Lyssar sat down on a flat stone, his calm gaze fixed on Ming. "The Seven Sins," he began, "are not spirits, demons, or curses. They are the shadows of the human heart. Every person, no matter how noble or pure, carries them inside."
He pointed toward Ming's chest.
"Understanding these sins is not about judging others — it's about seeing the truth of human nature. If you can read these sins, you'll know who can be trusted… and who hides danger behind a smile."
He lifted one finger.
"The first is Pride — the belief that one is above others. It gives men strength, but also blinds them. A proud man refuses to learn, and thus never grows. Even great masters fall when they think they can no longer be taught."
A second finger rose.
"The second is Greed — the endless desire for more. Some crave gold, others crave power, fame, or even affection. Greed can push a man to achieve greatness… or make him destroy everything he loves just to gain a little more."
"The third is Lust — not only for flesh, but for any desire that burns without control. Lust makes people chase illusions — things that can never truly satisfy them. A man ruled by Lust becomes a slave to his own longing."
"The fourth is Envy — a venom that turns admiration into hatred. It makes one wish to drag others down instead of rising up themselves. You'll see it often in the martial world — those who cannot match your talent will curse your existence."
"The fifth is Gluttony — the sin of overindulgence. It's not just about food, Ming. It's about comfort, laziness, and distraction. Those who chase pleasure without restraint lose their edge, their focus, their purpose."
"The sixth is Wrath — anger born from pain, loss, or humiliation. Wrath gives strength in battle, but it clouds judgment. When you fight in rage, you stop seeing your enemy — and start destroying yourself."
Lyssar's tone softened as he raised the final finger.
"And the last is Sloth — the sin of stillness. It's the easiest to fall into and the hardest to notice. A man ruled by Sloth avoids effort, avoids change, and convinces himself he is content while his spirit quietly rots away."
He looked at Ming seriously.
"These seven sins aren't meant to be destroyed, Ming. They are part of what makes you human. But if you cannot control them — they will control you."
Ming sat silently, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
He had trained his body to become stronger — but now he realized, strength of heart might be even harder to master.
Ming sat down cross-legged, his eyes half-closed, sinking into deep thought about his master's words. Each of the Seven Sins echoed in his mind — Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth. He began to realize that true strength wasn't just about power or cultivation, but understanding the heart itself.
Lyssar watched him silently. A faint smile touched his lips. I didn't think he'd grasp it so soon… he thought. It seems I was worried for nothing.
"A day will come when all the Seven Sins will no longer dwell only in the hearts of men — but will be born into reality. They will take form, flesh, and will. On that day, the world will tremble, and the line between man and sin will vanish."
After walking for two long days, Soho, Tian Hao, and the monks finally saw it — the majestic fortress city of Xinyang. Its towering walls stretched across the horizon like a mountain range, strong and unyielding. The sight alone was enough to leave them speechless.
One of the younger monks stared in awe. "Senior Brother," he asked, "how could humans build something so enormous?"
Even Tian Hao, usually calm and composed, was mesmerized by the sight. For the monks, it was a completely new experience — most of them were orphans raised in the temple, having never stepped beyond a few nearby villages.
Tian Hao himself had visited several cities before, but none as vast or imposing as this.
Soho glanced at their astonished faces and smiled softly. "When I first came here," he said, "my reaction was the same as yours."
The group joined the long line of travelers waiting to enter the city. As they waited, Soho began to explain softly,
"This city has only two gates — one to the east and one to the west. There are no secret passages or hidden routes. A hundred years ago, the first Lord of Xinyang said, 'A coward runs; a warrior dies with honor.' He chose to die defending this city, and people still honor him for that."
Soho's expression darkened slightly. "But the same can't be said about his descendants."
He leaned closer to Tian Hao's ear and spoke in a low tone, "I've heard rumors about the current Lord. They say he's not as noble as his ancestor. He hides his family's crimes — even murders to protect them."
The monks looked at him, uneasy.
Soho continued quietly, "His son… raped a woman. Instead of punishing him, the Lord silenced the entire family — killed them all to bury the shame."
Gasps escaped the monks' lips.
"And his daughter," Soho added grimly, "was known as the second most beautiful woman in the city. But she couldn't stand being called second. So she murdered the woman known as the most beautiful… and—" he paused, his eyes narrowing, "—she skinned her face, made a mask from it, and wore it with pride."
The monks froze, pale with horror. For those who had lived their whole lives inside temple walls, it was their first glimpse of how cruel the world outside could truly be.
Soho chuckled lightly. "Well, those are just rumors. People like to exaggerate — don't take it too seriously."
Hearing that, the monks sighed in relief, glad to think it was only gossip.
After some time, they finally passed through the city gates. The streets of Xinyang were alive with noise — merchants shouting, horses clattering, and guards watching the crowds.
Soho stretched his arms and said, "First things first — let's eat. Then we'll head to the Beggar Sect branch."
Everyone agreed eagerly, their hunger stronger than their fatigue. They soon found a nearby tavern and sat down at a wooden table.
A waiter came over with a polite smile. "What will you have, gentlemen?"
Soho said casually, "Hmm… some chicken dumplings and a bit of wine, please."
The monks froze. Their eyes widened as if they'd just witnessed a crime.
"Chicken?! You're eating a living being's flesh!" one shouted.
"And wine too? Such indulgence! Such depravity!" another cried.
Soon, all four monks were scolding him at once, waving their hands in disapproval.
Soho flushed with embarrassment, scratching his cheek. "A-Alright, alright! Fine then— I'll have vegetable dumplings and water instead."
The waiter nodded quickly. "Of course, sir."
Still, as he walked away, Soho's face clearly showed a touch of sadness — the quiet sorrow of a man forced to part with his wine.
Everyone at the table was chatting casually, but Tian Hao eyes were fixed on another table across the room. Five people sat there — and among them was a woman with a large, jagged scar running down her face.
Soho noticed Tian Hao's gaze and spoke quietly, "You can feel it too, can't you? They're strong."
Tian Hao turned to him. "How long have you noticed them?"
"Since the moment we walked in," Soho replied, lowering his voice. "But those people… they give off a different kind of aura. Not even the Allinsec leaders gave off that kind of feeling. It's darker — heavier. Like a presence that commands fear itself."
At that moment, the scarred woman turned her eyes toward Tian Hao.
The instant their gazes met, a chill ran through his body. His heart skipped a beat, and a cold sweat formed on his neck. He quickly turned his head away, unable to hold her stare.
For the first time in his life, Tian Hao felt genuine fear — not from a monster or a blade, but from a single human's eyes. It was as if he were drowning in darkness, pulled into a void that had no end.
Noticing the sweat on Tian Hao's face, Soho frowned. "Hey, are you all right?"
"Y-yeah… I'm fine," Tian Hao replied quickly, forcing a shaky smile. "Let's go to the Beggar Sect."
He stood up abruptly and headed for the door, though his hands still trembled faintly. The others followed, unaware of the lingering fear that still clutched his chest.
Once they left, the woman with the scar slowly turned her head toward the spot where Tian Hao had been sitting.
One of her companions leaned closer. "My lord, is there something wrong?"
She smiled faintly, her tone calm and almost playful. "No… it was just a cute cat."
Her smile widened ever so slightly. "Now then, shall we go? We have many things to prepare before the plan begins."
The others nodded, and together, they rose from their seats and disappeared into the crowded streets of Xinyang.