Game’s Dogma

Handsome Scholar walked calmly into the odd octagonal place. Though he found it weird, he didn’t bother asking. His brawny master also stayed silent as they entered a staring contest that lasted a good while.

Finally, the quick-tempered master said roughly, “You brat are in luck.”

He slapped Handsome Scholar out of the blue. Shocked, Handsome Scholar subconsciously lifted his round shield in defence. A buzz rang throughout the place as the round shield blocked the incoming slap and radiated a bright glow.

“Look closely, I’ll only use this once. This is my Peculiar Gate Brand style. Learn the Gate Defender Brand and become the strongest shield of the human race.”

In a delicate room, white smoke wafted from the incense burner on the table and filled the room, turning the place as mystifying as the way of cultivation. Greenstone entered the room without any expression while an old man awaited him in its centre.

The old man turned to look at Greenstone with a faint smile. “It’s been so many years. I never thought that I’d be taking in a disciple again, a doll like you no less.”

Greenstone stiffened without replying.

The old man waved his hands and continued, “Never mind, consider my last contribution to the human race. That final battle—I won’t live to see it.”

Old Sir Cheung stood up from his seat and caressed the back of Greenstone’s head with benevolence. Greenstone stiffened again as darkness took over his sights; all he knew was a voice reaching him from behind.

“May this aid you in awakening to the verity of Tai Chi. Spread the name of Tai Chi and make it known to the world. When the time comes for you to take in your very own disciples, please remember this—your master is Sir Cheung, Cheung Kwan Po. That is all I ask for.”

Drako Yau stared at the Life and Death Charm skill book, unable to utter a word.

Hui Chuk looked at Drako Yau with a strange glance; apology, hope, encouragement, all sorts of feelings stirred within him. By granting Drako Yau the Life and Death Charm skill book, he was indirectly passing on the burden to the young man. It was undoubtedly powerful, but its notoriety was nasty as it was powerful. Even Hui Chuk hadn’t used it in ages; despite bearing a skill that reached the pinnacle of cultivation, it just had to be such a dreadful skill. A slip of the mind and he might become the next evil cultivator who might doom the world.

The longer Drako Yau stayed in this game world, the more he was enlightened: if he could somehow return to the actual world, he knew he could use his Flame Form, Frost Form, Cryoflame style, Dragon Capturing Hand, and his various techniques from the game. It was a very illogical belief, yet Drako Yau was certain about it.

Getting struck by Life and Death Charm in the game as a player is no big deal. Death is the worst you can get. But what about in the actual world?

Drako Yau sighed. He clasped his hands on the skill book, causing it to vanish.

“I, Drako Yau, hereby swear on my cultivation that I will only use Life and Death Charm on evil-doers. If I strike commoners by accident or commit atrocious deeds with it, I shall be doomed by the heavens and forfeit my cultivation, break all my tendons, and face a horrible death!”

The old geezer had once told him that the worst thing a cultivator could swear on was their cultivation. Although it wasn’t as if the heavens would heed their swears and doom them, most if not all cultivators truly meant it when they made such a swear.

Apart from Dumbgirl who was visibly confused, everyone including Hui Chuk, Duen Yu, Wong Yu Tin, and Princess Ngan Chuen was stunned. Relief washed over them after a brief moment, and it struck Hui Chuk the most.

He embraced mercy as an ex-monk who believed in the way of Buddhism, and giving Drako Yau the Life and Death Charm skill book was a huge gamble. Thankfully, it seemed taking the risk was worthwhile.

Drako Yau left together with Dumbgirl without waiting for Greenstone. If he had to pick someone that he didn’t worry about, it had to be Greenstone—and Greenstone alone.

Drako Yau felt like he didn’t get a lot stronger despite obtaining a new source of strength from clearing Kiu Fung’s quest. He had sworn to restrain himself by placing a sword right next to his heart. If he ever used Death and Life Charm for misdeeds, he would never advance any further in the way of cultivation even if the heavens didn’t doom him with lightning.

The past Drako Yau wouldn’t have cared at all. He lived in the most technologically advanced First Eastern City, filled with famed persons and scholars; there was no need to fight for their lives. However, he was now stuck in a strange place where he had no idea how to escape from. The only thing he could do was to heed the old geezer’s advice—become stronger, just like the time in the Abyss of Durin. He could either come up with a method or break past everything that was holding him back with brute force. A foolish method it was, but only that way could he keep the flames of hope burning within him.

It had been almost a year since he was trapped in the game. Although it was a similarly vast world, a tint of unrealism still tingled his senses. He hated the fact that everyone had an ID above their heads, hated that he had to fight endlessly, yet the only way to put an end to this was to fight.

Drako Yau once thought he was special—turned out he was nought but a pawn toyed by the strings of the heavens.

Ki Industries in the Third Eastern City was now the studio of Drako Yau’s close squad members. Idyllic Poet, Dumbgirl, Windstrider, Zephyrwolf, Danting, and Sasaki all resided there.

Today, they were all staying in the actual world with their boss’ approval. It was the big day of welcoming their new member, Yim Ho.

Their squad might sound plentiful in numbers, but compared to ordinary studios, they were nowhere near sufficient. Instead of quantity, they went down the path of quality—every one of them was a super-elite who could fight ten ordinary players on their own. However, this was why they found recruiting new members so difficult.

Drako Yau was different from Chau Yu. To Chau Yu, the elites under him were like chess pieces. Even powerhouses like Tripurity and Handsome Scholar were mere rooks or bishops—better than pawns, but still chess pieces nonetheless.

Drako Yau pursued a heart-to-heart relationship with his companions. Apart from individual strength, one’s temperament and mindset were also crucial criteria. Perhaps this was why many of his companions seem like simple-minded people, like Dumbgirl, Zephyrwolf, Danting, and Yim Ho the newcomer. It wasn’t as if they couldn’t use their heads at all—they just didn’t like to.

At the airship port in the Third Eastern City, an airship carrying the renowned beast pugilist slowly descended.

A muscular man wearing a plain vest walked out of the arrivals hall with a suitcase in hand. He swept his sharp eyes across the area and found his target: a large piece of cardboard with “Yim Ho” written on it.

Everyone greeted him with Sasaki taking the lead. “The boss asked me to pass this on for him. Welcome, he says.”

Yim Ho grinned and showed his pearl-white teeth.

Inheritance—Thirteen Flashing Spiritual Swords

Description: Nothing but speed is peerless in combat. The creator of Thirteen Flashing Spiritual Swords came to such realisation and pushed his ideals to the pinnacle, abandoning agility and gracefulness for speed—and speed alone.

Skill type: Thirteen Flashing Spiritual Swords revolved around the concept of “flash”. Every strike of the sword was as quick as a flash of lightning and as sharp as the piercing rain. Legends have it that when cultivated to the apex, the cultivator can form thirteen swords with aftershadows to strike down the enemy, making it the ultimate technique of speed.

Cultivation requirements: Sword wielder, friendly relationship with Tai On.

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