Shi Yun Lan looked at the girl standing before him. She did not lower her gaze and met his eyes directly, faint scars visible on her face. Shi Yun Lan said calmly,
"I don't mind sparing him, but how will you compensate me?"
Members of the main families were allowed to fight among themselves, while branch families were forbidden to interfere unless absolutely necessary. This girl's sudden intervention, without restraint, and her declaration that the boy was her brother made him realize that she too belonged to a main family—and that her status was high. Yet… when he glanced around, he noticed several contemptuous looks directed at her.
The girl said, "I can compensate you with anything you want."
"In what capacity?"
"As the third daughter of the Fro family."
After she announced her identity, Shi Yun Lan noticed even more looks of disdain. He decided to investigate this matter later, having already sensed something about her that drew his interest.
"Then I assume you've heard that it's possible to take followers, haven't you?"
The girl nodded, clearly understanding what he wanted.
"Then I'll become your follower. Please, spare my brother."
Shi Yun Lan sheathed his sword and took her away along with his brother's maid. Shi Yun Erk spoke up,
"Thank you, little brother. I'll take care of her from now on."
Shi Yun Lan ignored him and turned to Shi Dun Mi.
"Take the maid and treat her well. If she wrongs you, you may complain."
"Thank you, Young Master."
Before his brother could explode in anger, he looked at him and said,
"You sold her, and I returned her. She no longer belongs to you from today onward."
The elders dragged Erk away as he began to rage. Shi Yun Lan departed with his new follower and returned to his residence. Bi Ri arranged her sleeping quarters, and Lan sat quietly among his peers.
That evening, Shi Yun Lan summoned the girl. She came accompanied by Bi Ri, drawing many curious gazes—yet there was no mockery or disdain in them. The girl wondered inwardly what kind of person Shi Yun Lan was, that no one dared look down on her now that she was his follower.
Bi Ri and the girl entered Lan's room. Under the moonlight, his features stood out strikingly. The girl studied his face, only now noticing his beauty—were it not for those lifeless, pitch-black eyes, he would have been among the most handsome men. Shi Yun Lan gestured for her to sit, and Bi Ri poured tea for them.
He asked directly, "Tell me about yourself."
She understood what he meant.
"You mean why no one stopped you from taking me, despite me being the third daughter of the family, and why they look at me that way?"
Lan nodded.
"My name is Fro No Phyllis. Everything that's happened to me is because of this." She pointed to the scars on her face, which made her look ugly. "My father, the family head, loved my mother, who belonged to the Blood Sect. When my father discovered this, my mother was already dead—killed by her own companions because, according to them, she hadn't delivered me properly. While I was still in her womb, she placed a curse on me."
Taking breath, she continued,"That wasn't all. After my father killed those attackers, he tried to train me in the ice-element techniques our family is famous for. But because of that, my face was disfigured. Later I learned that I could no longer use any techniques except blood techniques. I obtained some from my mother's belongings, but because of this, I'm constantly targeted by the Blood Sect. Many members of the family were harmed because of me, and I was cast out, as you saw. Some even tried to kill me, blaming me for the loss of their loved ones."
She swallowed her bitterness,"In short… I was born with cursed blood."
She broke down in tears, sobs filling the room. Shi Yun Lan listened without any change in expression. He thought quietly for a while, closed his eyes, and contemplated his art. Minutes passed before Phyllis finally stopped crying.
Shi Yun Lan opened his eyes and said, "I think I have an idea to cure you."
"Yes—going to the Blood Sect. But they would sacrifice me instead of curing me, because of my special blood."
"I'm not talking about them," he replied. "I'm talking about myself. I believe my art can do it."
Phyllis stared at him in disbelief.
"I just need time. You may stay here as you wish. When I need you, I'll send for you."
He signaled Bi Ri to escort her out, leaving the room empty.
Another half year passed.
Shi Yun Lan was challenged whenever he appeared. He fought only twice; after that, no one dared challenge him again. The only way to force him to participate was to pit him against those at the General level—fighters with formidable strength. Even then, he always found a way to win, whether through a lightning-fast move or sheer fortune. He never lost; at worst, a match ended in a draw. No one could stand against the (Aura of Death), the main reason behind his victories.
He learned countless techniques, all of which he could use under the amplification of Death Aura. Gradually, he began to experience flashes of insight into his art.
Now fourteen years old, he had only one year left to reach the General level.
He looked at Bi Ri, who had reached the Expert level and mastered the family's dark assassination arts. She brought him news from time to time while he remained in seclusion. As for Shi Dun Mi, she had finally reached the General level. She came before Shi Yun Lan and bowed deeply—without his training, instructions, and the guidance he arranged with mentors and grandmasters, she had even received instruction from an ancestor at the Supreme level, she would never have achieved this.
"I want to repay you," she said.
"Then take the two girls and gather Black Bull meat for me. As long as they're under your watch, they'll be safe."
"Yes, Young Master."
The girls left together. Shi Yun Lan loved Black Bull meat. The academy's food could not compare to his family's palace, but thanks to Bi Ri, he was satisfied.
Hours passed, and they still had not returned. Frowning, he moved to investigate. A stone connected to Bi Ri—meant to alert him if anything happened—suddenly trembled. He had hoped never to experience that again, but it seemed fate was repeating itself. This time, however, he knew their location.
He left the academy at great speed.
...
"Shi Fus El! You despicable bastard! How dare you do this?! The Young Master won't let you alive!"
Shi Fus El—the man Shi Yun Lan had beaten senseless before—stepped forward, surrounded by a blood-red aura. His severed arm had been replaced by one formed entirely of blood. He said indifferently,
"That's because I hate Shi Yun Lan. And since when did you start calling him 'Young Master'?"
"Do you think you'll get away with this?!"
"Do you know why I didn't touch you? Because we're family. The white-haired girl will be sacrificed. As for the maid, the men will enjoy her a bit before killing her. As for you—if you don't want to die, I'll give you a chance to join the Blood Sect."
Mi wanted to strike him, but she was restrained. Phyllis was terrified, unlike Bi Ri, who remained calm.
"The master will come soon," Bi Ri said.
"No!" Mi protested. "That bastard is at the General level now, and there are others like him here!"
"I'm certain the master will save us."
Minutes passed, until Fus El's laughter echoed.
"You're finally here, Young Master Lan!"
...
Shi Yun Lan arrived at an abandoned village, ruined by monster stampedes and neglected by the academy. Following the stone's signal, he reached what looked like the village council hall. Shi Fus El emerged, bloodshot eyes blazing as he laughed maniacally.
"You're finally here, Young Master Lan!"
Lan looked at him indifferently.
"Who are you?"
The question stunned him.
"I—"
"Not interested."
Shi Yun Lan raised his sword, pointing it at him.
"Release them if you don't want to die."
"Really?" El raised his hands, and many Blood Sect members emerged. Shi Yun Lan thought, 'Fifteen Experts and five Generals. This will be difficult.'
El didn't give him time to move.
"Scent of Blood!"
The muddy ground turned crimson. Numerous illusions surged forth, accompanied by Death Aura, rushing toward Shi Yun Lan. Blood Whips lashed out, threatening to tear him apart. Blow after blow struck him. Mi, Phyllis, and Bi Ri watched in shock as he was battered.
"Master!"
"No!"
Whip marks covered his body, yet his eyes remained closed.
"Blood… blood… blood?"
After five minutes, his body was already mangled. Shi Fus El approached him.
"How do you like the smell of blood? Isn't it deadly—just like you? What, scared now? Didn't you expect a day like this?!"
"Shut your mouth, you wretch," Shi Yun Lan replied calmly. His thoughts had cleared completely.
El struck again with all his might, but this time there was no bleeding—the blood had stopped flowing.
Shi Yun Lan looked at him.
"Are you done? Then it's my turn."
He drew his sword in a flash, Death Aura wrapping around the blade as he aimed for El's neck. Everyone tried to stop him, unleashing bloody attacks, but Lan murmured softly,
"(Art of Annihilation: Blood of the Dead)"
The blood used as weapons went out of control. Lan's strike severed El's neck. He died an insignificant death.
Lan turned to the others.
"That technique was completed today thanks to you. It only affects the blood of the dead. Judging by how the surroundings froze… how many people have you killed?"
No one answered. Lan didn't wait. He raised his sword, gathering blood essence along its edge, and unleashed his intent for the first time. His black sword was shrouded in a lethal, blood-soaked aura that sent chills through his enemies' hearts.
With his aura and control over blood, he moved at an inhuman speed. Every victim fed him more blood, increasing his efficiency.
" If you want to control blood, go ahead—but the blood of the dead belongs to me."
That was Shi Yun Lan's battle. No one escaped the bloody massacre. They couldn't use the blood around them—only their own—and they died with terrifying ease.
One minute. Everything ended in one minute.
Shi Yun Lan freed the girls. They looked at him with concern over his injuries, but he ignored it and turned to Phyllis, who was trembling. She had never seen him like this before. He smiled—he wished he hadn't. Her fear only deepened.
He placed his hand on her face.
"(Blood of the Dead)"
Something extraordinary happened. The scars on her face vanished, and the cursed bloodline began to wither away within her veins. In truth, that blood had never been hers—it belonged to a dead person whose blood they had tried to reuse.
Time passed slowly until it was over.
Shi Yun Lan stepped back as if nothing had happened. The girls were stunned. Fro No Phyllis was now beautiful as a snowflake, with snowy hair and blue eyes. She bowed deeply to Shi Yun Lan in gratitude.
When the Young Master returned with the heads of the Blood Sect members, he received a tremendous reward. Even more shocking was the revelation that he had reached the General level at just fourteen years of age. What drew the most attention, however, was the snow-like beauty by his side, along with his enchanting maid.
Shi Yun Lan could have returned home, but he chose to stay and stabilize his realm. Another year passed, and at last, Phyllis managed to reach the Expert level after a long struggle.