My First Friend in This World – A Decent Fellow!
My first friend in this world was pretty damn useful! At least he was more educated than some random bum who just swings his sword around like a dick.
"Three main cores embedded in the body? It's not embedding – the upper dantian opens? Why does it open? Doesn't your head usually explode if it cracks open?"
Ha-yeon had pondered similar things back in her days as a top-tier swordmaster. But she'd grown accustomed to her aura cultivation method and the system it used, which was similar to those mage bastards' ways. Plus, the path was already paved, so she hadn't bothered experimenting.
"And why the hell are the realm names so lame? Peak, then Super Peak? No Ultimate Peak or something?"
"The difference between those two realms is just output power, but the skill gap is massive, so people slapped on arbitrary labels to distinguish them, I suppose."
"But that inner power cultivation thing – do you really need it to form a dantian?"
"Probably, yeah."
"That's a problem then."
Her aura cultivation method wouldn't look much different from murim martial arts, but still. Curiosity about this new study was sprouting like crazy. If she crammed a mana heart and a dantian into her body, the output would be insane.
But the more Heon-u explained these dantians, the fishier it got.
"The positions of these dantians are kinda sus, though?"
"What's sus about them?"
"This upper dantian thing forms right in the middle of your brain, right? One little damage there and your brain's fried in seconds. Isn't the backlash from screwing up cultivation way too harsh?"
"Hmm... I haven't reached those high realms myself, so I got nothing. But those Flower Realm old monsters probably know what they're doing."
"And the lower dantian's spot is awkward too – that's right where the womb is, yeah?"
"Ahem, well..."
No, seriously? It's weird enough having three mana tanks in your body, but what about women? If you're pregnant, does the kid pop out with a built-in dantian or something?
Heon-u's face twisted oddly at that. She looked perfectly fine, but here she was spouting embarrassing crap in front of a stranger. Still, the topic was just awkward enough to tickle one's curiosity.
"Makes sense. Maybe kids from prestigious families inherit good bones and talent because they soak up their mother's dantian qi from the womb."
"Bloodlines are no joke. They separate stud stallions from broodmares for a reason – humans can't be that different."
"Whoa, watch your mouth. In this world, you could lose your tongue for less."
"That's why rebels like me keep things interesting, friend."
The conversation flowed like that. Ha-yeon would toss out a line, and Heon-u would hesitate but respond or parry anyway.
Yeah, this is the fun of sudden encounters. Sizzling meat skewers over a campfire, sharing a beer with fellow bums you just met – pure romance.
"So what do you do, friend?"
"Just a wandering swordsman with nothing better to do."
"Boring answer."
"Your turn. Wanna become a murim warrior?"
"Duh?"
Lifetime swordmaster – this life was doomed to be the same. But something in Ha-yeon's grinning reply rubbed Heon-u wrong; a shadow flickered in his eyes. Like an elder about to scold a clueless kid dreaming of being an adventurer.
Hah, been a while since I've gotten that look.
"Hey, Heon-u. What's with the face? Spill it."
"You're... well, might be rude, but..."
"If it's rude, just don't say it... almost went there."
"No, sigh. Today's meeting's been fun, so here's some advice: don't underestimate murim. This sword isn't just for show."
Yeah, yeah, I know. Swords are for killing, right? Sure, just wearing one debuffs the opponent's morale, but killing's the real point.
"No lifelong training, no fancy martial arts from what I see – jumping into murim with bare fists?"
"Bingo. You nailed it."
"That's pure recklessness."
"Use simple words. Match my intellect."
"...Cough. Bottom line: step into murim, and nine times outta ten, you'll end up a corpse quick."
True, generally. Cocky fools get wrecked and found mangled all the time. Heon-u's advice was solid pragmatism.
Courage and folly are two sides of the same coin – most can't tell them apart and end up six feet under. "I can do it!" they yell, spinning the reincarnation gacha. Enough to build a mountain. But this body? Different. Very different. Why? 'Cause I'm special.
"Friend, ever heard 'diamond in the rough'? Or was it bathtub? Whatever."
"Changed your mind a bit?"
"Nah. I can do it."
"Sigh."
Heon-u shook his head, shooting a half-pitying glance. Wondering if wasting more time on this fool was worth it. Looked like he was debating whether to bother, lest he kill the vibe.
Ha-yeon saw right through it, chuckling softly as she refilled his cup.
"Still, worrying about me means I made a good friend today. Cheers, buddy."
"Ha-yeon, you... ha."
"Keep calling me 'you' formally – am I your servant or what?"
"What do I even call you?"
"Ugh, just say 'you' like I do. Your new polite crap's creepier."
"Your speech is the issue."
Pour, drink. The burn down her throat, alcohol flowing through her veins – a pleasant rejection her booze-soaked old body never felt.
Whoa, this hits different!
"Cough cough! Shit, why's this so strong?"
"First time drinking?"
"Not first, but kinda first and not."
"Showboating'll drop you fast. Pace yourself."
"That your intro? Huh?"
"Ha."
Another round. Fresh food arrives; she scoops a huge bite.
Heon-u's face turns weird watching her dismantle the dish with chopsticks, stabbing and shoving it in. Chopsticks fail? Spoon it is, scraping the bowl clean.
"Eating like a beggar."
"Nngh, chopsticks are the problem. Why not make 'em easier? Got perfectly good forks and you split 'em up."
"Fork?"
"Ah, dunno it? Curl your fingers, extend middle and index."
"Done."
"That's a fork."
"...?"
Heon-u's face grows more puzzled. V-sign with fingers, he laughs hollowly and chugs.
"Ha-yeon, you sure you're from the Central Plains?"
"Mom worked a job sleeping around with tons of guys – who knows, maybe foreign blood."
"Wasn't gonna say that, sorry... but seriously, why talk like that?"
"'Cause I want to."
Heon-u cracked first. Half her teasing was payback for his formal "you" bullshit.
Cackling, Ha-yeon stuffs in a dumpling, gulps booze. His frustrated face? Perfect side dish.
Kidding – she needed real food. This body's a lightweight; stomach's burning more than expected.
"Kekeke. See? Why talk so stiff? Booze table, loosen up."
"...Maybe show some decorum. A woman casually drinking with strange men is dangerous too?"
"Didn't know you swung that way, friend. Cancel our bromance?"
How twisted logic to peg her as the queer one? He chugs, guts burning worse.
"Kyaha! This is booze! How long since I got properly wasted?!"
Booze weighs her head down. Peering into her cup, a rippling woman stares back. Tilt – she tilts. Smile – she smiles. Novel sight lifts her mood; drunk, even ants seem industrious.
This dreamlike scene? Party time. Rare proper buzz – feeling great.
Couldn't hold back.
"Kyaa... this bitch is pretty cute."
"Full of yourself."
"Aah, wanna do some girly shit."
"?"
"Booze, booze buddy – add a girl and it's perfect. Problem is, no tackle down there."
"You're wasted."
Am not? Probably.
"Hey, friend."
"Starting to fear you."
"Can't you make two dantians down low, focus on lower body?"
"...Not impossible. But there's a reason no one does."
"Then, friend – symmetric eggs, I mean dantians, down there... make a dick grow?"
"Oh. God."
But I'm serious! Revived is great, but missing the family jewels. That bastard sword I hid down there? Gone!
Major issue. Booze loosens tongues like ex confessions; Ha-yeon wails for her lost mighty blade.
"Ah, everything's fine, but why's there a well between my legs instead of a massive greatsword?"
"Think before speaking."
"You don't get it, friend. Ever had your crotch sword sheathed away like in its scabbard?"
"Shut up, please."
"Kuhuhu. That a curse from your prim mouth?"
Finally, swears from Mr. Stiff. Satisfying. If only she could scratch this itch!
Head swivels like a hawk spotting prey. Chugs sterilize her mouth; sides taste bland now.
Then –
"You bastard! Insulting our family?!"
"Ha! What do I fear from trash Yeon Family? Pig-slaughtering peasants!"
"Too lofty a name for Black Mountain Faction scum like you."
Here we go! Booze, food, people – fights inevitable. Worlds change, but not this.
Both had swords at hips. Guys glaring, necks stiff, chests puffed, on tiptoes – classic dogfight setup.
Heon-u smirks.
"Typical tavern drunks."
"Kyaha! Food was bland – perfect seasoning! Heon-u, cheers. Commentary too."
"Hmm. Seems a spat over factions and families."
Chug. Once reputations are on the line, no backing down or it's war. For sword wielders, fame's everything – can't punish, you're irrelevant.
"Damn right. Grip the sword, swing regular – that's a swordsman."
"Swordless you talking big – folk'll think you're murim."
Bowing out? Nah. Win: fame up. Lose: dead. Life's simple.
Ha-yeon thought so, but these two? Different.
"Ha! Our Black Mountain Faction lord's a Peak qi master – what're pig-butcher Yeons got?!"
"Bloodsuckers got nerve? Our lord trained under a Wudang Taoist..."
"We hosted a Demonic Cult elder as guest..."
Pathetic – yapping without drawing. Bragging lords' skills, connections. Great factions, sure – but fight already? Hands on hilts, but stroking like tit play. Amateur grip too. I'd grip better with my junk.
Black Mountain Faction and Yeon Family? Ladies' finishing school.
But nursing her cooled buzz with booze, why all eyes here?
Ha-yeon's eyes blink wide. What? Why me? Do your thing. Heon-u, why that face?
Ah. Shit.
"Heon-u."
"Heh."
"Did I say my thoughts out loud?"
"You know."
"Hmm."
Unintentional, but roasted 'em hard. Those two smirk like "jackpot," sneering murder at easy prey Ha-yeon.
Boozed-up Ha-yeon muses: Play this right, it's a sweet dual.