480: I'm just a freshman

Kim Soo-hyun turned off his cell phone. The coordinates of the filthy, cold aura on the screen added a touch of grimness to his already icy gaze.

He looked back at the Kim Family Manor behind him.

The arguments and wailing inside seemed to be continuing.

But none of this had anything to do with him anymore.

“Mom, let's find a place to stay first.”

Kim Soo-hyun's voice became soft again.

Lee Eun-hee looked at her son, her eyes still carrying a trace of daze and worry. She nodded gently, allowing her son to support her.

Inside a presidential suite of Seoul's top seven-star hotel.

Lee Eun-hee sat uneasily on the plush sofa, looking at the extreme luxury surrounding her, feeling as if she were in a dream.

In her entire life, let alone staying here, she hadn't even dared to imagine such a place.

“Soo-hyun, this... how much does this cost? We should still...”

Kim Soo-hyun smiled and interrupted his mother.

He pulled a pure black card from his pocket and handed it to her.

The card felt ice-cold to the touch. It bore no bank logo, only an image of a celestial mountain shrouded in mist.

“Mom, take this card. There's no password; buy whatever you want.”

“I've set up a small Formation here. No one can enter without my permission, so you can stay here in peace.”

With a light tap of Kim Soo-hyun's fingertip, an almost invisible flash of golden light passed over the room's windows and doorway.

Having finished this, he turned to his mother and spoke.

“Mom, I have some business to take care of. I'll be back soon.”

“You must be careful!”

Lee Eun-hee gripped her son's hand tightly, her face full of worry.

“Don't worry.”

Kim Soo-hyun gave his mother a reassuring look, then turned and walked into the bedroom.

The next second.

His figure vanished from the spot without a trace.

An abandoned car repair factory on the outskirts of Seoul.

The air was thick with the unpleasant smell of rust mixed with engine oil.

Kim Soo-hyun's figure appeared at the factory entrance without warning.

His brow furrowed slightly.

A dense scent of blood and an evil aura were constantly seeping out from beneath the factory.

It seemed the information on the communicator was correct.

Just as he was about to step into the factory.

“Screeech—!”

The piercing sound of brakes echoed from all directions.

A dozen black special operations vehicles instantly surrounded the entire factory, sealing it off completely.

Car doors opened, and over a hundred fully armed soldiers in black combat uniforms surged out like a tide, their firearms all pointing at Kim Soo-hyun at the factory gate.

A sharp-eyed middle-aged man in a crisp suit stepped out of a command vehicle.

He glanced at the detector in his hand. The needle representing energy fluctuations was swinging wildly, pointing directly at Kim Soo-hyun.

“I am Park Jung-tae, Director of the South Korea 'Special Disaster Response Department'!”

The middle-aged man picked up a megaphone, his voice loud and authoritative.

“Personnel ahead, cease your dangerous behavior immediately! Raise your hands and wait for inspection on the spot!”

“Repeat! Raise your hands immediately!”

Kim Soo-hyun glanced at them, his eyes showing no reaction at all.

Just a group of Mortals.

He didn't even bother to respond.

He set off, walking straight toward the factory gate.

“Warning ignored!”

“Open fire!”

Seeing the other party completely ignore his warning, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Park Jung-tae's eyes, and he gave the order without hesitation.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

The deafening sound of gunfire instantly shattered the silence of the outskirts.

Tongues of fire erupted as countless bullets formed an airtight metal storm, engulfing Kim Soo-hyun!

A cold expression appeared on Park Jung-tae's face.

No matter what you are, you will be torn to shreds before modern firepower!

However.

The next second.

The expression on his face froze completely.

The eyes of all the soldiers widened like copper bells, their mouths agape wide enough to fit an egg.

They saw those bullets—powerful enough to tear through steel plates—hit an invisible wall within a meter of Kim Soo-hyun's body.

Each bullet hung suspended in mid-air, unable to move.

Then.

Clink, clank.

All the warheads lost their kinetic energy and fell powerlessly to the ground.

From beginning to end, Kim Soo-hyun's pace didn't falter for even a second.

He didn't even spare a glance at the soldiers.

Just like that, under the terrified gazes of everyone, he strolled into the factory that emitted an ominous aura as if he were taking a leisurely walk.

“This... what is this...”

A young soldier's voice trembled, and he could barely hold onto his gun.

“A monster... it's a monster!”

Dense cold sweat broke out on Park Jung-tae's forehead.

He stared fixedly at the factory gate, his heart pounding wildly.

The scene just now had completely overturned his worldview.

Just then.

“Aaaaah!”

“No! Mercy!”

Screams so shrill they didn't sound human drifted out from beneath the factory.

The voices were filled with endless fear and despair.

The screams lasted for less than a few minutes before coming to an abrupt halt.

The entire factory fell back into a dead silence.

Park Jung-tae and all the soldiers gripped their guns nervously, their palms drenched in sweat.

Time passed, minute by minute.

Every second felt as long as a century.

About ten minutes later.

Footsteps slowly echoed from within the factory gate.

Kim Soo-hyun's figure reappeared before everyone.

His clothes were still spotless, as if he had only gone in for a stroll.

And the nauseating scent of blood and evil aura within the factory had vanished without a trace.

Gulp.

Park Jung-tae swallowed hard with difficulty.

He knew the things inside had been dealt with.

By this young man who looked only about twenty years old, everything was resolved within ten minutes.

He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to lower their weapons.

Then, he straightened his suit, forced a respectful smile onto his face, and hurried forward to meet him.

“This... Sir, thank you for your intervention in dealing with the evil presence here.”

“I am Park Jung-tae. May I ask how to address you, sir? And which organization do you belong to?”

Park Jung-tae's attitude was extremely humble.

He was very aware that the person before him possessed god-like power and was someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.

Kim Soo-hyun finally stopped, his cold gaze falling upon Park Jung-tae.

That look made Park Jung-tae feel as if he were being watched by an ancient Vicious Beast; the blood in his entire body felt as if it were about to freeze.

“Kunlun Academy.”

Kim Soo-hyun spoke indifferently.

“I am just a Second-term New Student.”

After speaking, he ignored the completely petrified Park Jung-tae. With a flicker of his figure, he vanished from the spot.

Only those words remained, echoing continuously in Park Jung-tae's mind.

Kunlun Academy?

Second-term New Student?

Park Jung-tae stood there, stunned for a full five minutes.

His mind was a complete blank.

A New Student... possesses such terrifying power?

Stopping bullets with bare hands?

Wiping out an A-rank Evil Cultivator stronghold within ten minutes?

Is this... is this fucking reasonable!?

If a New Student is this terrifying, then what kind of world-destroying existences must the formal Disciples, the teachers, and even that legendary Dean of Kunlun Academy be?

Park Jung-tae's back was instantly soaked in cold sweat.

He shuddered violently.

He realized that he—no, the entire South Korea, and even the entire world—had far underestimated the terror of Kunlun Academy!

“Director... what do we do now...”

An adjutant carefully stepped forward to ask.

Park Jung-tae snapped back to his senses, his gaze becoming incredibly solemn and resolute.

“Immediately! Right now!”

“Block all news! Everything that happened here today is classified as top secret!”

“Also, get me the Supreme Council immediately! I have urgent intelligence to report!”

Park Jung-tae's voice carried an uncontrollable tremble.

“From today onward, all personnel and events related to 'Kunlun Academy' are to be defined as top priority!”

“Befriend them at all costs! We must absolutely never become their enemy!”