Chapter 2: The Rebellious Disciple
[Simulation has begun.]
[Age 0: You are born. You are a descendant of the Ten Kings, destined to inherit the seat of one of the Ten Kings.]
Solon's heart skipped a beat. That kind of background was no joke.
In the entire Xianzhou Alliance, everyone knew: the Marshal governs life, the Ten Kings govern death.
The Ten Kings Commission was responsible for guiding the souls of those who succumbed to mara in the end. But that wasn't all—they also presided over the most critical criminal cases across the alliance. In extreme cases, they even had the authority to apprehend generals.
An institution older than even the deification rites of the Arbiters, the Ten Kings were ancient, influential, and wielded enormous power.
Being born into one of the Ten Kings' bloodlines meant Solon was starting life as one of the most elite second-generation figures in the entire Alliance.
Gold-tier Trait doing its job.
But the surprises weren't over yet.
[Age 1: Your family begins training your body through a special ancient method, helping you adapt early to the techniques of the Underworld Commission.]
[Age 2: While other children are just learning to talk, you are already receiving early education.]
[Age 3: While other children are still playing freely, you begin basic combat training.]
[Age 5: You overhear stories of a swordswoman named Jingliu.]
[Countless followers of Abundance have fallen to her blade—the Featherguards of the Wingmakers, the Hive Fathers of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, even colossi of mechanical might were felled by her single strike.]
[A strange feeling stirs within you…]
[1. You want to become Jingliu's disciple.]
[2. You don't.]
Any seasoned gamer would know: of course you pick Option 1. Otherwise, you risk locking yourself out of the main storyline.
But Solon, ever the contrarian, picked Option 2.
He was just testing whether the simulator had multiple endings and if such choices affected final evaluations.
After confirming his selection, the simulation continued.
[You grow older, undergoing the family's grueling training regimen.]
[You keep hearing about Jingliu—her growing legend, her countless victories, her capture of Huaiyan, the war chief of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, which secured an alliance between the Foxians and the Alliance.]
[The last time you hear of her, she's been appointed Sword Champion of the Luofu, an undefeated symbol of the Cloud Knights… You're 18 years old.]
[You join the Ten Kings Commission as a Judge.]
[During a mission to apprehend a mara-struck criminal, your strength falls short. The target pierces your heart and brain.]
[You are dead.]
[Simulation failed. Rating too low. No rewards earned.]
Solon twitched.
That was abrupt.
Not only abrupt, but suspicious. For a descendant of the Ten Kings—a top-tier noble—to die at the hands of a single criminal? Ninety-nine percent chance it was an assassination.
The seat of the Ten Kings held immense power. Naturally, there were those who didn't want him sitting on it.
It became clear: the identity of a Ten Kings heir was a double-edged sword. It granted him a head start but also painted a massive target on his back.
Still, Solon quickly spotted the key to surviving.
The simulator was explicit—he died because his strength was inadequate. So the solution was simple: gain enough strength before that event.
The white-tier "Accumulated Experience" clearly wasn't enough to close the gap.
If he could get a purple or even gold version of that Trait, maybe he'd stand a chance.
But therein lay the paradox: if he already had gold-tier Traits, why would he still be grinding a white-tier beginner simulation?
Exactly.
With that thought, Solon restarted the simulation.
[Age 0: You are born. You are a descendant of the Ten Kings, destined to inherit their position.]
…
Soon enough, the choice point returned.
This time, Solon picked Option 1: to become Jingliu's disciple.
The simulation branched onto a new path.
[You express your desire to apprentice under Jingliu. Your family is displeased. With their influence, they could've arranged for the Marshal himself to take you in. Why settle for some "nameless nobody"?]
[You insist. Jingliu's talents, her victories, and rising fame eventually sway them. Reluctantly, they agree.]
[Jingliu, still just a Cloud Knight Lieutenant, cannot reject a request from a Ten Kings heir. She takes you as her first disciple.]
Solon stroked his chin. At this point in time, Jingliu hadn't yet succumbed to mara. She was still an idealistic swordmaster, a passionate and noble-hearted hero.
Once she became mara-struck, though—cold, insane, and lethal—if anyone tried to pressure her like this, she'd probably cut them down on the spot.
[Forced to take you in, Jingliu treats you coldly at first. This is her first time being a teacher, and her own master died before teaching her much. She holds you to harsh standards.]
[She pushes you like an adult, demanding excellence. Maybe she hoped you'd give up.]
[Despite the grueling regimen, you grit your teeth and endure.]
[Age 6: After a year, your persistence moves Jingliu. She begins to teach you in earnest.]
[Age 16: Ten years later, you realize your swordsmanship talent is average. You've improved through constant effort, but your growth is limited compared to true prodigies.]
Solon sighed. The white-tier "Accumulated Experience" Trait had effect, but not enough. If he wanted to master swordsmanship, he'd need something like "Sword Genius"—a dedicated Trait.
Fortunately, surviving in the Luofu didn't depend solely on strength. Influence, diplomacy, and guile were just as important.
The simulation continued.
[Jingliu's legend continues to grow. Each campaign, she slays enemies like clockwork—from the Wingmakers' Featherguards to the Hive Fathers of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, and even colossal war machines.]
[You glance at your own sword… then up at your master. The brilliance she radiates feels increasingly distant. A strange emotion quietly takes root in your heart…]
Solon inhaled sharply. That escalated fast. No wonder it's called the Villain Simulator—no punches pulled.
A mental image of the icy, proud swordswoman rose in Solon's mind.
If it's Jingliu… maybe…
[Age 18: Jingliu captures Huaiyan and formalizes the Alliance-Foxian treaty.]
[You stare at her radiant figure. A fire ignites inside you—a powerful desire, a possessive longing.]
["She's mine. She can only be mine."]
[You swear this vow silently.]
[As a seasoned warrior, Jingliu is especially attuned to malice. Living with you day after day, she begins to sense your hidden thoughts.]
Oh crap—don't tell me this is where it ends!?
Solon's eyes locked onto the simulation window in disbelief.
Jingliu had slaughtered countless Abundance aberrants—easily in the tens of thousands.
He could already picture it: her blood-red eyes flaring, madness and killing intent boiling over, iceblade gleaming as corpses impaled by crystal spires filled the room…
Solon winced, frowning.
Couldn't he have just stuck to learning swordsmanship peacefully? Why did he have to go full student rebels against master? And to make matters worse, he got caught.
He could already imagine his simulated body being sliced into chunks by his own mentor.
So now what?
How do you escape death this time?
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