Chapter 7

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: Heavenly Martial Repository (1)

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The traits I'd installed in baby mode proved helpful to me in all sorts of ways.

Especially the performance of Divine Mountain Ghost Vessel, which was the most outstanding.

Of course, it wasn't quite at the level of the greatest genius strategist in history—one who made the Martial Alliance quake in fear, drew wary eyes from the Demonic Cult, and prompted love calls from the imperial palace.

Rather than turning someone into a genius,

it felt more like it let an already-gifted genius truly shine.

The most dramatic change came in my memory and memorization skills.

I, who used to struggle with even a hundred English words,

could now memorize an entire book in a single pass.

...It even came with this bizarre function that let me check the favorability ratings of user IDs.

Surprisingly, the total dud trait Jade Bone Whirlwind was straight-up scam coin.

If I'd been the only one rocking an exceptionally handsome face, it would've been a game-changer.

But thanks to the appearance buff mode, the average looks in the martial world had shot way up.

If only it'd been something like a hypnosis app dropped into the martial world...

Tsk.

What's done is done.

I confirmed the fish were biting on the bait I'd just cast.

Most were just pissed-off rants from getting hooked, but there were a few bits of useful info mixed in.

Like, for instance—

A twenty-eight-year-old woman hiding behind anonymity to get all sentimental with her recommendation.

Unlike that sleazy ID screaming for a hookup,

a martial arts expert friend had dropped a reliable list, including names I'd even heard in my past life.

...This one, I could've guessed who it was even without the ID.

Anyway, after pulling a bit more aggro,

I gathered various opinions and filed them away in my head.

I'd settled on three manuals.

First up, the quest item: Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art.

The other two: Flying Heaven Sword Art and Life-Seizing Shot.

Swordsmanship and archery, respectively.

Swords get called the king of all weapons, so obviously an essential core subject.

Bow?

Sure, I'm possessing Geum Sihyeon's body right now,

but my roots are in the ADC nation.

I had the fantasies, too.

Back in my snot-nosed kid days—before I even knew what wuxia was—I'd snuck a novel from my dad's study.

Ghostly archery skills rivaling the gods, swordplay to match!

By the time I reread it as an adult with a thicker skull, the grim plot twists had me spitting blood, but hey, it'd fired up my childhood imagination plenty.

In League, I'd pacified the world with a single arrow.

In Overwatch, I was a one-trick Hanzo main.

Anyway.

Ping-ping away with arrows from afar, then swing the sword when enemies close in.

Perfect strategy, right?

"Yawwwn..."

Fatigue was finally creeping into my eyes, so I pulled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠away from the smartphone and looked ahead.

"So if your foundation in martial arts is solid, it's best to join the advanced class whenever possible. Sure, sparring makes up a big chunk, but that just means more chances to rack up real combat experience."

Day two of enrollment at Hundred Flowers Academy.

The freshman orientation lecture was in full swing.

In modern terms, think new student orientation.

What you can learn here at the academy.

What processes the newbies will go through ahead.

All that lengthy spiel.

The skip function still hadn't unlocked.

And the delightful academy life side-by-side with a drop-dead gorgeous girl in the next seat... that wasn't real either.

Instead—

"Aw...!"

"You really suck. Why'd you play that there?"

"Shut it, you Geum punk."

There was Moyong Taek, half-slumped over nonstop gaming on his smartphone,

and Unhak, scribbling furiously to get every scrap of info down on paper.

A combo that reeked of sweat.

Today's orientation summary boiled down to this:

Advanced class: No need for basics. But you gotta pass a separate qualification exam.

Intermediate: Mandatories for some basic subjects, electives for the rest.

Basic: Gotta complete the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠full slate of basics. Promotion to intermediate based on results.

Advanced would be ideal if you could hack it,

but there was a bit of a dilemma.

Ever hear of nangjungjichu?

Not "hit the center while upvoting,"

but the idea that a talented awl in your pocket will poke out no matter what—like, talent gets noticed.

Usually a good thing,

but for a guy like me with zero backing in the martial world, it just meant I'd inevitably end up as the nail that sticks out and gets hammered.

Heck, I'd already caught those unfriendly stares at the entrance ceremony.

A so-called "moneybug" with barely any ties to martial houses—folks must hate seeing me climb above them.

That's why they'd gone and poisoned the kid rumored as a prodigy since childhood, "Geum Sihyeon."

Well, now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I've got Immunity to All Poisons.

Anyway.

I had solid internal energy, but not the raw power yet to lay out everyone nursing a grudge against me.

Best my heart formula and sword arts could claim was second-rate.

That's why I'd gone all-out on the entrance exam.

Needed to hit the Heavenly Martial Repository ASAP and swap 'em out for upgrades.

Then even in advanced class, I could train freely without drawing eyes.

Might as well get the no-bullshit's take too, so I tossed out a question.

"Kid."

"......"

"Unhak."

"What?"

Such a sleazy dude.

"When you hitting the repo?"

"Dunno..."

Unhak trailed off all suspiciously.

Beggars' Sect arts come straight from your master anyway.

Guy was fretting over a full belly.

Typical famous sect bullshit.

"This young master plans to today."

"Whoa. Already? Got anything in mind?"

"A few ideas, but I'll decide once I see 'em. Got recs?"

"Hmm."

Unhak pondered a moment,

then—

"If it's there, Blazing Shadow Heart Formula sounds solid."

Surprisingly same conclusion as Ice Gengdu.

Art I'd never heard of.

"Why?"

I lobbed the genuine question, and Unhak went off like a martial god had possessed him, dialect flying.

"Blazing Shadow Heart Formula is an internal art packed with extreme yang energy, the signature style of Blazing Shadow Sword Venerable—who helped found the academy, no less. They say its power against the Blood Cult's freakish stuff is downright terrifying."

Unhak paused,

then shot me a gaze like he was seeing right through me.

"Might sound harsh, but it could fully replace that low-grade heart formula you've got. Plus, no ties to any current famous houses."

...Damn sharp observation.

"Thanks for the rundown."

We weren't fully spilling our guts to each other yet, but for the sincere add-on explanation and goodwill,

I dipped my head in genuine thanks.

Accountant's branches gotta stay stiff, like Father taught—but times like this, you express the gratitude proper.

Unhak looked mildly shocked, then cracked a hearty laugh.

"Word is the training's tricky and brutal, but you? You'll handle it fine. Probably."

Why the ominous setup all of a sudden?

And what was with the "probably" tacked on?

The Heavenly Martial Repository ranked high among the academy staff's favorite duty spots.

Simple ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reason.

Access was so strictly limited, barely anyone showed up.

Pure honey posting!

No fixed staff, either.

They ran it on shifts, half-vacation style.

This week's lucky draw winner: Moyong Seol.

Plenty of reward for those all-nighters prepping the exam and ceremony.

In fact, that's exactly why they'd slotted her in.

Sprawled in a plush chair, legs under a blanket.

Sweet fruit tea primed on the side table, thumbs hammering the smartphone.

Moyong Seol, venting all her pent-up rage into the gallery.

"Hm...?"

She sensed a familiar qi presence drifting closer and tilted her head.

No one should be coming, she thought—hurriedly shoved the blanket aside, straightened up, and snapped back into diligent worker mode.

Right then—

"Excuse me. Anyone here?"

A man stepped into the Heavenly Martial Repository.

Moyong Seol recognized the face.

"Geum Sihyeon...?"

The general admission chief qualifier already catching heat from the martial instructors.

Her eyes curved softly.

But equal to the fondness she felt,

there was a touch of concern too.

"It's only been two days since enrollment. How about mulling it over a bit longer before deciding?"

Coming to pick a martial art already?

Bit immature and rash, no?

"I'm good. Got some in mind."

Those confident eyes told her no need to push, so Moyong Seol nodded.

"Follow me."

After navigating the narrow, maze-like passages from the entrance, they reached the underground doorway.

"You got the pamphlet from the ceremony, right? Time limit's half a shichen. Browse free as you like, but damage to any manual means major penalty points. And as you know, only one book out. Get caught smuggling extras? Expulsion, obviously."

Watching Geum Sihyeon listen intently with that serious face, Moyong Seol found a soft smile tugging at her lips unbidden.

Then the entry procedure—

To thwart any PDF-snapping shenanigans, confiscate the smartphone.

Pat, pat, pat.

Hm, what a solid build.

Those biceps are popping...

"Th-that spot..."

"Ah. Procedure. Bear with me."

Definitely something suspicious down between the legs,

but his words made her hold back from going there—her hands just glided smoothly over firm thighs and rock-hard calves.

Moyong Seol finished the pat-down (slash personal indulgence) without so much as a blush, then cleared her throat with a dignified ahem.

"...You can enter now."

Finally, she handed over the hourglass designed to track time from inside, then triggered the mechanism.

Creaaaak—

The door to the Heavenly Martial Repository's interior swung open with a sharp groan.

"Well then, I wish you a fruitful opportunity."

"Thank you."

As Moyong Seol offered her blessing, Geum Sihyeon bowed politely in return.

Such refined manners, worlds away from the chatty, drama-prone martial MZ generation—Moyong Seol was deeply touched.

The moment Geum Sihyeon stepped inside,

the warm senior-slash-instructor doting on her junior-slash-student vanished.

In her place, today's ultra-super-hyper happy Ice Gengdu took over the spot.