Boom!
The thunderous crash heralded the arrival of a powerfully built middle-aged man.
Beneath his thick, bristling brows, he swept the hall with tiger eyes like an enraged beast.
“Which one of you was spouting that nonsense just now?”
Everyone gathered here was a senior figure of the Mount Heng Sword Sect.
Even if they weren’t on their predecessor’s level, they possessed First Rate martial arts and considerable experience. Yet even they were busy shrinking back and avoiding his gaze.
The middle-aged man before them had every right to make them do so.
Damn it. Of all people, it had to be the Tiger of Mount Heng…
The storytellers said that two beasts lived on Mount Heng.
The Blood Wolf Sword and the Tiger of Mount Heng. The closest of friends, yet each a wall the other had to overcome.
The middle-aged man, Cheol Mubaek, had been a Peak master known as the tiger of Mount Heng for decades.
“I asked which one of you it was!”
His roar made every hair on the senior figures’ bodies stand on end.
They said that whenever Cheol Mubaek lost his temper, even his close friend Lee Cheonbaek would leave the area. These men lagged far behind him in both martial arts and age. What more needed to be said?
“We should be united in driving out those mounted-bandit bastards, and even that would not be enough, yet you dare defy Cheonbaek’s dying wishes and harbor rebellious intentions?”
Under his gaze, which seemed ready to pour out flames, the senior figures of the Mount Heng Sword Sect flinched as though they had been burned.
“G-Great Hero Cheol, you misunderstand.”
“How could we ever dare harbor rebellious intentions?”
“Then have I grown so old that my ears no longer work?”
At that moment, everyone inside the main hall felt thirsty. It wasn’t a simple illusion. It was caused by the terrifying Scorching Yang Qi radiating from Cheol Mubaek.
This is insane.
What the hell did he eat to amass such monstrous internal energy…?
Just being near him made it hard to breathe, and sweat poured down their bodies. The Tiger of Mount Heng. This was the moment the true nature of the Peak master who had supposedly trained alone somewhere in the vast mountain range since around the age of twenty revealed itself.
“Huff… Haaah…”
“Great Hero, please calm yourself… Hah.”
The senior figures of the Mount Heng Sword Sect panted harshly, while the Peak master glared at them without the slightest sign of forgiveness.
Just as the air in the hall threatened to boil like lava—
“Uncle Cheol, it’s hot.”
A voice as clear and refreshing as a stream, and slender white fingers tugging at Cheol Mubaek’s sleeve. At the same time, the angry furrows in his brow smoothed out as though someone had pulled them flat.
“W-Was it very hot?”
“Yes. I can’t even breathe.”
“Oh dear. I didn’t think of you. How is it now?”
“Much better. Thank you, Uncle Cheol.”
“Don’t say such things. Protecting you, Seowol, is my duty.”
Cheol Mubaek’s mighty Scorching Yang Qi subsided.
Only then did held breaths burst out across the hall. Once the people soaked in sweat came to their senses, they realized that Cheol Mubaek was not alone.
“Y-Young Lady.”
“We greet the Young Lady.”
Cheol Mubaek raised his brows at the senior figures hurriedly standing to show their respect. But the “Young Lady” was faster.
“I’ll tell you both one last time, Iron Sword Squad Leader, Master of the Gatekeeper Pavilion.”
The woman who had been hidden behind Cheol Mubaek’s massive frame stepped into view. She was slim and graceful, and the hem of her blue gown rustled whenever it brushed the floor.
“Change how you address me. Not Young Lady—Sect Leader.”
Those who met her frost-covered gaze remembered one fact they had momentarily forgotten.
Ah. That’s right.
The Blood Wolf Sword, Lee Cheonbaek.
Lee Seowol was the child in whom his blood ran strongest.
I knew nothing about horseback riding. After coming to Murim, I had ridden only a few times. In the modern world, horseback riding was practically an aristocratic sport reserved for the rich, so I’d never had the chance to try it.
But perhaps because my physical abilities were so good and I was riding a well-trained horse, I had enough leisure to look at the System Window even during a furious gallop.
Open Quest Window.
Ding.
System
Quest
Yesterday’s Enemy, Today’s Ally
Now that all the truth has been revealed, the Mount Heng Sword Sect is not an enemy but an ally you must join hands with. Invite them to the Jin Family of Taiyuan during the upcoming New Year’s Day.
Grade: Peak
Restriction: Jin Taekyung
Objective: Deliver the invitation (Incomplete)
Reward: ???
Failure: None
Quests were fluid. Depending on the circumstances, sudden Quests could appear or existing Quests could be updated, as this one had been.
The Grade was raised.
The Quest Grade changing from First Rate to Peak meant that the road to the Mount Heng Sword Sect had become anything but easy.
For example, the Red Wind Band. Or the Red Wind Band. Probably the Red Wind Band…
Never mind. Thinking about it any more would only hurt.
Every day in this place is like walking on thin ice.
I thought I’d finally received an easy Quest for once, only for trouble to erupt again.
The reason I wasn’t as anxious as before was partly because of the reliable presence of Jin Mukyung, but also because I myself had grown stronger.
Open Status Window.
Ding.
System
Status Window
Level: 55 — Jin Taekyung
Class: First Rate Martial Artist
Fame: 1,300 (+150)
Titles: 4 (Title effects active)
— Returnee (All stats +10)
— Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi (All stats +10, Fame +100)
— Scion of a Prestigious Family (All stats +5, Fame +50)
— Gambler (Combat-related stats +10% in one-on-one combat)
Strength: 196 (+25)
Stamina: 195 (+25)Agility: 192 (+25)
Intelligence: 35 (+25)Charm: 35 (+25)
Internal Energy: 15 yearsToughness: 155 (+25)
Remaining Points: 0
Ahh, barkeep.
Look how well I’ve grown. All by myself.
Strength, Agility, and Stamina were each nearing 200. Just looking at them made me feel full, and my Toughness, born from getting beaten by Jin Mukyung, was growing nicely too.
The Title bonuses are hefty, too. This should be enough.
Until now, I had raised my stats just to survive. Every time I advanced a Quest, one crisis after another came crashing down like three waves at once. There was no way I could afford to invest points in Charm or Intelligence.
Even if I raised my Intelligence enough to reach an IQ of 180, it’s not like I’d start thrusting a spear scientifically.
The same went for Charm. Jopil and the Head Elder weren’t going to spare me just because I was handsome.
Of course, raising them would help me in some way eventually. But with my life hanging by a thread, I hadn’t had the courage to invest in noncombat stats.
I can protect this one life of mine to some extent now.
Once this Quest was over, I planned to devote some attention to my internal energy and noncombat stats.
As it was, the items I had obtained after defeating Jopil—including the Blazing Flame Divine Pill—were sitting untouched in my Inventory.
Of course, taking it wrong could send me straight to the grave.
Just then, Wolhwa, who had been riding at the front, spotted a stream and pulled to a stop.
“We’ll rest for a little while. The horses are too exhausted.”
How much time had passed?
We had ridden without stopping since leaving the shrine. Dawn had broken, and now the sun hung high overhead. System messages announcing increases to my Strength and Stamina had even appeared twice, so this really had been a forced march.
“Whew. My ass is killing me. If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve been born the son of a coachman instead of a farmer.”
While the horses rested, Hyuk Mujin dropped heavily to the ground. Since he was the lowest-level member of the group, his exhaustion was obvious.
“Having a hard time?”
Hyuk Mujin wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve before answering.
“Honestly, yes… But strangely enough, it’s much better than last time.”
“Last time?”
“You’ve already forgotten? During the scouting mission.”
“Ah, I remember.”
I had nearly died after running into Jopil during a scouting mission for White Tiger Hall. We had taken horses with us then too.
Though we ended up abandoning them when the heavy snow came.
The memory drew a quiet laugh from me.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was thinking about you. You mouthed off to me without knowing any better and got the crap beaten out of you.”
“……Do you really have to dredge up the past to feel better?”
“You’re the one who asked, punk.”
“Anyway, I’m saying it seems much better than back then.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We’ve ridden much farther than we did during the scouting mission, but I’m not even that tired. Maybe I’m getting used to riding?”
“Maybe… Ah, wait.”
“Hm?”
Something suddenly occurred to me, so I heightened my Qi Sense.
Ding.
With the familiar System notification, a Level Window appeared over Hyuk Mujin’s bewildered face.
System
Level: 38 — Hyuk Mujin
“……Huh?”
A breathy sound escaped my open mouth. When had Hyuk Mujin’s Level gotten this high?
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t all that high.
But considering that he had been only Level 20 when we first met, calling it astonishing progress wasn’t enough. At this point, it was practically like he had been reborn.
Come to think of it, his Level has been rising steadily ever since we met.
As I searched my memory, the details came back more clearly.
It had been the same when we reunited as a scouting unit. Whenever I heightened my Qi Sense from time to time, Hyuk Mujin’s Level had risen by one or two.
Now he was Level 38. In terms of time spent in Murim, he had nearly doubled his Level in just over two months.
Then maybe…?
With a doubtful heart, I stared intently at Hyuk Mujin.
What if he received stat points like I did? Could I distribute them for him?
It’s possible.
Judging by how much stronger I was than a Hunter or martial artist of a similar Level, there seemed to be some kind of System enhancement effect…
It’s worth trying once.
“Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
“No. You’re just ugly.”
“……Seriously.”
I grabbed Hyuk Mujin by the shoulder and shouted inwardly.
Open Status Window!
At that very moment—
“What are you doing? My shoulder hurts.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Nothing happened. I thought at least something would appear.
Then again, my main character was still far from reaching the Level cap. Why would my alt character get anything? Still, it was disappointing.
Should I try saying it out loud?
They would definitely treat me like some kind of weirdo, but it was better than moving on with the feeling of not washing my hands after using the bathroom.
I stealthily placed my hand against Hyuk Mujin’s back—lightly, very lightly—and muttered under my breath.
“Open Status Window.”
“Seriously, what has gotten into you today?”
I ignored him and shot to my feet.
The notification I had been waiting for chimed, and a System Window appeared.
“Yes! There it is!”
Ding.
System
The Quest condition Time Limit has been added.
Arrive at the Mount Heng Sword Sect within 22:00:00. If you are late, there will be no turning back.
“Yes…”
My voice died away. My eyes trembled.
A time limit? What the hell kind of time limit is this?
Why are you doing this to me? Seriously.
As I let out a deep sigh, Wolhwa’s eyes widened and she asked,
“Young Master Jin, are you hurt?”
“No, it’s not that. Do you know around when we’ll arrive?”
“Hmm. At today’s pace, before tomorrow evening?”
“Ah.”
It was a little past noon now. That meant we still had more than a full day’s ride ahead of us.
Judging by the Quest Window’s change, it seemed the Red Wind Band bastards would attack the Mount Heng Sword Sect within that time limit…
What was I supposed to do?
“Shall we get going soon?”
“The horses are tired. They need to rest for half a shichen.”
“Horses, you’re fine, aren’t you? You heard that, right? They said they’re fine.”
“……”
Yeah. I knew you’d look at me like that.
Comments
Comments need a network connection.