Chapter 265

“What’s with all these bastards? Don’t they have common sense?”

“Yeah. Fuck, they’re worse than beasts. You can’t even talk to them.”

The Chinese broadcasters occupied ninety percent of the broadcast balconies overlooking the arena. Originally, domestic news stations had booked these seats, but the Chinese had readily torn down the “Booked” signs posted at the doors before making themselves at home.

Of course, the Korean news reporters hadn’t accepted this insult quietly. They loudly cursed the Chinese news crews and sent for an Association official to rectify the situation.

By the time the official arrived, a silver-haired Korean reporter was cradling his head, protectively surrounded by his younger colleagues.

He grimaced and stood up.

“Sir, they stole my news company's seats, and that bastard struck me with his bipod!”

The official’s eyes flicked to the man's bleeding scalp before glancing to the sneering Chinese reporters.

“I’m sorry, but they are national guests. Please show them magnanimity and concede your seats just this once. We will make spots for you elsewhere.”

The official’s tone was soft, evidently sheepish about what he was asking. But what could he do? They didn’t dare to kick out the Chinese news broadcaster. Tensions between the two countries had already reached a crescendo; it simply wasn’t his place to poke the dragon without explicit orders.

The light dimmed in the eyes of the Koreans. The reporter with silver hair sighed. Voice rich with disappointment, he asked, “Is my homeland really so weak? You don’t even dare to stand up for your own?”

The Korean news crew's bitterness was palpable, and the jeers of the Chinese crew in the background further underscored their sour hearts.

The nature of their jobs was such that many of them had traveled far and wide on business trips. Whenever they did, they clearly felt how “quant” Seoul was in comparison. But even so, they hadn't expected that big countries could act with wanton disregard on Korea’s turf.

If Candidate Kang dies today, it’ll only get worse... Our country's future will have lost its sole guiding light.

The Korean news crew's expressions grew uglier by the moment, but under the Association official’s quiet coaxing, they reluctantly left.

In the end, they were guided to a small booth beneath the balconies.

The silver-haired man and his news crew were quiet as they set up their cameras.

Truly, Korea was one of a kind.

There probably isn’t a second country in the world so shameless as to sell off its own National Treasure Candidate to appease a foreign power.

The silver-haired man shook his head.

No matter how frightening China was, the government should’ve stood up for its own. Not only was Jae-Hyeok’s talent unquestionable. It was also a question of a nation’s bottom line. Now that Korea had openly conceded, China’s demands were sure to grow more outlandish from here on out.

Wahhhhhhh!

Just then, the roaring crowd of Chinese spectators drowned out the news crew's brooding thoughts.

Reflected on the jumbo screens, a black-haired boy ascended the arena’s steps.

***

The Chinese spectators erupted in thunderous cheers.

They’re cheering for blood.

Jae-Hyeok sensed the vicious intent.

Whatever. I’m no stranger to scorn. More importantly, what’s with the field dome?

Arcane field generators ringed the arena, casting a spatial dome upon activation. This dome not only protected the crowd but also isolated players from the crowd's noise, preventing distraction and interference.

That Jae-Hyeok could hear the crowd meant that either the field generators had malfunctioned, or

someone

had insisted they be turned off.

Jae-Hyeok’s bet was on the latter.

They want to pressure me.

The crowd was ninety percent Chinese. Jae-Hyeok could make out a few Koreans among the crush of people, but the Chinese had relegated them to the aisles between the seats.

Rather than his homeland, the atmosphere and crowd were as if Jae-Hyeok had flown to China for this duel.

Jae-Hyeok wasn’t much bothered by the noisy atmosphere, but frowned at the treatment of his countrymen.

Meanwhile, the sparse Korean citizens among the crowd were the opposite.

Despite the cursing and shoving of the Chinese, the Koreans were fixated on Jae-Hyeok, their eyes filled with heartbreak.

What an unreliable country...

Is this what we as a nation have come to?

Please, Candidate Kang. You can’t die...

Just then, Jae-Hyeok shifted his eyes from the crowd.

The sound of clicking heels resonated from the far side of the arena. A moment later, Zhnang Soso crested the stairs.

She wore a traditional Chinese dress, vibrant in color and adorned with elaborate trimming.

Today was a big day.

After executing Jae-Hyeok, she planned to announce to the whole world that she, not Phoenix, was Black Dragon Guild’s second-in-command.

Since she was stepping into the limelight, she followed her whims and decided to make a splash.

Executing Korea’s top candidate in these clothes will definitely win me frontpage news across Asian.

Zhang Soso arrived before Jae-Hyeok, straightened her dress, and smiled.

“You didn’t run. Truthfully, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. I’d hoped to see you try to scurry away like a mouse. Perhaps if you had, you might’ve survived for a few days longer.” Zhang Soso blew on her jade-painted nails. “Well, I commend you for meeting death squarely. Now then—”

Zhang Soso’s aura erupted, and tassels of fabric fluttered from her dress.

“Kang Jae-Hyeok, you dared to kill six of China’s talented candidates using despicable means. Today, right here and right now, I, Zhang Soso, will execute on behalf of my great nation.”

At Zhang Soso’s proclamation, the noisy crowd quieted down.

The ordinary people were spellbound by her presence.

Meanwhile, the players, who were sensitive to mana, gulped nervously.

Zhang Soso’s aura truly was overwhelming.

“Zhang Soso... she is greater than the rumors.”

“The purity of her mana is considerable. She’s worthy of being the Qilin’s successor.”

”By this time, Phoenix must’ve obediently given up his position. Judging by this aura, she should be ranked among China’s top National Treasures.”

“Rumor has it that she’s only in her forties. I’m looking forward to the future.”

The more senior the player, the better they were at reading auras and gauging talent. In that sense...

I’m glad I caught you early.

Zhang Soso easily saw through Jae-Hyeok’s aura. Although his aura was richer than most talents, it was still within reason for a candidate.

Jae-Hyeok would’ve grown to become a threat in ten years, but as he was now, Zhang Soso was confident she could squash him like a bug.

“I heard you’re searching for Qilin’s whereabouts. What, did you want revenge for your father? Do you think you’re worthy?”

Zhang Soso’s clothes fluttered even more as she glared at Jae-Hyeok.

“Kang Jae-Hyeok, you won’t die comfortably today.”

Whistling winds drowned Zhang Soso’s venomous whispers. Her aura erupted. And her bloodlust surged to the peak.

“Ugh.”

Some of the audience members groaned.

In particular, the Korean audience members hostile to Zhang Soso were terrified. The killing intent pouring from her was enough to terrify anyone.

Jae-Hyeok had been quietly watching the situation, but now he finally spoke.

“You know. It baffles me that my own countrymen fear you. This is Korea, not China, after all.”

“You speak as if Korea could hold a candle to China. You can only blame your incompetent ancestors.”

Jae-Hyeok nodded.

“Well, I agree with that last part.”

There were some incompetent people—people blinded by greed, people who dragged down his father and the Kang family, ruining Korea’s rising trend.

Jae-Hyeok boomed, “But now I’m here to change that.”

“?”

“I will show countrymen what it feels like to be fearless.”

“Fearless? Hah, says the guy who’s about to die. What a wonderful example you’ll set.”

Zhang Soso snorted, only for her expression to slowly harden.

“A wonderful example, indeed.”

Jae-Hyeok’s aura churned, ebbing and surging with increasing ferocity. Then, he fully released his aura.

The entire stadium trembled.

“Woman, this is Kang territory.”

Three days ago, even Phoenix had been shocked by Jae-Hyeok’s aura, and just three days later, with the Chinese investigation team as the tonic, Jae-Hyeok’s aura had grown even more towering.

Jae-Hyeok’s aura spread out in all directions, enveloping not just the arena but the entire stadium.

"......!"

The restless audience and news broadcasters all lapsed into shocked silence.

Everyone, be it ordinary civilians or the players, recognized Jae-Hyeok’s overwhelming presence for what it was:

Transcendence.

His vast, thick aura misted the sky overhead.

Not a single person remained seated.

Meanwhile, Zhang Soso’s eyes were wide.

“N-National Treasure! You aren’t even in your twenties. How...?”

Zhang Soso awoke from her shock and stumbled back, seeking distance.

Just then, a voice came from the spectators' seats.

“Raise your head and look clearly.”

The one to speak was a silver-haired youth, none other than Shinra Kyeong.

“Kang Jae-Hyeok is the next National Treasure of this country. There’s nothing China can do to stop it.”

Having imbued his voice with mana, Shinra Kyeong’s every word resonated with the Korean people scattered across the audience.

Baaaaaang!

Jae-Hyeok dropped a hand to his hilt and appeared before Zhang Soso, accompanied by a red flicker.

Eyes bulging, Zhang Soso threw her head back and immediately threw up a magic shield.

Blood trickled from her neckline, but before Zhang Soso could collect her wits, Jae-Hyeok shattered her magic shield and was on her again.

In the span of several breaths that followed, Zhang Soso continuously summoned jade-colored magic shields, only for Jae-Hyeok to smash through them like paper, always keeping right on her heels.

The crowd was stunned.

Jae-Hyeok’s blinding swordsmanship reminded them of Korea’s hero of old, China’s greatest enemy—

“The Yaksha...”

The spectators muttered.

Clang!

Clang!

One retreated, while the other advanced.

There was no concept of distance. The two of them were entangled in a deadly dance.

This...!

How could this happen?

Zhang Soso panicked. The revelation of Jae-Hyeok’s true level had stunned her, leaving her slow to react to Jae-Hyeok’s initial attack. Now she was trapped in disadvantage.

A sixten-year-old transcendent... Don’t tell me—could he really be involved in Phoenix’s disappearance?

At that thought, Zhang Soso’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok’s was as flat as ever.

“Is this all you’ve got? China’s so weak.”

Even as Jae-Hyeok spoke, red lights flickered all around him, lashing through Zhang Soso’s barriers and seeking her throat.

The speed at which Jae-Hyeok drew and redrew his sword gave the illusion of multiple red flashes flickering toward Zhang Soso in tandem.

For the first time, Zhang Soso failed to respond.

Her chest was cut, and blood spilled out.

Kang Jae-Hyeok’s execution was on the verge of being transformed into a funeral for the Black Dragon Guild.

“I thought it would be like this.” Suddenly, an unexpected person intervened on the stage. It was a young man with slicked-back white hair.

“The Yaksha’s bloodline is truly formidable.”

“QIlin...!”

Baang!

Jae-Hyeok’s body shot back like a cannonball. Unable to withstand the power of the young man’s strike, he flew off the stage and crashed into the ground.

“Qilin...”

The whole world fell quiet.