Location: Azure Flame Sect – Outer Court
The sun was just rising as Jinhyuk returned through the cracked forest path, carrying the corpse of the Crimson Root Viper Queen on his back like a sack of grain.
The guards at the sect gates choked on their words.
"Th-That's a…!"
"A Viper Queen," Jinhyuk said simply.
He dropped it with a thud, sending dust and awe into the air.
> [Quest Complete: Investigate the Corruption]
[Bonus Objective Achieved: Solo Kill of Core Zone Beast]
[Reputation Increased – Azure Flame Sect (Outer Court +200, Inner Court +50)]
[Contribution Points: +4,000]
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The Crowd Gathers
Within minutes, elders, disciples, and sect officials swarmed around him.
"How did you kill this alone?!"
"You're just a new recruit!"
"Impossible!"
But Jinhyuk ignored them. He stepped forward, handed the Viper Queen's Core to the elder in charge, and said—
"Mission complete. I'll take my reward now."
The elder stammered. "Y-Yes, yes of course!"
---
Inner Court Stirred
As whispers spread, Yue Qingxue—one of the inner court's top disciples—stood from her private courtyard, her eyes narrowing.
She remembered him. The strange newcomer with a cold gaze and unimpressive origins.
Now?
He was the one who'd slain a beast most inner disciples wouldn't even approach.
She stepped out in full sect robes, her presence like a blade of pure spiritual pressure.
"Where is he?" she asked.
---
The Confrontation
She found him at the reward hall, silently accepting a new mid-grade cultivation technique, a spirit pill, and 4,000 sect points.
"You," she said, eyes sharp. "Jinhyuk, was it?"
He turned slowly. "Yue Qingxue. Inner disciple. Rank 5."
She frowned. "You know who I am?"
"I make it a habit to know the strong."
Her eyes flickered. She wasn't used to being talked to so directly.
"You weren't strong before," she said.
"I still looked weak," he corrected. "That's not the same."
---
Mutual Suspicion
Qingxue studied him. There was something off.
His qi… it wasn't just powerful. It was composed. Not like someone who got lucky, but someone who knew how to kill.
"I want to spar with you," she said suddenly.
The hall went silent.
Jinhyuk glanced around at the watching crowd, then met her eyes.
"Not interested."
He walked away.
The elder's jaw dropped. The sect shook.
Qingxue's pupils shrank.
But instead of rage—she smiled.
> [Yue Qingxue's Interest: +10 (Curiosity Awakened)]
[New Title Unlocked: "The One Who Refused the Flame Princess"]
[System Alert: Hidden Reputation Path – Azure Flame Sect: Rival Route Activated]
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