Chapter 07
“…Wait, you’re telling me this isn’t hacking? If this isn’t hacking, then what is it?”
—
▶ It’s physical skill.
▶ It’s the kind of physical skill Cheong-i lacks.
—
“No! Why are you bringing up my physical skills here!!”
—
While Myung-yoon was playing Narak, there was another VTuber attempting the same game.
Tang So-cheong, a martial arts-themed virtual YouTuber who styles herself as the jewel of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
True to her claim of being from the Tang Clan, she possessed extensive knowledge about poisons, and her physical skills were considered fairly decent among VTubers.
One of her favorite games was ‘Narak,’ and she was so dedicated to it that her playtime exceeded a thousand hours.
Today, while playing to test a new poison build for Narak, a clip of Myung-yoon found its way into her stream during a short break.
Normally, mentioning other streamers was an unspoken taboo, but on Tang So-cheong’s stream, it was permitted—but only when it came to Narak.
“My physical skills aren’t bad either, you know? I’ve even cleared Narak with no deaths.”
—
▶ The Heavenly Demon is doing a no-hit run on the first floor lol And today’s his first time seeing it lol lol lol
▶ Cheong-i, you do a no-hit too.
▶ Cheong-i can’t do it ’cause her physical skills suck.
—
“No, seriously, you poison bugs sure know how to talk pretty!!”
—
Tang So-cheong laughed, but her teeth were grinding audibly.
With her face clearly pissed off, the viewers’ momentum subsided, and she let out a deep sigh before rewatching Myung-yoon’s clip.
“But really, how did he do that? I’ve never seen Dokgo-kun appear on the first floor either. He normally shows up from the 3rd floor onward… Is there some special condition?”
—
If not, it made no sense.
Tang So-cheong replayed the clip several times, discussing it with her viewers.
How was Myung-yoon able to pull off such a performance in Narak? What build was he using?
She’d also seen his most talked-about video, the Tournament of the Gods, so she knew his physical skills were extraordinary.
But whether he could replicate that inside a game full of variables was a different story.
And this phenomenon wasn’t just happening on Tang So-cheong’s stream.
It was happening on countless other VTuber and streamer broadcasts as well.
The massive rookie.
The nuclear bomb of the virtual broadcasting world.
Cheonma Gunrimbo was slowly revealing himself to the internet world.
—
* * *
—
▶ Wow, he’s not even picking traits.
▶ Ruthless! So ruthless!!
▶ Heard there was a crazy bastard (P) here, so I came to check it out.
—
Myung-yoon’s broadcast had now reached 14,000 live viewers.
Along with that, his YouTube subscriber count was skyrocketing, and his video views kept climbing.
Proof that Myung-yoon’s growth trajectory hadn’t slowed down yet.
“The moment I choose a trait, my direction becomes fixed. So it seemed better to have none at all.”
—
Aside from equipment and martial arts, Narak allows you to choose a ‘trait’ every time you clear a floor.
Traits are selected based on your playstyle and determine the player’s ‘karma.’
Once a trait is chosen, the path branches out in multiple directions on the scales of good and evil.
Myung-yoon didn’t choose a trait.
“Those who walk the Demonic Path, do not be bound. Do not become something under heaven—become heaven itself.”
—
▶ I’ll take your words to heart!!!!
▶ I’m heaven starting today.
▶ I prefer the earth though, what do I do??
—
Myung-yoon chuckled at the chat from viewers who interpreted things however they wanted and didn’t listen to him.
Back in his days as the Heavenly Demon, every single word he spoke was like divine revelation.
The Heavenly Demon Cult was full of people who would truly die if he told them to.
Maybe because these were a new kind of ‘believers,’ he found himself feeling oddly amused.
“Alright, let’s continue.”
—
Myung-yoon charged through to the boss room of the 2nd floor without any resistance.
He encountered a neutral NPC along the way, but since it was a merchant who only sold martial arts manuals and weapons, he ignored him.
Every time the viewers marveled at Myung-yoon’s physical skills, a room would fly by.
It almost made him wonder if the game had always been this easy.
And at the end of the 2nd floor, the enemy he met this time was also a martial artist.
A martial artist wielding a single straight sword, clad in pure white martial robes adorned with plum blossom patterns.
Seeing the faint pinkish aura emanating from him, Myung-yoon spoke.
“A Hwasan man.”
—
▶ Huh?? Why is he appearing here again this time??? ;;;
▶ What is it then?
▶ Who is he?
—
●10,000 won●
**HwasanFactionHeadDisciple:** Ah! That’s Cheonggyeong-nim, the head disciple of the Hwasan Faction and one of the random bosses that appears from the 4th floor of Narak onward!! The 24-Petal Plum Blossom Sword Technique will not forgive the demonic cult!!!
—
▶ Thanks for the explanation.
▶ Speedwagon indeed lol lol lol
—
“Thank you for the explanation. Join the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
—
As Myung-yoon stepped forward, Cheonggyeong, who had been holding his drawn sword, looked at him.
Killing intent filled his eyes, and blood was dripping from the tip of his sword—as if he’d just been gleefully carving someone up.
“Who are you?”
—
Cheonggyeong was a boss equipped with AI.
Depending on the player’s recorded history, the encounter branches into either a life-or-death duel or a sparring match.
If you took the Orthodox path, it becomes a spar; if you took the Unorthodox or Demonic Cult path, it becomes a life-or-death duel.
Viewers familiar with Narak focused on this point.
How would he react to Myung-yoon, who had taken neither path and was effectively ‘completely neutral’?
But Myung-yoon’s answer that followed was—
“You dare ask who I am? And you, a junior so far beneath me.”
Something close to an elder scolding a younger.
Myung-yoon was the Heavenly Demon. A legend of the martial arts world, revered by all.
All the seniors above him had been sent to the afterlife by him, so the entire martial arts world was his junior.
“Hwasan being a prestigious Orthodox sect is old news. You can’t even recognize a senior of the martial world.”
—
▶ Lol, he’s not even an elder of Hwasan, just the head disciple lol
▶ Well… Cheonggyeong is the one at fault here.
▶ How is he supposed to recognize someone he’s meeting for the first time lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
—
Regardless of what the viewers said.
Myung-yoon pushed forward with his character. Or rather, he’d always been the Heavenly Demon from the start.
Saying a word or two to a junior was perfectly within his rights.
“Did your Sect Leader and Elders teach you that? You there, state your name.”
—
▶ Accusations of parental insults.
▶ No, this is seriously controversial lol lol lol lol lol lol
▶ Is this okay?
—
At Myung-yoon’s words, Cheonggyeong gave him a once-over and, with a reluctant look, clasped his fist while still holding his sword and spoke.
“…I am Cheonggyeong, head disciple of the Hwasan Faction. May I ask for the senior’s esteemed name?”
—
Since he didn’t sense any sinister energy, he must have judged him not to be from the Demonic Cult or the Unorthodox path—his tone was polite.
He probably figured Myung-yoon was some reclusive Orthodox senior he didn’t know.
Myung-yoon answered.
“I am the Heavenly Demon.”
“…?”
—
▶ Oh, first time seeing Cheonggyeong’s brain freeze lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
▶ lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
▶ Heavenly Demon declaration lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
—
At the words ‘Heavenly Demon,’ Cheonggyeong seemed to be pondering how to react.
Thanks to Myung-yoon’s playstyle of choosing nothing, no sinister energy was detected, so he’d judged him not to be from the Demonic Cult.
But suddenly declaring himself the Heavenly Demon caught Cheonggyeong’s AI off guard, marking the first time it showed hesitation.
“Heaven… Demon?”
“Indeed.”
“Heavenly Demon?”
“How many times must I say it for you to understand? Are you naturally a bit slow?”
—
▶ Oh shit.
▶ lol lol lol lol lol lol
▶ First time seeing someone talk to Cheonggyeong like this to his face.
—
But soon, Cheonggyeong’s previously flustered expression twisted into a vicious scowl.
He stomped the ground hard and rushed at Myung-yoon, thrusting his sword.
“An underling of the Demonic Cult! You’ve crawled into Narak to die by your own will!”
—
A prestigious Orthodox sect, and a Daoist one at that—Cheonggyeong reacted especially strongly to the mention of the Demonic Cult.
Cheonggyeong’s sword spun rapidly, leaving countless afterimages.
Following it, pinkish sword energies faintly tinged with blood scattered like flower petals.
What Cheonggyeong unleashed was the Hwasan Faction’s martial art—the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
A fitting description for the pinnacle of illusionary swordsmanship that dazzles the eyes.
Mixing feints and real strikes, it’s a technique that makes newcomers hit a wall.
*’The craftsmanship is quite convincing.’*
The visual effects at least looked similar to the Hwasan of his past life.
The sword paths were completely different, though… Myung-yoon hadn’t expected to experience this kind of nostalgia again.
Myung-yoon first stepped back, observing Cheonggyeong.
To figure out how his sword traced the plum blossoms.
“Hm.”
—
▶ Hang in there, Cheonggyeong!!!!!!!!!!!
▶ Defeat the Heavenly Demon!!!!!!!!!!!
▶ Go!!!!!!!!!! The Heavenly Demon will not lose!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—
In a single exchange, Myung-yoon found the strategy to defeat Cheonggyeong.
Though it was an imitation born of imagination, it was still the sword of Hwasan.
“I shall teach you all as well. How to counter the swords of Hwasan.”
—
▶ Even if he teaches us, can we actually do it………………
▶ I’ll at least listen.
—
Myung-yoon was puzzled by the viewers’ lukewarm response to his offer of a strategy.
From their reactions, it seemed like they found this enemy difficult, so he thought they’d be happy if he shared a strategy.
“Now, listen closely. First, evade the real strikes and step inside their range.”
—
Myung-yoon explained the strategy while precisely identifying the real strikes among the countless sword afterimages and closed in.
Once close, he pressed his palm against Cheonggyeong’s chest and continued.
“And then push.”
*Thump.*
A close-range inch-strike.
From the viewers’ perspective, it looked like he just lightly shoved him.
But Cheonggyeong was sent sliding backward by the powerful impact, gasping for air.
“Do not be fooled by the swords before your eyes. No matter how masterful Hwasan’s illusionary swordsmanship may be, the targets they aim for to kill are always limited.”
—
▶ Heavenly Demon: The strategy for Cheonggyeong is to dodge well and beat him up up close.
▶ But we don’t have the Heavenly Demon’s physical skills.
▶ How did he do that? I always die when I get close…
—
“Why is this considered difficult? I truly don’t understand…”
—
▶ It’s because we’re not the Heavenly Demon…
▶ Seriously, no lie, how do you do that?
—
Myung-yoon felt a bit bitter.
He’d taught them how to deal with every swordsman of Hwasan.
Perhaps it was because the viewers weren’t martial artists themselves.
*’Right. I’ll just get them accustomed to it slowly.’*
His goal was to re-establish the martial arts world in this virtual world.
If virtual martial artists gathered and reformed the Central Plains martial arts world, that too would be a joyful affair.
To do that, he needed to turn the viewers into martial artists.
By showing them various martial arts and letting them find their own paths…
Recalling his purpose for stepping into this virtual world, Myung-yoon decided to focus on the task at hand for now.
With his hands clasped behind his back once more, Myung-yoon spoke to Cheonggyeong.
“Come. As your senior, I shall teach you a lesson.”
