MFESW 23

Chapter : 23

My Opportunity Is a Status Window (23)

Following the mountain path, Hye‑gong eventually entered a dense forest valley.

“Is he seriously trying to find a place to bury me?”

Dusk was falling fast…

No travelers in sight—only the cries of wild animals echoed as we pushed deeper into the mountains.

By the time twilight darkened the slopes,
we arrived at a small hut tucked between thick trees.

It looked like a hunter’s rest stop.
Or maybe a base for a herb gatherer.

“Come in.”

Striding inside without hesitation, Hye‑gong beckoned me to follow.

“Yes, sir…”

I hesitated—the place was crawling with bugs—but refusing wasn’t an option.

I stepped inside.

—Fsssh…

The instant Hye‑gong entered, a small flame bloomed from his hand.

Sammaejinhwa — True Trance Flame.
A marvel that manifests internal energy as fire.

Along with Void‑Grasping Technique, it was one of the incredible arts wielded by masters of ascension.

The flame drifted like a will‑o’‑wisp, split into three, and floated to each corner of the hut.

“Damn… Masters really live easy.”

I knew firsthand how miserable fire‑making during travel was—scraping flint, hunting dry wood…

But a master? One flick of the wrist and—poof—fire.

I didn’t know how strong Hye‑gong truly was,
but I swore I’d reach his realm someday.

Since I’d become a martial artist anyway, might as well aim big!
Void‑Grasp! Trance Flame! I must learn those eventually. Obviously.

“…Huh? What’s he doing?”

With the hut lit bright, Hye‑gong dug a wooden chest out of the corner.

It was packed full of fur—animal hair? Human hair? Hard to tell.

He began sticking tufts of it to his chin.

“How is it? Natural?”

“Pardon? What do you—”

“The beard.”

“Oh…!”

So it wasn’t fur—it was a fake beard.

But… why was he putting on a fake beard?

“The left side’s a little awkward…”

“Is it? Then you fix it.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never done something like this…”

“Neither have I. Just do it.”

“…Understood.”

Of all the things I thought I’d do in life…

Still—like how a monk can’t shave his own head well—having someone else attach the beard turned out better.

When did he prepare this glue?

It wasn’t cheap glue either—it was proper animal tendon gelatin.
High‑grade stuff.

“All done.”

“Let’s see.”

Hye‑gong pulled a silver mirror from the chest—oddly fine for such a shabby box.

“Ha! Excellent. As expected of a royal spy—your hands are skilled. You’ve disguised yourself a lot, haven’t you?”

“I’m not a spy…”

I’m not!
This guy doesn’t listen to a word I say.

Talking to him is like talking to a wall.

“Good. Beard’s done. Now time for the real transformation…”

Hye‑gong pulled out a manual.

Body‑Morphing Transformation Art (易體變容術).

Curious, I peeked over his shoulder.

Body‑Morphing Transformation? A technique to change appearance?

Wasn’t that something demonic sects and criminals learned?

“What are you sneaking peeks for?”

“Ah—my apologies.”

“It’s fine. Even if you look, you won’t understand it. Hahaha!”

Oh really?

Look down on me, will you?

I’ll have you know—I can read anything.
Thanks to my Teacher gifting me the Status Window, along with insane literacy…

—Fwip.

Hye‑gong opened the manual wide, letting me read every line.

Gather qi in the dantian and store spirit power
Let qi flow through meridians like a river
Melt the marrow like spring snow
Reshape the flesh anew
Alter features like a potter molding clay
Shift aura as though vanishing

Ahhh…

I hadn’t read many manuals, but this wording was completely different from any martial technique I’d seen.

“Infuse internal energy into bones and meridians… manipulate joints like a sculptor…?”

What kind of explanation was this?

—Fwip.

Turning the page clarified everything—

Illustrations showed exactly where to infuse energy, which points to trigger, how bone shape changed…

—Crunch. Crack.

Just then—

I jerked my head up.

Horrible grinding sounds.

“Hoo… getting hot.”

“…..!!”

Hye‑gong’s face was changing.

The stern, dignified bald middle‑aged monk vanished—
his eyes sharpened drastically, radiating a feral madness…

He looks like… a top dog from the demonic sects!?

His whole aura flipped—still dangerous, but now vicious.

—Crunch. Crack.

Even his soft jaw sharpened—his entire impression reshaped.

No one would recognize him now.

“Phew… How is it?”

“Your face, sir?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve become a different person.”

“Let’s see…”

He admired his reflection.

“Hahaha! Perfect. Exactly the look I wanted.”

Wanted?
Why did he need to change appearance?

This kind of thing usually meant someone was about to do something very bad…

Hye‑gong put the manual and beard away carefully.

Probably so he could use them again later.

Gather qi… flow meridians… melt marrow… reshape flesh…

Meanwhile, I silently memorized the entire mantra.

Just in case.

No—for someone like me—definitely.

“Dan‑cheon.”

“Yes?”

“We’re spending the night here. Prepare dinner.”

“…Sir?”

What?

We’re not returning to the Alliance?

Is this guy insane?

“You mean… we’re staying in this hut?”

“You catch on fast—don’t pretend otherwise.”

“But the sun hasn’t fully set—we can still make it back—”

“We are not returning to the Martial Alliance.”

“……!!”

What nonsense??

The Alliance Lord isn’t returning to the Alliance?!

“Then where are we going?”

“Not cooking, are you?”

He didn’t answer—just stared with burning eyes.

I sighed and went outside to hunt something.
Apparently dinner was on me.

Time to check my mission while I’m away.

I headed deeper into the trees—far enough that even Hye‑gong wouldn’t sense my Status Window.

Status window.

[Name: Dan‑cheon]
[Title: Martial Alliance Lord’s Aide]
[Combat Power: 2,112]
[Rank: Second‑rate]
[Skills: Prajna Divine Art, Long‑Stride Step, Linked Palm +1]
[Active Mission: Find Hong‑Mae]
[>View Details]

Find Hong‑Mae?

A search mission?

Does it at least tell me where she is?

I opened details:

[Objective: Find Hong‑Mae]
[Time Limit: 51 days 11 hours]
[Reward: Lv 3 Footwork (choose 1)]
[Failure: Permanent loss of 80% internal energy]

What!?

No clues at all?

Hong‑Mae… sounds like a courtesan.
And in all of China, how many courtesans named Hong‑Mae might there be?

Not 500 days—51??

Ridiculous.

Should I ditch the monk and start searching brothels now…?

Even if I found one Hong‑Mae—how would I know she’s the right one?

My head hurt.

[Pending reward: 1 available]
Claim reward?

Finally—good news.

I couldn’t claim it earlier—too many eyes in the Dragon Hall.

A Level 3 Technique!

Claim immediately.

—Flash!

A rainbow glow condensed into a familiar rectangular shape.

[Hundred‑Step Divine Fist (百步神拳)]

“…!!”

Even when I knew nothing, I’d heard of this.

One of Shaolin’s signature arts.

This is real??

I snatched the manual open.

The Hundred‑Step Divine Fist combines essence, strength, qi, bone, and spirit…

Detailed explanations—illustrations—4 basic forms, with repeated warnings not to cling to form.

It’s real! It’s real!

A true ascension‑level martial art!

Sure, anyone entering Shaolin could eventually learn it, but so what!?

Way better than my trash Linked Palm! Heheheh.

Damn—time’s getting late.

It was dark.
If I tarried longer, the Alliance Lord might hunt me down.

I tucked the manual deep in my robes, retied my belt, and headed back.

Just then—thump—a deer bounded past.

Perfect.
Tonight’s dinner.

Crunch, crunch

Hye‑gong tore into a deer leg like a starving beast.

“Aren’t monks forbidden from eating meat?”

“Who says?”

“You’re a monk…”

“I broke my vows.”

“Ah…”

“You asked where we’re going, right?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t ask again about returning to the Alliance—
I had no reason to go back myself.

I just need to find a way to escape this crazy monk…
Only way to hunt Hong‑Mae.

“Tomorrow, I’m heading to a brothel to have myself a good time. I broke my vows—so below the belt deserves celebration, right?”

“Oh… so that’s why you changed your face…”

“Hahaha! Of course. Even if I cast off vows, causing trouble by showing my real face in a brothel would be messy.”

A brothel?

Perfect.
That actually aligns beautifully with my mission.

I could stay with him till then.

“After the brothel… we’ll return to the Alliance?”

“Want me to say it twice?”

“…Sir?”

“I said I’m not going back.”

“But… you’re the Alliance Lord.”

“I left letters for the two vice‑lords. They’ll decide and elect a new lord.”

“You’re quitting… being Alliance Chief?”

“Yes.”

After living as a hero his whole life, he wants to vanish, change face, indulge, and die on his own terms?

Step one: fool around with women in a brothel?

Damn… even top‑tier masters can’t overcome lust? Hahaha…

“Yes, well… I’ll escort you to the brothel tomorrow, and then I’ll return to—”

“No. You stay with me at the brothel. And from now on, you follow me, wherever I go.”

What the hell?!

He’s not even the lord anymore—why order me around??

“Sir? You have no authority now—so you can’t—”

—BWOOOONG…

The moment I said “authority”—

A golden sphere of intense energy materialized between us.

Steel‑Qi Orb.
Something I’d only studied in theory.

Condensed qi—solidified outside the body.

Only warriors at Transformation Realm could make one.

“Authority? This is authority, Dan‑cheon.”

The orb drifted toward my nose.

A chilling hum raised every hair on my body.

I could feel it.

If it moved one more inch, it would erase me completely.

“Yes. Of course. As you wish, Lord!”

Damn it.

Survive first.