50 Settlemen

"Why were you walking down there, Young Master?" Jeric asked while they were on the way to the most inner part of the sect.

However, Lucas was in deep thought. In particular, he was thinking of how a sect must work. Does having a sect master that bows to anyone were okay? He doesn't know, as, in his previous world, the weaker country is obliged to be respectful to the stronger one.

In some cases, a strong country doesn't particularly look down on a weaker country. If they have the same ideas, even without a proper alliance, the stronger country will willingly assist the weaker country.

But in this world where cultivators and sects basically had different ideas about each other, Lucas wanted to know how a sect master should act and think.

"Jeric, why are you calling me 'Young Master'?" Lucas suddenly asked, dumbfounding Jeric.

"Eh? Because you asked me to." Jeric answered.

"But why did you listen to me? Does it hurt your pride?"

"In particular, it hurts my pride, but you are strong, so it is okay to be humble to you."

From what Jeric said, although a bit vague, he just listened and followed Lucas's words because he was strong. Hence, it could mean that he was only obligated to follow him because of fear.

"Then, if we are equals. How should you address me?" Lucas asked.

"Uhm... Fellow Daoist Lucas."

Lucas sighed in the realization that he'd just done it wrong. Since he really didn't know the principles and practices of cultivators, he thought that calling him 'Young Master' like he was when he first visited Arthur Lim was okay.

However, upon realization, he was wrong and almost trampled on someone's pride.

'For mortals, they say, 'You can't put food on the table with your pride'. For mages, 'Pride doesn't bring intelligence'. However, I still don't know what's the pride of cultivators.'

"Then, if I address you, should I say Fellow Daoist?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, it makes me feel we are equal. But it depends on you, Young Master."

Lucas just shook his head.

"Call me Fellow Daoist this time. I should've learned it sooner." Lucas said, making Jeric dumbfounded again and become silent for the whole flight.

'So it was like that. Cultivators take pride in being recognized.'

***

The next day.

As Lucas had already finished his time in the Heavenly Demon Sect, he was prepared to return to the Flower Dark Sect. However, he still feels that he only had a little time to get to know how a sect operates.

As he wanted to solely know it by experience and not by words, Lucas sighed in the realization that he needed to fully grasp it on different sides in this manner.

If he acts like a normal 18-year-old cultivator, what type of sect should he join?

'If I want to start my own sect, I should study more and fully grasp my nature.' Lucas thought.

And thus, after saying his farewell to Jeric, he flew back to the Flower Dark Sect at a speed that can't be fathomed. And just a few seconds later, he arrived at the sect, landing directly in front of the pavilion of the sect master of the sect.

"Welcome back, Senior Expert." A group of cultivators greeted him. They were at least in the Master Spirit Realm and were supposed to be sect elders of the sect.

"Where's T-, Fellow Daoist Thomas?" Lucas asked.

"The sect master is in his quarters."

"I see." Lucas just nodded and went straight to Thomas's quartes. After he arrived, he knocked on the door.

"I'm back with some news," he said to the other side of the door.

In a few seconds, the door opened with Thomas respectfully greeting him.

"Welcome back, Senior Lucas."

Lucas just looked at him with no particular expression. Then, he nodded and sighed.

"It will be Fellow Daoist now. Greet me as an equal, not as a senior."

Thomas was surprised at first. However, after a fragment of a second, he nodded in acceptance of Lucas's words.

"Yes, Fellow Daoist Lucas."

Lucas walked right into the room and sat before a table. He lowered his body and crossed his legs.

On the other hand, the sect elders left the room, and even behind them, no one was standing to overhear their conversation.

"What news have you brought, Fellow Daoist Lucas?" Thomas asked.

"It's about the settlement with the Heavenly Demon Sect. We've finally made a conclusion that someone might have conspired the grudge between you two. And so, the grudge was finally okay. " Lucas said, leaving Thomas dumbfounded just after he sat.

"I-Is that true?" Thomas hesitantly asked.

"Yes, it is. Because of that, I want you to go to their sect to show your sincerity that you didn't plan on killing his son. After all, I know that you're sect won't even benefit from killing him."

"T-That's right. But why would I be the one to go there? They were the ones who assumed and attacked us." Thomas uttered his words with a hint of irritation behind him.

Lucas shook his head.

"No. You have to. Since I went there from here, Fellow Daoist Jeric doesn't trust my words. So, it will be a gesture that shows sincerity."

"It is reasonable, but what if I am attacked there?"

"Silly."

Lucas just sighed again, but this time there was a snort in between.

"Don't worry. You're as good as dead before I came here. So, just go there. I'll be spectating the whole meeting, so don't worry. I also feel that Fellow Daoist Jeric took a liking to me." Lucas said with confidence.

'After all, he showed me the supposed treasure among the treasures of their sect.'

"I-Is that true? Did the sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, who is known to be self-centered, take a liking to someone? Ah. It's you, so it might be reasonable." Thomas said.

'So he had that kind of reputation. That might also be why the disciples of his sect had some ego baked inside their heads.'

Lucas just scoffed and then continued talking with Thomas pertaining to the plan for how they'd meet Jeric.

***

After three days of his fight with Lucas, Richard finally woke up. But he just abruptly stood up from his bed, as he had just had a nightmare.

He looked at his body with perplexity and looked at his surrounding.

"What happened to me?" he mumbled and tried to stand up, but alas, his strength didn't come back successfully.

Because of it, he was tempted to gather his Qi and put it in his muscles, but for some reason, he was unable to gather it.

"What happened to me?"

"Your dantian was destroyed, so it will be futile to circulate your Qi."

Hearing that, Richard became silent and slowly looked at the person who was talking.

"Patriarch!"

He suddenly kowtowed, even though he was just sitting.

"You might be confused about what happened to you. The sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect sent you back after you attacked a guest. And as he was really offended by it, he asked me to destroy your dantian just to forgive our family."

Hearing all those words, Richard seemed to have become a statue, unable to move his muscles because of fright.

"And also, at this moment, we don't need useless trash like you. Prepare your things, you'll be sent to the military."

And at this moment, everything flashed back to Richard's memory. Starting from the start, when his assassin warned him about Lucas until Lucas's sinister face before punching him.