Chapter 31

The detonator is always crucial.
It determines when the bomb will explode.
Especially in a situation like this, the detonator is even more so.

Kang Yuseong stared straight at the colossal golden dragon statue standing tall before him.
Now, he was about to press the detonator.

The timing of pressing the detonator is critical.
This is because the bomb must explode at the right moment, and its effect is maximized when it detonates at the intended time.
And ‘what’ is detonated is also important.
Preferably, one should choose the most destructive element available in the current situation.
If you’re going to do it, it’s much more exciting to go all out and make a grand spectacle.

And…

‘Who presses it also matters.’

Kang Yuseong smirked.
The hand gripping the detonator button.
Who is pressing it is even more crucial.
Because that person will set the stage, direct everything, and ultimately bring it to a close.

‘Shall we begin?’

Kang Yuseong walked.
He was now about to detonate a colossal bomb: ‘New Chinatown’.

* * * * *

New Chinatown bore no resemblance to its past self.
It had been completely destroyed once by the Mega Shock, and its reconstruction had been overseen not by the South Korean central government, but by Chinese diaspora groups.
This street, once famous for its restaurants, had now expanded into a massive crime zone, encompassing a quarter of Incheon.
Taking advantage of the unstable public security caused by the Mega Shock, the Chinese diaspora had swelled their power.
It had now transformed into an insurmountable slum, a place on Korean soil that no one dared to enter.

Koreans who ventured in were kidnapped and vanished without a trace.
This was no rumor or urban legend.
It happened openly, even in broad daylight, and there was no way to stop it.
In the past, they would have been preoccupied with internal power struggles, but now things were different.
The Chinese government, through the massive criminal organization known as the Black Society, directly managed everything.
Their hierarchy was meticulously structured, and their coordination was excellent.

Before them, Kang Yuseong appeared.
The reason he could calmly appear in such a formidable place was simple.
He already knew about this place.
Even if he didn’t intervene, the bomb would soon explode.
That couldn’t be stopped.
Before then, he had to crush this place as much as possible.
And hadn’t he been preparing for this very purpose all along?

Two swords hung at his hips.
And a small leather pouch slung diagonally on one side.
That was his entire attire.

As he stepped into the streets of Chinatown, burly figures slowly rose from all directions, casting hostile glances.
Compared to them, Kang Yuseong looked almost like a child.
But Kang Yuseong showed no sign of agitation.
His footsteps were utterly calm, as if he were merely a tourist visiting the area.

“Hey, you!”

A man’s growling voice reached Kang Yuseong’s ears.
Since Kang Yuseong’s memories included linguistic abilities, he could understand Chinese.
But he continued walking down the street.
Responding to every single one would only waste time.
If he ignored them, they would come at him on their own.

“You bastard!”

Shing—

Just like now.

Kang Yuseong felt the fierce rush of wind from behind.
True to the Chinese custom of drawing blades when agitated, the man must have pulled out a large dao.

Thump—

In an instant, he gave the ground a light kick with his forefoot.
That small movement created a tremendous outcome.

Clang!

A blade struck where he had just been, and the hulking man passed right by him.
The man’s face flushed as he quickly turned his head, but then a look of bewilderment crossed his features.
Kang Yuseong was nowhere to be seen.

“Over here, idiot.”

Whoosh—

Along with a low voice, the sound of air being cut could be heard from somewhere.

Slash!

“Argh!”

The giant fell to his knees.
At some point, the tendons behind his knee had been severed.
But before he could even register that pain, he was met with another intense agony.

Swish—

“Gurgle!”

Something had flashed past his lowered neck like lightning.

A torrent of blood!

His carotid artery had been severed, and blood gushed out like a fountain.
The man clutched his neck, his limbs trembling violently, before collapsing.

Thud—

“This bastard… is he Korean?”

At that moment, the surrounding burly men converged, their expressions menacing.
Kang Yuseong let out a snicker.

“Look at how these bastards talk? Of course, a Korean would come to Korean land, not bastards like you…”

A cruel smirk played on Kang Yuseong’s lips.

“…you sons of turtles?”

Wangjara was a deeply offensive curse word in Chinese.
The burly men’s lips quivered with uncontrollable rage, then they let out shouts and charged.

“Die!”

The Chinese Hunters also possessed formidable skills.
Indeed, as they were directly funded by the Chinese government, their skill was genuinely impressive.
Although they were disguised as a group of Chinese diaspora, they were, in fact, a criminal organization belonging to the Black Society.
They were, in essence, an advance party preparing for the ‘Second Incheon Landing Operation’.
However, if there was one thing they overlooked, it was that their opponent was Kang Yuseong.

Whoosh—

One man’s dao swiftly cut through the air, but Kang Yuseong deftly dodged it.
And then, a dazzling beam of light shot forth.

Flash-clash-clang!

Chakra, Meteor Stab!

The sight of meteors, usually falling like stars in the night sky, instead soaring upwards was a spectacular display.

Swish-swish-swish!

In an instant, the chest of the man who had brought down his dao was soaked in fresh blood.
The meteors had pierced straight through his liver and heart, erupting from his back.

“Kraaagh!”

But the Chinese Hunters paid no mind to their comrade’s death.
Another man charged, bringing down a massive iron club.
The power of the iron club, swung by an arm whose muscles looked ready to burst, was truly immense.

Clang!

Kang Yuseong couldn’t dodge the attack and blocked it with his sword.
So powerful was the force behind the iron club that Kang Yuseong’s body, along with his sword, bent slightly.
The man grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth.
But the next moment, he doubted his own eyes.
He was smiling.
Kang Yuseong, on the contrary, was looking at him and smiling.

Swish—

In an instant, his figure vanished, then cleaved through the man.

Chakra, Vengeful Iron Sword!

It was the ultimate counter-technique, reflecting the opponent’s physical damage right back.

“Ugh!”

The man collapsed, not even knowing what had struck him.
As men fell in quick succession, the burly figures finally began to hesitate.
They realized he was not someone to be trifled with.
Kang Yuseong smiled coldly.

“Come on, attack. I was going to…”

A chilling madness poured from his eyes.

“…kill all of you anyway.”

Grind—

“This bastard…”

“I’ll kill him!”

Provoked by him, the men charged again.
Their number was no less than ten.
It was the moment all their swords, daos, and axes flew towards Kang Yuseong.

Whoosh—

At that moment, Kang Yuseong’s body moved slightly.

Bang—

And his sword left his hand, soaring high into the air.

“Rain down!”

His iron sword, which had shot high up, suddenly transformed into a deluge of iron swords, raining down madly.

Swish-swish-swish-swish!

“Kuh-oohk!”

“Kuh-haak!”

That multitude of iron swords severed and mutilated the men’s limbs.
It ripped off noses, sliced off ears, and burrowed deep into intestines, causing massive hemorrhaging.

Swish-swish-swish!

When the rain of iron swords ceased, a veritable sea of blood stretched before him.

Twitch— Twitch—

All the men who had charged at Kang Yuseong with such vigor lay collapsed, twitching and trembling like fish flung from water.
Kang Yuseong strode through them.
Then he stopped abruptly, turned around, and flashed a chilling smile.

“Just wait a little. I’ll send all the rest of them to join you.”

Chinatown.
The entrance to this place, synonymous with terror, was being stained with blood.

* * * * *

The carnage continued within.
Inside, stronger combatants were positioned than those at the entrance, but they too all fell without managing to capture Kang Yuseong.
And now, Kang Yuseong was surrounded by over ten men.
It was finally time for the stronger opponents to emerge.
Kang Yuseong smirked.
In fact, one of the reasons he came here was precisely that.
To fight engulfed in an excitement that felt like his entire body would burst.
To furiously strike down with his sword, again and again, unleashing a surge of adrenaline.
Until now, there had been no such opponents.

Clang—

But from this point on, his body was gradually heating up.
Their daos were heavy.
And they didn’t waste words.
They were individuals who spoke of their murderous intent through their weapons.
These kinds of men, he liked them.
Because it meant they were fiends who had traversed countless hells.

‘In that case, I’ll show them proper respect.’

He smiled a spine-chilling smile.

Clang!

Kang Yuseong pushed aside a dao that lunged at him and dashed forward.

Whooom—

With a strange roar, a massive war hammer flew towards him.
In an instant, Kang Yuseong’s eyes discerned the flow of the wind.

Swoosh—

At this time, there was likely no one more specialized in one-on-one combat than Kang Yuseong.
He had planned his Chakra Cultivation from the start to excel in both hunting and combat against individuals.
That’s why he could face them alone.

Scrape-scrape-scrape!

As he lowered his stance, his sword flattened and mercilessly scraped against the floor.
Sparks flew, creating a magnificent spectacle.
Those sparks soared into the air.
Kang Yuseong had taken flight.

Flash—

And then, his body blurred and vanished in mid-air, only to suddenly appear before the man who had swung the hammer.
Seeing the man’s clearly startled expression, he plunged his sword straight into him.

“Gurgle!”

Slash!

Crash!

Blood splattered, and Kang Yuseong pulled the sword from the man’s body, instantly regaining his stance.

Chakra, Flash Stab.

Everything happened in an instant.
But then, the men suddenly began to retreat.
Kang Yuseong snickered.

“They’re here.”

Before him stood a slender man.
A man with red-dyed hair and piercings all over his body.
A man wearing makeup that made it impossible to tell if he was male or female, staring at Kang Yuseong.
Kang Yuseong knew who he was.

‘Black Society Rank 210, Zhang Suodan.’

It would be a mistake to underestimate him just because he’s ranked 210.
Considering the vastness of China, that was actually an incredibly high rank.
And he was…

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive flame erupted from beneath Kang Yuseong’s feet.
Kang Yuseong, already prepared, was able to retreat, but the scorching heat was palpable even from a distance.
Kang Yuseong smiled, a hint of trouble in his expression.

‘A Magic User.’

The man was a Magic User.
And a fire-elemental one at that.

‘That’s good.’

Kang Yuseong stared straight at him.
A fight against a Magic User.
It was notoriously difficult, a fight where Chakra Users were widely considered to be at a disadvantage.
But Kang Yuseong’s expression was full of composure.
After all, his old nickname, ‘Mad Hunter,’ was given to him precisely because he had overcome such disadvantages.

‘Shall we go?’

Kang Yuseong pushed off the ground.