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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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‘How many spheres burst in the third gate…’
Ho Cheon-an only remembered that it was more than three and chuckled.
How many times had he tried to eliminate all the pigs, no, green spheres?
Since the green spheres were so well scattered in every nook and cranny, it required a lot of luck, let alone skill, to eliminate them all.
‘What’s the point of getting one randomly out of 3 or one randomly out of 20 when you don’t know what the contents are anyway?’
Although the reward list became more abundant with each sphere that burst, the number of rewards one could receive was fixed.
What was the point of the reward list becoming more abundant when you couldn’t even know what they were?
The third gate was meant to be enjoyed, but players had gritted their teeth and repeated save-and-load techniques for the sake of rewards.
Ho Cheon-an looked at Black Cat, who couldn’t keep still.
Like a child at an amusement park, she was running here and there, urging Ho Cheon-an, who was walking leisurely and peeking ahead.
“Ah, Senior, let’s go quickly! Aren’t you curious about what’s there?”
“Yes, yes.”
Ho Cheon-an looked at Black Cat with skeptical eyes.
He had indeed chosen this secret cave to stimulate Black Cat, but he hadn’t known the difference between reality and the game would be this big.
Just as the experience of riding a real roller coaster was utterly different from watching a roller coaster game screen, the mini-game on the monitor and Hyeon Cheon-ja’s secret cave that had become a reality were completely different experiences.
‘Even if Black Cat, who has thoroughly enjoyed the secret cave, gets a few qi-invigorating treasures…’
It wasn’t that the qi-invigorating treasures were insignificant.
However, considering Black Cat’s current happiness level, the possibility of her harming Ho Cheon-an because of the qi-invigorating treasures converged to almost zero.
‘Was I too greedy?’
As for Black Cat’s true intentions, there would be opportunities as they continued to work together in the future.
It was good enough to have firmly established goodwill in this opportunity.
Although it was a bit burdensome to have raised expectations too high, she would probably follow along without complaint at least once or twice.
“Senior! It’s a stone tablet!”
“Oh.”
The stone tablet was visible from a distance.
Black Cat deployed her lightness technique and disappeared instantly, and Ho Cheon-an also started jogging with a sigh.
[Congratulations, Challenger, for passing all the tests!]
[You have passed the tests of martial arts, wisdom, and luck, thus proving your qualification to inherit Hyeon Cheon-ja’s hidden treasures.]
[Challenger, you are now the owner of the three items placed on the platform, so take them proudly!]
The excited Black Cat pushed Ho Cheon-an’s back. Ho Cheon-an also climbed onto the platform, giving in to Black Cat’s force with a wry smile.
Three items were placed on the platform.
One was in the shape of a bead.
One was in the shape of a bracelet.
And one was a wooden box.
“Let’s look at the first one!”
“Alright.”
Along with the urging of Black Cat, Ho Cheon-an approached the first treasure, the bead-shaped object, and guessed its identity.
‘There should only be one or two circular qi-invigorating treasures…’
Gong-gong Jade (玉).
Meng-meng Ball (球).
Nyang-nyang Pearl (珠).
Murim Cheonha was a world overflowing with round qi-invigorating treasures.
Why were there so many round things in the world?
Fortunately, Hyeon Cheon-ja, the guide of Hyeon Cheon-ja’s secret cave, had kindly left explanations under the qi-invigorating treasures.
[Challenger! This object is the Health Pearl.]
[When carried in your bosom, it will emit cool energy in summer and warm energy in winter, and it contains some auspicious energy, so it will prevent minor illnesses.]
“It’s certainly a precious item, but… it’s not of much help to a master.”
“Hmm.”
It was a meaningless item for Black Cat, a peak master approaching the supreme level.
After all, the peak level is a realm where the body is unaffected unless it’s extreme cold or heat. There was no need to mention minor illnesses.
“But it’s still a precious item nonetheless.”
“That’s true.”
Ho Cheon-an first put the Health Pearl into his bosom.
Although the secret cave was remarkable even in summer, his chest warmed when he put it in.
The second item was a bracelet.
As soon as Ho Cheon-an saw the bracelet’s appearance, he could guess what this object was.
‘This came out. Not bad.’
[Challenger! This object is called the Qi Thread Bracelet.]
[When internal energy is injected, threads are generated inside, which are strong enough to easily withstand a person’s weight. The threads can be freely withdrawn and extended according to the manipulation of the bracelet, so the Challenger should use their wisdom to devise ways to use it.]
“Hmm?”
Black Cat tilted her head as if she didn’t understand the explanation at once.
“So it’s roughly like this.”
Ho Cheon-an put on the bracelet and raised his internal energy.
Originally, infusing objects with internal energy was possible only for those who had reached the first-rate or peak level.
Still, the bracelet made by Hyeon Cheon-ja naturally absorbed Ho Cheon-an’s internal energy.
A semi-transparent thread was drawn out when Ho Cheon-an pulled on the small hook attached to the bracelet.
“Oh, so this is how internal energy is converted into threads.”
“I’m not sure whether the internal energy becomes threads or if the thread material reacts to internal energy.”
The thread that had been unraveling was neatly stored when Ho Cheon-an manipulated another jewel.
‘It can be used in combat, but its real use is in exploration.’
It was a qi-invigorating treasure with infinite uses for breaking through cliffs, obstacles, and formations that would be burdensome even for masters.
Black Cat seemed to quickly grasp it as she swung the bracelet Ho Cheon-an had handed her back and forth, then shook her hand.
Black Cat, who had experimentally wrapped the thread around the stone tablet once, nodded.
“It’s a unique item. Depending on how you use it, it could really be practical!”
“Well, we can play with it on our way back. Shall we check the last one first?”
“Hmm. Alright! It looks like an elixir, but I wonder what kind it is.”
Is this the last one now?
Ho Cheon-an turned his eyes to the final fruit of the secret cave exploration, which ended quite well.
[Challenger! This object is the Jade Wine Command Pill.]
[It’s a pill made by gathering the leftover materials from making celestial realm wine. Although it’s made from leftover materials, each ingredient is not ordinary, so there will be no side effects from consuming it, and it will significantly help your internal energy and muscles and bones.]
Ho Cheon-an picked up the wooden box with slight tension.
‘For Black Cat, who’s at the end of the peak level, wouldn’t this also be an item she might covet?’
Although both the Health Pearl and the Qi Thread Bracelet could be called treasures, this was undoubtedly the most tempting item for Black Cat, who stood at the threshold of the supreme level.
Ho Cheon-an swallowed dryly as he watched Black Cat, who seemed lost in thought.
“Senior, come to think of it, we haven’t talked about the distribution, have we?”
“…Well, that’s true.”
“This isn’t a Sacheon outcast request, but side income. I suppose we need to make a new contract, right?”
Ho Cheon-an nodded nervously.
“Alright! You can have all the items we got from the secret cave today, Senior! This is the contract fee! If there’s another chance to get such an extraordinary encounter or something interesting, no, a chance to earn side income, you must call me!”
“….Huh?”
“Don’t ‘huh’ me, Senior! I’m making a huge investment right now! You need to answer clearly!”
Ho Cheon-an silently stared at Black Cat.
Was she serious?
“How do you know if I’ll know about such extraordinary encounters or not?”
“Oh, come on, Senior. You have at least one more, don’t you? That’s why you’ve been trying so hard to lure me, right? It’s too ugly to show your hand like that and then try to back out now.”
Black Cat smiled behind her veil as she watched the confused Ho Cheon-an.
She had anticipated that Ho Cheon-an’s memory before and after the needle’s effects would be hazy, so she had also expected that Ho Cheon-an would be suspicious when he woke up.
From what Black Cat had seen, Ho Cheon-an was not foolish, just naturally dull-witted.
It was natural for Ho Cheon-an to be suspicious of Black Cat after waking up.
And Black Cat thought it was okay to be guarded against or suspected like that.
After all, Black Cat couldn’t get any closer to Ho Cheon-an than she was now.
‘If I show my face…’
Although Black Cat evaluated Ho Cheon-an as a unique and interesting person, he hadn’t shown the ability to hope that he wouldn’t be captivated even if she showed her bare face.
‘Either he’ll end up like the Wolbok-dang, or lose his reason.’
Black Cat recalled Jeon Hu-dam, the most recent member to join the Wolbok-dang.
Ultimately, didn’t Jeon Hu-dam give up his life and join the Wolbok-dang as the price for seeing Black Cat’s face?
If she showed her face, there was a high possibility that Ho Cheon-an would end up the same way.
Black Cat briefly imagined that scene.
The scene of Ho Cheon-an seeing her bare face and Ho Cheon-an changed afterward.
The sight of him just obsessing over Black Cat.
Black Cat shook her head to clear away these thoughts.
She didn’t want to change Ho Cheon-an like that.
So Black Cat thought the current line was the most appropriate.
A position where she could observe the ball of yarn that was Ho Cheon-an.
This much was satisfying for Black Cat.
So it didn’t matter if she was suspected or disliked.
Even if he developed a reluctance in the private sphere, publicly, they were still Sacheon outcasts, comrades-in-arms.
They had a contract where she would nurture him as an outcast.
After all, for Black Cat, personal relationships could only occur on top of the Black Shadow Qi technique and mask, and such ‘personal relationships’ were just trivial things that would be destroyed instantly if her bare face was revealed.
She had certainly thought so until yesterday.
‘You showed me something too interesting, Senior.’
Today’s experience was enough to blow away all sorts of calculations in Black Cat’s mind.
The first gate where she had excitedly struck.
The second gate was where she felt exhilaration while pondering and saw beautiful fireworks.
The third gate had engraved what explosion is, what splendor is, and what unforgettable thrill is.
She realized all these experiences could be enjoyable because they were shared with Ho Cheon-an.
The joy was doubled because Ho Cheon-an rejoiced together at the first gate.
It was enjoyable because Ho Cheon-an, who could have overcome the second gate alone, kindly explained the rules, understood, and gave her a chance.
And in the third gate, it could be enjoyable because he handed over the bombs with a smile.
Now, Black Cat had to admit.
‘I want to experience more things like this with Senior Ho.’
An unfamiliar emotion of wanting to do something together with someone else, a flutter, filled Black Cat’s heart.
For the first time in her life, which was full of only unpleasant memories of others, a desire to be with someone arose.
A proposal containing that feeling.
Black Cat waited for Ho Cheon-an’s answer with a pounding heart.
Ho Cheon-an was at a loss for words.
He had come here to test Black Cat’s trustworthiness, but now she was the one proposing.
The tables had turned completely.
“You… you really want to do this kind of thing again?” Ho Cheon-an asked cautiously.
Black Cat nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! It was so much fun, Senior. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. And… and I think it’s more enjoyable doing it with you.”
Ho Cheon-an felt a strange warmth in his chest at her words.
He had been so focused on his own goals and suspicions that he hadn’t considered how this experience might have affected Black Cat.
“I… I see,” he said, trying to gather his thoughts.
“Well, if that’s how you feel, I suppose we could do something like this again sometime.”
Black Cat’s eyes seemed to sparkle even through her veil.
“Really? You promise?”
Ho Cheon-an couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm.
“Yes, I promise. But remember, these kinds of opportunities don’t come along often. And we still need to be careful.”
“Of course, Senior! I understand,” Black Cat said, nodding vigorously. “But when the chance comes, you’ll definitely call me, right?”
“Yes, I will,” Ho Cheon-an assured her.
As they prepared to leave the secret cave, Ho Cheon-an found himself looking at Black Cat in a new light.
Her excitement and joy were genuine, and he realized that perhaps he had been too quick to doubt her intentions.
While he still had questions and suspicions, he couldn’t deny that this experience had brought them closer.
As they stepped out of the cave and into the sunlight, Ho Cheon-an felt a tiny spark of anticipation for their future adventures together.
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