“Uh?”
When I came to my senses, a strange landscape entered my view.
Something feels off.
“What’s going on?”
A street that looks like it’s straight out of an ancient era lay out before me.
Where on earth am I? Is this the Joseon era? No, this is way different from the Joseon I know. If I had to describe it, I’d say it looks more Chinese.
“…”
As I looked around, people dressed in real old-fashioned clothes were walking around. The buildings also had an ancient vibe.
Could this be a historical drama filming site?
I had that thought for a moment, but there’s no way. Didn’t I just stomp out of my house and head home? Was everything just a dream? Do I have some kind of sleepwalking condition? That can’t be right. That crazy director was way too vivid to be just a dream, not to mention ridiculous. There’s no way he could be a beautiful dream character.
Besides, if I had that kind of sleepwalking condition, my aunt would’ve had a fit first.
“What on earth?”
This was all so sudden that I felt completely unreal.
But just as that thought crossed my mind…
“Catch him!”
“Strange fight!”
“Today, I will catch you for sure!”
—Kaboom!
Suddenly, a bunch of people, like professional sprinters, came running and jumped over the walls!
They were leaping over every obstacle and showcasing acrobatics.
“Wow!”
What are these guys, and why are they so good at parkour?
It seemed like they were trying to catch a thief, and it was amazing. Both the runner and the pursuers were jumping around as if they’d only trained in parkour.
Their skills were so professional that I couldn’t help but admire them.
Back in middle school, I tried practicing parkour after watching Yamakasi and ended up with a cracked shin. Those stunts aren’t something anyone can do.
“Wow.”
Did these guys have similar experiences?
Thinking we shared such memories made my heart warm and swell with happiness… Well, never mind that. Something even more shocking caught my eye. Surprisingly, the man trying to catch someone was wielding a sword of some kind.
“Quick blade cut!”
He swung the sword while chanting what sounded like a martial arts technique!
Light was even bursting from the sword!
“What the?!”
What the hell is going on?!
My jaw dropped as I sat down, pulling my hair in disbelief!
Even though this was a shocking sight that warranted such an overreaction…
—Chills.
At the same time, goosebumps ran down my spine.
“Martial arts?”
Something clicked in my mind.
A Chinese-themed setting.
A person who was showcasing lightness skills suddenly wielding a sword and emitting sword energy.
This was unbelievable, yet what I just saw was real. It was reality, no matter how many times I blinked.
So, then…
Is this really a martial arts world?
“This is insane…!”
As I grasped the reality, a wave of fear washed over me.
Did I really come to the martial arts realm?
Is this for real?
Suddenly, I felt super scared.
I’m shaking in fear to the point my legs feel like jelly…!
“Darn it! Did I lose him?!”
“You all pursue the strange fight! You must catch him!”
I kid you not, my spine is tingling hot, and cold sweat is pouring down my forehead. Not only that, my head feels dizzy… Martial arts, martial arts!
Martial arts!
A world where martial artists wield swords while flying around!
I’ve read a few fantasy or martial arts novels, so I have some idea! I’ve seen plenty of stories about suddenly being transported to such worlds, but if it really becomes reality, it’d be nothing short of a nightmare!
But I ended up in a place like that!
“This is absurd…!”
There’s no way a modern person like me could survive in the martial arts world!
That’s enjoyable only when witnessed, but if it becomes a reality, it’s totally doomed!
—Whoosh!
Feeling scared, I just ran. I was experiencing what panic truly meant. I couldn’t escape any other way. It was like an ostrich burying its head in a hole while running away.
“… status screen!”
Oh, right!
“STATUS SCREEN!”
I instinctively shouted, but no status screen appeared.
“No way!”
No status screen?
Does that even make sense?!
What the hell is this? It’s not like I’m defying trends, but no status screen? If I suddenly end up in another world, a status screen should be the norm!
Wait a minute!
On the contrary, maybe these days, having no status screen is the trend!
I can’t believe this!
I’m in the martial arts realm!
I never imagined I’d end up in a martial arts world!
“Haah, haah!”
I felt like my heart might explode.
Gripping my racing heart, I took deep breaths. Remarkably, I was still in the martial arts realm. I thought I’d return home if I just got my act together, but I genuinely ended up in another world.
Out of the blue, without any premonition.
“Darn it…!”
I need to get a grip.
It’s hard to believe that I’m in another world, but this is real.
It’s not a dream or fake; it’s definitely real.
If that’s the case, I have to figure out a way to survive.
In the martial arts realm or wherever, people need food to avoid starving to death. There’s no aunt here to make a meal for me. But what should I do? I know I’m in the martial arts world, but I lack other knowledge. If I were in a martial arts novel, I would have at least known something, but I have no clue.
Zero knowledge.
Surviving without knowledge is tough.
Am I really going to die here?
Just as that thought struck me, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“No…!”
I can’t have such weak thoughts!
My motto is to survive and adapt wherever I am as an adult. With that mindset, I stepped out of my aunt’s loving arms to become a proud, responsible, and awesome member of society.
If I just keep my wits about me, society and the martial arts realm can’t be all that different.
—Swipe.
I wiped my face with my sleeve.
First, it seems like I can communicate. I don’t know how a Korean can speak in the martial arts realm, but the fact that I can speak means my odds of survival just skyrocketed.
Alright.
Let’s make a move.
If I have no money, I can’t eat. I need to figure out a way to make a living while I still have some energy. Just sitting around trying to conserve energy will only result in getting myself killed within a day or two. You can’t do anything while starving.
I need to find something before I get hungry.
“Let’s go.”
Looking for work for survival.
Thankfully, I’m used to this kind of experience.
Now that the situation has already unfolded, all I can do is believe I can get through this and press on.
Whoever threw me into the martial arts realm is dead meat. If I ever find out who, they’re gonna pay!
Anyway, let’s move.
—Murmur, murmur.
As I moved, I arrived at a market-like street.
“How much for this?”
“50 mun!”
“I think some haggling is in order.”
“No, sir. That’s already a fair price.”
People were negotiating over all sorts of goods. Watching them gave me a good idea.
Yes.
First, I should familiarize myself with speech patterns and prices. To blend into society, that’s the first step, right?
It seems the extreme situation is sharpening my mind to find survival strategies. This is what I would call Kim Geunhyeop’s well-trained happiness circuit.
They say that in some remote tribes of South America, the concept of ‘weesuk’ exists. They believe that if you experience excessive stress, your ‘weesuk’ will shatter with a sound, sometimes taking your life. However, if that ‘weesuk’ stays intact, they can overcome any trial.
I felt my inner ‘weesuk’ was intact.
Recalling that, I observed the shops with the keen eye of an undercover agent gathering local intel.
“Hahaha! You have a magnificent aura, so I’ll only charge you one silver piece for this!”
“What do you mean one silver piece? I think half that should suffice.”
“No, my dear customer, that can’t be right.”
From what I gathered, cheap goods seemed to go for a handful of coins, while pricier items were charged silver pieces.
Since I’ve read martial arts novels, I know what they are.
Usually, they carry small silver pieces called silver grains, regularly cutting them to pay, but they also use coins for inexpensive items.
It looks like they make ample use of coins.
Taking out a silver piece seems quite rare.
Common folks likely use coins, then.
As I continued observing the area, a delightful aroma suddenly wafted over… No, what’s with this heavenly smell? My mouth was practically watering. If only I could ask my aunt for a bowl of ramen, but that’s not possible.
I can’t resist this.
Let’s check it out.
[Daegak Restaurant]
I found a restaurant with a sign that read ‘Daegak.’ The delicious smell was coming from here. I’m so glad I can read the sign. If I couldn’t, I’d be a goner for sure.
“Server! One serving of dumplings!”
“Yes! That’ll be 10 coins!”
Dumplings for one meal, huh?
Is that a side dish?
10 coins for a serving of dumplings… Good. I’m gathering knowledge for survival.
After acquiring this knowledge, I took a look at my own appearance.
“I’m a bit dirty, though.”
Fortunately, I was dressed like an extra from a historical drama, so I blended in well with my surroundings. My outfit may look a little dirty, but oddly enough, this helped me remain inconspicuous. It seemed like everyone else looked similar to me, so I wouldn’t raise any suspicions entering a shop.
So, I headed to the clothing store nearby.
“Welcome, esteemed customer!”
“Hmm.”
I casually bowed and glanced at the displayed clothes. They looked pretty ordinary. Clothes that commoners would wear. There might be slight differences from what I was wearing, but they weren’t that far apart.
“Is there something particular you’re looking for?”
“I think I’ll need to look around first.”
“Of course, sir.”
I tried using the speech patterns I picked up from observation, and it didn’t seem to raise any eyebrows. Was I meant to have a talent for acting? If I ever get back home, I might genuinely consider pursuing acting. If I become an actor, I’ll give my aunt a better life. Then, I’ll make that director apologize publicly and get blacklisted from the industry. After that, I’ll hire him for sparring sessions, so I can beat him up every day.
My revenge is nothing to be taken lightly… As long as I live, he will one day pay the price.
Let’s see…
“Owner, where’s a good place to find work around here?”
I pretended to browse for clothes and casually asked.
Would he respond well?
“Ah, dear customer. You must be from out of town?”
“That’s right.”
“Is this your first time in Anhui City?”
Anhui City!
Wait a minute. How does this guy know that?!
So, this is Anhui City!
Thank goodness I have some martial arts knowledge. Anhui City should be somewhere located towards the right side of the continent, so if I understand martial arts knowledge correctly, it’s highly likely the Namgoong Clan is here.
“I traveled from Hanan City.”
“Oh, you’ve come from Hanan. Well, it’s a nice place to find work. Since you don’t seem to be a martial artist, you might want to head to the Dahoebang (多會幇) to look for jobs.”
“Dahoebang, you say?”
“It’s a place that acts as a broker for all sorts of jobs. If you go there, you should be able to find work.”
What a genuinely nice person!
He’s telling me all this!
I’ve never met such a kind soul in my life!
“Hehehe, thank you, dear owner. Your character is truly commendable.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I gathered the essential information. I politely bowed at a ninety-degree angle and made a swift exit. Leaving without buying anything could seem a bit rude. Maybe that’s just how I feel right now.
But it can’t be helped… While I realize that I should have bought something for the information, I just have no money. So, I thought that once I earn some coins, I’d definitely buy clothes here in the future.
With that in mind, I整理了我刚刚听到的消息。
“Dahoebang, huh.”
From the explanation, it seems somewhat like a job recruiting office.
I guess I’ll just have to go check it out next.
My next destination is the Dahoebang.
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