Chapter 291

“What happens if you roll a fist-sized snowball down a hill? Anyone know?” I asked, prompting a scoff from Song-Yi.

“Even a kindergartener could answer that.”

“Then go ahead, give it a shot.”

“Well, obviously it gets bigger as it rolls down.”

“Why?”

“Because it gathers more snow from the hill as it goes.”

“Exactly, just like my feelings for you.”

“Ugh, gross!” Song-Yi retched again, her reaction now becoming almost addictive.

With her gagging sound as the background music, I continued.

“What Song-Yi said is true, but there’s a catch. This isn’t a snow-covered hill; it’s a hill where the snow has already melted. No matter how hard you push that snowball, it won’t get much bigger.”

“The snowball you’re talking about is Mana, isn’t it?”

“Chief Choi, you catch on quickly. Yes, it’s the same with the Mana Cultivation Technique. If the base amount is small, no matter how much you roll it, it’ll remain small.”

“So, the lower your rank, the more limited you are. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Exactly.”

There’s a saying: Once an F-rank, always an F-rank.

It’s as hard as plucking stars from the sky to break out of the rank you’re assigned. But, there are those rare individuals who manage to reach those stars.

They’re called Second Awakened. That’s the name given to them, and it’s the mask I’m currently wearing.

“After I had my second awakening as an F-rank hunter, my capabilities surged dramatically. It was like finally getting some snow on that barren hill.”

“Now that you mention it, the results back then…”

“My Mana capacity was C-rank. But even then, my control ability was A-rank. You know why, right?”

“The Jinga Heart Technique.”

Chief Choi let out a groan.

“So, it wasn’t an error by the Association.”

As my fame grew and my past deeds came to light, they concluded that the earlier measurements were a mistake.

The Bucheon Association, which had conducted the reassessment, received a lot of flak for it, though they were probably innocent.

“The Jinga Heart Technique, which you and Butler Kim refer to as the Mana Cultivation Technique, has two main effects. The first is an increase in Mana capacity. And the second…”

Butler Kim finished my sentence.

“Is the ability to control Mana on a completely different level.”

“Correct.”

The way you handle Mana—or Qi, as some call it—can make all the difference.

The Jinga Heart Technique is an advanced martial art. While it’s slower in accumulating energy, its stability rivals even the most advanced techniques.

“Just practicing it will bring about tremendous progress. Let’s start with the people here. Focus solely on learning the Jinga Heart Technique for now. Oh, and it’s crucial that this remains top secret.”

Why the strange reactions?

The room fell into a heavy silence. The four people stared at me with their mouths agape.

“Are you saying you’re going to teach us the Mana Cultivation Technique?” Chief Choi asked, his eyelids twitching.

“It’s not a Mana Cultivation Technique, it’s the Jinga Heart Technique.”

“Yes, yes, the Jinga Heart Technique, I mean,” Chief Choi stammered, clearly overwhelmed.

“Of course, that’s why I brought it. You think I brought it just to show off?”

I looked around at everyone as I continued.

“As you all know, we won’t last long at our current level. Recent events have made Lee Jung-ryong back off for now, but it’s only a matter of time before he comes after us again. But… what if we had the Jinga Heart Technique?”

Im Jeok-jung, who had been silently gaping, suddenly shouted.

“Jin! Ga! Heart! Technique!”

“Nice reaction. Anyway, I’ve thought long and hard about this, so for the time being, I need you to follow my instructions without complaint. Got it?”

The four people in this room would be the first, and after them, I’d move on to the new recruits.

I planned to train them rigorously and turn them into elite warriors, capable of taking on two or three hunters of the same rank at once.

“Alright then…” I scanned the room, where everyone was still half in shock, and gestured for someone to come forward.

“Let’s start with you, Chief Choi.” As I spoke, a holographic window appeared over Chief Choi’s still-stunned face.

*Ding.*

– A quest, [Show Me Your Back!] has been created!

What a title… I really don’t feel like doing this now.

—

**[Show Me Your Back!]**

Unlike the turbulent world of Murim, life in the modern world has been relatively peaceful… but reality is a different story!

Feeling the imminent danger, you’ve decided to teach your trustworthy friends martial arts.

Will this decision prove to be a blessing or a curse…? That depends on your choices and abilities.

Good luck!

**Grade:** Advanced
**Requirement:** Jin Tae-kyung
**Objective:** Guide in the mastery of [Jinga Heart Technique] (Incomplete)
**Reward:** Substantial experience points
**Repeatable Quest** ???
**Failure:** In the worst case, your friend may suffer from Qi Deviation

Who the hell came up with this quest title?

Well, I do need to see his back to teach him how to channel Qi through the Mingmen point on his lower back… but seeing the title makes me really not want to do this.

“Hoo, Chief Choi.”

“Yes?”

“Uh… show me your back.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. Just follow the instructions I’m about to give you. Butler Kim, the rest of you, make sure no one disturbs us. And most importantly, no one should touch us while we’re doing this. Understood?”

“Of course.” Butler Kim nodded firmly and cast a spell. With each word of the incantation, the staff he wielded stirred the air, creating an invisible barrier that enveloped the room.

Meanwhile, Chief Choi awkwardly removed his shirt, sat cross-legged, and offered me his back.

“What exactly are you going to do to me?”

“…You phrase things in such a strange way.”

I might just give him Qi Deviation on purpose.

I placed my hand on the Mingmen point on Chief Choi’s back.

From here on out, I had to be extremely careful. No matter how skilled a martial artist may be, they are virtually defenseless when channeling and circulating their Qi.

“Close your eyes and focus on the Mana within your body. No matter what happens, you must endure it. Is there anywhere you’re uncomfortable? If so, speak up now.”

“The right side of my shoulder blade feels a bit…”

“Does it hurt?”

“It’s itchy, actually.”

“…You’ve got to be kidding me. Here?”

I scratched the spot he indicated, and Chief Choi sighed in relief.

“Yes, right there. That feels great.”

“My nickname used to be ‘Scratchmaster.’”

“And, uh, my underwear feels a bit tight…”

“Are you out of your mind? You can handle that on your own. Do I look like I’m going to cuff you?”

“Oh, right, that could help. I’m just really tense…”

“Hoo… It’s fine. Just calm down. No need to apologize.”

“This isn’t your fault, Tae-kyung. If I had known, I would’ve worn a thong.”

At least he knows how to pick his underwear…

Annoyed by Chief Choi’s nervous babbling, I warned him in a low voice.

“Keep your mouth shut from now on. Focus only on how your Mana flows. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Even if your shoulder blade itches or something gets stuck in your underwear, bear with it. Understand?”

“Can I ask what exactly we’re doing?”

“I’m going to guide your Mana using Qi Guidance. After that, we’ll follow the Jinga Heart Technique’s mantras and complete the Small Heavenly Circuit, then finish with the Qi Breathing Technique.”

“Do you get the gist? Be honest.”

“Honestly?”

“Yes.”

After a brief pause, Chief Choi responded.

“I have no idea what Qi Guidance is.”

“Then just close your eyes and keep your mouth shut. If you start wiggling around complaining about your underwear, I’ll kill you before I die.”

“Understood.”

His response was resolute. I could feel the tension in Chief Choi’s body ease as he relaxed.

He was a novice, just taking his first steps into the unfamiliar world of martial arts. It didn’t matter how much social experience he had, how many languages he spoke, or what knowledge he possessed.

“Let’s begin.”

Everything now depended on me. After calming my breathing, I channeled the Qi from my dantian through my palm and into the Mingmen point on Chief Choi’s back.

Slowly. Carefully.

When the extremely Yang-oriented Qi of the Fiery Yang Energy entered his body, the system immediately signaled.

*Ding.*

– Qi Guidance has begun.

Previously, I had helped my mother and Ha-yeon purge impurities from their bodies.

But this was on a completely different level of difficulty.

Qi Guidance is the process of leading the Qi within someone’s body in the direction you desire. The amount of Qi Chief Choi possessed was vast compared to an ordinary person.

‘And it’s cleaner than I expected…’ No, scratch that. It’s not just cleaner than expected; it’s remarkably pure.

His bones and tendons were strong, and his meridians

were as clear as a highway at dawn, with no noticeable impurities.

‘What’s going on? He said he hadn’t practiced any Mana Cultivation Technique…’ Chief Choi held a B-rank hunter’s license. The energy I usually sensed from him was typical for that level.

The only things setting him apart from an average B-rank hunter were his sharp combat instincts and top-tier equipment.

‘To be honest, it always felt like something was missing for someone who is the only bloodline of Cheon Tae-min.’ With his leadership, intelligence, and decisiveness, there was always an unavoidable sense of being underwhelmed.

In front of the name of the hero who saved all of humanity, Cheon Tae-min, anyone would pale in comparison.

But now, I was starting to think differently.

‘At this level… With a little help, he could reach a high level quickly.’ An A-rank hunter? No. I planned to make Chief Choi a top-tier master.

It would be a waste to let such a solid foundation go to waste.

‘If only the others were half as prepared as Chief Choi, things would go a lot smoother.’ I continued to guide the Fiery Yang Energy with these thoughts in mind. Soon, the Qi I had infused into him circled through dozens of acupoints, intertwining with his own energy.

I gathered his scattered energy and consolidated it before storing it in his dantian, completing the first cycle of energy circulation. This would mark his first step as a martial artist.

But then…

‘What the…’ I froze as I reached Chief Choi’s dantian.

Half of his dantian was occupied by a massive ball of Qi. And then, a system notification popped up.

*Ding.*

– A sudden quest, [Take Only Half of the Energy I Digested], has been created.

– Will you accept?