I Became a Supporting Character in a Martial Arts Novel (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
Grand Elder is, in simpler terms, my master’s master. Thus, when I received the Dao Ho, he had also been present as an observer. After performing the formal bow of respect, I even paid him a separate greeting.
‘Did he… take a liking to you?’
I could only recall feeling nervous—the man, already unusually fierce-looking for an elder of a Daoist sect, kept watching me with a scrutinizing gaze from the moment I greeted him until I left.
I couldn’t tell at all how that could possibly be interpreted as a look of approval.
‘Did this happen in the original story before? Did the elder take a liking to this body’s previous owner?’
I couldn’t clearly remember minor episodes outside the main plot, so I couldn’t be certain. But it seemed highly unlikely such an event occurred in the original.
After all, my master is Grand Elder’s pride.
Though he likely has other disciples, my master is the First Sword of Mount Hua, so naturally he’d hold him especially dear. And who else but him would be most displeased to learn that his prized disciple’s first student was just a plain, insignificant child?
“Why do you look like that?”
“Oh, no… it’s just that I’m happy Grand Elder took a liking to me.”
To be precise, it wasn’t so much happiness as suspicion…
“Actually, he said he found your composure pleasing to watch. Most new disciples usually get frightened the first time they see him.”
Ah, so it was because I wasn’t truly a child inside.
Most of my confusion cleared up instantly. In the original story, ‘Haheun’ was literally a twelve-year-old who’d recently lost her parents and whose family had just been utterly ruined—but I wasn’t twelve; I was an adult who remembered dying in a traffic accident.
‘…Though I did hide in a corner and cry a bit at first.’
After crying for a while, I decided it served no purpose and composed myself emotionally.
It wasn’t easy, but since I was an adult, I could at least manage to appear reasonably composed on the outside. And gradually, even inwardly, I truly began to feel better.
Still, I admit that wasn’t behavior typical of a child. Apparently, that fact was obvious even on the surface.
Realizing this left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
‘A world that expects a twelve-year-old to act like an adult…’
Just then, my master reached out and awkwardly ruffled my hair.
“Composure is a valuable trait whether you’re studying the Dao or wielding a sword. Even if this hadn’t happened, you would have received a spirit pill eventually, but receiving it early and absorbing it now will yield greater benefits—so it’s for the best.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
His hand felt warm. From that careful touch, I suddenly understood—without any context—why the original ‘Haheun’ had clung so desperately to her master.
‘Hmm, no.’
I quickly corrected myself inwardly.
I must have gotten overly sentimental for a moment. Thinking again, those actions were far too irrational, even given the circumstances.
‘Even if I am currently occupying this body without permission…’
Still, I should say it: I’m sorry. But even if others went through the same ordeal, most probably wouldn’t spiral that intensely.
“Now, take the spirit pill. When you swallow it, a chill may spread through your body, but as long as you remain calm, it won’t be dangerous—so don’t worry.”
I gathered my thoughts and opened the jade box as instructed. A clear, refreshing fragrance wafted out, revealing a pill glowing with a faint blue hue. Its name, Jade Plum Pill, must have come from its color.
Carefully placing it in my mouth and swallowing, I immediately felt a cool energy spreading through me like melting frost—just as my master had described.
‘It’s a bit scary…’
It wasn’t merely the sensation of swallowing something cold. Feeling the coldness permeate my entire body sent shivers down my spine.
Earlier, while listening to the oral instructions and understanding their meaning, I hadn’t fully grasped the part about cultivating inner energy in the dantian—but now, experiencing this unfamiliar sensation in my own body, I finally realized: this truly was a martial world.
After confirming I’d swallowed the pill, my master moved behind me, placed his hands on my back, and sat down.
“Normally, after taking a spirit pill, one must immediately begin circulating qi to absorb at least some of its energy. But since you’ve only just heard the oral instructions and don’t yet know the method, I’ll guide my inner energy through your meridians for you. Don’t speak, don’t move—just focus on sensing and memorizing the pathways through which I circulate my energy. It would be even better if you recalled the oral instructions I gave you.”
The moment he finished speaking, a formless energy surged into my body from behind.
I slowly closed my eyes and focused intently on the movement. Though I’d only just heard the explanation, it wasn’t entirely useless—I quickly detected the unfamiliar energy flowing within me.
I could feel my master’s clear, pure energy traveling sequentially through the meridian points he’d mentioned earlier while explaining the oral instructions.
‘…Amazing.’
He’d said it would help to memorize the meridians and recall the oral instructions, but honestly, in that moment, I was too awestruck to think about anything else. To an ordinary Earthling, both magic and inner energy were equally beyond comprehension—it couldn’t be helped.
Still, after repeating the same path several times, the meridian routes naturally imprinted themselves in my mind.
“Did you memorize it?”
After a long while, his hands lifted from my back, and I heard his question.
He moved back in front of me, so I could see his face immediately. Guiding inner energy through another’s meridians clearly wasn’t easy—his expression looked slightly more tired than before.
“Yes, I memorized it.”
“Good.”
He smiled quietly under my scrutinizing gaze and continued.
“I’ve just used my own inner energy to guide the energy of the Jade Plum Pill you consumed through your meridians. That energy now belongs to you. From now on, you must circulate your own inner energy along the Yun Qi pathway of the Six Harmonies Mind Method. Through this process, you’ll gradually build your inner cultivation.”
Now that he mentioned it, I no longer felt the spreading chill I’d experienced right after taking the pill.
“I understand.”
“However, circulating your inner energy alone—without my assistance as just now—won’t be easy. Don’t be impatient; just think of it as taking one step forward each day. While building inner cultivation is important, what matters even more is whether you can fully bring that energy under your own control. Until you can truly command it, the pill’s energy isn’t entirely yours yet.”
Indeed, nothing in this world comes easily.
“Yes…”
I answered, but could I really do this?
Even after just feeling inner energy move through my body, his words sounded like, “If you wish to use magic, you simply can!”
‘Well, it’d be nice if I could…’
I felt strangely conflicted.
Later, at lunchtime, we ate a simple meal, and afterward, my master took me outside the sect’s main gate.
The main hall of the Mount Hua Sect was built atop Lianhua Peak, the western summit of Mount Hua. This was my first time stepping beyond the sect’s gates since waking up in this body, and looking around, I found the terrain even more treacherous than I’d imagined.
Right before me stretched a staircase so steep I couldn’t tell if it was meant for walking or rolling down. Thankfully it was spring—if this were winter with snow, it’d probably be safer to just ride a sled down.
Below those steps lay a mountain path that made me wonder, “Can anyone actually walk this?”
Worse still, both sides of the staircase were sheer cliffs. There wasn’t even a tree to grab onto if I fell. Mount Hua truly was a mountain made entirely of rock.
‘Seriously, how did they even build a temple up here?’
How did they carry the construction materials?
I followed closely behind my master, treading as carefully as possible, but honestly, it was nearly impossible for a twelve-year-old’s short legs to navigate these steps safely.
When I inevitably slipped and started tumbling headlong down the stairs, overtaking my master, he swiftly caught me and lifted me into the air.
“Huh…!”
Wow, I was so startled I couldn’t even make a sound.
“Oh dear.”
A soft sigh came from above me. Dangling by the scruff of my neck like a puppy caught by its mother… well, he did save my life, so I’d let it slide.
He quickly adjusted his hold, settling me onto his arm, then patted my back apologetically with an embarrassed smile.
“My apologies. It’s a bit steep for you still—I didn’t think it through.”
So you’re saying that once I grow up, this won’t seem steep anymore?
Really?
“No, it’s fine…”
I said it was fine, but honestly, I thought I was going to die. If they loved Mount Hua so much, why not build the sect somewhere lower?
“You must have been frightened. Is your ankle alright?”
“It’s… fine.”
“Good, that’s a relief.”
My master let out a light sigh. Meanwhile, his pace down the stairs—which had matched mine until just now—suddenly quickened considerably. He seemed perfectly at ease, but being carried, I found it terrifying.
When I clutched his robes tightly, he chuckled briefly and spoke calmly.
“Fundamentally, a martial artist must have a body strong enough to wield weapons properly. That’s because even when completely drained of inner energy, a true martial artist must never let go of their weapon. Therefore, external training is just as important as inner cultivation. Of course, this might be a bit early for you…”
Trailing off, he finished descending the stairs and turned onto the mountain path.
“Regardless, now that you’re a disciple of Mount Hua, you’ll eventually take up the sword. It’s only right to prepare your body accordingly. Above all, you must avoid tumbling down stairs like just now.”
“Yes…”
But honestly, that was the staircase’s fault…
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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I feel complicated about her future fellow disciple. She could have had it easy but he is going to make it more difficult for her. I am sure of it
This part was interesting, especially the way everything was explained and master and haheun part is so cute. I wonder what will happen next.
This part was interesting, especially the way everything was explained and master and haheun part is so cute. I wonder what will happen next.