Ideal Noviciate (3)

In the morning, as the sun slowly appeared on the horizon, the world seemed to accompany a silent breath. As the awakening of nature was felt with a peacefulness that permeated every fiber of every being, Baek Yisoo's body was attuned to the rhythm of nature. Simple yet unique movements danced between its simplicity and depth in the first light of the day.

Baek Yisoo's every step was an expression of conscious effort and thought. These movements, which he repeated thousands of times, became a natural extension of himself. As his body was strengthened by Interval and Plyometric Training, his thoughts were slowly being liberated. The morning mists danced with the lightness of his steps, while the magical atmosphere of dawn inspired him.

It had been almost a week. After a week with the guard group, Baek Yisoo was reaching his physical limits. Every muscle in his body was now starting to take shape, becoming fit for the White Water Way. This was the result of days of training. He was now strong enough to lift three hundred kilograms.

In the early light of day, Baek Yisoo's body and soul were in harmony. On the training ground, there was a dialog between his spirit and his body, silent but profound. While his Strength and Health stats had increased, his Breath stats had stayed the same, but his inner balance and thoughts had changed considerably.

He was different from the person he had been a week before. The biggest reason for this was that he had decided something. He was more masculine, more determined and stronger.

Time passed slowly as uniformed guardsmen entered the training ground.

"Good morning," one of them said. 

"Good morning, Hyung."

Baek Yisoo put down his spear and bowed respectfully to the man. It was Na Sam himself. In this one week, Na Sam had been teaching him and had brought him up to the same level as the others with frightening speed. He had even taught him something in the ward.

Naturally, Baek Yisoo respected this man.

"You're early as always."

"Yes..." Baek Yisoo smiled. He was still behind the others because he couldn't use his inner energy. With the last reward, he had increased his Breath stat to 8, and as a result, his inner energy had risen to 80.

But he still couldn't use his inner energy in techniques.

"You don't have to worry. Your speed of learning things is terrible. God is fair, it's normal to have a low propensity for inner energy. You will be able to practice the techniques, albeit a little later than others. You just need to accumulate enough inner energy."

Baek Yisoo didn't know what 'enough' was because the others' inner energy was not numeric data like his own.

"I am aware."

"Good." Na Sam patted Baek Yisoo's shoulder with a satisfied smile and called out to the guards trainees behind him. "Get ready, here we go!"

Baek Yisoo put the spear aside and joined the group training. His training over the past week had been inhumanly intense. It was hard to keep his psychology intact, but the rewards were great.

---

Mission #1: Advanced Training

Description: Improve yourself to finish the Baek Clan Guardian Course with the best grade. Utilize the Market and other factors for this.

Completion Condition: Complete the following trainings up to 100%, build a foundation by learning the Basic Spear and Martial Arts of the Baek Clan, and reach Third Class.

[Interval Training (47%)

[Plyometric Training (51%)]

[Spear Training (48%)]

[Martial Arts (51%)]

Quest Reward: Seduction Points x25, EXP 2500x, [Stormruler Spear]

Time Limit: 1 Month

---

The mission completion rate was over 50%.

If it wasn't for this mission, Baek Yisoo would have been depressed already. His only thought was that this task signified his distance to the third level.

Baek Yisoo continued to train until the sun set.

He left the training grounds before everyone else and left the mansion in a horse-drawn carriage.

---

Nearing the end of the day, several women who had finished cleaning were preparing to leave the mansion's hall.

Fatigue had left deep scars on their faces. Their hands and feet trembled with the fatigue of carrying the weight of the day's work. But this fatigue was not just physical; it also enveloped their souls, filling them with exhaustion and anxiety.

For the last few days, the maids of Baek mansion had been on pins and needles over the selection of senior maids. The pressure on them was incalculable. Their duties had multiplied several times over, to the point of straining their nerves. They were left with the most difficult place to clean in the entire mansion: the hall. It was huge and full of things that were difficult to clean.

Fortunately, they had finished today. 

The women looked around in silence, the hall needed one last inspection. They had finished their work, but that didn't make them feel any better. The rags and cleaning materials in their hands announced that their work was over. One of them quickly gathered her clothes, her eyes filled with a different kind of sadness than the others.

One of the other women approached her and quietly touched her shoulder.

"Minji, what's wrong?" she asked, noticing the concern in the woman's eyes.

Minji sighed deeply and shook her head.

"My mother is sick," she said in a low voice. "She is in a very difficult situation, but there is nothing I can do. Financially we are in a very difficult time. I can't even call a doctor for her."

The other women fell silent when they heard these words. A sense of pain, a feeling of help rose in them. But here it was, the reality of life, which could sometimes overwhelm even feelings and desires.

Minji's father had died long ago. They lived on a single salary and her mother's handicrafts. So, like all the commoners, they were make buckle and tongue meet. Her mother had also fallen ill because of this. Minji didn't know about the disease, but for a woman her age it was likely to be fatal.

It worried her so much that she couldn't even focus on her work.

Even the night with Baek Yisoo had disrupted her life, but her mother's illness would turn her life upside down. Even a simple examination cost a silver nyang and the medicines were very expensive. That was why most deaths were caused by illness.

Another woman approached quietly and put her hand anxiously on the other woman's shoulder.

"Hang in there, Minji," she said anxiously. "We will find a way. We will do everything we can for your mother's health. You are not alone, we are here."

"Thank you, Yong-mi."

Minji nodded with mixed emotions. Torn between worry and despair, she tried to keep the spark of hope alive. The other women stood by her side to support her.

Finally, the women quietly left the hall, feeling slightly relieved to have completed their task. But one of them, Yong-mi, prayed silently for Minji's mother's health, full of hope but also with a heavy heart.

Yu Minji and Chong Yong-mi were taken by horse-drawn carriage to an area close to their home. The two hugged each other and wished each other luck, then went on their way.

Minji raised her eyebrows when she arrived in front of her house.