Chapter 140

[Translator – Prøks]

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Chapter 140: PR Ambassador

The next morning.

It wasn’t difficult to get in touch with the Sword Saint, Divine Spear, Poison Demon, and Fist King. Asking them for a simple favor—a sparring session with Isabella—was just as easy.

The Sword Sect.

It had been a very long time since he had visited this place.

He headed inside, accompanied by Isabella trailing behind him.

There, the four Awakened Ones were already gathered.

“Thank you, elders. I appreciate you readily accepting my request and preparing this space.”

“Minwoo, it’s only natural that we oblige your request.”

The Sword Saint, representing the group, smiled warmly and looked at him with a pleased expression.

The other three elders reacted similarly.

The Fist King rushed towards him and enveloped him in a rough embrace with his muscular arms.

“Hahaha! You pretty thing! Thank you! Thanks to you, training has been so much fun lately!”

“E-Elder, you’re hurting me a bit…”

“Oh my. Why is such a young man so frail? Should I get you some tonic?”

It wasn’t that Minwoo was frail; it was the Fist King’s strength that was beyond imagination.

‘Even without his equipment, what kind of strength is this…?’

At that moment.

Just then, the Divine Spear intervened and spoke politely.

“I’ve learned a lot thanks to you. I thought I’d be lucky just to not regress in my old age… Thank you.”

Even the Poison Demon, who was humming and nodding vigorously behind him, seemed to agree.

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like all three elders had made some progress.

“Well, I suppose.

While Sword Saint was the best of them, it wasn’t like the other three Awakened Ones were far behind.

At most, they were just half a step behind. Even that much was enough to be considered top-tier talent in the world.

Considering they had received some significant enlightenment, it wasn’t surprising that they had made progress since then.

After all, that was already four months ago.

If the Sword Saint had awakened his heart-sword in just one month, four months was more than enough time for the others to achieve something as well.

In any case.

Although he had received their contact information in the past, he had only occasionally sent greetings and donations since he had no immediate need to use it.

But now seemed like a good opportunity to take advantage of the chance.

He handed earphones to the four of them.

“What’s this…?”

“It’s a device developed by Ilsung. If you put it in your ear, it’ll translate for you.”

Isabella doesn’t speak Korean.

At best, she could use English fluently as a second language.

All four of them could speak some conversational English, since they had traveled abroad during their prime, but the device was still necessary for smooth communication.

Of course, Isabella also put on the translation earpiece. He introduced her while standing by her side.

“I’m sure you’re all familiar with her?”

“Ah, I know her. Her name is… Isa… what was it again?”

“Old man, even the mountains have electricity these days. You should watch some TV. It’s Isabella, isn’t it?”

“Ah, right! Isabella!”

The Fist King finally remembered her name and clapped his hands.

“Oh my. I’m sorry, Isabella. I’m not very well-informed about the outside world. So, this is what they use for phones these days.””

The adorable flip phone in Fist King’s hand was so old and scratched that it looked like it was on its last legs.

“…It’s fine. But wouldn’t someone like the Fist King have a lot of money?”

“Money? I gave it all to the martial artists to use. And this thing, even if it’s old, it still works. A phone just needs to make calls.”

“Ah, I see.”

Isabella nodded her head.

Then, the Sword Saint, who had been staring intently at her and Kim Minwoo, spoke.

“So, you want us to spar with this young lady?”

“That’s correct.”

“What’s her level of skill?”

At that moment.

Isabella stepped forward and said:

“I’ve never lost to anyone in my life. At least not since I turned eighteen.”

“What a wonderful age to be.”

Sword Saint nodded his head with satisfaction.

The other elders reacted similarly.

They seemed pleased with her youthful confidence, chuckling and smiling.

“I’ll leave her in your capable hands. She might be a bit blunt, but she’s a good person at heart.”

“I understand. Very well.”

He looked at Isabella.

“Deal?”

“…Okay. But they have to be the best.”

“Of course. Don’t worry about the quality.”

After all, the batteries that would come out of this would be enough to slap an American company silly. With that, Isabella stepped forward.

“Do you happen to have any equipment?”

“Of course. Even though we gave away some of our equipment after retiring, we’re still in better shape than most active Awakened. Shall we equip ourselves?”

“My equipment is quite good…”

The Fist King chuckled and replied.

“Isabella, you worry too much. We haven’t lived all these years for nothing, so don’t worry. Well then, brothers, shall I go first?”

“Go ahead.”

The Fist King stepped forward.

One by one, pieces of equipment materialized on his body. They were definitely not as high quality as Isabella’s.

Mostly Legend-rank.

At best, there were only one or two Ancient-rank pieces.

The difference in equipment stats was overwhelming.

Still, when the battle started…

Boom!

The Fist King was the first to close the distance, landing a punch on Isabella.

Kim Minwoo’s eyes widened.

‘Wow.’

The Fist King’s level was definitely high.

It was well over 1,000.

He also had numerous titles and skills.

However, the Fist King’s skill that he knew of wasn’t to the point of reversing his age.

His fundamentals had changed.

There was no other way to put it – Fist King was going absolutely berserk.

From the start, he applied powerful and relentless pressure.

Isabella’s brow furrowed slightly.

She seemed bewildered by the fact that things weren’t going as planned.

“You move well!”

The Fist King exclaimed in admiration. He seemed to have the upper hand even though Isabella had activated all of her S-rank skills.

The Divine Spear and Poison Demon watched with relaxed expressions.

The world beyond the material realm.

Since hearing the Sword Saint’s words, all three of them had contemplated and pondered that topic every single day.

When they grasped even the slightest clue, their skills improved dramatically, as if they had shed their old skin.

Fist King was the prime example of this.

“…I’ll get serious.”

Isabella’s eyes turned cold.

Immediately, a brilliant aura surged from her body. Item activation and SS-rank skill activation.

She was utilizing everything she had.

Seeing this, Fist King’s gaze also turned solemn. The difference between Isabella relying on gear advantage and not was like night and day.

An Awakened individual like the Fist King couldn’t possibly be unaware of this.

“Then, I’ll also get serious.”

The moment Isabella nodded her head, her figure vanishing—

BOOM!

An explosive sound rang out.

Immediately after—

“Cough!”

Along with the explosive sound, Isabella staggered back, coughing up blood violently.

Her brow furrowed as if she had seen something incomprehensible.

When she had approached the Fist King at high speed, a chilling sensation ran down her spine, prompting her to activate all her defensive skills.

It was an instinct close to survival.

‘My defense should have been perfect…’

But at that moment, even though the fist hadn’t directly touched her body, a tremendous shockwave had struck her abdomen.

A devastating blow that shattered all of her defensive skills!

It was an utterly baffling sight, especially considering she had activated all her gear.

In this state, she was confident that no one in the world could easily stop her.

But she was overpowered.

If Fist King hadn’t held back at the last moment…

‘It would have been fatal.’

Of course, she wouldn’t have died thanks to the effects of her items, but it was still a threatening attack.

“…What was that just now?”

“Ah, this? It’s called the Heart Fist, the fist of the heart. You’re quite skilled, Isabella. You even made me use this.”

“Heart… Fist? Is it a skill?”

[Translator – Prøks]

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“Should I call it a skill? It’s a bit mysterious. Anyway, I apologize to you, Isabella, but it’s expensive. I can’t teach you anything about it.”

“…Then who can teach me?”

“Well, you’ll have to ask the original creator.”

The Fist King subtly gestured towards a spot.

Kim Minwoo was standing there.

“…?

Isabella blinked her eyes.

‘Original creator?’

Could it mean that Kim Minwoo had taught them this Heart Fist to the Fist King?

It was hard to believe.

Of course, she knew Kim Minwoo was skilled, based on their spar yesterday. But the technique the Fist King just displayed…

‘It seems to be on an entirely different level?’

It was far too profound to simply be described as a skill.

How could he have taught something like that?

And if he possessed such high skills to be able to teach it, why didn’t he use it during their spar yesterday?

Does it require a tremendous amount of mana to use?”

“It does require some, but not to the point where you can’t use it. You can control it.”

Then shouldn’t Kim Minwoo have used it as well?

Then shouldn’t Kim Minwoo have used it as well?

Kim Minwoo scratched his cheek at her curious gaze. He seemed to have a rough idea of what she was thinking.

But what could he do?

This body’s talent for learning was disastrously nonexistent.

So much so that even after swinging his sword tirelessly, he hadn’t even generated a single basic skill.

The silence didn’t last long.

Isabella, who had approached him, spoke.

“I want to learn it too. The Heart Fist. What do you want in return?”

Return home?

Such a thought was already absent from her mind. Hearing even a single lesson about this ‘fist of the heart’ was far more important than training alone.

For her own sake, and for the sake of her home country France.

“Haha! You’re very assertive. But learning that won’t come cheap, you know?”

The three elders nodded in agreement with the Fist King’s words. They were playing the role of excellent hype men.

An unexpected, sharp pass.

It would be foolish not to take advantage of it.

Kim Minwoo stared intently at Isabella. Immediately answering her request would be the move of an amateur.

A true master…

“For now, focus on your duties as a PR ambassador. I’ll contact you in a few days. Goodbye.”

The first step was to let her simmer and build anticipation.

* * *

“What our Nine Dragon Guild lacked was highest-rank potions! However, thanks to President Li’s grand decision, we too will be supplied with those powerful elixirs! Today, our Nine Dragon Guild will head to Korea to receive the highest-rank potions, and once again engage in a friendly competition with the Ilsung Guild with a renewed appearance…”

Countless cameras flashed as the Nine Dragon Guildmaster’s powerful declaration rang out.

An impassioned speech.

A fervent embrace with President Li and the cheers of the people.

After the grand showmanship ended,

President Li Zhamin approached the Nine Dragon Guildmaster and said,

“Since things have come to this, you better milk it for all it’s worth. Understand?”

“Yes. I will do my utmost.”

“And you, Liang Xiaojun, must learn a great deal too.”

“I am grateful for your boundless grace, Excellency!”

Liang Xiaojun bowed deeply.

The Nine Dragon Guild members heading to Korea numbered around ten. Of them, five would receive training.

Originally, the low-leveled Liang Xiaojun would have had no place in this expedition.

But now, things were different.

The Nine Dragon Guild’s diminished status after the Great Tournament. In contrast, Liang Xiaojun had shattered France’s records, emerging as a new hope for the Chinese people.

‘For the time being, he must be well-utilized.’

To appease public sentiment and demonstrate the Nine Dragon Guild’s soundness, the existence of a new star player was essential.

Liang Xiaojun was the perfect Awakened One to fit that role.

So what could he do?

He had no choice but to play one of the five cards at his disposal.

‘Still, it’s not a loss.’

The Gate Conquest?

Low-leveled players would participate anyway. Raising Liang Xiaojun would allow them to make use of him.

‘He’s quite perceptive too.’

When words like ‘China’s hero’ were tossed around, one might expect his head to swell.

But Liang Xiaojun was different.

He remained all the more cautious and restrained, adopting a humble, prostate attitude.

His family was also said to be living quietly. At the very least, he had a good grasp of the situation. For the time being, it was worth raising him up.

If he ever had other thoughts, the Nine Dragon Guild’s surveillance network was omnipresent. If they wanted, they could find out the exact number of hairs on Liang Xiaojun’s body.

Thus, the Nine Dragon Guild boarded a private jet and set off for Korea.

Naturally, there was no grand welcome like the one Isabella received.

There wouldn’t have been one in the first place, but even more so now. Relations between Korea and China weren’t particularly good to begin with..

Not to mention they had just suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Ilsung Guild, once known as Korea’s perpetual fifth-ranked guild.

Although both governments had made some external statements about reconciliation, the emotional rift between the two nations remained deep.

Whoosh…

The quiet airport.

After unloading their luggage, the Nine Dragon Guild members briefly waited.

Hong Tao surveyed them all with a resolute gaze and spoke:

“For the sake of our China, we must learn even one more thing. Endure humiliation to accomplish revenge! Everyone, keep repeating these words!”

“Yes!”

The Nine Dragon Guild members responded with shining eyes. The matter had already been set in motion.

In that case, they had to learn as much as they could, even if it meant licking Kim Minwoo’s boots. Only with strength could they do anything in the future.

Before long, several vehicles approached the Nine Dragon Guild members.

“Please get in.”

The Nine Dragon Guild members quietly boarded the vehicles, which headed straight for the Ilsung Training Center.

A bodyguard wearing sunglasses spoke.

“Please go inside. The young master will be waiting for you.”

As the representative, Nine Dragon Guildmaster Hong Tao nodded.

Their main schedule was to stay at the training center for a few days, receive intensive training, and then have another Guild Battle with the Ilsung Guild after receiving the elixirs.

Thus, the ten Chinese personnel entered the center, and soon were able to meet Kim Minwoo.

“Thank you for your hard journey.”

Kim Minwoo greeted them with a bright smile.

At that moment,

Kim Minwoo and Liang Xiaojun’s eyes met,

and a message appeared before each of them.

For Kim Minwoo:

[You have discovered your first follower. How you utilize them is your choice.]

And for Liang Xiaojun:

[The loyalty buried in deep slumber is now ablaze. You are ready to follow him.]

‘…Huh?’

Kim Minwoo tilted his head in bewilderment at the unexpected situation.

Then—

Thump!

Liang Xiaojun knelt down.

At that moment, he couldn’t control the emotions surging within him like a volcano.

His hands trembled.

Countless memories flooded his mind like a tidal wave.

Memories of following a great being, pursuing his vast knowledge.

He was a great ruler.

He was a great creator.

He was the great avenger.

And he was the fallen ruler.

And Liang Xiaojun himself was…

The follower who had endlessly yearned for him.

Even when everything had crumbled, shattered, and scattered,

He was a follower who, with the words “it’s not over yet,” was prepared to endure the long wait.

He waited for an eternity.

A vague belief that it wasn’t the end.

And it was true.

It really wasn’t the end!

He instinctively realized.

Death Lord.

What that existence meant.

And who was standing before him.

It was clearly the memory of another unknown being.

But he couldn’t reject the infusion of that memory. It was as if he had become one with the figure in the memory.

His vision blurred.

Tears streamed down Liang Xiaojun’s cheeks as he knelt.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]