Healing System

"Hu Rong... is this really the place?" Michael asked, hesitation clear in his tone.

The gate before them did indeed have the words "Escort Guild" written on it; however, it looked a tad bit too expensive to be somewhere people could just come and go at any time.

The gate was made out of oak wood, and around it, there was a golden spiraling dragon as well as some letters that he could not quite read. Speaking their language was natural, though.

Just some motivational quotes—that's about it.

'Interesting,' Michael thought to himself and took a look at Hu Rong, who was looking at him in admiration, before answering his previous question.

"This is indeed the place, Master Mujin. We just need to pass their tests, and we can join."

"Tests? Like what?"

"Martial proficiency, how we handle actual escort work. It's pretty simple; don't worry, Master Mujin!" Hu Rong replied eagerly and continued leading the way.

Michael shrugged and followed along. It was not his intention to use this guy for long, but just abandoning him made him feel a little bad.

Disciples are very symbolic in the murim worlds. They take their roles seriously and look up to their masters as some kind of role models. If you abandon him, he might just kill himself—that's how great their devotion stems.

'Kill himself? Just because I left?' He raised an eyebrow as he passed by the inner courtyard decorated with a rocky pathway.

There were a couple of stone platforms strewn all around him, possibly where he would take the martial proficiency test.

In his eyes, he was recognized by an elder, one who could manipulate external qi. Now imagine that same elder, who offered him to become his disciple, suddenly left. He would question his own competence, and for all you know, the worst might come to pass.

'That... sounds a bit tragic.' Michael let out a sigh. He might have to tweak his later plan a tad bit—he wouldn't want someone dying just because he left.

After the two of them passed by the initial courtyard, they entered the inner one. Immediately, the sound of swords clashing in the air and people groaning resounded.

Everywhere he looked, a fighting stage was occupied. It seemed like they had arrived at the perfect time.

He watched as Hu Rong walked up to an old man wearing dark clothing, a band with "Elder" strapped on his shoulder.

'Can he also control the mana like me?' he couldn't help but ask. The others called him an elder as well.

No, he's just a strong official of the guild. You were referred to as the Elder in the grand scheme of the murim world—basically a sage who achieved something others couldn't.

'Hmm...'

"Master Mujin, this is the Escort Guild Elder, Han Long," Hu Rong said, catching his attention as he began walking over to the two of them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Michael said with a warm smile as he stretched out his arm, hoping for a handshake.

However, he was met with Han Long staring at him with confusion, his fists cupped as he slightly bowed.

'Err... right, culture.' He proceeded to copy the Escort Guild elder's posture and the way he showed his respect, earning a mutual smile.

"Are you two looking to join the Escort Guild as armed escorts?" Han Long suddenly asked kindly, a stark contrast to Michael's previous assessment.

He assumed most would be self-righteous and arrogant, yet so far he had only met admirers and nice people.

"Indeed, my disciple and I wish to partake in the tests."

"Hmm... you are a bit late, but it is still possible. Give me a moment." Han Long said with a bow and walked inside the nearby pavilion.

There were a couple of decently strong presences there; however, they were well-hidden. If he wasn't focusing on them, he would not even notice their strength.

There were six people in total, five of whom were all at Tier 3, while the last one was Tier 4—the highest Michael had seen thus far.

Even the elder he just talked to was merely a Tier 2 at the upper rank, yet in comparison with the people inside, he was just a fly.

Nonetheless, he waited patiently, and after just a few minutes had passed, Han Long came back out bearing a wide smile.

However, he was not alone, as one of the people he had felt earlier was right behind him—a Tier 3.

It looked like a kid or someone similar in age to him, but his strength was truly formidable.

Michael was unsure if he would lose. After all, he did get stronger himself. Sanctuary was off cooldown too. If push came to shove, he would truly go all out.

"Greatswords?" the Tier 3 suddenly asked, standing right before him.

"Ah, yes, they were my grandfather's. I'm only holding onto them for now," Michael replied, thinking up a random bullshit sob story, to which the Tier 3 merely nodded and stepped back behind Han Long.

You can use inner mana to reabsorb the rings back into your core. Not sure if it will work, though—that affinity is a bit strange.

'And you couldn't tell me this, like, yesterday?'

Thought you'd figure it out, my bad.

'...Whatever.' Michael rolled his eyes and noticed Han Long staring at him before speaking.

"Hu Rong and... Mujin, correct?" he asked, to which Michael nodded.

"The Escort Guild's leader personally assigned you, Mujin, an individual test. What do you say?"

"What is it?"

"Nothing much. You have to battle against our newest elder, Su Hanjo," Han Long stated before stepping aside, revealing the Tier 3's figure.

"I greet my seniors," Su Hanjo said with a curt bow while cupping his fists and once again straightened his back.

Despite the kindness that was apparent at first glance, Michael could tell there was deep arrogance rooted within him.

The way he carried himself and the way he spoke in a condescending way—it was hard to not notice.

As all of this was happening, the courtyard, filled to the brim with applicants, slowly grew quiet. Most stopped fighting just to see what was going on.

After all, Michael's pressure conflicted with the Tier 3's, even mildly suppressing it.

But aside from him and Su Hanjo, no one was able to notice—not even the Escort Guild elder who stood right by their side.

Michael put on his warm smile, hiding his true feelings as he stared at Han Long before announcing, "I accept. I assume my disciple will go through normal treatment?"

"That is correct; the Escort Guild Leader did not deem him fit enough to require any special guidance. Please understand," he replied while shooting a small uninterested glance at Hu Rong.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

'Huh... I guess there's no playing around that. I wouldn't want to put that big of a target on my back just yet,' Michael surmised but then got a small idea.

"Can you at the very least make the test a bit more difficult? Give him the strongest people in the bunch."

Han Long seemed in deep thought for a moment before nodding and gesturing to the side.

There was a massive arena there—one that was at least four times the size of the ones around them.

"Will do, Mujin. Please follow after me; we have prepared a special arena for you two."