Chapter 83: If You Can Catch Me, Try to Catch Me. (2)

"The Central Plains Martial World hasn't changed at all."

"… Although this place bizarrely retains an old-fashioned color, not all of China is like this."

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

"Really?"

"Yes, China is vast. This place… furthermore, this place is where Qinghai and Sichuan meet, and where the Kunlun Sect is based."

"Aha."

"The Kunlun Sect's immortals have settled here, so it remains unchanged from the old martial world, but in other places, they even use cars."

"…"

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

I was at a loss for words.

Korea had prospered tremendously.

To the extent that they combined mana and science to create a material similar to a superconductor, reaching a level where they could float high-speed train tracks above the sea.

But when I hear that this place uses cars…

'What the hell did these bastards do?'

Seon Woohyeon glanced at me and said.

"So, China currently retains appearances like this place as remnants of old industrial complexes. It's quite popular overseas, and they're making a tremendous amount of money."

"Even the horse we're riding now?"

"…Yes."

I clicked my tongue low at Seon Woohyeon's words.

This guy bought a horse with his own money, and he bought it at a very high price.

Yes, not a rental, a purchase.

Even though he knew he would only be in the martial arts world for a short while, he went ahead and bought it.

"Later, when you really need money urgently, you'll be struggling because you wasted it."

"…Professor, you save money more than I expected."

"Mages are poor scholars."

In my case, I was the type who earned a lot of money but also spent it tremendously.

That's why I had a strong tendency to save as much money as possible.

I wore a bamboo hat on horseback. We were currently dressed in traditional clothes to blend in here.

It was more inconvenient than modern civilization, but still…

'It has charm.'

It was quite charming.

Maybe because it had been a while.

'It's been less than half a year, practically.'

I wore a ring that changed my appearance with the bamboo hat.

Because I am extremely, extremely, extremely handsome.

'To enjoy the trip comfortably, this much is necessary.'

The current Han Seojin could be called a genius of appearance.

Clearly a professor, but he often receives love letters or confessions from students. Despite love letters being quite outdated, they piled up enough to fill the desk, and on KakaoTalk, there were kids whose numbers I didn't know when I exchanged…

I thought I could enjoy a somewhat comfortable trip at this level.

'This was unexpected.'

However, a problem arose.

[Unique Trait, Eternity nullifies the effect of the Ring of Transformation.]

A ring that could change to any desired appearance that I had obtained before.

It meant that its effect was nullified.

'This is quite unexpected.'

It was a penalty if you could call it that.

I realized I couldn't hide my appearance.

'Perhaps.'

This is the power of my trait called Eternity.

'The user becomes eternal, was it.'

Unique Trait, Eternity.

Among the traits that have been revealed so far, this is the one I think the most highly of.

The power of magic is imbued with the attribute of eternity.

When you recite the spell of eternity, it becomes an active ability that can last indefinitely.

More than that, the user becomes eternal.

I think that's the true power of eternity.

Heo Yoonji, who usually can't remember people's names well, always remembers mine correctly.

I thought this was the real power of Eternity.

'To think there was such a drawback.'

Well, it seemed obvious.

It was natural that certain people would be imprinted with the existence of 'me', and no transformation would work on them.

'But the hair is too conspicuous.'

Han Seojin's hair had always been black until now.

But now it's different.

White.

The hair that had turned white did not grow back black.

The reason was something I could guess.

The fact that the user became eternal.

I think that phrase fixed my appearance.

'My physical abilities remain the same, but it feels like all my forms are fixed.'

And at the end of that, there was the attribute of time.

It might be a clue to opening the third circle if I could figure it out.

'I should also start preparing to create the second circle.'

As I was thinking about that, Seon Woohyeon approached me and spoke.

"So, how will you proceed?"

"Well, I'll go as it comes. First, let's head near the Kunlun Sect."

"You're not going to the Demonic Cult?"

"Going to the Demonic Cult isn't a bad idea, but let's gather some information on the way."

"Information… you say?"

"Yes."

Seon Woohyeon made a peculiar expression.

"If it's that, I know well. There's a branch of the Hao Clan in the village we're arriving at soon, so let's go there."

"Is that so?"

I looked at Seon Woohyeon with an awkward gaze.

Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor.

After seeing my prime when I fought the White-Faced Golden Fur,

After seeing that, he has become incredibly polite.

'He wasn't like this.'

Well, it's not like he's going to harm me, so I let it slide.

"Let's go to the inn rather than the Hao Clan branch."

"An inn?"

"Of course, information gathering is best done at the inn."

"Do you think information just rolls around in places like inns?"

"It doesn't roll around."

Of course not.

There are many loose-lipped people in this world, but if the information is top-tier, many will keep their mouths shut.

'Of course, there are always those who can't help but brag.'

The chances of such people coming to the inn are almost none.

Or they might rent a private room.

And so, we entered the inn.

The inn was bustling.

I checked the seats and found a table for four standing alone.

"Welcome. Let me guide you to that table."

As Seon Woohyeon and I sat down, the waiter handed us the menu.

"Here is the menu. If you need anything, please press this bell."

Still, since it's a modern setting, the waiter here is different from one in a martial arts world.

"Hey, waiter, bring me one carbonara."

"Hai!"

…What?!

I was naturally astonished.

When I say this, usually they should ask, "Excuse me, what is carbonara?"

'Oh, right, this is reality.'

Feeling the novelty, I skimmed through the menu.

"…"

Seon Woohyeon looked at me with an absurd expression.

Why, what, why.

"Do you know what you just did is trendy here?"

"Trendy?"

"Why is that?"

"It's popular among young martial artists. A very famous martial artist used to do this often…"

"…"

Do those orthodox sect guys have nothing better to do?

I used to do this quite often myself.

'If we modernize it, it's like the Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor Challenge.'

Do they go around doing it like this?

They really look pathetic, those orthodox martial artists.

As I was thinking that, the waiter approached us.

"Excuse me, but would you mind sharing your table? The people over there requested to join."

"Share the table?"

I looked in the direction the waiter pointed and saw two people.

A woman and a man.

The woman was dressed in black martial arts attire. Although most of her face was covered with a cloth, she gave off the impression of a beauty.

The man looked like a gorilla. To put it nicely, he appeared very masculine, but to put it bluntly, he looked like a simple-minded brute.

Judging by the way he was exhaling through his nose, it seemed like he would cause trouble if we didn't join them.

As I stared intently, the woman on the other side smiled slightly and waved her hand.

"Do you perhaps know her?"

"I don't."

"Then why is she smiling?"

"…Her? You know her name?"

"She's quite famous. Not just her skills, but she's known for getting tangled up with men because of their looks… Ah, it seems she suggested joining because of your appearance, Master."

"My face is indeed handsome."

I looked at the people who suggested joining us.

A woman and a man.

Among them, the man caught my interest more.

I looked at the man who resembled a gorilla.

'Interesting.'

I could feel his energy.

Blade King, Peng Juhyuk.

I sensed the unique wild energy of the Peng family.

Was he a descendant or an heir?

No, that doesn't matter.

Anyway, the fact that he is from the Peng family…

'I should have brought Seo Boram.'

The reason I decided to teach Seo Boram the sword art.

Because there is also a Peng family here.

And the sword art I created, Six Paths One Gate.

It surpassed the Five Tigers Gate-Cutting Blade technique that the Peng family boasts about.

'It's extremely difficult, though.'

Seo Boram had something that can be called talent.

So, if she had been here, it would have been quite fun to defeat them.

What a pity.

Really a pity.

"I am Sa Gonghwa."

The woman greeted us in a seductive manner.

Gorilla A frowned and clasped his fists, seemingly displeased.

"I am Peng Bosung."

Gorilla A said.

We sat down naturally. Sa Gonghwa sat in front of me, and Gorilla A sat beside me.

"Thank you for agreeing to join us. In return, may we treat you to a meal?"

"Sure. Waiter."

"Hai!"

When I called the waiter, he quickly approached.

…But why had he been speaking Japanese since earlier?

Seeing my confusion, Sa Gonghwa smiled and said,

"It's trendy these days."

"…"

The world was really coming to an end.

"Are you interested in the 'Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor Challenge'?"

"…The 'Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor Challenge'?"

"Earlier, you participated in the 'Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor Challenge.'"

So, it really did exist.

I was dumbfounded, but right now, I was getting a free meal.

Refusing in this situation would be impolite.

I ordered a few more items from the menu.

"Can you eat all that?"

"Of course."

"It's nice to see someone with a good appetite."

Covering her mouth with her hand, Sa Gonghwa chuckled.

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

'This was why I wanted to disguise myself.'

Because of my good looks, there were many such incidents, which was annoying.

Deceiving with magic is one way, but…

'Magic is unnatural.'

Magic distorts laws.

Even for me, it's still hard to change it at will.

Of course, it's only to a tiny extent.

'But those who have reached a certain level can definitely see it.'

Rather than being misunderstood, it's better to go out confidently.

Originally, I was just going to use magic.

'There are quite a few of them.'

The martial arts world and the magic world.

They declined because of me.

However, the potential of those two forces is not to be underestimated.

Especially since the orthodox sect was a problem.

You never know when or where the monsters, such as old masters, would pop out.