Chapter 9: A Fortuitous Encounter?!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 9: A Fortuitous Encounter?!
As someone who had read a fair share of martial arts novels, Seo-un could clearly picture the old man’s background just by looking at him. His relaxed demeanor, his elusive movements, and his dismissive attitude toward whether martial arts manuals or magic counted as a "real opportunity" spoke volumes.
However, the old man seemed to find Seo-un just as intriguing.
“Furthermore, I see you have decent patience and a sharp mind. A true talent. If we had met in my world, I would have wanted to take you as my disciple.”
“Thank you for the high praise. Well then, I have a long way to go, so I’ll be off…”
Seo-un gave a deep, ninety-degree bow and was about to turn around when the old man called out to him.
“Wait.”
At that single word, Seo-un felt the illusion of his entire body freezing up again.
“Yes? Is there something else you wish to ask?”
“Hmm… how should I put it? I feel like you might have the answer.”
At the old man’s sudden remark, Seo-un stood awkwardly and opened his mouth.
“The… the answer to what? Me?”
“As you said, I have no need for other opportunities. I simply wish to finish this game quickly and return to the many tasks awaiting me. That said, I have no intention of opening a Killing Domain within this place. What do you think I should do until this game ends?”
“Pardon?”
Seo-un’s jaw dropped in sheer absurdity. Why on earth was he asking a stranger—and him of all people—what he should do?
“Exactly what I said. You heard me, didn't you?”
“I—I heard you, but… well… hmm…”
Seo-un thought for a long moment before looking back at the old man.
“Before I answer, may I ask a few questions myself?”
The old man nodded, watching Seo-un with an amused expression.
“You said you want this game to end quickly.”
“I did.”
“But you also said you don’t want to kill anyone here.”
“Indeed.”
“Then… what do you plan to do with the final remaining player?”
“Well, I haven't thought that far ahead.”
“In my humble opinion, you likely have no equal here, which means you will inevitably be one of the final two survivors.”
“Your ‘humble opinion’ is likely correct. Among those gathered when I first arrived, I saw no one who appeared to be a particular threat.”
“Then, in the end, doesn't that mean you’ll have to kill at least one person?”
“You aren't wrong. If the opponent comes at me with intent to kill, what choice would I have?”
“Then, since it’s going to end up that way anyway, why not just kill everyone else except me? The game would end much faster that way.”
“Ho-ho, is this young fellow already trying to borrow a knife to kill a man?”
Even though the old man was smiling, Seo-un did not miss the way his eyes began to cloud with contempt.
“Haha, I was just joking. You have the air of a Great Hero from the Righteous Faction who values life, so I just thought I’d say it.”
At Seo-un’s words, a genuine smile bloomed on the old man’s face.
“You certainly have a knack for reading people for your age.”
Man, this old geezer really eats up the flattery, doesn't he?
Grumbling inwardly, Seo-un quickly spoke up again.
“I’ve heard that a lot since I was young. But come to think of it, wouldn't this situation be an opportunity for you as well?”
“An opportunity?”
“Yes. I don't know much, but your world is likely one where martial arts are highly developed, right?”
“You could say that.”
“You might not know this, but in the world I come from, there are no martial arts or magic. They only exist as stories—fantasies.”
“Ho-ho. A world where martial arts have been completely severed… how tragic.”
The old man looked at Seo-un with sincere pity.
“From what I’ve gathered, martial arts become more dangerous and difficult to train as they reach higher levels. Is that correct?”
“That is true to an extent.”
“I heard that if you make even a small mistake or attempt experimental training, you can fall into something called Qi Deviation.”
“The higher the master’s level, the more dangerous Qi Deviation becomes.”
“In that case, don't you have anything like that? A technique you’ve wanted to try but hesitated on? Something experimental where you couldn't guarantee the outcome?”
The old man’s expression stiffened into a serious frown. Lost in deep thought, he began to fold his fingers one by one. Holding up four folded fingers, the old man replied.
“There are about four such things.”
“Then why not try them here?”
“As you said, they are far too dangerous.”
“In this world, even if you die or get injured, everything returns to normal once you go back to your original world.”
“How can I trust that?”
“In my opinion, the beings capable of orchestrating something that transcends human power wouldn't bother lying to mere mortals.”
“Hmm… that also makes sense.”
“And who knows? If the training goes well, your level of martial prowess might even increase by a stage when you return to reality.”
“Ho-ho. Aside from accumulating internal energy, I haven't made any progress in thirty years. If that were to happen, I would be overjoyed. You have indeed suggested a fine path.”
“Then, since I’m busy trying to survive, may I take my leave now?”
“Before that. I’ve received your help; how could I just let you go? I wish to offer you some assistance in return.”
Seo-un’s eyes sparkled at the old man’s words.
“I’ll gladly accept that help.”
Seeing Seo-un accept without a moment’s hesitation, the old man’s smile deepened.
“Very well. What kind of help would you like?”
“By any chance, do you have any elixirs on you?”
“Elixirs… If we were in my world, I could give you many, but I have none here.”
Tsk. Anyone can say ‘I have it at home.’
“Th-then, could you perhaps share just a little bit of that vast internal energy of yours?”
“Well, I could certainly transfer as much internal energy as you like, but the mental method you’ve learned is of a very different nature than my own energy. If I were to force my internal energy into you, you might die. Would you still be okay with that?”
Of course I wouldn't be okay with that!
“Sigh. Then it can't be helped. It seems there’s no help I can receive from you, sir.”
“It truly is a shame. If only you hadn't learned that mental method, I could have passed my martial arts on to you.”
Seeing the old man speak with genuine regret, Seo-un blurted out an answer.
“Wait a minute. I’ll take those martial arts.”
“Hmm? You’ve already learned another mental method. Though it is weak, as long as you have built up that energy, trying to accumulate a different type of energy is a suicidal act.”
“Yes, of course I know that. But what I’ve learned now was built through the power of this game. If my guess is correct, it might disappear at any moment. If you pass your martial arts on to me just in case, I’ll memorize them diligently and continue the legacy of the lost martial arts in my world.”
The old man pondered for a moment at Seo-un’s words, then nodded.
“Well, if that is the case, I shall teach you a few moves. But before that…”
Without warning, the old man grabbed Seo-un by the scruff of his neck and began to sprint, his feet treading upon the very air itself.
Time had already passed midnight, and the magnetic field had begun to shrink. With his entire body frozen as the scenery blurred past, Seo-un, dangling from the old man’s hand, barely managed to breathe as he looked up at him.
“I stepped outside this ‘force field’ once, and the pressure was surprisingly intense. Even I don't think I could withstand it for long. It seems to shrink every day at midnight, so one can never be too careful.”
After flying for a while, they reached the safe zone in an instant. When the old man set him down, Seo-un’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. Even though it was the old man who had exerted the effort, it was Seo-un who was panting heavily.
“Haa! Haa…”
“This should be safe enough.”
“Map.”
Seo-un opened his map to check how far they had traveled and widened his eyes. The distance they had covered by treading through the air was so great that it would have taken Seo-un several days of non-stop movement to travel it.
“Th-that’s incredible.”
“By the way, how do you view that map?”
“Pardon? If you just shout ‘Map,’ it will appear before your eyes.”
“Map?”
The old man looked at the map that suddenly appeared in the air, examining it curiously for a long time.
“I saw it when everyone was gathered at the start, but it truly is marvelous.”
We’re quite far from the magnetic field now… well, as long as I’m with this old guy, there shouldn't be any danger.
Having finished his thought, Seo-un spoke up.
“Then, since time is short, please teach me quickly.”
“Ah… but your state is quite difficult for learning martial arts. You’ve learned a mental art properly, but the internal energy you possess is unbelievably meager. You’ve formed a Dantian with an amount of energy that should never have been able to form one.”
“That’s probably because I learned martial arts through this game’s system.”
“Learned through the power of this world’s laws… Well then, tell me. What kind of martial arts do you wish to learn?”
“What I want is a mental method. Please teach me a mental method that allows me to accumulate internal energy quickly.”
“Ho-ho… I am truly sorry to say this, but the mental method I have mastered is by no means one that accumulates internal energy quickly.”
“What?”
“I said that my mental method, which filters for pure, upright, and stable energies to build a foundation, is not one that increases internal energy rapidly.”
“I-is that so?”
Seo-un began to feel anxious. He was worried that once the game ended and he returned to his original world, the martial arts currently in his head might vanish, just as they had appeared in an instant. More than anything, the fact that he could only understand the general gist of the secret manuals he opened, rather than the specific details, confirmed his fears.
Seeing Seo-un’s darkened face, the old man spoke.
“Well, it’s not that I don't know a way to accumulate internal power quickly.”
“Really?”
The old man looked at Seo-un in silence for a moment, then shook his head and spoke.
“It is a method of the Heterodox Path, so it is not something to be used proudly… but since this is a connection with someone from another world with no conflicting interests, it shouldn't be a stain on my reputation to teach you.”
“If it’s the Heterodox Path… you mean it’s not an orthodox method?”
“Correct. Are you still fine with that?”
Seo-un decided it didn't matter as long as he could accumulate internal energy quickly and nodded vigorously. The old man stared at Seo-un for a while longer, then approached him with a sigh.
“Sit in a lotus position.”
As soon as he sat down, the old man placed a hand on his head. Along with the old man’s voice, Seo-un felt a sensation of floating and a sudden wave of dizziness.
“You might be a bit startled. But do not open your mouth.”
Feeling as if his soul was being forcibly torn from his body, Seo-un gritted his teeth. How long did he endure that alien sensation? Just as Seo-un’s body became drenched in sweat and his mouth began to twitch, the old man pulled his hand away and let out a long breath.
“Whew. That should do it. This much should be enough to manage somehow.”
“Bleeegh!”
As soon as the old man’s hand was gone, Seo-un bent over and emptied his stomach, looking up at the old man with resentful eyes.
“You have a weak stomach. To vomit just from having your Baihui opened for a moment.”
“The… the Baihui?”
As an expert in martial arts novels, a chill ran down Seo-un’s spine. Even in countless novels, the Baihui was one of the points treated with extreme caution. It was a point where even a slight mistake could turn one into an idiot or a madman. The trope that eccentric or slightly crazed masters had become that way due to injuring their Baihui during training was a very famous cliché.
“The Baihui is…”
“It’s the spot on the crown of the head that you should never, ever mess with!”
“You know it well. Do not worry. I did not mess with it recklessly. I merely adjusted the nature and direction of your Qi channels through the Baihui.”
“Is it okay to just change it like that?”
“If I hadn't, it would have taken a long time to accumulate internal power through orthodox methods. Didn't you say you wanted to build it quickly?”
“I did, but I thought you’d teach me some extraordinary mental method. Like a method that defies heaven, or some forgotten, legendary divine art.”
“A method that defies heaven? What is that? And no matter how great a divine art is, it doesn't allow you to skip the basics. In fact, the greater the divine art, the more it emphasizes building a solid foundation.”
Seo-un felt the conversation was going in circles and shook his head.