Every time I ended a life — when I confronted the pleading eyes and desperate voices of enemies begging for mercy—I couldn't help but ponder.
Why?
Why did they never reflect on their own actions? Why was it always someone else's fault that they found themselves in such dire straits?
'It's too late.'
If one chooses the path of murder, one must also be prepared to face death.
The seeds were sown long ago, and now was the time for reaping.
As I stared into the bloodshot eyes of Wu Hei-Xing, I murmured,
"Why should I take such a risk?"
「...!」
My question hung in the air, rhetorical and heavy with inevitability.
There was nothing more to hear, nothing left to see. Without a second thought, I tightened my grip on Wu Hei-Xing's neck and twisted sharply.
Crack.
The strength in my grip, capable of tearing steel like paper, crushed flesh and snapped bones.
The final glimmer of life vanished from his bulging, lifeless eyes.
His body slackened after a futile struggle, and at that moment, a system notification chimed.
Ding.
- [Lv.135 Wu Hei-Xing] has been defeated! [Note: this is another good example of levels not accurately portraying power. While Wu Hei-Xing is Level 135, Lei Fei was only Level 120.]
- You have gained a substantial amount of experience!
- You have not gained any fame. Revealing this kill could lead to significant repercussions!
Just then, Lee Jeong-Ryong, who was standing about twenty meters away, observed.
"Not a moment of hesitation."
I threw the lifeless body of Wu Hei-Xing aside and replied.
"He was a man who needed to be killed."
"Do you know who that boy's father was?"
"I've heard. One of the guys who hammered the Confucian tombs decades ago." [Note: this is referring to the Cultural Revolution where a lot of ancient Chinese artifacts, among other things, were destroyed.]
"And that young Red Guard grew up to be one of the top powerbrokers in Chinese politics, the leader of the Princelings. Even President Shao Yang can't touch him."
"Wow, what an amazing continent. It's like if a man who set fire to Sungnyemun became the president of our country, right?" [Note: Sungnyemun is one of the Eight Gates in the Fortress Wall of Seoul, South Korea, which was a defensive wall first built by King Taejo of the Joseon dynasty to defend the downtown area of Joseon's capital city, but is now a historical site. In 2008, someone set fire to the gate, destroying it, but it was restored and reopened to the public in 2013.]
"There's no need to try to understand. But one thing you should know is that you've killed the only son of one of the most powerful figures in China."
"Me? No."
I laughed.
"Wu Hei-Xing died after a fierce battle with the Arch Lich."
"...!"
"I told you, I've even set the epitaph. 'A good Chinese is a dead Chinese.' And of course, your tombstone will be next to it."
Lee Jeong-Ryong watched me with an unreadable expression and let out a chuckle.
"What a cunning bastard."
"That scenario you guys cooked up isn't bad. Let me use it a bit."
"Do as you like. It won't go your way anyway."
"Well..."
With a nod towards Wu Hei-Xing's crumpled body, I elaborated.
"So far, it seems things have mostly gone my way."
"That's something we can both agree on."
"What?"
Lee Jeong-Ryong's expression shifted subtly, a thoughtful smile crossing his face.
"Wu Hei-Xing was a boy with little discretion and even less loyalty. Worthless for any intricate schemes, but even such a man has his uses."
"…What bullshit is this?"
"Let me explain."
Lee Jeong-Ryong activated a device in his hand. A beam of light sliced through the thick fog and projected a hologram onto a slab of concrete.
The brief hologram, lasting about ten seconds, vividly depicted the moment Wu Hei-Xing pleaded for his life and my decisive act of snapping his neck.
"Huh."
I scoffed dismissively.
"Good quality. The kind of video that's perfect for misunderstandings."
"Exactly. Especially by a father who's lost his late-born only son."
"Any thoughts of showing the unedited version?"
"Due to the influence of magic, or perhaps a malfunction, it seems the beginning of the video has disappeared."
"That's quite the coincidence."
"Anyone who sees this will undoubtedly be astonished. Those who usually criticize, and even those who revered you, will turn away. The people you care about will slowly crumble under public condemnation."
Mom, Ha-Yeon, and the Peace Guild.
These were the names and faces that surfaced in my mind as I listened to Lee Jeong-Ryong.
Determined, I stepped over the corpse of Wu Hei-Xing and advanced towards Lee Jeong-Ryong.
Step.
"Was this your intention from the start?"
"From the beginning, Wu Hei-Xing was nothing more than a tool. He could never be anything more."
Step.
Simultaneously, Lee Jeong-Ryong took a step towards me.
The energy radiating from him was unlike anything I had encountered before.
This overwhelming presence was the reason Lee Jeong-Ryong remained unflappable, even after the death of Wu Hei-Xing.
The sly predator had at last bared its hidden fangs.
"Damn, I knew all of this seemed too straightforward."
Lee Jeong-Ryong chuckled dryly at my complaint.
"I must compliment you on one thing. You've far exceeded my expectations."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Do you think someone like you could even guess?"
Step.
"Is Team Leader Choi, no, Choi Min-Woo that terrifying?"
"Why don't you just keep quiet?"
Boom!
A massive wave of Qi erupted, slicing through the fog and engulfing the area.
A sharp, menacing aura enveloped me, making my skin tingle. A fury previously unseen now blazed in Lee Jeong-Ryong's typically stoic eyes.
"I've carved out this empire with my own hands...with my own strength!"
The rage he had long suppressed now burst forth vehemently.
Lee Jeong-Ryong's gaze was fiery, his words clipped with intense emotion.
"No one can bring it down. Not you, not Min-Woo, and not even… my Hyung!"
Hyung?
I had no time to ponder this.
Step.
I took another step, heavy and significant.
At that moment, Lee Jeong-Ryong's form seemed to shimmer, distorting like a mirage.
Then, in an instant, the phantom that had been there was gone, replaced by his very real presence directly in front of me.
Whoosh!
A cascade of brilliant light flooded my vision as I twisted my waist and swung White Flames.
In the moment when light met flames, a thunderous roar split the sky.
Boom!
* * *
The explosion was massive.
The high-rise building that had barely held up now collapsed as if blown apart, its glass and concrete bursting into myriad shards that tore through the air.
The shockwave rippled tens of kilometers away.
Amidst the thundering collapses and the cacophony of destruction, I extended my leg.
Swoosh!
Beyond the billowing cloud of dust, a figure stood defiantly, his feet planted on the mere air.
His eyes, usually inscrutable, now blazed with fury.
"Jin Tae-Kyung!"
It was unclear who initiated the charge.
I sprang forward, the ground shattering under my force, while he dove from above, his steps firm even in the void.
Our weapons met in mid-air — sword against spear — sending a massive shockwave reverberating through my frame.
By some unspoken accord, we both recoiled simultaneously, using the debris of the ruined city as footholds to propel ourselves into another clash.
Screech, boom!
With a loud noise, the tip of his sword stabbed straight towards my throat.
Bang!
As I turned my head, a sonic boom accompanied the flying strands of my severed hair.
But it was not over yet.
Sh-sh-sh-sh!
Lee Jeong-Ryong's sword erupted with a dazzling white light.
A mesh of Protective Qi surged along his blade.
Amidst the visual symphony of light, I summoned every ounce of dormant Qi within my dantian.
Three gapjas of Scorching Yang Qi surged forth, igniting like a wildfire through my limbs. The blue flames along my spear's blade undulated softly, mirroring a dragon's tail. [Note: three gapjas is equal to 180 years.]
'Ultimate Tail of the Fire Dragon.'
Whooosh!
With a single, sweeping motion.
Parts of the Protective Qi evaporated, vanquished by the dragon's fiery tail.
Now it was time to rend the weakened mesh with razor-sharp claws.
'Heavenly Strike.'
The Divine Spear of the Fire Dragon comprised merely two techniques, yet they were profound.
The venerable master of the Scorching Clan, who developed this spear technique, was hailed as the "Greatest Spear under Heaven." In his final moments, he left a succinct testament about his life's work.
'This martial art, to which I have devoted my life, remains unfinished. Yet, it deserves to be called the greatest spear technique.'
His words were true.
Indeed, the Divine Spear of the Fire Dragon, with its pair of techniques, stands as a formidable contender for the finest spear art. And...
Boom!
A full-powered Heavenly Strike shattered the Protective Qi mesh, sweeping furiously ahead.
Caught off guard by the ferocious inferno, Lee Jeong-Ryong slashed downward with his sword.
"Ha!"
Swoosh!
The flames split in two at the tip of the sword.
He surged forward through the parted flames, swift as an arrow, delivering a barrage of sword strikes.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Chest, neck, shoulders, arms, and legs...
What transpired could only be described as an instantaneous blur.
Upon witnessing the sweeping sword strikes, which cut through the air like beams of light, a sudden awe overtook me.
'How can I not?'
I am a Hunter. At the same time, I am also a martial artist.
Or perhaps, a being more fittingly called a Player.
On that sweltering summer day when I retrieved a discarded VR capsule from a recycling station, I was bestowed a unique power known as the System, bridging the modern world and the realm of Murim.
But...
Bang!
Lee Jeong-Ryong's movements were flawless — his command of power precise, his Qi control impeccable.
As I weathered his onslaught, admiration welled within me. It wasn't merely about who Lee Jeong-Ryong was, but awe at the mastery he demonstrated.
'I didn't think he was this powerful.'
Having ascended to the Transcendent Realm, I believed there were few in the modern world who could challenge me.
This conviction was reinforced after my journey to Sichuan, where I encountered various S-rank Hunters.
Despite the immense power each possessed, I knew that there were no true martial artists in this world.
In essence, these so-called Hunters excelled in combat but were practically inept at the nuanced control of Qi.
Though Lee Jeong-Ryong had mastered what the modern world terms the Mana Cultivation Technique, I assumed it was no different.
But now I realized.
That assumption was wrong.
Squelch!
A chill ran through my thigh, quickly replaced by a searing pain.
But curiously, as if roused from a deep slumber, my mind sharpened, and my vision grew acute.
Squelch, squelch, shiiing!
Arm, calf, and nape.
Blood gushed, and as his Protective Qi infused into me, my energies became tumultuous.
I stared at Lee Jeong-Ryong, who relentlessly unleashed a flurry of sword strikes.
Sweat beaded on his forehead; his eyes and the confident smirk on his lips signaled his anticipation of victory.
'I don't like this.'
The smirk and the very notion that he wielded such power, irked me. An impulse surged within me, and I swung White Flames.
Boom!
A fierce collision ensued.
Blood seeped from the earlier wounds, and pain flared, but I silently drove my spear forward again.
Lee Jeong-Ryong, now stepping back, approached with a composed smile.
Bang!
Another fierce encounter.
Taking two steps back, Lee Jeong-Ryong regarded me with an expression of mild surprise.
Was there still such strength within me? His thoughts were transparent.
'Of course.'
I muttered internally, tightening my grip on the spear despite the pain, and advanced.
Bang! Bang! Boom!
Three times, four times, five times.
With each clash of spear against sword, with every resounding crash, Lee Jeong-Ryong's expression grew more severe.
The smile that had once played at his lips had vanished.
"Bastard…!"
Gone was the softness of his usual tone, like a cat's paw. Instead, a fierce growl erupted, prompting an inexplicable smile from me.
Blinded by my own prowess, I had underestimated him, but Lee Jeong-Ryong had committed the same error.
His claws, though strong and sharp, proved inadequate to take my breath away.
"Jeong-Ryong."
Inhaling deeply, I drew in a rush of acrid air, the stench pungent. Yet, it seemed to cleanse my very core.
Yes, now I see clearly.
"Let's cut off those claws."
Lee Jeong-Ryong will die here today.