[ Time / Location ]: 2 hours before midday / Military Academy of CheongBong
[ Pov ]: Dan yuseong
" So this is it, I'm actually doing this, in a new world with martial arts. " I looked up at the name plate saying CheonBong, slightly dreading that what I am seeing might just be a really good dream and I could wake up at any moment.
But I knew for a fact that it wasn't, it felt too real, everything felt too real. The air that smelled so fresh without the smell of gas and garbage everywhere, no noise of cars or people screaming out of nowhere.
It was real... So was that freaking long line of people.
" Sigh... my kryptonite, long lines. At least no one's skipping places like a douchebag." You can't have it all I guess.
< Timer: 00.01.45 >
---<>---
[ Time / Location ]: 1 hour before midday/ Test site
[ Pov ]: 3rd person
" Next, ugh. Not one passed and we are already close to 100 participants. " Said Cheon Tae-Gong, Head of CheonBong. ( A/N: CheonBong is two things in one, a military academy affiliated with murim and a transport agency. )
" Technically it's only been 69 participa- " Tried to say Yum Ho, one of the academies mentors and a Master of spear martial arts. But he was met with a Stern uninterested gaze by Cheon Tea-Gong.
" Ahem, I mean there're bound to be some talented ones eventually. " Said Yum Ho after straightening his back to mask his nervousness.
" Sigh, hopefully. " Cheon Tae-Gong faced the front and relaxed back on his seat.
" Hahaha, even if they're no peculiarly talented ones the academy would still have your daughter, master. How is her training coming along by the way. " Said Mapung Tho, another mentor at the Academy and a barehanded martial artist master. Trying to lighten-up the mood.
And it seemed to have worked... partially.
" Soso is advancing pretty well for her age. " Said Cheon Tae-Gong, smiling in a proud way, for just a second that is. It turning into a frown the next moment.
" She would still need allies, and friends to depend on. " Now, both Mapung Tho and Yum Ho didn't know what to say. So they decided to call out the next participant.
" Ahem, the next one is named Dan Yuseong and it says he's just from the west district... " One look at the Head and he knew he'd just get disappointed again. ( A/N: it might get annoying to always call out their full names, the head of the academy in this paragraph is Cheon Tae-Gong, as in Soso's father. )
So, he suggested. " should I skip him? "
" No, that would only serve to lower our reputation. " To Cheon Tae-Gong, reputation and image was everything.
" Understood. " Yum Ho nodded to the guard to call out for the next participant.
---<>---
[ Pov ]: Dan Yuseong
' Finally, done with the waiting. And I still got time to spare ' I sighed mentally, looking at the mission timer.
< Timer: 00.00.55 >
' Although I'm bit nervous, I already have everything too pass this test. ' I thought, remembering how the test goes from both my memories of reading the manwha and the memories I got from the original MC.
It was simply identifying where the acupuncture points on the Training-dolls are and pressing them.' Or I could just destroy the dolls but I don't think I have the strength for that yet. My enhanced perception and senses will play a significant role though.'
I simply couldn't stop the giddiness and slight smirk from appearing on my face when I entered. Meaning, the mentors and Head of the academy saw it too.
' Tsk, another one from the lowest class family thinking he already passed before the test even had begin. Arrogant fool. ' thought the Head while giving me this hard stare that could melt steel.
' Damn, I'm already on his list of failures. Don't matter, I'll just show them what I can do, the rest is up to my result.' I mentally shrugged, and looked at the covered dolls with eyes that revealed recognition.
And again my expression didn't escape the Head of the Academy. " Hmm? You seem to have recognized something, tell me what is the test about? " He said with hint of accusation, expecting me to get it wrong.
' Wtf, I knew he was an asshole but not to this extent, seeing it in reality and in a manwha is completely different. I'll just answer, I'm not interested in this bullshit power-play of his . '
" Well, at first I thought it was about fighting whatever is covered up by the White sheets. Which is most probably training-dolls " Before I could continue with my hypothesis to sound like I am speculating an answer and not just giving it like i memorized it, he interrupted me to say.
" Hmm? So you think it's something more than that? " An actual light of interest showed up in his eyes.
" Yes, I would have stopped at that answer, but what got me curious was the dolls covered by the sheets having different shapes, which means different body types." I was formatting my answer like I was analyzing the situation as I go, and it paid off, seeing as all three of them. Both the mentors and the Head of the school were getting bewildered and impressed by the second.
" And with different body types, I could come up with two reasons for why that is, either it's to test participants based off of their ability in adapting to fight different statured people or the second one which is my go-to-answer, that is. A test for pinpointing the exact acupuncture points and blood vessels. " At the end of my answer when I looked up at the mentors and the Head of school, I had to hold back my laughter as hard as I could.
Their faces were priceless to look at. It was like I solved a million-Dollar question, or more precisely a million-Nyang question.( A/N: the currency in this world is apparently Nyang. )
" Ahem, impressive. It is as you say, the test is indeed about identifying the correct locations of the acupuncture points. But that's not it, you have to press them yourself, begin. " After getting back his dignity from looking so shocked, he said with a steady voice and used some martial arts/Qi technique to pull the sheets without even touching them, revealing the three now activated training-dolls.
I was more impressed by the actual technique that he showed than the dolls that were running straight for me.
The two smaller ones were faster, so they rapidly advanced to my location.
The first one to attack was the one on my left side, it was two steps closer to me than the one on my right side.
And again like this morning when I focused on that potato, it started to slow down, all my senses focused on it.
But before all of that, something has been bothering me the moment I woke up in this world, I kept feeling like I have this energy constantly coursing through my body. And the more I focus, like in this situation I could sense it more.
' Is this Qi. I think I can move it. ' I thought in a trance. The dolls left-handed attack closing in on my chest by inch by inch.
' What is he doing, has he never fought before in his life? Is he paralyzed from fear?' Thought the Head, his hand raising slightly in case something happens so he could intervene at the right moment.
But what truly happened next made him and both the mentors drop their jaws, being rendered speechles from the display they had just witnessed.
Like a puzzle clicking to place, something changed deeply in me. I could suddenly manipulate the spiritual energy in my body.
Not to a large degree, I could influence it to travel from one limb to another throughout my body.
When the dolls left hand reached one inch from my chest, I stepped back to the side with my left I leg. At the same time, I cocked my left arm back, fist clenched and my middle finger slightly raised.
The dolls attack sailed through 1 inch from me, and with the new feeling of milapinating Qi, I coerced some of the energy to travel to my left hand.
When I unleashed my attack, it was faster than I thought it would be. The moment it made contact with the central acupoint of the doll, nothing could have ever prepared me for what I witnessed.
At first, a web like crack suddenly appeared on the surface of it's chest. Next thing, it crumbled and the doll flew away from my fist and sailed through the air eventually colliding into the biggest doll. Making them both tremble to the ground.
' huh? '
" ... " Yum Ho.
" ... " MapunG Tho.
" ... " Cheon Tae-Gong.
Me, the head of the academy and the two mentors had one face at this point. Complete shock.
But I had to refocus back on the fight, the doll on my right was closing in.
' I'll think about it later, now I fight. ' I noticed that the doll was going to put it's right leg as a hold to execute a roundhouse kick to my midsection.
So before it could even do that, without changing my position I entered it's personal space and used my right elbow to pinpoint the central acupoint on its chest. This time without manipulating Qi into my arm.
This time, there was no cracking, it just flopped down to the ground.
' Time for the big guy. ' But when I looked back at the center of the arena where the two Dolls collided together, I was disappointed.
Because, when the left doll collided with the big one, it took out its right leg. Leaving it trying and failing to get back up.
" Stop, the test is over. " Said the Head. Deactivating the big doll.
' No shit Sherlock. I'm not interested in bullying crippled dolls. ' I thought with a deadpan on my face.
" Before you proceed to the waiting room. I would like to ask you a few questions. " He looked at me with this dead stare, making sure I wouldn't lie to him.
" Are you affiliated in any way to any of the major 9 sect's or the five Great families? And when did you learn to manipulate your spiritual energy like that? "
" Uh, no I'm actually not. Like I wrote in my my participation form, I live in the far edge of the West district. And I never knew I could actually do what I just did, I myself am shocked. " I genuinely answered, although I know a lot of things about the 9 sects and five great families from my inherented and original memories, I knew for a fact that the body of the original MC is of a nobody in this world.
Especially Qi/spiritual-energy manipulation. I never thought I would be able to actually do it so fast. It all comes back to my spirit attribute being high is what I presume helped me do what I just did.
After a few seconds of him staring at me, his facial expression slowly turned into a neutral/smile and he said. " Hmm, all right you can go on now, you passed. "
' Yes!! ' although I knew I could 100% pass, it still felt good to be acknowledged.
---<>---
[ Pov ]: 3rd person
The silence that lingered even after Dan Yuseong exited the testing grounds was broken by the laughter of Cheon Tae-Gong himself.
" Hahaha, at first I thought he was a genius that used is creativity as an advantage, I didn't think he would be so talented to the point that he accidentally manipulated his spiritual energy. Hahahah. " Cheon Tae-Gong.
" Tell me about it, I couldn't even believe my eyes. We got a good one, no a great one in fact. How many youngsters at the age of 15 could just manipulate their spiritual energy that naturally and accidentally at that. You can't count them even in one hand, and he's not even affiliated with any major group... " Mapung Tho kept on blabbering on and on.
" Okay, that's enough praising already. Why don't you just call him your master at this point, hehe. " Yum ho teased Mapung Tho.
" Why you- " Mapung glared at Yum. Getting ready to jump him.
" That's enough, both of you. " Said the Head like he was scolding teenagers.
" Yes, master. " " Yes, Head. "
" Hmm, Tho is not wrong for praising him. We got ourselves a talented direct disciple affiliated to CheonBong. " Said the Head while Tho gave Ho a smirk that said I won.
' Hmph. ' snorted Ho.
" Bring in the next participant, hopefully there are more talents. " Unfortunately that wasn't the case.
" Understood. "
---<>---
[ Pov ]: Dan Yuseong
' Now that I've got some privacy in this room, I'll check out the notifications that I've been ignoring. ' turns out I could just think of ignoring the notifications and they won't appear in front of my face. A neat little function, it makes it so it won't bother me when I'm in a hectic situation.
< Mission successful >
• Rewards:
- + 1 Strength
- + 25 XP
• Bonus Rewards: choose one from.
-15 temporary strength enhancing pills.
- [ Ye Ti ] golden shortsword, enhances strength by 15%.
- Skill [ Third eye of wisdom ] Active, shows information about Target.
The notifications didn't stop there. There was one more.
< Repeated Specific Actions Generated the skill: [ Qi manipulation ] >
[ Qi manipulation ]
Allows the individual to manipulate their spiritual energy/Qi to perform a plethora of abilities.
Lv: 1 ( proficiency 0 % )
Type: Active.
Effect: 10% enhancement in any Qi related ability.
" Foooew, that's a heck of a skill, I'll check it out later in the day though. I'll accept the Mission rewards for now " I whistled in delight.
The moment I accepted the mission Rewards, I felt a slight Rush of strength through my muscles.
< Level up >
• +1 Ap
< Level up >
• +1 Ap
< Current Level: lv 3 >
" Yeah baby, that's what I'm talking about, this is what we were waiting for. " I shamelessly quoted a streamer that I always saw clips of but never remembered his actual name. (A/N: whoever knows, knows. 🌝 )
I didn't forget to accept that third eye ability, to hell with those pills and sowrd.
< Bonus Reward Accepted >
• [ Third eye of wisdom ]
" Who fucking names these skills, couldn't it just be named Inspect or something-" and the system responded before I could finish my sentence.
< Changing Skill Designation Of [ Third eye of wisdom] To [ Inspect ] >
< Would You Like To Proceed >
" ... "
" Haah, this day is getting better and better. " I couldn't remember a more fascinating day in my whole life.
[ Inspect ]
Allows the user to view a target's basic information.
Lv: 1 ( proficiency 0 % )
Type: Active
Effect: only those closer to the users strength or 9 levels ahead can be inspected.
I'm thrust away from my own world by a sudden prickly feeling in the back of my neck, and the distinctive noise of someone creeping behind me. It wasn't a nice feeling to have, since I already had experienced something like this before, Aka death scene.
So with a nimble small step to the front and a twist I saw exactly who was approaching me. ' hmm?, he's Jang Gihu if my memory serves me correctly. ' That, calmed down my nerves significantly.
" Huh?, you're pretty perceptive. I was just going to surprise you seeing as you were so focused. " He said while scratching his temple, probably thinking he had me.
" Nevermind that, I never thought someone would manage to pass before me. My name is Jang Gihu, you can call me Gihu. " He said, going back to his easy-going nature.
" Dan Yuseong, you can call me Yuseong. It's nice to meet your acquaintance. " I said with a smile that matched his easy-going nature. His response might have sounded arrogant to some, but I knew for a fact that he was just a kind honest person... Slightly obsessed with fighting people.
" Yhahhh, nice to meet you too. Could you wake me up when the test is over? " He asked while yawning, finding a couch looking furniture and passing out on it the second he put his head down.
" Sure. " I nodded, Not Knowing if he even had heard me.
Focusing on him while thinking [ Inspect ] I saw his level, infact, I didn't even need to think of the skills name or call it out for it to activate. Just the passing thought of wanting to see someone's level, It was that instantaneous.
Lv. 9 [ Jang Gihu ]
' It's exactly like the manwha. All I need to do is to level-up the skill so I can get to see more useful information. ' it was one of the most useful skills the original MC relied on all the time.
' We're gonna be good friends, I can feel it. ' I happily thought while holding my nose and making a beeline for the window. No offense, but dude smelled like a walking gym.
Looking out the window, I could see birds of different colors roaming freely in the skies. It was a beautiful site. You couldn't even see half of these kinds of birds in the modern world, all hunted down for the entertainment of humans. ' hopefully this world doesn't turn to shit like mine did. No... If I have enough strength, I might make a difference. This is how this world operates, in fact every world operates like this. Strength rules. '
" Sigh, why do I sound like I'm turning into a villain. " Hopefully no red flags here.
---<>---
I had spent the last 25 minutes of waiting by trying to raise the level of both [ Inspect ] and [ Qi manipulation], partially succeeding by raising the proficiency of both skills to.
[ Inspect ]
lv: 1 ( proficiency 75 % )
[ Qi manipulation ]
lv: 1( proficiency 56 % )
I had it easier with [ Inspect ] cuz I had a lot of material to work with, I would inspect every guard I could see and every participant that would go in and out of the testing grounds.
For [ Qi manipulation ] I took a more cautious approach to it. I didn't know what manipulating my Qi could do to my body, so I kept a slow pace of trying to move my spiritual energy to different limbs.
You know what they say, curiosity killed the cat, I had to make sure I didn't die prematurely before I could make something of myself in this world.
' hmm? ' I heard faint footsteps coming towards the waiting room, I was getting used to using my now Sharp senses.
After a few seconds, entered what I could only describe as the most beautiful girl that I've ever seen in my life. She made my heart skip a beat. ' Wow. ' ( A/N: by the way, the OC died at the age of 19, he's right now 15 entering 16 in a month. )
Lv. 7 [ Cheon Soso ]
When she looked around and saw me staring at her, she gave me this skeptical look and asked in a Stern way, just like the Head of the academy. " Why are you staring? never seen a female martial artist before? "
" Uh, sorry about that. Just never seen blood red hair like yours before, it's pretty cool. " I tried sound easy going, thankfully it worked.
That cought her off guard. " T-thanks. " It was the first time a boy her age complimented her hair. She would always hear some snarky noble guests calling her beautiful and this and that, but the boy in front of her just said it so casually like it was a fact.
" Ahem, my name's Cheon Soso my father is Cheon Tae-Gong, so as you can tell I'm going to be the best in this Academy. " She said with such conviction, all to be derailed so fast by Gihu.
" Ho, so you're saying you passed the test because your father is the head of the academy? " Bro is creating chaos for no reason.
' haaa, here we go. ' I mentally prepared myself for the chaos.
" HAAAA!?, What did you say. For your information, I passed this test like everybody did, no one helped me. And someone with a blockhead of a haircut couldn't get it straight in his brain, you moron. " She yelled while slamming her foot on his laying back.
" Ow!, blockhead? It's a two-piece fade, but I don't think you would get that you idiot. " Fired back, Gihu.
And to my good luck, I didn't have to wait long before I heard multiple footsteps approaching, it was definitely Master Yum Ho with the rest of the ones who passed.
" Soso, you're too loud. Settle down, the test is over I brought the last two who passed. This makes it that only five of you passed, here are the black tunics that we brought , wear them before we go complete your registration. " Reprimanded Master Ho.
" Wait, master. Before we go, can you tell us the ranking results of the trial? " Soso quickly asked only after giving Gihu a death glare just to remind him that their argument wasn't over.
" Hmm?, let's see. " Master Ho turned around before exiting the room and answered.
He first pointed at me and said. " Dan Yuseong is first. He's second, and you Soso are Third. " After answering he completely ignored the last two participants and exited, leaving the room dead silent.
' huh? I'm third? How did these two overtake me? ' Soso thought while staring back and forth from me to Gihu.
' ho? He looks so small and plain but he's actually the first placer? I want to fight him. ' Gihu thought.
I pretty much could read both their minds at this point.
" ... "
" ... "
The two other participants stood there silent, not knowing want to do, just standing beside the door, holding the black tunics.
' This is really my life now huh... I like it. ' I happily smirked to myself.
---<>---
[ Time/Location ]: Evening / Exit of the CheonBong Academy.
[ Pov ]: Dan Yuseong
After the five of us wore our black tunics that signified that we were now direct disciples, we proceeded to follow master Yum Ho to complete our registration.
I thought it was gonna be interesting and mind opening... Unfortunately, it wasn't.
Because in the manwha, it was never shown what actually happened after Dan Yuseong passed the test.
In fact it was even worse than a first day at college. At least at college you can ask around if you went to the wrong auditorium, or if they mixed up your name in a different category of the class and you had to go around to different departments to fix the problem that they caused. ( A/N: true story by the way, it happened to me in fact. It was after the whole epidemic of coronavirus. )
We basically spent almost 4 hours standing there in front of the different mentors and the Head of the academy, listening to what to do and what not to do in school grounds.
Basically... Rules.
Examples:
- To respectfully conduct yourself in front of your Masters and seniors.
- No bullying of any kind in the school grounds. That one, was pure horseshit.
- Sparring is allowed unless it's an official duel, where a mentor needs to be present blah blah blah blah.
And it goes on and on and on for like three pages or something, YES! they fucking gave us a booklet. Couldn't they have just done that to begin with.
At least I got some fun out of it, I will never forget the face of Gihu who tried his best to stay awake through all of that, for them to just give us a booklet at the end. ' Priceless, hehehe. '
Looking up at the slowing darkening sky while still sporting the same smirk from remembering Gihu's tormented face, I thought to myself. ' it's already getting this dark huh, from the position of the sun, it's only like 5:30 p.m-ech. Not that I know anything about determining what time it is based off the sun's position, some reels are actually useful huh. '
Thinking of Instagram reels immediately reminded me that I was stuck without a phone in this martial arts world. ' I guess it's a blessing than anything really. '
I was pretty obsessed with my phone, a phone-holic if you may. ' Who knows, if I get strong enough, I might get to live to see the same technology emerge again. '
" You've been holding that same smirk for a while now, mind telling me what's causing it. " Asked Soso, holding hand to her hip and giving me this flashy smile that made my heart skip for the second time in a row this day.
" Hahaha, don't tell me you didn't see Gihu's face when master Yum Ho give us the booklet after that long explanation of the rules. It was priceless. " I said in a hushed voice seeing as Gihu was behind us.
She looked confused for a second but it clicked in her head to what I was talking about, and she couldn't hold it in. " HAHAHA!, that blockhead with the weird haircut really couldn't get a sentence of the rules I bet. "
Before I could just tell her to lower her voice, it was already too late. " I don't think that's a good- "
" HAAAA! Look who's talking, Miss I don't need my daddy's help to get into the school. " Gihu looked dull on the outside but he really knew what buttons to push if he really wanted to annoy you. And it worked like a charm.
" Why you ! I Already told you, I didn't need any help from anyone to get into this school. I guess you're too much of an idiot to actually hear that too. " Soso fired back with venom.
That tug of war continued for 5 more minutes. No clear winner was crowned... Yet.
" I'm not even gonna bother with you anymore. " She said and turned to me and whole visage changed back to this Sweet teenager look.
" It was nice meeting you Dan Yuseong. I will be waiting for you to our first class tomorrow, goodbye. " She waved goodbye
" You too, see you tomorrow. " And i waved back.
" Damn, the sun's already about to set, all I need to is wait for tomorrow. " Said Gihu, looking ready to take nap anywhere.
" Well, see you tomorrow Yuseong. " He said.
" See you. " I calld back.
" I should go back home too, if it gets too dark, I won't be able to see shit. " I said, tracking back in a medium Sprint.
Jogging back home, I remembered from my now new memories that Dad won't be home at this time. He would be gone to help that family in the slums.
' I need to remember to go there when the snake gang or whatever they call themselves starts rounding up children. If I go any sooner they might be alerted and scatter around. ' I thought.
The first thing I did when I arrived was i took a huge ass dump in the outhouse that's connected to our small home. It was of no consequence to me where I peed or pooped, I'm used to going to my grandpa's vineyard in the countryside where there are no modern toilets. " Ahhh, good times. "
After cleaning up and eating what looked like a vegetable soup left on a wooden bowl, probably made by my dad. I laid down on the bed that I woke up on this morning. " Now, guess it's time to check out my progress and descriptions for all the skills I currently have. "
" Status. " I called out.
< Status >
Dan Yuseong
Age: 15
Lv 3: ( 00/20 )xp
Stamina: 85%
Qi: 100%
[ Attributes ]
Strength: 25 ( + 1 ) = 26
Agility: 31
Endurance: 51
Spirit: ( 1st stage of enlightenment + 89 ) = 189
Qi: 12 years
Attribute points: 002
[ Skills ]
Inspect lv1
Qi manipulation lv 1
Map lv 1
Storage lv 1
Resistance lv max
" Only my strength attribute was added a +1, I'm tempted to add the two attribute points that I got from leveling up into strength too, but that would be unwise, from the manwha, it was shown clearly that with training I can bolster my attributes. I will leave it for when my attributes reach there cap "
[ Inspect ]
Lv: 1 ( Proficiency 95% )
" Damn, all that staring into different people really payed off, almost lv2 too. " I proudly thought.
[ Qi manipulation ]
Lv: 1 ( Proficiency 65 % )
" Not a big of a difference on this one but still progress nonetheless, I'm still going to be cautious until I get more information about spiritual energy. " My pops back then always taught to me to be cautious when hunting, so I took that mindset to everything I did.
" Now, to the other skills. "
[ Map ]
Allows the individual to generate a 3D mental spatial representation of their surroundings.
Lv: 1 ( proficiency 0 % )
Type: Active.
Effect: Creates a basic mental map of the surrounding area within a limited radius. Accuracy improves and different functions are revealed with proficiency.
[ Storage ]
Allows the individual to store and retrieve objects within a personal subspace.
Lv: 1 ( proficiency 0 % )
Type: Active.
Effect: Grants access to a small storage space capable of holding a limited number of non-living objects. Capacity increases with proficiency.
" So, exactly as the ones I know from the manwha. And it's weird that I got them from the get-go, the whole system is already leagues better than from what I remembered... Ehh whatever, it's good for me. Now to that mystery skill. " I speculated for a few seconds but gave up knowing that it won't win me anything to know why there are changes to the system or even my supposed reincarnation.
[ Resistance ]
Allows the individual to develop adaptive resistances to harmful effects through direct exposure and experience.
Lv: MAX ( Proficiency Complete )
Type: Passive.
Effect: Upon experiencing physical, environmental, energetic, or physiological harm, the skill automatically generates a corresponding resistance tied to Resistance. Each resistance begins at a low proficiency and strengthens through repeated exposure, reducing damage, negative effects, or resource consumption caused by that specific harm.
- At 100% over resistance to a certain harm, it becomes an immunity.
" ... "
Slowly rising from the bed I was laying on, either from the fear that what I was witnessing in front of my eyes was to disappear or from the sheer bewilderment and shock that rendered my face stuck in one expression... Pure fucking excitement.
" YEAHHH!! " I didn't give a rat's ass if someone had heard me yelling this late in the evening, cuz I was too excited to just let it stay in my chest.
This skill, I was witnessing in front of my eyes, was so fucking broken.
Whoever reincarnated me, knew exactly what I wanted. " This changes everything. "
***
Jang Gihu [ image ]
Thanks for reading.