Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Taiqing Perfect Artisan Great Law Technique
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Taiqing Perfect Artisan Great Law Technique.
It's a term for the skill or method needed to perform something.
But I just couldn't wrap my head around it.
No matter how skilled in myriad arts this old man was,
how could he turn an ordinary guy like me into a genius?
"Heh heh heh, this works out perfectly. It was a technique I'd created but never tested."
The old man grinned slyly as he inspected various parts of my body.
"The clogged meridians can be cleared with qi, hmm... Your skeletal frame is terribly frail too. Tsk, about three hundred days of massage should fix it... Though it'll be pretty painful. Still, from what I saw last time, you've got some real grit, so maybe you'll manage...?"
"Uh, excuse me...?"
I was flabbergasted.
It was my body, so why was the old man excitedly quoting me like a contractor?
It felt just like a plastic surgery coordinator shaking their head at my face and drawing lines all over it.
And that wasn't even the biggest issue.
'Painful?'
In a world where necromancers were revered precisely because they hated pain,
what was this out-of-left-field talk of agony?
"Sir? I don't think I'm mentally prepared for this yet."
"Quiet, you fool! Do you know how many people in my world begged to receive this Great Law? It's called the Taiqing Perfect Artisan Great Law, a technique I devised in my later years."
Taiqing whatever.
I wasn't even curious.
"Huh?"
Come to think of it, that raised a question.
If such a Great Law existed, why not use it right away?
It was a secret art that could turn trash into a genius!
"Tsk tsk, I can read your thoughts like a book. Ah, you see, this technique requires staking my own life force. What's the point of enhancing a disciple's aptitude if my entire body melts away in the process?"
"Ah."
Yeah, that made sense. Boosting abilities only to die meant
no way to pass on the knowledge—total failure of a technique.
"So, what about now?"
"Well, now that I'm already a ghost, it doesn't matter."
"...Hey, that's a pretty laid-back mindset."
I let out a sigh.
"Alright, one more question. Those people who challenged you back then, before I did."
"Oh, that fierce girl and the sorry lot who came before her?"
"Yeah, we call them hunters in our world. Couldn't you have used the technique on them? You were already dead by then."
"What an insolent brat."
Thwack!
"Argh!"
A chestnut that brought tears to my eyes landed once more.
"Why hit me?"
"Dead man? Nothing's off-limits in front of the deceased, huh?"
"Damn it."
So what do you call a dead person if not a ghost?
As I grumbled, the old man shook his head.
"Besides, you're clearly the world's biggest blockhead, knowing one thing but missing ten."
"Pardon?"
"I just said it turns trash into geniuses. It only works on trash. And not just any trash—rotten food waste level."
"...Huh?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
This guy... no, this elder was
straight-up trash-talking me to my face?
"Can't use the Great Law on those guys. Their bodies are already ruined by other energies."
The old man's expression turned deadly serious.
"Compared to them, your body is pristine. Frail as can be, sure. But even though you can summon ghosts, it hasn't altered your body itself, right?"
"Huh?"
"And this is just Plan B. Natural geniuses outshine manufactured ones every time. I was originally looking for better stock than you. But your words hooked me, so now you have to take responsibility for that."
"...Y-Yeah, I suppose."
I nodded, mouth agape.
The words stung a bit, but they were ultimately good ones.
For someone like me who wanted to become a ranker, this was a chance to get even stronger.
The skeletons get stronger.
And so do I?
'Two birds with one stone!'
I decided not to overthink it.
Didn't that world-famous figure skater once say?
-Don't think. Just do it.
Just like how I'd stuck with training for three years.
All I had to do was grit my teeth and push through.
"Alright, are you ready?"
Whoosh.
The old man's form approached me.
"If I do exactly as you say, I'll really get stronger?"
At my question, the old man flashed a grin.
"Of course. Stronger than you can even imagine."
* * *Crack! Pop! Crunch!
"Gyaaaaah!"
My scream echoed through the clearing.
Damn it, I overlooked it.
Should've known from the pain warning.
"Hey now, why the hysterics? We haven't even started."
"Argh, it hurts! It hurts! Ah, drool's coming out."
The old man's massage was pure hell.
He pounded and prodded my entire body at blurring speeds.
No escaping it even if I tried.
Not thuds, but booms! Bang bang boom!
"Groooan."
The violent vibrations made my eyes roll back.
Grit.
I clenched my teeth hard.
Endure. I have to endure.
To become a ranker, I must endure.
'Though hearing this is just the start is pretty creepy.'
If this pain could make my future self shine brightly, it'd be worth it, right?
Seeing that, the old man chuckled.
"Yep, you've got real guts. Good."
The beating continued.
Each explosive fist made my heart race and blood boil.
The pain was beyond imagination, unrelenting.
About thirty minutes later?
[You have acquired the skill 'Pain Resistance' (C-Grade).]
[The skill can grow further.]
"That's the Great Law done. You held up well."
"......"
Thud.
I collapsed to the ground.
Tears streamed down, snot and drool leaking everywhere.
It hurt. Hurt like hell.
"Trash with a bit of talent after all. If you've got the desire to grow stronger, plus the mental fortitude and tenacity to endure, it's not a hopeless case."
The old man muttered something, but
I had no energy to respond.
Whatever.
For now, I just wanted to pass out and rest.
Sleep.
"You fool, we've got thirty minutes left. What are you doing? Get up. Think the massage ends with you? Those ghosts are waiting too."
"Huh?!"
The session was a full hour.
The old man's time wasn't up yet.
* * *The old man put full passion into teaching the skeletons too.
"The foundation of all professions is stamina. Strangely, these ghosts can build stamina without muscles. First, have them assume the stance."
"This is the horse-riding stance I favored in life."
"Human muscles concentrate in the lower body, so to build a tall tower, you start with a solid base, no?"
His instruction was masterful, like teaching was an art in itself.
The unfortunate part?
"Groooan."
I had to join in on the stamina training.
Basic stamina drills with the five boneheads.
Dragging my throbbing body through it was sheer torture.
"Huff, heave...!"
Damn, it's tough. So tough.
I glanced sideways.
Creak!
From Bone One to Bone Five.
They looked perfectly calm.
Executing the old man's demands flawlessly, without a hitch!
'Am I the same as them?'
They were D-grade monsters, after all.
Plus, they'd trained long-term.
Maybe sensing my resentment,
the stern-faced old man approached.
"I'll say it again: you're talentless. If I had to pick one thing, it's your grit."
His scolding hammered my weakening resolve, making it steel-strong.
"Moreover, you're a master ruling others. Ghosts, sure. But can a master be weaker than his summons?"
"Huff, heave...! Yes, that's why I'm enduring, sir."
"You need a sturdy vessel. Ghosts know ghosts. Your vessel's too frail to control them all yet."
He meant Bones Six through Ten.
Like how Bone Four and Bone Five awakened when I grew from E to D-grade.
The rest would unlock as I got stronger.
"Groan."
Lower body training dragged on.
When my strength gave out and I collapsed, the old man's scolding flew in without fail.
No breaks, just relentless pushing.
'This is overwork. Straight-up abuse.'
Muscles torn beyond recovery— what's the point of training?
After collapsing about ten times?
"Alright, that's enough for today."
"Hah, hah! For real?"
Finally, the hellish time ended.
"Yes, you rascal. From now on, do stamina training every morning like this. Otherwise, don't even think of summoning me."
The old man huffed primly.
[The duration of the skill 'Teaching of the Myriad Arts' (S-Grade) has ended.]
[The summon 'Master of Myriad Arts' has been released.]
[The skill can be reused after 24 hours.]
Then he vanished like smoke.
"...Hah, hah."
I sprawled out flat on the ground.
Sweat poured off me; I couldn't even stand.
Tap! Clack!
The five boneheads watched me, offering bony comfort.
Yeah, I felt bad for them.
Taking time meant for their training to grind me too.
"Bone One."
I called my eldest(?) summon, Bone One.
Creak?
He tilted his head.
"Sorry, but I can't make it home alone. Can you carry me?"
Passersby would stare, but oh well.
No stamina left to get home.
Can't just sleep on the ground, right?
Recovery's as crucial as training.
Need plenty of food, good sleep.
I unsummoned all but Bone One and headed home.
Flop!
The second I hit the mattress, I grabbed my phone.
[Account Details]
[Account Holder: Joo Dong-hoon]
[Hunter Preferred Account E-Grade]
[Deposit: 3,600,000 won (Solvers)]
"Oh."
Parang kept his word.
Base porter fee of 200,000 won, times promised 20: 4,000,000 won.
Minus 10% guild fee from the mercenary guild 'Solvers,' handed to me.
As a registered freelancer, I pay 3.3% taxes later myself.
Still, unexpected.
Honestly, after snatching that fortuitous encounter, he could've stiffed me with no complaints.
'Anyway, nice.'
Rent paid, still plenty for food and stuff.
But that sparked a dilemma.
'Should I keep doing mercenary gigs?'
Stamina-wise, I'm at my limit.
The old man's training was too intense for side jobs.
'Need more money, though.'
Quitting wasn't an option; savings were zilch.
Best bet: sponsorship from a big or promising guild.
But D-grade? No shot.
Plus, sponsorship means strings—unwanted expeditions,
stuck all day with some weirdo superior.
'Eh, guess I'll stick with mercenary work.'
Old man's sessions are just one hour a day.
Can't live training every hour.
Balancing work is smarter.
Who knows? Another lucky break like last time might hit.
I swapped my usual ramen for a burger feast, then crashed.
Next day, after finishing the old man's dawn stamina drill, I clocked in.
"Hey, Dong-hoon! Finally here? Come quick!"
Team lead Kim Jun-seo greeted me warmly.
Beside him stood five hunters.
"Recognize them? Survivors from last dungeon, one team."
"Huh?"
Familiar faces.
Definitely part of the group that survived that dungeon with me.
But why were they here?