🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 3 …
After Daeryeok Paegong was registered as a skill, Im Kang sat down in meditation once more.
Not long after closing his eyes, he could feel the world changing through his skin and breathing.
Even though it was only at the first stage, the difference between having learned an internal energy cultivation method and not having learned one was as vast as heaven and earth.
‘My body feels lighter.’
If he exaggerated a little, it felt as though a gust of wind could send him flying away.
Even better—
Daeryeok Paegong was a passive skill.
Unlike Map or Treasure Search, it didn’t need to be activated. As long as he closed his eyes and breathed, it automatically circulated and regulated his qi.
‘So this is qi?’
Suuup, hoo.
With every breath, qi flowed into his body through his respiratory system.
At first, it stopped around his solar plexus. After several cycles, it reached his abdomen, and eventually descended below his navel.
[Your Dantian has been formed.]
[Internal Energy has increased by 1 day.]
In Murim, the amount of internal energy was measured in Gapja (甲子) units.
In ancient times, cultivating for 365 days accumulated one year of internal energy, and sixty years of internal energy was recorded as one Gapja.
Of course, that was a saying from the ancient Murim era.
As cultivation methods improved and spiritual medicines were developed, it became possible to gain anywhere from several days to several dozen days’ worth of internal energy through only a few hours of cultivation per day.
‘Hmm. That divided Chwiguhwan was worth five years of internal energy, right?’
Im Kang rose from his meditation posture and tore up the floor.
Since he had already learned an internal energy cultivation method, he planned to consume the Chwiguhwan—which could become a target for theft—and remove it from existence.
The result was—
Ding!
[Internal Energy has increased to 5 years and 1 day.]
[Peak Daeryeok Paegong (大力覇功) has advanced to Fifth Stage.]
“…??”
Now he was even more confused.
Wondering whether the system window had malfunctioned, Im Kang employed the universal solution for repairing electronic devices—
Tathagata Palm (his hand).
He slapped at the screen.
Naturally, he only struck empty air.
“Sss. What’s going on?”
Filled with curiosity, he pressed (More Details) to inspect the skill.
Skills: Third-Rate Pungado Technique (風牙刀法) 80%, Second-Rate Dongsingong (銅身功) 40%, Map Lv.1, Trap Detection Lv.1, Treasure Search Lv.1, Appraisal Lv.1, Trap Disarmament Lv.1, Lockpicking Lv.1, Stealth Lv.1, Ranged Attack Enhancement Lv.1, Ranged Projectile Guidance Lv.1, Peak Daeryeok Paegong (大力覇功) 50% NEW!
He focused once more.
[Peak Daeryeok Paegong (大力覇功) – Fifth Stage]
└ First Stage: Forms a Dantian to complete the vessel capable of containing immense power.
└ Second Stage: Strengthens the bones to complete the vessel capable of containing immense power.
└ Third Stage: Hardens the tendons to complete the vessel capable of containing immense power.
└ Fourth Stage: Toughens the meridians to complete the vessel capable of containing immense power.
└ Fifth Stage: Internal energy permeates the skin to complete the vessel capable of containing immense power.
In simple terms, it meant his physical abilities had improved.
Honestly, the feeling was—
Crack.
…Excellent.
He hadn’t even exerted much force, yet the bamboo armor in his hand shattered.
Bamboo was harder than most people thought.
Twisting and bending it could eventually break it, but crushing it with pure grip strength was impossible even for a male gorilla possessing approximately 326 kilograms of grip strength.
‘But I did it?’
And he hadn’t even used internal energy!
The description said his physical abilities had improved, but this was strange.
His strength was far too great.
With grip strength like this, he was beyond human.
Moreover, his skin had become incredibly tough—
No, hard.
Learning Dongsingong had already made his skin tougher. Previously, a blade that should have pierced five centimeters would only penetrate about four and a half.
Now, the sharp bamboo fragments couldn’t even pierce his skin and instead snapped apart.
“…Could it be that Daeryeok Paegong and Dongsingong have excellent compatibility?”
No.
Simply calling it good compatibility wasn’t enough.
Again, he wasn’t even using internal energy.
Just as Im Kang was agonizing over the mystery—
[Daeryeok Paegong and Dongsingong have formed a Chaining.]
‘…Chaining?!’
Im Kang immediately covered his mouth to avoid shouting loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
Chaining.
Simply put, it meant two skills had exceptional compatibility and formed a linked synergy.
In his previous life, it had been one of the essential requirements for becoming a high-ranking Awakened.
At the same time—
He instinctively understood the effects of the Chaining.
Like a man possessed, Im Kang grabbed a blade and slashed at his own arm.
Tang!
He wasn’t striking with full force, but thanks to the Chaining, he now possessed superhuman grip strength.
Compared to before awakening, his power had increased by roughly fifty percent.
And yet the blade bounced away.
Only a tiny scratch remained, barely visible to the eye.
Just as the name Dongsingong suggested, his skin had become nearly as hard as copper.
Of course, it would be different if he infused internal energy into the attack.
‘Wow. This is insane.’
Suppressing his excitement and disbelief, he organized his thoughts.
- His skin had become about half as hard as copper.
- By channeling internal energy, it could temporarily become as hard as actual copper.
- He was a walking copper shield.
Satisfied.
Now he understood why Dongsingong was classified as a second-rate external martial art.
Its true power only emerged once one possessed internal energy.
Come to think of it, it had always seemed strange.
Shaolin Temple had many external arts.
Even the famous Iron Head Technique (鐵頭功) supposedly hardened one’s head to the point that when struck by a sword imbued with sword qi, it was the sword—not the head—that broke.
It was a truth he never would have known if he hadn’t awakened as a Hunter.
Long live Hunter awakening!
‘Wait. Then has Pungado Technique changed too?’
Martial arts required internal energy.
Without it, their power dropped by half or even more.
Pungado Technique might be third-rate, but things could be different now that he possessed internal energy.
Filled with anticipation, Im Kang swung his blade.
‘Not much difference.’
He wasn’t particularly disappointed.
His movements and proficiency felt somewhat improved compared to before awakening.
If he had to put a number on it, perhaps it had gone from 10 to 10.5.
That was already being generous.
In real combat, it was rare to utilize one hundred percent of one’s proficiency.
Well, unless one was at least a first-rate expert.
‘But I’m just a third-rate wanderer with a little over five years of internal energy.’
Yep.
No chance.
This was the limit of a pathetic third-rate blade technique.
There was a reason Murim said that a true martial artist only began at the second-rate level.
Just look at Dongsingong.
It was second-rate, and now he was a walking copper shield.
Still, obtaining a Peak-grade internal cultivation method meant he should thank the heavens—
No, the System.
Otherwise, he would have remained a third-rate wanderer for life.
Grrrrr.
After thinking so much and running around everywhere, he felt hungry.
He checked his pocket, thinking he should at least buy some somyeon.
‘Ah… right. I spent a lot today.’
He had thrown caution to the wind, intending to profit first and worry about repayment later.
The coins remaining in his pocket numbered twelve.
If he ate only somyeon, it was enough to survive for four days.
‘Four days… four days…’
But surprisingly, even the slums required rent.
He had paid ten days ago, but the landlord often collected rent in advance whenever he felt like it.
There was no telling when the man would show up and demand early payment again.
Rent was fifty coins per month.
Ridiculously cheap because it was the slums.
Unfortunately, Im Kang’s wallet was even cheaper.
‘Hmm. Looks like I need to make some money.’
Im Kang quickly headed to the marketplace, ate a bowl of somyeon, returned home, and lay down.
Slightly excited, he tossed and turned before finally falling asleep.
* * *
The next morning.
The moment he opened his eyes, Im Kang grabbed his blade and headed to the brokerage hall.
“Sss. It’s surprisingly chilly.”
“That’s the sea breeze.”
Looking around the interior, he saw a couple of people already seated.
He had arrived earlier than usual.
‘People like me.’
The tighter a wanderer’s finances became, the earlier they showed up.
That’s how diligent wanderers caught worms.
However, the brokerage hall was unusually noisy today.
“Hey, brother.”
While Im Kang was observing the atmosphere, one of the seated wanderers beckoned him over.
Since no one swung blades inside the brokerage hall, he casually sat in an empty chair.
“Did you come because of the Heukdobang and Jeokryupa too?”
“I’m still thinking about it.”
Im Kang shrugged while considering the situation.
First, Heukdobang.
A small gang in Hangzhou that ran a loan-sharking business and had around fifty members.
In Murim, usury was called Yeomwangchae, “a debt owed to the King of Hell.”
Simply put, they were the equivalent of old-world loan sharks.
Next was Jeokryupa.
Since Hangzhou bordered both sea and river routes, it was famous for maritime and river transportation.
Jeokryupa managed the northern river routes, which were relatively less profitable.
Their number of disciples was similar to Heukdobang’s, and the two organizations had clashed constantly for years.
‘I heard their conflict had been getting worse for months…’
According to the wanderers, they had finally decided to settle things.
Honestly, Im Kang didn’t understand.
Neither leader was particularly powerful.
Both had only recently entered the first-rate realm.
Compared to him, they were obviously among the Ten Great Experts, but there were plenty of organizations in Hangzhou of similar size whose leaders were also first-rate or stronger.
If they fought and suffered heavy losses, some unrelated group could swoop in and take everything.
That was why such organizations rarely fought all-out wars.
“But why are Heukdobang and Jeokryupa fighting?”
“No idea.”
“I hope they keep staring each other down and fight late. We’ll earn more money that way.”
“Wouldn’t we earn more if they fought early and finished quickly?”
“Yeah. Your life would finish early too.”
“Ah. I really want to visit a brothel.”
His heart swelled with emotion.
This was the average intelligence level of the wanderer community.
The problem was that Im Kang wasn’t much different.
‘Still, it’s a perfect opportunity to make a quick profit.’
Im Kang decided to join Jeokryupa.
The reason wasn’t complicated.
He hated loan sharks because of experiences from his previous life.
And they made him uncomfortable.
All unorthodox factions were similar, but loan sharks were on another level.
Even if a debtor died, they would threaten distant relatives and friendly neighbors until every last coin was recovered.
These lunatics even did business with the Demonic Cult.
One infamous loan shark had died after leaving behind the legendary statement:
“Unpaid debts are guilty! Wealthy debts are innocent! Before money, all humans are equal!”
A truly historic piece of nonsense.
Buzz, buzz.
While he had been lost in thought, dozens of wanderers had crowded into the brokerage hall.
Far more than usual.
It was probably because of the war between Heukdobang and Jeokryupa.
The brokerage hall employee recited the available requests, and the wanderers who raised their hands departed one by one.
Even then, quite a few remained.
New wanderers were still arriving as well.
“One of either Heukdobang or Jeokryupa…”
As the main event finally arrived, Im Kang listened absentmindedly.
He had already decided on Jeokryupa.
Once the briefing ended, he received a letter of introduction from the employee and headed straight there.
After submitting the letter and entering Jeokryupa’s compound—
“Well, look who it is. You’re still alive?”
“Hey, where’s your master? Dead?”
Several familiar wanderers greeted Im Kang with grins.
“You shouldn’t die when you’ve still got plenty of years left to live.”
“That old man is probably dead already.”
After exchanging a few casual remarks, he glanced around.
Counting the Jeokryupa members and hired wanderers, there seemed to be roughly a hundred people.
That was quite a lot.
‘I’ve got a slightly bad feeling about this.’
An ominous atmosphere was already beginning to spread.
