A few days later, the Soul Clan Square.
Dark clouds hung heavy above the square, an oppressive sheet of black, and wisps of grim, icy black energy drifted through the air.
Around the perimeter of the square, dark red pillars stood tall, crafted from materials unknown.
In front of each pillar floated a stone as pitch-black as ink.
An environment like this made anyone who cast a glance upon it feel utterly stifled, enough to drive an ordinary person to panic-stricken helplessness.
Yet, perhaps due to their cultivation techniques and mental fortitude, the people of the Soul Clan found this sort of atmosphere quite comfortable, moving through it like fish in water.
By now the square was already packed with people, almost all of them uniformly dressed in black robes, with only a tiny handful wearing brightly colored attire.
It had to be said that the Soul Clan harbored a deep fondness for black, though the clan did not actually force its members to wear it.
Even so, the vast majority favored this color, which was suited for assassination and reeked of mystery.
Still, in every place there were always those who stood out from the crowd-you all wear black, but I just have to wear a different color to display my uniqueness.
For instance, certain vanity-prone women within the clan, and certain self-proclaimed prodigies-such as those two big brains, Hun Feng and Hun Yu.
At the moment, the two of them stood at the front of the crowd in pristine white robes, backed by a vast, dark sea of people. Viewed from afar, the momentum they projected was formidable indeed.
Meanwhile, Hun Changqing strolled leisurely toward the center of the square, clad in deep black profound robes that made him look no different from anyone else.
Yet even so, his entrance commanded a full sweep of everyone's gazes, and the crowd immediately began buzzing with chatter about him.
As Hun Changqing's gaze swept past, men and women alike lowered their heads in succession.
It was not because Hun Changqing was ruthless and vicious, having slaughtered sects and exterminated clans, leaving such a heavy murderous aura on his body that people dared not look at him.
Are you kidding? Which of the Soul Clan members present didn't carry a heavy murderous aura?
Nor was it because Hun Changqing had accomplished some monumental deed within the clan that struck fear into everyone's hearts.
A lone wolf like him lacked that kind of capability and backing; acting arrogant and domineering in the clan would simply be courting death.
It was entirely because of a face that seemed as though it should not belong in this mortal realm.
The younger female generation of the clan could not help but lower their heads in shyness and experience accelerated heartbeats should he glance at them even once.
As for the males, they too instinctively avoided looking at Hun Changqing, terrified that one careless slip would bend them the wrong way because his looks were simply too rule-breaking.
This left hardly anyone among the younger generation of the clan who dared to easily lock eyes with Hun Changqing.
Upon seeing Hun Changqing, those male disciples lowered their heads one after another and cursed inwardly.
Damn it, what is a guy like you doing looking like that? All the girls in the clan are running off to look at you, what are we supposed to do? Acting like this is going to make the clan's birth-rate planning difficult, you bastard!
Up ahead, Hun Feng and Hun Yu also spotted the fashionably late Hun Changqing.
However, the expressions on their faces weren't particularly pleasant. They turned their heads away in unison, not even bothering to give Hun Changqing the time of day.
It wasn't because there was any deep conflict between Hun Changqing and them; Hun Changqing simply wasn't qualified to offend these two direct sons of the Patriarch who possessed the densest bloodlines in the clan.
Rather, it stemmed from their childhood, when Hun Feng and Hun Yu had constantly vied with one another, neither willing to submit to the other.
On one occasion, the two of them accidentally caught sight of Hun Changqing. Back then they were just kids, and Hun Changqing's looks were ambiguous enough to blur the lines between male and female, while his voice had also leaned somewhat neutral.
And so, those two big brains immediately began ingratiating themselves with Hun Changqing, insisting on becoming friends with him.
Hun Changqing naturally knew what was going on and what kind of thoughts occupied those two minds, and he had originally intended to clear things up directly.
As a result, the moment Hun Changqing saw the various medicinal pills and heavenly treasures they sent over, his eyes went straight.
He immediately began playing along with them, feigning ignorance and playing the fool-whatever items were sent, he accepted every single one without exception.
Later on, the two of them somehow found out that Hun Changqing was actually a male. Each brandishing a saber and wearing a dark expression, they rushed over to interrogate Hun Changqing.
Hun Changqing simply responded with total ignorance, playing the fool to the end.
"You guys never asked whether I was male or female. You yourselves said you wanted to make friends with me and gave me things, so naturally I couldn't refuse your kind intentions."
Those were Hun Changqing's exact words back then. Upon hearing them, Hun Feng and Hun Yu had wanted nothing more than to curse to high heaven, yet they could do nothing to deal with him.
To this day, whenever the two of them recalled what Hun Changqing had said back then, they felt an urge to draw their sabers and hack someone to pieces.
Ever since then, whenever Hun Feng and Hun Yu laid eyes on Hun Changqing, they wore pitch-black expressions, their residual resentment nearly condensing into physical substance.
Hun Changqing also felt a slight pang of a guilty conscience, not daring to provoke the two of them, and unfailingly acted as though he hadn't seen them whenever he crossed their paths.