Ma Goo's quarters were exactly what Jin Ryeong expected: they smelled of old sweat, cheap incense, and ambition that far exceeded talent.
"Sit," Ma Goo commanded, kicking a woven mat toward the center of the room.
Jin Ryeong lowered himself gingerly, wincing as his fractured forearms throbbed. The pain was sharp, a constant reminder of his low stats. He held his arms close to his chest, looking up at the brute towering over him.
"Well?" Ma Goo sat on his bed, stripping off his boots to reveal swollen, calloused ankles. "Get to work. My footwork has been sluggish lately. Fix it."
Jin Ryeong stared at the ankles. Then he looked at his own purple, swollen hands.
"Senior Brother," Jin Ryeong rasped. "I... I cannot channel Qi through broken bones. If I try, the flow will scatter. I might accidentally cripple you instead of healing you."
It was a lie. The System didn't care about his bones; it used his stamina. But Jin Ryeong needed leverage. He couldn't work like this.
Ma Goo frowned, his thick eyebrows knitting together. He looked at Jin Ryeong's hands, then grunted in annoyance. He reached into his belt pouch and threw a small, wax-sealed pill at Jin Ryeong's face.
It bounced off Jin Ryeong's forehead and landed on the mat.
"Low-grade Bone Knitting Pill," Ma Goo scoffed. "Cost me a month's allowance. Eat it. If you aren't ready to work in an hour, I'll break your legs too."
Jin Ryeong's eyes lit up. A pill? Even a low-grade one was worth ten silver taels. He scrambled to pick it up with his elbows and awkwardly guided it to his mouth.
Gulp.
Warmth spread through his chest. It wasn't instant magic. The sharp agony in his arms didn't vanish, but it dulled into a manageable, throbbing ache.
[System Notice] [External Medicine Detected.] [Recovery Rate increased by 10%.] [Status: Pain numbed. Fractures remain unstable.]
"I can work now," Jin Ryeong lied again. He was still broken, but the pill acted as a numbing agent. He would have to grit his teeth through the pain.
He crawled over to Ma Goo's feet.
"Senior Brother, this treatment... it requires total focus," Jin Ryeong whispered, adopting the persona of a humble servant. "You must relax your guard. If you resist my Qi, it will hurt."
"Just do it," Ma Goo leaned back, closing his eyes.
Jin Ryeong placed his hands on Ma Goo's ankle. He squeezed his eyes shut, recalling the sensation from the training hall—that strange, sickly green energy he had unleashed when he first awakened.
'Come on... do it again. Drain me. Just don't let him kill me.'
[Innate Ability Activated: Wicked Healing.]
Hummmm.
The neon green light flared again. Jin Ryeong felt his stamina draining, his vision tunneling. Pain shot through his broken forearms as the energy traveled through them, but he forced it out. He could feel the chaotic, messy Qi inside Ma Goo's meridians. It was like looking at a ball of tangled yarn.
Ma Goo gasped. "Oh... Oh! That stings! But... it feels good!"
Jin Ryeong didn't stop at the ankle. He pushed the energy up the calf, untangling the knots in the muscle.
[Ding!] [Target: Ma Goo] [Treatment Successful: Minor Meridian Cleansing.] [Reward: +50 XP]
'More,' Jin Ryeong thought, sweat stinging his eyes. 'I need more.'
"Senior Brother," Jin Ryeong said, his voice trembling from the exertion. "Your knee is also blocked. It is limiting your explosive power."
"Fix it!" Ma Goo groaned in pleasure.
Jin Ryeong moved his hands up.
[Ding!] [Treatment Successful: Knee Ligament Reinforcement.] [Reward: +50 XP]
[Ding!] [CONGRATULATIONS!] [You have reached Level 2.]
A rush of cool energy washed over Jin Ryeong. The level-up didn't heal his bones—that would be too convenient—but it refreshed his stamina pool, allowing him to keep his eyes open.
[Level 2 Status]
Stamina: Fully Restored.
Unassigned Stat Points: 5
New Feature Unlocked: [The Diagnosis Eye]
Jin Ryeong ignored the notification for a moment and dumped all 5 points immediately into Constitution. 'I am too weak. If I take another hit, I will die. I need to toughen up.'
[Constitution: 3 (Frail) -> 8 (Underdeveloped Adult)]
His breathing stabilized. His bones felt denser, and the fracture pain receded slightly. He wasn't strong yet—he was still weaker than a healthy farmer—but he no longer felt like he was made of wet paper.
"Haaa..." Ma Goo sat up, flexing his legs. He kicked the air. Whoosh! The sound was crisp. "Incredible. I feel light as a feather! You... you really are a hidden treasure."
Ma Goo looked at Jin Ryeong with a predatory gaze. "Tomorrow is the tournament. With these legs, and the power in my fist... I might even reach the semi-finals."
He stood up and grabbed Jin Ryeong's shoulder. His grip was noticeably stronger than an hour ago.
"You stay here. Sleep on the floor. Tomorrow morning, you fix my shoulder. If I win my first match... I might even buy you some meat."
Ma Goo blew out the candle and collapsed onto his bed, snoring within seconds.
Jin Ryeong sat in the dark, clutching his throbbing arms.
He looked at the sleeping form of Ma Goo.
[Target: Ma Goo] [Status: Sleeping / Defenseless] [Risk Level: Low]
He could kill him. Right now. He could take a knife and end his tormentor.
But then, the System window flickered.
[Quest Update: The Leech's Host] [Progress: 2/10 Treatments.] [Next Reward: Basic Breathing Technique (Grade F)]
Jin Ryeong pulled his hand back. Breathing Technique. That was what he needed. Without a way to cultivate Qi naturally, he was just a battery that couldn't recharge. He needed that reward.
He activated his new skill: [Diagnosis Eye].
He looked at Ma Goo's sleeping body. Red lines appeared over the brute, showing his Qi flow. But there was also a new text box.
[Hidden Potential: Low] [Fatal Flaw: Ma Goo has a weak liver. If he uses 'Iron Fist' three times in rapid succession, his Qi will backlash and paralyze him for 5 seconds.]
Jin Ryeong smiled in the darkness. It was a cold, cruel smile.
He knew the flaw. He controlled the flaw. He owned Ma Goo.
'Sleep tight, my little experience potion,' Jin Ryeong whispered. 'Tomorrow, we go farming.'