I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 728

My very first duel ended in an incredibly anticlimactic fashion.

At first, I wondered if my opponent had let his guard down, or if he was just weak.

If it were the former, I could just treat him as a dumbass, but if it were the latter, I would face a troublesome situation in many ways.

’Considering he made it to the semifinals of the Heavenly God Martial Festival, he couldn’t possibly be a mediocre martial artist.’

Among those participating in the Heavenly God Martial Festival, the riffraff had been eliminated long ago.

As such, he was someone who had reached the semifinals after a thorough weeding-out process. He even had a moniker.

They said he was a household name in the Central Plains, or more precisely, within the Murim.

And not just an ’Ah, that guy?’ level, but more like, ’No way! Why is he here?!’ kind of reaction.

After the Orthodox-Demonic War where the Blood Cult ran rampant, the overall strength of the Murim had been leveled downward.

Consequently, finding a true master rather than a mere rising star was difficult, and he was supposedly one of them.

’Weaker than Lackey or Dolsoe... Wait, no. Objectively speaking, those guys are actually incredibly strong, aren’t they?’

I almost set my baseline completely wrong.

Lackey was an all-rounder proficient in both martial arts and magic, and Dolsoe, as everyone knew, was once the ruler of an entire territory.

In particular, Dolsoe’s martial prowess was extremely powerful by this world’s standards. He was a disciple personally taught by the Blood Demon, and he also possessed the unique physical weight class of the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Furthermore, he had recently evolved into Sun Wukong, so there was no need for further explanation.

"Um... what happened to that man?"

"He is still unconscious, but it is nothing serious. However, he will likely suffer from a mild concussion when he wakes up."

The atmosphere of the Heavenly God Martial Festival had turned beyond awkward into something bizarre. I heard about the martial artist’s condition from Wi Seol-ak.

Even though it was fired just to keep him at bay, it had struck his forehead squarely, so he must have received a fairly severe shock.

If his head had exploded, or if a non-lethal arrow had pierced his skull, I would have been plagued by a terrible trauma.

’No wonder Yoo So-wol compared me to an elephant stepping on an ant.’

It seemed my baseline had been heavily skewed due to living in the Forest of the Four Seasons.

During Christmas, it was just a matter of using raw strength, but now I was utilizing actual technique to some extent.

"For your information, there were even traces of him using Body-Protecting Gangqi."

"Body-Protecting Gangqi?"

"Yes. It appears it pierced through his Body-Protecting Gangqi and struck his forehead."

"...Normally, shouldn’t the arrow shatter in that case?"

As Yoo So-wol had requested, I absolutely did not use any mana in this duel.

Therefore, unless the laws of physics were violated, the arrow should have broken, and the martial artist should have been perfectly fine.

Wi Seol-ak also seemed equally baffled, crossing his arms in deep thought. Since a smart man like him had started pondering, an answer would surely emerge before long.

"Hmm... The most plausible explanation is that the Heavenly God instinctively infused internal energy into it."

"Me, instinctively?"

"Yes. The bow we provided to the Heavenly God has an incredibly powerful draw weight... but even so, it is not enough to pierce Body-Protecting Gangqi."

"Hmm."

I tilted my head at his words. What on earth had happened?

Perhaps it was a habit from the Forest of the Four Seasons. After all, I usually used a bow in every battle.

When I asked Wi Seol-ak about this, he replied that it wasn’t entirely impossible.

In fact, there are quite a few martial artists who naturally manifest internal energy the moment they draw their weapons.

Apparently, because they make a living by the blade, they do so instinctively.

It was only recently that I had a comfortable life; in the past, I was always on edge, never knowing when or where I might be ambushed.

Although I had Bbareumbo’s protection, I couldn’t rely on him every single time, so I had to stay sharp.

"So in the end, it boils down to me having used internal energy."

"For now, yes."

"May I test it out? By any chance, is there a target..."

"Anticipating that, I have already prepared one."

"..."

I stared at Wi Seol-ak with a complex expression. Had he seriously anticipated even this?

I really had no idea how many steps ahead he was looking. It’s because a man like him is in the Demonic Cult that they can go toe-to-toe with the Imperial Court.

Soon, I stared at the target Wi Seol-ak had prepared and slowly notched an arrow to the string.

’I don’t feel anything at all...’

My bewilderment was brief; I released the string and fired the arrow.

I didn’t necessarily have to hit the dead center, but out of habit, I aimed for the middle.

Unlike during the duel, this was a practice arrow with a sharp tip. Normally, it would just stick into the target and that would be it.

Peok!

But the arrow cleanly pierced straight through the target and embedded itself in the wall behind it.

Even the fletching was buried inside. I could only blink in disbelief at the sight.Visit novelping . com for the full chapter.

"..."

"..."

"...You didn’t use internal energy?"

"I know."

"Then why did that happen?"

Wi Seol-ak did not answer my question. He wore an expression that said he didn’t know too.

In the end, there was only one person I could ask. I turned my head and looked at the person who was staring intently at us.

Yoo So-wol, who had personally given me advice before the duel, was now watching from a distance like a wary cat.

She was truly an unpredictable person in many ways, but at this moment, she would be of the greatest help.

"Heavenly De—"

"Did you call?"

"..."

It was before I could even finish calling her name. As if she had never been far away, Yoo So-wol appeared right in front of my nose in an instant.

She had clearly taken only a single step, yet she arrived in front of me as if she had compressed space itself.

’...Could it be the Earth-Shrinking Art?’

Yes, that very technique of flashing here and there in the blink of an eye.

In reality, it was a technique to move short distances rapidly, akin to teleportation.

Since it required governing space, it was fundamentally only possible for those of a high realm.

"Why do you not speak?"

"Uh... well... I was just wondering what that technique was."

"I can teach you if you wish."

"Ah, no. There’s no need for that. It’s not what’s important right now."

Yoo So-wol asked with her eyes sparkling. I needlessly glanced behind me.

I could just accept Yoo So-wol acting like this, but I was conscious of Wi Seol-ak’s presence.

He had no complaints about me, as the Heavenly God, spending time with Yoo So-wol, the Heavenly Demon.

But I wondered if he might harbor some discontent seeing his trusted and followed lord act this way.

With these thoughts in mind, I looked at Wi Seol-ak, and his reaction was—

A nod.

He nodded his head as if to say I was doing a good job.

’Why are you nodding?’

What on earth does that mean? Speak to me.

I wore a dumbfounded expression before looking back at Yoo So-wol.

First, I needed to understand the problem I had, so I required her help.

With Yoo So-wol watching, I fired an arrow just like before.

Kwak!

Once again, the arrow pierced the target and embedded itself in the wall behind it. For the record, it was the same target as before.

Though I hadn’t consciously intended it this time either, I had aimed for the dead center, and amazingly, it slipped right through the hole that had been made earlier.

There was no need to shoot again; it was embedded even deeper into the wall than before, so there was nothing left for me to explain.

"How is it?"

"It is indeed a bit strange. I certainly do not feel any trace of internal energy being used."

Even the Heavenly Demon, Yoo So-wol, tilted her head.

Since even she expressed doubt, I wondered if there was a problem with the bow rather than me.

When I asked Wi Seol-ak to draw it, he drew it perfectly fine.

Just as we were sinking deeper into the mystery, Yoo So-wol looked at me and made a suggestion.

"Fire once more. I shall place my hand on your back."

Saying so, Yoo So-wol gently placed her hand on my back.

Though I flinched slightly at her touch, I soon slowly notched an arrow to the string.

Piing!

Once again, the arrow pierced the dead center and embedded itself in the wall.

The moment I saw the arrow strike, I glanced back to check Yoo So-wol’s reaction.

Soon, as if she understood what the problem was, she nodded and spoke.

"You did use internal energy."

"Me?"

I had wondered, and indeed, my suspicion was correct. I just hadn’t realized it.

Even she, an expert, couldn’t grasp what the problem was just by looking from the outside.

This only made me question it even more.

"Yes. It was not even for a split second; even I would not have perceived it had I not concentrated."Read the latest chapters at novelping dot com.

"Was the internal energy that minute?"

"Not at all. It was more than enough to shatter Body-Protecting Gangqi. It is just that your internal energy is so pure that even I missed it."

"Could you explain in more detail?"

This was not something I could easily overlook. If I made a mistake, it really could have ended up like an elephant stepping on an ant.

She then lowered her head and closed her mouth, seemingly organizing her thoughts.

"...Purity. And naturalness."

"Pardon?"

"Just as it is natural for us to breathe, the internal energy you possess is so pure that it goes unnoticed."

"Does that mean..."

"It means you are currently manifesting internal energy as naturally as breathing. Because it is so pure, ordinary people cannot sense it."

I really was an elephant. Hearing Yoo So-wol’s explanation made it hit home even more.

The reason she hadn’t noticed it when I threw a punch at her palm before the duel seemed to be because I was using internal energy.

"..."

At her explanation, I opened my hand and stared at it blankly. What on earth was going on with my body?

The flashback shown at the columbarium before. That memory came back to me.

That while active as an agent in the United States, I was captured and subjected to all kinds of human experimentation.

Was it really because of that, or was there another reason? I had absolutely no idea.

"Then what should I do?"

"You must perceive it differently from us. Rather than thinking of using internal energy, it would be better to think of not using it."

"I understand what you mean. Just a moment."

Following Yoo So-wol’s advice to the letter, I fired another arrow.

Instead of using internal energy, I focused on the opposite—not using it—and released the tautly drawn string.

Peok!

Once again, the arrow slipped right through the hole in the target!

But this time, instead of embedding itself in the wall, it fell straight to the ground.

Just as Yoo So-wol had advised, thinking in reverse resulted in only pure draw weight being applied.

Honestly, it was absurd. While some struggled with all their might just to use mana, for me, it was a passive ability.

’Should I call this talent, or not?’

In any case, now that I knew my condition, it would be fine.

I didn’t know if I would have to duel in the future, but if I did, it would be wise to keep this in mind.

"Then what should I do now? I won’t have to participate anymore, right?"

"I am not certain. Perhaps the winner of this tournament might challenge you to a duel."

"Hmm..."

The moment I heard that answer, Kaylin came to mind.

I had already avoided a duel with her on the pretext of having a prior engagement. But after this, I couldn’t be sure how things would turn out.

If she did challenge me, I might really have no choice but to step up. It was a truly vexing situation.

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

"Ah. I was just wondering who might challenge me. I’d prefer to avoid it if possible."

"Do not worry about that."

"Pardon?"

Before I could even ask what she meant, Yoo So-wol wore a gentle smile.

Just as I was feeling uneasy at her expression, which suggested she was up to something, she spoke.

"Originally, a special privilege is granted to the winner of such a tournament."

"A privilege...?"

"Namely, the host of the tournament—or more precisely, the one with ultimate responsibility—directly faces the finalist. Have you not heard of this often?"

"Uh..."

It was one of those incredibly common martial arts clichés. That exact thought crossed my mind.

Since this was the Central Plains of all places, it made even more sense.

Just as I accepted everything and was about to clean up the target and the arrows embedded in the wall.

"...Seol-ak-ssi, why are you cleaning this up?"

"It is only natural that I clean it up."

"No, I mean, why aren’t you ordering someone else to do it..."

"For starters, I have the lowest rank here."

"..."

I was left speechless seeing Wi Seol-ak, the second-in-command of the Demonic Cult, busily tidying up.

’Is this guy in the same position as Lackey at our house?’

That might actually be true.