The wind tore across the jagged cliffs of Mount Liang, carrying the scent of earth, rain, and blood. Kang Jinhyuk stood at the precipice, the sheer drop below no longer invoking fear, only focus. His eyes, sharp and burning, traced the horizon where the first rays of dawn split the mountains in gold and crimson. After months within the portal world, countless hours of relentless training, agonizing failures, and triumphs carved with his own sweat—he had finally reached the Peak Realm.
Finally… Jinhyuk muttered, his voice hoarse, edged with both exhaustion and the thrill of power. I can feel it… every muscle, every tendon, every heartbeat flowing in harmony. This… this is only the beginning.
A faint breeze carried a voice, familiar yet sardonic.
So… you've made it, Kang Jinhyuk.
Jinhyuk flinched, though not entirely surprised. Jeok-Ma's spectral form shimmered at the edge of his vision, his crimson robes shifting like living fire. The ancient martial artist's grin was sharp, cutting, cynical.
Peak Realm, Jeok-Ma said, circling him like a predator, and yet, you still hold back. I can see the hesitation. That little mortal conscience of yours… it clings even as power flows through you like a river in flood.
I've survived because of it, Jinhyuk snapped, his hands balling into fists. I don't intend to become a mindless killer just because I can.
Jeok-Ma laughed, a harsh, rasping sound that echoed off the cliffs. Mindless? Perhaps. Or perhaps you are simply afraid to claim what is rightfully yours. Power isn't meant to be restrained—it is meant to dominate. To crush the weak, to intimidate the powerful, to command the world itself.
Jinhyuk's jaw tightened. The words should have unsettled him. In another man, maybe they would have. But he had long learned to separate the voice of ambition from the voice of conscience. Every tear shed for Min-Seo, every memory of her bright smile, every echo of her laughter and the cries of his lost child...they had anchored his restraint, tempered it into a blade sharper than any steel.
He exhaled, letting the wind carry his thoughts outward, away from doubt. Dominate? No. Control my destiny, yes. Avenging my family… that is my path. And I will not lose myself along the way.
Jeok-Ma's grin widened, a spark of amusement in his centuries-old eyes. Good. That restraint will serve you well… for now. But do not delude yourself. Murim is a world without mercy. The enemies you will face are ruthless, cunning, and patient. To survive, to succeed, you must become more than mortal...more than Peak...
Jinhyuk tightened his stance, muscles coiling, senses heightened. The energy coursing through his body was no longer raw, but refined, honed through countless hours of spiritual conditioning and combat. Every movement felt instinctive. Every breath synchronized with his internal energy flow. He closed his eyes and visualized the countless battles yet to come, the corrupt sect elders, the Murim Alliance operatives, the shadow of the Namgung and Murong clans looming over his past.
He could see them clearly, each one an obstacle on the road of vengeance. Each one a chess piece waiting for the hand of the player who would control the board.
Opening his eyes, Jinhyuk stretched his arms, feeling the energy ripple through his body. His Peak Realm evolution was more than a leap in strength...it was a rebirth. Every strike, every movement now carried not just physical force but tactical foresight. Even a single swing of his blade could disrupt formations, control the battlefield, and exploit the weaknesses of multiple opponents simultaneously.
Time to put this to the test, he murmured. With a fluid motion, he leapt from the cliff, descending into the valley below, where the remnants of his bandit allies had set up training dummies and obstacle courses. The air vibrated as his energy flared, a crimson aura spiraling around him, reacting to his heartbeat. Each step was precise, each movement a blend of martial artistry and battlefield calculation.
Dan Sae-Ryeo, observing from a distance, tilted her head, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. Hm… looks like the bandit who once stumbled over his own feet has finally learned to walk with purpose.
Jinhyuk shot her a glare, though the corner of his mouth betrayed the tiniest hint of amusement. Careful, Sae-Ryeo. I might mistake your teasing for an attempt to test my patience.
She laughed lightly, moving to take her own position on the course. If I were you, I'd be grateful. Testing your skills is the only way to see if you're truly ready for what's coming. And don't pretend you're not curious about what comes next.
He gritted his teeth, lunging forward, striking a series of dummies with fluid precision. Each blow was faster, sharper, and more purposeful than the last. He integrated what Jeok-Ma had drilled into him for months—the balance of raw strength, mental clarity, and tactical foresight. His first attempts to simulate ambush scenarios for small squads felt effortless; his mind calculated trajectories, anticipated enemy reactions, and exploited every weakness.
And yet… the Peak Realm was only a threshold. Even as his confidence surged, a sliver of unease lingered. He knew the Murim world beyond the mountains was unforgiving. Hwang Taejoon's arrogance, the Namgung and Murong collusion, the subtle manipulations of minor factions—none of it would be straightforward. Every small victory here was but a precursor to far greater, far bloodier trials.
He paused mid-strike, breathing heavily, energy radiating around him. Sweat dripped down his brow, mixing with dirt and blood from the rigorous training, but his eyes burned with a resolve stronger than ever. I've survived the portal world, I've absorbed the Crimson Demon's legacy, and I've mastered the Peak Realm. Now… Murim will see the wrath of Jinhyuk. But I will not lose myself in it. I will remain the man they fear… and the man my wife and child believed I could be.
Sae-Ryeo's voice cut through his reflection, softer this time, almost concerned. Jinhyuk… don't let vengeance blind you. I've seen too many good men crushed by it. You… you have a choice, even now.
He turned to her, the faintest trace of a smile softening his otherwise fierce expression. I know… and I will choose carefully. But don't mistake caution for weakness. I am ready. Whatever Murim throws at me, I will rise.
The sun climbed higher, casting long shadows across the training ground. Kang Jinhyuk felt the weight of the Peak Realm in his body, the pulse of power in his veins, the sharpened clarity in his mind. But more than strength, more than skill, it was purpose that surged within him. The road ahead was darker than any night he had survived, filled with treachery, conspiracies, and deadly foes—but he would meet it head-on.
Because in his heart burned a fire that no one could quench: vengeance, love, and the unyielding will to master the Murim world.
He raised his gaze to the horizon, where the distant mountains met the sky. Each peak and valley whispered a challenge, each shadow a test. Kang Jinhyuk, newly awakened to the Peak Realm, exhaled slowly, feeling the calm before the storm.
Let them come, he whispered. Let all of Murim witness the rise of the Crimson Bandit.
And with that, he leapt once more into the fray, the winds of Mount Liang screaming past him as his aura flared crimson and gold, signaling the first steps of a journey that would shake the Murim world to its core.