Chapter 6. In fact, I am the best in the world.

Hugong gnashed his teeth repeatedly.

Fanchuan, the family head, held his hand with a pained heart and stroked it.

"It's okay. My child, it's okay. It's just a dream. Nothing will happen."

Crunch.

Hugong ground his teeth even harder.

It's not nothing.

It became clear now.

He and Fanhang had been reincarnated.

Was the reincarnation Fanhang's doing?

Regardless, the enraged Hugong finally exploded.

"I'll kill that lunatic! How dare he die on his own, even if he's dead, I'll kill him again and again!"

Struggling and shouting, the bed shook.

Fanchuan, the family head, and the doctor were startled and took a step back.

Hugong was completely out of control, his eyes bulging as he thrashed about.

"How can a person do such a thing! At the very least, he should have consulted me, even a little... Ugh!"

Hugong, who had been raging, finally lost consciousness.

His body was weak, and the poison had not yet completely left him, so the mental shock was too much for his body.

Fanchuan swallowed hard.

The doctor followed suit.

"Did you hear that?"

"Y-Yes, I did."

"Didn't he say he wanted to die?"

"Yes, clearly... he said he would kill."

"Isn't that impressive?"

"I actually... I was moved."

A grandson who couldn't die,

A grand prince who chased death,

Now saying he would kill someone.

There was no better news for the family head or the doctor.

***

Five days after hearing the news of the suicide.

During this time, Fanchuan, the family head, had been suffering from a bad cold.

The mental fatigue from the recent events had pushed him to his limits, given his already frail health. After a few days of recuperation, he received a report on the situation over the past few days.

His eyes widened.

"What do you mean? The eldest is doing push-ups?"

"How can I lie? At first, he couldn't do it at all. The grand prince's arms would tremble and he would collapse."

"Of course."

"But now, he can do up to seven. It's different every day."

"What?"

Fanchuan couldn't understand what was being said.

It was as if he was hearing things due to his severe cold.

The report continued.

"That's not all. He's also doing squats, horse stances, and daily physical training without a break. He sweats profusely without showing any signs of fatigue, and today he even started stretching his legs."

"Why is he stretching his legs!"

What is he going to do by tearing them apart!

The family head's head spun.

He knew better than anyone the condition of his eldest grandson's body.

Breathing itself was a strenuous exercise for him.

He couldn't walk properly, yet he was doing squats and jumping. That meant both feet would leave the ground at the same time, which was unimaginable.

The report couldn't be false.

The eldest grandson had five bodyguards.

Songhua, who was in charge of close protection, also served him, while the other four were hidden to prevent suicide.

Every move of the grandson was under the watchful eyes of the bodyguards.

"He eats first, and he eats a lot. He drinks more than a barrel of water a day. With the physical training he's been doing for days, it's not normal."

"Surely... you don't mean..."

Fanchuan clenched his fist tightly.

The bodyguard nodded vigorously.

"Yes, this situation is a replay of what happened a year ago. No, his current state is even more concerning. He's clearly trying to build up his body to end his life quickly. It's dangerous for the grand prince's physical condition to improve further. We need to stop him. It's time to seal his meridians and keep him in bed all day."

"Hmm..."

Fanchuan's eyes flickered as he recalled the incident a year ago.

At that time, Fanhang showed a sudden change.

He seemed to be starting anew, eating together with a bright face and even going for walks with a smile. Everyone was overjoyed.

But five days later,

He hanged himself when they let their guard down.

When they found him just before he suffocated, his eyes were bloodshot and he burst into maniacal laughter, a scene that was still vivid in Fanchuan's memory.

'But, he clearly asked me to save him a few days ago...'

Fanchuan still wanted to believe.

Perhaps, while he was sick, the physical training had gone on for over a week. Maybe this time it was real. Last time, he had also muttered about killing someone in his sleep.

It was hasty to block all possibilities out of fear of being betrayed.

"I'll see him and talk to him directly. Bring him here now."

"Yes."

Hugong, summoned, faced the family head, drenched in sweat.

He had only done about twenty squats, yet he was sweating like rain, and his calf muscles were on the verge of tearing. He hadn't washed because he would have to sweat profusely again after the conversation.

"How is your memory? Do you remember anything?"

"Not yet... sir."

Hugong, still awkward with formal speech, stumbled slightly.

"Nothing at all?"

"...Yes, nothing... No progress at all."

His stammering wasn't just due to the formal speech.

Hugong's breath was rough, breaking and resuming in the middle.

Fanchuan, unable to bear the sight, frowned.

"You're in a mess. Do you really need to stretch your legs now?"

Even in front of the family head, Hugong was struggling to stretch his legs.

"Even for a moment... I can't... waste... time. Whether my memory returns... or not, it doesn't change anything. My current state... is like a weed. A person shouldn't live like this."

Fanchuan frowned.

'His legs aren't even stretching.'

Not only were they not stretching,

It was hard to believe that a person's legs could only spread so little.

He was barely spreading his legs a little wider than shoulder-width. Yet, his face was red, showing that he was using all his strength.

"What do you plan to do from now on?"

"I'll do it one step at a time. First, I need to build up my body, but... I still don't know much, and there's a lot to do."

"A lot to do?"

Fanchuan tilted his head, unable to understand.

'The only thing the boy needs to do is die.'

"I know the looks I get are not good. Huh, huh, huh!"

Suddenly, Hugong had switched from stretching his legs to doing push-ups.

Fanchuan bit his lower lip at the sight.

Then, as Hugong did five push-ups, he started counting without realizing it.

"...Six, ...seven, ...eight. Nine, right! Right! Oh! Eleven... Amazing."

Fanchuan finally burst into cheers and exclamations.

But the eldest grandson's training was far from over.

"Whoa, take a break. Why are you doing squats now? Your body won't be able to handle it. Three, four, five!"

Worried, Fanchuan started counting again as the eldest grandson did better than expected. He was amazed, worried, and conflicted. He didn't think the squats would work, but he saw the boy's feet actually leave the ground. The amazement was indescribable, but he was suspicious of the boy's intentions for doing this in front of him.

The conversation should have ended calmly, and he could have trained after returning. But it seemed the boy was eager to show his efforts.

"Huh, huh... I have... something to say."

"Go ahead."

"Fanhang... is dead."

Fanchuan's eyes widened.

"W-What do you mean?"

Hugong, having finished his squats, panted heavily.

Sweat poured down his forehead and dripped onto the floor.

But he straightened his shoulders and looked directly at Fanchuan.

The news of death must be conveyed.

Fanchuan and the family had the right to know the truth.

About the death of the grand prince of Tianhuaxie.

"Huh... As I said. The grand prince of Tianhuaxie, Fanhang, is dead. Since he's dead, he can't die again, and there's no need to fear or worry about his death."

Fanchuan felt something was off.

"Then who are you?"

"I am... the best in the world."

Fanchuan's eyes wavered as he looked at the eldest grandson's lips.

The sudden unfamiliar gaze and actions of the eldest grandson.

Fanchuan stroked his hand and swallowed hard.

Hugong smiled.

"...The best in the world."

Hugong finished speaking and immediately bent his legs with a shout.

"Whoa!"

The truth was told, and the emotional wounds needed to be comforted.

Not all truths bring happiness.

At that moment, Fanchuan's heart raced.

The best in the world. For someone claiming that, the eldest grandson's legs were trembling uncontrollably. He had just started...

Was he saying he was dead to change his mindset? But how should he interpret the claim of being the best in the world? His conflicted feelings were reflected in his eyes.

'Could he... have gone mad...'

***

Late at night, the wine cups were filled and emptied.

At the window of this floor of the tavern.

Two young men were seated.

Fanhang's cousins.

Fanyun, the second prince of Tianhuaxie, and Fanfumeng, the third prince.

Yun kept pouring wine, and his younger brother refilled the cups as they emptied. By the fifth bottle, Yun's body swayed with intoxication. Still, he held out an empty cup.

"Brother, it's late. Let's stop and get up."

"I came here to drink. Don't ruin the mood, just fill the cup."

"Just this cup."

"Until this bottle."

Yun pointed to the bottle, and Fumeng reluctantly filled the cup.

"But, little brother, I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"You've been going somewhere diligently every morning lately."

"Huh?"

Fumeng's face changed in surprise.

Yun chuckled.

"Stop it. Do you really think that beast has lost his memory? That he's training for his health? Have you forgotten that smile from that day? What about Father? It's all in vain. You'll just end up getting betrayed."

"Brother, with all due respect, I have a good feeling this time. Grandfather said this time is different, and for Father's sake..."

"Ah, so you're going to flatter that madman every morning?"

"It's not that, I just hope for the best."

"Ha..."

Yun sighed deeply.

"Fumeng, listen carefully. That guy has been a demon for a long time. Even if the sky splits, he won't change. Only his death will bring peace. Don't forget that we almost lost Grandfather."

Fanyun spoke softly.

But when his brother remained gloomy, he changed the mood with a hearty laugh.

"Cheer up, little brother. Let's move to a different spot. Drinking without courtesans is no fun."

"Brother."

"Get up. What are you doing? Get up. Let's go out and have some fun. You need to learn about women too."

Fumeng didn't budge as Yun grabbed his arm.

"Let's go."

"Brother, talk to the eldest brother once. He's not the same as before. Recently, when I'm with the eldest brother, I feel happy. I feel good..."

"Shut up! Feeling good? And what? Eldest brother? He said he would kill you if you called him that."

Fanyun's eyes turned fierce.

Bang!

He slammed the wine bottle on the table.