Multivers, Leveling Up in the World I Created

Chapter 419: 419 Return to the Volcano 5

’Only 30 years have passed... Was it a mistake to set it 100 years back?’

Time was moving so slowly that I regretted it a little. But I’d made that choice to obtain stronger and more numerous shadow soldiers, so I figured it couldn’t be helped.

’Now I understand why people in this era have so many children, and why martial artists are obsessed with training.’

It was different from when I was in Lord of the Rings. Back then, I had magic to study, the beautiful Arwen by my side, hobbies like crafting various equipment, and people frequently visiting—so I never had a dull moment. But here, after the dungeon project, there was nothing to do, and it was incredibly boring.

So I decided to pick up a hobby, just like in Lord of the Rings. I built a stable, purchased quality horses, and had the estate people manage them. I started practicing mounted archery and crafted a halberd similar to Lü Bu’s Fangtian Huaji using alloys, training in "mounted martial arts."

When the estate got horses, the disciples and guards were overjoyed. In this era, horses were like cars—they examined them with bright faces, as if they’d just gotten a new vehicle. So I also bought two well-made carriages for occasional use, which the disciples could share.

Around this time, the estate’s income turned from deficit to surplus. We had gained some trust in the region, and work increased. Since I didn’t expand the business, there was no friction with the Tang Clan. Instead, as a faction that had been established in Sichuan for a while, we were given some recognition.

Thanks to that, even without me personally spending money, the estate became self-sustaining. Since I hadn’t originally built it to make money, it took a long time to reach this point.

The steward, now advanced in age, was training his son to take over and preparing for retirement. Since I handled the finances, there wasn’t much risk of problems.

"This is ginseng, isn’t it? Such a precious thing..."

"The steward has worked hard for the estate all these years, so this is a gift. My father also told me to take good care of you."

"Oh~ I see. Is the former master still in good health?"

"Yes, he said he’s doing well."

"That’s a relief. I owe so much to the former master—I’ve always worried about him."

The steward said this, his eyes reddening as memories surfaced. He was truly a warm-hearted and capable man. I wished he would live long, but unfortunately, he passed away five years later after a good life.

I held a proper funeral for him, and many people came to mourn. Even the proud Tang Clan sent a condolence visit—proof of how diligently he had worked.

’A valuable person lost.’

Still, his son had learned well and managed things without issue, which was a relief.

After that, using the excuse of my "father’s" passing, I traveled to the Western regions and spent several years touring the world, raising abilities like [Sniper] and [Throwing] that I hadn’t maxed out. But then a disciple with exceptional martial talent joined the estate, causing some commotion.

It was fine that he created new techniques based on the estate’s existing martial arts, but he also modified the original techniques because he wasn’t satisfied with them. Master Jang recognized his talent and actively supported him, but this made the other disciples deeply jealous.

"Hey, kid! Our history may be short, but we’ve built something here! You can’t just change things so recklessly!"

"With this kind of foundation, it’s hard to build a proper base! It’s better to change it now!"

"Even so, you brat!"

I chuckled at the sight—I never expected to see a Cheongmyeong-like figure emerge from our estate. But as they say, the nail that sticks out gets hammered—besides Master Jang, no one acknowledged him, and even those called "senior disciples" were busy scolding him.

"Steward, is the one causing trouble lately named Mugang?"

"Yes, he seems to have many complaints about the Jin Estate’s martial arts."

"Really? Call him over. And have him bring the modified or newly created manuals."

"Understood, Master."

I summoned Mugang and examined his manuals. He wasn’t quite a grandmaster, but he had accurately identified the flaws in the Jin Estate’s techniques and fixed them. If perfected, we might produce some decent experts.

"Hmm... So you made this?"

"Yes, Master. The existing martial arts are full of problems and are sloppy."

"Sloppy, you say..."

Now I understood why the other disciples disliked him. He had no tact—even in front of the estate lord, he could have phrased it more diplomatically.

"Alright then. I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself. At the Heavenly Martial Tournament three years from now, place within the top eight. If you do, I’ll actively adopt your proposals."

"Really!? Understood, Master!"

Given the opportunity, Mugang excitedly entered secluded training. The disciples made a fuss at first, but it died down after about a month.

Two and a half years later, he emerged from seclusion. He seemed more polished, but looking at his overall condition, his internal energy was still lacking. At this rate, breaking into the top ranks would be difficult.

’I was hoping not to help...’

Honestly, I expected him to be in seclusion for at most a year, but he ended up training for two and a half years. The fasting pills weren’t terrible, but they weren’t pleasant either. Training in a dark place on just those must have been incredibly tough—yet he gave it his all to prove himself.

I called him over and handed him a small box. Inside was a ’Hunwon Pill’ I’d obtained from Gyeomchong long ago.

"Eat it. It’s an elixir—a rather good one, so it’ll help. The other disciples might get jealous, so it’s best to take it here before you leave."

Mugang opened the box. Being a top-grade elixir, the moment he lifted the lid, a clear, refreshing energy filled the room—even a fool could tell it was no ordinary item.

"Wh-where did you get this... It doesn’t seem like something our estate could obtain..."

"Never mind that. I obtained it through my connections. Just take it. If you don’t want it, give it back."

When I tried to take it back, Mugang stepped back and quickly said,

"Ah, no. I’ll take it."

"Then hurry up."

He took the pill, sat cross-legged, and began circulating his energy. I had no idea how much he’d absorb, but I didn’t plan to interfere—this was all the help I’d give.

’Hah... He’s shitting through his skin again...’

Whenever I gave someone an elixir or infused energy, this process was always a problem. I understood it was the body expelling impurities through the skin to become more suitable for martial arts, but the smell was unbearable. He might as well be sitting there shitting himself.

Anyway, after a long while, Mugang rose and examined his body.

"Did you fully refine it?"

"No, the energy was so vast that I only stored what my dantian could hold and sealed the rest in my body. I’ve never tried it, but I imagine even the legendary Great Pill—said to be the king of elixirs—would be similar. But... Master, what is this smell... sniff sniff, ugh!"

Mugang finally smelled himself and was horrified.

"Go wash up immediately. That’s the waste expelled from your body."

"I-I see. Understood. I’ll go wash right away."

After Mugang hurried off, I opened the windows and used [Life Magic] to clean his spot and remove the smell. Without [Life Magic], I wouldn’t have let him do it here—as I learned with Jegal Sohui, that smell really doesn’t dissipate easily.

After that, Mugang spent the remaining time refining the energy inside him and training to naturally integrate his strengthened dantian into his martial arts. In terms of pure strength, he had already surpassed Master Jang long ago, and aside from me, no one at the estate could match him.

When the Heavenly Martial Tournament was a month away, he prepared to depart. Being somewhat of a loner, only Master Jang and I saw him off.

"Then I’ll be going. Master, Master Jang."

"Come back safely."

"I wish both of you good health."

I gave him extra travel expenses compared to the usual tournament and sent him off.

Two months later, we heard the results—Mugang had placed within the top four. The estate was in an uproar.

"Unbelievable... I can’t believe it."

"So he was right after all?"

"I need to re-examine the manuals Mugang left behind."

"Me too..."

The estate’s atmosphere shifted in favor of Mugang’s manuals, and a new wave of training began based on them. Master Jang, watching this, let out a hearty laugh.

Mugang returned two weeks later. When the disciples welcomed him enthusiastically, he was briefly taken aback but didn’t seem displeased. Upon returning, he refined the manuals further with Master Jang, adding his insights—the final version would likely become the Jin Estate’s definitive martial arts text.

Though it wasn’t what I’d intended, our estate had risen from an ordinary sect to a first-rate one. We still couldn’t compare to the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families, but now no one in the martial arts world didn’t know our name.

Twenty years later, Master Jang passed away, and Mugang succeeded him. This time, the other disciples had no complaints—everyone acknowledged him as the estate’s top expert.

In the meantime, I had created another clone-son and returned in a youthful form—making me the third generation estate lord. I also raised [Sniper] and [Throwing] to EX rank.

I considered skipping time, but decided against it—during Leisure Life, modern time was frozen anyway, and I didn’t know what problems might arise. I wasn’t fond of time skips unless it was for thousands of years.

Anyway, time passed, and now 80 years had gone by since I arrived here. Though it was all me, I had been estate lord for four generations. Nothing special happened during that time, but thanks to Mugang’s dedicated teaching, our estate consistently ranked within the top sixteen at the Heavenly Martial Tournament.

We also formed a friendly relationship with the Sichuan Tang Clan through marriages between disciples. Thanks to that, we were able to open a shop in the city to sell goods imported from the Western regions—an inevitable choice to provide work for the growing number of estate members.

The bestsellers were decorative items and mirrors. I could have made a fortune by exporting large quantities of pepper, but that would invite scrutiny and conflict from other factions, so I kept it small-scale.

Now it was time for Yi-seol to be born, so I used [Jack Sparrow’s Compass] to find her. Her family lived in a small house with a yard on the outskirts of Hubei. She had been born not long ago—a father was holding a crying baby, trying to soothe her. That baby was likely Yi-seol.

I thought I might build a connection with them, so I approached slowly and stopped in front of the house.

"Excuse me?"

Yi-seol’s father came out and asked,

"Who are you?"

"Nothing special—I was just curious to see a house in these mountains, and I heard a baby crying, so I stopped by."

"Ah, you heard my daughter crying. But you’re quite unusual yourself—a stunningly handsome man with silver hair and golden eyes... Could you be the lord of the Jin Estate?"

Word had spread even this far.

"Yes, that’s right."

"I thought so. I’ve heard rumors that the Jin Estate lord is a Westerner with unusual hair and eye colors... But what brings someone like you to Hubei?"

"I’m traveling around, getting some fresh air."

"Is that so? Please come in. I’ll at least offer you some tea."

I accepted his invitation and entered the house. The place was in poor condition—broken in several spots, with little more than a folded blanket in sight.

He brought tea, and I asked,

"And your wife..."

He replied with a gloomy expression,

"She was in poor health and passed away after giving birth to our daughter..."

"I see. My condolences. I shouldn’t have asked."

"No, it’s alright."

I thought for a moment and then said,

"I don’t mean to meddle, but you seem to be in a difficult situation. If it’s not too forward, may I offer some help? I’d like to go to the nearby town and buy some things for the baby—food and cloth for diapers..."

When I said that, he grabbed my hand without hesitation and thanked me, accepting the offer. I was the one taken aback—his situation must have been truly urgent.

"Would you really do that? Thank you so much."

"Ahem... Please wait. I’ll be right back."

I left the house, went to the nearest town, bought various grains, rice, and cotton cloth suitable for the baby, and brought them back up the mountain.

"Thank you. Master, I will never forget this kindness."

"Think of it as repayment for inviting me into your home. Grind it finely and make it into porridge for her to eat."