Chapter 7 ….

One thing to clarify first.

The color of the points displayed by the Treasure Detection skill had ranks.

The white points he was seeing right now were “normal.”

For example, weapons or armor that wandering martial artists (ronin) might use.

Why didn’t anything show up at first?

‘No idea. Maybe the range was too narrow.’

If you feel like a skill is malfunctioning, just assume it’s a range problem.

In most cases, that solves it.

Well.

Mechanically, it also made some sense.

This time, the desired treasure was an “opportunity” type ultimate all-encompassing reward.

In other words, it also meant Imgang was just that pathetic right now.

‘A third-rate ronin cries again today.’

He walked leisurely, filtering out all the normal white points.

Even though he called them “examples,” they really were just items that a ronin might actually use.

If lucky, maybe some pills that grant a few days’ worth of internal energy, or at best a third-rate martial art manual.

Only blue-grade items or higher were actually usable at his current level.

‘Not that it was like this in my previous life.’

When he first awakened, he even sold white-grade items just to make quick cash.

Ah… how he missed his past life.

While reminiscing, blue points began to appear one by one.

If there were about 20 white items, there were about 5 blue ones.

‘No yellow ones.’

Yellow-grade items were equivalent to peak-level internal arts.

The Great Strength Overlord Technique (Dae-ryeok Paegong) he was currently learning showed up as a yellow point, so that was confirmed.

It was a bit disappointing.

But honestly, a peak-level martial art appearing on the street like this was already strange.

‘Heh. Blue items… probably first-rate?’

Imgang hummed as he moved toward the nearest blue point like a bee drawn to flowers.

This time, it was a bookstore.

Ding-a-ling.

“Welcome.”

According to common martial world theory, opportunities were usually found inside caves halfway up cliffs.

Yet for some reason, in the world Imgang was reincarnated into, opportunities were in bookstores.

‘Ah. There are also loot shops (pawn shops).’

From today onward,

martial arts manuals come from bookstores, and elixirs come from pawn shops.

This is the accepted theory of the martial world.

Is this even a wuxia story?

He zoomed in on the map and walked toward the blue point.

Rows upon rows of tightly packed books.

Among them, one book shimmered clearly.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

[This is the First-rate Nine-Chain Fist Technique (九連拳法).]

Ohhh… huh?

The word “first-rate” made his mood float for a moment, but he got flustered when he realized it was a fist technique.

A fist technique… first-rate is good, but…

‘The reason ronin don’t use bare-handed techniques is because of internal energy.’

Fist techniques require empty hands—barehanded combat.

Without external training or sufficient internal energy, their power cannot be fully unleashed.

Even though he had learned the Great Strength Overlord Technique and gained internal energy, it was only about six years’ worth.

Right now, throwing throwing knives was far stronger… no, even using daggers was better.

‘Hmm… still, it might be better than Wind Fang Blade Technique…’

Even if it couldn’t fully show its power, it was still a first-rate martial art.

Even with barely any internal energy, it was definitely better than a third-rate blade technique.

However…

“Are you buying that book?”

The bookstore owner subtly tested him as Imgang hesitated.

Imgang replied with a troubled expression that he was still thinking.

“I haven’t read it fully, but it looks usable enough.”
“Usable enough…?”
“Ah, I said it is!”

Knowing it was a first-rate fist technique, Imgang found the owner’s words ridiculous, while the owner kept trying to sell it.

“Do you even know what this is?”
“Sword technique…”
“Fist technique.”
“…A fist technique next to it. Anyway! I’ll give you a discount if you buy it.”
“How much?”
“You sound a bit rude…”

The bookstore owner muttered in dissatisfaction.

Imgang sneered, lightly tapping the sword at his waist as he stared at him.

“Want me to spread rumors that this is a scam bookstore targeting ronin?”
“…Hehehe. I’ll give it to you for fifteen mun.”
“Ten mun. That’s already generous. And I’ll forget today ever happened.”
“Thank you, customer!”

The negotiation was easy.

In Hangzhou, bookstores didn’t sell well unless they were adult books or similar.

Martial arts manuals?

No way a proper one would exist in a random bookstore.

‘…That’s the general perception.’

And that perception was mostly correct.

Just like the Great Strength Overlord Technique or this Nine-Chain Fist that occasionally (or rather, unfortunately) ended up here.

It wasn’t a loss for the bookstore owner.

Ten mun—ten coins—was less than the price of paper, but better than letting it gather dust.

Frankly, he probably wanted to replace it with more adult books.

‘At least adult books are 1 tael of silver, and illustrated ones 100 coins…’

Hangzhou, full of evil sects and ronin, had especially high prices.

If Imgang had known how to draw or write well, he wouldn’t have become a ronin.

Seriously.

After finishing his first round of shopping, he returned home.

“Shoo. Shoo-shoo. Shoo-shoo-shoo. This isn’t the sound coming from my mouth.”

After practicing the Nine-Chain Fist for an hour…

It turned out to be more troublesome than expected.

Just like in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where Cao Cao said a chicken rib is too little to eat but too valuable to discard.

It was exactly like that.

‘Even without internal energy it’s usable… but if I’m careless, I might die.’

If I improve its mastery, maybe it’ll change.

…But internal energy is still the problem.

That’s why he labeled it as troublesome.

He then took out the second item from his shopping haul and ate it.

A one-year elixir.

Now he understood why the diluted Chigu Pill was labeled as a normal item.

Because elixirs were simply that rare.

In his past life’s wuxia novels, people would casually consume elixirs, undergo rebirth-like transformations, reverse aging, and explode their internal energy to absurd levels…

But reality was different.

Elixirs were rare.

‘So that’s why my master laughed at me.’

A memory resurfaced.

Once, he had poked his master in the side with a knife, asking if he had any internal cultivation manuals or hidden elixirs.

His master had laughed so hard he nearly cried.

Then he beat him up like a dog on a lucky day.

Again—this was why diluted Chigu Pills were “normal-tier.”

He considered going out again to search for treasures, but the sun was already setting.

Hangzhou at night was dangerous.

With some experience, walking through the market was fine…

But it wasn’t ideal for relaxed shopping.

So.

‘Oyasumi.’

He slept.

With a bit of experimentation included.

The next morning.

Imgang checked his system window and laughed.

Name: Imgang (Lv. 6)
Occupation: Third-rate Ronin / Treasure Hunter
Internal Energy: 7 years 43 days
Skills: Third-rate Wind Fang Blade Technique, Second-rate Copper Body Technique… (More)
Skill Points: 0

Skills: Third-rate Wind Fang Blade Technique (80%), Second-rate Copper Body Technique (40%), Map Lv.3, Trap Detection Lv.1, Treasure Detection Lv.4, Appraisal Lv.1, Trap Disassembly Lv.1, Lockpicking Lv.1, Stealth Lv.1, Ranged Attack Boost Lv.1, Ranged Guidance Lv.1, Peak Great Strength Overlord Technique (50%), Qi Sense, Third-rate Throwing Knife Technique (10%), First-rate Nine-Chain Fist Technique (10%) NEW!

Even while sleeping, his internal energy had increased.

Wasn’t it said—success means revolution, failure means rebellion?

This was a revolution.

He did wake up a few times in between, so efficiency was slightly lower than a perfect session…

But still.

‘21 days’ worth of internal energy while sleeping!’

Is this the power of a peak-level cultivation method?

Nice.

If this were a novel, he could title it something like The Successful Life of a Reborn Treasure Hunter Martial Artist.

Humming, Imgang looked out the window, confirmed his money and manuals were still safe on the floor, and headed out for a second round of shopping.

Of course, he didn’t forget breakfast.

“I heard Jeokryu Sect took over Black Path Sect’s territory?”
“Huh? How in just one day?”
“They say the Black Path Sect leader was killed and the deputy leader was made the second branch leader… not sure of details though.”

He also heard some delayed aftermath of the request.

After that, he visited bookstores and obtained two more martial arts manuals.

Ding!

[Second-rate Flowing Return Step (還流步法) skill registered.]

Ding!

[Second-rate Whirlwind Kick (旋風脚) skill registered.]

Then, at a general goods shop—

“Kitta!”
“…?”

Ding!

[A Bright Fate Pearl (正命珠).]

He obtained a Jeongmyeongju.

The Jeongmyeongju was a softly glowing silver orb.

It was usually given to promising disciples in proper sects or noble families to cultivate talent.

Just carrying it improved cultivation efficiency, slightly increasing the amount of qi absorbed during meditation and stabilizing internal energy flow.

In short, it reduced the chance of qi deviation.

‘Like an artifact that increases mana capacity and regeneration in my previous life?’

It was more common than elixirs.

But don’t misunderstand.

“More common” did not mean abundant.

Rumor said there were maybe 100 per province.

And it definitely wasn’t cheap.

‘Probably over a billion won.’

It wasn’t without drawbacks.

The more internal energy the user had, the less effective it became, eventually becoming useless.

That’s why it was usually given to young disciples.

Exactly.

For someone like Imgang, who only had a tiny amount of internal energy, it was a perfect early-game end item.

‘But how many years of internal energy does it work up to?’

A third-rate ronin’s information network had limits.

Then—

The highlight of the second shopping round was a fabric shop.

“…Huh?”

Just like when he found the Great Strength Overlord Technique, a yellow point shone brightly.

As if possessed, he walked toward it and found a fabric store.

Inside, there were ready-made clothes and tailor services.

And sometimes even second-hand clothes repaired and resold.

Ronin never wore custom-made clothes.

Why?

Because they were expensive.

So most bought repaired second-hand clothes from fabric shops like this.

Imgang was one of those customers.

“Who’s this? Isn’t this Broken Tombstone?”
“Can I take a look at the clothes?”
“Of course. Take your time.”

Rows of repaired clothes filled the shop.

He picked one.

At first glance, it looked like cheap, worn-out clothing made of plain hemp.

“How much?”
“Ten mun.”

Ding!

[This is a worn top made of Celestial Silkworm Thread.]

…Jackpot!