Great Accomplishment in the So Ho Heart Method
Ye-rin was the second to open her eyes.
"I-I think I've mastered the first stage."
"Good work."
"Thank you!"
Next came Sung Min-woo. Kim Ji-yeon was the last. Sung Min-woo, gazing at Mu-hyuk who still hadn't opened his eyes, wore a triumphant grin for the first time in ages.
"Heh, it's been forever since I beat you."
"You happy about that?"
"Hell yeah. Gotta win something once in a while."
Left Protector Baek Won-ho chuckled softly at that.
"Everyone got the hang of it?"
"Yes!"
"More or less."
"Good. There's nothing more for me to teach during your So Ho Heart Method training. Train among yourselves for a while. When enough time has passed, come find me, and I'll check your progress. The martial art you'll learn depends on that progress, so focus."
"Yes!"
"Hmm, progress, huh..."
Baek Won-ho departed.
The remaining three frowned slightly.
"How long do we have to do this?"
"A week?"
"Hmm, doesn't matter much, but my ranking's gonna drop after climbing it so hard."
"It's fine. Learning a good martial art now will pay off big later. Right, sis?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"See? Even sis agrees with me."
"In that case. But..."
Sung Min-woo's gaze stopped on Mu-hyuk.
"This guy's taking forever."
"Yeah. Does my bro lack talent for martial arts...?"
Ye-rin looked worried.
Flicker.
Mu-hyuk, who had just opened his eyes, lifted his head.
"Huh? What's up? Everyone's awake?"
"Yeah, you're dead last. You totally suck at martial arts."
"What're you talking about?"
"We all hit first stage, dude. You're the only one just now opening your eyes."
Only then did Mu-hyuk realize they were misunderstanding.
"Heh."
A laugh slipped out unbidden.
"What's so funny?"
"You think I've just reached first stage now?"
"Well, yeah?"
"I'm already at 73% on first stage."
"What? Say that again...?"
"Bro, how?!"
"Ah, I finished first stage, but no one else woke up, so I got bored and kept going."
"Holy shit."
"Whoa, insane...!"
"Ah, that's why Left Protector laughed earlier."
"Yeah, duh."
"Embarrassing!"
Mu-hyuk slowly rose to his feet.
"Come to think of it, where's Left Protector?"
"He said something came up and to just keep training in So Ho Heart Method for now."
"Until when?"
"No specific time. Just come back later for the check, and the martial art depends on progress."
"Hmm."
Mu-hyuk pondered briefly before sitting back down.
"Guess I'll train more then."
"Ugh, it was so boring for me."
"Me too, bro."
"You guys can watch the family or go hunt. Wanna split up for a bit?"
"Ooh, sounds good."
"Yeah, I'm in. Play around a bit, then train. Perfect!"
"What about you, Ji-yeon?"
"I-I like that too."
"Alright, everyone's agreed. Do your own thing until we learn all the martial arts."
"Okay!"
"But don't slack off too much."
"Obviously. The martial art's quality depends on progress."
"Yeah, that's basic."
"Right. I'm focusing again."
"Tough guy."
Ye-rin watched Mu-hyuk settle back into training, then pushed aside her own doubts and sat down too.
"I'll train a bit more too. What about you, sis?"
"Yeah, me too."
"Then let's tour the family together later."
"Sounds good."
Sung Min-woo grumbled at that.
"Damn, can't bail in this vibe."
He sighed and sat down as well.
The training resumed.
The four dove into the heart method with terrifying focus.
No one was stupid enough not to grasp how crucial So Ho Heart Method progress was. They all knew to minimize breaks now, at least.
The next day.
Training in So Ho Heart Method wasn't hard.
Rises faster than expected.
It had been just a day.
Already at 7th stage.
MP had risen by nearly 100 in that time.
MP has increased by 1.7.
1.7 per 10 minutes.
11.2 per hour.
Higher heart method levels bumped the MP gain by 0.1 each time.
Not that I need it.
Still, higher was better than lower.
These small rewards made enduring the tedium bearable. Without them, he might've quit.
Frankly, no one who hadn't sat there all day grinding a heart method could grasp the boredom and exhaustion.
Plus, clearing your mind to focus on inner energy flow was mentally draining.
But above all...
Time was slipping away.
If I'd hunted yesterday?
At least 5% exp gain.
But couldn't skip martial arts.
The moment stray thoughts cluttered his mind...
You lost track of inner energy flow.
So Ho Heart Method has been forcibly stopped.
The energy swirling through his body vanished.
"Ah...!"
Mu-hyuk opened his eyes, realizing So Ho Heart Method had broken.
Whew, tough.
With focus waning, more training wouldn't be efficient, so he wandered the family grounds briefly.
There, he locked eyes with Baekho Family Head Baek Ho-un strolling by a small pond.
"Oh, it's you."
"Ah, yes. Fancy meeting you here."
"Since we're here, let's walk a bit."
He ended up strolling with him.
"Your name's echoing everywhere lately."
"Oh, really?"
Probably from clearing the Tower of Death.
It had been on holograms then.
Fame spread across Kaiyon Continent.
"Many will target you now."
"Pardon? Target?"
"The contribution power you hold."
Contribution points?
Mention this on air? Was that allowed?
Mu-hyuk sensed Baek Ho-un was dropping crucial info.
His hand instinctively shut off Illusion TV.
Audience might complain, but gauging this info's value came first.
"We give you something worthy of your contribution power, and you hand it over in exchange. Do you know why we want it?"
He hadn't considered that.
"Not really."
"Since otherworlders appeared, we've gained strange abilities too."
New info again.
Mu-hyuk focused intently.
"The ability to absorb contribution power. It makes us stronger."
"So..."
"Unlike you, but we can grow beyond training and combat now. Before otherworlders, only cultivation and battles built strength. Now, contribution power lets us gain it easier and greater. That's bred many who neglect training but overflow with greed. They eye only your contribution power. Some might approach with peaceful smiles. Or monsters already infest the empires."
Pure gold info.
"Why tell me this?"
Mu-hyuk shook his head.
"I want you to use that power rightly. The world's crueler and greedier than you think. Avoid them; give it to better folk. Can you do that?"
Use Contribution Points Rightly
📍 Description: Use contribution points on righteous NPCs, avoiding greedy ones.
🎁 Reward: +20% Contribution Points
💀 Failure: Baekho Family intimacy decreases.
Will you accept?
[Yes/No]
Sudden, but easy.
Mu-hyuk selected Yes and met Baek Ho-un's eyes.
"I'll do that."
"Thank you."
"Can I use that contribution power right now?"
"Hm? What do you..."
Kaiyon Continent contribution worked anywhere on the continent. Baek Ho-un caught on, frowning slightly.
"Sorry. Regrettably, we don't fancy it much. Can't accept from you."
"Why?"
"We believe training suffices for strength."
"That aligns perfectly with your words. No greed, use on the righteous. I'm using it here on Baekho Family. If you refuse, I can't guarantee where it'll go. No one knows the future. Can't pass up certainty right in front, right?"
"..."
Baek Ho-un stared at Mu-hyuk.
No flaws in his logic.
"Heh."
He chuckled wryly.
"You've got me."
Reward: Kaiyon Continent Contribution +20%.
Acquired Contribution: 600 points
Existing 3,000 plus 600 made 3,600 total.
"Can I use it now?"
"No choice. What do you want?"
First thought: the warehouse. Where he'd gotten Pure White Bracelet and Pure Black Bracelet.
"Ware..."
Something clicked.
Martial arts too?
"No, wait—martial arts possible?"
"Martial arts?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, martial arts..."
Baek Ho-un pondered, then nodded.
"You're training So Ho Heart Method, right?"
"Yes."
"Finish that first. I'll teach fitting martial arts based on time and mastery. For better ones later, use contribution then."
Mu-hyuk nodded.
"Thank you. Back to training."
"Good luck."
He hurried back to the training ground.
Sung Min-woo, Ye-rin, Kim Ji-yeon—all deep in training.
Me too.
Mu-hyuk sat and closed his eyes.
Operating So Ho Heart Method.
Skill exp began filling.
*
When Left Protector Baek Won-ho returned.
No, not now.
Just checked: So Ho Heart Method at 11th stage, 98%.
A bit more...!
Just a little longer for 12th stage.
Great accomplishment.
Then the best martial art.
Please!
Baek Won-ho, eyeing the trainees, spoke.
"Training hard, I see."
That instant, 1% rose to 99%, but Mu-hyuk didn't notice.
"That's it. Everyone, open your eyes."
Mu-hyuk ignored it desperately.
Ending now would suck!
"Open your eyes now."
He ignored and ramped up focus.
Meanwhile.
"Hoo."
Sung Min-woo, Ye-rin, and Kim Ji-yeon opened their eyes as told.
Mu-hyuk last.
As Sung Min-woo approached him.
"It's done."
"Pardon?"
"Leave him for now."
Ignoring two orders meant a breakthrough. Baek Won-ho had that flexibility.
"I'll check your levels first."
"Ah, yes."
Baek Won-ho gauged Sung Min-woo.
"Hmm, 10th stage."
"Correct."
"You two are 9th stage..."
Ye-rin and Kim Ji-yeon both at 9th.
Meanwhile.
Mu-hyuk sensed the change and opened his eyes.
You have achieved great accomplishment in So Ho Heart Method.
Reward: MP +100.
The moment of 12th stage mastery.