Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 120

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Broken Ranker

Devours Myths

 

Chapter 120

Blue Thunder (6)

 

 

 

When Executive Director Ho spoke about how to view the Magpie and Tiger painting,

he said that the method of interpreting Tiger King Style also varies according to personal interpretation of the painting.

His Hunting Tiger Technique was also a kind of Tiger King Style in a way.

Since he created Tiger King Style to counter Tiger King Style.

So,

Lee Hyeon had the thought of creating a Tiger King Style that could counter the Hunting Tiger Technique, which was made to counter Tiger King Style.

He envisioned a relationship of mutual predation,

and this was because the relationship between the tiger and magpie shown in the Magpie and Tiger painting didn’t seem to be hostile or mocking each other,

but rather appeared to be harmonizing together in one place.

Tigers are mountain beasts that live on the ground, while magpies are flying creatures that live in the sky.

Tigers symbolize fierce courage, while magpies represent outstanding wisdom.

Their domains and symbols are completely different.

So while they contrast, he thought they could also harmonize with each other.

If tigers and magpies joined hands, there would be nothing to fear in the mountains.

‘Tigers and magpies are animals that don’t live in groups. Perhaps our ancestors knew this and drew these two lonely animals together in one painting?’

Thinking this way,

the Magpie and Tiger painting, which had been a simple picture, looked completely new.

The hidden world of Tiger King Style was etched into his eyes.

 

[You have opened a fragment of karma hidden in Tiger King Style.]

[You partially acquire Muron. ‘Trait: Fighting Style’ is applied, engraving new characteristics into your mental image!]

 

It felt like his eyes were opening.

「You sly bastard, you actually managed to open that? Well I’ll be damned, this is ridiculous.」

He even got scolded by Son Wukong.

「If you’re going to do whatever you want like this, then why even have a master?」

‘Well, like master, like disciple?’

「What did you say?」

‘You never listened to Master Subodhi or Master Tripitaka either, did you?’

「How is that the same as this!」

‘It’s hereditary.’

「Ugh, I really want to smack that kid but I can’t.」

Son Wukong clenched his fist, wanting to hit Lee Hyeon on the head.

Then he crossed his arms and said.

「The ideal that your Fighting Style pursues was relationships and salvation. Your thoughts are reflected in that painting as well.」

Son Wukong found Lee Hyeon admirable for not missing the lesson, even though he was quite displeased.

「You always think you’re incomplete. And you always try to fill that gap.」

Lee Hyeon could feel Son Wukong’s feelings.

「And,」

Son Wukong paused for a moment before continuing.

「That desire to fill yourself isn’t just about skills or abilities. It clearly shows in your everyday actions too. In things like human relationships.」

‘Like how I met you to fill my shortcomings?’

「It might be similar. That’s your pursuit after all.」

‘…….’

「The Tiger King Style you received from the Mountain God seems to suit you fortunately for that reason… But be careful from now on. If you keep picking up everything someone offers you like that, you’ll only end up hurting yourself.」

This time it wasn’t a joke.

It was Son Wukong’s sincere concern born from worry.

Lee Hyeon thought for a moment.

Tiger and magpie.

Relationships and salvation.

It was like……

‘I guess I learned this from you.’

Son Wukong frowned deeply.

「Do you still think I’m joking,」

‘I’m not joking. It’s a thought I held more firmly after seeing the relationships between you, Sha Wujing, and the Roc Demon King.’

「……What?」

‘The feelings you show toward your junior disciple Sha Wujing, the feelings you show toward the Roc Demon King who was your lover, and the feelings they both show toward you. Seeing all that made me think a lot.’

「…….」

‘So that’s how my way of seeing the world changed too. In the end, I need others to fill what’s lacking in me.’

Son Wukong was silent for a while.

Then after quite some time had passed, he said this.

「……Filling your lacking self.」

Lee Hyeon thought.

The relationship between Son Wukong and his sworn brothers,

and the relationship between Son Wukong and the Seven Great Sages was like,

‘Me and Blue Thunder.’

It came to him suddenly like an epiphany.

Where he should be,

he could know once more with certainty where the home he should return to was.

Therefore,

 

“I want to be with you all.”

Lee Hyeon said this at the gathering of Blue Thunder’s former colleagues.

He thought other lengthy explanations were unnecessary.

Now he would just convey his sincerity.

Lee Hyeon swallowed dryly as he looked at his colleagues.

They all had their lips sealed with strange looks in their eyes.

Thump.

He was nervous about what his colleagues would say.

And……

“You idiot. So what?”

Oh Su-heon threw out the words.

His university classmate who had participated in the Ulleungdo operation together, and Blue Thunder colleague.

“Huh?”

“So what do we need to do? You say let’s be together, but if you don’t tell us how to do it, what are we supposed to do?”

“Ah.”

“What ‘ah.’ Geez. This guy who’s usually smart always has a screw loose at times like this.”

Lee Hyeon was about to explain about White Burn and Z Team,

but Oh Su-heon stood up holding something and strode toward him.

“Where should I put this?”

Oh Su-heon smiled cheerfully like a spirited woman as she handed the paper to Lee Hyeon.

It was a job application.

With her photo and career written on it.

“You…!”

“What? Did you fall for your noona? No way. This noona is already taken, you know?”

Oh Su-heon winked with one eye.

Lee Hyeon felt his heart ache without realizing it.

He carefully received the job application and asked.

“When did you even prepare something like this?”

“Our cute junior Min-jeong told me to bring it if I was interested?”

Lee Hyeon looked at Kim Min-jeong with surprised eyes.

Kim Min-jeong seemed a bit embarrassed as she slightly avoided his gaze and scratched her reddened cheek with her index finger.

‘I owe that guy another favor.’

Lee Hyeon was always grateful to Kim Min-jeong.

Then he asked Oh Su-heon.

“But didn’t you just give birth not too long ago? Will you be okay?”

“I’m fine, kiddo. I already discussed it thoroughly with my husband. Actually, my personality doesn’t suit just staying home feeding baby food all day.”

“Still, you never know when it might become dangerous…”

“When did we ever fight while worrying about such things? Hey, if you don’t want it, give it back.”

When Oh Su-heon tried to snatch back the application, Lee Hyeon hurriedly pulled it away.

“Adding a Ranker to our forces – I can’t miss this opportunity. Thank you so much.”

“If you’re grateful, do well from now on, okay?”

Oh Su-heon playfully poked Lee Hyeon’s chest and turned away.

Next, Kang Tae-gyun stood up.

The best tanker of the Thunder Unit with an upright personality.

“I submitted my resignation at my previous job this morning. It was a good position, but I came here just for you, senior.”

He had been working as a team leader at a famous foreign Hunter guild. But he gave that up and even accepted a lower position to come here.

“Thank you, Tae-gyun.”

“If I’m disappointed, I’ll go back.”

“That won’t happen. We’ll do many more interesting things than four years ago.”

Kang Tae-gyun smiled.

“I look forward to it, senior.”

Next, Baek Si-yul and Nam Geon-oh came forward in turn.

They were also guys who had participated in the Ulleungdo operation.

“Running together after so long was fun back then. I was originally planning to completely leave this field, but since the Captain called, I really wanted to try again.”

“This guy said he seemed to be running out of stamina back then, so he even signed up for personal PT this time. Please praise him?”

After this, all the members who had participated in the Ulleungdo operation came with their applications.

“I was wondering when this day would come again.”

“Honestly, if you hadn’t suggested starting Blue Thunder again, senior, I would have been disappointed and never shown my face again.”

“Thank you, senior. For creating an opportunity for us to gather again.”

Each time a new application was added to Lee Hyeon’s hands, the ripples in his chest grew larger.

Other colleagues also stood up in turn.

“Ah, is this right? Quitting a job I’m doing well at and following just the leader…”

“I heard White Burn’s benefits are really good? I look forward to it, Team Leader.”

“Senior, I’m actually a fan of Team Leader Im Won-young… Could I get an autograph? I saw him in person from afar once, and he had such an aura…!”

Even guys who threw around various jokes while handing in their applications.

Before he knew it, the applications in his hands had grown thick.

“I’m sorry, senior. I’d like to go with you too, but… I haven’t been married long, so…”

Among them, there was also a guy who looked around nervously and bowed his head,

“Why are you apologizing? I’m the one who should be sorry for burdening your heart. Your feelings alone are enough.”

Lee Hyeon actually hugged such guys.

Even if they might not be able to spend time together anymore, they were still Blue Thunder members who shared the same heart.

“Thank you. Really.”

Crackle. Pop.

The sound of charcoal that hadn’t fully died out burning filled the yard.

 

* * *

 

“Here, take this.”

Go Jin-woo finally placed his own job application on top of the pile of documents.

His hand trembled slightly as he put down the application.

“Are you really okay? Don’t push yourself. You can take it back.”

Lee Hyeon returned the application to Go Jin-woo.

Although Go Jin-woo was from Blue Thunder, he actually wasn’t the type to fit well with military units.

Because he really hated fighting. So during operations, he always handled backup duties or treated the wounded.

During the Ulleungdo operation too, he had mainly focused on treating the wounded from the White Night Unit…

“No. Put it up there.”

Go Jin-woo shook his head and put the application back on the pile of documents.

Lee Hyeon’s expression changed subtly.

He could see how much internal struggle he must have gone through.

“Of course I won’t be much help in combat, but there should still be areas where I can contribute within this.”

Lee Hyeon bowed his head.

“Thank you, hyung.”

“Stop it, it’s embarrassing. More importantly, how many total?”

“14 people.”

A slight smile formed on Lee Hyeon’s lips as he looked at the pile of documents.

He was so grateful to the colleagues who had made this decision.

“16 people came and 14 of them decided to do it? Almost everyone? Jang Lee Hyeon, you didn’t live your life in vain, did you?”

“I guess so.”

“There will be a lot of people who’ll really flip out when they hear Blue Thunder is being revived. I’d really like to see their faces.”

Go Jin-woo grinned.

It seemed like a lot had built up over the years.

“Who do you think will hate it the most?”

“Who else, the bastards who disbanded Blue Thunder.”

One corner of Go Jin-woo’s mouth twisted.

“Those traitorous bastards.”

“True.”

After Blue Thunder was disbanded, many colleagues left for overseas.

But among them, most joined the Chinese side.

And,

Ping Xin was born centered around such people.

Lee Hyeon didn’t consider them former colleagues.

The other members felt the same way.

“Then should I explain what the future plans will be?”

Lee Hyeon nodded and clapped loudly.

Clap!

With everyone’s attention focused,

Lee Hyeon met the members’ eyes again with a changed look.

The members smiled brightly.

It really felt like Lee Hyeon from four years ago had returned.

Their clock springs were winding backwards.

“Everyone, don’t be too impatient. There are still people whose resignation letters haven’t been processed at their current jobs, or who are delayed in joining due to handover procedures. Our first mission is already decided anyway. General.”

Lee Gun-san grinned as he activated the crystal orb placed on the floor.

Essence of Broken Time.

It was a memory playback crystal orb.

 

[Playing stored memory.]

[Please be careful not to interfere with the memory.]

 

Whoooosh!

The crystal orb floated into the air and emitted streams of light.

Xu Changyou and the former unit members who had followed him to China, along with his subordinate Ping Xin forces, stood there in full numbers.

“……!”

“……!”

“……!!”

While all the members’ faces hardened stiffly,

“Our first objective is just one thing.”

Lee Hyeon spoke in a cold tone.

“We directly strike mainland China and eliminate both Xu Changyou and Ping Xin.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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