Run.
The word echoed inside Kael's mind.
He stood in the training room, staring at his palm.
The golden mark was gone.
“What was that?”
He waited.
Nothing.
Kael looked toward the door.
The village was silent.
Everyone should have been asleep.
Yet something felt wrong.
He reached for his clothes and quietly stepped outside.
Cold air struck his face.
The moon was hidden behind clouds.
Kael looked toward the northern mountains.
Nothing.
Then—
A faint sound reached his ears.
Tap.
He froze.
Tap.
Someone was walking through the snow.
Kael immediately moved behind the house.
Three figures appeared at the edge of the village.
Black robes.
Silver masks.
The Black Lotus.
Kael's breathing slowed.
They found us already.
One of the figures raised his hand.
A thin stream of Qi gathered around his fingers.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
Qi Gathering Realm.
He could feel the difference.
The man's presence was far stronger than his own.
A second figure whispered,
“Where is the boy?”
The first looked toward Jian's house.
“Inside.”
Kael's heart tightened.
He turned.
Jian was already standing behind him.
The old master had changed clothes.
His sword was strapped to his waist.
“You heard them,” Jian said.
Kael nodded.
“How many?”
“Three.”
“Can we defeat them?”
Jian looked at the masked figures.
“Yes.”
Kael relaxed slightly.
Then Jian continued.
“But we can't stay here.”
Kael understood.
“If we fight, they'll send more.”
“Exactly.”
Jian handed him a small cloth bag.
“Take this.”
Kael opened it.
Inside were several silver coins and a small jade token.
“What is this?”
“A sect token.”
Kael looked at it.
A crescent moon had been carved into the jade.
“Ruined Moon Sect?”
Jian nodded.
“It may get you through the outer gate.”
Kael looked toward the forest.
“When do we leave?”
“Now.”
They left through the back of the village.
Jian moved silently through the snow.
Kael followed.
For the first time, he noticed something strange.
His body felt lighter than yesterday.
His breathing was smoother.
His steps were quieter.
He could sense the Qi flowing through his muscles.
It was weak.
But it was there.
Kael looked at Jian.
“Master.”
“Hm?”
“How long does it normally take to reach the second layer of Body Tempering?”
“Depends on the person.”
“A month?”
“For a talented disciple.”
Kael frowned.
“A year?”
“For an ordinary person.”
Kael looked at his hands.
“Then how long will it take me?”
Jian glanced at him.
“If you train properly, perhaps three months.”
Kael's expression fell.
“Three months?”
Jian smiled.
“You're disappointed?”
“I thought I could do it faster.”
“You've been cultivating for less than one night.”
Kael scratched his head.
“I suppose that's fair.”
Jian suddenly stopped.
Kael almost walked into him.
“What happened?”
Jian raised a finger.
“Listen.”
Kael closed his eyes.
The forest became clear.
Wind.
Snow.
Trees.
Then—
Footsteps.
Kael's eyes opened.
“They're following us.”
Jian nodded.
“How many?”
Kael concentrated.
“Three.”
A pause.
“Wait.”
His expression changed.
“Five.”
Jian looked at him sharply.
“You can sense that far?”
Kael shrugged.
“I don't know.”
Jian's expression became thoughtful.
“Your senses are developing faster than they should.”
Kael remembered the golden mark.
“Is that good?”
Jian looked ahead.
“It can be.”
“And the bad part?”
“You don't know why it's happening.”
Kael had no answer.
They reached a narrow valley.
Jian stopped.
“We'll rest here.”
Kael looked around.
“Why?”
“Because I want to test something.”
Jian drew his sword.
Kael immediately became alert.
“Against me?”
“No.”
Jian pointed toward a large boulder.
“Break it.”
Kael stared.
“With what?”
“Your fist.”
Kael looked at the boulder.
It was nearly twice his height.
“Master, I'm only at the first layer.”
“Then don't break it.”
Jian sat down.
“Try.”
Kael approached the boulder.
He placed his hand against it.
The golden warmth appeared.
He pulled his fist back.
Then punched.
BOOM!
The boulder shook.
Kael's fist hurt.
But the stone remained intact.
Kael rubbed his hand.
“I failed.”
Jian shook his head.
“No.”
Kael looked at him.
“Look again.”
Kael turned.
A thin crack ran through the center of the boulder.
His eyes widened.
He had damaged it.
Jian's expression remained calm.
“Your strength isn't the strange part.”
“What is?”
“You didn't use ordinary Qi.”
Kael frowned.
“Then what did I use?”
Jian looked at his palm.
“I don't know.”
Before Kael could ask another question—
An arrow flew from the trees.
Whoosh!
Jian's sword flashed.
Clang!
The arrow fell.
“Run!”
Kael turned.
Five black-robed cultivators emerged from the forest.
Jian stepped forward.
“I'll hold them back.”
Kael shook his head.
“No.”
Jian looked at him.
“You're not strong enough.”
Kael clenched his fist.
“I know.”
He looked toward the valley ahead.
“But if I stay, you'll have to protect me.”
Jian's eyes narrowed.
Kael picked up his pack.
“I'll meet you at the sect.”
Jian remained silent.
Then he nodded.
“Good.”
Kael turned and ran.
Behind him—
BOOM!
Jian's sword collided with an enemy's weapon.
Kael didn't look back.
He ran deeper into the valley.
His lungs burned.
His legs became heavy.
But he kept moving.
Then something changed.
The golden warmth inside his body surged.
His steps became faster.
His breathing stabilized.
Kael's eyes widened.
My cultivation...
The energy inside his body was increasing.
Not by much.
But enough.
He smiled.
“So this is what cultivation feels like.”
Then—
A figure landed in front of him.
Kael stopped immediately.
A young man wearing a black robe stood in the middle of the path.
Unlike the others, he wasn't wearing a mask.
He looked around twenty years old.
A sword hung at his waist.
His Qi was overwhelming.
Kael immediately understood.
Qi Gathering Realm.
The young man smiled.
“Running already?”
Kael slowly raised his fists.
“I don't really have a choice.”
The man laughed.
“You're Kael Ren?”
Kael said nothing.
“That mark on your hand...”
The man's eyes became cold.
“Show it to me.”
Kael clenched his fist.
“No.”
The young man drew his sword.
“Then I'll take it from you.”
He disappeared.
Kael's pupils contracted.
The sword was already in front of his face.
His body moved instinctively.
Clang!
Kael blocked with his forearm.
Pain exploded through his arm.
He was thrown backward.
He rolled across the snow and stopped against a tree.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The young man walked toward him.
“You're much weaker than I expected.”
Kael slowly stood.
His arm was shaking.
He couldn't win.
Not with his current strength.
Then the golden mark appeared again.
But this time—
Kael heard a voice.
Not inside his mind.
Behind him.
A voice he recognized.
His own voice.
“You've made the same mistake seven times.”
Kael froze.
The world seemed to stop.
The young man raised his sword.
Kael stared into the darkness behind him.
His heart began pounding.
Seven times?
The voice whispered again.
“This time, don't fight him.”
Kael's eyes narrowed.
“Then what do I do?”
Silence.
Then—
“Remember.”
The golden mark burned.
Kael's vision turned completely white.
And somewhere deep inside his mind—
a door began to open.