Chapter 12 of 100
Chapter 12
7 min read1,821 words
Chapter 11. The Three Lives Koma Offers (1)
▶ Become Koma's Core Warrior
Rejoin as a retainer after entering the Budo Island
Difficulty (★★)
Budo Island is known as the main training ground of the main temple.
It is a qualitatively different institution from the Chonhyangso, which handles basic education for a single party, and is directly managed by the main temple.
It is a true talent development center that trains 100 people each year with the goal of producing only 3 to 4 graduates.
While it has many advantages, such as significantly enhancing one's internal energy and martial arts skills, it also has a downside.
That downside is the lack of a guarantee for one's life.
Fortunately, those who wish to leave can immediately go through the procedures.
▶ Become Koma's Bodyguard
Personal guidance from the Green Pavilion Elder, then close protection for Koma
Difficulty (★★★)
The Green Pavilion Elder holds the position of Deputy Chief of the Supreme Party and is the 94th-ranked individual in the main temple.
If you receive personal guidance from him, your martial arts skills are guaranteed to improve.
However, it is difficult to endure due to his fiery temper, and you must be prepared for extreme situations where you might become disabled. Still, you can become Koma's bodyguard.
‘Wait, if it's a specific person, could it be possible to eliminate the Great Yellow Pavilion Master?’
Of course, there are conditions such as the political situation and the necessary skills, but so what?
If you have the skills, you can take that position, right? That's the rule of the main temple.
▶ Become Koma's Secret Warrior
Assassinate a specific person in the Jianghu
Difficulty (★★★★★)
Seohui felt puzzled by this option.
Why show such a choice to kill a specific person in the Jianghu?
Moreover, the high difficulty compared to the other options was ominous.
‘I’ll go for the easiest option.’
Seohui made his decision based on the number of star-shaped marks.
No matter which option he chose, his survival was the most important.
As long as he could survive, he could always turn the situation around.
[You have chosen to become Koma's Core Warrior.]
"That's good too."
Koma nodded.
He pointed to the bookshelf and continued.
"However, there are only five days left until you enter Budo Island. I'll tell the official on the first floor, so wait in the underground storage of Cheonilguan. You can take anything useful from there."
"Thank you."
"No problem, just for that."
He made a gesture indicating it was no big deal and turned around.
"Oh, by the way."
He stopped, as if he had something more to say, and smiled.
"There should be a book called 'Samsoo Wonjosa' there. You'll find a martial art suitable for you in that book."
"……!"
Seohui was surprised.
Samsoo Wonjosa. The martial art that had given him a stroke of luck in his previous life.
"It wasn't just a casual remark."
Koma's direct mention made Seohui understand his question from the past.
It seemed Koma had been keeping an eye on that martial art.
‘Wait.’
Thinking of Samsoo Wonjosa, Seohui naturally recalled the martial arts written in the book.
Martial arts he hadn't learned.
In addition to Soheemagong, there were two more martial arts.
Thump, thump.
Koma had already left the room and was descending the stairs. After a moment, Seohui, who had stayed in the room, began to move to the underground storage when he no longer heard any footsteps.
* * *
"I think it was around here."
Seohui immediately headed for the corner with a pile of books as soon as he entered the underground storage.
He looked around the scattered books on the floor but couldn't find it easily.
It had glowed before, but now there was no such phenomenon.
"It was around here."
Seohui quickly gathered the books with his hands, hoping that some text would appear in front of him.
"Huh?"
While feeling around the scattered books at his feet, a text appeared in front of him.
<Which martial art would you like to learn?>
▶ Soheemagong (Learn)
▷ Chisoomagong (Possible)
▷ Joegmagong (Possible)
"Got it!"
Seohui shivered with excitement.
Chisoomagong, which the former Deputy Master had learned, and Joegmagong, which the Great Yellow Pavilion Master used.
Now he could learn both.
▷ Soheemagong (Learn)
▶ Chisoomagong (Possible)
▷ Joegmagong (Possible)
When Seohui chose Chisoomagong,
▶ Chisoomagong ▶ Jihyeoljang
A new and unfamiliar martial art, Jihyeoljang, was created.
‘There’s no choice this time?’
Previously, with Soheemagong, he could choose between sword techniques, body techniques, and fist techniques.
But now, only Jihyeoljang was created.
‘Ah, it’s a hand technique. That’s why it’s a martial art done with the hands…’
Whatever, it didn't matter.
Seohui quickly chose Jihyeoljang.
Whoosh.
A hazy shadow appeared in front of him, just like with Soheemagong.
But this time, it wasn't holding a sword.
The shadow, with its fingers curled into a circle, slowly brought its hands together.
Thud, thud, thud.
Then, the changes in the shadow's body followed.
‘Pressure points.’
Seohui immediately recognized them.
The red dots appearing one by one were the flow of demonic energy inside the body.
They were showing the circulation of energy.
Whoosh.
The energy that was marked on the pressure points flowed into the lower dantian below the navel.
Then, it exploded out of the shadow's hands.
"Ah!"
Seohui gasped.
A grayish color appeared from the shadow's hands, and the energy was gathering like a snowstorm being sucked in.
As the shadow spread its hands,
Crack!
The energy extended in both directions, destroying part of the wall and ceiling.
"Wow…"
Seohui let out a sigh.
Even though it was just an illusion, the explosive scene was impressive.
A truly bizarre and destructive power.
The fact that he would soon be able to use it was significant.
‘Next is…’
<Which martial art would you like to learn?>
When he touched the book Samsoo Wonjosa again, the text in front of him responded naturally.
▷ Soheemagong (Learn)
▷ Chisoomagong (Learn)
▶ Joegmagong (Possible)
Seohui couldn't hide his excitement when he chose Joegmagong.
Chisoomagong was an excellent martial art, but it was more of a supporting role.
Joegmagong, on the other hand, was the main martial art used by the Great Yellow Pavilion Master and was one of the top martial arts in the main temple.
In his past life, he never imagined he would have the opportunity to learn such power.
Ding.
As soon as he made his choice, the text appeared in front of him.
▶ Joegmagong ▶ Boryeokgong
<You have chosen 'Boryeokgong.' Showing the video.>
Whoosh.
A hazy shadow appeared again, this time holding a sword.
Thud, thud, thud.
Like with Chisoomagong, the transparent body began to show the pressure points.
Whoosh.
As the energy in the body followed the path to the lower dantian,
Pah!
The shadow's sword stabbed a single point.
"Wow!"
Seohui was amazed.
Whoosh!
The energy that had exploded disappeared, and like a stream piercing through a wave, it endlessly drilled through a section of the wall.
* * *
Since the day he arrived at the underground storage, Seohui did his best to adapt.
Not to the given environment,
but to the symbols, signs, and text in front of him.
<Chisoomagong>
Jihyeoljang (Imitation)
The term 'imitation' in the explanation indicated his current level.
‘If I become proficient, I can become stronger, right?’
‘"Learned" doesn’t mean "perfectly manifested," does it?’
The same text followed Joegmagong as it did with Chisoomagong.
<Joegmagong>
Boryeokgong (Imitation)
He could easily guess from the shadow.
The demonic sword technique of Soheemagong.
The grayish color of Chisoomagong.
The fiery energy of Boryeokgong.
He had learned all three, but he couldn't manifest the same power as the shadow.
Internal Energy 80/250
It was probably due to this value.
He could learn martial arts instantly, but he couldn't perfectly manifest them because his internal energy was insufficient.
If he could develop proper internal energy in the future, he would be able to use the energy shown by the shadow properly.
For that reason,
Whoosh!
The Soheemagong Seohui displayed was a level between sword wind and sword energy.
Boom!
Chisoomagong scratched the wall and ceiling widely but didn't destroy them.
Joegmagong was the same.
Boom!
It only left a scratch on the wall.
<Soheemagong>
Sword Technique (Imitation)
Fist Technique (Imitation)
Body Technique (Imitation)
In any case,
Seohui had obtained all the abilities of Soheemagong, which he hadn't learned before.
* * *
Five days passed.
On the morning of the day Seohui was to enter Budo Island, he saw a middle-aged man come down to the underground storage.
"Are you Seohui?"
He was probably in his forties.
He introduced himself as someone sent by Koma.
Moreover,
"My name is Geun. Master Koma asked me to guide you to Budo Island."
Seohui bowed and was about to draw his sword when
"Take this."
The man offered him a gray pill.
<You have obtained an Internal Energy Enhancement Pill, Bisadan.>
‘Huh?’
Seohui looked down, surprised.
"It's a medicinal pill. One pill can enhance your internal energy equivalent to over ten years of practice."
A jiazi is sixty years of internal energy.
In that sense, it was a considerable amount.
His current internal energy was probably equivalent to three years of practice.
"To receive such a valuable item…"
"It's the minimum required to survive in Budo Island. Don't refuse it."
"Thank you."
Seohui didn't refuse.
Thinking he would become stronger in Budo Island no matter what.
Swallow.
<Your stats have significantly increased.>
Health 205 (↑85) / 205
Internal Energy 2,250 (↑2,000) / 2,250
‘To receive such a stroke of luck…’
Seohui's expression brightened.
Even though his stats were already maxed out, his health increased slightly, and his internal energy increased by nearly 2,000.
That wasn't all.
[Passive Skill]
You have learned Mind Reading!
‘What?’
His eyes widened at the term 'Mind Reading.'
It was a new ability he hadn't seen before.
Seohui's gaze went to the detailed view in the upper right corner.
Mind Reading (Imitation) (New)
○ Explanation: Status check and vision enhancement for martial artists
‘Is this because my internal energy increased?’
He finally understood.
When certain conditions are met, stronger abilities are created.
It was a phenomenon that Seohui could only be happy about.
However,
<You can now view the status window because you have learned Mind Reading.>
Another one appeared.
[Status]
Geun [One of Koma's Bodyguards]
Physical Condition: Normal
He could see Geun's status window.
Only a part of it, but
‘Huh?’
There was one more thing.
Hostility: 77% (Warning)
A phrase he hadn't seen before.
A new status was written.
‘How can this be…’
Seohui couldn't help but doubt his eyes.
The text below the hostility.
It listed meanings that didn't fit the current situation.
Hostility: 77% (Warning)
First disciple of the Heavenly Demon's subordinate. Spy (细作)
He couldn't help but be shocked.
Ironically, he was
Koma's bodyguard.