Chapter: Shock and Vengeance
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At the Hospital
The room was filled with the sound of medical equipment, and Xu Jian lay on the bed, wrapped in bandages, his chest rising and falling with difficulty. Outside, Arthur sat calmly on a chair, rewrapping the bandage around his injured hand, while Melina stood by the window, speaking quietly.
Melina (in a low voice):
"I can't believe what happened... How did he survive?"
Arthur (calmly and coldly):
"He's Xu Jian. He has a strange talent for surviving death. But he should've known his limits."
Melina (sharply):
"You don't even seem to care! He almost died because of this madness!"
Arthur (looking at her coldly):
"He's fine now, isn't he? Worrying won't help. We should focus on the next step."
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Inside Xu Jian's Room
Arthur walks in with steady steps, standing beside the bed and looking down at the resting Xu Jian.
Arthur (in a quiet tone):
"You survived again, you idiot. But don't make a habit of this. We have more important things to do than patching you up after every battle."
He places a hand briefly on Xu Jian's forehead, then turns to leave.
Melina (stopping him at the door):
"That's it? You're not going to say anything else?"
Arthur (coldly):
"He's already said enough through his actions. I'll just be ready for next time."
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In Nafartaria
In the bustling alleys of the nation of Nafartaria, Li Wei appears, wiping sweat from his brow after an intense chase by the guards.
Li Wei (with a sly grin):
"You fools still haven't learned? You couldn't catch me even with half your army."
Angry Guard:
"You bastard! How dare you approach the king's wife?!"
Li Wei (laughing loudly):
"Approach? I was closer than you think! Want the details? Tell your king to take better care of her—she was quite... enjoyable."
He leaps onto a rooftop, waves at the guards, and disappears into the shadows.
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Back at the Hospital
Arthur sits in a corner of the room, silently watching the rain through the window, while Melina glances at the monitors tracking Xu Jian's condition.
Melina (sighs):
"He's getting better, slowly... but he's recovering."
Arthur (calmly and coldly):
"Good. We've got work to do. No time to waste on rest."
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To Be Continued...
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New Chapter
After days of rest, Xu Jian wakes up with a strange feeling—not anger or worry, but raw excitement. The idea of facing a stronger opponent ignites an unfamiliar spark within him. He stands up abruptly, gets dressed, and heads straight to Arthur's room.
Xu Jian:
"Listen. It's time for my isolation. Also, I'll handle the Demon Nation mission myself."
Arthur looks at him quietly, tilting his head slightly.
Arthur:
"Why?"
Xu Jian (with a calm yet defiant smile):
"No reason. Just leave it to me."
Arthur shrugs indifferently.
Arthur:
"Alright, your call."
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Entering the Isolation Room
Xu Jian steps into the isolation room for the first time—a place not to be taken lightly. The gravity inside is amplified, making every step feel like a battle against a mountain. But that's exactly what he wants.
Xu Jian (light smile):
"Good... let's begin."
He starts moving through the room, adapting to the new gravity. Every simple motion becomes a struggle.
He lifts heavy weights, pushing his body to its absolute limits.
He grapples with resistance ropes that fight every jump or pull.
He engages in imaginary battles with stronger versions of his past enemies.
In a critical moment, he faces a version of himself—his doubts and weaknesses. He attacks with full force, realizing the battle is not just physical, but deeply internal.
Xu Jian (inside his mind):
"I won't let the heart demon control me. This body, this mind, this soul... they are all mine."
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Beyond the Limit
He pushes his body beyond its threshold, surpassing the pain, destroying three rooms in his training process.
By the end of the third day, Xu Jian exits the isolation room. His clothes are torn, his body covered in bruises and sweat, but his eyes burn with a new power.
Xu Jian (to himself):
"This is just the beginning. The world won't wait for me—but I'll make it kneel."
---The New Chapter (Organized):
It was a relatively calm day when the loaded carriage arrived where Xu Jian was. A man got off, carrying a large box filled with supplies, and looked at Xu Jian cautiously.
Man: "These are the items I was ordered to bring."
Xu Jian (calmly, with a hint of arrogance): "I don't need all of it. Just make me a black coat with many pockets and add some knives to it. I also want a glove with sharp blades and a strong metal wire. I have an idea for my combat style."
The man looked confused but carried out the request precisely. A few hours later, he returned with the clothes and tools, handing them to Xu Jian, still wondering about the odd nature of the request.
Once done, Xu Jian wore the coat, tossed him the money, and left in a flash, stunning the man with his unnatural speed.
Man: "So fast… I expected he'd take a carriage, but clearly I was wrong."
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During his journey, Xu Jian started talking to himself, as he often did when planning.
Xu Jian: "There's a strange spy among us… Will Arthur be able to uncover him? Or fail as usual?"
He smiled faintly, then continued walking, excited by his new idea and the challenge awaiting him.
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After three exhausting days of travel, Xu Jian finally arrived at the capital. The moment he entered, he was shocked by its condition. Dirty streets filled with garbage, and the air choked with the stench of corruption and decay.
With cold eyes, he observed the scenes: men openly fornicating with women in the streets, prostitutes loitering in every corner.
Xu Jian (indifferently): "This place is like a cesspool of filth… but that castle over there looks different."
He lifted his eyes toward the royal palace looming in the distance—grand and imposing. It resembled an old church in its magnificence, as if it were the only untouched place in this wretched city.
"Maybe the castle is the only thing I can trust here."
To be continued…
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Xu Jian stands in the waiting room with a scowling expression while everyone else seems indifferent to his presence. Faint whispers and a suffocating silence fill the air. He asks someone about meeting the king, but the response is vague:
One of the servants: "The king is in seclusion… no one knows when he'll meet anyone."
Xu Jian continues observing the passersby until someone catches his eye—a blind man, his eyes covered with cloth, walking with confidence despite his inability to see. His appearance is strange and intriguing. Xu Jian decides to approach him.
Xu Jian: "Hey, you! Do you know how I can meet the king? Or anyone in charge here?"
Blind man (calmly): "Yes… follow me."
Xu Jian (thinking): "Wow… that was fast. Looks like things are going well."
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The blind man leads Xu Jian into a simple yet neatly arranged office. The man sits behind a desk and questions Xu Jian with a formal tone:
Blind man: "Who are you? And what do you want, sir?"
Xu Jian: "I told you, I want to meet someone here. I heard this place is good for work. I'm tired of poverty. Living next to prostitutes is exhausting."
Blind man (smiling softly): "Oh… very well. But we must test you first."
Xu Jian (calmly): "Test me? No problem. But I have a principle… how can I fight a blind man?"
Blind man: "Don't worry. We'll go to a training room and see your skills."
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The blind man stands and heads toward a side door, signaling for Xu Jian to follow. With a confident smile, Xu Jian walks behind him, wondering to himself:
"What kind of test is this? And what can a blind man even do?"