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Chapter : 16
My Fortuitous Encounter Is a Status Window (16)
“Where’d he go?”
“Couldn’t tell you, sir.”
The entrance to the Murim Alliance, where Wumyeon-gae had assigned us our task.
Naturally, we thought he’d be waiting right there—but he was gone.
Because we absolutely reeked of filth, Dang Jisang and I sat far away on a hillside, nowhere near the entrance.
This was the right call.
Even my sense of smell was on the verge of shutting down…
Standing among people like this would’ve been unforgivably rude.
Gwak Eun, who wasn’t carrying anything but the stick, also stood well away from the entrance.
“A fight broke out!”
“Where?”
“At Ukwangdae! The unorthodox scum ambushed the Beggar Sect disciples!”
“Ha! I knew those bastards would pull something like that!”
We pieced together what happened from the passersby’s chatter.
So that’s why Wumyeon-gae wasn’t at his post?
Makes sense.
Those unorthodox guys probably couldn’t stand seeing him fool around with that stick.
I can clearly picture what happened.
But… Beggar Sect seniors aren’t the type to get beaten so easily.
You need similar skill levels for a fight to even count as a fight.
Back at Yongjeong Park, it was impossible from the start.
Were the unorthodox guys stronger than expected?
Maybe so.
Meng Sopyeong, who ambushed me, was technically closer to the unorthodox side.
“The Jianghu is truly a terrifying place…!”
The deeper I wade into the martial world, the more I realize how many strong people there are.
It’s terrifying.
If you train a bit and show off, your head could go flying in an instant.
“Lord Dancheon. I hear some applicants at other locations even attacked Beggar Sect seniors.”
“So I heard. Still… we’ll be seeing each other every day once we enter the alliance. Isn’t that awfully short-sighted?”
“Yes. But foolish people who only see what’s in front of them exist everywhere.”
“True enough.”
He was right. Idiots are everywhere.
Best not to get tangled with them.
“What’s with these smelly bastards?”
“…!!”
Wumyeon-gae’s voice echoed from behind us.
We sprang to our feet, startled.
He led a group of Beggar Sect disciples, marching back in a line.
From the looks of them, they were returning after subduing the chaos at Ukwangdae.
Everyone looked battered and rough.
“Greetings! Applicant Dancheon.”
“Applicant Dang Jisang.”
We bowed and respectfully offered our qualification sticks.
“These kids got their sticks fair and square? No beating up other applicants?”
Wumyeon-gae’s expression was twisted with irritation.
And his entire body was splattered with blood—
Definitely not his.
Despite the blood, he wasn’t injured at all.
Meaning it all belonged to someone else.
They’d beaten the unorthodox guys senseless and dragged them back.
No wonder he was furious.
“Yes, senior. Judging by their smell and appearance, it’s legit. They rammed the sticks into the effluent pit.”
A Beggar Sect disciple beside him spoke up—the same one who’d thrown the stick infused with murky qi toward us.
Looks like he followed Wumyeon-gae to Ukwangdae after giving us the task.
“Damn it, why’d you toss the qualification sticks into a cesspit?”
“To test their mindset as martial artists… or something like that…”
“Their mindset?”
“Well… those pampered orthodox sect brats never want to set foot anywhere dirty, right? I figured it’d be a nice slap in the face…”
“Sigh… Anyway, they got the sticks properly, right?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. Good. What’s your name?”
“Dang Jisang!”
“Dang Jisang—pass. And you?”
“Dancheon.”
“Dancheon—pass!”
[You have successfully completed a mission.]
The moment Wumyeon-gae declared we’d passed, a status window flickered into existence.
Wait. Don’t tell me it’s giving me the reward already?
[Not an appropriate time to deliver reward. Reward postponed.]
How incredible.
As expected of the Status Window—so perceptive!
Good.
At least I’ve secured my eyesight. Heh heh.
* * *
The White Tiger Corps of the Murim Alliance—Flying Eagle Squad.
A detached unit that accepts those without background or pedigree.
They stay in separate quarters from the main corps and try to avoid conflict, escorting members safely to promotion into the Flying Dragon Corps.
Last year, fourteen entered; only four advanced and became full alliance members.
But this year…
Thanks to the Ukwangdae incident, only one person was selected for the Flying Eagle Squad.
“Plenty of space, huh.”
That one… was me.
Which meant a spacious room all to myself.
I could hop between rooms if I wanted.
A dormitory built for twenty—occupied by one.
This year, only ten passed the exam at all—including me, Gwak Eun, and Dang Jisang.
One of the lowest numbers ever.
Two endured the stench at Yongjeong Park.
Three chased down and retrieved sticks at Samguksan while coughing blood.
Two received judges’ discretionary passes for helping the Beggar Sect at Ukwangdae.
All of them except me were from prestigious lineages.
Only I—of unknown origin—was placed in the Flying Eagle Squad.
Thus, I was isolated(?), living here alone.
Status window.
[Name: Dancheon]
[Title: White Tiger Corps – Flying Eagle Squad Member]
[Combat Power: 898]
[Rank: Third-rate]
[Martial Arts: Palm-Three-Heart Art, Palm-Trigram Step, Linked Palm]
[Current Mission: Pass the promotion trial to the Flying Dragon Corps]
[> View Details]
This was my current state.
Still third-rate, but my combat power had increased nicely.
And more importantly—the mission had updated.
Details:
[Objective: Pass the Flying Dragon promotion trial]
[Time Limit: 412 days, 23 hours]
[Reward: 3 Intermediate Inner Cores, 1 Lv.3 Martial Art (Random)]
[Failure Penalty: Permanent Cerebrovascular Damage]
Over four hundred days to complete.
The Flying Dragon promotion trial takes place next year.
It combines the White Tiger Corps basic training evaluation and the final duel test.
Passing the evaluation is important, but the duel matters most.
Even with perfect scores, if your duel is terrible, you are held back.
And if you’re held back, you’re expelled from the White Tiger Corps.
This ruthless alliance doesn’t allow repeat years.
Anyone held back must retake the selection test from scratch.
Most who fail just return to their own sects—unable to bear the shame.
Huuu…
In my hands were the rewards I’d earned: an intermediate inner core and a secret manual.
Prajna Divine Art.
A reward for reaching Inner Gong Level 2.
I had skimmed it twice already.
So profound that I wondered—is this really just a Level-2 technique?
I read the opening lines again carefully.
Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
The five aggregates are all void; all dharmas without self.
Let breath be like wind, the heart like drifting cloud,
Abandon attachment and awaken to no-self.
Qi circulates the void, the body roots in earth,
Unite with Heaven and Earth—that is the true meaning of Prajna.
Abandon attachment… unite with nature… transcend through enlightenment?
The opening was absurdly profound.
Scripture or martial art? Hard to tell.
But the practical sections on qi circulation were surprisingly clear.
Prajna progresses through Stillness (정) and Insight (혜).
Meditation and focus—Stillness.
Perception and application—Insight.
Build qi with stillness, distribute with insight.
That is Prajna.
Similar to Palm-Three-Heart Art’s empty-heart and quiet-heart—yet far more grand and powerful.
Can I switch to this?
I worried.
I’d heard you can’t keep swapping cultivation methods.
What if Prajna clashed with the Palm-Three-Heart principles and ruined both?
And I’ll keep earning stronger arts…
The Status Window will definitely give me even more advanced manuals.
I can’t just shelve them out of fear.
I must learn them.
Whatever happens—success or failure—I have to study every reward I get.
Unless a technique directly contradicts another, learning is the right call.
Form is emptiness, emptiness is form…
The five aggregates are empty; all dharmas without self.
I started chanting the lines.
Reading and rereading, meanings surfaced between the words.
My qi began to circulate naturally.
Qi rose from my dantian to the Conception Vessel.
Qi descended the Governing Vessel to Baihui.
It wrapped around my body.
Different from Palm-Three-Heart circulation—clearly and profoundly so.
Is this what they call motion-stillness as one?
Qi roaring like a river, yet tranquil.
No wasteful leakage—every bit collected for use.
Ahh…
The path of martial arts is deep indeed.
Palm-Three-Heart impressed me only because my knowledge was shallow.
Martial arts are an endless universe—vast, boundless.
And I’ve barely stepped beyond the starting point.
All I’ve done is recognize that a greater world exists.
[You have completed a Hidden Mission.]
“……?!!”
Just as I felt humbled before that immense world—
A status window popped open.
A hidden mission?!
[Hidden Mission Complete (Code 14)]
[Goal: Combine 2 or more martial arts]
[(First successful combination of 2+ martial arts)]
[Reward: 1 Intermediate Inner Core]
—Flash!
A rainbow shimmer formed another intermediate inner core.
Two intermediate inner cores…
One for joining the White Tiger Corps.
Another for finishing a hidden mission.
Now I had two.
Combine martial arts? It claims I combined Palm-Three-Heart with Prajna?
Combined…?
I was just studying Prajna.
Did I merge them unconsciously?
Hoho…
Maybe I have a natural talent for martial arts? Or maybe the Status Window gave me talent?
Considering I couldn’t read a word before the window appeared—completely believable.
Man… what a fortuitous encounter!
Oh, wise Status Window! No—Master!
If you ever die, I’ll haul you a memorial tablet and give you offerings, I swear.
“Sniff~ haa…”
The fragrant, refined scent of the inner core filled my nose.
Exquisite.
But I couldn’t eat it yet.
Not wasting its precious medicinal power again.
Maybe after I fully master Prajna… that’d be safe?
Prajna is clearly superior to Palm-Three-Heart.
Control of qi was leagues ahead.
If I completed it, I might be able to handle an intermediate core.
No need to rush.
Slowly.
After all, no one is in this building.
Turns out being placed in Flying Eagle Squad is a blessing.
If I’d joined the main White Tiger Corps, the smell of that core would’ve driven me crazy with impatience.
“Lord Dancheon~”
Gwak Eun’s voice.
Calling me to eat.
Despite my assignment, she and Dang Jisang still checked on me regularly.
I was grateful.
“Yes, Lady Gwak! I’m coming.”
I stuffed the inner cores under my blanket and hurried outside.
Since I had to leave the room and walk the hall to get outside, the scent wouldn’t leak.
Thank heavens.
“It must be lonely in here alone, yes?”
“I’m fine. I’m good alone.”
“Hoho, so spirited.”
“Your swelling looks much better, Lord Dancheon.”
“Yes. Thanks to the ointment Young Master Dang gave me.”
I’d nearly suffered badly from the filth poisoning, but the ointment healed me fast.
“I’m glad it helped.”
“Let’s go. You must be hungry. Next time I’ll come to White Tiger Hall.”
“Yes! Let’s go.”
Murim Alliance meals are really delicious.
Tons of side dishes, and best of all, eat as much as you want.
Self-serve buffet. Glorious.
No wonder the unorthodox bastards wanted to sneak in.
Wonderful. Everything’s going my way. Heh.
“Hey!”
On the way to the dining hall, joking around—
A familiar voice called us.
“Instructor! Greetings!”
“Greetings.”
Wumyeon-gae again.
Even after the test, he remained the head instructor for White Tiger training.
We hadn’t seen him often yet, but he was scary—by reputation and in person.
“Dancheon!”
“Yes?”
He pointed at me and crooked his finger.
Telling me to come over.
What…?! Why me?!
Rumors said:
He kicked Ogu’s head clean off at Ukwangdae.
Did he think I was unorthodox too?
Was he planning to punt my head off?
Crap! Should I run?
A thousand thoughts burst forth.
But running wouldn’t help.
Beggar Sect disciples are crazy fast…
And Wumyeon-gae was the best among them!
“Hey! You gonna stand there all day?! Get over here!”
“Yes, sir! Coming!”
My body sprinted toward him while my brain freaked out.
But this was right.
Running would only get me caught.
Surely… he won’t beat me to death…?
Well. Only one way to find out.
