Chapter 2 (4)
Chapter 2 (4)
"From now on, find the ones I show you. First......."
Upon arriving at the mountain behind Taewonhyeon, Doctor Ju-nim showed me the herbs I needed to find first.
Thinking I was a complete layman, he had brought samples in advance and explained the appearance of the herbs step by step.
Of course, in my head,
'Astragalus. A medicinal herb used to replenish vital energy and boost immunity. Eating it strengthens immunity, and using it in moxibustion protects the stomach and liver. It dilates blood vessels and is effective in promoting skin blood circulation.'
'Achyranthes. A medicinal herb good for joint pain, but also effective for the liver and kidneys.'
'Typha. Also called cattail. It grows wild in ponds and wetlands, and is used for hemostasis and pain caused by clotted blood.'
'Agrimony. Effective for overwork and diarrhea, and.......'
All sorts of information about the herbs was surfacing.
"Find as many of these as possible. I'll go this way, so you go that way."
Having told me which herbs to find, Doctor Ju-nim suggested we split up to search.
"But I must protect you, Doctor-nim......."
"I've been roaming this place for over ten years. There are no tigers, and not even the common wolf is to be seen. Even if there are people, they're all just herb gatherers or hunters."
"If that's the case, what if a hunter makes a mistake......."
"Why do you think I asked for this?"
Doctor Ju-nim put on a headband and secured a long, artificially dyed red feather to it.
I, of course, did the same.
"The hunters of Taewonhyeon also know that I wear this feather just in case. No accidents have happened so far, so don't worry. When the sun reaches its zenith, we'll eat lunch, so come back here."
Saying that, he strode deep into the mountain.
For reference, you might say, "But China eats two meals a day, so why lunch all of a sudden?" but the word 'lunch' used here simply means filling one's stomach briefly.
In other words, it's closer to 'brunch'.
People in the old days knew it too.
That it's very difficult to hold out from breakfast until dinner.
'Hooray~ Freedom~'
Honestly, I thought he might follow me around and touch on everything, but Doctor Ju-nim didn't seem to have very high expectations of me.
Like, if I pick 10 and even 1 is right, it's a jackpot?
Feeling freedom for the first time in a while, I headed in the direction Doctor Ju-nim had pointed.
Alright~ Now, without having to worry about anyone watching, shall I start gathering herbs to increase my internal energy?
Generally, when people think of spirit herbs that help increase internal energy, things like ginseng, wild ginseng, thousand-year fleeceflower, and cold-clear stone milk come to mind first.
But would such spirit herbs be found easily?
Besides, if you use other herbs well, even if they aren't at the level of spirit herbs, they are enough to help increase internal energy.
I put the herbs Doctor Ju-nim mentioned into my basket while searching for herbs that would help increase my internal energy.
For reference, since this world is based on a game, there are fantasy elements.
For example, fictional minerals, fictional herbs, and fictional animals are exactly that.
If it were just realistic, what fun would there be in exploring the world?
Fictional elements must exist for users to dig into them.
As a result of focusing on finding herbs like that.
The effect of Herb Gathering 100 was magnificent!
I just glanced around, and I could see all the herbs!
I could feel which ones were defective and which ones were of good quality.
As I gathered the herbs, one worry appeared.
That side definitely thinks I'm a beginner.
But if I bring back such high-quality herbs, isn't it obvious they'll make me do this exclusively?
Of course, just knowing how to identify herbs would earn me the treatment of a decent high-level warrior.
Because this kind of specialized knowledge only shines after accumulating experience over a long time.
But I want to learn martial arts, not be an herb gatherer.
'Let's throw a few away first. And fill the rest with weeds that look roughly similar.......'
"Aaaargh!!"
"!?"
A scream? What is it? It's a familiar voice!
It's Doctor Ju-nim's voice!
I grabbed my basket and ran toward the direction the scream came from.
If something happens to Doctor Ju-nim, it becomes my responsibility!
Please, let there be no major problems!
But my prayer returned in the worst form.
Beyond the tree trunks and bushes, I confirmed Doctor Ju-nim sitting down, and two bandits raising their axes threateningly.
"Hup!"
As I concentrated my internal energy into both legs, the speed of my legs temporarily increased.
I hadn't been able to use my internal energy even though I had it because I couldn't let others find out, so I was slightly flustered by the sense of speed I had never experienced before.
"You sons of bitches!"
"Huh?"
"What?"
When I shouted, the bandits turned their gaze from Doctor Ju-nim to me.
Buung!
And I swung my sword blade loudly on purpose to threaten the bandits.
Fortunately, whether the threat worked or they were preparing for an unexpected enemy, the bandits moved backward and naturally split to my left and right.
Having secured Doctor Ju-nim's safety, I checked his condition first.
"Doctor Ju-nim, are you okay?"
"Th-those are remnants of the Hosan Sect!"
Remnants of the Hosan Sect?
Now that I think about it, they are definitely dressed like bandits.
"Be careful! Having a red cloth tied around their wrists means they are elites of the Ho-san-chae!"
Just as Doctor Ju-nim said, their wrists were tied with red cloth.
Now that I look at it, their movement to create distance was very smooth.
"Ho? You, are you a guy from the Jugeom Sect?"
One of the bandits must have recognized the clothes I was issued by the Jugeom Sect, as murderous intent glittered in his eyes.
"Jugeom Sect? Good thing! I can get at least a little revenge for our big brother!"
It seems they are guys who luckily escaped when the Jugeom Sect attacked the Hosan Sect.
I don't know if they came for revenge or just wandered here, but one thing is clear: they have no intention of letting us go.
"Ugh......!"
Doctor Ju-nim trembled in despair, knowing that I, who didn't even know martial arts, was his only hope.
"Perfect timing."
"Ah?"
"What?"
Elites of the Ho-san-chae.
The first enemies I face since learning martial arts.
Isn't this the best opportunity to realize my value?
"Honestly, I was curious. Just how strong I've become."
A smile comes naturally.
My heart is pounding.
I want to kill this guy; my hands are itching.
"Ha! This crazy bastard!"
"Kill him!"
The two bandits, finding my young appearance funny, ran at me with their axes raised.
I threw off my basket and rushed toward the bandits.
Circulating my internal energy through my body and arms as I had learned, I applied the first form of Cheonchu Ganggeom, swinging from bottom to top, and received the attack of Bandit 1, who was swinging his axe at my head, with pure force.
Kaang!
"Keuk!?"
Bandit 1's arm jerked upward.
I could feel bewilderment on his face.
I'll aim for that opening and strike......!
"Kuaat!"
Baung!
Just as I was about to land a follow-up attack, Bandit 2 interfered from the side.
Stepping on Hojinbo, I dodged backward and felt strong displeasure.
Because my attack was interrupted? No.
It's uncomfortable!
It's the displeasure of wearing clothes that don't fit!
In the first place, there's too much waste in the flow of internal energy!
Because I had been hiding my internal energy, this was the first time I had used the current Cheonchu Ganggeom and Hojinbo with internal energy added.
And I understood.
These martial arts are uncomfortably inefficient.
And my head began to rotate at an incredible speed, and all my abilities began to synthesize.
'If internal energy flows like this, 30% of the internal energy is wasted inefficiently during the process! The meridian points for the first form of Cheonchu Ganggeom move through the Middle Cavity, Great Palace, Dove Tail, Chest Center, Qi Door, Narrow White, and Lesser Palace!'
This is impossible with only Comprehension 100.
The knowledge of Medicine 100, the instinct of Comprehension 100, and the foundation of Aptitude 100.
With this power, I changed the flow of the first form of Cheonchu Ganggeom and attacked once more.
Pakaang!!
"Keu-ack!?"
When I swung the modified first form of Cheonchu Ganggeom at the axe blade of Bandit 2, who had attacked from the side, his axe blade broke slightly, and his arm and upper body were pulled backward.
He had received that strong of an impact.
"Huaaaat!!"
In 0.1 seconds, my body tuned the martial arts into the most efficient and suitable form.
The feeling of developing while fighting, like a protagonist in a battle manga, feels fucking amazing!
"This guy!"
"Die!"
Bandit 1 and Bandit 2 launched a pincer attack from both sides.
Kang-kang-kang-kang-kang-kang!
I used various forms of Cheonchu Ganggeom to deflect the bandits' attacks.
Slow. They're slow!
But that's why they're the best practice partners!
They are the best opponents to check the problems of the martial arts I learned!
"Die! Just die!"
"This makes no sense! Against a young brat like this!"
The two bandits let out cries of astonishment and swung their weapons desperately.
They, too, are feeling it.
That they are being used as my practice dummies.
"Uaaaaah!"
"Kuaaat!"
The two bandits coordinated their attacks.
One aiming for the head, one for the upper body.
The intention is good, but there are too many openings!
Tak! Seuk- Tatak!
I shook my upper body, stepped on the Hojinbo footwork, and easily dug inside.
And then, stab! toward Bandit 1's belly!
Puuk!
"Keuheok!?"
Bandit 1, who missed his attack due to my footwork, had a look worth seeing.
"Th...this...what...is...this....... It's...not...Jugeom...Sect...martial arts......."
Puuk!
"Kuaaaargh!"
But before Bandit 1 could even finish speaking, I let go of my weapon, formed my hand like an animal's claw, and tore at Bandit 2's eyes with Heukranggwon.
"Hey. Didn't you guys say you learned martial arts? So why is this so easy?"
"Keu-luck......!"
"Aargh! My eyes! My eyeeees!"
Bandit 1 looked at me as if looking at a mutant, and Bandit 2 collapsed while holding his eyes.
"Well, anyway, I can definitely feel myself getting stronger now that I've learned internal energy. Well then, goodbye. Go to hell and say hello to that bastard Seung U-hyeon for me."
Chwaak!
"Kuaaaargh!"
I didn't wait for Bandit 1's answer and grabbed the sword blade and slashed sideways.
As the intestines spilled out from the side of Bandit 1, who was so fat his belly bulged, he screamed in pain and then went limp.
"Hi...hieek! Save me! Please save me! Please! I......!"
Pukak!
"You should've said that before you started swinging that axe."
Finally, I cut off the head of Bandit 2, who had lost his eyes, and my first martial arts experience ended.
'Easy.'
You might think I'm being too cocky just because I cut down two bandits, but after learning martial arts, my body's movements changed perfectly.
Stronger, faster, and more precise.
I feel the confidence that I can do anything.
And with the power of Comprehension, Medicine, and Aptitude 100, I succeeded in modifying the martial arts on the spot.
I could be sure that if I learned higher-level martial arts than this, I would be several times stronger.
As proof, as soon as the battle ended, knowledge about how to organize the unnecessary parts of the internal energy cultivation method and how to perform Qi circulation came flooding in.
"H...how......?"
At that moment, Doctor Ju-nim, who had been watching my battle from behind, had an absurd expression on his face.
Well, it's understandable, since I, who hadn't even learned martial arts for a month, had easily taken down two elites of the Hosan Sect.
'What should I do.'
He knows my secret.
Should I kill him and silence him?
Since I found out that I can fix martial arts through actual combat and make them usable, killing Doctor Ju-nim and leaving is one way.
Honestly, this is the most comfortable way.
However, if I kill Doctor Ju-nim here and run away, I become a guy who betrayed his benefactor.
'I have a bad personality, but I'm not a son of a bitch who doesn't know gratitude.'
Yeah, in life, you can get cursed at for personality problems.
But I can't be called a son of a bitch who doesn't even know his benefactor.
The moment I allow that, I cease to be me.
"Are you okay?"
"Y...yes....... But this...what on earth......."
Doctor Ju-nim still had a look on his face that he couldn't believe I had taken care of the two bandits in one go.
"Actually, I was able to feel internal energy and perform Qi circulation. Although this is my first time using internal energy through martial arts."
"Why did you...no, never mind, that was a pointless thing to say."
As expected, he didn't grow old for nothing.
Young talent always arouses jealousy from those around them.
"I beg of you, Doctor Ju-nim. I want to repay the Jugeom Sect. I don't want to cause conflict just because I learned martial arts quickly."
"Hmm......."
I desperately bowed my head and begged him to keep the fact that I had learned martial arts a secret.
If I start a power struggle with the seniors here, I'm the only one who gets tired! Please say you understand!
After thinking about something seriously, Doctor Ju-nim sighed and nodded.
"I understand. If harmony among warriors breaks, it's hard to mend. We're already dealing with the deaths of elite warriors and need to prepare for attacks from other sects, so we can't afford to cause problems over this."
Fortunately, Doctor Ju-nim agreed to my request for the sake of the sect.
It's a relief that he's tied so deeply to the Jugeom Sect, more than I thought.
"That aside, your basket has more stuff in it than I thought? Wait, what is this?"
Doctor Ju-nim looked flustered after seeing the herbs in my basket.
It's natural, since the basket is filled with all the herbs he mentioned.
"What on earth is this......."
I sighed, wondering what excuse I should make this time, at the sight of Doctor Ju-nim being flustered for the second time.