Ranker's Return

NEW NOVEL: First and foremost, I'm delighted to announce that our long-time veteran translator littleshanks has finally launched his new novel, Rise!  Rise is a novel about the esports scene in Shanghai, the competitive gaming capital of China. It follows the story of Lin Feng, a boy who has just moved to the city for his last year of high school. He's a passionate gamer and dreams of being the best professional League of Legends player in the world. The twist? He almost achieved his dream, but failed at the...

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Hyeonu had no intention of dragging out the spar for a long time. It wasn’t important if he won or lost this spar. The important thing was to show those watching it that he had learned the Mysterious Sky Demonic Art.

‘I will just use Mysterious Sky Steps and Mysterious Sky Range.’

There was no reason to show more. He would just show them what he wanted and get what he wanted. For Hyeonu, it was just this.

“Please be careful. I will show everything at once,” Hyeonu warned Qing Feng. His warning showed his heart, which was that he didn’t want Qing Feng to get hurt.

“I understand. I am also prepared,” Qing Feng said.

Then a purple energy spread out from his body. It was the manifestation of the Purple Clouds Skill, the secret technique which was passed down in the Chonghua Sect. 

‘I can let go of my worries.’ Hyeonu was aware of the identity of the Purple Clouds skill through having read numerous martial arts novels. Therefore, he could freely use his magic power with ease.

[Master of Combat is activated.]

[Your stats have increased.]

[The stat ‘fighting energy’ has caused your stats to rise.]

[The other party is stronger than you.]

[Your stats have increased.]

[The stat ‘dignity’ has caused the opponent’s stats to fall.]

[Mindset of a Murderer has activated.]

[All stats have increased by 15%.]

[Mysterious Sky is activated.]

[Your five senses have sharpened.]

The system was aware of the battle and released the messages.

“I’m starting now!” Hyeonu left a final warning to Qing Feng before using Mysterious Sky Steps. After using it, Hyeonu’s movements became mysterious. Speed and variability—he was not lacking in either one of them. His movement speed was so fast that he left behind afterimages, and the change of movement was so severe that many new types appeared.

Qing Feng responded to Hyeonu’s Mysterious Sky Steps by using Divine 100 Variations Movement and moving quickly toward Hyeonu. Just then, Hyeonu’s sword shifted. Hyeonu swung Dark Star dozens of times in an instant.

‘Mysterious Sky Range!’

Finally, Mysterious Sky Range was used, and dozens of blades of pure energy filled the air. The elders, including Zaun, groaned at the sight.

“It is real. This is exactly the way it is written.”

“If such a strong disciple were in the secret department, then Jianghu would’ve already fallen into their hands.”

“This power...” Qing Feng gritted his teeth as he faced all of the pure energy and opened the first White Flower Full Bloom of the White Flower Limitless Sword Technique. White blossoms appeared in full bloom within a range of five meters around Qing Feng. When the white blossoms hit the black pure energy, they were cut helplessly by Hyeonu’s pure energy.

However, the overwhelming number of flowers meant that Hyeonu’s pure-energy blades started to be destroyed one by one. In the end, Hyeonu’s pure energy disappeared. Mysterious Sky Range was blocked, but only a few of Qing Feng’s flowers were left. Qing Feng could not do anything with just a few flowers.

“This is enough,” Zaun intervened between the two people. This one-time clash was enough. It fully demonstrated that the young man Qing Feng had brought was the descendant of the Mysterious Sky Sect. The handling of many blades of pure energy was the signature skill of the Mysterious Sky Sect. If such a method had been in the secret department, then the secret department would’ve taken over Jianghu already.

“Did I prove it?” Hyeonu put away Dark Star and confirmed it again.

“Yes. I admit that the martial arts you’ve learned are from the Mysterious Sky Sect,” Zaun replied with a smile. It was a completely different attitude than before.

“Little brother, you are stronger than I thought? I don’t think this is your best either. It is amazing for your young age.” Qing Feng approached and wrapped an arm around Hyeonu’s shoulder. He was slightly pale like he had suffered a small internal injury.

“Brother, you looked after me. I know it all.” Hyeonu smiled at Qing Feng. He didn’t know if this actually happened or not, but it was good for him to say so.

“Then let’s go back to Muhwa Palace. There is something I have to give you,” Zaun said while frowning at the actions of the two men.

*** 

“What is this?” Hyeonu frowned from behind the mask. He barely suppressed the harsh words that were trying to pop out. ‘What is this? Did I work hard just to get something like this?’

The problem was the small box Zaun held out to him. To be exact, it was what was contained inside it. It was half a blade. In the video Hyeonu saw, the sword had been split into two, but there was definitely a handle and a blade.

“What is this? This is the object that will be returned when someone from the Mysterious Sky Sect comes,” Zaun replied with a smile.

It was a very ugly sight for Hyeonu who barely managed to smile and ask again, “So why is it only this? Where is the other half and the handle?”

At Hyeonu’s words, Zaun’s eyes widened like this was the first time he was hearing about it. “Handle? This was from the old sect leader, and the old sect leader was my master. This is the only thing I inherited from him.”

Hyeonu despaired upon hearing Zaun’s words. The half a blade really was the reward. Hyeonu’s heart was filled with indignation at the thought of having come to the East Continent just for this.

‘Did I come to the East Continent for this?’ Hyeonu felt a momentary regret.

Even so, he had to accept the item.

“Please give this to me. I should bring it to the sect.”

It might be useless to Hyeonu himself, but the Mysterious Sky Sect would be happy as long as he brought it to them. Even in such a state, it was still a treasure of the sect.

“Take it,” Zaun said, placing the small box in Hyeonu’s hand.

It was unlikely, but Hyeonu still checked the information of the broken blade with the feeling of grasping at straws.

[Broken Mysterious Sky Sword 2]

[The broken half of the Mysterious Sky Sword, one of the treasures of the Mysterious Sky Sect.

It is hard to use as a weapon because it is broken.

Rating: Unique

Restrictions: None.

Effect: None.]

Reality hadn’t changed. It was broken and held no value as a weapon.

‘No!’ Hyeonu shouted inwardly. The memories of climbing up the Balder Mountains and Geomdan Mountain came vividly to his mind.

“What is important about this? The weapon used by you is already excellent. Don’t be too discouraged,” Qing Feng comforted Hyeonu.

Qing Feng was also surprised when he saw the half blade. He had heard about it, but this was his first time seeing it in person.

‘The sect’s treasure was broken, and only half of it is left... It might be strange if he felt okay about that.’ Qing Feng understood Hyeonu’s feelings. Perhaps he wouldn’t react much differently if he encountered such a situation.

“No. Thank you for taking care of this item.” Hyeonu managed to recover his mentality and said goodbye to Zaun and Qing Feng. He could no longer stand to be here. Hyeonu quickly exited Muhwa Palace without listening to the two of them properly. He left the Chonghua Sect completely and climbed to the peak of Manhua Mountain without any plan.

“Uwaaaaaah!”

This was the moment a madman appeared on Manhua Mountain.

*** 

“Hey, eat something. You’ve been exercising. Aren’t you hungry? Do you want me to order some fried chicken?” Yeongchan grabbed Hyeonu’s shoulder and shook it. Hyeonu seemed distracted. Yeongchan didn’t know what happened last night, but Hyeonu had been in this state since morning.

‘He has been like this since morning. He didn’t lose his mind because of exercising, but he hasn’t been dumped by a woman either. He has been playing Arena for the past few days... So what is the problem?’

The frustrating thing was that he didn’t know why Hyeonu was like this. It would be okay if he knew the reason. Yeongchan was going mad because there was no answer given when he asked. Hyeonu’s silence continued until the fried chicken that Yeongchan ordered arrived.

“You really aren’t going to eat? I will eat everything then. I ordered two portions because of you. I will eat it all today,” Yeongchan said, giving a final ultimatum. He no longer wanted to worry about Hyeonu. It was time to focus on the chicken in front of him.

Hyeonu sat in front of the chicken as Yeongchan poured away the radish soup and filled a glass with ice to drink Coke.

“Here. This is yours.” Yeongchan pushed a glass in front of Hyeonu.

Hyeonu silently grabbed the cup in front of him. Hyeonu picked up a can of Coke and poured it into the glass which was full of ice. Just before it overflowed, he brought the cup to his mouth and swallowed the overflowing bubbles. “Oooof!”

Yeongchan saw it and couldn’t help chuckling. ‘Yes, this is Gang Hyeonu.’

He had been a fool to worry about Hyeonu. Yeongchan took a bite of a delicious-looking chicken leg. Then he placed a pickled radish in his mouth and asked Hyeonu, “What happened? You’ve been out of it all day.”

Hyeonu, who had been quietly eating the chicken wings, broke the silence he had been maintaining all day and answered Yeongchan’s question. “Quest. The quest. It is finished.”

“So? Isn’t this a good thing? Then you must’ve got a lot of rewards. I watched your stream yesterday. The item must not be ordinary. It will be better than your current weapon once you repair it.”

Yeongchan had also watched Hyeonu’s stream. The Mysterious Sky Demonic Senior’s sword was clearly broken at the end. It would be the reward.

‘Yet this kid is teasing me now. Why is he acting like this when he got a good item? This shit.’ Yeongchan’s expression crumpled instantly.

Then before Hyeonu noticed, his expression returned to normal. His inner thoughts were completely hidden. Now he was obviously the inferior party. Hyeonu’s steady workouts meant Yeongchan was pressured in terms of physical strength, and there was no need to mention Arena.

“It’s just that... the reward was half a sword,” Hyeonu revealed.

“Half a sword?” Yeongchan asked.

“The other half is gone.”

“Eh? Then only the handle is left?”

“No, I only got the blade.”

“Crazy!”

“There is nothing for me to attach it to. It is useless, useless!” Hyeonu exclaimed these words and drank the Coke in one breath. He got furious just thinking about it again and had to cool down with Coke.

‘It is normal.’ Yeongchan finally understood why Hyeonu was looking like this. It was natural for Hyeonu to look like this. He had gone all the way to the East Continent only for the final reward to be a trash item with no options. Yeongchan felt even sorrier because he knew all about Hyeonu’s efforts to clear the quest. Then he suddenly had a thought, ‘Hyeonu has one more item.’

“Then you can stick it to something else. Won’t the effect work out somehow if you put them together?” Yeongchan suggested.

“What do you mean? Something else?” Hyeonu cocked his head at Yeongchan’s sudden words.

“You have a half-weapon. Just attach it there. Isn’t Arena a fantasy game anyway? The dwarves can repair it. Ah, have you sold it already?”

When Hyeonu heard Yeongchan’s words, he felt like he had been hit by a hammer. Why didn’t he think of this earlier?

“…!!! Thank you, Yeongchan! I’ll treat you to fried chicken tomorrow.”

Hyeonu dropped the chicken he was eating and ran to his room.

*** 

Hyeonu accessed Arena and appeared on Geomdan Mountain. Before logging out, he had come to the Mysterious Sky Sect to return the Broken Mysterious Sky Sword. However, things had changed. Yeongchan’s advice gave him hope.

Hyeonu pulled out the Broken Mysterious Sky Sword from the box. Then he drew out a weapon from his inventory. Unlike the broken Mysterious Sky Sword, only the handle of this sword remained. It was the ‘half-sword’ that Aldred, the knight’s captain of Lipa Castle, had given him as a reward.

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