- Two Weeks Later, At Training Grounds -
"97, 98, 99 and 100."
"Kori stop doing that crazy training."
"Why? I love doing it."
"You're just making us look bad."
"You're just jealous Uroi."
"No, I'm not you stupid ogre!"
My body has become way stronger compared to my first day here. I can do 100 reverse pull ups without a sweat. My daily training has become the same as my past life. Although I didn't do much physical training back then, I mostly focused on my martial arts and aura control.
"Alright. Time to do one handed now."
"Stop making it worse Kori!"
My aura centre has become strong as a third generation martial master but my martial skills are still of a martial disciple level. Both Severance and Uzumaki techniques are basic level martial arts suitable for Martial Disciples.
Seven Trinity would be great at my current level but I haven't formally trained in that. The truth is, in my past life I was able to grasp the basics of the technique but never mastered it completely. Seven Trinity is the strongest technique of the temple but after the disaster it was lost.
That's why I need to learn a new technique matching my aura level so I can fully utilize my aura. I have just the technique in mind.
- In the Evening, At Training Grounds -
"Hey Kori, how are you?"
"I'm good, senior brother. More importantly, I have something for you today."
"Did you find the herb?"
"Yes, senior brother. With this you'll be able to overcome the side effects of two aura centres."
Minseng herb. I have been looking for this herb for the last two weeks. In the beginning I tried to look for it myself but I was unsuccessful. Then I asked…
- Flashback -
"Kori, where are we going? You know if we get caught outside the temple we'll get punished."
"Don't worry Uroi. We won't get caught. I know the secret entrance to the temple."
"What? How? No, more importantly, why did you bring me here in the mountains?"
"Listen Uroi. I need you to find a herb for me. It is really important that we find it as soon as possible."
"What? Why are you looking for a herb in the middle of the forest? What kind of herb are you looking for?"
"This is the only place where it grows. The herb I'm looking for is Minseng herb."
"Minseng? What are you going to do with that? It doesn't have any benefits whatsoever. Why are you looking for a useless herb like that?"
"Less questions Uroi. More looking."
"Answer my question first, you moron!"
- Present Time -
"Kori, are you sure this is the herb? It looks more like a rock than a herb."
"I'm sure senior brother. Just trust me."
"I trust you Kori, but how do I eat it?"
"First take the fighting stance and be ready to exert your aura at full power."
"Okay. I'm ready junior brother."
The Minseng herb is an extremely powerful herb similar to the size and shape of a pearl but is covered by five layers of hard shell that makes it look like a round rock. Only the inside and the first layer are edible while the rest of the layers can cause the body to mutilate.
"Ah. Now the layers are removed, it's safe to eat.
But senior brother, be careful and don't break your concentration otherwise it can hurt your organs."
"I'll do my best, Kori."
Even though the inner part is the weakest in terms of intensity, it can easily cause the organs to explode even for a trained martial master.
"Alright senior brother, as soon as I feed you the herb, start exerting the energy out as fast as you can.
Simultaneously, try to turn the energy into aura and store it in your aura centre in the heart."
"Understood."
Minseng is full of energy but unlike natural energy it is really hard to absorb by even trained martial artists. That's because as soon as the person eats it, their insides are subjected to the extreme rush of condensed energy which can cause aura to overflow and organs to bleed, unless they quickly turn it into aura or exert all the energy right away.
"Huff. Huff... My chest feels like it's burning."
"That's normal senior brother just keep exerting."
At his current level brother Ryuk can't fully convert the energy into aura, which is why I told him to exert and convert the energy at the same time.
He is doing it. At this rate he'll consume it safely.
"Ugh! Ugh…"
"Senior brother!"
"Don't worry Kori, it's just a little blood. I'm fine."
He started coughing up blood. His insides are getting pressured. But there's nothing I can do to help him, I just have to trust him.
- Six Minutes Later -
"Huff. Huff. It's done, I don't feel the extreme pressure anymore."
"You did great senior br…"
"I feel dizzy. Thud!"
"Senior brother!"
He collapsed. Did he fail to convert the energy? I have to take him to the infirmary, quick.
- At the Infirmary -
"Master Shiri. I need your help!"
"Kori, what happened to him?"
"He suddenly collapsed."
"Lay him over here, let me take a look."
Is he going to be okay? Should I have not given him the herb.
"From the outside he looks okay."
"Master Shiri, please check his internal aura too."
"Internal aura? Okay let pour my aura into his body."
What is it? Is he okay? Is there damage?
"He is okay, but his lungs are overheating."
- Minutes Later -
"Okay, he's back to the normal temperature.
More importantly, Kori, what did he do to hurt his body like that."
"The truth is…"
"Ugh! Ugh!"
"Brother Ryuk!"
"Don't move too quickly Ryuk. You still need to reset to recover."
"Master Shiri, what happened? Why am I here?"
"You collapsed Ryuk. Kori here brought you to the infirmary."
"Brother Ryuk, are you feeling okay? Is there any energy left in your body?"
"Energy?"
"I'm okay Kori."
- Laughing -
"Kori, I turned all the energy into aura."
"All?"
"I didn't exert any out, I got too greedy, I shouldn't have. I'm sorry Kori for scaring you."
"Brother Ryuk…"
He managed to consume all the energy. Wait, but…
"Brother Ryuk. I saw you exert aura."
"That. That was the aura from my first centre. I thought it would be difficult to bear the pressure of both centres."
No way. I didn't even think about that. I instinctively assumed that he would be fine doing this. I shouldn't have judged him with the same standards as my comrades, he is still a kid after all.
"Kori, you look disappointed. I'm sorry I should've told you. I didn't want to admit it but I was barely able to do the training."
"Brother Ryuk, I'm sorry I didn't think about how hard it's been for you I just assumed…"
All this time I was only thinking how to make him stronger but I never stopped to think what could happen if he fails. I'm still the same as my old self putting others at risk, I haven't changed at all.
"No Kori. I felt good that you didn't think too much about it. That's just what I needed. You gave me the confidence to go through this, because I knew that you believed that I could do it and that made me believe in myself."
"Brother Ryuk."
Damn these tears, always creep up on me at times like these.
"Kori, I should've said this before but now's as good a time as any.
Thank you for training me and thanks for believing in me, junior brother!"
"Ah! Yeah Senior brother! Thanks for being awesome."
"If you too are finished talking, does anyone want to tell me what's going on?"
"Master Shiri, you're still here?"
"I was here the whole time, you idiots."
- Kori Explained Everything to Master Shiri -
"Huh! Minseng herb. I've never heard of anyone consuming that. No, come to think of it, it should be poisonous in the first place."
"Yes Master Shiri, its outer layers are poisonous but the inside is edible."
"Inside. Wait, how do you even know that?"
"Ah, that. Uroi. Yes Uroi was the one who told me."
That's a lie, but I can't tell her that I know it from my previous life. If it's Uroi she might buy it.
"Uroi? It's true he's a brilliant kid, but he shouldn't be telling you about such harmful herbs. I'll have to teach him a lesson in tomorrow's class."
Sorry Uroi…