Mission: Return to Active Duty
Kim Jun touched his left arm as he showered.
The bone had healed perfectly. It didn't hurt at all, even when he pressed down hard. The rest of his wounds had healed ages ago.
The recovery ability he'd gained from the Lycosaurus was still working.
Today, he planned to start serious training in earnest.
He hadn't slacked off completely so far, but Master and even his friends had nagged him every time they saw him, so he'd held back to avoid drawing attention.
The memories of that day were still vivid.
The shock of being accused of cheating during the written exam, the fighting spirit ignited by his opponent's skill in the practical test, the thrilling reversal from the rollercoaster awakening scores... and the pain endured in the fight at the Honor Hall award ceremony, followed by the hard-won victory he'd barely clutched.
It had truly been a long, long day.
He'd thought he'd never want to go through anything like it again.
Now that life had returned to normal, he sometimes missed those intense moments. Compared to the chaos at the Dungeon Association, his days lately felt boring—even dull.
In just one day, he'd mastered the Tan and Chwi steps of Mokhonbo, and learned new skills like Po-noe Strike and Yeon Yeop. Thanks to that day, he'd grown stronger beyond comparison to before.
That overwhelming focus that had enveloped his body... no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recreate it. The sensation of every cell awakening had grown hazy.
Don't rush it, he told himself.
In two weeks, he'd enter the Sokcho Dungeon. This time, it was a D-rank.
He was really looking forward to experiencing a D-rank dungeon for the first time.
He'd researched the monsters that frequently appeared there and refined his countermeasures, but fighting unfamiliar ones in person would bring unexpected situations.
Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed his lower abdomen.
"Ugh!"
The pain vanished quickly.
The spot that hurt was... his dantian.
Was the Thunder Heart Technique acting up? Had the 'suffering' Yeon Chung-jae mentioned truly begun? The massive Thunder Heart Technique coiled in his dantian wasn't his own.
It was the inner energy Yeon Chung-jae had honed over a lifetime.
Thanks to that energy, he'd unleashed Po-noe Strike and repelled Yoo Gwan-ho with Yeon Yeop.
Standing under the pouring hot water, he cautiously circulated his small circulation. Fortunately, his body seemed fine.
If the pain came again, he'd consult Master then.
As he dried off with a towel and stepped into the living room, the rich aroma of doenjang jjigae hit him. His stomach growled.
His younger sister sat on the living room sofa, yawning hugely. Kim Ji-hyun spotted her brother and tossed something at him.
It was a USB drive.
"What's this?"
"Oppa Yeomo Vol. 1."
"Oppa Yeomo?"
"A playlist lovingly curated by your adorable little sister, just for you."
Kim Jun burst out laughing.
"Take it or leave it."
She held out her hand expectantly.
"Nah, I'll listen. But what tracks are on it? You didn't fill it with classical, right?"
"Latest idol hits. I even threw in Seven Bridge's new album from the other day."
"Good job."
"Expect more. I'll make you some every now and then."
"Thanks."
Kim Ji-hyun waved and headed to her room, still yawning. She'd probably stayed up late making 'Oppa Yeomo Vol. 1'.
He'd once casually mentioned it might be nice to have a collection of good songs someday, and she'd remembered.
Kim Jun sat at the table.
The rice tasted like honey.
Mom sat across from him, watching her son. "Is the doenjang stew okay? What do you want to eat?" The talk stayed mostly on food. Kim Jun knew what she really wanted to say.
Take care of yourself.
She was holding back her true words, worried about burdening him.
He wanted his mom to be happy. Maybe now was the time. Dad would understand.
"Mom, you should date someone."
"...What?"
Her eyes widened as she refilled his water glass.
"I'm grown up now, and Ji-hyun won't mind."
"What brought this on?"
"Just meet someone nice if you find one."
"What nonsense. I'm not thinking about that until you and Ji-hyun are married. Don't worry about me. Got it?"
"Yeah."
After finishing his meal amid Mom's send-off, he left the house.
The parking lot was quiet. No reporters swarming for interviews, no fans showing up today.
Kim Jun got in his car and plugged in Oppa Yeomo Vol. 1. He pulled out of the lot to the beat of upbeat music.
Two cars were already parked in the guildhouse lot: carrier Hwang Myeong-su's black Ferrari and the van Master usually drove.
Kim Jun spotted two figures running the track.
Seeing Master training was... a bit surreal.
He'd heard the news about the dungeon sickness being cured. With his body recovered, he could train freely now.
It hadn't been intentional, but Kim Jun felt immensely proud.
"Jun!"
Hwang Myeong-su called out upon seeing him.
Unlike the relaxed Hwang Myeong-su, Go Cheolmin—who wasn't used to running—barely raised a hand, out of breath.
Kim Jun changed in the locker room and joined the run. Soon after, Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun arrived almost together.
"Master?"
Both looked shocked.
Even Yeom Sang-taek, who doted on his purple spider, reacted the same.
They all ran together.
For some reason, it felt like the guild had returned to its old days. Maybe because it buzzed with people again, like before Devils Day wrecked it.
He hoped more people would fill this place.
Move to a bigger guildhouse, too.
Two teams weren't enough. Three—no, ten teams fiercely competing and clashing would make the guild insanely strong.
After the run, Kim Jun settled in a corner of the guildhouse.
His current training goal was perfecting Jungchwi in Mokhonbo.
He visualized a virtual spring.
From his dantian to the Yongcheon acupoint in his soles, the spring hid within his legs. As he built up the power of Mokhonbo's core principles—Tan, Dang, Po, Chwi—he imagined the spring compressing and expanding vividly.
Master's ferocious speed, skimming the ground to save Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun—he still couldn't forget it.
As he tried shifting Mukhon Gong to his legs, his dantian tore with pain. He nearly collapsed with a groan.
Cold sweat poured down.
The Thunder Heart Technique in his dantian was rampaging wildly.
Kim Jun barely made it to the master room. Go Cheolmin, wiping sweat and sipping morning coffee, eyed him.
"You look pale."
"Master."
"Something hurt?"
"My inner energy..."
No long explanation needed. Master approached, gripped his wrist to check his pulse, then placed a hand above his dantian to sense the energy's flow.
"When did it start?"
"This morning."
"First aid for now. Lie down."
Kim Jun lay on the sofa.
Soon, Master's fingers began pressing points all over his body. Each stab of energy from the fingertips felt like a drill, agonizing, but the pain in his dantian eased bit by bit.
"You know pointing blood too, Master."
"This is therapy. Hard to use in combat. Better now?"
"Much better."
"Probably from Po-noe Strike and Yeon Yeop. Using the Thunder Heart Technique in your dantian seriously for the first time stirred it up. I think the pain will get worse."
"What should I do?"
"Only one way."
Master's face grew solemn.
Kim Jun arrived in Yeosu.
Master had called ahead, so old fisherman Kang was waiting. Kim Jun pulled pork belly, bossam kimchi, makgeolli, and more from the trunk and loaded them onto the boat.
On the way to Yeongun Island, the old man stole glances at the young raider.
He was used to such looks these days.
Even with sunglasses, sharp-eyed folks spotted him like ghosts. It made eating out tough, but that inconvenience was nothing.
He was finally recognized as a raider.
Yeongun Island came into view.
Seeing the cliffs brought back memories. If he made me do that again, what then?
"Huh?"
Someone was climbing the cliff.
Kim Jun smiled unwittingly. He knew who it was. Master stood at the docking spot, hands behind his back.
Kim Jun waved and shouted.
"Master!"
Before the boat even docked, he leaped into the air.
Still carrying the pork, kimchi, and makgeolli on his back. Master pulled out a fresh dome fish he'd hooked on a line in the sea and handed it to the old fisherman.
The man waved it off, but couldn't refuse Master's intent.
Only after the boat pulled away did Master look at his disciple.
"Let's go."
Gruff as ever.
Master hadn't changed.
In Master's light jumps between rocks, Kim Jun spotted the essence of Mokhonbo and couldn't hold back his admiration. Tan, Dang, Po, Chwi blended perfectly, feeling like one unified principle.
Nam Eung-ryeol glanced at his disciple and picked up speed.
Sure it was a test, Kim Jun poured inner energy into his legs.
He kept up at first, but the gap widened. Even gritting his teeth, Master pulled farther ahead.
How much training would it take to move as smoothly—and fast—as Master?
His inner energy shook, pain piercing his lower abdomen.
"Ugh!"
His balance faltered.
Kim Jun scanned around. Fall here... straight into the sea. He strained, but as his energy twisted in his meridians again, his body tilted sharply.
The weight of his load was no joke.
Master, who'd been far ahead, was suddenly right in front of him.
Kim Jun reached out.
Master extended a hand.
"...Master?"
The moment he saw Master's wicked grin as he snatched the load, Kim Jun realized he was back on Yeongun Island.
Splash.
"M-Master."
The deeply tanned Yeon Mu-jin spoke. His pride clearly stung, but he had no choice—his expression showed it plainly.
Nam Eung-ryeol glanced at Kim Jun's face.
His prized disciple looked surprised.
Not thrilled or excited, though. If he cared about connections or hierarchy, he'd beam with joy and pride at having a famous raider like Yeon Mu-jin as his sahyung.
Truly an interesting guy.
Nam Eung-ryeol dropped a thick pork collar into boiling water.
He sealed the iron lid, tore off some kimchi, and tasted it. The fresh kimchi crunched perfectly.
"No place to go, so I took him in."
Kim Jun stepped forward.
"I have something to say."
"Come in."
Nam Eung-ryeol entered the shabby thatched house.
"I saw earlier—trouble with your inner energy."
"Yes, Master."
Kim Jun briefly explained what happened on the awakening test day, adding Master's opinion.
Nam Eung-ryeol just listened for a long while.
The fact that Kim Jun had thwarted Jushin's schemes brought him immense satisfaction, like heartburn vanishing.
Especially hearing that sly Ma Jung-hyeon had been thoroughly humbled—it was cheering-worthy. But he wasn't fool enough to show his glee to his disciple.