Chapter 55: Chapter 55 : Mana and Qi

Arthur was sitting on both of his knees.

One side of his face was swollen.

Very swollen.

It looked like someone had taken a hammer and politely introduced it to his cheekbone.

Even so, Arthur was still trying his hardest not to anger his already furious master any further.

Across from him, Yuna was also sitting on her knees, calmly facing him.

She had changed into a martial training outfit.

It was a traditional Chinese training uniform, deep crimson in color with black silk linings running along the edges. The fabric was light but strong, designed to allow unrestricted movement during combat practice. The long sleeves hugged her arms slightly before loosening at the wrists, while the fitted waist highlighted her slender yet powerful figure. The outfit flowed naturally along her hips and legs, emphasizing the elegance of her posture while still hinting at the explosive strength hidden beneath.

Arthur stared for a moment.

’Wow…’

’She looks dangerous and beautiful at the same time.’

Arthur cleared his throat.

His voice came out slightly muffled due to the swelling.

“Ma… master…”

Yuna looked at him.

“What?”

Arthur swallowed.

“You look quite beautiful in that outfit.”

For a moment—

A small smile appeared on Yuna’s face.

Then it immediately vanished.

“Hmph.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

But Arthur had already noticed the smile.

’Good.’

’Looks like her mood improved a little.’

Yuna stood up.

“Come with me.”

Arthur slowly got up and followed her outside.

They stepped into the courtyard.

The moment Arthur saw it, he paused.

The courtyard looked like something taken straight out of a traditional Japanese garden.

Smooth stone paths curved gently through carefully trimmed grass.

Small lanterns stood near the pathways.

A koi pond shimmered quietly under the sunlight, its surface broken occasionally by the slow movement of colorful fish.

A wooden bridge crossed over the water.

Cherry blossom trees stood along the edges of the courtyard, their petals drifting lazily in the wind.

The entire place was peaceful.

Calm.

A complete contrast to the brutal training that clearly happened here.

The courtyard was quiet as Arthur slowly trailed behind Yuna.

Yuna stopped a few steps ahead of him and folded her arms while watching him with calm, observant eyes.

“Arthur.”

Arthur immediately straightened.

“Yes, Master.”

“Tell me the difference between Qi and Mana.”

Arthur wiped the sweat from his forehead and stood properly.

’In the game I never paid much attention to theoretical stuff…’

’I mean seriously… which gamer actually reads the lore section?’

’But I do know the basics.’

Arthur spoke.

“Qi is the life force produced inside the body,” he began. “It flows through pathways called spiritual veins. Martial artists awaken these spiritual veins so Qi can circulate through the body.”

He looked Yuna in the eyes.

“Once awakened, Qi strengthens muscles, bones, reflexes, and endurance. It improves the body from within.”

Yuna smiled slightly.

Arthur continued.

“Mana is different. Mana exists in the world itself. People absorb it through mana channels in their bodies and store it in a mana core, which helps control and refine the energy.”

He gestured slightly with his hand.

“Many people use Mana. Mages shape it into spells, but weapon users like swordsmen, archers, spear fighters and other warriors also use Mana. They channel it through their weapons or through their bodies to strengthen attacks, movements, and defense.”

For a moment, the courtyard was silent.

Yuna stepped closer.

“Good.”

“At least you know the basic knowledge.”

“You understand the structure,” she said. “But your explanation is still incomplete.”

Arthur frowned slightly.

Yuna tapped his chest lightly.

“Tell me, Arthur… what do you think the spirit is?”

Arthur hesitated.

“The soul… maybe?”

Yuna shook her head.

“That answer is too vague.”

She knelt down and drew a simple diagram in the dust.

“The body is your physical form — muscles, bones, blood, and organs.”

She drew another circle beside it.

“The mind is your thoughts, focus, and awareness.”

Then she drew a third circle connecting the two.

“And the spirit,” she said calmly, “is a form of will that connects them.”

Arthur leaned forward slightly.

“The spirit is the inner will of a person. It is what allows the mind to command the body and guide energy.”

She tapped the line connecting the circles.

“It forms the bridge between what you think and what your body does.”

Arthur nodded slowly.

“So spirit is what allows us to control Qi and Mana.”

“Yes,” Yuna replied.

“Without spirit, Qi would move through your body without direction, and Mana would slip through you like water through open fingers.”

She erased part of the drawing and created a new one.

“Qi is created when the body, breath, and spirit work together. Your lungs bring in air, your blood circulates through your body, and your spirit — your will — guides that life force through the spiritual veins.”

She then drew another diagram.

“Mana works differently.”

She drew thin lines spreading through another circle.

“Those who use Mana rely on mana channels, pathways that allow energy from the environment to flow into the body. That energy gathers in a mana core where it is stabilized and stored.”

Yuna looked at Arthur.

“Just like you right now.”

Arthur crossed his arms thoughtfully.

“So Qi flows through spiritual veins, and Mana flows through mana channels.”

“Correct.”

Yuna stood up again.

“Awakening spiritual veins is far more difficult than opening mana channels. It requires intense physical training, breathing techniques, and a strong spirit.”

She looked directly into Arthur’s eyes.

“And you have not awakened your spiritual veins yet.”

Arthur scratched the back of his head.

“Well… I wasn’t that interested in martial arts before.”

Yuna smiled slightly.

“That is why your training from now on will focus on strengthening your body and spirit first.”

“Once your body becomes strong enough, you will awaken your spiritual veins.”

Arthur thought for a moment.

“So can people choose which path they follow?”

“Yes,” Yuna replied.

“Some choose the path of Qi because it strengthens the body from within and grants powerful martial prowess and physical strength that cannot be obtained through ordinary training.”

“Others choose Mana because it is easier to access and far more flexible.”

She gestured toward the weapons rack nearby.

“Swordsmen, archers, spear fighters, and many other warriors use Mana to strengthen their bodies, enhance their weapons, and improve their techniques.”

Arthur nodded slowly.

“So neither path is better.”

“Correct.”

“It depends on what suits the person best.”

Arthur looked curious.

“But why can’t most people use both properly?”

Yuna smiled faintly.

“That is where things become interesting… and unfair.”

She drew two flowing streams in the dust.

“Your body acts like a furnace that produces Qi.”

“But at the same time, it acts like a gateway that pulls Mana from the world.”

Arthur watched closely.

“When you push Qi outside your body through techniques or aura, it requires enormous physical effort. Your heart beats faster, your spiritual veins expand, and your spirit focuses on maintaining that flow.”

She pointed at the other stream.

“Drawing Mana also requires concentration. Your mana channels must remain open, and your spirit must guide the energy into your mana core.”

Arthur nodded.

“So both require focus.”

“Yes.”

“And the human body has limits.”

She erased part of the streams.

“When you push too much Qi outward, your body prioritizes maintaining that energy.”

“As a result, your ability to sense and draw Mana becomes weaker.”

Arthur nodded again.

“And the opposite is also true,” Yuna continued.

“When you draw large amounts of Mana, your body becomes a conduit for external energy rather than a furnace for internal energy.”

“The heavy Mana flow interferes with the body’s natural Qi refinement.”

Arthur finished the thought.

“So the body produces less Qi.”

“Correct.”

She wiped away the drawing.

“That is why most warriors focus on one path.”

Arthur leaned forward slightly.

“But earlier you said most people.”

Yuna’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Yes.”

“This is where things become unfair.”

She looked toward the distant mountains.

“In rare cases, some individuals are born with special constitutions.”

Arthur blinked.

“Special constitutions?”

“Bodies that naturally separate the two energy systems.”

She drew two completely separate circles.

“In such individuals, the spiritual vein system and mana channel system do not interfere with each other.”

Arthur’s eyes widened.

“So they can use both fully?”

Yuna smiled slightly.

“Yes.”

“They can release Qi techniques while controlling Mana at the same time without weakening either system.”

Arthur looked impressed.

“That sounds powerful.”

“It is.”

Yuna turned away slightly.

“But such people are extremely rare.”

Then she glanced back at him.

“And even they must train harder than anyone else.”

Arthur suddenly smiled as he looked toward Yuna.

“You possess one of those special constitutions, don’t you?”

For a moment, Yuna looked genuinely surprised.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him.

Then she asked calmly, “How do you know that?”

Arthur shrugged lightly.

“Nothing special… just a gut feeling.”

Yuna crossed her arms and looked at him with curiosity.

“You’re a sharp one, aren’t you?”

“There are only a handful of people who know what kind of constitution I possess.”

Arthur smirked slightly.

“I only said I think you possess one.”

“I never said what type of constitution it is.”

Yuna’s mouth twitched slightly.

For a brief moment she looked like she wanted to punch him again.

Arthur tilted his head and said, “So… will you tell me what type it is?”

Yuna shook her head.

“Maybe when I acknowledge that you’re worthy.”

This time Arthur’s mouth twitched.

’Why does she talk like some ancient cultivation novel character?’

He was about to say something when—

Footsteps echoed from behind them.

Both of them turned.

Julia came running toward them.

Her appearance had completely changed from before.

After bathing she now wore a training sports bra and tight athletic shorts designed for combat training. The outfit fit her perfectly, highlighting her strong yet well-balanced physique. Her toned arms and abdomen showed the results of years of martial training, while her blonde hair was now tied into a high ponytail. Her posture was confident, though there was still a hint of nervousness in her expression.

Yuna glanced at her.

“Looks like you survived.”

Julia gave a slightly nervous smile.

Seeing her, Yuna suddenly turned toward Arthur.

“For your first lesson…”

“I want you to spar with Julia.”

Arthur blinked.

He looked at Julia carefully.

’She is definitely stronger than me…’

’No doubt about that.’

He scratched his cheek slightly.

’Should I decline…?’

But before he could say anything—

Julia spoke.

“Master… are you sure about that?”

She looked at Arthur briefly and added bluntly, “He looks kind of weak.”

Arthur froze.

Then something inside him snapped.

He pointed at her.

“What did you just say, muscle queen?”

Julia’s expression instantly changed.

Now she snapped.

“My body is well balanced, you weakling!”

“And don’t call me muscle queen again or i will knock the lights out of you!”

Arthur took off his coat and threw it aside.

“I’ve had enough of everyone calling me weak!”

“I’ll show you guys!”

But the moment he looked at Julia again—

He felt it.

A powerful aura radiating from her body.

It was dense.

Heavy.

Intimidating.

Arthur gulped slightly.

’Did I… go a little too far…?’

Just then—

A strange sensation spread through his mind.

A familiar system interface flickered in his vision.

Then—

Notifications began appearing one after another.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

— ABSOLUTE CHOICE SYSTEM

Status: Activated.

The system has come into effect.

A cold mechanical voice echoed inside Arthur’s mind.

[Host detected: Arthur.]

[Compatibility confirmed.]

[From this moment onward, every decision you make will alter your fate.]

Arthur’s pupils shrank slightly.

’Wait… what?’

The voice continued.

[Your first Absolute Choice is about to begin.]

Two glowing options slowly began forming in front of his eyes.

Arthur’s breath caught in his throat.

He stared at the system window.

Then—

A slow, devilish smile appeared on his face.

’Well…’

’Now I absolutely can’t back out of this.’

——

A/N:

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