The Interloper

Humanity's love of alcohol probably dated back to ancient times. No matter the country or ethnicity, despite our different cultures and customs, our pursuit of fine drink had always been the same.

People always liked hurting themselves, and never tired of it.

Looking closely at the pursuits people loved, every single one of them brought satisfaction through self-inflicted harm.

Tea was bitter, cigarettes were choking, and alcohol burned. Sugary drinks were sweet and fragrant, yet no one became addicted to those.

Perhaps, somewhere deep down, humanity used this self-destructive behavior to remind itself: life was full of disappointments, which was why happiness had to be found amid bitterness, spice, sourness, and saltiness.

After a few drinks, one of them was blind and the other was used to working nights, so neither bothered turning on the lights. They switched on Matt's radio, lowered the volume, and enjoyed a Chinese-style late-night meal to the tunes of a midnight music program.

Matt rarely let down his guard like this, trying to act recklessly for himself alone, for his current mood alone, for the simple enjoyment of good food and drink.

To Matt, this kind of life truly counted as reckless indulgence.

After three rounds of drinks and five flavors of dishes, the two finally shed their serious façades and defenses. Like old friends of many years, they laughed and told each other embarrassing stories.

Mostly Matt's stories. Being a master of time management was no easy task. Matt averaged less than five hours of sleep a day. During the day, he did volunteer work and took cases for poor people free of charge. Sometimes, not only did he earn nothing, he even had to pay out of pocket.

If Matt himself had not been skilled enough to occasionally take on a few proper cases, his law firm would have gone bankrupt long ago.

His daytime work exhausted his mind and spirit, while his nights were no quieter. Physically demanding work was waiting for him too.

As an ordinary man with no special abilities, Matt's battles against Kingpin and The Hand over the past few years could truly be said to have been fought with his life on the line.

The scars large and small across his body could practically be called the greatest in all of Marvel. If he was not at least somewhat of a protagonist, he would have died long ago!

But then again, Matt really was one handsome guy!

When Leon watched the Daredevil spinoff in his previous life, curiosity had led him to look up some Daredevil comics online. He remembered little else, except that comic writers constantly praised Matt's outstanding looks through narration and the perspectives of passersby.

Maybe Leon had not read many comics to begin with, and his horizons were limited. Still, in his impression, Matt was the only Marvel comic protagonist to receive such treatment. From that alone, Matt was undoubtedly Marvel's most handsome man.

Thinking of that, Leon sighed. Such a great guy—how had his love life ended up being such a mess?

Though the drinks had affected him somewhat, Matt still heard Leon's sigh.

"What is it? Regretting bringing out all the good booze? Feeling the pain now?"

Matt was clearly in a genuinely good mood. His relationship with Leon had improved greatly thanks to this candleless dinner.

The way he joked now sounded like they had been friends for years.

As a standard rough-and-tumble northerner at heart, Leon had never been able to take provocation at the drinking table.

Hearing that, he took out another small cup of beer from his space. It was not much, just a tiny bottle.

He slammed it onto the table with a bang. "Matt! Today, big brother will show you what real good booze is!"

[Shawshank Special Ice Beer]

Effect: Permanently increases health regeneration speed by 100% after drinking. Permanently increases resistance to control-type skills by 5. (Special effect: Gains an additional 1 intelligence when shared with others.)

Grade: Purple

Quality: Ordinary

Note: Nothing can stop your yearning for freedom.

Note 2: Sunlight fell upon the shoulders, as though one were a free man.

This was the best cup of wine Wooden Arhat's Solo Wine Barrel had produced since Leon obtained it.

Leon, who had always stingily used test tubes to hold his alcohol, had specially bought a beautiful little bottle for this drink, intending to share it with someone one day.

The mood had already reached this point. Why keep hiding it now?!

It was you, Matt!

"Seeing" Leon take out a bottle that held no more than two or three hundred milliliters, Matt realized that Leon had brought out his entire stash. The real good stuff had arrived.

Without going through any polite refusals, Matt laughed and drained the drink in his cup. He pushed the empty cup forward. "I'd like to see what good booze you've been hiding!"

Leon also emptied his own cup, then divided the wine from the tiny bottle between himself and Matt.

After pouring out the last drop, Leon put the bottle away again. Ordinary people had to live frugally. Being extravagant was something only rich people did!

Raising his glass, Matt first held it beneath his nose and smelled it. To his surprise, it was actually beer!

Matt had thought that something Leon brought out so solemnly would be aged liquor like brandy or rum. He had not expected beer.

Trusting Leon, Matt did not underestimate the mere hundred-odd milliliters in his cup. He raised the glass and took a small sip with the seriousness of someone drinking for the first time.

"Oh! This..."

Hahahaha!

Leon had been holding his cup and waiting precisely for this moment!

The drinks produced by Wooden Arhat's Solo Wine Barrel were all incredibly delicious, regardless of their effects. Most also had their own origins and legends, letting the drinker vaguely experience the scene and atmosphere behind them.

Shawshank. The moment Leon saw the name, he knew what this drink was based on. No wonder it had such quality.

Matt took another small sip. This time, it was not for any other reason—he simply could not bear to drink more.

He had also noticed that Leon had even put away the bottle. Maybe Leon planned to take it out and smell it someday. There was no need to think about it; it would be difficult to drink this again.

No matter how slowly he savored it, there were only a few sips in a hundred-odd milliliters. When he swallowed the final mouthful, Matt let out a long breath. Bliss!

As that mouthful went down, Matt felt his mind become utterly clear. The work pressure and exhaustion accumulated during the day seemed to vanish completely, leaving him indescribably relaxed and carefree.

"This feeling is like..."

"Flying through the skies of fate~ a beautiful dream~"

"Hahaha!" Matt laughed loudly. This friend of his really was an interesting guy.

Leon also drank the rest of his beer in one gulp. Holding the cup in his hand, he leaned sideways against the sofa behind him. "Sunlight fell upon the shoulders, as though~ one were a free man..."

Matt clapped his hands. "Ha! That's exactly the feeling! That line is much better than those two ghostly wails you called singing!"

Leon was thoroughly unconvinced. "If you don't know how to appreciate it, don't spout nonsense and ruin children's taste in music!"

Matt was even more unconvinced. "You probably don't know how many people at music academies cried themselves to sleep every day when I chose to study law."

"They were that happy?"

"They cried themselves to sleep!"

"They wept with joy!"

The two went back and forth, and before long, they were gesturing animatedly. They were not about to fight; they were looking for somewhere to show off their voices and compete!

Leon had forgotten what he originally came here to do. Now he was wholly focused on performing "The Spring Breeze of Reform Blows Across the Land" for Matt. If that did not work, then "After This Cup, There Are Still Three More." He would show Matt the strength of a karaoke king!

Matt was equally fired up, endlessly claiming he could blow a cello's sound through a leaf. Then he said every inch of him was filled with artistic talent, that his drumming was unmatched, and that perhaps he could perform a duet with that thing Leon mentioned—the suona!

Alcohol really brought out one's true nature. Before drinking, I was timid and submissive. After drinking too much, I struck with heavy fists!

The two staggered toward the door, leaving everything uncleaned. Matt even forgot that he was blind. After all, he came with built-in echolocation and a three-dimensional imaging system in his mind. He could climb walls and cross rooftops in the dead of night as easily as walking on flat ground. His usual appearance of being unable to move properly was all an act for others.

Now he had forgotten to act. With his eyes closed, he found his clothes and grabbed his keys, yet still remembered to straighten the sofa cushions before leaving!

How did that look like a blind man?!

The two reached the door, pulled it open, and stopped.

An old man leaning on a cane stood outside.

Leon did not speak because he had no idea what was happening. Matt not speaking was understandable, but it made no sense for the old man blocking the doorway not to say anything either!

"Sir, are you looking for someone?"

Leon saw that the old man wore a baseball cap and stood slightly hunched over. He looked quite old and unhealthy, so Leon asked him that.

Who would have thought that the old man would not answer at all? Instead, he stared at Matt with an expression that said, You heartless, unreasonable bastard.

Leon took one look. They knew each other?

Hm?

Matt, an old man, a cane...

Putting that information together, along with the old man's debt-collector stance and Matt's silent reaction...

This was... Stick?

Sure enough, Leon had barely formed a reliable guess when Matt spoke. His voice hoarse, he said in a complicated and heavy tone, "Master, long time no see."

The plan to go out and compete naturally fell through. Leon was a guest, after all. The homeowner's master had come knocking in the middle of the night. Maybe there was serious business to discuss. Dragging Matt outside now would have been too improper.

So they returned to the room.

After entering, Stick first glanced at the table covered in the aftermath of food and drink, then snorted.

He then sat by himself at the small tea table by the window, as far from the dining table as possible.

That ambiguous snort immediately gave Leon a poor first impression of Stick.

Was he really here to collect a debt?

Did seeing someone who owed money eating and drinking instead of paying him back put him in a bad mood?

Otherwise, why was a guest who came knocking in the middle of the night acting so high and mighty in someone else's home?!

Could he not see that the homeowner already had another guest?!

Leon did not know much about Stick. He had not even read many of Matt's comics, let alone comics about Stick.

He only knew that this old man who called himself Stick was Matt's master, a blind man with exceptional skills. He also seemed to be the leader of something called The Chaste...?

Anyway, he was some kind of leader.

That was all Leon knew.

Stick gave Leon a cold look, and Leon naturally had no intention of paying him any attention. He lifted part of his mask, exposing his mouth and nose, plopped back into his original seat, and continued eating.

There was no need to guess that Stick's expression was probably awful.

He had originally wanted Leon to recognize the situation and leave on his own, so he could speak privately with Matt.

He had not expected Leon to ignore the usual script and sit down to keep eating!

Stick had waited outside for a long time. Inside, two grown men ate meat and drank wine, while outside, a blind old man shivered in the cold wind, facing the wall as he waited bitterly.

What was wrong with young people these days? Did they not know to respect the elderly and care for the young?

"Matt, I have something to say to you."

Leon was still wrestling with a large shrimp. Stick waited for a while, growing hungry himself, but Leon, this outsider, showed no sign of leaving. Matt had remained silent as well. Left with no choice, Stick finally could not hold back any longer.

"Then say it."

Leon was the one who spoke. He was not stupid. He could obviously see that the master and disciple did not seem to have a harmonious relationship. Matt did not seem happy to see this master of his either. On the contrary, just moments ago, the two of them had been eagerly preparing to go out and have some fun. The moment this old man showed up, Matt's mood immediately dropped.

Now, Matt seemed unwilling to say even one extra word to his master.

Thinking of Matt's personality, Leon formed a rough idea and guess.

"Weren't we waiting for you to say it?"

After eating another cherry tomato, Leon added, "But don't ask to borrow money."

Stick glanced at Matt. His disciple was still lowering his head, looking unwilling to speak. Turning to Leon, Stick asked, "Who are you?"

"Me?" Leon said. "I came to borrow money, but it turned out Matt was even poorer than me. So I couldn't borrow any money, and then I lent him some instead."

Stick could not make sense of that for a moment, nor could he tell whether Leon was telling the truth. He clearly froze, then simply ignored Leon and addressed Matt directly. "Matt, I need you to take my place."

Since entering the room, Matt finally spoke for the first time. "We've already discussed this, Master."

He raised his head. "I will not become the leader of The Chaste. I don't want to watch them die one by one for no reason."

As the master and disciple spoke, Leon was thinking, Ah! It's The Chaste! I thought it was something like the Pure Society!

The Pure Society. That name sounded anything but pure!

As Matt and Stick both tacitly treated Leon as if he were invisible, their conversation and argument gradually let Leon understand what was going on.

Simply put, The Chaste led by Stick had always opposed The Hand. Stick mentioned that The Hand possessed a force called Black Sky.

Stick planned to assassinate Black Sky. He had already prepared himself never to return, so he hoped Matt would take his place and continue leading The Chaste against The Hand!

Matt's reason for constantly refusing was this: The Hand was far more powerful than The Chaste. Those who joined The Chaste either had grudges against The Hand, or were children Stick had rescued from The Hand.

For a long time, Matt had watched members of The Chaste burn themselves away like fireflies for certain ideals and justice. Matt knew he could not lead The Chaste to destroy The Hand, so he had always refused the position of leader.

Hearing this, Leon cried out inwardly, Well, isn't this perfect!

So, amid the two men's argument, Leon interjected, "How about you tell me where The Hand is, and I'll go kill them all?"

The moment Leon finished speaking, both Stick and Matt froze.

Let me answer a reader question.

There would be a female lead, just one female lead. It really had been planned in the outline, but causing trouble was this protagonist's true nature! Don't worry~

And of course, the story would be finished. It would not be abandoned halfway through.

This was my first contracted book, and my first book with loyal readers. It meant a great deal to me. Even if it did not make money, I would write everything I wanted to write and give it an ending.

Please rest assured about that too ←_←

Finally... please vote! Please add it to your collection! Recommendation votes and such were truly, truly important for a new book, so ←_←