From Death To Domination: I’ll Level up and Take My Revenge

Liu Tang's grip on the Red Devil tightened as the armored guards stepped forward, their eyes filled with recognition and hostility. The burly leader sneered, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"You've got some nerve showing up here, Liu Tang."

Jiang Xuan, now Liu Tang, kept his expression calm, but his mind raced. These men knew him. Or rather, they knew the original Liu Tang. And judging by the way they looked at him, their memories were far from fond.

"Step aside." His voice was steady, carrying the weight of command, even though he had no idea what past grudges he had inherited.

The scarred guard barked a laugh. "Still got that arrogant tone, huh? After all these years, I thought even a devil could die for good. But here you are, walking around like nothing happened."

Liu Tang said nothing. There was no point in revealing his confusion. He needed information first.

The guard's sneer turned into a glare. "You think we'd forget? The rebellion you started? The blood you spilled? You might've cheated death once, but Blackflame City hasn't forgiven you."

Rebellion? Blood spilled? The system had mentioned that Liu Tang was once a powerful warrior, but it never mentioned an uprising. If he had led a rebellion, then the people standing before him weren't just guards, they were descendants of those who had fought against him.

Enemies with generational hatred.

Liu Tang exhaled slowly. "I'm not here to cause trouble."

The guard's grip tightened on his weapon. "That's too bad. Because trouble follows you like a curse."

Before Liu Tang could react, the man lunged forward, sword flashing in the torchlight. Years of battlefield instincts surged through Liu Tang's body, blending seamlessly with his soldier's training. He sidestepped, twisting his body just as the blade sliced through empty air.

The Red Devil moved as if it had a will of its own.

With one fluid motion, Liu Tang brought the massive pudao down. The sheer force of the strike sent the guard skidding back, his sword barely holding against the weight of the blow. Sparks flew as steel met steel.

Gasps rippled through the gathered crowd. The strength behind that attack, it was exactly like the Red-Haired Devil they remembered.

The other guards hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.

Liu Tang could use this.

He planted the Red Devil into the ground with a resounding thud, letting its presence speak for itself. "I don't care about the past. I have my own mission now. Get in my way, and I won't hold back next time."

Silence hung heavy in the air.

The scarred guard gritted his teeth but didn't move forward. He wasn't a fool, he had felt the force of that strike. "Tch. You may have fooled death, but this city won't let you walk free forever." He signaled the other guards to step aside. "Go, then. But if you're planning something, we'll be ready."

Liu Tang didn't respond. He simply walked forward, passing through the gates of Blackflame City.

The city was a maze of towering stone buildings, narrow alleyways, and bustling marketplaces filled with traders, mercenaries, and cultivators of all kinds. The air carried the scent of roasted meat and incense, mixing with the ever-present tension of a place where power dictated survival.

Liu Tang kept his hood up, moving through the streets with purpose. He needed three things: information, resources, and a way to cultivate quickly. If this world truly worked on strength, then he had no time to waste.

[System Notification: Recommended Quest Available]

[Quest: Unearth the Red-Haired Devil's Past] [Details: The body you now inhabit carries a history of war and rebellion. To avoid being hunted blindly, uncover Liu Tang's past and the enemies who still seek vengeance.] [Reward: Cultivation Boost + Secret Technique]

Liu Tang exhaled sharply. Figures. If he was going to survive, he needed to know what kind of mess the original Liu Tang had left behind.

His path led him to a tavern, a rundown building with a slanted roof and wooden beams darkened by years of smoke. The Bronze Koi, a watering hole for mercenaries, criminals, and men who thrived in the underbelly of the city.

Liu Tang pushed open the heavy doors. The tavern fell silent.

Eyes turned to him. Some widened in shock. Others narrowed with immediate hostility.

A burly man sitting near the entrance instinctively reached for his knife. A woman in the corner muttered a curse under her breath.

And behind the counter, the bartender froze, his face draining of color.

Liu Tang strode forward, his pudao resting against his shoulder. The bartender's hands shook as he wiped down a mug, pretending not to notice.

He noticed.

Liu Tang sat at the bar. "Pour me a drink."

The bartender swallowed hard but obeyed. A small ceramic cup was placed in front of him, the amber liquid inside trembling ever so slightly.

Liu Tang didn't touch it. Instead, he locked eyes with the bartender. "You recognize me."

The bartender hesitated. "...No."

Liu Tang's fingers tapped against the bar. "Don't lie."

The man flinched. He wiped his brow with a shaking hand. "I-I heard rumors. That's all."

Liu Tang leaned in slightly. "Tell me what you've heard. Think I've lost my memories."

The bartender hesitated again, but the weight of Liu Tang's stare bore down on him. He licked his lips. "They say… the Red-Haired Devil has returned. That a ghost walks these streets, wearing his face." He swallowed. "You're supposed to be dead."

"Dead men don't drink," Liu Tang muttered. "Tell me more."

The bartender's fingers tightened around his rag. "I don't want any trouble-"

Liu Tang tilted his head, his voice smooth but edged. "I didn't ask if you wanted trouble. I asked what you know." 

Silence. The bartender's gaze flickered to the pudao resting beside him. The weapon hummed with quiet menace.

He gave in. "You were a rebel."

Liu Tang stayed quiet.

The bartender took a slow breath. "Twenty years ago, you led an uprising against the ruling sects, against the Zeng Family. You burned their banners, killed their warriors and members. People followed you. Some called you a hero. Others called you a monster."

Liu Tang's jaw tightened. "And what do you call me?"

The bartender didn't answer.

Liu Tang closed his eyes for a moment. "This rebellion… why did it start?"

The bartender hesitated. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, "I heard.. that you had learned that a group of merchants and officials were transporting valuable gifts to some guy as a tribute for his birthday."

Liu Tang's fingers stilled.

"People said that guy was notoriously corrupt, stealing from him was seen as an act of rebellion against tyranny," the bartender continued, his voice steadier now. "Then i heard you robbing the tribute was not just about money, it was a direct challenge to the oppressive Song court, leading to greater conflicts between the government and the Liangshan bandits, your crew.'' He swallowed. '

Liu Tang stared into his untouched drink, his reflection rippling in the amber liquid.

This wasn't some small rebellion. This wasn't a man who simply resisted power. The original Liu Tang had waged war. And he had failed.

"How did I die?" Liu Tang asks. 

The bartender hesitated. "No one knows."

"Don't lie to me." Liu Tang said.

The bartender's hands trembled again. "...The Zeng Clan claimed you were assassinated. Your body was never found." He swallowed hard. "But some of us always believed you'd come back."

Liu Tang chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Guess they were right."

He stood up, grabbing his pudao. The bartender immediately stepped back.

"Relax. I'm not here to kill anyone. Yet." He turned toward the door, then paused. "Last question."

The bartender stiffened.

Liu Tang's voice was quieter now. "In the end… did the rebellion mean anything?"

The bartender's lips parted. No words came.

That answer was enough.

Liu Tang left the tavern.

He walked in silence, the weight of his past settling on his shoulders. The streets blurred around him as his mind drifted.

The rebellion. The crimes. The bloodshed.

Had it been justified?

He muttered to himself as he walked. "I was going to go to war against the goverment." He laughed under his breath. "How arrogant can a man be?"

A street vendor glanced at him in confusion. Liu Tang ignored him, continuing his quiet musings.

The people of Blackflame City whispered his name in fear, not reverence. Whatever ideals the original Liu Tang had held, they had been swallowed by the blood he spilled.

He stopped at the edge of a bridge, staring down at the dark waters below.

"If I had won…" he muttered. "Would anything have changed?"

The water gave no answer. But someone else did.

"Wasn't he assassinated?!" The furious roar echoed through the stone halls of the Zeng Clan's fortress.

Gai Jhia, son and member of the Zeng Family and captain of the city guards, stood before a kneeling group of soldiers, his face twisted with rage.

"Are you telling me you saw him with your own eyes?!"

One of the guards, still bruised from their earlier encounter, stammered. "Y-Yes, Captain! The Red-Haired Devil, he's back!"

Gai Jhia slammed his fist against a pillar. "Unacceptable." His teeth clenched. "That bastard killed my father. He butchered our warriors. He tried to defy fate itself, and now he walks freely?"

He turned to one of his officers. "Spread the word."

The officer saluted. "What shall we tell the people?"

Gai Jhia's eyes burned with fury. "A bounty. No, a hunt." He stepped forward, voice deadly. "Every mercenary, every assassin, every criminal in this city, make sure they all know."

His lips curled. "The Red-Haired Devil dies again. This time, permanently."

It got dark out. It was night time. 

As Liu Tang walked, he noticed the change. The way people eyed him. The way hushed conversations followed in his wake.

Then he saw it. A bounty poster. Freshly inked. His face. His name.

"Wanted: Liu Tang. The Red-Haired Devil. Kill on sight. Reward: 100,000 gold."

Liu Tang exhaled. "Well… shit."