The room was peacefully quiet.
Inside, in a wooden-furnished room, Haneul opened his blurry eyes and sat down at the edge of his wooden bed.
He leaned forward, resting both hands on his head. His hair, slightly messy, trailed down to the nape of his neck.
"Tsk." A tone full of annoyance escaped his lips.
His left hand pulled his hair back, revealing striking features dark eyes and sharp cheekbones. He grinned.
"It seems the demonic path really was pitiful,"
he muttered in a low tone.
He stood up and walked toward the window. Reaching for the metal latch, he pulled it and opened it wide.
A breeze rushed in. Haneul's hair flowed backward as he closed his eyes.
"I'm back home,"
he said in a peaceful tone.
Outside was calm. It was Park Village Haneul's hometown, where he had grown up in a past life.
"System."
[SY-ST-- O-NLIN-]
A transparent blue screen flickered into existence, floating in the air. It seemed out of place in this world, like a relic from a more advanced civilization. Each letter glitched with a different color.
Haneul raised a hand to his chin.
"Well, at least you're working... even if you're still glitching."
This fucking system really pissed me off during my fourth return...
"Profile."
[PROFILE : HANEUL PARK]
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"Tsk. Fucking useless."
If I'm not wrong, I should be fifteen right now... somewhere between third-rate martial peak and early second-rate martial stage. I should probably get that technique before the entrance test happens.
As Haneul looked out the window, observing the village the leaves, the animals, the people going about their daily lives a sudden loud noise came from outside his room.
Running...?
He turned toward the door.
It burst open.
A young yatou rushed in, wearing a faded ruqun skirt that fluttered with the wind. Her ponytail bounced as she ran, a simple hairpin keeping it in place.
She was panting heavily.
"Cough! Cough!"
Coughing slightly, she looked up and saw Haneul bare-chested, revealing his lean, toned body.
Her cheeks turned as pink as a blossom in spring.
"Y-young master Haneul! W-why aren't you dressed yet...?"
she stammered, unable to keep her eyes off him.
"Why? Is there something I should know?"
Haneul asked.
Hm. To be honest, I don't even know exactly what day it is. I've lived for over a thousand years. I can't remember every life I've gone through...
I came from a world of civilians called Earth, though I barely remember anything from there. Not that there's much worth remembering...
Lost in thought, Haneul didn't seem to hear a single word from his yatou.
He glanced over at her.
If I'm right... she's Xiao my yatou. In this world, that's something like a personal maid...
"Y-young master?!"
Xiao's voice rose in volume, nearly a scream.
"Ah right. What were you saying again?"
Haneul asked.
"In three hours, the test for the famous Righteous Sect will start!"
Xiao shouted excitedly.
Haneul began to sweat uncontrollably.
Fuck!
"Please get ready, young master! Once you're dressed, head to the gate so we can start our journey!"
She turned to leave, cheeks still flushed.
At the doorway, she paused, glanced back at him shyly, and added:
"By the way... I've prepared your bath, young master!"
Haneul was lying down, floating in a steaming mùtǒng filled with all kinds of flowers. The scent of aged ginseng and other medicinal herbs lingered in the air.
His eyes were closed, enjoying the peaceful sound of birds and the soothing aroma of herbs that had been aged for years.
Come to think of it... that guy in white said something important. But I can't seem to remember what it was.
Maybe the demonic path just wasn't meant for me... or maybe I was just too stubborn.
Either way, I need to find a new path to go against the heavens.
Before I leave the village, I should probably pick up that manual from the Pavilion.
Time passed.
Haneul finished bathing and dressed himself in a hanfu—black as the night sky, outlined with crimson edges.
He began walking, leaping over rooftops and narrow stone walls as he moved through the village.
Eventually, he arrived at the Park Clan's Manual Pavilion.
Outside stood two men wearing the same black-crimson hanfu, each holding a spear with a golden dragon crest the Park family symbol.
As Haneul approached, one of the guards stepped forward.
"Young Master Haneul, may I ask what you're doing here?"
"I just want to check a manual before I leave,"
Haneul replied casually.
How annoying. Father always insists on guarding even the most boring parts of our clan history...
"I'm sorry, Young Master," the guard said. "But the Pavilion is closed today. Your father ordered repairs."
"Please, just this once! I promise I won't take anything. You can search me after I come out,"
Haneul said, dropping to one knee.
The two guards looked at each other, then nodded.
One of them scratched his head and sighed.
"Fine… just do it quickly, alright?"
"Thank you, Senior! I'll take this to my grave,"
Haneul said with a grin, performing a respectful bow left hand clenched in a fist, right hand in a chop over it. Without wasting a second, he slipped inside.
Rows of wooden shelves stood tall, each labeled with a martial path:
Fist
Sword
Poison
Qi
This was the Park Clan's Manual Pavilion, where every technique created by the clan was stored. If i remembered correctly, these were all just third-rate to second-rate manuals.
The real treasures are hidden in the clan leader's private vault… aka my father's room.
But I'm not here for any of that.
He walked toward a small door tucked into the far corner. He opened it and stepped inside a dusty, cobweb-ridden room that looked like it hadn't been touched in years.
He closed the door behind him. Darkness swallowed the room.
"System,"
he whispered.
[SY--EM ON-LIN-]
A faint blue light emerged as the system interface appeared, hovering in the air and illuminating the space just enough to see.
At least this system's still somewhat useful.
Haneul crouched and sifted through old, forgotten manuals, one after another, until finally he found it.
"Great Vein Shift Technique,"
he said, smiling.
"I don't know how much I'll need it... but just in case, I'll learn it."
"Inventory."
A leather brown bag appeared out of thin air. Haneul placed the manual inside, and it vanished instantly.
All set.
He walked back out and was briefly searched by the guards before leaving the Pavilion.
As he strolled through the village, his mind wandered, deep in thought.
The Great Vein Shift Technique… a Qi method that can be either demonic or righteous depending on the user.
It requires the practitioner to circulate Qi in an unusual, unnatural way. But once mastered, it allows control over one's organs shifting them around the body to avoid fatal injuries.
It gives you a 50/50 chance of survival when stabbed or attacked...
Sounds stupid.
...But I love stupid.