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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Everything possesses multifaceted values.
It’s a matter of course. Take, for instance, the expression “spring” in Sayoon’s letter.
She thought of spring simply as the literal season, but others might interpret it as “something new.”
So, is spring always a good thing for ordinary people? Of course, it could be.
But some might recall the period after using up the grains harvested in autumn, when barley isn’t ripe yet and food becomes scarce, and shudder at the thought.
Just as everything holds multiple meanings, things that seem ordinary and simple on the surface can hold immense value.
Enlightenment is one such example.
Realizing the true value within the mundane aspects of everyday life.
It’s one of the ways to strengthen oneself in the world of Heavenly Bright Moon, and every character goes through it at least once.
However, one regret is that Sayoon had to go through her first enlightenment event alone, without any help.
Other characters were different. They had their masters and fellow disciples, like brothers and sisters, by their side.
Contemplation in solitude easily leads to stubbornness, and stubbornness often invites inner demons.
Whether someone is by your side during the process of searching for a needle in a haystack greatly affects the searcher’s mental state.
Therefore, I couldn’t help but think.
Damn it.
How can I help her with this?
“Hmm…”
Enlightenment is often achieved through a sudden flash of insight.
For example, it’s like struggling to write code and then suddenly realizing, “Oh, shit?” and implementing it in a ridiculously simple way. So, I doubted that simply sending Sayoon the topic of her enlightenment would lead her to achieve it.
And it was even more absurd for me to go there and teach her directly.
“Hmm…”
Think, think.
Only the dead stop thinking. So let’s not stop thinking.
My contemplation continued until the next day. But as I was still struggling to find a solution, a customer approached me hesitantly as I was clearing the tables at the inn.
“Excuse me, are you the owner of this inn?”
“I am, what can I do for you?”
It was an old man in shabby clothes. His white beard and hair gave him the impression of a Taoist hermit with an air of elegance.
I looked at him and chuckled.
“Are you ready to pay?”
“No, it’s not that. I’m sure I brought my money pouch when I came to this village…”
He seemed clearly embarrassed, unsure what to do. He let out a sigh.
“But for some reason, I can’t find it anywhere, no matter how hard I look. So, could I possibly… put it on my tab?”
“Hey, old man, who do you think you are asking for credit?!”
The waiter standing next to me frowned and growled, as if ready to grab a club.
I looked at the Taoist. He seemed so embarrassed that I felt embarrassed for him.
“What did this gentleman have?”
“A bowl of noodles and a plate of dumplings… sir.”
“Hmm…”
The Taoist was even more embarrassed, and I nodded after observing him.
“You don’t seem like an ordinary beggar, and you appear to be from a Taoist sect, so I’d appreciate it if you could recite a Taoist prayer for me.”
“Oh? Is that alright?”
“Of course.”
What would I get from squeezing a penniless old man? A bowl of noodles and a plate of dumplings only cost a few coins anyway, so it was better to just get a prayer from him and let him go.
The Taoist was overjoyed at my words and bowed repeatedly.
“Amitabha Buddha. Amitabha Buddha. May the Primordial Heavenly Lord bless this encounter. Please wait a moment.”
He hurriedly opened his bag. Inside were some old incense sticks, a few talismans, and a couple of books without covers. He took out the incense and talismans and followed me outside.
He lit the talismans and incense in front of the inn and began to pray earnestly.
“A prayer for a few coins…”
“Never mind, go back to work.”
“Yes, sir.”
The waiter bowed and went back inside. How long did he pray?
After the incense burned completely, he finally smiled, a relieved look on his face.
“I recited a prayer, but it doesn’t seem enough to repay your kindness. I’ll be sure to repay this debt, as it’s on credit.”
“It’s fine. You seem like a wanderer, so just go on your way.”
“Well… in that case, there’s something I’d like to teach you, innkeeper.”
Wait a minute.
This sounded familiar…
There was definitely an event like this, where someone would teach you a martial art in exchange for a meal at an inn.
Of course, it wouldn’t be as good as the characters’ unique martial arts, but there were still some useful ones, weren’t there?
“Practicing it every day will benefit your longevity and health. Please, don’t refuse.”
If I refused here, the Taoist would smile and leave, and the event would end.
But what if I accepted?
I smiled at him.
“If you insist, then I can’t refuse. What is it?”
“It’s nothing special. The martial art I, this humble Taoist, will teach you is…”
He looked at me with his dark, deep eyes and spoke.
“It’s called Five Animal Frolics.”
The Five Animal Frolics originated from the health exercises used by Hua Tuo.
So, in Heavenly Bright Moon, it was considered a healing technique.
The Taoist described it as a martial art for longevity, but if mastered, it could restore stamina, improve health, and even…
Transfer one’s own stamina to others to heal their injuries.
Thanks to its effectiveness, the Five Animal Frolics was highly regarded in Heavenly Bright Moon.
The most famous example of a master who had mastered healing techniques in Heavenly Bright Moon was the Divine Doctor of the Martial Alliance. Even he, who was said to be able to bring people back from the brink of death and was a highly skilled martial artist, considered the Five Animal Frolics to be a remarkable healing technique, comparable to his own Medicine King’s Benevolent Hand.
Actually, that was a lie.
Come on, if the Five Animal Frolics was that great, the Divine Doctor would have mastered it first.
But even so, it wasn’t a bad martial art.
After all, the benefits of longevity and enhanced natural healing couldn’t be ignored.
In the forum’s strategy guides, they even recommended Taoist characters who lacked healing techniques in their sect to learn the Five Animal Frolics whenever the opportunity arose.
Mastering it to 5 stars was practically like carrying an extra life.
Moreover, reaching 5 stars wasn’t that time-consuming or difficult, so most people could achieve it.
“Yes, that’s how you do it.”
Perhaps it was because of that?
Even though it was just an event where the Taoist explained and adjusted my posture, I was able to master the Five Animal Frolics after just a few tries.
Even though I was an outsider in this world, I was essentially benefiting from the system. But it wasn’t a bad thing.
What was wrong with learning it easily?
And it was even better because, unlike other martial arts, there was no need to reach the level of true understanding with the Five Animal Frolics.
Since I was at it, should I try to obtain all the martial arts available through events?
It might be helpful to Sayoon.
I pondered for a moment and then shook my head.
There were countless martial arts to obtain through events in Heavenly Bright Moon, and the most important thing right now was to properly set the first button by preventing the destruction of the Hongseong Sect by the Iron Blood Clan.
I didn’t know how the story would unfold after that.
If I succeeded, I would have more leeway to act, but for now, I had neither the time nor the energy to embark on a quest for martial arts.
So, I decided to focus on mastering the technique I was currently learning. The Five Animal Frolics might come in handy.
“Now, exhale, and for the last move…”
I slowly lowered my left hand, as if performing a graceful dance.
“They say ‘the best is like water.’ Water precedes everything and can overcome any obstacle, connecting all five elements.”
I parried the Taoist’s slowly approaching fist with my left hand. Very slowly, but surely.
Unlike the other four animals of the Five Animal Frolics, metal, wood, fire, and earth, water was incredibly slow and gentle.
But anyone who had played Heavenly Bright Moon knew that the “water” form of the Five Animal Frolics was a technique that combined offense and defense.
This gentle, slow movement…
Became terrifying when mastered.
Of course, very few people actually mastered it.
Considering the resources, time, and effort required to reach that level, it was better to focus on other things.
There were plenty of other, better martial arts.
“Practice the Five Animal Frolics once every morning and once before bed, and you’ll never catch a cold.”
“That’s good to know.”
“However, your movements are still a little awkward because you’re not used to it…”
The Taoist smiled and took out an old book from his bag. I received it and saw that it was a manual for the Five Animal Frolics.
“I hope you’ll practice diligently. The Five Animal Frolics is a proper Taoist martial art. Even just practicing it can slowly accumulate Qi, so you can even form your dantian.”
Unlike other martial arts, which relied on specific breathing techniques to accumulate internal energy, simply moving the body could stimulate the meridians and awaken the dantian.
The Taoist explained kindly, beaming.
“And if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always ask the Hongseong Sect. They are also a Taoist sect and have people who have mastered the Five Animal Frolics…”
…Oh? That’s not a bad idea.
I looked at the Taoist, and he was still smiling serenely.
“I’ve received so much in return for just a simple meal.”
“Hahaha, a bowl of noodles is not a small thing to a hungry man. Moreover, you, innkeeper, saved my face. This is a small token of my appreciation for protecting my pride and honor.”
“This is a small token of my appreciation for protecting my health.”
I took out my money pouch and handed it to him. It contained twenty silver coins. The Taoist, surprised, tried to return it, but I shook my head.
If I gave him a little money after this event, he would visit me again later with more gifts, so it was better to give it to him now.
“Oh… this is… I didn’t do this expecting anything in return… but I’ll gratefully accept it.”
Being without travel funds meant embarking on a difficult journey.
With twenty silver coins, he could survive for a month without starving if he was frugal.
“Then, I’ll see you again.”
“Amitabha Buddha. May your will be done, innkeeper.”
He bowed deeply and walked away. I returned to the inn, and the waiters, who were on their break after finishing lunch service, spoke with dubious expressions.
“Sir, you know… sometimes those beggars sell fake martial arts, so be careful.”
“Don’t worry.”
I could tell that the Five Animal Frolics was genuine.
Back in my room, I looked through the Five Animal Frolics manual.
It wasn’t much different from the information I had gathered before coming to this world or the screenshots uploaded by the veteran players on the forum.
I had no intention of studying it in depth, so I just tossed it in a drawer.
“I should get back to work. Ah, but before that…”
I pulled out a piece of paper.
If she was struggling to learn a new martial art, I had to offer her some advice.
Of course, it was uncertain how helpful it would be to Sayoon.
After sending the letter off with a courier and finishing some other tasks, the sun began to set.
Sunset. The reddish sunlight cast by the setting sun painted the sky crimson.
Perhaps that’s why I thought of Hongryeon.
I wonder if she’s finding that elixir alright.
“Sir, where are you going?”
“Just taking a walk to clear my head. I’ve been working all day, and my head is killing me.”
I left the inn for a walk and found myself heading towards the market unconsciously.
Why did my feet bring me here when there was nothing to see?
I thought hard about it and then burst out laughing.
I was hoping for an event like the last time.
Yes, like when I met Gak-jun of the Sly Wolves.
I had a chance encounter with Sayoon then, and my body, remembering that, must have led me here.
I shook my head, chuckling.
Well, there’s no way that would happen again…
“Oh, hello there!”
I spotted Sayoon, standing with Yoohee, another disciple of the Hongseong Sect, and thought to myself.
Holy shit.
It worked.
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