If You're Curious, Come Again Tomorrow
"Huh? What's that?"
"Who is that?"
Students warming up in the training hall tilted their heads in confusion. The regular roster was five people, yet a female student in gym clothes was now approaching them with a tentative, shuffling gait.
"Baek Yu-yeon?"
Cha Yu-sik's brow furrowed. No academy student could possibly not know her. She was the walking encyclopedia, a genius of martial medicine. Her elegant appearance made her popular too—just look at how the self-proclaimed chaebol heir Hwang Min-woo had chased after her like a lovesick puppy.
"Kuh, kuh!"
Kwak Do-jin, having spotted Baek Yu-yeon, cleared his throat and shot a glance up at the raised platform. There sat Kang Hyun, sipping whiskey since morning.
See, Professor? I actually did it! I brought her here!
He puffed out his chest and sent her a look that was unmistakably that of a loyal dog waiting for its master's praise.
But Kang Hyun's reaction was lukewarm. Not because of Kwak Do-jin's persuasion, but because he knew perfectly well that she had come of her own accord, biting at the bait he'd cast yesterday.
"She's here? Get ready."
"Yes, Professor!"
At the thunderous response, the five students fell into formation with flawless precision. Not a hint of awkwardness showed on any of their faces.
"Today we begin with the Three Talents Sword Style, Earth. Swing it a thousand times."
"Yes!"
Shing!
Five wooden swords cut through the air in unison. A horizontal thrust extended straight out, then halted with heavy, immovable weight at the end of its trajectory—as if holding up a massive boulder. It was a stance that embodied the solidity of the earth itself.
Baek Yu-yeon, standing at a distance, held her breath at the overwhelming momentum.
That's… the Three Talents Sword Style?
As a third-year student, she certainly knew the form. Strike down, hold, thrust. It was the most common, basic technique that even neighborhood kids knew in modern times.
And yet it looked like something she'd never seen before.
A flawless group performance that held her gaze captive. Even their stride length, direction, and sword angles were perfectly synchronized.
That alone was astonishing, but Baek Yu-yeon saw something more. With her Cheonmaegan—the Heavenly Pulse Eye—she could see the flow of Qi itself.
The Qi rising from their dantian flows down through the legs, up the spine, past the shoulders, all the way to the sword tip… almost no waste at all.
What about ordinary students? Nine times out of ten, the Qi would scatter midway. Unnecessary tension in the shoulders, a slight wobble in the lower body's center of gravity—there were plenty of reasons. Even if they drew up a hundred units of Qi, only thirty might actually reach the blade's edge.
Suddenly, a chill ran down Baek Yu-yeon's spine.
Only she could see this. Only she possessed the rare ability to directly observe the Qi flowing through the meridians. That was why she often gave advice to her peers and juniors out of pity—telling them that rather than recklessly drawing up more power, they should focus on solidifying their foundation so Qi wouldn't leak out of their meridians.
Of course, no one ever listened.
The problem was that the professors were the same. Even though Baek Yu-yeon could plainly see the students' Qi dissipating along the way, the professors only looked at the flashy destructive power on the surface and clapped, calling it perfect.
But these five…
These five have almost no Qi leakage at all.
She didn't need to ask why. It was because of Professor Kang Hyun, of course.
Then did Professor Kang Hyun also have the ability to see the flow of Qi, just like her? Was that why he could give them this kind of instruction?
"You there."
At last, Kang Hyun's cold voice echoed across the training hall.
"What are you standing there staring at?"
"…Yes?"
"Didn't you come to participate in class? Come here."
"Yes, sir!"
Baek Yu-yeon hurried over.
Inside, she was hopeful. Was he finally going to explain in detail the principle of the alchemy method he'd told her to open the pot lid for? Or perhaps… could it be that he was also versed in martial medicine, since he'd been browsing that section of the library?
She approached with sparkling eyes, and Kang Hyun tossed out a single word.
"Assume a stance."
"What stance?"
"Spread your feet wider than shoulder-width and bend your knees. Until your thighs are parallel to the ground. Keep your back straight, eyes forward."
"…A horse stance?"
"Are your ear canals blocked?"
"N-no, they're not!"
Flustered, she bent her knees. The hellish training had begun.
Three hours later.
"Haaah, haaah!"
Thump.
Baek Yu-yeon collapsed onto the floor. Her neatly tied hair was a mess, and her gym clothes were soaked with sweat like a drowned rat. From her thighs down to her calves, her muscles twitched and spasmed as if they belonged to someone else.
I'm going to die.
Honestly, she'd wanted to give up dozens of times over those three hours. She was a non-combatant, a martial medicine major. What was the point of dragging her here and making her hold an absurdly intense horse stance? The resentment was real.
But she never gave up. Every time her legs gave out and she was about to collapse, Kang Hyun would appear beside her like a ghost and whisper:
It was the devil's whisper, pure and simple.
She felt indignant and wronged, but her desperation made her endure it.
"Hey, Baek Yu-yeon. You okay?"
Kwak Do-jin approached and offered a hand, but she flicked it away.
"Do I look okay?"
Kwak-sunbae was the worst. Introducing this hellish place as "morning exercise" without any warning? What? It won't interfere with your schedule? She was pretty sure she wouldn't even be able to make it to the library, let alone attend regular classes!
"Kuh!"
Gripping her trembling legs, Baek Yu-yeon forced herself up and headed straight for the platform. He'd threatened her not to give up, and she hadn't given up—so now it was time to hear the answer.
"Professor!"
"A good look in your eyes. A venom I quite like."
"Tell me now! That alchemy method from yesterday! How did you know it? There wasn't a single line about that process in the book I read!"
"Well, fine. I should keep my promises."
Kang Hyun swirled the half-empty whiskey bottle.
"Five volumes."
"What?"
"The book you had spread out on your desk yesterday. It's a manual that only becomes complete when all five volumes are gathered together."
"…!"
Baek Yu-yeon felt as if she'd been struck on the head with a blunt weapon.
Five volumes!
Truth be told, she'd been feeling uneasy for days. The logic should have connected, but something felt off—like a gear was missing from a clockwork mechanism. She'd only suspected that there might be a hidden process or another text she didn't know about.
And now that suspicion had been confirmed as fact.
"T-then," Baek Yu-yeon pressed forward a step, growing anxious. "What is the remaining volume?"
"If I told you everything, it wouldn't be fun."
"…What?"
A mischievous smile curled at the corner of Kang Hyun's mouth.
"One question per day. If you're curious, come to class tomorrow too."
"What?"
"Are your ear canals blocked?"
"My ears aren't blocked, my patience is!"
She had to endure this hellish class again? Baek Yu-yeon finally let out a frustrated question.
"Why are you making a martial medicine major do physical training?"
"Then why should I teach a student who doesn't even attend my class?"
"…That's cheap."
"There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
Not even the government had started paying the real bill anymore. It was time to start earning some money.
"But I'll make you one promise."
Kang Hyun's gaze darkened for an instant.
In the end, Baek Yu-yeon had to taste hell again the next day.
"Haaah, haaah…!"
It felt as if her soul was being sucked out, but she gritted her teeth and held on. She had to hear the answer.
"T-the book! What's its name?"
Kang Hyun swallowed a sip of whiskey and answered indifferently.
"Anwon Gyeol."
"Anwon Gyeol…!"
She couldn't ask what kind of book it was. That would use up her question.
"Thank you!"
The moment she heard the answer, Baek Yu-yeon dragged her trembling legs toward the Martial Arts Library. But no matter where she searched, there was no manual called Anwon Gyeol. It wasn't on the academy network, and it didn't appear on any martial arts manual information sites.
She finally found it buried in a corner of a Chinese global web forum.
It's right here.
In China, they even sold the five volumes—including Anwon Gyeol, just as Kang Hyun had said—as a single set called the "Five Principles of Alchemy Basics."
So that's it.
That was why China could dominate as the world's strongest hunter nation. When they obtained a manual, they could interpret it directly, but we had to go through translation. Their linguistic roots were inherently connected. They could absorb archaic language more easily.
Anyway.
Then I need to get that book…
Martial arts manual trade was usually strictly controlled at the national level. Especially acquiring an alchemy manual from overseas as an individual—that was like trying to pluck a star from the sky.
As she stood there at a loss, Kang Hyun's words came to mind.
Then…
Would he know the contents of Anwon Gyeol too?
"Sigh."
She let out a sigh. There was no way she wouldn't have to go out again tomorrow. She was already becoming addicted.
As soon as the next day's training ended, she blurted out to Kang Hyun without preamble.
"Professor! Could you get that book for me?"
"Hmm, is that a question?"
"Ah, no! Wait a minute!"
She flustered, as if asking what terrible thing she'd just said. If that counted as a question, wouldn't it end with a simple "yes" or "no"?
She had to phrase it differently.
"Teach me the contents of that book!"
Watching Baek Yu-yeon ask while panting, the corner of Kang Hyun's mouth curved into a smile.
"I knew you'd come to this."
"What?"
Swish.
Kang Hyun reached into the inner pocket of his coat and pulled out a thick notebook, tossing it into her arms.
Handwritten manuscript in archaic script
"Huh?!"
She was genuinely shocked. How could he have this when not a single copy existed in the country despite her searching everywhere?
Opening it, she found a handwritten manuscript written in archaic language. She had no idea Kang Hyun had been copying martial arts manuals recently.
"Read it. But understanding is up to you. Whenever you need an explanation, come to my class and ask. My advice: it would be best not to go to other interpreters."
"You'll even explain the archaic language for me?"
"I told you. If it's a question, I'll answer."
"…Why are you doing all this for me?"
Thinking back, ever since the contract incident, the professor kept looking out for her. Like a parent quietly cheering from behind.
"Why am I being nice to you?"
"…Yes."
"Just remember that."
"Remember what?"
"There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
For now, just know that much.
Later, you might have to walk a terrible path facing the Demonic Gods.