My Alter Ego's Path to Greatness

The Shaolin Temple, after the Demonic Cult's retreat.

"Injured over here!"

"Amitabha… May you rest in peace…"

The Shaolin Temple suffered the most significant losses. Many monks defending the temple grounds were killed or injured, and even the novice monks weren't spared. And Zhu Gangin, the imperial descendant, had been kidnapped.

The Shaolin elders were in a frenzy, holding meeting after meeting.

'The Murim Alliance gathering will be canceled, of course. They'll probably return home after tending to the wounded.'

As everyone was busy dealing with the aftermath…

…someone approached Hugo, who was lost in thought.

"Young Master Ha, there you are."

It was Nangun Soran, the young lady of the Nangun Clan, her clothes and face cleaned of blood and dust. She approached him cautiously, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply.

"I apologize for the late greeting. Thank you for saving my life. I would be dead if it weren't for you."

Her tone was calmer than usual. The numerous deaths, including those close to her, must have been a shock.

"Don't mention it. It was only natural."

Hugo responded politely. And as they conversed, people began gathering around them. They all had one thing in common: they had all been helped by Hugo, in one way or another.

"Thank you again, benefactor."

"You were amazing. I thought a celestial being had descended!"

"I am in your debt. Please contact me if you ever need my assistance."

Unlike the others, Hugo was unaffected by the Demonic Cult's strange technique, consistently performing well, which was a great help to the surrounding young martial artists, most of whom were only around First-Rate level. He had even reached the peak of Transcendent Realm and dominated the battlefield.

And soon, those with ulterior motives began approaching him.

"Are you returning to the Zhuge Clan, Young Master?"

"I would like to invite you to our clan as a token of gratitude…"

It was an expected development. Hugo… or Ha Seunghoon… was a peerless genius, having reached the peak of Transcendent Realm in his early twenties. It was natural for them to try and build a connection with such a talent, especially in these times where martial prowess was paramount. And he wasn't even officially affiliated with any faction, merely a guest of the Zhuge Clan.

If they could recruit him…

The young martial artists' eyes gleamed. Recruiting him would greatly enhance their standing within their respective clans. The women were especially eager.

'If I can win him over?'

'It might help my brother's claim to leadership. Then I…'

He was not only skilled but also virtuous, as evident from his actions in the midst of the crisis, and quite handsome. And he had no family ties, making him a perfect candidate for marriage.

As a strange atmosphere developed among the women, Nangun Soran stepped forward, moving closer to Hugo, as if shielding him from their gazes.

Amidst the silent competition, the young martial artists began conversing.

"I'm worried. The Demonic Cult's resurgence… This isn't the end, is it?"

"I don't think so. This is just the beginning. I hope the damage isn't too severe."

"They even attacked the gathering at the Shaolin Temple. They must have been preparing for a long time… I fear the world will descend into chaos."

The conversation naturally shifted towards the Demonic Cult. They all expressed concern about the future. It was a natural reaction…

'…but it's already over.'

Hugo, knowing the truth, smiled awkwardly and remained silent. How could he tell them? That the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, who had just resurfaced after a long silence, was already dead?

'Well, everyone will be cautious for a while… but it should be fine eventually.'

The world had found peace, the source of the crisis eliminated before anyone even realized. While the leaders of each faction would worry about the Demonic Cult's schemes, it was better than the alternative.

'But—that's not important right now.'

Hugo's relaxed expression turned serious. He had learned something about their plans while analyzing the information obtained from the Heavenly Demon.

'I need to adjust my plans accordingly. I want to contact the Golden Island.'

The Demonic Cult's sudden resurgence was due to them. While they had remained hidden, they had been active in the shadows, absorbing other dark sects like the Blood Cult.

'And I need more information about the Dragon Child.'

Zhu Gangin, the frail imperial descendant staying at the Shaolin Temple, suffering from an unknown affliction. He was the Demonic Cult's main target. The attack on the gathering was just a diversion.

'The Dragon Child, Zhu Gangin, and…'

And he knew someone else with the same symptoms.

'Zhuge Huimei.'

…He had to return to the Zhuge Clan's estate. As soon as possible.

Hans's swift execution of the Heavenly Demon was a significant event. It was like defeating the final boss in the tutorial stage with cheat codes. While unfair and frustrating for the Heavenly Demon… it was incredibly efficient from his perspective.

But the information he gained from the defeated enemy wasn't much.

'There's a limit to how much I can extract from a Peak Master's mind.'

Even with the Heavenly Demon, he had only managed to extract fragmented memories by pouring abyssal energy into his body and soul. And the Heavenly Demon was even stronger. While Hans had grown stronger, and the 'Orb of Mentality' enhanced his mental abilities, making it seem possible…

'That damn Society Master is always a hindrance.'

The divine power within the Heavenly Demon's body prevented him from accessing his mind fully. Even with his increased resistance, it wasn't enough for such delicate work. The resistance only mitigated the damage, not completely nullifying it.

'At least I gained something.'

He had managed to obtain some valuable information. One of them was that the Heavenly Demon wasn't just a pawn of the Heavenly Wealth Society, but a long-term resident from Earth.

'For decades, at least. He used his Unique Skill to establish himself and then focused on martial arts to prepare for the time when the system's support was gone.'

The process was incredibly systematic, even based on the fragmented information. It explained why the Heavenly Wealth Society had so many powerful individuals. Hans shook his head and clicked his tongue.

'It's like… they're providing scholarships and grooming talented individuals. I wonder how many more there are, including those from other worlds.'

They must have selected and invested in those with suitable talent from the beginning.

And he also learned about the importance of the 'Dragon Child'. He had suspected it was something significant, but the information he obtained from the Heavenly Demon far exceeded his expectations. They were connected to the god of this world, after all.

'…Even a laissez-faire god wouldn't remain idle while the world is in this state.'

They were chosen by the Main God of Ganghwange. Seeds of hope, born to restore the world, which was crumbling after the Dragon Heart, the source of its mysteries, was stolen. While he couldn't learn the details from the Heavenly Demon, Hans didn't care.

"Hehehe, then let's go."

He could learn the rest from others.

"I'll start with their base."

He had finally found a clue to restoring Ganghwange. The culprits wouldn't have kidnapped them for no reason. He had to act quickly before they caused more trouble.

'And I'll retrieve Zhu Gangin while I'm at it.'

He wasn't planning to search for the kidnappers. They would come to him. He just had to wait at their destination.

'The coordinates are uncertain, but… I know the general area. They'll show themselves.'

And the Heavenly Demon Cult's headquarters was the largest gathering of evil in Ganghwange, so they should have plenty of materials for creating high-grade jiangshi, and skilled craftsmen as well.

"Heh— Two birds with one stone."

Hans grinned and slowly rose from his seat. He gauged the distance and direction—

Swish—!

—and shot through the air, a sharp crack echoing, carrying the corpse of the once-strongest in Ganghwange within his subspace.

Mount Yongzhong, the location of the Zhuge Clan's estate.

A large figure appeared at the foot of the mountain.

"Tsk, too late already."

Harley, the Mad Demon, scanned his surroundings and clicked his tongue. He had rushed here using 「Hero's Footsteps」, but the scene suggested a storm had already passed through. Uprooted trees, scattered boulders, the charred remains of the forest, and the scars of weapons… The numerous formations, layered from the foot of the mountain to the Zhuge Clan's estate at the center…

'…are all destroyed.'

Harley's eyes narrowed. His pace quickened. He smelled smoke, and a familiar scent mixed within…

'Blood.'

…and the stench of death, a mixture of despair, grief, and resentment. He reached a peak and looked towards the Zhuge Clan's estate.

'There are… quite a few survivors. They managed to repel the attackers.'

He sensed the familiar auras busily moving within the buildings. While they seemed to have suffered heavy losses, they had successfully defended their home, as expected of a clan specializing in defense.

'But I can't sense Zhuge Huimei. Is she hiding within another formation? Or…'

…did the attackers achieve their objective and leave? Despite his questions, he remained cautious, observing his surroundings like a hunter. They were on high alert after the sudden attack. His appearance, a stranger with a bizarre appearance, would only cause unnecessary trouble.

'Hmm?'

Sniff—

His keen senses detected something amiss. Something hidden within the stench of the battlefield.

He reacted instantly.

Swish—

Covering several kilometers in an instant, his hand reached into a bush—

Clang!

—"Gah?!"—

—and a middle-aged man in tattered Daoist robes was dragged out, his neck caught in Harley's grip. Harley grinned, revealing his sharp, jagged teeth.

"Who are you? Why are you hiding here? Are you connected to the attackers?"

"W… Who… are you?"

"Hmm, slow to answer. Perhaps I should tear off an arm first."

"W… Wait!"

The Daoist's face paled as Harley spoke coldly. He waved his hands frantically.

"There must be some misunderstanding! I'm from the Mosan Sect… I mean, the Golden Island! I have nothing to do with the Demonic Cult! We're enemies!"

"Huh? Golden Island?"

"Uh… you're not from the Golden Island, are you? But we're fellow yokai! Let's talk this over…"

Harley paused, momentarily confused by the unexpected words. The Daoist, mistaking it for a positive reaction, sighed in relief and continued.

"Phew, I'm Cheonggwan, under the command of the Azure Dragon. I was on a mission when I witnessed the attack on the Zhuge Clan and was about to report it…"

He emphasized 'Azure Dragon', suggesting a powerful backer. It meant nothing to Harley. He observed the Daoist, a strange look in his eyes.

'Fellow yokai… This is… quite a coincidence.'

Now that he thought about it, Cheonggwan's scent was slightly different from the other humans in Ganghwange. He was a yokai in disguise. It was an unexpected encounter…

'Good, this will save time.'

Harley's lips curled into a smile, his eyes gleaming. He licked his lips instinctively.

"Eek! I… I don't taste good! I'm a freshwater yokai, so I'm quite fishy…!"

It took a while to clear up the misunderstanding. The yokai seemed rather timid.