012 Three Moves

Kang Shi stood before me, radiating arrogance.

He had long, dark hair, tied loosely behind him, and sharp, greedy eyes that sized up the world as if it belonged to him. His features were well-defined, his posture aggressive, and every bit of his expression oozed confidence. The kind of confidence that came from being born into power, never having to question his place in the world.

The smirk on his lips widened.

"How arrogant!" Kang Shi scoffed. "Three moves?! Fine, I will show you the extent of my martial arts!"

One of his cronies—an eager, rat-faced hanger-on—chimed in, sneering at me. "The Kang Clan is renowned for its fighting skills, most feared for its martial cultivation! I suggest you give up, commoner!"

I tilted my head. "I have a name, you know…" Then I shrugged. "Anyways… Give me your best shot."

I wasn't worried.

As a maxed-level Paladin, I had absolute faith in my Constitution stat. However, to my guilty pleasure, it wasn't actually my highest stat. Constitution was merely my second highest.

What was my highest? Charisma.

I had long since maxed out my base stats in Lost Legends Online and reached the cap. But I had focused on raising Charisma again and again using cap-breaking items.

Why?

Because in games, Charisma was more than just charm. It influenced persuasion, self-confidence, personality, and even interactions with NPCs, mobs, and the like—all useful in both roleplay and combat. But most importantly, for Paladins, Charisma governed spellcasting and persuasion checks.

And my 'Immortal Build'?

It was an extreme combination of two playstyles:

Heal/Drain Build– Life-steal and regeneration to make me absurdly difficult to kill.Stagger/Barrier Build– Defensive buffs and stagger effects to keep me standing, no matter the enemy.

With combat passive skills boosting my weapon damage, it was the perfect mix of endurance and offense.

So as Kang Shi prepared to attack, I stood tall, hands clasped lightly behind my back, and spoke with the gravitas of someone who had walked through hell and returned unscathed.

"Glorious Defense."

There was no need to say it aloud—it was a passive skill.

The greater the feats I performed, the higher the level I reached, and the further the storyline progressed, the stronger the defensive value.

And I had finished the main storyline of LLO.

I was tough.

But for the spectacle, I added another layer.

"Shield of Faith."

This time, it was an active skill.

A translucent barrier shimmered into existence around me, a faint silver sheen illuminating my figure.

Kang Shi and his lackeys hesitated for half a second.

Then his smirk returned, and he took his first step forward.

"Let's see if that faith of yours can withstand my fist."

I stood my ground, hands still clasped lightly behind my back.

"Come."

Kang Shi's expression twisted into a fierce grin. Lowering one knee, he cocked his fist back, and his aura ignited in a reddish hue.

"Fighting Spirit!"

Heat rippled in the air. Fire leaked from his mouth as he exhaled, his entire body surging with violent energy. Then, with a flick of his wrist, his clenched fist shifted into a knife-hand strike aimed directly at my throat.

"Soaring Phoenix!"

A fiery phoenix silhouette flared around his right hand, its form dancing in the air as he lunged forward.

It was flashy—the kind of move designed to overwhelm opponents with speed and spectacle. And for a fraction of a second, I almost felt a tinge of fear, my instincts screaming danger.

But then—

Clink.

His attack stopped dead against my Shield of Faith.

Kang Shi's confident smirk vanished, his face morphing into pure shock. His fingers trembled, hovering just over my throat, unable to push through the barrier. Then came the anger, the refusal to accept what had just happened.

With a growl, he pulled back and shifted stances.

"Fighting Spirit: Rising Dragon!"

His left foot lashed out in a roundhouse kick, golden energy coiling around his leg like a serpentine dragon.

It was faster than before, more refined, carrying sheer momentum and power meant to break bones. The force of his spin sent the air whistling—

But—

Clink.

His foot stopped inches from my face.

It didn't connect.

Not even close.

Kang Shi's entire body tensed as realization dawned. He couldn't break through.

Panic flickered in his eyes.

He jumped backward, his retreating figure a mess of stumbled steps as he struggled to regain his balance.

I remained exactly where I was.

Unmoved.

"That's two moves already," I said, my voice calm, as if we weren't in the middle of a fight. I met his eyes and slowly lifted three fingers and then folded two of them, resisting the urge to leave the middle finger out.

In the end, I left the index finger out and waved them around.

"One more move, Young Master Kang."

Kang Shi clenched his fists, his expression shifting from frustration to sheer determination. "I have shamed my clan with such a lackluster performance," he declared, voice trembling with emotion. "The Fighting Spirit of my Kang Clan is by no means weak!"

His eyes burned with renewed resolve as he locked onto me. "What is your name, unknown cultivator?"

I sighed. "I'd rather not say."

Kang Shi's lips curled into a small smirk, though his eyes remained sharp. "I see… so you have no intention of showing respect to me until the very end." He exhaled, shaking his head. "It is my fault for not seeing Mount Tai, but I shall have your respect, your name, and—if necessary—your neck by the end of this!"

He straightened his posture, placing his fists together before slowly drawing them apart. His qi surged, stronger than before. "I shall take you seriously! Prepare yourself!"

Huh. He was less overbearing than I initially thought.

For a second, I considered using a defensive reflection skill, just to be a little shit and let him punch himself into oblivion. But no—better not to spill any blood.

"Show me what you got," I said, gesturing for him to come at me.

Kang Shi took a deep squat stance, both arms spread to the side, fists clenched. His muscles tensed, his qi fluctuating wildly.

"I shall put all of my vital qi and all of my weight into this attack!"

Wait—Vital qi?

Did he just say life force?

This guy was crazy!

No. Not crazy. He was young—a barely twenty-year-old kid, filled with reckless ambition.

Before I could dissuade him, he rambled on.

"This is a skill I've mastered in order to counter Lu Gao's technique and rise above him!" His grin widened. "But you will do just fine!"

Oh, come on. I was just trying to eat dinner.

Kang Shi inhaled sharply, then snapped his fists open, spreading his fingers like horns.

"Fighting Spirit: Trampling Ox!"

The floor shattered beneath his feet as he exploded forward like a human battering ram. His palms elongated, taking on the shape of ox horns, his entire body transforming into a projectile. The sheer force behind him tore up the floorboards, sending splinters flying in all directions.

Boom!

His full-body tackle slammed into my Shield of Faith, creating a shockwave that sent a blast of wooden debris throughout the inn.

Sheesh. Now, I had to compensate the inn owner.

Maybe I could just have Kang Shi pay for it.

A moment passed.

Then another.

I remained standing, unmoved.

Kang Shi stared at his hands, his expression shifting from disbelief to utter horror.

"How?!" he choked out, breathless.

His palms—which had carried all of his strength, all of his qi, all of his 'vital energy'—barely moved inches away from my skin.

He had thrown everything at me.

And it still wasn't enough.

Kang Shi staggered back, fists clenched, his breathing ragged. And yet, instead of fear, I saw determination in his eyes.

"I understand now," he said, his voice hoarse but firm. "You are of a higher realm than me."

Finally. Took him long enough to figure that out.

"But I can't let this stand!"

…What now?

Please don't tell me you're about to call your father. That would be such a shame, considering how hard I worked not to kill you.

Kang Shi straightened his back and took a deep breath, his chest rising with resolve.

"You have received three of my strikes! Now, I will receive three of yours!"

I blinked. What?

Kang Shi's cronies shifted uncomfortably, looking between me and their Young Master, their loyalty visibly conflicted.

"I will show you that by no means am I inferior!" Kang Shi proclaimed, stamping his foot like some hot-blooded war hero. "I will not move! Strike me three times, and I shall not budge!"

Was this guy an idiot?!

I opened my mouth to reason with him before he got himself killed, "No need. I've already proven my higher realm to you—"

"I REFUSE!"

Huh?

I turned to Kang Shi's lackeys, expecting them to talk some sense into him. But the moment my gaze swept over them, they flinched and quickly looked away.

Come on, guys. Dissuade your Young Master.

Sheesh. They were clearly torn. On one hand, questioning Kang Shi's decision might be seen as disloyalty. On the other hand, if I got serious, I could probably kill him.

I sighed.

Even if I held back, my punch would still hurt. If I held back too much, Kang Shi would probably notice and scorn me for looking down on him.

And that ran contrary to my goal. Not spilling blood.

I made up my mind.

"How about this?" I suggested. "You allow me one move—just one move—but I get to use a weapon."

Kang Shi's eyebrows rose slightly, intrigued. "Hmph. I am a generous man, and I acknowledge your strength. Fine! I give you permission to use a weapon."

I was tempted—oh, so tempted—to cast Divine Word: Rest and just knock him out instantly.

No way he would have the resistance for that.

But no. That would just piss him off. Kang Shi looked like that type—the kind who would see it as a cheap trick. Instead, I inclined my head slightly. "Thank you for your generosity."

Then, without hesitation, I reached for the table beside me and broke off one of its legs.

Crack!

Everyone stared, confused.

I didn't even consider drawing a weapon from my Item Box—I had too many weapons infused with skills, and if I used one, I might accidentally kill Kang Shi.

No. This was fine.

I took a slow, deliberate step forward.

Then another.

The floor creaked under my weight as I approached Kang Shi, gripping the wooden leg with one hand.

I could feel the tension in the air. Kang Shi's lackeys gulped. Even the inn workers, hiding behind the counter, peeked nervously.

I had to be careful. I needed something flashy, something that felt dangerous but wasn't lethal.

Stopping a few feet before Kang Shi, I raised the broken table leg and exhaled.

Then, with a calm and measured voice, I invoked:

"Thunderous Smite."

The moment my weapon struck the floorboard—

BOOM!

A blinding explosion of light erupted from the impact. A silver-white radiance engulfed the entire inn, illuminating everything in a flash of holy brilliance.

People screamed, covering their eyes.

Kang Shi flinched, momentarily stunned by the sheer force of the display.

And in that moment of distraction, I silently cast—

Divine Word: Rest.

Kang Shi's body swayed, and before anyone could process what happened, he collapsed onto the floor, unconscious. That should create the illusion he fainted at the sight of my martial prowess.

The light faded.

As Kang Shi's lackeys rubbed their eyes and blinked the brightness away, their gazes finally fell upon their Young Master's motionless form.

"…Young Master Kang?" one of them whispered.

Another took a cautious step forward, then froze in terror.

"H-He's down!"

I dropped the broken table leg, its top now completely charred from the lingering energy of my attack.

Then, before any of them could panic, I spoke.

"Take him away."

The lackeys flinched, standing at full attention.

"Also," I continued, my tone calm but firm, "tell him not to bother my follower, Gu Jie, anymore."

I let my words linger, ensuring they understood.

Then, with a final glance at the ruined floorboards, I added, "And that he better pay his dues to the inn."

I turned away.

And just like that—

I walked out of the inn, leaving the stunned lackeys to scramble over their defeated Young Master.