Chapter 315
Chapter 315
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 315
Chapter Title: Advance Reconnaissance (1)
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‘Mimicry and the new skills, my understanding of martial arts and techniques, and what I can do with them...’
As all sorts of thoughts swirled chaotically in his mind, Hugo slowly closed his eyes in the center of the training ground and took a deep breath.
It had already been several months since he had been left alone in the Kanghwan Realm.
And over that not-insubstantial time, consistently consuming Growth Potions and bolstered by Super Recovery, his relentless training had brought about considerable changes to his condition.
⚔ ENTITY INFO ⚔ 📛 Entity Name: Hugo 🔗 Common Traits: Mind Hub, Persona, Super Recovery, Clear Mirror Still Water, Superhuman Strength, Hyperesthesia, Insight, Xenoglossy, Underwater Breathing, Subspace Storage, Limit Break, Mimicry 🧬 Entity Traits: Versatile, Strong Bones, Breath Control, Qi Gong Martial Arts, Basic Medical Theory ⭐ Special Notes: He has become more adept at handling the qi accumulated in his body. Consistent external training has evolved Toughness into Strong Bones. Growth during internal energy cultivation is further accelerated by the influence of Breath Control. All activities receive additional growth bonuses from the Growth Potion. He was no longer the novice who had entered the Kanghwan Realm with just a single skill to his name.
The synergistic harmony of the potion's effects layered with various buffs, combined with Versatile, which allowed him to quickly master anything up to a certain level.
It was more than enough synergy to transform him into a fine martial artist in just a few months.
‘Pairing it with medicine turned out to be the best move. I started learning it thinking it might help analyze how martial arts worked.’
From the start, martial arts and the body were inextricably linked, so it wasn't an odd choice.
But acquiring the Basic Medical Theory skill was a greater achievement than anticipated.
‘A pleasant miscalculation.’
The medical knowledge from the Zhuge Clan, the anatomical expertise of Immortal King Hans, and Harley's understanding of living beings had undoubtedly played a significant role.
As a result, he could now more accurately grasp the bodily changes that occurred when someone used martial arts, providing substantial benefits when employing Mimicry.
‘...No, actually, that's not the most crucial factor for using that skill.’
Hugo unconsciously let out a chuckle as his thoughts reached that point.
Right, the most important part was still to come.
In truth, his greatest advantage and secret lay elsewhere.
‘The fact that I'm never truly alone, no matter when or where.’
Understanding and analyzing something is always easier with multiple perspectives rather than one, especially when looking down from above.
And having five transcendents mentally linked for real-time communication...
Plus, among them were combat specialists like Heinrich with martial skills such as Path of Martial Arts and Roselia Holy Combat Method, Harris who had mastered the peerless Peerless Wudang Eight Trigrams Flight Technique (Modified), and Harley, who was proficient in physical combat and instinctively read prey—not to mention others.
It was akin to university professors taking a high school exam.
Even if their fields of expertise varied somewhat.
‘And Hubert's Analysis will help indirectly too.’
Hugo slowly nodded, recalling the merchant avatar who had greatly aided his martial arts acquisition.
Naturally, his situation differed from that of High Elf Harris, who had already transcended.
Unlike Harris, who could learn peerless techniques from the start, he had to build from the basics with mediocre foundational arts.
However, considering the future, this was a necessary step.
No matter how fast his growth, he couldn't skip essential procedures entirely.
‘None of the manuals I have on hand are particularly satisfying anyway. ...To properly use Mimicry, I probably need a stable, adaptable internal energy method as the foundation rather than something too specialized. Is there anything good out there?’
He had browsed some manuals through the Zhuge Clan, but they wouldn't readily hand over anything valuable to a guest.
The clan's secret vaults might hold something suitable, but those weren't accessible to him as an outsider.
“Hmm.”
As he pondered, darker thoughts began to creep in.
‘...Should I just force it?’
It wasn't impossible.
In this chaotic world, anything could happen without raising eyebrows.
For instance, a mysterious demonic cult master oozing demonic energy could attack with an army of jiangshi.
Or a ruthless Blood Cult minion could infiltrate and raid the secret vaults—who could say that probability was zero?
Such nefarious ideas swirled in his mind, tempting him.
‘Tch, let's hold off a bit longer. It's not urgent right now.’
In the end, he decided to postpone judgment.
‘Messing it up carelessly could ruin the goodwill I've built, which would be a loss. It'd make my stay here uncomfortable too. If I'm going to cause trouble, better to target somewhere else entirely.’
There were plenty of candidates anyway.
The Wudang Sect was nearby, and a bit farther out were Shaolin Temple, Mount Hua Sect, Nangong Clan, and more.
‘...Maybe plan out some scenarios in advance.’
Absorbed in thought and roughly sorting his ideas, Hugo unconsciously gripped his sword hilt tightly.
Grip—
Immense power surged from muscles swollen by Superhuman Strength and his overwhelming stats.
It paled compared to true monsters like Harley or Heinrich, but it was enough to earn recognition as an external arts practitioner anywhere.
A deep sense of satisfaction welled up from his chest, curling his lips upward.
“Oh, it's already this late.”
Suddenly snapping to attention and checking the shadows, he hurriedly sheathed his training sword and started walking.
The hour of the Monkey (3-5 PM) was approaching, so he needed to wash off the sweat and prepare to make his appointment on time.
‘Can't be late again or I'll hear it.’
Hugo tidied the disheveled training ground and headed to his assigned quarters via the now-familiar path.
Once prepared, his next destination was a place he'd frequented heavily over the past few months.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Fwaaah—
The soft energy illuminating the room gradually faded.
The girl sitting in the central chair, eyes gently closed, slyly opened them and beamed a bright smile.
“All done? Good work, Sir Ha. Thank you so much today as well.”
Her clear voice flowed out with the words.
Thereafter, the girl... no, Zhuge Hye-mi, the Zhuge Clan's pampered jewel, began chattering energetically in a voice utterly devoid of any shadow.
“Oh, would you like to try this first? It's a new snack from the kitchen—nutty and delicious! Of course, if you prefer the one from last time, just say the word... Ah! You've already finished the tea. Let me refill it for you.”
Hugo awkwardly tugged his lips into a smile and nodded to her nonstop chatter.
He had grown accustomed to the place and situation, but her endless talkativeness remained as alien as ever.
And right now, there was something else to consider.
‘Something's off. It was like this last visit and today too. Lately, there's hardly any improvement right after treatment.’
The space they occupied was the reception room in Zhuge Hye-mi's residence.
It had served as a treatment room ever since she could move about on her own after several sessions.
The initially daily treatments had gradually spaced out as her condition improved, now resembling weekly check-ups.
Of course, this was only possible because she had recovered enough to roam the estate freely—
‘Could divine power only heal her up to this point?’
As her de facto physician for months, Hugo couldn't shake his unease at her state, 'almost' but not fully cured.
Moreover, he had delved into medicine enough to acquire Basic Medical Theory.
Yet even he couldn't pinpoint the cause...
At that moment of contemplation, Heinrich—elevated after gaining Great Blessing: Wings of Glory—proposed a new hypothesis.
‘...No, the feeling's different. This isn't a disease... It seems related to this world's theology? Of course, Heinrich seeing her directly would be most reliable.’
The Dragon Heart theft by the Reverse Heaven Society devotees, 22 years ago in Kanghwan time.
She was born right as the world began plunging into chaos.
And lost her mother shortly after.
How much had she blamed herself, calling herself a cursed child?
‘But I can't call Heinrich here inside the clan. It might breed needless suspicion.’
The Zhuge Clan wouldn't miss someone suddenly appearing in their secure inner grounds.
And they'd quickly notice the energy matching that of 'Ha Seung-hoon,' the guest healing Hye-mi.
What happened to their relations afterward was unpredictable.
‘The Zhuge Clan seems obsessed with formations and secure zones.’
Understandable, lacking even a Flower Realm expert, let alone Unity Realm.
Their ability to project power and check rivals stemmed from those defenses.
Thus, they focused on protection, manifesting as fixation on territory.
Losing a zone to breach could mean never regaining it.
‘Need to create an opportunity somehow.’
As Hugo wrestled internally,
Undeterred by his tepid response, Zhuge Hye-mi brought up a new topic.
This time, even intriguing him with fresh information.
“Ah! Sir Ha, have you heard? Shaolin Temple in Henan sent invitations.”
“...Invitations? At a time like this?”
“Yes! It's been happening every few years. Not just us, but all major Murim Alliance members gathering to talk—something like that.”
“I heard the Murim Alliance disbanded long ago...”
“Exchanges are essential, especially now.”
True. Even on paths of self-preservation, former allies forming minimal fences wasn't odd.
Especially with enemies swarming everywhere.
“Think of it as expanding local exchanges like ours with Wudang. No binding force, just occasional face-time?”
Zhuge Hye-mi shrugged as she unpacked her story excitedly.
It didn't quite suit someone who'd lived her whole life inside the clan, knowing only clansmen.
‘The continent's in chaos, but roughly three factions. A camaraderie meeting to maintain fences.’
Those entrenched on dragon veins, those seizing them, those expanding holdings, those desperately defending.
Divided into righteous, unorthodox, warlords—but infighting rampant.
Plus dominant Demonic Cult, scheming Blood Cult, minor sects...
‘Hm, actually, it'd be weirder without such gatherings.’
Likely similar factions among unorthodox, warlords, minors too.
“But with envoys from all factions gathering? Moving like that invites ambushes...”
“True. No gathering has ever had everyone. Especially far ones.”
Traversing dangers to attend flaunted power.
Though losses could backfire.
“We'll attend—Shaolin's not far. Liaoning's Moyong Clan or Kunlun in Qinghai probably can't. Did they even get invites?”
Hugo stroked his chin gravely, watching her tilt her head.
The unexpected news spun his mind rapidly.
‘Perfect timing—I was pondering next moves.’
Such a prime event popping up!
Gathering intel before acting was essential.
This offered natural exposure to wider world, many faces.
Attendees: regional powers.
Plus inevitable ambushes en route...
‘Buffet...! It's a buffet!’
To him, a veritable feast.