"The Duke Chu died five years ago in the Chang’an Imperial Palace. The official story was that he was caught plotting a rebellion by the Imperial Commander, but in reality, he was assassinated by the Pharmacist Moke, falling into a pit in the supposedly safe palace and burned to ashes by black flames. Subsequently, the Duke Jin exterminated the entire Zhao Yuanbao family, leading to the Guzang Zhao Family’s removal from noble status, and the title of Duke Chu was inherited by the Tianshui Zhao Family." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The speaker was surprisingly Beiyou, who described the scene in such detail and in such a flippant tone, as if he were in the tallest tavern in Chang’an, hosting a feast for the most powerful dignitaries, revealing the secrets that ambitious men try all means to hide, with a scornful tone amidst the clinking cups and dishes.

Yet, here they were in the rear village of Shu Dao Mountain, and Beiyou was sweating profusely from the pain of setting a broken leg but still managed to show a sly smile: "If I haven’t got it wrong, Prajna, you were already the Great Guardian of Shu Dao Mountain thirteen years ago? Did you know your family would die without a grave, hence coming to Shu Dao Mountain early to join the Demon Dao? Ha, ha, ha, such profound foresight!"

"I was orphaned young, always cared for by my eldest brother," Prajna’s face remained calm, unfazed by Beiyou’s provocation: "Unlike my righteous and caring brother, I was a mischievous child, brave and aggressive, constantly scolded by my brother. There was a time I’d rather hang out with street thugs than go home and see my brother’s sullen face."

"Later, my brother took over the family business, leading the Military Mansion, and sent me lots of cultivation resources. I couldn’t resist making further progress on the messenger’s path, though I harbored anger, thinking I’d repay everything he gave me. Through inquiries, I found out my brother wasn’t doing well managing the Military Mansion, with several arrogant soldiers disregarding his orders. So, I found opportunities to assassinate them, as too many slept without maintaining their defense barriers... I thought my brother would surely view me differently this time, wouldn’t he?"

"But the result was internecine strife within the Military Mansion, many died suddenly, and everyone guessed the connection with my brother. The incident escalated significantly, and leaders of other Military Mansions feared that given a slight disagreement, the Pillar of the Country family would target them; they clamored for severe punishment of the culprit, all piling pressure onto my brother."

"During that period, I moved every night, terrified someone would come for me. But when the matter settled, no one troubled me until one night my brother found me and sent me to become a monk at Guangming Temple to avoid the heat."

"Later, I learned how often my brother had to humble himself to quell the storm, bleeding and sacrificing for the Military Town’s trust. He personally led troops to conquer the Third-Turn Secret Realm, narrowly escaping death repeatedly, using his feats and rewards to earn the Military Town’s acceptance of his leadership."

"For the five years I was a monk, he wrote to me every month, never mentioning his difficulties, constantly encouraging me to hone my skills so when the heat was over, I could lead a mansion and together we’d prosper the Zhao Family. Those five years passed with me watching the sun rise and set, picturing our reunion day with tranquil sleep, wishing for time to fly by."

As the narrative reached this stage, a boyish naivety appeared on Prajna’s fierce face, like everyone truly saw a young monk in the temple laboring every day, eagerly awaiting his brother to take him away. No one interrupted him, not even the Blood Phase and Beiyou, who quietly listened, curious about Prajna’s past.

"Suddenly, there were two months without a letter. I was so anxious; I left the temple to seek news. I found that my brother was assassinated, bedridden for days, his life in peril. But he couldn’t retaliate as the Zhao Family’s Foundation Establishment ancestor had passed, while the opposing family’s Foundation Establishment was still alive. My brother could only vie within rules, not daring to risk offending a Foundation Establishment for revenge."

"But I dared." Prajna smiled: "At that moment, I finally understood why, as brothers, we are so different; perhaps everything is fate."

"I scarred my face, ruined my voice, completely bid farewell to my past identity, stole the Zen Staff from the An Guo Temple abbot, slaughtered three villages in the Wuwei Military Town over nine days, utterly tainting the Zen Staff black. The enemy, unsurprisingly angered, personally pursued me with his people. I played cat-and-mouse for seven days and nights before finding a chance to ambush, though regrettably I failed to kill him, only crippling his spine."

The crowd looked at his scar-riddled face, the flesh twisted like an ugly centipede, unrecognizable from his original appearance. Even Beiyou and Blood Phase felt a chilling edge, for while Shu Dao Mountain held many who were ruthless to others, few were relentlessly cruel to themselves.

One who is ruthless to himself must be even more ruthless to others.

The Pharmacist’s Wish remarked: "I’ve heard the previous Duke Yan remained bedridden for years before passing; was that you?"

"Not just him," Prajna chuckled: "I thought, having done it, why leave trouble for my brother? During that time, I went around killing and setting fires, to hide my true target, naturally without reservation. Even after joining Shu Dao Mountain as the Great Guardian, I continued monitoring my brother’s situation, occasionally descending to clear obstacles on his path."

"Incidentally, this earned me the notorious name ’Evil Monk Bodhi’." Blood Phase smirked: "Back then, everyone thought you were audaciously opposing the elite Military Towns. Who would have thought you were actually a lapdog for the elite families?"

Prajna proudly recounted his exploits: "I have always been very careful, never implicating my brother. Over the years, I haven’t seen him; he probably guessed something, and the Zhao Family never sent anyone to Changle City. As time passed, no one would remember he once had a mischievous younger brother."