Paragon Of Sin Chapter 1 - 1: Wei Wuyin
"No..."
Plop. Plop. Plop.
The silence of the night was broken only by the sound of crimson droplets hitting the cold ceramic tiles of the hall. A heavy, morbid stillness settled over the room.
A male corpse lay sprawled across the floor. His hands were frozen in a desperate grip around his own throat, and his eyes were stretched wide like full moons. Within those bloodshot eyes was a chaotic mixture of malicious hatred and pure disbelief, as if he could not fathom that his life had ended in such a manner.
The blood dripped from a blade that possessed a remarkably pure silver luster. This saber was held by a young man.
His hair was as dark as a moonless night, contrasting sharply with a pair of silver eyes that shone with an unexpected clarity. Standing naked and upright, he gripped his weapon while gazing down at the body. A faint smile, both gentle and innocent, played upon his lips.
The metallic scent of blood reached his nose, but it failed to disturb him. Instead, his attention shifted to the only other living person in the room. A young girl knelt just inches away, also unclothed. Her mouth hung open, dripping with an obscene fluid.
Shock filled her wide eyes, and tears threatened to spill over at any moment. She was clearly paralyzed by the unfolding events, trapped in a nightmare from which there was no awakening.
"S-senior br-brother... Yu..." she stammered, her voice thick with grief and denial. Her mind fractured, struggling to process the scene before her. A wave of hopelessness crashed over her as she thought back to their past and the events that led them here.
She remembered their first encounter during the sect selections on an autumn morning. He had seemed ordinary then, yet he possessed a hidden quality that drew her in. Through his own efforts, he had advanced his cultivation with such ferocity that he eventually won her heart.
It had felt like destiny. In his arms, she had found joy and life. But then, the nightmare took hold.
It was the classic tragedy of the cultivation world. A rival Sect, far more powerful than their own, manufactured excuses to ignite a war. The outcome was inevitable: the Sect’s wealth was plundered, and her fellow disciples—both junior and senior—were slaughtered, enslaved, or forced into exile.
She and her beloved senior brother, Yu Jin, had managed to flee following the fall of their Sect. He had fought valiantly, taking the lives of several enemies and evading many pursuers to keep them alive. Until now.
Her gaze drifted back to the young man standing over them. His black hair was long and spiky, and his shimmering silver eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness of the world. This youth was a core disciple from the enemy Sect, the one who had hunted them down and captured her.
Once she was caught, her destiny was no longer her own. She suffered the plight of an enemy and the weakness of the defeated; she knew she would endure the specific tragedy reserved for women in war. Yet, she had clung to the hope, with every fiber of her soul, that Yu Jin would come to her rescue.
She had placed all her trust in him.
She had believed in him completely.
And true to her faith, her senior brother Yu Jin had arrived with a hero’s entrance and a murderous intent. Only moments ago, despite her current state and the acts she was forced to perform, a small spark of warmth and joy had flickered within her.
Then, with a single stroke of a saber, hell arrived.
The young man offered a slight smile, looking at her as if he hadn't just ended her lover's life.
"You can continue."
His command made her shudder as the foul taste she had momentarily ignored returned to her senses. Horrific memories flooded her mind like a breaking dam.
She had done the unthinkable just to stay alive, hoping to buy enough time for a rescue. Her eyes now burned with a thick, uncontrollable loathing. An intense killing intent ignited within her—a desperate will to fight to the death for the sake of vengeance and her fallen senior brother.
However, the moment her eyes met the cold glint of the saber, her bravado vanished like a popped balloon. The harsh reality of her situation took hold. Given her cultivation level and strength, any attempt to lunge at him would only result in her immediate decapitation.
Searching for any advantage, her eyes landed on the young man’s manhood. It was exceptionally large and perfectly formed, an organ that any man would be immensely proud of.
Knowing her life was effectively over—whether through death or the loss of her freedom—she couldn't bear the thought of this man living in peace. Driven by desperation, she prepared to use her teeth to tear away the one thing that would cause him the most agony.
"Sigh..." A soft breath escaped him, sounding like the whisper of a god of death. Panicked, the girl lunged, but a flash of silver light crossed her vision. Before she could strike, her head was severed from her neck, hitting the ceramic floor with a dull thud.
It rolled across the tiles, stopping only when her wide, crazed eyes were staring directly at the corpse of Yu Jin.
"At least you two can be together in the afterlife." A sharp whistling sound filled the air as the slim, silver-eyed youth flicked his saber. The blood was flung from the metal, leaving the silver blade pristine once more.
"Wei Wuyin, are you decent?" A melodic, feminine voice drifted into the hall. A moment later, a heavily muscled man with bronze skin and dressed in red animal furs appeared.
With a cold snort, Wei Wuyin remarked, "It looks like your Yin Echo Method has reached a new level." He flicked his wrist, and a scarlet robe emerged from his storage ring. He dressed himself with a calm, steady pace.
The attire, including the scarlet robe, bore the colors and emblem of his Sect. On his back was the image of a legendary black dire wolf perched on a mountain, its claws extended in a terrifying strike. Its eyes were depicted with a fierce, murderous intensity.
"It has indeed. Are you envious?" the man with the feminine voice teased, letting out a boisterous laugh.
"Envious?" Wei Wuyin chuckled as if he’d heard a ridiculous joke. Then, remembering something, he glanced at the young man lying dead on the floor. "Chu Yan, was it really necessary to bait him here? He wasn't exactly a threat to me."
Chu Yan’s expression soured. A flash of disappointment crossed his features, though he quickly masked it with a look of boredom. "I don't know what you're talking about. This kid used some strange tricks to slip past our guards and enter your temporary palace. How was I supposed to know? I only realized something was wrong when I felt a surge of Qi."
The words were a blatant lie. His body language and reaction clearly pointed to his guilt, but he didn't seem to care.
Wei Wuyin didn't bother checking Chu Yan's face, treating the matter as beneath him. "You'll be punished for your negligence. Now, get this mess cleaned up." Having given the order, he began walking toward the door Chu Yan had entered through.
"As you wish," Chu Yan replied with mocking deference. He knew the penalty for negligence was merely a loss of resources—nothing significant. He moved toward the bodies to finish the task.
As Wei Wuyin stepped past Chu Yan, his eyes sharpened, emitting a terrifyingly lethal light.
Slink!
A sudden sense of impending doom washed over Chu Yan. He hadn't expected Wei Wuyin to strike now. Before he could move, a blade pierced his temple and sank deep into his brain. A lifetime of words, regrets, and memories flickered through his mind as it was punctured and destroyed. They would never be shared.
As Chu Yan’s body collapsed, his head a mangled mess of blood, Wei Wuyin spat on the corpse with cold disdain. "You spoiled my entertainment, so why should you keep breathing? Garbage."
With a relaxed stride, Wei Wuyin walked out to meet the guards standing outside his rooms. He looked over the men, memorizing each face. "Lieutenant Chu Yan was killed by an intruder's sneak attack. I have executed the assassin. Dispose of the bodies; I will handle the report to the Sect."
The guards stood frozen, their mouths hanging open in shock. While they never doubted Wei Wuyin would survive an intruder, they hadn't expected Chu Yan to fall victim to his own plot. A chill ran down their spines as they felt a dark omen hanging over them.
-----
It was the autumn season. The leaves were turning vibrant shades, dancing in the breeze like forest spirits. The air held a sharp, tart scent, and the landscape was a mosaic of red, yellow, purple, black, blue, orange, and brown.
Perched on a high, sturdy branch, Wei Wuyin watched the area in silence. A camp was situated a short distance away, filled with cultivators of varying ages and strengths. They were all dressed in purple garments marked with a crescent moon patch.
No one in the camp noticed him as his gaze swept over them with cold calculation.
"The final camp..." he whispered with contempt. His own organization, the Scarlet Solaris Sect—symbolized by the Legendary Dire Wolf—had waged war against this Violet Moon Sect. While there were many formal justifications for the conflict, he was aware of the real motivation.
It was all for a woman.
A very specific, remarkable woman.
She was a direct descendant of the Violet Moon Sect's Leader—perhaps a sister, niece, or granddaughter. She was exceptionally gifted, possessed a beauty that could rival a fallen immortal, and was backed by a powerful faction. She was truly blessed. However, in a world where the strong dominate the weak, such beauty and talent only served to invite greed and lust.
And her current situation?
He knew she had already been caught and presented to the young master of his Sect. Her future was that of a plaything—a prisoner to be used and discarded at a master's whim.
Looking up at the pale blue sky, Wei Wuyin shook his head. A look of pity crossed his face as he lamented, "Such a waste to give her to that idiot. If she were with me..." A cruel, callus smile touched his lips. His eyes turned dark and predatory. Licking his lips, he opened his hand.
With a small pulse of Qi, a perfect red apple materialized in his palm.
Crunch!
He took a large bite, chewing loudly without any attempt at stealth. The camp below immediately went on high alert. Several guards looked toward his position, their eyes widening in terror. The sight of his scarlet robes, the very fabric of their nightmares, was unmistakably clear.
He grinned, a bit of juice running down his chin.
"Hello."
"Enemy! ENEMY! ENEMY!!!" the most alert guard screamed at the top of his lungs. He was already sprinting toward a prepared escape route. It was clear his only priority was sounding the alarm; the lives of his comrades meant nothing to him. His reaction time was impressive.
"Clever," Wei Wuyin noted with a hint of respect. True decisiveness was a rare trait among cultivators. "Slay anyone who fights back. Take the others alive." Compared to the guard's frantic shouting, Wei Wuyin's voice was calm and conversational.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Blurs of scarlet erupted from the surrounding brush, surrounding the camp. The members of his Sect lunged at their targets like hungry Dire Wolves. They struck with sabers and swords, weapons of slaughter, with lethal precision.
Anyone who looked like they might resist was cut down, their blood soaking into the fallen autumn leaves.
Wei Wuyin watched the fountains of blood, the agonized screams, and the overwhelming despair. To him, the scene possessed a certain... beauty.
"Hm?"
Something unusual caught his attention. A square cage, roughly five meters on each side, sat at the edge of the camp. It appeared the retreating cultivators had been dragging this heavy thing with them. As a core disciple and the leader of this operation, he didn't feel the need to micro-manage the massacre.
He tossed his unfinished apple aside and jumped down. He strolled casually through the chaos and suffering of the battlefield. His subordinates were efficient, moving around him to continue their hunt for the remaining survivors.
"Please, help me!" A young woman in her early twenties spotted Wei Wuyin’s relaxed walk and realized he was her only hope. She didn't try to run, knowing her own strength wouldn't get her far. Instead, she gambled on a plea for mercy.
She threw herself at his feet, blocking his path. Before she could say more, several blades from nearby disciples lunged toward her with lethal intent.
She let out a sharp squeal.
Wei Wuyin frowned and flicked his hand at the very last second. The closest blade was a mere millimeter from her back. The disciple holding it was a woman with cold, empty eyes. She and the others stopped immediately, looking up at Wei Wuyin’s tall frame and commanding presence.
Wei Wuyin looked down at the girl and smiled. He knelt down and held out his right hand, conjuring another ripe red apple.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
The woman was stunned, her mind momentarily blank until a nearby scream and its sudden silence brought her back. The severed head of a middle-aged man rolled to a stop near her, making her flinch. Her heart felt as though it were being squeezed by a venomous snake.
Was this how she would die?
She refused to accept it!
With a desperate nod, she looked at Wei Wuyin with a mix of terror and hope. She reached out, grabbed the apple as if it were a lifeline, and took a bite.
"Mn. Keep her alive," Wei Wuyin commanded. The disciples bowed. Before the girl could even process her survival, the cold-eyed female disciple struck her on the back of the head, knocking her out. She slung the girl over her shoulder and moved away.
The others offered a quick bow and returned to the task of capturing or killing the remaining enemies. Wei Wuyin ignored the violence, continuing his walk toward the metal cage.
The cage was rusted, featuring a single sliding door and a small opening the size of a ball. That tiny window was the only source of light and air. He ran his fingers over the metal and was surprised by the temperature.
"Froststeel?" Wei Wuyin recognized the material. It was a cruel substance that remained freezing cold regardless of the season. It could withstand normal flames without heating up; only a fire many times hotter than what was needed to melt regular steel could be used to shape it.
He frowned. Being trapped inside a cage made of such material would be a frozen purgatory.
His curiosity grew. Why would a group of desperate refugees go to the trouble of transporting such a cage, and what was inside?
He grabbed the handle and slid the door open. A thick darkness seemed to dwell within the icy interior. As he exhaled, a cloud of frosty mist appeared.
"It's cold..." he muttered, summoning a silver saber to his hand. He stepped inside, looking around with interest. Though the cage was small, it felt strangely large once he was inside.
"Aaah!" A sudden, piercing shriek startled him. He spun around, his blade cutting through the air. However, his strike met nothing but the icy walls of the Froststeel cage.
Before he could adjust, he sensed someone behind him. A sharp pain flared in his neck, and his eyes flew wide. With a guttural roar, he released a burst of Qi from his acupuncture points, an explosion of power radiating from his body.
A dark figure was thrown violently against the cage wall. There was the sickening sound of snapping bones, but the attacker didn't make a sound. Wei Wuyin winced as a burning sensation spread from his neck, fueling a surge of violent rage.
Clutching his throat, he leveled his saber at the figure. Fury and killing intent burned in his eyes.
However, he was met only with the sound of insane laughter.
As he looked closer, Wei Wuyin saw it was a man. He was a youth, perhaps in his early twenties like himself. But his body was skeletal and severely malnourished. His eyes were dark and sunken, and his long silver hair was a matted, filthy mess.
He was completely naked, his skin shriveled and marred by frostbite from the Froststeel. Wei Wuyin could see the marks of extensive torture—scars and bruises mapped across his skin like a network of roads.
The man’s laughter broke Wei Wuyin’s murderous focus, replacing it with curiosity. He pressed his hand against the wound on his neck and narrowed his eyes.
"Why are you here?" he demanded.
"Why are you here?" the man replied in a raspy, gravelly voice that dripped with madness. He sounded completely unhinged.
Wei Wuyin launched a kick. His leg moved like a whip, striking the man's head with lethal force. The sound of bone meeting impact echoed as the man’s head snapped back and collided with the Froststeel wall.
Bang!
"Why are you here?" Wei Wuyin asked again.
The youth, dazed and on the verge of losing consciousness, was unable to answer.
Bang!
Wei Wuyin kicked him a second time.
"Why are you here?"
This time,