BRDM 125

chapter 125

“That parasite is called Samsi. There are two more, one in the brainstem and another in the lower abdomen. I strongly advise you not to move recklessly.”

Even as Zheng Yijie received Xu Changyou’s furious glare, he answered with a blank expression.

[Samsi Parasites]

Samsi (Three Corpses) were, since ancient times, said to reside in the head, chest, and lower belly. They gnawed away at the host’s life force and, in particular, had a strong negative influence on the mind and emotions.

• Source: the text Yun’geupchilham

“Heh heh. At least you’ve got a good sworn brother. To realize your brother has taken the wrong path and, with tears in your eyes, raise the whip against him like this.”

The tone was mocking without a doubt.

The blood vessels in Xu Changyou’s eyes bulged with fury.

“Ah, but don’t act rashly. If Yijie suffers even the slightest injury, your heart will burst and you’ll die.”

“……”

“Not that you won’t die anyway if you ignore my words. But since we do share old ties, I’d rather not be the one to deal the final blow.”

The voice was languid, carried with the intoxication of victory.

Hoo—

Xu Changyou exhaled slowly, cooling his burning head.

He didn’t know when he had become addicted to this wretched thing, but—

The deed was already done.

That meant he had to seek another solution.

“It seems the Chairman must be desperate indeed. For you to resort to such a cheap trick—it doesn’t suit you.”

Xu Changyou spoke as though grinding his teeth, his eyes still fixed on Zheng Yijie.

The betrayal by a sworn brother was far more humiliating than he had expected.

“Well, one could see it that way. You’re not entirely wrong. Do you think I wanted to stoop to this?”

Feng Jinghao’s voice was like a whisper.

“But I know you too well. Even if I tried to control you this way, you’re the kind of man who would sooner die than obey.”

“……”

“You despise having anyone above you. Isn’t that why you left Cheongroe even though it was thriving?”

Xu Changyou gave no answer.

Feng Jinghao went on:

“So then, why don’t I offer you a proposal—one you may actually find tempting.”

Xu Changyou stretched his senses outward.

Luchen was nearly there.

“Time is short, so I’ll be quick. Help me just once. Do that, and I’ll release you from the Samsi parasites immediately.”

“And why should I trust you?”

“Come now, I am Feng Jinghao. I’ve never taken back a word once spoken. I always keep my promises.”

For the first time, Feng Jinghao’s voice carried a note of solemnity.

From that single phrase, Xu Changyou could read the man’s pride—

Even if his reputation were to collapse, his honor would never be lost.

“Fine. So what’s this proposal?”

“Truthfully, my suggestion isn’t so bad for you either. I want us to take Jet down together.”

“……”

“We’ve received intel that Astra is trying to approach Jet. They’ll probably propose a joint operation.”

“You mean, to attack the Committee together?”

“More precisely, to strike at you and Pingxin.”

Xu Changyou’s gaze sank deep.

“But I see this as an opportunity. Their offensive won’t be easy to withstand. They’ll do whatever they can to eliminate you. But if we successfully defend—and take Jet out in the process—imagine how our standing will change.”

If they managed to stop a Korea–U.S. joint operation, Feng Jinghao would immediately launch the massive counterattack he had been preparing.

That would restore his footing within the Committee.

This was his gamble, with his honor and very life’s fate at stake.

“So in the end, you just want to salvage your honor.”

“Call it vanity if you like, but I refuse to vanish so pitifully. I still believe I have much left to do for this world.”

The calm voice continued.

“And perhaps I haven’t lived too poorly, since there are still quite a few within the Committee who support my will. They’ll help you as well.”

“……”

“And the Samsi parasites will help, too. The substances they secrete from brainstem, heart, and dantian are… peculiar. They’ll grant you a dramatic boost in physical ability. Used properly, they’re as precious as an elixir.”

Xu Changyou examined his inner state carefully.

[The same unidentified poison has taken root in the spinal cord and lower abdomen as in the heart.]

[Unable to read the nature of the poison. Trait: Elemental Domination has no effect.]

‘This could actually help me?’

He recalled the shadowy figures who always trailed Feng Jinghao.

They were all undeniably powerful—almost inhuman.

Could they all be experimental hosts of the Samsi?

“And when this is done, I’ll even promise you the Chairman’s seat.”

“You’re offering me your position?”

“Heh heh. Before I grow any older, shouldn’t I try climbing even higher? You and I will grasp the great game together—just as we always have.”

Feng Jinghao’s whisper was honeyed, almost demonic.

“Well, what do you think of my proposal?”

His voice was uncannily the same as it had been four years ago.

“Compared to Luchen, who promises nothing, surely this old man is the better option?”

Tch.

Xu Changyou let out a quiet laugh.

“Admittedly, your offer is… enticing.”

He had slipped back into formal speech.

“I agonized quite a bit to tailor it to your tastes. So then—”

“But it seems you’ve overlooked one thing.”

Xu Changyou twisted his lips into a crooked smile as he stared straight at Zheng Yijie.

“I’ve got a nasty temper. No matter how sweet the words, if someone bites me, I can’t rest until I bite back.”

Feng Jinghao said something urgently through the receiver. Zheng Yijie hastily drew on his magic and leapt back—

But,

[Forcing mana circuits to activate! Using Elemental Domination to halt all physical functions temporarily!]

Xu Changyou, reflected in Zheng Yijie’s pupils—

Was grinning, fangs bared.

[‘Great Curse: Ring of Bitter Cold’ erupts!]

In an instant, the room filled with an icy storm.

KWA-KWA-KWANG—

CRRRRKKKK!

‘That man…!’

‘The Dojo?’

‘He looks even more imposing than the rumors said.’

Dojo Luchen wore a robe like those of the old Taoist masters, his hair tied up in a topknot.

With no attendants, he strolled with hands clasped behind his back.

The Pingxin soldiers guiding him swallowed nervously.

Meeting a top-ranked legend in person left them all tense.

But Luchen bore only a serene smile.

“This room here?”

“Yes, sir. Inside, Mr. Xu Changyou awaits you. Please, go right in.”

Just as the guide reached for the door—

“Danger!”

Luchen suddenly seized his arm and yanked him back.

The soldier tumbled away from the door just as—

BOOOOM—

A massive mana explosion tore the door apart, followed by a freezing storm.

“……!!”

The soldiers widened their eyes in shock.

Fortunately, the storm didn’t spread far.

With almost divine control, Luchen confined it to the room alone.

But the scene revealed within was—

“…Like a hell of ice and fangs.”

It was ghastly.

The interior was covered in frost, spiked through with ice shards radiating menace.

Zheng Yijie, mid-flight to escape, was frozen with a horrified expression.

And at the center, Xu Changyou sat wearily, greeting Luchen.

“You’ve come? Forgive me for such a poor first impression.”

Not that his condition was good.

Over half his body was rimed in frost.

Luchen watched calmly, then furrowed his brow.

“Your chest.”

“Ah, this? Don’t mind it.”

Xu Changyou touched the wound on his left chest, grinning crookedly.

Anyone could see—it was the scar left after nearly freezing his heart solid and forcibly removing something.

On the floor squirmed a worm, the size of a thumb.

“……”

Understanding the situation, Luchen gazed quietly at him.

Xu Changyou smirked.

“The weather’s a bit chilly. Care for a meal? This place does a decent Peking duck.”

“Chairman Feng must have prepared quite the feast.”

A remark spoken with full understanding of the circumstances.

Xu Changyou burst into laughter.

“Yes. Which is why I chilled it in advance.”

“Very well. Let’s have that.”

Luchen sat across from him.

Xu Changyou’s smile twisted even further.

Lee Hyun entered the interview room where the review committee was gathered, and let out a dry laugh.

Because he spotted a familiar face.

“You? What are you doing here, Michael?”

Michael Shepherd.

The operations chief of Astra.

“Today I’m here as an outside expert for the review. Once this is over, I’ll also be discussing business with Team Z and the NIS.”

Business.

Meaning the operation to strike mainland China.

Lee Hyun’s eyes flashed.

“You mean you actually accept those conditions?”

Through Mo Jung-gyeon, Lee Hyun had already drawn a line at Astra’s proposal: not a “joint operation,” but merely as “backup members.”

Even when Michael Shepherd called him directly, the reply had been the same.

He had flatly rejected Astra’s offer of citizenship for himself and Cheongroe, and told them to decide only on backup participation.

Lee Hyun had assumed Astra would refuse.

After all, calling them “backup” was essentially a declaration of mistrust.

In every prior joint op, Astra had commanded the leadership role.

There was no way such a prideful group would accept.

Yet—

“Well, you refused our proposal, and that was all that remained. What can we do? We absolutely want to work with Cheongroe.”

Michael Shepherd shrugged as if helpless, though his beaming smile felt different from before.

What was it—more relaxed?

The impression he gave was unlike their past meeting. Almost as if he were another person entirely.

“Besides, our Director gave us a special order: support Cheongroe to the fullest, right at their side.”

Even Lee Hyun was surprised, his eyes widening.

The same for Lee Gunsan and Cha Yunjeong.

The Astra Director was shrouded in mystery—so hearing this made them listen all the closer.

“In any case, given the setting, let’s finish the interview first. We can talk after.”

The real discomfort now lay with the other committee members.

‘Damn it…!’

‘Now we can’t do a thing!’

‘Wh-what are we even supposed to ask?’

‘We were going to nitpick everything we could… but with things like this, we can’t.’

They had already been under orders from the Blue House to treat Lee Hyun well.

Now that even the U.S. was openly backing him, the pressure was suffocating.

The Ministry of Defense members, who had been intent on dragging him down, had no choice but to keep their mouths shut.

Thus, the interview wrapped up smoothly in just thirty minutes.

Due to the rule that deliberations and votes could not be made public, Lee Hyun had to leave the room—

But the outcome was obvious.

‘It’s really over. This fight.’

Four years ago, it had seemed an insurmountable wall.

Now, he smiled wryly at the strangely anticlimactic victory.

Yet,

All the more reason he wanted to share the news with his comrades.

Their smiles would sweep away any hollow feeling.

‘Only one remains now.’

Xu Changyou and Pingxin.

And the Central Heroes’ Committee.

If they could be eliminated, the battle of the past four years would finally close.

What was Xu Changyou doing right now?

Was he keeping watch for his arrival?

Or was he hatching yet another scheme?

It was impossible to know.

But one thing was certain—

The man was just as eager to settle old grudges quickly.

“So then, shall we properly discuss business?”

Michael Shepherd emerged from the review chamber.

Together with Cha Yunjeong, they all began moving to another conference room when—

[The Tale of the Snow Queen has succeeded in finding your old body with your avatar!]

A message flickered across his vision.

Lee Hyun smiled faintly—finally, a sure way to pin down Xu Changyou.

But then, another line appeared, freezing him in his tracks.

[The Tale of the Snow Queen has failed to absorb the old body.]

[The Tale of the Snow Queen rages, claiming ignorant humans have polluted the body carelessly!]

‘What?’

Startled, Lee Hyun tried to connect to his avatar—

But then—

[The Tale of the Snow Queen grumbles but begins forcibly freezing the polluted body in order to absorb it.]

[Absorbing…]

[‘Holy Relic: Cloak of Bitter Cold’ begins to strengthen. The Tale of the Snow Queen’s succession (承) is being completed.]

[A massive foreign presence is detected, making absorption difficult.]

[Absorption slows.]

[An immense storm of thoughts and mana erupts!]

“……!?”

The flood of mana surging into the Cloak of Bitter Cold was nearly equal to his entire current reserves.

Lee Hyun’s eyes flew wide as the torrent overwhelmed him.