Regardless of what we do in our lives or how we are proven wrong, people often cling to their beliefs. It’s a curious thing—how the mind works. We can be faced with undeniable proof, yet we find ways to justify our actions and mold reality to fit our narrative. It’s a stubbornness rooted deep within us, a refusal to admit that we might have been wrong.
“Then, by your own rules. You’ve lost.”
Take this man, for example. Even now, with my blade at his throat, I could see the wheels turning in his mind, searching for a way to reconcile what just happened with the worldview he’s held onto for so long. In his world, strength is everything. But what happens when that strength is challenged? When it’s shown to be insufficient?
The truth is, most people don’t change. They double down, holding onto their beliefs even tighter because to admit they’re wrong would be to admit weakness. And in a world like this, weakness is the one thing no one can afford to show.
But there’s another side to it as well. Sometimes, we say things we don’t truly believe, and actions and words are misaligned. We claim to value strength, but when faced with someone stronger, we balk. We claim to despise cruelty, but when it benefits us, we turn a blind eye. It’s hypocrisy at its finest, and yet it’s a part of who we are.
People are contradictions, walking a thin line between what they believe and what they do. They’ll preach about justice yet turn around and commit the very acts they claim to despise. They’ll speak of honor and loyalty yet betray those closest to them when it suits their needs.
And why? Because deep down, we’re all just trying to survive in a world that doesn’t make sense. We latch onto beliefs, rules, and codes because they give us a semblance of order, something to hold onto in the chaos. But when the moment comes, when those beliefs are tested, that’s when we see who we truly are.
“If I wanted to move my blade just one inch more, your neck would no longer be connected. Your head would be spinning on the ground, and this place would be dyed in blood.”
This guy before me is some sort of a leader. He was most likely a two-star Awakened, something that not many people were.
They most likely thought that if they were to bring a two-star here, they would be able to deal with me.
But that can not be the case.
After all, I am a three-star Awakened, and I am not even a normal Awakened myself. I am different, as my strength can not be completely measured in terms of normal cultivation standards.
The man’s eyes flickered between my blade and my face, a mixture of fear and anger playing across his features. He gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw tightening as he tried to muster some semblance of control over the situation.
“If you were to do such a thing,” he growled, his voice low and trembling with barely contained rage, “this city won’t let you go. Do you have any idea who I am?”
I tilted my head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “No,” I replied calmly, “I don’t know you. But I have some ideas.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, his grip on the hilt of his sword tightening. “Then, if you know it, how dare you still resist? Do you think you can get away with this? I’m not someone you can just push around, kid.”
I shook my head slowly, my gaze steady and unwavering. “I’m not resisting,” I said, my tone even. “You and your men are the ones being unreasonable. From the start, your subordinate was the first to bother me, harassing a girl here in this very inn. And then, it was you—the superior—who came looking for me with a threat.”
His face twisted in anger, but I could see the uncertainty creeping into his eyes. The weight of my words was starting to sink in, and the reality of the situation was becoming clearer to him. He was outmatched, both in strength and in resolve, and deep down, he knew it.
“You think you can just do whatever you want because you’re strong?” he spat, his voice laced with desperation. “This city has rules. There are consequences for actions like yours.”
I chuckled softly, the sound devoid of humor. “This city has rules, you say? Then there were those rules when your men decided to harass an innocent girl? Where were those consequences when they thought they could do as they pleased without fear of retribution?”
The man’s eyes darted around the room as if searching for support from the patrons who were watching the exchange with a mixture of fear and fascination. But there was no one here who would stand with him, not after seeing the clear disparity in power.
“You came here expecting me to bow to your so-called authority,” I continued, my voice dropping to a cold whisper. “But authority means nothing if it’s built on the backs of the weak. Strength without justice is nothing more than tyranny, and I have no intention of bowing to tyrants.”
He opened his mouth to retort, but no words came out.
“In any case, thanks to you, my mood is now ruined.”
The man’s eyes widened in surprise, his jaw clenching as he tried to process what I had just said. The shift in my demeanor was unmistakable—I was no longer interested in playing this little game of dominance. The time for talk had passed.
I stood up slowly, my gaze never leaving his. “Since I no longer have an appetite, let’s keep things simple,” I said, my tone cold and devoid of any pretense of civility. “Take me to your superior.”
His eyes narrowed in response, confusion, and anger flashing across his face. “What?” he growled, clearly not expecting this turn of events.
I tilted my head slightly, my expression hardening. “Do you have a problem with hearing?” I asked, my voice dripping with mockery. “I said, take me to your superior. Now.”
His eyes darted to his men, who were standing behind him, uncertain and clearly uncomfortable with how things had escalated. The man’s pride was on the line, and I could see the struggle in his eyes as he weighed his options.
“Do you think you can just—” he began, but I cut him off with a sharp glare.
“I’m not asking,” I said, taking a step closer, my presence looming over him. “I’m telling you. Take me to your superior, or this ends here, and it won’t be in your favor.”
The coldness in my voice left no room for argument. He could see that I wasn’t bluffing, that I was prepared to follow through on my words. The realization seemed to sink in, and I could see the fear in his eyes as he finally understood the gravity of the situation.
“Fine,” he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. “Follow me.”
Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the inn, his men scrambling to follow. I waited a moment before moving, giving them just enough time to realize that they were being watched, that their every step was under scrutiny.
Vitaliara’s voice echoed in my mind as I followed them out. [This is a bold move, Lucavion. Are you sure about this?]
“Of course.”
[You are going right into the enemy’s base.]
“Enemy?” I asked, my tone more curious than anything else.
[Aren’t they?] Vitaliara’s voice carried a hint of confusion. [After all, you’ve intimidated them and threatened them. Doesn’t that make them your enemies?]
I shook my head slightly as I followed the man through the streets, the morning light casting long shadows on the ground. “They’re certainly not people I like,” I admitted. “But that doesn’t automatically make them my enemies. Especially not from the city’s perspective.”
[City’s perspective?] Vitaliara’s voice was laced with intrigue. [What do you mean by that?]
I nodded thoughtfully as we walked. “Do you really think everyone in this city is unreasonable? That everyone acts purely out of pride and nothing else?”
[Isn’t that how humans are?] she countered, her tone skeptical. [Driven by pride, ego, and the need to prove themselves?]
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “If that’s what you think, then you need to broaden your horizons, Vitaliara. Sure, some people are like that, but not everyone. There are those who think beyond their pride and act with reason and purpose. They’re the ones who keep a city running, who maintain order even in chaos.”
Vitaliara was silent for a moment as if considering my words. [You’re saying there are people here who could be allies?]
“Potentially,” I replied. “Or at least people who can be reasoned with. Not everyone in power is a brute.”
At that moment, the man leading me came to a halt in front of a large, imposing building. It was a sturdy structure made of weathered stone with reinforced wooden doors, the kind that had seen many years and many conflicts.
He turned to face me, his expression still one of barely concealed irritation. “We’ve arrived,” he said curtly. “Wait here. I’ll call my superior.”
“Sure,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral. As the man turned and disappeared inside the building, I took a moment to assess my surroundings.
Vitaliara’s voice echoed in my mind again, [You seem pretty confident that this will go your way.]
“Indeed I am.”
[How?]
“You will see.”
A few moments passed in silence, the weight of the situation settling around me as I waited outside the building.
Then, the door creaked open, and a different man stepped out.
‘Oh. This one is legit.’
———————–
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