Everything in the world carries a dual meaning.
Of course! Just look at the word “spring” in the letter sent by Sayoon.
She thought of spring as just the literal spring season, but others see it as “something new.”
So, is spring just good for the ordinary folks? Well, it could be!
But some might think about their meager rations saved over winter and the barley that isn’t quite ripe yet, and that time might be a dreadful one.
Just like everything has a dual nature, sometimes things that seem ordinary and simple can hold immense value.
Enlightenment is exactly that.
Realizing the true value within the mundane aspects of daily life.
It’s one of the ways to become stronger in the world of Heavenly Bright Moon, something every character goes through at least once.
However, there’s one little downside — during Sayoon’s first enlightenment event, she had to go through it all alone without anyone’s help.
Other characters had their mentors and siblings from their sect by their sides.
Going through it alone can easily lead to stubbornness, and stubbornness usually brings Simma knocking at your door.
Whether or not you’re searching for a needle in the sand, having someone next to you significantly affects your state of mind.
Thus, I couldn’t help but think.
Ah, man.
How do I help her with this?
“Hmmm…”
Enlightenment often comes through a sudden flash of insight.
For example, when you’re struggling to write complex code, and suddenly you think, “Wait, what the heck?” and find a ridiculously simple solution. So it’s questionable if sending her the topic that led to her enlightenment will actually help.
Not to mention, it’s even crazier to think I could just go over there and teach her myself.
“Hmmm…”
Thinking. Thinking.
Those who do not think are just dead! So let’s keep those gears turning.
My thoughts continued until the next day. But just as I was lost in my musings, a guest hesitantly approached me while I was clearing the tables at the inn.
“Um, are you the owner of this inn?”
“That I am.”
He was an elderly man in shabby clothes, sporting a very notable white beard and hair that made him look like some wise old sage.
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I looked at him.
“Are you here to settle your bill?”
“Not exactly… I was sure I had my purse when I passed through the village…”
He looked thoroughly flustered, unsure of what to do, and let out a long sigh.
“For some reason, no matter how much I look, I can’t find my purse. So, I was wondering… would it be possible to have a tab?”
“What? This old man expects a tab?!”
Next to me, Jeomsoi’s expression soured, and she looked like she was about to grab a club.
I looked at the old man. He was so embarrassed that even I felt a bit embarrassed just watching him.
“What did you have to eat?”
“A bowl of noodles and a plate of dumplings… I mean, I had that.”
“Hmm…”
The old man grew even more embarrassed, and I nodded thoughtfully at him.
“From the looks of it, you’re not just some wandering beggar. You seem to be from a sect, so how about reciting a line of sutra for me?”
“It seems you are not someone who dances around words, but rather someone from the Taoist school. I would appreciate it if you could recite a line of a blessing.”
“Huh? Is that really okay?”
“Of course.”
What’s there to shake down from someone who has nothing? Plus, a bowl of noodles and a plate of dumplings won’t even get you a few coins. So instead of squabbling over that, let’s get the blessing and be on our way.
At my words, the Taoist looked quite pleased and bowed his head several times.
“Amitabha. Amitabha. I pray that the Primordial Celestial Lord blesses this encounter. Please, just wait a moment.”
He hurriedly opened his bag. Inside were some old incense, a few talismans, and a couple of books without covers. He gathered the talismans and incense and stepped outside with me.
In front of the inn, he began burning the talismans and lighting the incense, starting his prayers earnestly.
“Prayers worth less than a penny…”
“Enough. Go attend to your work.”
“Yes, esteemed host.”
He bowed and stepped inside. How long did he pray like that?
Once the incense had burned down completely, he finally smiled with a relaxed face.
“I recited the blessing, but it seems insufficient to repay the grace of a meal. Since you mentioned it was on credit, I will certainly repay this debt.”
“That’s fine. You seem like a wanderer, so just go on your way.”
“Hmm… then, just one thing. I would like to teach you something, esteemed innkeeper.”
Huh? Wait a minute.
This sounds very familiar, doesn’t it?
There was definitely something like this. An event where if you buy a meal at an inn, you get taught martial arts.
Of course, it wasn’t as good as the unique martial arts of the characters, but still, there were useful skills, right?
“If you practice every day, it will help you with longevity and health. Please do not refuse.”
If I refuse here, the Taoist will just smile and leave, and the event will be over.
But what if I accept?
I smiled at him.
“If you put it that way, I simply cannot refuse. What is it?”
“It’s nothing too great. The martial art I will teach you is called…”
He looked at me with his deep black eyes and opened his mouth.
“It’s called Ogumhee (Five Animal Play).”
The origin of Ogumhee comes from the health exercises used by Hua Tuo.
Thus, in Heavenly Bright Moon, Ogumhee is closer to a recovery technique.
Though the Taoist called Ogumhee a martial art for longevity, mastering it deeply restores stamina, enhances health, and allows you to share your stamina with others to help heal injuries.
Perhaps due to this efficacy, Ogumhee received quite a high evaluation in Heavenly Bright Moon.
Among the masters who learned recovery techniques in Heavenly Bright Moon, the most representative was the divine physician of the Murim Alliance. He is a remarkable healer capable of saving someone on the brink of death, and he considers Ogumhee an excellent recovery technique on par with his own unique healing art.
Of course, that’s a bit of an exaggeration.
Does that even make sense? If Ogumhee was really that great, the divine physician would have learned it first.
But even so, Ogumhee is by no means a bad martial art.
After all, the ability to prolong life and enhance others’ natural healing is definitely not to be underestimated.
Characters from the Taoist line lacking a recovery technique would even recommend learning Ogumhee whenever they got the chance in guides.
Characters without a sphere from the Taoist sect were often advised in the game’s guides to learn Ogumhee whenever they got the chance.
Mastering it up to the 5th stage was like carrying an extra life, after all.
Plus, it didn’t take long or require much skill to learn up to the 5th stage; pretty much anyone could do it.
“Yes. That’s how it works.”
Was it because of this reflection?
Even if it was just an event where the Taoist explains and helps with the posture, I was able to grasp Ogumhee after only a few tries.
Even though I was an outsider in this world, I was still receiving help from the system here, which wasn’t bad.
If it’s easy to learn, what’s the downside?
And the best part about Ogumhee is that unlike other martial arts, there’s no need to understand the essence.
Since things were like this, why not try to gain all the martial arts obtainable from events?
It might even help Sayoon.
After thinking for a moment, I shook my head.
There aren’t just one or two martial arts available from the Heavenly Bright Moon events, and the most important thing right now is to prevent the Iron Blood Clan from wiping out the Hongseong Clan to properly start things off.
After achieving that, I’m not sure how the story will unfold.
At that time, I might be able to act with some leisure, but right now I neither have the time nor the luxury to search for martial arts.
So, let’s focus on mastering what I’m learning now. There might be some use for Ogumhee.
“Okay. Breathe out, now finally…”
I lowered my left hand slowly, like dancing softly.
“It is said that ‘water is the essence of all things.’ Water comes before everything, and can block all disturbances, thus linking the five elements through this.”
I deflected the Taoist’s slowly thrusting fist with my left hand. Very slowly, but surely.
Unlike the other forms of Ogumhee—Metal, Wood, Fire, Earth—Water was ridiculously slow and smooth.
However, everyone who has experienced Heavenly Bright Moon knows that Ogumhee’s ‘water’ is the essence of blending offense and defense.
This soft and slow movement.
They all know how terrifying it becomes when it reaches its peak.
Of course, hardly anyone masters it to that degree.
Considering the resources, time, and effort needed to master it to its peak, it’s better to learn something else.
There are plenty of better martial arts out there.
“If you perform Ogumhee once every morning and once before bed, you’ll have no chance of catching a cold.”
“That’s quite a nice piece of advice.”
“However, since you’re not used to it yet, there are a few awkward parts…”
The Taoist smiled and kindly pulled out an old book from his robe. When I received it, it was the secret manual of Ogumhee.
“I hope you’ll practice diligently. Ogumhee is indeed a foundational martial art from the Taoist sect. Though it’s slow in practice, it can still stimulate the body’s energy, allowing one to achieve a level of internal mastery.”
Instead of building internal energy through techniques like other martial arts, just moving the body can stimulate the meridians and awaken the internal energy.
The Taoist explained cheerfully, with a big smile.
“And if you have any unresolved parts, it’d be fine to contact the Hongseong Clan. They are also affiliated with the Taoist sect, and there are people there who have mastered Ogumhee…”
“Maybe it’s okay to ask Hongseong. They also have Dao practitioners, and there are those who have learned from Ogumhee…”
…..Huh? That sounds good.
I saw a Daoist, and he was still wearing a relaxed smile.
“With just a few coins worth of a meal, I’ve received quite a lot.”
“Hahaha. To a hungry person, it’s not just a bowl of noodles. Moreover, the Innkeeper has helped maintain the dignity of our school. What I’ve received in pride and honor is worth more than this trivial amount.”
“To someone who has protected my health, this is also a trivial amount.”
I pulled out a coin purse. Inside were twenty silver pieces. Seeing that, the Daoist looked surprised and hurriedly tried to return the purse, but I shook my head.
If I give him some money now, he’ll end up visiting again later to help out with various things, so it’s better to hand it over now.
“Um… this is unexpected. I didn’t do it with the intention of receiving this… but I will use it gratefully.”
Having no travel funds means I have to face a difficult journey.
With twenty silver pieces, if I’m frugal, I won’t have to go hungry for a month.
“Well then, I hope to see you again.”
“May the Mercy of the Boundless Buddha grant the wishes of the Innkeeper.”
He bowed and moved away. I returned to the inn, and Jeomsoi, who was off for lunch after the busy hours, said with a sour expression.
“Owner, you should be careful. Sometimes those kinds of beggars sell fake martial arts.”
“Don’t worry.”
To me, Ogumhee was definitely the real deal.
Back in my room, I started reading Ogumhee’s secret manual.
What I had stored up before coming to this world wasn’t much different from what had popped up in screenshots when the experts analyzed it on the web.
So I didn’t plan to read deeply; I simply tossed the manual into the drawer.
“I guess I should get to work. Ah. But before that…”
I pulled out a piece of paper.
If it’s tough to master a new martial art, I should offer my own advice.
Of course, how much this would help Sayoon was uncertain.
When I called a courier to send a letter and finished a few tasks, the sun was setting.
As the sun dipped down, its red light painted the sky crimson.
Is that why? I thought of Hongryeon.
I wonder if she’s doing well in finding her elixirs?
“Owner, where are you going?”
“I’m just going out to get some fresh air. I’ve been working so much that my head is starting to ache.”
Taking a stroll, I unknowingly found myself walking toward the market.
Why did I end up here just wandering around like that?
As I pondered, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I’m hoping for the same kind of event as last time.
Yeah, just like when I met Gak-jun.
By chance, I met Sayoon, and my body must have dragged me here, remembering that moment.
I shook my head while smiling.
No way could that kind of thing happen again…
“Ah? Hello!”
I spotted Sayoon standing with Yoohee, a disciple of Hongseong, and thought.
Whoa, this is something!
It really happened!
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