[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world":3,"chapter-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-285":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Level 4 Human in a Ruined World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1848499,2454,"Chapter 285","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-285",285,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 285: The Student Surpasses the Master (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you just say 'Master Hong'...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tongliao's Three Swords were left speechless at Yeongwoo's accusation of treason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, wasn’t he the one who had been shouting about the fall of Beijing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is he completely out of his mind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first sword of Tongliao, Zheng Chosan, erupted in anger but didn't have the luxury to argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By that time, the second member of the Standing Committee, Hong Jingbai, had already approached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kneel before the Party! From now on, anyone who stands on their feet will be beheaded!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a terrifying voice, Hong Jingbai demanded submission, and Yeongwoo was the first to kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the second sword of Tongliao, Huang Seongli, gritted her teeth and glared at Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don’t kneel, you’ll be beheaded.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But aren’t you supposed to be Im Dupyeong’s adversary? Shouldn’t you...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that was when I was getting paid. You’re not planning on paying me yet, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Seongli’s eyes widened as he finally realized that this guy was staging a protest to demand his payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don’t want to kneel with me, you’ll have no choice but to fight Master Hong. Let’s see if you really have the strength to defend this city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already on his knees, Yeongwoo scratched his chin with a calm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the third sword of Tongliao, Guo Wangbo, shouted at the citizens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t kneel! Are you crazy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was because half of the citizens gathered in the area were hesitating and beginning to kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had concluded that Tongliao's Three Swords might not be able to defeat Hong Jingbai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other half of the crowd was also confused, unsure of what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wanted to trust the Tongliao's Three Swords but instinctively felt that kneeling might be the safer option, given that Hong Jingbai’s martial arts seemed formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha, is there truly anyone here dreaming of rebellion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Hong Jingbai laughed savagely, looking at the Tongliao's Three Swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Central Political Bureau’s second member of the Standing Committee, Hong Jingbai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Age: 68, Height: 2 meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Estimated to be the second most powerful person in Beijing at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the fourth member, Baek Gangryang, whom he had met earlier, Hong Jingbai's body wasn’t grotesquely deformed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, his overall appearance was tall and thin, making him look the most normal among the strange figures they had encountered so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Huh? He doesn’t have a weapon?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the purple demonic energy covering his entire body, he wasn’t carrying any weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for someone who is the second most powerful person in Beijing to walk around without a weapon...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Does that mean he has something that makes a weapon unnecessary?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo thought this, Zheng Chosan, the first sword of Tongliao, was the first to charge at Hong Jingbai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've come to find your own grave!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided he had to turn the situation around before all the citizens kneeled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following him, the third sword, Guo Wangbo, also rushed in, and finally, the second sword, Huang Seongli, reluctantly moved as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, be careful! Judging by what he’s doing, there’s definitely something going on!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ‘he’ Huang Seongli referred to was obviously the brazen intruder kneeling over there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at last...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Chosan, who was leading the charge, tried to stab Hong Jingbai with his broken sword—the one Yeongwoo had cut in half in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Hong Jingbai saw the sword, he furrowed his brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who did this to your sword?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected from the second most powerful person in Beijing, he sensed something ominous from the severed edge of the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, equipment, especially weapons, were generally made to be almost indestructible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Zheng Chosan didn’t have time to answer Hong Jingbai’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already used all his courage in launching the attack with his broken sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Graaaah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unaware of what he was being asked, he recklessly thrust his sword forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screeech!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha, you're still a novice. I admire your courage, though.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Hong Jingbai laughed fiercely as he grabbed the sword blade with his bare hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Chosan finally came to his senses, eyes widening, while the third sword, Guo Wangbo, swung his broad sword and intervened between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Step back! I’ll handle this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was the third sword, Guo Wangbo was the oldest in terms of age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a carpenter from Kailu County, Tongliao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wielded his massive sword with his well-developed forearms as if it were a piece of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You Hong clan scum! I’ll chop off your head and display it in the streets!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Guo Wangbo charged in with a menacing line, the smile vanished from Hong Jingbai's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed, you’re the kind that doesn’t understand words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said this, both his left hand, which was holding Zheng Chosan's blade, and his still free right hand turned an intense, chilling shade of deep purple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fsssssst!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, fall back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing something ominous, Huang Seongli urgently threw her sword at Hong Jingbai, hoping to bind his arms for even a moment to buy her comrades time to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And her judgment was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ping!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...spot on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My... my sword...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Huang Seongli's sword flew toward him, Hong Jingbai's right hand transformed into a massive blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh, thunk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Seongli’s sword was deflected by Hong Jingbai’s blade and embedded itself far away in the ground, leaving her unarmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that two of the Tongliao Swordsmen were already disarmed, Guo Wangbo grimaced as he foresaw the grim outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they weren't the only ones whose expressions darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's over.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They can't beat him even with all three of them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that's the case, then what hope do we have...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining half of the citizens, who were still standing, quickly began kneeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hong Jingbai burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How amusing. What an entertaining world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, pointing his monstrous blade-covered arm at the Tongliao's Three Swords, he declared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To punish you for defying the Party, I will demand even more tribute.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now on, the person in charge of Tongliao must deliver 40 million karma to Beijing every day!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Hong Jingbai's threat, the Tongliao's Three Swords instinctively turned their heads—toward the uninvited ‘Strongest Sword’ who had descended from the sky, no less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the increased tribute due to the crime of rebellion was 40 million, then how much had it originally been?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It certainly wasn't 50 million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Wait a second. Something's off here.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Huh? The tribute was increased by 40 million due to rebellion?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Didn't that guy just say earlier that all cities were paying 50 million?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the entire Tongliao's Three Swords began to approach a chilling realization, Yeongwoo finally stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sshh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah, this is interesting. Master Hong, you have a surprisingly delicate side. Is 40 million really the price for raising a sword against the Party?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an outsider standing up alone, Hong Jingbai's attention naturally shifted to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo swept his bangs back with his left hand as if he were pitying him and then spoke in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am a representative of the Korean Peninsula.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Im Dupyeong's greatest concern, Jeong Yeongwoo07!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Jingbai realized many things in that instant when an outsider dared to mention Im Dupyeong’s name so casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mystery of the Standing Committee members who had disappeared one after another while collecting tribute in the East.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the absurd severed edge of the sword he had seen earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... you can't be...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Hong Jingbai’s expression suggested he had figured something out, Yeongwoo, who had been hiding his title all this time, finally revealed it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Strongest Sword』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Strongest Sword...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Jingbai's eyes widened as he saw the brilliant title of the Korean Peninsula.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Standing Committee Member, Chairman Im Dupyeong, had once mentioned a likely suspect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone notorious for bearing the brand of Chinese colonialism and surviving unusually long in the East.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it seemed that this person was...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hong Jingbai! Come to me and serve the national interest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elected official of the Korean Peninsula, ‘Strongestt Sword’ Jeong Yeongwoo, flashed his greedy eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he hurled his sword, already wrapped in fierce red energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Hong Jingbai, being the second most powerful person in Beijing, maintained his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in this situation, he twisted his upper body to dodge Yeongwoo’s sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade, like Huang Seongli’s earlier, merely pierced the distant ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you're nothing special either. Such a shallow trick with even shallower skills to match.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Jingbai confirmed the sword embedded in the ground and laughed sinisterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ominous feeling he had sensed earlier vanished when he saw that his opponent’s hand wasn’t as strong as expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Yeongwoo, on the other hand, seemed to be brimming with joy, a smile spread across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master Hong!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you recognize this sword?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these words, Yeongwoo reached out into the air, summoning a mutated crescent blade called \"Dark Slash\" from his weapon inventory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This weapon had once belonged to none other than Baek Gangryang, the 4th Standing Committee member.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, Hong Jingbai ground his teeth in fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll tear your limbs apart with that sword!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enraged by Yeongwoo's taunting of the dead, Hong momentarily lost his composure and began to storm forward, ready to unleash his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Yeongwoo flicked his right hand, recalling the “Bastard” that had been embedded in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Gnoll's Iron Belt」 - Mutant Belt\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Remotely retrieve weapons.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This technique was Yeongwoo's signature move, a counterfeit swordsmanship technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with the automatic combat greatsword \"Golden Trail\" rushing in simultaneously, no one suspected that this so-called \"Strongest Sword\" was a fraud, at least not in terms of martial prowess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wooooom...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bastard shot towards its master like an arrow, while the golden greatsword danced in front of him as if alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spectators could only gape in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Amazing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that really the Legendary Sword Control technique?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Huang Seongli, who still had her sword stuck in the distant ground, couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew that he was a fraud, but witnessing his martial arts firsthand made it clear that his skills were no lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn you...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite facing attacks from three directions, Hong Jingbai displayed remarkable martial prowess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He blocked the Dark Slash that Yeongwoo had swung at him with the blade on his right arm and pinned the Golden Trail to the ground with his foot, immobilizing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, you bastard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he had never fought at full power like this before, so...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...he failed to block the last sword aimed at his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo's Bastard Sword tore through Hong Jingbai's left shoulder, the citizens of Tongliao, who had been kneeling, stood up in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They realized that the madman's insane claim of toppling Beijing and eliminating Im Dupyeong might actually be possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After retrieving the Bastard Sword, Yeongwoo surveyed the now-standing citizens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he stepped back, returning all his other weapons to his inventory, leaving only the Bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Dark Slash and the Golden Trail, which had been lying on the ground, were put away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As all the weapons that had dazzled their eyes vanished at once, the citizens of Tongliao looked around in bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-what? All of a sudden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where did they all go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo sheathed the Bastard at his waist and said in a businesslike tone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The next part is paid. If you want me to kill Young Master Hong here and now, you'll have to pay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The citizens, noticing that Hong Jingbai’s shoulder was slowly regenerating, asked in shock,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-how much do you need to finish the fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the awaited question came, Yeongwoo spread his right hand wide open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Five?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Five...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fifty million. Collect the money right now. Installments are also accepted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Yeongwoo's tribute demand had surpassed even Beijing's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2033,"2026-06-09T07:03:45.853Z",1,"novelbin.me","241a68063ac71d35ea2504477c9301d95f7d6da701790eee7d0918f5127db82f","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-286","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-284",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]