Chapter 83

“Chunju Mandoksu? Is it Poison Arts?”

Qing quickly summoned the Martial Arts Inventory.

“Chunju Mandoksu, find it for me.”

Then, an elegant purple border appeared.

“Chunju Mandoksu refers to…”

The ‘ju’ in Chunju Mandoksu came from the character for spider.

It meant “all the poisons the thousand-poison spider possesses.”

It was also notorious for being a foolish training method that involved getting bitten by a poison spider after taking an antidote beforehand.

But suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

Wasn’t Poison Arts said to be trash in the strategy guide?

I had managed to survive so far thanks to that guide.

Because you didn’t speak nonsense.

“You, your realm is astonishing for your age, but there are many powerful opponents out there. Isn’t there a means better than poison?”

However, Seolga also didn’t speak nonsense.

Qing deemed him the greatest intellect he had encountered in the Central Plain.

Hearing that again, Qing wavered.

When put that way, it did sound enticing.

It’s true that in the game, poison isn’t that great, but in reality, isn’t poison still a powerful weapon?

Since this isn’t completely like a game, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to hear the opinions of the locals.

“Right, when would you be collecting poison spiders one by one? If someone just handed you a secret manual, you’d have asked for Daejeongseonggong instead. That would suit you more than Poison Arts.”

“Daejeongseonggong….”

That too was a purple Inner Strength Meditation Technique.

Though Qing didn’t know, it was a martial art that no one in the martial world was unfamiliar with.

This Divine Skill, renowned for being the purest among all martial arts, protected one’s mind and spirit.

However, in the game of “If I give you a martial art, what would you learn?” Daejeongseonggong held another meaning.

It was a way of saying to not get lost in absurd imaginations and to snap back to reality.

Of course, there was a bit of sincerity mixed in.

If this kept up, the Great Demon Lord of the orthodox sect would go mad and chop up all the villains.

“So, Seolga’s choice is Daejeongseonggong?”

“Yeah. I’ll start learning it right away, if someone gives it to me.”

Qing was someone who didn’t know much about anything.

Sardonic remarks wouldn’t work on someone who didn’t understand.

“Reverse Divine Water Mirror takes a while to show results, but Daejeongseonggong can be seen instantly, huh?”

Qing understood in another way.

Seolga looked at Qing with pitying eyes, as if he realized his friend was more foolish than he imagined.

“Daejeongseonggong is a Divine Skill that protects the righteous heart. It’s a way of saying to snap out of delusions.”

“Lady, you should’ve said that outright!”

“Didn’t I just say it? Plus, you should have let me know how ignorant you were first so I could adjust my words accordingly.”

It was difficult to word it without saying she was foolish.

Qing frowned, having no particular words to counter.

Seolga was indeed not a simple guy.

If there was nothing to say?

Change the subject.

“By the way, you mentioned you wanted to learn the Hwanhui Palace technique? Can a man learn that?”

“The orthodox Daoist practices don’t particularly discriminate by gender. I can’t really brag about where I learned it, but as far as I know, it sharpens the senses within the body, so I was hoping it might help this body a bit.”

“Is it that uncomfortable?”

Seolga quietly pointed to his own head.

His still-damp hair looked a bit wet.

“Oh.”

Qing made an unmeaningful sound.

Then Seolga calmly revealed an even sadder tale.

“More than that, there’s no feeling in my… you know. I’m at the point where even death would lead to an outpouring. Living without that isn’t really living.”

“Oh. My.”

Qing gasped in astonishment.

No way!

Seolga was… well, you know!

“Then, can’t you do it yourself?”

Qing awkwardly moved his hands up and down, asking.

At that, Seolga responded with a disappointed look.

“Can’t you at least pretend to be a bit shy? I mean, the, uh, situation is bleak, and I can’t even find joy in anything at all.”

“Oh, you wanted to see me embarrassed?

No wonder the old man keeps throwing around sexual harassment jokes.

Qing squinted his eyes.

It was infuriating, but more than that, his calm confession made Qing’s heart ache.

It’d be better if he just vented, but the way he accepted his fate almost felt resigned.

Qing was once a man himself.

He could fully empathize with that sadness.

Moreover, Seolga was a great ally.

He’d point out villains and offer good advice.

“Then, I’ll recite the secret technique, so listen closely.”

“What? Wait.”

“Okay, here it goes. ‘Sangsangji Doi Laonyeong Jeokae Gungchang Biraek Wiji Jewel Lambowon Yongu Jeog.’ This means, a person enjoys the way of mutual prosperity….”

Seolga, who was about to say something, hurriedly shut his mouth and focused, as the secret technique poured out.

With a clear meaning coming forth from the technique, the bright mind of Seolga engraved it firmly into his memory.

He recited the technique perfectly in just three tries.

The evidence of that being the way he sank into a meditative state.

Qing was indeed right in acknowledging him as the greatest intellect of the Central Plain.

Once that was done, what came next was rather amusing.

“Don’t come over for a while.”

“What do you mean? Have you already drawn out all I can give?”

“No, that’s not it. I need some time to organize this fortunate encounter, you know.”

Qing frowned a bit.

Still, he felt awkward saying anything since he was trying hard to escape his predicament.

Having taught him so thoroughly, it made sense to give Seolga some time to practice as well.

Disappointment was writ large on Qing’s face.

Seeing that, Seolga broached the main topic.

“While we’re at it, why don’t you take a week off too? Hunting villains is fine, but it would be better to take some time to calmly organize what you have. You’re really in a dangerous situation.”

—-

A week passed.

Now, no one in the Hwanhui Palace dared to touch Qing.

Everyone realized that this little lad living on the top floor was far more skilled than they had anticipated.

Rumor had it that the shaman of the main temple would kneel and serve him.

The shamans of the main temple viewed Hwanhui Palace disciples as trash. They were hardly pure as they were known for their sordidness.

As is often the case with rumors, no one really knew who started them.

It would’ve shocked Teacher Kang if he knew.

The scene of humiliation, the teaching scene was nothing but Qing, Teacher Kang, and an apprentice shaman, So-young.

Was it possible that some spirit out there saw that scene and spread it?

For reference, Qing had initially shown no interest, so he hadn’t promoted Teacher Kang’s devoted education.

Also, suddenly rising in social rank, he was now under the backing of Gyeon Pohee, who was making daily calls for assembly.

Thus, the disciples of Hwanhui Palace didn’t approach Qing at all.

But it was fortunate that one leg was crippled.

Not getting close meant there was no risk of getting bitten.

He was treated like a rabid dog.

However, even so, Qing’s week was packed.

Just because there was a lack of information, it didn’t mean that villains vanished.

How many villains could be lurking overhead, unseen?

In fact, Qing only needed information on villains that were somewhat useful, to take them out efficiently.

Otherwise, torturing them for their martial skills and then killing them would be just as easy.

During that week, Qing would usually go out for nightlife, returning exhausted and passing out.

It was quite fun, but ultimately, a massive failure in acquiring martial arts for escape.

He ended up with nothing but a bunch of random white and blue things.

It was the difference between knowing coordinates and aimlessly stirring sand around.

After another sleep, he woke up around lunchtime.

He had lunch with Stand 2 and occasionally with Stand 1 when he visited.

In the afternoon, he received special massage treatments and snack offerings from Teacher Kang.

Feeling that the pace was too fast, he made adjustments, and Teacher Kang seemed more relaxed, treating him more kindly.

In the evening, he went out to eat with Stand 2.

And only then did he finally get some rest and free time.

During his free time over the week, he watched Gyeon Pohee’s Tangseon Talseong dance.

This Tangseon Talseong is a primary success skill learned by the second generation of Hwanhui Palace disciples, and Gyeon Pohee also received these key manual copies.

Qing didn’t know, but the group dance put on by the disciples of Hwanhui Palace was a vicious art notable in the martial world.

The disciples of the Orthodox sect following the ways of the righteous were typically weak against beautiful women.

They could hardly resist the sight of lovely ladies shedding their clothes and dancing.

Numerous disciples were culled or drawn in through the four consecutive Great Demon tournaments.

Such was the primitive Central Plain where entertainment was scarce.

Qing would gather them for practice, turning it into a show.

But the moves were so awkward that they stuttered and stumbled, even tripping over their own clothing while shedding layers; it caused utter chaos.

Frustrated, Qing used the Martial Arts Inventory to mark a day’s worth of them and learned the secret techniques and moves, offering advice here and there.

Thanks to that, he figured out that Stand 2’s talent for dancing was simply disastrous.

Rather, it was Qing’s achievements—learning from guiding and observing—that were significantly increasing.

Within a week, he’d already reached the realm of Samsung.

“No, Junior Sister. With your martial art, it should be more graceful, a bit more sway. Can’t you do that? Sway?”

He waved his hands in a fluttering motion.

It was a lethal hand technique to entice an opponent, flickering from the shoulders through to the fingertips.

Gyeon Pohee glanced cautiously and attempted to mimic the movements.

“Uh, sway like… this?”

If one were to categorize it, it was closer to a clumsy flail.

What was this? What did that imply?

Was it meant to burst someone’s heart?

Qing narrowed his eyes.

No matter how many times he showed them, they couldn’t get it right.

This wasn’t seduction; it was just a flailing stick!

Was it so hard to enjoy watching a stripping dance?

Aigh, Stand 2, this one was unusable.

Maybe the first generation disciples could do better?

Should he just grab something else instead?

Besides, just watching their conclusion left nothing of value.

Even the conclusion got boring because it was the same every time.

They would just hop on and shake their hips a bit, then when the layered one was out of breath, that would be the end.

Asking for variety also ended up with, “I can’t do anything else but this one.”

After all, food was better supplied by Stand 1.

Did he really even need two stands?

“Uh, Junior Sister, I’ll work hard, so….”

“It’s really not about effort anymore, is it? If we can categorize talent, could we even say it’s a talent to be utterly disastrous?”

Gyeon Pohee hung her head.

Her body was lightly trembling, and her shoulders occasionally shuddered.

Qing frowned deeply.

What’s this, she’s crying?

Why are you just sobbing in the middle of my room?

If you’re going to cry, go to your own space.

This makes me look like the bad guy.

Moreover, did I even say anything wrong?

Isn’t it better to just admit you can’t do it and move on, rather than pretending you’ve grown?

Learning such useless melodrama doesn’t help at all.

Looking at Gyeon Pohee, Qing lifted his gaze above her head.

There stood a number, always appreciative.

-136. It’s still okay to kill her.

Well, now that this was pointless, might as well just lay low and accumulate some merits.

Suddenly, Qing’s back felt a chill run down.

Just something?

“Ugh,”

Suddenly, he felt queasy, leading to an epic outbound expulsion of everything he had for dinner.

The powerful upheaval was impossible to stop, forcefully dragging his insides up in a revolutionary surge.

“Junior Sister? Junior Sister!? Are you okay!?”

“I’m, ugh, ugh…”

At his words, Gyeon Pohee touched Qing’s back.

It was less forceful than a five-year-old who couldn’t even attend kindergarten.

Couldn’t she either pat him or smack him? Pick one!

What does she think, that my back is made of soft tofu?

Just because she hits harder doesn’t mean it would break.

Now was a good excuse to smack down the troublesome Junior Sister!

After all, how much strength did it take to look after someone so weak?

Eventually, it was only after expelling the entirety of his dinner that the upheaval subsided.

At least it stayed there since there was nothing left, but the cramping of his stomach indicated, ah, this feels like a stomach cramp.

“Junior Sister? Are you feeling better now?”

“Not feeling well at all… Can I get some water?”

“Ah, hold on. Here.”

Gyeon Pohee brought a glass of water to Qing’s mouth.

Qing shook his head.

“No, just hand it to me. You don’t need to dispense drinks.”

“Ah.”

Gyeon Pohee handed over the glass.

Qing initiated a freezing technique, attempting to chill it.

After a moment, frost formed on the surface of the glass.

Downing it all at once, the icy water rushed in, startling his stomach awake.

His hazy mind started to regain clarity.

Following that, the backlash from dinner’s grand eruption followed closely.

The acidic contents paired with chunks squeezing his head in pain.

“Ugh, I’m dying…”

“Junior Sister? Are you okay?”

“Didn’t I say that before?”

“Oh… well, so. Hmm. You are okay?”

“Today might need to be a rest day. You also worked hard today, so get some rest.”

Stand 2 looked genuinely worried.

Qing reflected deeply.

True, the girl was neither good nor useful, just foolish and not particularly helpful, but still, she was trying to care for him.

How adorably madcap.

Qing regretted not resting when Seolga mentioned it.

Why had he been so restless every night?

Feeling apologetic, Qing added one last remark.

“From tomorrow on, let’s practice together. You’ll improve as well, right? After all, it’s the group dance.”

“Uh!? Uh? Yea!”

Gyeon Pohee instantly reverted to her cheerful self.

She isn’t particularly good, useless, foolish, and would need to add simplicity onto that list.

“If you’re not feeling well, just take a break. I’ll have the Junior Sisters come handle it. And you got food on your clothes, right? Just take them off.”

However, there were no words of offering to clean up.

Because it’s really not her style.

Anyway, as long as she wasn’t subjected to it, Qing nodded along.

Once Stand 2 left, Qing brought in the Martial Arts Inventory.

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