Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Heavenly Martial Repository (2)
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After spending a brief moment in what felt like an incredibly sinister atmosphere.
The ominous clang of the iron door shutting behind my back echoed as I stepped into the Heavenly Martial Repository.
True to the saying that it gathered all martial arts under heaven.
The shelves were lined endlessly with manuals packed tightly together.
Even at a glance, the sheer volume was anything but ordinary.
In the game, I could've searched by name right away, but rummaging through this mess? When would I ever—
"Oh."
I spotted a kiosk for indexing books in the center of the repository.
Nice.
This is what wuxia is all about.
I searched immediately.
First, I grabbed the three martial arts I'd been eyeing and stacked them neatly on the desk.
Out of curiosity, I skimmed the Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art, Ramjwi-goal's top pick.
"All things under heaven have no distinction of nobility or lowliness, so humans and beasts are kin at heart. Open your mind and approach, and how could they not become friends...? Hmm..."
Sounds like something Peter Singer would say.
I lost interest and closed it right there.
Next up, movement techniques.
They say true masters stand out in their footwork.
After some deliberation, I went with Shadowless Step.
To survive as a master in the martial world, do you inevitably lose all sense of shame? The Shadowless Step manual was full of cringeworthy drivel right from the intro.
Well, it's a legendary assassin's art—walking without sound or shadow...
If that's really true.
Would it have ended up in a righteous academy's repository?
Even setting aside my personal grudge against assassins, it strained credibility a bit.
Still, its performance in the game was top-notch.
If I can't trust my own knowledge, whose can I trust?
Wrapping up with Blazing Shadow Heart Formula, recommended by that beggar and the weepy Gyongdu. Five manuals in total.
Despite the kiosk, there was no clock inside, so I checked the hourglass Moyong Seol had given me before entering.
About 40 minutes left.
I had perfect recall, but without focus, I'd mix up a couple characters—disaster.
I'd once botched an acupoint and spent three days with my neck cricked.
To avoid that, assuming five minutes per thorough read, three more books.
Plus one to take out, so up to four.
"Hmm..."
I'd considered adding a fist technique.
But now that I was living it.
Ditch weapons for punches?
This wasn't kids play-fighting; no need for that.
Besides, I mastered the supreme ultimate invincible fist art—
King God Taekwondo, black belt from elementary school days. Crystal clear in my memory.
Thanks, Coach Kim!
Anyway, skipping body techniques.
Just two more internal arts.
Of course, dual-cultivating internal arts is martial world common sense—and a strict game rule.
Screw that up, and straight to Qi Deviation!
But.
Among my mods was 'Internal Art Dual-Cultivation Limit Removal.'
In other words.
I could freely learn multiple internal arts and make them all mine!
Blazing Shadow Heart Formula lets you ignite weapons with flames at mastery.
So.
Naturally, I wanted an ice art too...!
One hand flame sword.
One hand ice sword.
...Dual swords are the loser's flag, but.
Romance overdose, right?
A real man needs style.
Even if not ice, anything useful would do, so I headed back where I'd found Blazing Shadow and rummaged the shelves.
"Oh. Jade Transformation Preservation."
Some arts had surprisingly high praise.
Like this one I was eyeing.
Purely on performance, overwhelmingly positive.
Tiny flaw: learning it turns you into a TS.
But that drew even more fans, cult classic.
Apparently sexier stats than starting female—male char doing it.
But still...?
My little buddy's precious.
Protect the buddy!
Terrified I'd subconsciously fall to the dark side, I shoved it deep into the shelf.
While browsing randomly.
"Oh...?"
Catching my eye.
A manual with Korean on the cover.
No matter how mod-corrupted, this world's foundation was primitive ancient uncivilized Chinese martial arts.
Naturally, script was brutal hanja, turtle-torturing Changhill's invention.
Thanks to Korean patch, I read hanja like my native tongue post-possession.
But that's not the point.
"Northern Bright Divine Art."
Sounds familiar.
Anything with 'divine art' is usually busted, right?
I flipped it open, mesmerized.
First impression.
"Textbook...?"
Thin, so I let my guard down, but despite Korean, it felt like alien tech.
Still, thrilled by King Sejong's gift after so long, I kept reading.
Conclusion.
Either utter nonsense.
Or profound martial principles beyond even this greatest genius-to-be.
Especially: not just accumulating and circulating qi, but at a certain realm, controlling nature's energy at will. Tempting.
Plus the last page.
[Those who seek to become Supreme Under Heaven, come to Baekdu Mountain.]
Mysterious national pride viral too.
Definitely mod byproduct.
Chinks call it Changbai.
Some formulas too advanced for my current insight—no immediate practice or combat value.
But if you could pull it off as written, busted art for sure.
Glanced at hourglass—time getting tight.
One wrong character memorized? Qi Deviation express.
Now, focus and cram these into my head.
One to take out.
Northern Bright Divine Art.
Fortune favors the bold solo.
...Almost no one can read Korean anyway, but I wanted it.
Two years in this world.
Rare trace of home.
Ah.
Craving samgyeopsal and kimchi...
"Huuuuh..."
Accomplished my goals, emerged with smug satisfaction.
Minor issue.
- Um... Is that really a manual? The rules are strict, but just for a tiny bit, it might be okay... Wouldn't it be better to pick another?
Moyong Seol staring at me like I was insane for choosing Northern Bright.
Still, her concerned tone felt pretty good.
Yeah.
What's wrong with cyber world's split personality?
Of course, when I said I'd memorized Blazing Shadow too, she snapped "Don't bullshit."
Recited the formulas on the spot, she quieted down.
To shake off the info overload, I headed to Azure Cloud Pavilion.
Like a university central library.
Unlike expectations of emptiness.
A few students around.
Mostly seniors.
They had that gloomy library-dweller aura from semester start.
"Excuse me, sorry, but could I get some blank books? About eight."
Whisper whisper.
"Ah, one moment please?"
Whisper whisper.
Librarian stepped away, returned with a stack, handed them over.
"Freshman already studying hard. Good to see."
"Thank you."
Mystery goodwill success. Grabbed blanks, snagged the most secluded spot.
Rolled shoulders, loosened arms.
Now, grind time.
Neat handwriting for easy lookup later, scribble scribble.
...Sigh at this asymmetric cult martial world—smartphones but no mechanical pencils or fountain pens.
Faithfully transcribed the formulas.
Went through the provided ink like crazy.
Even begged more from librarian before finishing the grind.
Shoulders already stiff—muscle pain tomorrow for sure...
Still, transcribing deepened my understanding.
Tricky parts? Ask future teachers or Unhak later.
Catch breath, phone gallery scroll, reread concept posts.
[Ice Gyongdu / Gyongdu-jjang loves ripped muscles bulgingㅠㅠㅠ♥ (7)]
This sexual harassment...?
I'll age gracefully.
Floated till dinner.
Deep in gallery dive.
Poke poke.
"Heok?!"
No approach warning.
Finger jabbed my back; yelped loud.
Felt reading room stares, turned.
"Cheon Luri...?"
What.
Farm Heavenly Demon-nim here?
No connection.
Just my one-sided knowledge.
"Curious."
"...?"
"Curious."
No clue what she meant.
Chatting in reading room unwise.
"Let's go out first..."
Packed transcribed manuals, led Luri out.
Paranoia? Everyone staring.
Outside, coaxed monosyllabic grumpy Luri, listened intently.
"So, you want to join the gallery... right?"
"Yeah."
Luri nodded faintly at my summary.
Frantically recalled—no hentai or crap posts earlier. Safe.
Honestly.
Why ask me?
But not heartless to rebuff her face.
She's twenty-ish anyway.
Twenty means responsible for actions.
Not me corrupting her.
"Phone please?"
Checked Luri's smartphone.
Hm.
Made in Ten Thousand Gold.
Authentic.
Upped kindness level one, installed Martial World Gallery on near-stock phone. Heinous act.
"Here, sign up now."
Not on purpose.
Handing phone, unavoidable contact—hands touched.
But above Luri's head: still '-'.
Single dash for pure normie.
Luri tilted head slightly, phone in hand.
"ID... what?"
"Hm... Usually mix traits you wanna show or faves."
Luri stared at phone, pondering long.
Getting hungry.
Hurry...
"Ah."
Luri struck inspiration.
Tiny thumbs tapped away.
Right after.
Red haze over Luri's head.
"..."
Words aplenty, but some silences speak louder.
No thoughts like rename to Lulu, hit level 6, or growth plates closed—dream impossible.
Instead, inwardly prayed for growth pills or something in this cult world, bid farewell, left.
Fight on, kid.