I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 288

About five days had passed since visiting the goblin village.

Until then, Grylls steadily built up his strength while interacting with the goblin village.

Even while building up his strength, he steadily honed his external arts using the method taught by Heavenly Demon, Yoo So-wol.

Originally, the Blood Cult’s method produced considerable side effects. The representative one among them was inducing hair loss due to excessive hormone secretion.

Yoo So-wol didn’t quite know what those hormones were, but at least she knew that they induced hair loss.

’Consuming Hair Growth Herb makes it fine, but the fact that it’s inefficient remains unchanged.’

Thinking so, she thoroughly analyzed the Blood Cult’s martial arts.

Although she slightly lacked general common sense, that was merely not her area of expertise (?); martial arts were different.

She had mastered various martial arts since childhood and was more confident in martial theory than anyone else.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to reach the realm of the Profound Realm at such a young age.

’The problem with this martial art is that Yang energy concentrates toward the head.’

That was why it induced hair loss, and if this energy were directed elsewhere, there would be no problem.

However, Grylls had already opened his Conception and Governing Vessels. In that case, it inevitably had to pass through the head area.

’Training in external arts gives a sensation of the head becoming hot. It should be fine if this is properly regulated.’

Yoo So-wol referenced not only the Blood Cult’s martial arts but also other external arts.

Among them, the ones worthy of note were martial arts related to the Vajra Indestructible Body.

As the saying goes, All Streams Converge into the Sea—the pinnacle of countless external arts mostly leads to the Vajra Indestructible Body.

But Grylls was not seeking the Vajra Indestructible Body; he prioritized internal energy control.

’The way external arts temper the body is mostly identical. Internal energy permeating into muscles damaged by harsh training.’

The way muscles grow is simple.

Muscles are damaged or torn through training, and while repairing that damage, they become stronger.

By repeating damage and recovery, muscles gradually become able to withstand larger impacts.

The process itself is easy, but there is a fatal drawback: recovery speed.

Just as talent varies from person to person, physical capabilities are vastly different as well.

Let alone human bodies, which are extremely frail, making external art training take a long time.

’Muscles aren’t the only problem. Bones are an issue too.’

Muscles can grow through repeated damage and regeneration. But bones cannot.

If one intentionally broke bones and let them heal, that would be a different story, but no one does such a thing.

Recovery takes far longer, and if they set incorrectly or suffer internal injury, the aftereffects could last a lifetime.

’Didn’t some martial clan say they beat people like dogs to make them tough?’

Just as hammering steel makes it harder, a martial art that beats a person to make them as hard as steel.

Though it was a perfect method to cripple someone, surprisingly, it was very efficient.

The flaw was that it required the endurance and durability to withstand it, plus the financial power for treatment.

But for Grylls, it was a bad method. The moment a bone broke, it would have a fatally adverse effect on survival.

Even if he continuously received remedies, it was far too insufficient to use such an ignorant method.

’I must somehow devise a way for internal energy to permeate into the bones as well.’

Yoo So-wol dismantled most of the Blood Demon’s martial arts and modified them to suit Grylls.

Because it was a hastily created martial art, it had many flaws, and shortcomings were visible here and there.

The martial art itself was groundbreaking, but to Yoo So-wol, it was no different from kindling.

Furthermore, Grylls’s constitution was unique compared to others, requiring careful consideration.

’It would have been nice if I could at least hold his hand....’

Then she could judge his constitution much more easily, which was a pity.

Yoo So-wol spurred her research into martial arts without even realizing what she had just thought.

"Haneul-isiyeo. Did you call?"

Of course, that didn’t mean she neglected her main duties. Aside from martial arts research, the activities of the Cult were essential.

Since Yoo So-wol directly proclaimed her decree last time, the Heavenly Demon Cult had been going through its busiest period.

Though they hadn’t directly made a declaration to the Imperial Court, they were proceeding with work that would rub them the wrong way.

"Yes. How is the progress coming along?"

"Several villages beyond the reach of the Imperial Court’s influence have begun to come under the governance of the Cult."

Zhongyuan is vast. And not just ordinarily vast, but absurdly vast.

Since ancient times, empires with vast territories suffered a chronic ailment: influence.

Being far removed from the central government meant the government’s influence was minimal.

For this reason, autonomy was granted to minority ethnic groups, or feudalism was permitted to the extent of sharing power.

However, Zhongyuan stubbornly insisted on a centralized system to the end due to its own history.

Before the first Emperor achieved the unification of the realm, Zhongyuan was divided into multiple countries.

Because of this history, they forcibly pushed for a centralized system, which naturally birthed various problems.

Disparities in benefits due to a bloated capital region, ignored small towns, and so forth.

Unless one lived in the capital region, there were far too many alienated classes.

The Heavenly Demon Cult won over those people one by one. Demonstrating that they did not ignore the alienated.

In reality, the current Imperial Court had become stagnant waters as a reaction to ruling for too long. Meaning it was rotten.This chapter was taken from nove‌lping.com without permission.

"What is the Imperial Court’s reaction?"

"They are only interested in the rumors regarding the Hair Growth Herb, remaining unaware of our true intentions."

"Are they still only caring for the populace of the capital region?"

"That is correct."

Since the prestige of the Heavenly Demon Cult had not yet spread far and wide, such a reaction was extremely natural.

"How about the Murim?"

"They are on guard against the Cult’s activities. A conflict seems likely in the near future."

Before confronting the Imperial Court, there was an obstacle that must be crossed.

Namely, the unification of Murim. Bringing all martial clans of Zhongyuan under the Cult.

In Zhongyuan, an unwritten rule known as Non-Interference Between Government and Martial World existed—that the government does not interfere in the affairs of the martial world.

A sort of tradition stating that no matter how much the Murim flew and crawled, it couldn’t compare to the Imperial Court, so they should handle things on their own.

However, digging deeper changed the story, the decisive element being ’public order’.

Since it was difficult to manage vast territory, public order management was practically left to Murim.

Demonic Brain, Wi Seol-ak, subtly targeted this aspect. Since ancient times, when public order collapsed, the lives of commoners became harsh.

Since that public order was connected to Murim, the more the Cult unified Murim, the easier it would be to exert influence.

The Cult would bestow mercy at the timing when public order became unstable.

As long as their backs were warm and bellies were full, commoners deemed whoever was above them to be fine.

"It is about time I step forward myself."

Yoo So-wol realized that now was the right time.

While the Imperial Court paid little attention, various factions including the Murim Alliance were keeping a watchful eye.

Now was the time to achieve the true unification of Murim.

"Do you require an escort?"

"I do not. They would only be in the way."

An answer characteristic of Yoo So-wol. Yet it was neither arrogance nor hubris.

Firm confidence. Wi Seol-ak did not offer any counter-argument either.

Though she lacked common sense, was a fool who knew nothing but martial arts, and sometimes made him wonder what she was thinking.

Even if every martial artist in Zhongyuan attacked her, they would fall before Yoo So-wol.

’Even if the Hero of the Western Kingdoms or the Sword Saint came, they would be helpless.’

Fortunately, they were busy in their own right and paid no attention. Wi Seol-ak pulling strings behind the scenes contributed to that as well.

Soon, Yoo So-wol headed toward the potted plant where the Hair Growth Herb grew.

A crop absolutely necessary for expanding the Cult’s influence.

Since it was a gift from Grylls, ideally she wanted to raise it by her side.

But the moment she stepped back into Murim, time to raise it would become scarce.

"Demonic Brain."

"Give me your command."

"Prepare a small flowerpot."

"A flowerpot... did you say?"

As Wi Seol-ak asked back, Yoo So-wol nodded without a word.

Wi Seol-ak worried about what this woman was up to again, but he obeyed the command for now.

Subsequently, Yoo So-wol planted soil from the Forest of the Four Seasons and a single stalk of Hair Growth Herb in the pot.

"It will be fine if I carry it like this."

"Haneul-isiyeo...?"

"Is there a problem?"

"It is not that... do you intend to nurture it?"

It was a question filled with complex emotions, asking if she truly intended to carry a flowerpot around even after stepping into Murim.

At this, Yoo So-wol replied in an arrogant manner as if asking what was wrong.

"Are you dissatisfied that I choose to do so?"

"No. That is not it. However, the other Hair Growth Herbs are...."

"Plant them yourself. A single pot raised with care is enough for me."

"...."

Wi Seol-ak gave up on thinking. As an ordinary man, he felt incapable of keeping up with an eccentric’s mind.

Given Yoo So-wol’s personality, she wouldn’t hand that flowerpot over to anyone else.

The moment someone else touched that flowerpot, they would taste hell.

Soon, it was right when Yoo So-wol was thoroughly preparing to enter Murim.

"Please accept this plaque."

"What is this?"

"It is the plaque of the merchant guild operated by the Cult. With this plaque alone, you can utilize the Cult’s merchant guilds spread across Zhongyuan. You may use them as an information network, or comfortably stay whenever you require lodging."

"I shall make good use of it."

She probably wouldn’t have much use for it. If there was any, perhaps clothes?

It wasn’t that she was interested in clothes, but cleanliness was a different matter.

"Then I shall depart. Please look after the Cult well while I am away."

"I shall not disappoint you."Get faster updates on nov​elping.com.

The living god of the Heavenly Demon Cult, and the ruler reigning at the top of Zhongyuan’s food chain.

"By the way, that flowerpot is...."

"Do you have a complaint?"

"...No."

And an eccentric holding a flowerpot in one hand.

She stepped once again into Murim, which was no different from the wild.

’Come to think of it, I shall require paper. Since I must transcribe a martial art suitable for my benefactor.’

Even amidst all this, she did not forget her debt of gratitude to Grylls.

"Aigoo...."

I let out a groan at the aching sensation throbbing throughout my entire body.

The method Heavenly Demon taught me was extremely simple, yet surprisingly difficult.

Mostly bodyweight exercises, but with mana thrown into the mix, it was harder than most weight machine workouts.

’I didn’t know rapidly accelerating mana hurt this much.’

The Blood Cult’s martial art taught by Heavenly Demon. The keyword of that martial art was mana acceleration.

Circulating mana within the body fundamentally boosted physical capabilities significantly.

Concentrating mana in a specific area tended to strengthen only that part.

Though I couldn’t use it because if I did that, I risked exploding from the inside.

’Muscles get damaged when trained, and mana permeates into those damaged spots.’

The basic framework was identical to other external arts. The problem was the mana I held inside me.

Because the amount of mana permeating my muscles was so massive, the muscle soreness felt twice as intense compared to others.

Training in that state on top of it? It felt like absolute hell.

If pouring water on a wound hurts, this was at the level of pouring salt water into it.

Lucky I drank Elixirs in between as a painkiller substitute,

[So, are there any results?]

"A little bit?"

If there were no results, I would have quit long ago. Muscle soreness recovered quickly if I just endured for a bit.

The problem wasn’t muscles but bones, and Heavenly Demon also said she needed to research more regarding bones.

Still, she said she would find it quickly if she slowly dissected the principles of the Vajra Indestructible Body.

’There’s no other way for my body to withstand mana.’

As long as mana didn’t explode inside my body, at least that was fine.

I composed my breathing a few times and got up from my spot.

Since a few days had passed since visiting the goblin village, it was about time to revisit.

’It would be nice to plant a World Tree sapling there as well.’

It was located on the exact opposite side of the squirrel sector, so planting it there was the only option.

Assuming Let’s Grow Trees gave me a sapling, of course.

Just in case, I asked him last time while giving him the World Tree fruit, but he said it would take time.

’Ggansu also learned letters to some extent.’

Ggansu had also mastered Hangul to a certain degree.

Of course, he only mastered the script; he was far from using it properly.

He didn’t have a genius language ability like Lackey, and since he had his own separate language to use, learning it was bound to be harder.

But even this alone was enough.

"Ahjussi. Let’s head out soon."

I spoke to Ludwig, who was maintaining his newly forged Mythricon sword.

Ludwig also realized the time for outdoor activity had come and stood up from his seat.

Soon, I shouted to Lackey and Ggansu chopping firewood outside.

"Guys! Now let’s go...."

Chwarararak!

Then a rustling sound was heard from somewhere.

The rustling sound came precisely from ’above’.

Naturally, I raised my head upward.

Swoosh-

Simultaneously, a shadow fell over my face. A massive shadow large enough to cover half the entire Shelter.

Something large enough to block the sun was flapping its wings and approaching.

’Tyranno’s mother is... a reptile. But that thing.... Looks like an insect?’

Tyranno’s mother, Vanir, should be sleeping to recuperate.

In other words...

-Kyaaaaaakkk!!!

That was an ’intruder’.