The Start of Special Training
"It seems the Young Master’s mood has improved."
Wang Chung cautiously stepped into the Bamboo Garden. There, he found Bukjin sitting by the pond, busily grilling a fish over a small fire.
"Um... Young Master, that fish..." Wang Chung squinted. The fish currently sizzling over the flames looked strangely familiar.
"This fish is a wicked creature. I’m simply delivering its punishment," Bukjin replied, tearing off a piece of the succulent meat and popping it into his mouth. He chewed with an expression of pure bliss; it was clearly delicious. "This rascal dared to mock me just a moment ago. Not only this one, but I shall exterminate its entire nine generations."
Bukjin glared at the remaining carp still swimming in the pond. They must be in league with this one. I’ll devour every last one of them!
Hearing this, Wang Chung offered a fawning smile. "So the Young Master was craving grilled fish! Please, allow me to grill them for you! Hehe, even though these Dragon-Scale Carp are quite expensive—costing one Gold Tael per fish—if the Young Master wishes to eat them, I shall prepare them all..."
Bukjin’s hand froze mid-air. His face contorted into a mask of pure bewilderment.
"Wait, wait. What did you just say?" Bukjin asked, staring at the half-eaten grilled carp in his hand.
"I said if the Young Master wishes to eat them, I shall—"
"No! Before that! What did you say before that?"
"Ah! That these Dragon-Scale Carp cost one Gold Tael each..."
"You utter fool! You’ve been indulging in such useless luxuries?! What were you thinking, releasing such expensive fish into a pond just to look at them! Did I teach you that it was okay to be so wasteful?! Right now! This instant! Go sell all these carp and bring me the money! If you’re short even a single copper, I’ll break your legs!"
"Pardon?"
"Don't 'pardon' me! Get moving and sell them! Do I really have to shatter your shins for you to snap out of it?!"
Terrified, Wang Chung frantically rolled up his sleeves and began splashing into the pond to catch the fish. Bukjin looked down at the grilled carp in his hand, hesitated for a brief second, and then went right back to eating. Waste was a sin, after all.
By the time he had finished half the fish, a strange realization struck him.
Hmm. Was this fish actually on the verge of death earlier? And if my Water-attribute Hyeongi brought it back to life... is it possible for Water Hyeongi to resurrect living things?
Bukjin had never heard of such a thing before.
Is it because this is the Water-attribute Hyeongi I paid 4,000 Gold for? Does it have some kind of special function?
Lost in thought, Bukjin’s gaze drifted to a corner of the garden where a single bamboo stalk was withered and dying. He walked over to it, placed his hand on the dry bark, and began to circulate his Hyeongi.
Then, something miraculous happened.
The yellowed, parched leaves began to regain their color at a visible rate, turning a vibrant, lush green. Vitality surged through the once-dying stalk, and a healthy sheen began to coat its surface.
Bukjin’s jaw dropped. He stole a quick glance at Wang Chung, who was still preoccupied with wrestling carp out of the water, and then turned his attention to an nameless flower growing nearby. He reached out and plucked it.
Holding the severed stem, he focused his Hyeongi, wrapping the flower in his blue Water-attribute energy. Suddenly, the stem began to grow rapidly in his palm.
It really was the Hyeongi!
Bukjin looked back at the remains of the grilled carp on his plate. I’m sorry! I made a terrible mistake!
But the carp was already long gone. With a shrug, he finished off the rest of the fish.
A bold idea began to form in his mind. Returning to his bedroom, he summoned the Jeong-ui Sword. He considered lightly nicking his own arm with the blade, but stopped himself at the last second.
Wait, getting cut hurts like hell, doesn't it? Phew, that was close. Why was I about to inflict pain on myself?
Holding the Jeong-ui Sword, he walked to the door of the Bamboo Garden and waved.
"Steward Wang! Come here for a moment!"
Wang Chung, still dripping wet from the pond, felt a sudden chill of dread at the formal title 'Steward Wang.' However, he had no choice but to force an awkward smile and hurry over to his master.
"Y-Young Master, what can I do for you?"
"Stop babbling and hold out your arm."
"Pardon?"
"Do it!"
"Yes, sir..." Wang Chung nervously extended his arm.
Swish!
A flash of sword light flickered. Before Wang Chung could even blink, Bukjin had summoned the Jeong-ui Sword and delivered a shallow cut to the butler's forearm.
"Aaargh! Young Master, spare me!" Wang Chung shrieked in terror.
Bukjin ignored the dramatics and quickly placed his hand over the wound, channeling his Hyeongi. A soft blue light enveloped Wang Chung’s arm. When Bukjin pulled his hand away, the cut was already half-healed. The bleeding had stopped instantly, leaving behind nothing but a faint red mark. It didn't look like a sword wound at all.
"Huh? It doesn't hurt?" Wang Chung’s eyes went wide with shock.
"W-what happened? It definitely stung for a second, but now it actually feels... comfortable. Young Master, have you learned how to use healing arts now?"
"Just go sell the carp," Bukjin grunted.
"Yes, sir!" Wang Chung didn't dare ask another question and scrambled back to the pond.
Bukjin returned to his bedroom, his heart pounding with excitement. Once the door was shut, he let out a muffled cheer.
The ultimate recovery! The power of life itself!
He had been bitterly disappointed when he realized his awakened attribute was Water—the weakest of the elements—but he had never dreamed his Water-attribute Hyeongi would possess such a miraculous effect.
This is insane! I wonder if other people's Water Hyeongi works like this?
He couldn't be sure. However, he had a strong feeling that even if other Water-attribute users had healing properties, they wouldn't be nearly as potent as his.
From now on, if I can heal myself while fighting, I’ll always have the upper hand. I wanted to be a Sword Immortal, but it looks like I’ve become a Combat Medic instead?
As his excitement cooled, he found himself unsure whether to laugh or cry at his situation.
Well, it’s not a bad trade-off! A Sword Immortal with god-tier regeneration? Just the thought of it was formidable. He felt a little better about the 4,000 Gold he had spent. Money could always be earned back, but an attribute with such an extraordinary effect couldn't be obtained through simple training.
Now, I just need to figure out how to make that money back.
Bukjin’s mind began to whir, calculating various ways to amass a fortune in his current circumstances. Eventually, he sighed bitterly.
"Do I really have to sell the Silver Arrows?"
[MESSENGER APP STRATEGY]
1. Use the Messenger app to duplicate the Silver Arrows.
2. Use a dagger to scrape off the Mystic Silver coating.
3. Sell the raw silver for pure profit!
Status: The 'Silver Merchant' Plan.
"Or should I just take first place in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition and claim the prize money?"
Bukjin found himself torn between the life of a 'Silver Merchant' and the glory of 'First Place.'
The following day.
The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle began to fall. A carriage from the 3rd Academy sped along the road, cutting through the misty rain as it headed north.
Inside the carriage...
"The main rounds of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition begin in ten days. Starting today, the four of you will undergo a secret special training session prepared specifically by the academy. I expect you to pour your heart and soul into this training to improve your skills. Do not disappoint the academy's expectations," Cho Heun declared.
Beside him sat Ban Oe-min, the Grade Dean for the first-year students, his eyes closed in deep meditation. Bukjin, Ak Hong-hyang, Baek Geum-un, and Han Bul-bu sat across from them. These four were the representatives of the 3rd Academy, the only ones qualified for this elite training.
It was the first time in the 3rd Academy's history that two high-ranking faculty members had personally escorted students for special training. It was a clear indication of how much importance the academy placed on this year's competition.
These four students were the hope of the 3rd Academy. And Bukjin, who had shown such overwhelming talent, was the greatest hope of all.
"Our destination is Bukhwang Mountain, located 200 li away. It is a 2-star trial ground. To survive there, one needs the strength of an 8th-grade Warrior to a 2nd-grade Master. Your current skills barely meet the minimum requirements, so you must remain extremely vigilant once we arrive. Bukhwang Mountain is nothing like the training grounds you visited before. Danger lurks around every corner..."
As they traveled, Cho Heun continued his briefing on their destination.
"The magical beasts inhabiting Bukhwang Mountain include Ice Wolves, Gale Dogs, Ghost Rats, and Swift Beasts. The most dangerous among them is the Thunder Tiger. Although they are few in number, they are incredibly ferocious and aggressive. Even a 2nd-grade Master must flee if they encounter one. However, the mountain also yields rare herbs like Small Star Grass, Qi-Boosting Grass, and Dragon Tongue Orchids..."
About four hours later, the carriage finally came to a halt at the entrance of Bukhwang Mountain.
A carriage station stood at the entrance, heavily guarded by elite soldiers of the Unmong Guard. A camp had been established there, much like the one at the preliminary training grounds. To enter Bukhwang Mountain, one had to undergo a qualification screening and receive official permission.
Stepping out of the carriage, Bukjin saw a long line of people waiting for entry. There were mercenaries, merchant groups, adventurer squads, and beast hunters. Ban Oe-min went ahead to handle the paperwork, and soon, the six members of the 3rd Academy were marching into the mountains.
After walking about three or four li into the wilderness, the path vanished entirely. Ban Oe-min used his movement techniques to scout ahead, while Cho Heun led the students close behind him.
Bukhwang Mountain was thick with the scent of the wild. Bukjin could feel the hidden threats lurking within the dense, shadowed forest. The woods were a tangle of lush trees and overgrown brush, filled with jagged rocks and the sound of rushing water. Strange insects and snakes slithered through the undergrowth. There were even giant, iridescent poisonous centipedes that Ban Oe-min warned them to avoid at all costs.
The students were forced to maintain their movement techniques constantly just to keep up with Cho Heun’s pace. The special training had already begun.