Chapter 9: The Boundary of Civilization

1. The Edge of Hell

The end of the desert was honest, bordering on the abrupt. In a single step, the soft, suffocating golden grains that had tormented their feet for weeks vanished.

The shimmering, golden particles that had swallowed their energy were gone, replaced by the hard, unforgiving bite of a solid dirt road.

The caravan of the Man-Ri Merchant Company stopped at that boundary, as if by a silent agreement. Thick tears welled in the eyes of those who looked back at the hell they had just traversed.

Mu Jin stood at the rear, dusting the white desert sand from his worn shoulders. The scent of the dry, shifting winds was deeply embedded in every fiber of his tattered robes.

[Minerva: Terrain shift detected.] [Desert zone exit confirmed.] [Entering the western outskirts of Gansu Province.]

[Atmospheric moisture increased by 14.2%.] [Optimizing respiratory systems.]

Mu Jin stood still, savoring the moist air as it seeped deep into his lungs. It carried a tangible sense of life, fundamentally different from the parched vacuum of the dunes.

“We made it! It’s Gansu! We’re finally on real earth!”

Explosive cheers erupted from the merchants. Wei Myung-hwan dismounted and pressed his lips to the red soil—a desperate gesture of a man who had returned from the very threshold of death.

Wei So-yeon looked at Mu Jin’s profile with overwhelmed eyes. But Mu Jin’s gaze remained as dry as a frozen lake.

To him, space was merely a collection of coordinates that consumed energy. The essence of movement was the same on flat ground as it was in the sand. The only things that mattered were the destination and the remaining fuel in his core.

2. Detection of Anomaly

[Minerva: Multiple signals detected 3.2km ahead.] [Energy response is stable. Armament levels: Low-rank.]

“Remnants of the Cult? Or bandits lying in ambush?” Mu Jin muttered, cracking his thick knuckles.

[No. Standard imperial guards and civilians from Lanzhou.] [However... I detect abnormal frequencies at the city gates.]

Mu Jin’s silver eyes narrowed into razor-sharp slits. “Abnormal? Has the Void’s contamination already reached this deep into the interior?”

[Probability: 12.5%. Likely the shards or residues left behind by their presence.]

Mu Jin felt the micro-vibrations of the core beside his heart. The engine was meticulously scanning every molecule of the surrounding atmosphere.

“Young Hero Mu Jin! A moment of your time, if you please.” Wei Myung-hwan approached with a mix of relief and resolve.

“The city gates are just ahead. It might be troublesome if your true identity is exposed to the officials. Would you consider entering as an advisor to our company?”

Mu Jin stared at the massive silhouette of the city rising beyond the horizon. Civilization was a grand nest where the Void loved to hide. The more human desire boiled, the deeper the contamination burrowed.

“Do as you wish. I only care about filling my empty stomach.”

3. The Roar of Lanzhou

Lanzhou was a magnificent fortress that resembled the breath of a sleeping dragon. It absorbed the winds of the West and exhaled the prosperity of the Central Plains.

Built along the churning yellow waters of the Huang He, it was the first true outpost of civilization Mu Jin had ever seen.

As they reached the gates, the guards hurriedly cleared the way. “Chief Wei! You’ve returned safely! What a miraculous feat!”

Wei Myung-hwan smiled graciously, showing his travel pass. But his eyes secretly drifted back to monitor Mu Jin’s reaction.

Mu Jin looked up at the massive walls with an indifferent gaze. Every trace of time etched into the stones was read as data.

[Minerva: Fortress structure analysis.] [Defensive rating: 0.0021%.] [It is as thin as paper by Archeon standards, but the population density is high.]

“Young Hero, this is the headquarters of our Man-Ri Company, Lanzhou.” Wei Myung-hwan spoke with pride. “Every nutrient you could desire is piled high in this city.”

As he said, the streets were violently alive. The pungent smell of Western spices and the scent of greasy roasted meat bombarded Mu Jin’s senses without mercy.

4. Rampaging Thirst

[Hunger level: 85.4%.] [Core efficiency dropping rapidly.] [Minerva: High-density protein source detected 48m to the right.]

Mu Jin’s footsteps stopped abruptly, as if pulled by a magnet. Noodle stalls, a specialty of Lanzhou, lined the busy street. The scent of boiling beef broth struck his neural pathways.

“I am eating. Now. My patience has reached its limit.”

Wei So-yeon laughed and gently tugged on his tattered sleeve. “If you wait until we reach the manor, I will serve you food far more precious than this.”

Mu Jin conflicted. Logic dictated immediate consumption. But the data of Wei So-yeon’s kindness halted his calculation. Her eyes held a sincerity that could not be quantified.

“...Be there within the hour. My patience is very short.”

[Recording this as valuable data for maintaining social relationships,] Minerva whispered playfully.

At that moment, a blue afterimage flickered in the center of the market. An alien frequency, fundamentally different from the internal energy of a standard martial artist.

[Warning: Traces of Void synchronization shards detected.] [Target: 180m ahead, warriors escorting an ornate carriage.]

Mu Jin’s eyes sank into a cold, heavy silence. “The road to Beijing... is going to be louder and filthier than I expected.”

5. The Noise and Joy of Return

The flags of the Man-Ri Company fluttered under the blue sky of Lanzhou. The imperial guards raised their spears in salute. The return of a caravan that escaped the fangs of the valley was a festival in itself.

“We’re back! We’re finally back in our home on our own feet!”

The voices of the merchants were a mix of hot tears and joyful shouts. Wei Myung-hwan sat tall on his horse, maintaining his dignity. It was the fruit of a miracle created by the variable named Mu Jin.

But Mu Jin stood a step away from the noise of the celebration. To them, return was joy; to him, it was merely the end of a transit.

[Minerva: Is this the emotion humans call 'Homecoming'?]

“Perhaps. A luxury for those who have a home to return to.”

For Mu Jin, sanctuary was only the cold metal slab of a sterile laboratory.

The procession reached the massive headquarters in the center of the city. The blue-tiled roofs and walls that seemed to have no end boasted their power. Dozens of servants rushed out, bowing their heads to the ground.

Wei So-yeon moved closer to Mu Jin’s side immediately. “Young Hero, this is my home. You can truly rest now. You don't have to sleep in the wind anymore.”

Mu Jin didn't answer. Instead, he slowly scanned the aura of the massive mansion. The surface was peaceful, but a foul scent wafted from somewhere deep in the cellar.

6. The Viper Behind the Mask

A man opened the heavy gates and approached with a gracious smile. It was the vice-official, Wei Tae-kang. He embraced Wei Myung-hwan warmly, his eyes reddening as he perfectly acted the role of a devoted brother.

“Cousin! To see you alive! This is truly a blessing from the heavens!”

“And this child must be the great hero who saved you! Haha!” Wei Tae-kang grabbed Mu Jin’s hand, bowing repeatedly.

On the surface, he offered an intense and extreme hospitality. But the tips of his fingers gripping Mu Jin were trembling ever so slightly.

[Minerva: Detecting severe inconsistency in bio-signals.] [The facial muscles smile, but the pupils show extreme killing intent.]

[Adrenaline spiking. The target is extremely wary of the Administrator.]

Mu Jin’s eyes narrowed, piercing through the man’s pupils. ‘Killing intent? Why pour such black emotions onto someone he has just met?’

[This is a high-level human technique: Social Camouflage.] [Outputting opposite language to perfectly hide true intent.]

Mu Jin silently pulled his hand away, feeling a wave of disgust. The warmth of the man’s palm cooled like a snake’s skin the moment the touch broke.

“Minerva... is he a hostile entity that must be eliminated?”

7. The Stench of Civilization

[Currently classified as a Potential Threat for monitoring.] [He calculates that your appearance erodes his power.] [While his mouth shouts thanks, his mind is designing your removal.]

Mu Jin ignored Wei Tae-kang completely and sat on the bed of the guest room he was shown.

“If there is anything uncomfortable, please tell me at once!” Tae-kang’s voice was still cheerful and overly attentive.

Mu Jin didn't even look at him. “Leave. You are loud. Do not disturb my rest further.”

For a split second, Tae-kang’s face froze. Through the crack in his mask, his ugly nature leaked out for a fleeting moment. Then, it was covered again by a gracious smile.

“Haha! Truly, the spirit of a great master is overflowing!”

The moment Tae-kang left the room, Minerva warned him immediately.

[For exactly 0.18 seconds, the corner of his mouth dropped 3.2 degrees.] [That is the ugly truth he hides behind the mask.] [Trust only the numbers I analyze, not the words of humans.]

Mu Jin looked down at his empty palms. The lingering heat from Tae-kang’s touch felt filthy.

“The ones who deceive are far more exhausting than the ones who carry blades.”

It was the stench of deception hiding behind the brilliant shell of civilization.

8. New Battlefield: Night in Lanzhou

[Humans call that 'Politics.'] [This inefficient deception is the engine that sustains civilization.]

Mu Jin closed his eyes, leaning back against the wall. This place was a battlefield far more complex and dirtier than the open desert.

The hunger was still severe, and enemies hid their blades behind smiles.

[Minerva: Energy replenishment sequence ready for activation.] [Coordinates for high-energy ores deep within the company warehouse confirmed.]

A short, cold smile flickered across Mu Jin’s dry lips. The true hunt and harvest were only just beginning.

The night of Lanzhou was descending heavily, silently. The scent of deception began to rise from every corner. And in that scent, Mu Jin began to sharpen his blade.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Hello readers!

After crossing the desert,
Mu Jin finally reaches the edge of civilization.

But cities hide dangers that the wilderness never does.

Sometimes the most dangerous enemies
are the ones who smile.