Chapter 1: Invested

The line between a ‘trash game’ and a ‘god-tier game’ lies in the users’ judgment.

Just as a game everyone unanimously calls ‘shit’ might be a ‘god-tier game’ with no alternative for someone else.

Therefore, rashly judging the potential of a particular game is quite a dangerous act.

Of course, there are exceptions.

Perhaps everyone has experienced it at least once.

“Ugh, this trash game. There’s nothing to do.”

The so-called ‘Trash Game Parrot’.

For them, the game’s volume, content, or characters don’t matter.

They’ll play any ‘god-tier game’ until they’ve sucked it dry, then sneer that there’s no content.

In that sense, he too could be called one of the many ‘Trash Game Parrots’.

Though, a somewhat special one among them.

[ Play Record ]

■ Cheongpungjeon (靑風傳)

ㄴ Played for over 19,472 hours

ㄴ Endings Collected: 299 / 299

“It’ll be 20,000 hours soon.”

20,000 hours of playtime.

Honestly, at this point, it’s a level of having no life.

No, it would be fair to say that the game is simply a part of his life.

‘It was well-made, after all.’

Cheongpungjeon.

A love-hate game.

A devilish game where he constantly chants about quitting, only to find himself creating a new character once he snaps out of it.

Cheongpungjeon is a wuxia-themed adventure game.

Though clearly developed in Taiwan, it unexpectedly hit big in Korea.

The genre is wuxia, which was frankly a bit unfamiliar to me, but the game’s quality is outstanding enough to cover that.

The plot changes moment by moment depending on the character’s abilities and choices, and the endings are also astonishingly diverse to match.

But even so.

No matter how high the freedom, for a veteran with 20,000 hours of playtime, it’s ultimately just a trash game.

A new concept is needed.

A new concept, one he’s never experienced before.

But.

“What should I do?”

Blind Swordsman.

Reclusive Mountain Master.

Last Disciple of Wudang.

…

….

Concepts? He hadn’t tried anything.

Endings were the same.

He had experienced dying alone in reclusion, being trampled by a horse, and even being lynched after losing a fight against Beggars’ Sect vagrants.

And that’s not all.

He had become the Demonic Heavenly Demon and shattered the Murim, and conversely, become the Murim Alliance Leader, ascending to immortality via the ‘Ascension to Immortality’ (羽化登仙) route, one of the true endings.

Indeed.

Perhaps because it’s a trash game, the content is too, too lacking.

“Are there no new mods?”

The only way to quench his thirst was through ‘custom mods’ created and distributed directly by users.

However, as mods are individually created by users, their quality varies greatly, and those boasting decent quality had long since been milked dry.

Damn it.

Is there really nothing?

“…There is?”

He found it.

A piping hot new mod, freshly uploaded to the community.

“Exterminate Demons (滅魔)?”

Exterminate (滅) the Demons (魔).

In Murim, the only ones worthy of being called ‘Demons’ (魔) would be the Demonic Cult, meaning he should just ‘take care of’ the Demonic Cult?

The mod name is quite clear and intuitive.

“Let’s see.”

High rating.

Good comment reactions.

Simple installation method.

Perfect.

He didn’t hesitate and immediately installed the mod.

Because the detailed contents could simply be learned by experiencing them firsthand.

[ Creating a new character. ]

[ Affiliation: Random ]

[ Gender: Male ]

Affiliation, Random.

In Murim, affiliation is quite important.

Because the martial arts one can learn are determined by which sect they’re from, and there’s a high probability of getting entangled in past grudges.

The character’s affiliation is, in essence, the game’s difficulty.

For such an important element to be random.

It seems the mod creator must be a gacha addict.

But I, too, am a veteran with 20,000 hours of playtime.

The time for being scared by such a trifling affiliation is long, long past.

[ Unique trait added. ]

[ Trait: Down with the Demonic Cult! ]

[ When facing a Demonic Cult member as an enemy, Azure Spirit Pure Body (靑靈淨氣體), Divine Purity Unassailable Meridians (神淨不侵脈), Indestructible Vajra Body (金剛不壞), and Empty Spirit Body (空靈之體) are activated. ]

Down with the Demonic Cult.

It really lives up to its name.

The explanations are long, but to summarize roughly, it means he can rampage freely against Demonic Cult members.

Essentially, a conditional cheat code.

While the conditional aspect is a bit of a snag, its utility is still boundless.

[ Stats are automatically distributed. ]

[ Strength 5 ]

[ Stamina 5 ]

[ … ]

The default stats given are trash.

At this level, it’s akin to a penalty.

But there’s no problem.

[ Achievement Points Usable ]

[ Achievement Points Owned: 19,731 pt ]

[ You can purchase additional stats using points. ]

Stats can simply be raised with the achievement points accumulated over 20,000 hours.

The most important thing was none other than the ‘Qi Perception’ stat.

In essence, it could be said that a character’s innate talent was determined by how high their Qi Perception was.

[ Please enter a name. ]

Cheongun (靑雲).

A simple, easy-to-call name.

Hmm, I like it.

Enter.

Following that, a string of explanations.

Enter, enter, and then another enter.

And finally.

[ Start game? ]

Preparation was complete.

He lightly reviewed the previous selections and placed his finger back on the Enter key.

And, pressed down.

That was his last memory before falling into the Murim.

Cheongun’s last memory.

****

When he was abruptly thrown into the Murim under the pretext of ‘possession,’ Cheongun was utterly dumbfounded.

Could this really be the ‘possession’ he’d only heard about?

But why, of all places, Murim?

Like a modern fantasy world filled with advanced civilization.

Or a medieval fantasy where heroes roam the streets.

Weren’t there at least countless better options than this damn Murim?

Boiling rage and doubt.

However, in the face of the immediate crisis before him, they were trivial.

The three essential elements for human survival.

Clothes, food, shelter. The so-called ‘necessities of life’ (衣食住).

But for Cheongun, an orphan with nowhere to go, what were these necessities?

Without parents, he had no home, and without a home, a wandering life was not a choice but a necessity.

Who could truly understand the shame of sleeping with Beggars’ Sect vagrants who reeked because he couldn’t find a place to stay, of not being able to eat what he wanted due to lack of money, and of having to wear rags worse than scraps because he didn’t even have a single set of clothes?

Of course, Cheongun didn’t want to know either.

It was then he realized.

Why only in Murim were there so many scoundrels scattered everywhere.

For Cheongun, who remembered his modern life, life in Murim was hell itself.

However, humans are adaptable beings.

Cheongun also gradually began to adapt to Murim as time passed.

Although there was a minor side effect of constantly swearing and becoming hopelessly destitute, what mattered was that he was still breathing and alive.

More than anything, Cheongun gained a certain realization.

To survive in the Murim, where the winner takes all, money is necessary.

Or to possess martial arts that wouldn’t easily be outmatched anywhere.

He no longer wanted to live a beggar’s life, and he was fed up with being ignored by things worse than trash rolling on the streets.

Living hand-to-mouth.

That was not the life Cheongun wanted.

Owning his own home.

Passive income.

Overflowing wealth and a comfortable daily life.

Until he achieved those grand goals, Cheongun could not stop.

However, Murim was not easy.

Murim, in other words, was the wild.

It was a low-level, barbaric world where conspiracies flowed like breath, swords moved before words, and the logic of power superseded everything else—that was the true nature of Murim.

It was an environment where one could easily die away from home if they acted without power.

Thus, for the past few years.

Cheongun had struggled immensely.

He wandered outside the city walls, setting up a suitable cave as his dwelling.

His body had been somewhat trained, so the most urgent matter was internal energy.

Still, perhaps it was a ‘possessed person’s privilege,’ a [View Heart Method] button floated before his eyes, making it easy to learn martial arts.

Cheongun casually sat down and focused on his breathing according to the Three Calamities Heart Method’s incantations.

Perhaps it was thanks to ignorantly maxing out all kinds of stats, including Qi Perception, with achievement points.

Cheongun soon succeeded in feeling the ends of the Qi (氣) flowing throughout his body.

His senses sharpened progressively.

Time passed, and by the time a month had gone by, Cheongun succeeded in gaining internal energy for the first time.

Of course, the efficiency was terrible.

It was natural, considering he chose the Three Calamities Heart Method, a third-rate martial art, over other more efficient heart methods.

However, Cheongun did not regret it.

Because the Three Calamities Heart Method, though slow, was the only heart method among all of them that didn’t require worrying about qi deviation.

Without a master to guide his qi, if he learned just any heart method and fell into qi deviation, wouldn’t that be a direct path to the underworld?

No matter how good money was, it couldn’t be more important than his own life.

Slowly, but honestly.

Cheongun accumulated qi and built up internal energy in that manner.

It seemed to progress too easily, but he didn’t bother to think deeply about it.

Maybe this body just has innate talent.

“Now it’s somewhat usable.”

The somewhat complete heart method was reasonably usable.

As qi accumulated, his body’s durability increased, and thanks to internal energy, he didn’t tire easily.

That meant.

It was finally time to begin serious economic activities.

“Just die nicely!”

“Screech!”

Beast hunting.

The very foundation of economic activity.

To accumulate money, one must first reduce spending.

That is, one must be self-sufficient in eating, sleeping, and dressing.

Animals have many uses in various ways.

The carcass could be roasted and eaten, the hide processed into a blanket, and some parts sold for money.

For Cheongun, with his game knowledge, it wasn’t a difficult task at all.

“f*ck, f*ck, f*ck.”

Cheongun diligently accumulated money, constantly swearing under his breath.

The more he did so, the more desperately he yearned for profound martial arts.

His mind was filled with all sorts of incantations and techniques.

But for Cheongun, who had just begun accumulating and utilizing internal energy, they were still out of reach.

His one unique trait only activated when encountering a Demonic Cult member, and Demonic Cult members were by no means easy to meet in Murim.

As a fanatical group worshipping martial arts, they were inherently reclusive, and uselessly good at cohesion, so they holed up at the peak of Ilwoldaesan and never came out.

Ah, this dog-like life.

Meanwhile, his empty stomach began to rumble, protesting its hunger.

“Hmph.”

Cheongun slung the fishing rod he’d bought recently over his shoulder and moved towards the nearby riverside.

After several days of only eating roasted raw meat, it was indeed time to change the menu.

Arriving at the riverside, Cheongun subtly cast his fishing line into the river.

No more, no less, just five big ones.

With just that thought, Cheongun sat blankly, diligently moving his fishing line.

Around the time he was desperately moving his fishing rod.

An unexpected uninvited guest appeared.

“Haa! Haa!”

A woman suddenly emerged from beyond the overgrown thicket.

Her sweat-soaked martial arts attire and ragged breathing clearly indicated she was being pursued.

She stood motionless, calming her ragged breaths for a long time.

“Haha, how noisy. Is this the burial spot you finally found? It certainly is a good place to die without anyone knowing.”

The woman turned her head at the voice coming from behind her.

There, a masked man stood swaggering.

The man casually glanced at the woman from head to toe, then indifferently asked.

“To cry out for justice so much, only to end up using a spy to infiltrate the Black Kill Sect. What difference is there between what you lot do and the demonic path?”

“……”

The woman did not answer.

Because the spy he was talking about was herself.

She let the ridiculous threat go in one ear and urgently darted her eyes around.

This was to ascertain an escape route while the masked man rambled on ignorantly.

The masked man also noticed this and followed the woman’s gaze.

He was confident he could easily catch her no matter where she fled in her exhausted state, so he didn’t bother to stop her futile efforts.

This too was the charm of the hunt.

“Are you ready?”

The man sneered, drawing a massive broadsword and resting it on his shoulder.

The woman’s gaze became even more urgent.

Just then, Cheongun, sitting on a riverside rock and fishing, entered her field of vision.

Wait.

Is he seriously… fishing right now?

“Hmm?”

The man also spotted Cheongun fishing.

And then, Cheongun, who had turned his head, met his gaze.

Cheongun, blinking, clicked his tongue and turned his head away again.

And pretended he hadn’t seen anything, resuming his focus on fishing.

“……”

The masked man swallowed a sigh and took a step.

This was to approach Cheongun, the sole witness.

And then.

Whirrr.

Thwack.

Before the masked man could even get close, a crude dagger flew and embedded itself right in front of his feet.

The dagger embedded in the ground clearly carried internal energy.

‘…A martial artist.’

Things had gotten troublesome.

This was a matter that should have no witnesses.

“Hey, mister.”

“Mister? Are you perhaps calling me?”

“Well, who else is here but you, mister?”

“I am Sa Uncheon of the Black Forest Sect, and…”

“Oh, just stop. Go finish your business quickly. And don’t even think about coming this way. I didn’t see anything.”

Cheongun tossed out his piece and sharply turned his head away.

Sa Uncheon was left speechless.

What kind of bastard is this?

“Young Hero!”

Just then, the woman who had been watching the situation shouted.

“I am Namgoong Yul of the Namgoong Clan, affiliated with the Justice Alliance!”

“So?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I don’t care about Namgoong or anything else, so don’t call me. Will you take responsibility if the fish get away?”

“No, the fish aren’t important right now…”

“You really don’t get it. Why would I help you? I have no intention of getting entangled in your grudges, alright? What if a bounty is placed on me by the Black Forest Sect or whatever for getting involved for no reason? Ugh, just thinking about it is annoying. Will the Namgoong Clan take responsibility? No, right? Then go on your way.”

At Cheongun’s absurd response, a vein slightly bulged on the woman’s forehead.

However, she couldn’t offer any rebuttal.

Because there was nothing wrong with what he said.

Murim was a world entangled in an endless chain of grudges.

As Cheongun said, even carelessly helping someone in crisis required a huge decision.

“I’ll compensate you!”

Whisk.

At the word ‘compensation,’ Cheongun’s head snapped back like lightning.

“How much?”

“Pardon?”

“How much will you give me?”

Cheongun’s empty eyes suddenly blazed brightly.

Namgoong Yul let out a hollow laugh and calmly replied.

“Grudges are repaid twofold, favors tenfold. That is our Namgoong Clan’s creed.”

“So, how much?”

“……”

Grind.

Calm down. His help is needed right now.

“One gold ingot.”

One gold ingot is 50 gold taels.

50 gold taels is 10,000 silver taels.

One silver tael can buy five sacks of rice.

Five sacks of rice would comfortably sustain a family of 4-5 for at least one month.

Meaning.

One gold ingot is enough money for a family of 4-5 to survive for 833 years!

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

It was quite an excessive amount, but it was certainly a justifiable price for the life of a direct descendant of the Namgoong Clan.

Grinning.

Cheongun’s lips twitched upwards.

It was best not to look at such dirty situations, but one gold ingot was an amount worth enduring even that.

Life reversal.

The chance of a lifetime had rolled right to his feet.

“Hup.”

Cheongun rose from his spot and was suddenly standing next to Namgoong Yul.

Seeing that, Sa Uncheon let out a sinister chuckle.

“The young brat doesn’t know how precious his life is.”

“And you, at that age, have a long tongue.”

“You rogue!”

Cheongun was thoroughly selfish.

No matter how important money was, his own life was more important than money.

However, Cheongun had intended to step forward himself from the beginning.

His initial hesitation was merely a ploy to extort something more.

The reason the notoriously selfish Cheongun stepped forward so confidently.

It was because he had that much certainty.

[ You have encountered a Demonic Cult member as an enemy! ]

The status window stated.

[ Unique Trait: 「Down with the Demonic Cult!」 activates! ]

That guy, Sa Uncheon.

[ Azure Spirit Pure Body (靑靈淨氣體) activates! ]

[ Divine Purity Unassailable Meridians (神淨不侵脈) activates! ]

[ Indestructible Vajra Body (金剛不壞) activates! ]

[ Empty Spirit Body (空靈之體) activates! ]

…

…

He was from the esteemed Demonic Cult.