Chapter 80

Chapter 79. You can give direct orders (2)

"By the way, your outfit is quite impressive. It seems like you wouldn't be noticed much in the mountains at night."

Tap tap.

Elder Baekhon, seemingly curious, touched Seohui's clothing.

"Oh, this is military... no, camouflage."

"Hehe. Camouflage! What a good name. It's a suit that can help you avoid attention without much effort. Could you get one for me too?"

"Oh, I'll pass it on to you as soon as I get an extra one."

It was a lie.

He gave a polite answer to avoid suspicion and to please Elder Baekhon.

Apart from the clothes, Elder Baekhon also said a few flattering words before suddenly changing the topic.

"Well, Commander Seohui. Despite your injuries, can I ask you for a favor?"

"A favor...?"

"My disciple, Yumuji. Could you take him under your command?"

"Wha?!"

It was unexpected for Seohui.

And at that moment, he realized why Elder Baekhon had come with Yumuji.

<Do you want to take Yumuji as your subordinate?>

▶ Accept

▷ Decline

The choice window appeared as if on cue.

Seohui turned his head to assess the situation.

Seeing Yumuji, his stats appeared in his mind.

[Status Summary]

Yumuji [Elder Baekhon's First Disciple]

Health 1,400,000/1,400,000

Internal Energy 1,200,000/1,200,000

Realm: Peak

Combat Power 2,480,000 <+Proliferation (增殖)>

'His abilities have improved dramatically since then?'

It had been about a year.

When he met Yumuji, his combat power was only around 1,000,000.

And his health was only about 400,000.

But after some training, his abilities had improved in every aspect.

In just a year.

'Well, since it's a request from Elder Baekhon, it's better to accept it.'

Seohui had gauged his character through a few conversations.

His tone was rough, but he never forgot a favor.

Owing him a favor now would surely be helpful later.

Moreover, Yumuji had learned special techniques like Reversing Technique and Submerged Shadow Body Technique.

He would be useful in many ways.

<You have chosen 'Accept.'>

"Thank you."

Elder Baekhon's expression brightened.

He was indeed a straightforward person, showing his emotions clearly.

Perhaps he just wanted to get rid of his troublesome disciple, but Elder Baekhon was the type who would give a generous reward in return.

"In gratitude, I'll give you a gift. Is there anything you want?"

With those words, another choice window appeared.

<Elder Baekhon is offering you a gift. Which one would you like?>

▶ Elixir

▷ Weapon

▷ Armor

▷ Shoes

'Oh. This is, a stroke of luck!'

Seohui rejoiced inwardly.

He could now instinctively tell which choice was the best.

Elixir. Weapon. Armor. Shoes.

He was drawn to the elixir first.

His health and internal energy were much lower compared to his combat power.

He had the Yeohu Jian, so he could skip the weapon.

'Shoes? What could he be giving me?'

The 'Shoes' option, which had never appeared before, piqued his curiosity.

It could be just a fancy, expensive pair of shoes, but it didn't seem like that.

After all, the other options were all very attractive.

▶ Shoes

The shoes appeared alongside the elixir, weapon, and armor.

This meant that these shoes could be as valuable as a high-quality elixir.

It was worth a try.

This could be an opportunity.

Elixirs were rare, but shoes with the value of an elixir?

He might never get such a chance again.

<You have chosen 'Shoes.'>

So, Seohui chose the shoes among the four options.

And then Elder Baekhon's response.

"Sure. I knew you'd choose the good one."

<You have obtained Jinchohoe (眞椒鞋).>

In the blink of an eye, the Jinchohoe shoes appeared in his inventory.

His gaze quickly moved to the detailed view.

[Jinchohoe (眞椒鞋)]

Description: A shoe known to be made from the skin of a mysterious animal by a noble of the Dongyi Clan. Cloud patterns are drawn on the nose and heel.

Effect: Reduces one action in a special technique.

He didn't have time to read it thoroughly.

Elder Baekhon's words were not yet finished.

"Sure. I hope we can work well together in the future."

Elder Baekhon left a short message and turned around.

He then left the room alone, and Yumuji, who had been standing awkwardly, looked at Gonma and Seohui for cues.

"Um... I hope we can work well together, Commander Gonma."

"That's not for me. Since you're recommended by Elder Baekhon, it's a pleasure for me. Seohui, if you don't mind."

Swoosh.

Gonma glanced at Yumuji once and then spoke.

"Indeed, you've shown excellent performance even in unseen places. Well done, Seohui."

His warm and praising words followed.

Seohui responded with a nod of gratitude.

While Yoreum and the lieutenant were still standing with their heads bowed.

At that moment, a bright light shone before his eyes.

It was a signal indicating the passage of time and space.

* * *

[You are recuperating at the Yin Ying Dan internal resort for 24 days.]

[On the 7th day, your health and internal energy are recovering.]

[On the 8th day, your health and internal energy are recovering.]

[On the 9th day, your health and internal energy are recovering.]

...

...

Seohui's status windows appeared before his eyes.

With a month-long schedule, time naturally passed.

Seohui thought he would return to his quarters as usual.

But during the time travel, this appeared.

[Do you want to see a hidden story?]

▶ Yes

▷ No

'Hidden?'

A strange feeling.

But it also piqued his curiosity.

What kind of hidden story could this be?

'Just seeing it, what could go wrong...'

Since there was no apparent downside, Seohui decided to accept.

[You have chosen 'Yes.']

Whoosh—

The ceiling reappeared as the light brightened.

The thick dragon beam and the intricately woven rafters looked familiar.

'I'm still in the room where I was recuperating?'

Thinking about it, it wasn't strange.

The time flow had stopped at exactly the 12th day.

So, he should still be recuperating here.

Just then.

"There you are."

A man entered, opening the door.

"You...?"

It was Private Commander Bigun.

Wearing a bamboo hat, he approached Seohui.

"I heard that you were quite injured when the monsters attacked Gonma's quarters. I should have come earlier, but I was in the middle of training and could only spare the time today."

"Thank you. Despite your busy schedule, coming here... I appreciate it."

"Even if I'm busy, I should come. We are all walking the same path, aren't we?"

"Indeed..."

Seohui felt inexplicably glad to see him.

Their first meeting wasn't great, but after their intense fight, he felt an inexplicable sense of kinship.

"By the way, are you feeling better?"

"Much better. It will take a few more days to fully recover, but there's no need to worry."

"Good. I heard that the monster who invaded the main hall was a close confidant of the Taihuang Pavilion Master. Is that true?"

"Well... I can't deny it."

"Hmm."

Bigun's expression hardened.

Not only him, but the entire Yin Ying Dan had bad feelings towards the Taihuang Pavilion Master.

He was also a troublesome opponent for Gonma.

"Actually, since the topic came up, if our Yin Ying Dan cooperates, getting rid of that guy would be no problem. The issue is the other people surrounding him."

"People surrounding him?"

"Besides the Taihuang Pavilion Master, there are other Pavilion Masters."

"Oh!"

Seohui finally remembered.

The people who shared the same thoughts as the Taihuang Pavilion Master.

When he received a mission from the Taihuang Pavilion Master before, the one who encouraged the humiliation was the Ouchien Pavilion Master.

'The Pavilion Masters.'

They could be considered loyal supporters of Salma, the first disciple of the Heavenly Horse.

"Take care of your recuperation. I have orders to give to my subordinates."

"Good luck. Thank you for coming."

Bigun, who stood up, gave a brief nod and slowly turned around.

Seohui felt a strange emotion from him.

Something warm... it was good.

Up to this point.

"Wait, I have something to say..."

'What?!!'

Seohui was surprised by his own words.

He realized that the words he just spoke were not his own, but driven by some will.

Like AI Seohui's actions.

Meanwhile, Bigun turned around and asked.

"What is it?"

"It's about our first meeting. The words I said to provoke you. Can you tell me what they were?"

"First meeting?"

"Yes, when you were standing up, I said something like '(*▽*)ﾉ'..."

"......?!!"

Bigun's eyes widened in shock.

His face turned bright red.

"You really...?!"

"Ah, don't misunderstand. I really didn't mean it. I just can't remember what I said to you back then, and I don't want to make the same mistake again."

"Ah, this guy..."

Bigun couldn't continue, his face flushed red.

For some reason, he was struggling so much that he clenched his fists.

Finally, he spoke.

"Damn it! Why should I grab your ass! What?! It's disgusting to touch, and you're asking me to grab it, you little brat!"

"......Ah!"

This time, Seohui was the one shocked.

The ass... and it was his own...

He had asked someone to grab his own ass...

Thinking about how many times he had said this to the lieutenant, his face burned even though he was alone, and he couldn't lift his head.

"How can I face him now..."

Seohui pulled at his hair.

After a while, he sighed and decided to just ignore it.

It was a done deal.

He thought it might be a good idea to act as if nothing happened and be shameless about it.

"Hold on, about the elixir... and the Jinchohoe, I need to check what they are."

Seohui quickly opened his inventory.

He took out the Okryonghwan and Jinchohoe.

"It's a bit cuter than I expected."

The Okryonghwan was about the size of a finger.

It was described as a human face, but it only resembled eyes and a mouth.

"Should I eat it?"

Seohui swallowed it.

He was curious about the changes since Gonma gave it to him.

As time passed,

[Seohui's health and internal energy have increased dramatically.]

Seeing the status window, Seohui checked his stats.

Seohui [Commander of Yin Ying Dan]

Health 9,200,000/(↑2,100,000)9,200,000

Internal Energy 15,700,000/(↑3,600,000)15,700,000

"Oh!"

Seohui's eyes widened.

Such a significant increase.

So, he took out another Okryonghwan and swallowed it.

[Seohui's health and internal energy have increased dramatically.]

Seohui [Commander of Yin Ying Dan]

Health 12,000,000/(↑2,800,000)12,000,000

Internal Energy 20,400,000/(↑4,700,000)20,400,000

"Finally, I've reached the 10,000,000 mark."

Seohui's face brightened.

He had worked hard to increase his favor, and now he felt a bit rewarded for his efforts.

"Now, I should try on the shoes."

Unlike the items that were easy to understand, he was curious about these.

What kind of ability would they give him?

Putting on the slightly unusual-looking Jinchuhoe,

[Reduces one action in a special technique.]

The sentence he saw in the detailed view appeared.

And then,

[Which part would you like to remove?]

Fengshen (風神)

■ [→] [N(Neutral)] [↓] [↘] [A] [<4.5x Speed]>

'This is it!'

Seohui's eyes widened.

The technique he had struggled to use, or always failed when he tried, or was stopped midway.

But it was his most powerful and efficient martial art, 'Fengshen'.

'There's no need to hesitate.'

Seohui was certain of his choice.

■ [→] [N(Neutral)] [↓] [↘] [A] [<4.5x Speed]>

The most difficult part among the six.

If this part was removed, it would be much easier to perform.

It was.

[N(Neutral)]

This.

[Removed.]

Without hesitation, he executed it.

Soon, the characteristic technique table of the Four Great Extreme Demon Arts changed.

◆ Four Great Extreme Demon Arts Characteristic Technique Table ◆

Fengshen (風神): → ↓ ↘, A<4.5x Speed>

That's how it was.