both men turned their eyes toward him. Xie Yue was now dressed in a simple white robe with gold linings. His noble charisma, combined with his good looks, made him stand out. He greeted Ning Fengzhi with proper etiquette.
After paying his respects, Xie Yue turned his gaze toward the young man.
This…
Upon seeing him, Xie Yue's red-brown pupils contracted slightly. Even with his mastery over his expressions, he couldn't fully suppress his reaction. He was genuinely shocked. However, the change in his eyes was brief—no one noticed it before he regained his composure the very next moment.
"Haha, Ning Yue~ You don't need to be so formal with your uncle. Come here, let me take a look at you," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile.
For now, he chose to keep Xie Yue's identity hidden from the young man. But sooner or later, he would reveal the truth.
What Ning Fengzhi didn't realize was that this young man was Xie Yue's greatest threat. His decision to withhold Xie Yue's identity had unknowingly averted a major crisis… but the moment he revealed the truth, it could bring disaster upon Xie Yue.
Xie Yue approached as Ning Fengzhi stood up, patting his shoulder before engaging him in casual conversation. After a few moments of small talk, Ning Fengzhi finally introduced the young man to Xie Yue.
"Ning Yue, this is the disciple your uncle took in three days ago. He is the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe," Ning Fengzhi said.
"Ahh~ Greetings, Your Highness!" Xie Yue greeted excitedly, as if only now realizing who he was. But inside, his mind was racing.
Xue Qinghe…
Only he understood the gravity of this situation.
"Little Brother~ No need to be so formal. You can call me Big Brother if you wish~" Xue Qinghe said gently.