NOVEL NEXT Chapter 637
4000 meters above sea level.
Mana is thin.
Communication with any magic power plant is impossible.
The air has become transparent, and I was falling while forgetting to breathe, merely a body plummeting.
The wind piercing the void felt bone-chillingly cold.
The scenery in front of my eyes was gradually blurring.
And down there, the endlessly swirling horizon pointed to a round beast’s head that seemed to swallow only me.
“Ah…”
Still, the Aura Heart does not listen to my words.
—
Whoosh—
Cheon Kyu-jin’s morning begins with a bitter black coffee.
It’s a small joy in the silent dawn hours.
Suddenly remembering what seniors said about the utterly long and boring life after retirement…
The feeling of being swept away along with Na-me whenever she’s caught up in a situation.
Just thinking about the time she fearlessly went to confront the mafia headquarters sends chills down my spine.
I quickly shook off the distractions and changed into workout clothes to head to the gym.
In the apartment complex, Professor Cheon, known as Na-me’s father or grandfather, is in his fifties. Isn’t it a bit early to be called grandpa? Well, he does have his share of grandkids now.
With that thought, he dyed his hair black and started exercising again.
“Hello, Na-me’s father!”
A friendly young man greeted Cheon Kyu-jin as he was about to enter the gym.
He’s a fitness trainer who comes in every morning at this hour to clean.
“Hello! Oh, thank you for your hard work this morning.”
“Haha, you came in early again today, sir.”
“Hmm? What’s this? Shaolin Coffee?”
Cheon Kyu-jin pointed to an advertisement board set up at the entrance.
A muscular man with a gong and a cup of coffee was beaming with a big smile.
It looked like a piece of art, oddly balanced from the top left to the bottom right, with its lack of harmony.
“Ah, we’re giving out coupons for our PT members! Have you heard of Shaolin Coffee?”
“No, it’s my first time hearing about it…?”
“They say drinking coffee before exercising prevents muscle damage and enhances fat burning, right? But this Shaolin Coffee reduces caffeine toxicity effects like blood vessel constriction, insomnia, and muscle tremors. It’s trendy among young people these days!”
“Ooh, that’s interesting. Wait a minute, isn’t that just the same as supplements?”
“Haha, exactly! It’s just coffee-flavored.”
Such are the sales tactics of the gurus.
Cheon Kyu-jin clicked his tongue and picked up a dumbbell.
His ordinary lean physique morphed into bulging arm muscles like mountains.
The bizarre sight made the trainer’s eyes widen in astonishment.
“But… Your body looks really great! Have you been working out before?”
“Not often. I did a bit back in the day.”
“Back in the day? Ah… ah!”
The trainer suddenly remembered that Cheon Kyu-jin was a notorious military wizard who served in the infamous Fifth Middle Eastern War.
The trainer snapped his mouth shut and apologized with a Shaolin Coffee coupon.
Cheon Kyu-jin reluctantly accepted three coupons and received the young man’s apology.
It could be because of the New Year’s aftermath, but the gym quickly filled with people.
At that busy time, Cheon Kyu-jin naturally transitioned from anaerobic to aerobic exercises.
He heard whispers from residents complaining about someone playfully changing the weights to maximum.
Ding!
“Oh, those jobless fools…”
He blocked all the spam texts from the massive parties that kept trying to pitch political offers and waited for his turn.
“Let’s see, a seat…”
“Oh? Hello, Na-me’s father! Please, take this one!”
“No, you go first. It’s okay if you don’t let me.”
“I just finished using it! Hehe. I can’t run for more than 30 minutes anyway. By the way, aren’t you training with your daughter? Oh no, is it wrong to ask that?”
“She’s busy with work. She probably fell asleep in the capsule after working past midnight yesterday.”
“Oh dear… What if she doesn’t grow taller because of that? Make sure to take good care of Na-me, okay? No matter how smart she is, she’s still at that stubborn age.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Just as he was about to step onto the treadmill after hearing the lady’s advice…
“Oh my!”
“Wow, what’s that? Hahaha.”
“Whoa! Amazing!”
The whole gym buzzed with excitement.
Following the gasps, Cheon Kyu-jin’s head turned toward the central hologram.
On the screen, a blue sky and fluffy clouds were being displayed.
When he zoomed in on a black dot, a human figure came into view.
They were wearing goggles, but the hair fluttering on both sides gave a clear hint.
‘NoName?’
The child who should be snug inside their home capsule, sleeping soundly.
Was discovered high above Zhengzhou City.
Riding a parachute shaped like a blue puppy.
[Happy New Year, 2023! – NoName]
[#1. NoName Skydiving]
[#2. Is NoName a Special Forces?]
[#3. NoName New Year Greeting]
“No, Na-me!”
Cheon Kyu-jin screamed and darted out of the gym.
What a shock to see his daughter falling from the sky this morning! In a foreign country, no less!
Today, his fingers desperately pressed Na-me’s phone number.
—
Ding!
China’s Zhengzhou City Skydiving Center.
Landing on a sun-soaked grass lawn, I high-fived the instructor who jumped with me.
Smack!
“NoName, you’re so fearless! You’re the youngest we’ve ever had!”
“Thank you for giving me a safe experience. Personally, I think I opened the parachute a bit too early.”
“Haha, it was due to our altitude regulations. Now, let’s take a picture! Smile! More, more!”
“Ugh… smile.”
Click!
“How was flying up there, unni?”
“I really didn’t feel any mana. The Aura Heart barely activated after falling for about half.”
“Eek, just thinking about it terrifies me.”
“Hmm, I think I grasped something. Maybe next time I can do it without a parachute. Luri, want to try it with me?”
“Eek!”
While I was reminiscing about the Polaroids with Luri…
A call from Korea came in.
“Hello? Yes, Dad. Did you sleep well?”
[Sleep well? I almost dropped my guts watching you fall from the gym! Where are you now, Na-me?]
Cheon Kyu-jin’s angry voice poured out.
I figured I was somewhere between Soso and Jongno.
“I’m currently in Zhengzhou City for sightseeing, planning to visit Songshan later.”
[Why did you go there? When did you even go? You were at home just yesterday.]
“I took a night flight and arrived just this morning. The skydiving center near the airport just opened, so I thought I’d give it a try.”
[@#!&#&? Sure, now you’re in China.]*
“Oh, has Saetbyeol woken up? Could you tell her I have food made by Luri from yesterday and some warmed rice to eat?”
[Na-me, it’s not about breakfast right now…]
“Huh?”
[Don’t think you can just act cute and get by.]
I dropped my phone in shock.
“Wait, this won’t go through?”
“Is it a big deal, unni?”
“Yeah, it’s a big deal… If this goes south, our plans will crash and burn. But it’s okay; I have another contingency.”
[Na-me, I can hear everything. Oh, anyhow… I just heard from Saetbyeol that something happened with Shaolin?]
Honesty tactic, success.
“It’s nothing much. Just looking around to see how they’re conducting their business. Did you know that Shaolin Temple recently started a coffee franchise?”
[Shaolin Coffee? The one where they stick prayer beads into the cup holder?]
“Wow, how did you know that? You’re spot on!”
[Heh, I’m not clueless. Just not a boomer.]
“What? ‘Boomer’… What does that mean?”
Upon searching the internet, I found out it’s a new term from the 2020s meaning ‘cultural loser.’
Cheon Kyu-jin stammered and regained control over our conversation.
[You took a flight at 3 AM? Why did you take Luri with you?]
“I still need to look after Luri more. If I bring her, I have to take full responsibility.”
[Saetbyeol keeps complaining next to me, asking why she wasn’t taken along.]
[Na-me, how could you do this to me?]
“You’re enrolled in acting academy. You also need to study for the SAT.”
[Waaah! It’s not fair!]
“I’ll be back before the Lunar New Year. We all have to bow to Dad, after all.”
[Oh dear… With so many daughters, I’ll have to give out extra New Year money.]
“…”
For a moment, I grit my teeth. The respect I hold for graduate students instantly skyrocketed.
[Hello?]
“Dad…”
[Huh?]
“Oh, no. We’ll just have fun quietly without causing a fuss.”
[Alright. Dad was really surprised this morning. Next time something like this happens, at least give me a heads-up.]
“Yes. Love you, Dad. See you later.”
[Love you, my daughter. Don’t get hurt!]
Click—
In any case, it all ended well.
The positive news is that Dad wasn’t as angry as I thought.
The negative news is that one level of cuteness isn’t enough to sway Dad’s heart anymore.
‘Oh heavens, why did you grant me a child’s body and fail to bestow upon me the talent of cuteness?’
Of course, I would never practice cuteness to the extent of embarrassing heaven.
“Unni, it seems that the skydiving event is already being written about in articles.”
“Really?”
With so many complicated portal sites in China, the mere fact of my entry might be buried.
I thought there should be enough commotion for Shaolin to know I’m here.
The first operation is now a success.
Let’s diligently wander around for three days until the bait comes.
“Now that we’ve pressed charges, we can’t just sit idle.”
—
All the businesses run by Shaolin embody the principles they pursue.
For example, their publishing business aims to produce content combining Buddhist teachings and global challenges, providing the public with the right direction.
Their food business isn’t much different either; they offer health food that emphasizes eco-friendliness and the cycle of life, helping everyone lead a healthy life.
Even their medical and renewable energy sectors reflect compassion and the spirit of non-possession, making the ‘justification’ behind their business practices paramount.
Caution against material prosperity, greed, and desire.
Pursuing private interests was out of the question, raising corporate surplus ratios to take a lead in popularizing Buddhism.
Shaolin’s managerial philosophy prioritized spiritual values and social contributions over material success.
So the merchants under Shaolin believed they could do business from a more advantageous position, thanks to the headquarters taking less profit.
Until they discovered the results of the analysis of certain business fields showing an extremely high operating profit margin today,
…this belief would be completely shattered.
“Hello! I’d like to order two Shaolin coffees. How much do they cost?”