“Ugh…”
I barely regained consciousness. Opening my eyes and looking around, I found no one was there. As I tried to sit up, my upper body felt sore. I managed to lift my head only to see my body covered in saliva and drugs.
Ah, right. I got tricked by the Tang Clan again.
No, this isn’t about being tricked. I just placed my trust in them. Hah… Cheon-an, you fool, why do you keep falling for the Tang Clan’s tricks? Even if the physician is impressive, you should have kept your guard up against a bloodsucker.
But more importantly…
With a trembling heart, I sought out my “status window.”
————————
Name: Ho Cheon-an
Age: 23
Rank: Iryu
Personality: Ordinary
Strength: 9 Agility: 9
Stamina: 9 Inner Power: 10
Luck: 9 Earth: 9
Muscles: 8 Spirit: 9
Focus: 9 Vitality: 9
Five Senses: 9
Traits:
[Outcast] – You are unwelcome anywhere. (Relationship with others -5)
[Torn Tendons] – The tendon in your left wrist is severed. (Strength -1)
[Underdeveloped Body] – Growth was stunted in childhood, but has seen slight improvement through future efforts. (Muscles -1)
[Persistence] – Damage effects are reduced, and survival probability at the crossroads of life and death increases.
[Stubborn] – Your mental strength is outstanding regardless of your physical condition. (Focus +1)
[Mixed Blood] – Your origin is still humble. However, the future is uncertain. (Final Rank -?)
[Fortune] – Techniques that touch the heavens sometimes deceive even heaven’s scales.
Final Rank: First Class
Realization: None
————————————
“Hah… Haha…”
My inner power has reached 10. The description for mixed blood has changed. Above all, my final rank has changed to [First Class].
A laugh escaped me, and the pain radiating through my body prevented me from fully expressing my joy, but I couldn’t help but smile anyway.
I, Ho Cheon-an.
From now on, the possibility of reaching First Class has opened up!
Now, the true life of a martial artist begins. I’ll train, stand on the grass, grasp the qi, gather the blood points, use real techniques, and various sorceries!
“Hehehe…!”
What should I do first? Right, I need to acquire the first-class martial arts secret text I saved five years ago. Wait, things have changed so much since then; maybe I should reconstruct the martial technique from scratch?
As I was lost in excitement, the door opened.
“Already awake? You recover quickly.”
“Elder.”
“Right. You probably can’t wait to move your body or try using your inner power, but hold off for just one or two more days.”
“Yes…Really…”
I almost expressed my gratefulness but hesitated. It’s one thing to be grateful to the Poison Doctor, but considering my body is in shambles, do I really need to say thank you? Although the treatment is indeed appreciated…
While I pondered for a moment, the Poison Doctor merely nodded in acknowledgment.
“Just remember, today’s progress is only temporary. It’s true that the demon energy mixed in your blood has been somewhat neutralized, and it’s easier to assist your qi now. However, there’s no way to deal with the various energies still mixed within your blood.”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
Just moments ago, I felt ecstatic about my limit rising to First Class, but now I was left feeling a sense of longing.
“If I were to bring you a more potent spiritual medicine, we wouldn’t be able to use the same method. If an even more effective medicine caused an internal explosion… your entire body would shatter. From now on, the only solution will be to discover new methods through research.”
Well, even just becoming First Class is a huge step forward. As the Poison Doctor studies, he might uncover new clues.
“By the way, how long has it been since I lost consciousness?”
“Just half a day? It’s only just become nighttime. Oh, right, a disciple from the Jeomchang Faction is still waiting for you; would you like to talk with them?”
“Miss Yeo Il-ye is still waiting for me?”
“Indeed. Hmm…”
Suddenly lost in thought, the Poison Doctor pondered.
“Do you know why I set up in Hyeong Gwi-san?”
“How could I know the profound intentions of the Poison Doctor?”
“Because of bandits. Bandits are like weeds; they just spring back up no matter how much you try to eradicate them. Rather than trying to hunt them down, it’s better to settle in the mountains where they reside and research to suppress their activities.”
Setting up in Hyeong Gwi-san was the Poison Doctor’s way of dealing with things. The Tang Clan members seem to embrace righteousness in their own peculiar way.
“Yeo Il-ye, the disciple from Jeomchang, seemed to have business in Hyeong Gwi-san, but it looks like they couldn’t attend due to me being here. When I agreed to take care of her, I didn’t hesitate; it seems right to help that child a little, what do you think?”
“Are you referring to her? I believe you should do as the Poison Doctor wishes.”
“No, for now, I’ll need to research you, so your opinions are important. My movements will soon be your movements.”
“Hmm… I see.”
My connection with Yeo Il-ye feels oddly intertwined. It was the same during the Hwang Gold Clan incident and now as well. Is it merely coincidence both times? We can dismiss our encounter when I handed over the match paperwork…
My feelings towards Yeo Il-ye were inherently complex.
The realization I bestowed upon Yeo Il-ye was a turning point for me.
Meeting Yeo Il-ye provided the motivation to break free from my Iryu confines. Though that motivation was a spur to my survival instinct.
What would have happened if I hadn’t met Yeo Il-ye? If I hadn’t given her that realization back then…
Then I might never have met the Black Cat, and without meeting the Black Cat, I wouldn’t have needed to perform sorcery before the Hwang Gold Clan, which means I wouldn’t have crossed paths with Tang Do-gyeong.
Of course, I wouldn’t have come to learn Tang Clan’s Bat-Leaping Tiger Method, and Tang Guanglie would never have called on me… I’d likely still be living as a Sacheon Outcast without hopes of becoming First Class or advancing beyond it.
It’s true that Yeo Il-ye tried to kill me. Yet without that incident, would I have attained First Class today? Would I have had the opportunity to grasp the source of mixed blood for future advancements?
The price for Yeo Il-ye trying to kill me has already been paid with the Gratitude Plaque.
That Gratitude Plaque was cleverly utilized to fend off the assassins from the Video Tower and lure Tang Do-gyeong into the gambling game.
What should I say? I’ve come to realize even more just how intertwined my fate is with Yeo Il-ye.
With this kind of entanglement, isn’t it normal for me to feel concerned?
The real reason Yeo Il-ye occupies my mind is separate.
Back then, I didn’t know, but now I do.
When a person gains realization, they change.
Just as Tang Do-gyeong gained realization, resolved familial issues, and returned to the Tang Clan, Yeo Il-ye must have undergone some form of change within her as well.
That weighs on my mind.
After I gave Yeo Il-ye realization, how has she changed?
I had confidence when striving to offer realization to Tang Do-gyeong.
I’d seen her change and knew that the understanding she gained would grant her the [Familial Love] trait.
By offering realization, I calculated that Tang Do-gyeong would change, and that change would positively influence her.
But with Yeo Il-ye, I hadn’t considered such things at all. I didn’t realize a person could change; I simply provided her that realization as a means of survival.
Yeo Il-ye tried to kill me, and in order to live, I taught her realization… Regardless of that, the fact remains that I’ve altered Yeo Il-ye as a person, and that thought nags at me.
“Phew.”
My feelings towards Yeo Il-ye were so complex that a sigh escaped me unconsciously.
“Hmmm. Is there some story with the Jeomchang disciple, too?”
“It’s similar.”
“If there’s one lesson I’ve learned in my years, it’s that issues between people are usually resolved over time.”
The words casually tossed by the Poison Doctor struck deep in my heart.
“That’s true.”
Have I ever truly faced and spoken with Yeo Il-ye? It was merely circumstances that prevented us from colliding.
Perhaps Yeo Il-ye also feels the need to converse with me and has been waiting.
“Your words ring true, Elder. It seems we must have a talk.”
“Indeed. For now, are you also in favor of helping Yeo Il-ye?”
When I nodded, the Poison Doctor summoned Yeo Il-ye inside.
“Honorable Person, how is your health?”
“Haha, I’ll be well soon enough.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, we moved to the main topic.
“Right. The reason I called you is to inquire about your purpose for staying in Hyeong Gwi-san.”
“My purpose?”
“Oh, don’t misunderstand. If you don’t want to share, you don’t have to. But it wouldn’t be right for me to help you without knowing your situation since I’ve been here for a month, hindering you. Hehe.”
“How could I blame my senior for that?”
Yeo Il-ye seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking up.
“I’m searching for an artifact called the Seven Treasure Jade Pendant. It disappeared along with my family home when it burned down. I heard that the leader of the Gae-wang-chae faction, Mo Yeobu, currently possesses it.”
The Poison Doctor sighed.
“Ah… If you had shared this with me sooner, I’d have stepped aside. I owe you an apology now.”
“It’s alright. Elder, it’s a bit embarrassing for you, but if I can be shameless, I must tell you…”
Summarizing Yeo Il-ye’s story, Mo Yeobu, who holds the Seven Treasure Jade Pendant, seemed to be waiting for the faction leader to return so she could inquire about its origins after her family’s tragedy.
“Hmm. Then it looks like I might be of help.”
The Poison Doctor appeared proactive, perhaps feeling guilty for hindering Yeo Il-ye.
“Capturing Mo Yeobu won’t be easy, but leave that part to me.”
“If Mo Yeobu returns, we’ll resolve the matter quickly.”
“If I depart, she’ll naturally return, won’t she?”
Well…
It’s true that Mo Yeobu will eventually return, but this could lead to an indefinite wait. If you want to catch a fish, it’s more efficient to bait it rather than wait for it to pass by naturally.
If the Poison Doctor could assist, there were much better methods available.
“How about this approach?”
