After leaving the training grounds, Tae-Won waited until nightfall. His earlier display had been mostly luck and catching Jin Woo off guard - he knew he couldn't maintain such a facade for long. His qi, while finally free of impurities, was barely at a beginner's level. He needed to build his foundation properly this time.
The clan library stood silent in the moonlight, its ancient wooden doors normally locked tight against unauthorized entry. But Tae-Won remembered every loose board and hidden path from his childhood years of sneaking around the compound. He slipped inside through a forgotten side entrance, careful not to make a sound.
[System Quest: Foundation of the Forgotten]
Objective: Study the basic martial arts manuals in the outer library section.
Note: Multiple basic techniques can be analyzed and combined into a unique path.
Tae-Won's hands trembled slightly as he lit a small oil lamp. The familiar musty scent of old scrolls and leather-bound books filled his nostrils. He made his way to the outer section where the most basic techniques were stored - the ones even servant children were allowed to read.
"Starting from the very beginning," he whispered to himself, pulling out scrolls one by one. The Cloud Steps Basic Movement Technique. The Iron Body Foundation Method. The Gentle Breeze Breathing Practice. All techniques he'd once dismissed as too simple, too beneath him as the patriarch's son.
But now, as he spread them out before him, he saw them with new eyes. His qi might be weak, but his mind was sharp. He began to read, really read, absorbing every detail about proper stance and breathing that he'd ignored before.
[System Notice: Analyzing basic techniques...]
[System Notice: Compiling optimal learning path...]
[System Notice: Creating unique cultivation method...]
The words appeared before him as he studied, and gradually, patterns began to emerge. The way the Cloud Steps emphasized light footwork could be combined with the stability of the Iron Body method. The breathing patterns of the Gentle Breeze technique could link them together...
[System Notice: New Technique Created - "Flowing River Path"]
Description: A foundational technique that emphasizes natural movement and steady qi circulation.
Perfect for beginners with pure qi channels.
Current Level: 1 Note: This technique can grow with the practitioner's understanding.
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Tae-Won discovered a worn manuscript tucked behind the others - the "Dawn Lotus Basic Meditation Guide." Its pages contained simple visualization exercises, meant to help young disciples sense their qi. He added its core principles to his emerging technique, envisioning his energy as a small stream that could one day become a mighty river.
[System Notice: Dawn Lotus meditation principles successfully integrated]
[System Notice: Flowing River Path breathing methods enhanced]
He closed the scrolls carefully, returning them to their places. The night was growing old, and he needed to practice what he'd learned. He found a quiet corner of the library and began the first movements of his new technique.
His qi responded weakly but steadily. No impressive displays of power, no brilliant lights or crushing force. Just simple, clean movements that felt right, like water finding its natural course. This was what he needed - not some inherited profound technique, but something that could grow with him from the very beginning.
The first stance of the Flowing River Path required him to root his feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. He drew in a breath using the Gentle Breeze method, feeling his qi respond more naturally than it ever had before. As he exhaled, he shifted his weight forward, letting his energy flow down one leg and up the other in a continuous circuit.
[System Notice: Basic circulation pattern established]
[System Notice: Movement efficiency increased by 3%]
For two hours, he practiced the basic movements. Each repetition became slightly smoother, each breath a little more synchronized with his qi flow. Sometimes he stumbled, sometimes his energy faltered, but he kept going. This was different from his previous desperate attempts to force progress - this felt sustainable, natural.
"The strongest current begins as a trickle," he murmured, remembering an old saying from his childhood. How ironic that he was only now understanding its meaning.
[System Notice: First cultivation session successful]
[System Notice: Flowing River Path stabilized at beginner level]
[System Notice: Additional basic manuals can be integrated as skill level increases]
[System Notice: New milestone - Practice Flowing River Path for 100 repetitions without qi deviation]
As he prepared to leave the library, Tae-Won heard footsteps approaching. He quickly extinguished his lamp and slipped back through his secret entrance, emerging into the pre-dawn air. Let them wonder how he'd suddenly shown skill in the training ground. He would focus on building his strength properly this time, step by careful step.
Back in his quarters, he began practicing the basic movements again. His muscles ached slightly, unused to the precise control required even for these simple forms. The Flowing River Path wasn't impressive or profound, but it was his. And for now, that was enough.
He continued practicing until the first rays of sunlight crept through his window. Tomorrow, he would return to the library. There were still many basic manuals to study, more foundations to build. His path would be slow, but this time it would be real.
[System Notice: Daily cultivation goal completed]
[System Notice: Recovery period recommended before next practice session]
[System Notice: New training options will unlock at Flowing River Path Level 2]
Tae-Won finally allowed himself to rest, settling onto his sleeping mat. His qi, though weak, felt more settled than ever before. Perhaps there was wisdom in beginning again from the very start. As sleep took him, he dreamed of streams growing into rivers, and rivers flowing into the sea.