Kris felt incredibly good at the moment. During his second run, his physical and mental state hadn't changed much, but the warm flow within him surged more frequently. After 20 kilometers, the warmth finally stopped dissipating, spreading throughout his body before slowly converging into his dantian.
According to the cultivation method, this was the manifestation of innate true qi. Once the true qi fully gathered in the dantian and no longer disappeared, this stage would be considered complete.
Kris was thrilled. This progress was too fast—it was only the second day. Either he was a genius, or this cultivation method was perfectly suited to him.
Additionally, Kris realized that physical constitution wasn't directly tied to speed.
Today, no matter how hard he tried, his pace couldn't break the 3:30 mark. His high constitution seemed to only make recovery and adaptation easier. The extent of his abilities would depend on how long he trained.
Still, in just two days, his pace had improved from around 5 minutes per kilometer on the first day to this level. It was clear proof of the cultivation method's power, especially since he had only recently been revived.
So, it seemed that his constitution represented a lower limit, while the upper limit was something he'd have to push and create himself.
Happily, Kris strolled over to his backpack. Only then did he notice his shirt was drenched and uncomfortably clinging to his skin. He decided to take it off and put on his jacket.
Before he could act, a pleasant female voice rang out:
"Annyeonghaseyo."
Kris turned around and saw two stunning beauties standing right in front of him.
The girl on the left had indigo short hair and sapphire-blue eyes, with delicate features. She wore a low-cut blue floral dress paired with a white denim jacket left unbuttoned, revealing a deep cleavage between her perky breasts. Her long, slender legs were encased in white over-the-knee socks, and the skirt above her knees fluttered gently in the breeze, perfectly blending sensuality and elegance.
Beside her was another equally striking figure. Her chestnut-brown hair cascaded in loose waves down her back, and her arched willow-leaf brows complemented her gentle, watery eyes, adding a touch of softness to her otherwise glamorous face. She wore a simple white shirt and light-colored jeans, but her full chest and long, exposed legs still accentuated her stunning figure.
Kris was surprised. He had no memory of these two girls. Instinctively, he nodded in greeting:
"Annyeonghaseyo."
"I'm Jung Da-hee, and she's Shim Hye-mi. We're both students at this university," Da-hee introduced, avoiding mentioning an interview directly. If the other person wasn't receptive, they couldn't proceed.
Up close, the boy was quite handsome, taller than her by a good margin—around 178 cm. He wasn't overly muscular but had a lean, well-proportioned build. His demeanor was unlike other high schoolers. When he saw them, he didn't act like he was meeting seniors; instead, he treated them as equals.
"Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Kris, a senior in high school."
Kris introduced himself, feeling the girls' names sounded familiar, though he couldn't quite place them. Unclear of their intentions, he looked at them questioningly.
"We noticed you're an amazing long-distance runner. Are you a professional athlete?" Da-hee asked with a smile. Hye-mi remained silent, quietly observing Kris.
*"So, I've been noticed after all,"* Kris thought. He'd wondered if someone would pay attention when he ran over 10 kilometers, but the feeling had been too good to stop.
"Haha, I just run for fun. I'm not a professional athlete."
Kris smiled politely, realizing he couldn't run in public anymore. He didn't want to draw attention or become an athlete.
"Well, you're still really impressive. Are you preparing for a competition or entrance exams?" Da-hee asked.
"Haha, no, I just run for fun," Kris replied awkwardly.
Da-hee hadn't expected that answer. After a moment, she continued:
"Do you have any tips or insights? We're also interested in running and would love some advice."
"Uh… well, there's nothing special. Just long-term practice and regular exercise," Kris said, unsure how to explain his breathing techniques or cultivation method.
The atmosphere grew awkward. Da-hee didn't know what else to ask, and his evasive attitude was obvious.
"Keep practicing. We're looking forward to seeing you become a professional athlete!" Hye-mi said, breaking the silence. She pulled Da-hee aside and added,
"Sorry for disturbing you. We'll take our leave now. Bye."
"Yeah, sure. Bye," Kris replied politely.
The two girls waved and walked away.
Kris was puzzled as he picked up his bag. Was that an attempt at striking up a conversation? Had he messed things up?
He peeled off his sticky shirt, put on his jacket, and couldn't shake the feeling that the girls' names sounded oddly familiar.
After folding his shirt and wrapping it in the plastic bag from the energy bar, he packed it into his backpack. Suddenly, a thought struck him.
*"Wait, aren't they characters from *Pretty Noona*?!"*
It was another Korean manhwa he'd read and loved, though Ji-ho, the scumbag, had ruined Hye-mi's first time and then dumped her. What a jerk.
*"So, I've been transported into an 18+ Korean manhwa world? Not just *Boarding Diary*?!"*
Kris realized with a mix of surprise and excitement. The Beggar Immortal truly understood him, providing not only a matching cultivation method but also a fitting world.
He couldn't let this opportunity slip away. It seemed the girls hadn't been ruined by Ji-ho yet, though Da-hee had apparently had a boyfriend.
Thinking about how to reapproach them, Kris quickly put on his jacket, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and dashed off the track.
---
"Da-hee, you look so pretty today," Choi Tae-hyun said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the girl in front of him.
He'd just hooked up with a girl that morning, and now he'd run into the beauty he'd been dreaming of. Luck was definitely on his side today.
"Let's go. I've got some friends at a nightclub tonight. Come join us."
He opened the car door. Usually, girls couldn't resist his Bentley.
"Oh, and Hye-mi, come too. It'd be weird for Da-hee to be alone," he added, forcing a gentlemanly smile despite his impatience.
He'd been eyeing the two beauties for a while. Even with his experience, girls like them were rare, usually only seen with true elites.
Tonight was his chance. His "friends" were fictional, but calling some lackeys was easy. If he played his cards right, he could have both girls. Once he was done, he'd pass them up the chain, maybe even boost his family's status.
Da-hee hesitated, despite her resolve. After all, Tae-hyun was the grandson of SG Group's chairman and had always been polite to her. If not for her friend's constant warnings and her own vague unease, she might have already fallen for him.
Seeing her friend's silence, Hye-mi stepped forward, blocking Tae-hyun's view. She bowed slightly and smiled:
"Sorry, I've got something today, and Da-hee's with me. Maybe another time."
She disliked this rich kid because she'd seen a girl's post on the school forum accusing him of drugging her at a club. The post was quickly deleted, but she hadn't forgotten.
"No problem. My car's faster," Tae-hyun said, grabbing Da-hee's arm. Forcing a smile, he added,
"Come on, we'll finish up and then hang out."
He tried to pull Da-hee toward the car.
Hye-mi panicked, pulling Da-hee back. Da-hee also felt something was off—Tae-hyun's polite facade seemed to crack. She took two steps back.
"It's fine, really. It's just girl stuff," Hye-mi forced a laugh.
Tae-hyun's smile faded, his eyes cold. *Stupid bitches, acting all high and mighty.*
Just as he was about to force Da-hee into the car, a figure in a school uniform dashed between them.
"Wow, Sister Da-hee, Sister Hye-mi! Treating me to dinner and a luxury car? Too kind!"
Kris stood happily between the three, examining the car. His back to the girls, he blocked Tae-hyun's view.
He'd spotted the girls at the school gate, chatting with a well-dressed, handsome guy in a Bentley. Assuming it was a suitor, he'd planned to intervene, only to realize it was a rich kid harassing them.
Now was his chance to save the day. His cultivation method couldn't do much yet, but it had potential.
Without waiting for Tae-hyun's reaction, Kris circled the car, pretending to be awestruck. He even winked at the girls during the process.
Hye-mi caught on first, quickly pulling Da-hee over and pretending to slap Kris's head. Feigning anger, she said,
"Stop messing around. This isn't our car."
Then she turned to Tae-hyun, bowing apologetically:
"He's my little brother. He's a bit clueless. Sorry about that."
Kris played along, apologizing but adding cheekily:
"Sis, is this your boyfriend? Nice car!" He tried to climb into the car, looking pathetic.
He acted this way because Tae-hyun, with his clean designer clothes and spotless car interior, was the type who'd hate strangers touching his car. Especially since Kris's shoes were muddy from running, his jacket was covered in grass, and his pants were dirty from sitting on the ground.