Chapter 1: Rebirth of Kang Hojin
The wilderness was a graveyard for the forgotten. Kang Hojin's frail body lay crumpled under the gnarled branches of a dying tree, his lips cracked and pale from dehydration, his stomach caved in from days without food. He had fought to survive, scavenging whatever scraps he could find, but fate was unkind. Hunger claimed him before he could find a path out of the wilderness. For the nameless orphan, life had been a relentless trial, and death—a bitter release.
But death was not the end.
Kang Hojin, a modern-day martial arts enthusiast(on Earth) , awakens in the harsh and dangerous world of Murim after being transmigrated into the body of a 14-year-old orphan who perished in the wilderness.
When Kang Hojin opened his eyes again, the suffocating ache in his chest was gone. Instead, he felt an unfamiliar warmth coursing through his limbs, as if his broken body had been infused with life anew. His first instinct was to take a deep breath, and as he did, the scent of damp earth and wildflowers filled his nose. Confused, he bolted upright and scanned his surroundings.
He was still in the wilderness, but something was different. The agony of starvation no longer plagued him, and the hollow emptiness in his stomach had faded to a dull ache. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the vitality he now felt.
"Am I… alive?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. A glowing blue screen materialized before him, floating in the air like a phantom.
[Welcome to the Murim Combat System]
User: Kang Hojin
Status: Bound
Condition: Weak (Recovering)
Your potential is now limitless. Rise, or fall once again into oblivion.
Hojin blinked. "What the hell is this?" he murmured. Was he dreaming? Hallucinating? He waved a hand through the screen, expecting it to vanish, but it remained solidly in place.
The screen shifted, displaying a new message:
[Starter Quest: Survive the Wilderness]
Objective: Secure food and shelter for the night.
Time Limit: 24 hours.
Reward: Basic Martial Arts Manual, 50 Experience Points.
Failure Consequence: Death.
Hojin's breath caught. The final word sent a chill down his spine.
"Failure equals death? What kind of twisted joke is this?" he demanded, his voice rising in panic. But no answer came. The screen remained impassive, its glowing letters taunting him.
"Fine," he growled, forcing himself to stand. His legs trembled under his weight, and he stumbled forward. "If this is real, then I'll play along. I'm not dying again."
The wilderness was unforgiving. Sparse vegetation and rocky terrain made it difficult to find food, and the sun's relentless heat sapped what little energy Hojin had. He scoured the area for anything edible—berries, roots, even insects. After hours of searching, he found a bush laden with small, red berries. They looked suspiciously vibrant, but hunger drove him to take the risk.
He plucked a handful and hesitated. What if they were poisonous? His mind raced, but the system chimed again.
[Item Identified: Wild Red Berries]
Condition: Edible (Low Nutritional Value)
Relief washed over him. "Looks like you're not completely useless," he muttered to the system. He popped a berry into his mouth, its tartness making him wince. It wasn't much, but it was enough to stave off the gnawing hunger.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Hojin turned his attention to shelter. The wilderness was home to predators, and spending the night exposed was a death sentence. He found a shallow cave nestled between two large boulders. It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do.
Using fallen branches and leaves, he fashioned a makeshift barrier at the cave's entrance. It wouldn't stop a determined predator, but it might deter one long enough for him to escape. Exhausted, he collapsed against the cold stone wall, his body aching from the day's exertions.
[Quest Complete: Survive the Wilderness]
Reward: Basic Martial Arts Manual, 50 Experience Points.
A new screen appeared, and Hojin's heart leapt at the sight of the manual. He reached out instinctively, and the glowing book vanished, replaced by a rush of information flooding his mind. Techniques, stances, and movements played out in vivid detail as if he had practiced them for years.
[Skill Acquired: Basic Martial Arts]
Description: A foundational combat style focusing on balance, strength, and agility.
Hojin clenched his fists, feeling a newfound strength coursing through him. For the first time in his life, he had a weapon—knowledge—and he was determined to use it.
"If this system wants me to rise," he said, a fierce determination burning in his eyes, "I'll climb to the top of this world."
The following days were a whirlwind of challenges. The system's quests pushed him to his limits, forcing him to hunt, gather, and hone his martial arts. Each completed task brought new rewards—a dagger, a healing salve, even a map of the surrounding area. Slowly but surely, Hojin's survival skills improved.
One evening, while practicing his stances near the cave, he heard the faint sound of rustling leaves. He froze, every muscle tensing. The system chimed:
[Danger Detected: Hostile Presence Nearby]
His heart pounded as he scanned the shadows. A pair of glowing yellow eyes emerged from the darkness, followed by the low growl of a wolf. The creature was lean but muscular, its matted fur bristling as it bared its fangs.
Hojin tightened his grip on his dagger. "You want a piece of me? Come and get it," he muttered, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his resolve.
The wolf lunged, and Hojin sidestepped, slashing at its side. The blade grazed the wolf's flank, drawing blood but failing to deter it. The creature wheeled around, snarling as it charged again.
This time, Hojin dropped into a low stance, recalling a technique from the Basic Martial Arts manual. As the wolf leapt, he pivoted and drove the dagger upward, striking its throat. The wolf let out a strangled yelp before collapsing in a heap.
Hojin staggered back, his chest heaving. He stared at the lifeless body, a mix of relief and triumph washing over him.
[Battle Complete: Defeated Wilderness Wolf]
Reward: 20 Experience Points, Wolf Pelt, Wolf Meat.
"Not bad," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow. He glanced at the wolf meat in his inventory and smiled. "Looks like I'm eating well tonight."
Weeks turned into months, and Hojin's transformation was nothing short of extraordinary. The scrawny orphan who had once been on the brink of death was now a budding martial artist, his body lean and strong, his movements sharp and precise. The wilderness that had once been his enemy had become his training ground, and the system his greatest ally.
But Hojin knew he couldn't stay in the wilderness forever. The map he had received from the system marked the location of a small village a few days' journey to the east. It was time to rejoin civilization, to test his newfound skills in the wider world.
As he packed his belongings, the system displayed a new quest:
[Quest: Enter the Village]
Objective: Reach the village and establish a foothold.
Reward: Iron Sword, 100 Experience Points.
Failure Consequence: Loss of Inventory.
Hojin smirked. "Bring it on." With that, he set off toward the horizon, ready to carve his path in the world of Murim.