Chapter 12: I Don’t Discriminate Against Transmigrators; I Just Hate Li En-su

“Ah, the traveler Li Ensu, you’ve arrived?”

The greeting upon entering the dream jolted Li Ensu instantly.

Execution? Detained? Countless possibilities of a traveler being discovered flashed through his mind, but then, realization dawned.

“This must be just a dream.”

Gazing at the old knight greeting him not far away, Li Ensu felt a twinge of resentment.

He had gained the other’s memories; it seemed only fair if the other had also obtained his.

Perhaps this old soul was deliberately trying to scare him?

“Is this really just a dream?” Doubt crept in.

What he saw, heard, and touched felt utterly real.

He was standing on a barren plain without stars, illuminated only by moonlight. His footing was solid; he could clearly feel his limbs when he clenched his fist.

Li Ensu couldn’t distinguish reality from dream; he even smelled the scent of roasted meat drifting through the wilderness.

Huh? Why the smell of barbecue?

“Want some?” The ancient spirit waved a skewer in his hand.

Before him were four racks laden with hundreds of skewers — vegetables, fruits, meats — even many fruits from his homeland.

“Well,” Li Ensu thought, since it’s here, might as well enjoy it.

“Nope… if you want some, you’ll have to cook it yourself.”

Alright, so he really was a grumpy old fellow.

Being called by his “real name” upon first meeting struck fear deep within Li Ensu’s heart.

Yet now, this somewhat eccentric “uncle” before him eased his tension considerably… If this were the stern and iron-faced judge of heroic spirits he imagined, Li Ensu would be even more guarded.

He scrutinized the man carefully.

A towering figure clad in heavy armor covering every inch, his perfect proportions nearly twice Li Ensu’s height. The arm wielding the skewer was thicker than Li Ensu’s thigh.

The armor was modest, even worn and faded, bearing on each shoulder the cross of judgment and the scales of justice, both almost eroded away. The armor, seemingly forged from legendary metal, was riddled with scars and wounds.

He was undoubtedly of the wolf clan — those gray wolf ears were unmistakable. Removing his mask, a faceless judge symbolizing impartial judgment, revealed a half-covered visage somewhat reminiscent of a batman figure — but without any hesitation to kill.

This was a bare-bones killing machine.

From the moment Li Ensu saw him, memories flashed of this armored tank slicing through demons with a single stroke.

“…I believe this is a dream,” he whispered. Such a monster could not exist in the real world.

“Yes, this is your dream, your world, so…”

The middle-aged man’s hearty laughter echoed across the wasteland.

“…so no need to worry about possession or anything like that.” The old man grinned proudly at the young man, his stubbled chin trembling with amusement.

In an instant, Li Ensu’s face turned ashen; he had been seen through again.

“Relax, it’s not mind reading,” said the man, stroking his hairy chin, even more smug. “It’s just experience. Little one, whatever you think is completely transparent to me.”

Seemingly recalling something, the old man chuckled joyfully. “Instead of worrying about me, worry about those around you… Nah, better not interfere with the dead.”

Well then, why only say half the story?

This was probably why Li Ensu despised “old folks” so much — they always spoke half-truths, keeping something back.

If you do right, you’re the commander; if wrong, it’s all your fault. Push for answers and you get nothing.

This was the time not to go along with their rhythm… From experience, if an old fellow wanted to say something, he would have already. Pressing further only meant being toyed with again.

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Li Ensu’s reluctance only made the other laugh harder.

Could it be that not pressing was also a trap?

“Tsk, old rascal.” Li Ensu didn’t hold back his personal attack.

“Disappointed?”

Li Ensu was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

Even these fragments of memory revealed Sul’s dazzling life. Judging him solely by outward appearances would be too shallow.

He, Sul Daon, was a true immortal hero.

For now, being able to savor the cumin and chili-spiced roasted lamb from those memories was enough to satisfy Li Ensu.

“You brat, if you want to eat, cook your own. Don’t snatch my food!”

“Heh, good skills, learned them yourself?”

Even after being exposed as a traveler, Li Ensu felt it was natural.

Once calm, he didn’t expect to conceal a heroic spirit hovering over his soul.

He observed, watching how the other viewed him… He feared some regional prejudice.

Though subtle, hostility toward “aliens” was common, especially from a guardian paladin.

“Pfft, Li Ensu, you really are interesting. Don’t worry, I’m not hostile to travelers. You’ll see soon enough; it’s no big deal… This world is a mess, too many strange things — one more traveler or one less makes no difference.”

Apparently, the other saw through that remark too.

That statement carried an overwhelming weight of information.

Li Ensu smiled, feeling more relaxed… This noble paladin from his memories despised lies.

But he also grew nervous — so many traveler-like beings everywhere? And even more absurd things?

On the boundless plain, the barbecue warmed the air. Li Ensu quietly enjoyed his probably never-ending midnight snack.

They chatted casually, perhaps due to some spiritual resonance, surprisingly in sync.

Yet no matter how long dinner lasted, it must end…

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“Time’s about up. Let’s go.” The feast was over; it was time to work.

When the greasy middle-aged man brushed the dust from his hands and stood up, there was only one figure resembling a wall of steel.

An impregnable fortress, a sword of unstoppable force.

He drew a rustic two-handed longsword… To Li Ensu, it looked more like a gigantic door panel.

Since he was invited, there was no reason to refuse.

Li Ensu took a deep breath, holding his silver-white hero’s sword lightly raised against the towering opponent.

Eyes focused, ready to defend.

“Need a countdown?” The other seemed surprisingly relaxed.

“No need, SIR… ah!!!”

A flying head spun through the air; only after a while did it catch the gleam of silver.

At seven meters distance, in a mere instant, the sword strike ended.

His last memory was the hand sheathing the sword and the cruel grin beneath a scruffy beard.

“I… I…”

Seconds later, Li Ensu “resurrected” and regained clarity.

“Relax, you’re still alive. How does dying once feel?”

Same place, same stance; they hadn’t truly fought… but Li Ensu felt the icy chill on his neck — he had indeed been beheaded, his head flying far away.

He looked at the uncaring grumpy middle-aged man nearby.

No, the sword rose again.

“Wait…”

“Relax, you’ll get used to dying more times.”

Li Ensu heard the words face down, blood dripping from his mouth, no sensation below his waist… Indeed, being bisected was slower than beheading; he could watch several seconds.

“Click.”

Bronze gears roared; the dream reset once more to the exact same position.

“Wait! Let me adjust…” Even if it was a training inheritance, preparation was necessary.

This time, Sul didn’t rush to swing his sword; he patiently waited for Li Ensu to recover.

Li Ensu racked his brain, pondering how to respond.

“Ready? No rush anyway.” Sul asked leisurely.

At this moment, Li Ensu confirmed that while this man was a hero, his character was far from good… The stern paladin image he had shattered.

The middle-aged man might have been a rigid holy knight, but now at life’s end, this old knight was a mischievous old rogue!

“All right… go! Another sneak attack!”

This time, no sword flash was seen — his heart was pierced.

“You’re a heroic spirit, right? A top paladin, have some honor!”

“On the battlefield, opponents don’t play honorably. The noblest paladins must know all the dirty tricks.”

This old fellow truly had no honor!

“Click.” Time reset again.

“Huff, again.” Li Ensu took a deep breath, activating his dragon’s eye, focusing intently on Sul.

This time, he must capture his opponent’s moves.

“Bang.” Then he died.

“See that?” Beneath the mask, the wicked grin was unabashed, hardly like a just paladin.

“…No.” Li Ensu touched his head — it was still there. This time, he was crushed by that massive door-like sword.

“Then try more times.” The silver-armored spirit was unhurried, seemingly with endless time.

“Mm.” Dream training was probably this — accumulating combat experience through simulated deaths.

So, he died again and again.

Bisected, beheaded, crushed, pierced through the heart — just the beginning.

Then split into two, four, blossoming in the middle; instant sashimi — various slicing methods showcased the chef’s superb blade skills.

Combat? Capturing moves? What? Did this have anything to do with fighting now?

Wasn’t it all over with a flash of the blade? Most times, Li Ensu didn’t even see the blade before disappearing.

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