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The Completion of High Martial Virtue
墨書 Inktalez
**Chapter 1: The Assassin's Rebirth**
The night was as dark as ink, shrouding the ancient mansion in shadows. Chu Sheng sat alone in his room, the flickering candlelight casting wavering shadows on his handsome face. His long fingers lightly tapped on the table, his gaze deep and cold.
Fifteen years had passed, yet that bloody night felt like it had happened just yesterday. Chu Sheng closed his eyes, and images of his family's massacre at the hands of Annihilation flooded his mind. Blood stained the luxurious carpet, his parents' bodies lay in the center of the hall, while three-year-old him hid in the wardrobe, trembling like a leaf, fear gripping him like a cold hand around his throat, nearly suffocating him.
"Damn it!" Chu Sheng cursed softly, his fists clenching involuntarily. Even after all these years, every time he recalled that night, he felt a wave of helplessness and oppression wash over him, like a heavy stone pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe. After being rescued from the wardrobe, he witnessed how his adoptive father, uncle Li, carried him through a sea of corpses and blood. At that moment, uncle Li resembled a demon risen from hell, drenched in blood with a fierce gaze like that of a beast.
uncle Li had once been the most loyal guardian of the the Chu Family, skilled in martial arts and known for his integrity. After the family was annihilated, he fought desperately to save young Chu Sheng and raised him in hiding under an assumed identity. To evade their enemies' pursuit, uncle Li took Chu Sheng on the run, living a life of constant upheaval. They had secluded themselves in this remote mansion for fifteen years. uncle Li claimed that Chu Sheng was his distant relative and taught him to read and write as well as martial arts and swordplay, hoping he could live like a normal noble youth.
However, Chu Sheng could never truly fit into this peaceful life. Deep within him burned an insatiable desire for revenge; he yearned to uncover the truth and avenge his parents. This desire gnawed at his soul like a parasite, leaving him restless. He pretended to be obedient and understanding on the surface while secretly honing his skills, hoping one day to confront his enemies. This dual existence filled him with immense pressure and pain. He felt like a caged beast trapped in a gilded cage, longing for freedom and revenge.
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck him like thousands of steel needles piercing through his brain. Chu Sheng clutched his head in agony as if something was trying to break free from within. Countless unfamiliar yet familiar images flashed before his eyes: cold firearms, faint wisps of smoke from suppressors, bloody missions, terrified expressions of targets, and his solitary figure moving through the darkness.
"Is this... a memory from my past life?" Chu Sheng murmured to himself as cold sweat dripped down his forehead, soaking his temples. He felt dizzy as if caught in a massive whirlpool being torn apart by two entirely different memories—was he the noble youth Chu Sheng or that ruthless assassin? These two identities clashed violently within him like fire and water, causing him great anguish.
Amidst the pain, he vaguely heard a mechanical voice echoing from afar: "Ding! Merit Book System activated. Current Merit Points: 0."
Chu Sheng's eyes flew open to reveal a semi-transparent interface floating before him. It displayed "Merit Points: 0" along with several functional options resembling an ancient book radiating a faint golden light.
"What is this nonsense?" Chu Sheng frowned and reached out to touch it but found his fingers passing right through the interface as if touching air. He paused for a moment, filled with confusion and disbelief.
At that moment, the system's prompt sounded again: "Earn Merit Points by helping others; Merit Points can be used to enhance oneself. Please make good use of the Merit Book to change your fate." The voice was mechanical yet carried an undeniable authority.
Chu Sheng squinted, his heart filled with curiosity and anticipation. If this so-called Merit Book was real, perhaps he could gain power from it to avenge his family! "Change my fate? Heh, I want to see what kind of magic this thing holds!" he thought to himself, a wave of inexplicable excitement surging within him.
"Knock, knock, knock." The sound of knocking at the door interrupted Chu Sheng's thoughts.
"Young Master, are you still awake?" It was the voice of his adoptive father, uncle Li, laced with concern.
Chu Sheng took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and walked toward the door. He opened it to find uncle Li standing outside with a cup of hot milk in hand, a gentle smile on his face. The dim light illuminated his slightly aged features, outlining the marks left by time.
" uncle Li, why are you still awake at this hour?" Chu Sheng asked as he accepted the milk, striving to mask his inner excitement with a calm tone.
uncle Li chuckled and replied, "It's an old habit; when I can't sleep, I think about bringing you a cup of milk. This milk is warm; drinking it will help you sleep well."
Just then, uncle Li accidentally stepped on a wrinkle in the carpet and stumbled. Chu Sheng reacted quickly and caught him, preventing an accident.
"Ding! Gained Merit Points +1." The system notification echoed in Chu Sheng's mind as he felt a faint warmth flow into his body. It was a peculiar sensation, akin to sipping warm honey water, making him feel cozy from the inside out.
"Thank you, Young Master." Once stable again, uncle Li said somewhat sheepishly, "I'm getting old; I can hardly walk straight anymore."
Chu Sheng shook his head and replied, " uncle Li, don't say that. You've taken care of me for so many years; everything I am today is thanks to you."
Hearing this, a glimmer of satisfaction flashed in uncle Li's eyes. He patted Chu Sheng's shoulder and said, "You've grown up and become more understanding. Well then, it's getting late; you should rest early."
After watching uncle Li leave, Chu Sheng closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. He looked at the milk in his hand and couldn't help but recall all the care uncle Li had given him over the years. From an innocent child to the graceful young man he was now, uncle Li had sacrificed so much for him.
"It seems that this Merit Book is real," Chu Sheng murmured, a glimmer of excitement flashing in his eyes.
He walked to the window, gazing at the pitch-black night sky. The moonlight poured down like water, illuminating the flowers and grass in the courtyard, adding a touch of mystery to the tranquil night.
Chu Sheng took a gentle sip of milk, feeling the warm liquid slide down his throat. His gaze grew resolute as he silently vowed to make the most of this opportunity given to him by fate. He would utilize the Merit Book to become stronger.
Only by growing stronger could he uncover the truth behind his family's annihilation. Only by becoming powerful could he take revenge on those who had wronged his parents.
Chu Sheng clenched his fists, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He would make those who had harmed him pay dearly.
At that moment, Chu Sheng suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. He leaned against the windowsill, watching as the scene before him began to twist and distort. A vague figure appeared before him, seemingly trying to communicate something.
"Who... are you?" Chu Sheng managed to ask, but his voice came out hoarse and strained.
The figure became clearer, and to Chu Sheng's astonishment, it was someone who looked exactly like him!
"I am you, and you are me," the other Chu Sheng spoke, his voice cold and unfamiliar. "We are one and the same."
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