'Strange.'

There was something strange about the children.

In-su observed from the sidelines, watching the disciples do their sword dance. A day had only passed, and yet it seemed as if they improved overnight.

It was flashy but seamless and clear. Each swing was filled with force and yet it was calm.

'It feels different. Their swings are much more stabilized than before...'

'They've been practicing the Swift-Wind Sword Technique for a while now. But this is the first time I've seen this much improvement.'

'The Mountain River Technique, a fundamental technique of the Thunderous Sky Sect that is used to calm the flashy attacks from the Swift-Wind Sword Technique.'

The disciples moved as if they'd been taught the first three techniques a third-class disciple must learn.

'They move as if they've already mastered it. They didn't steal the manuals from me, aren't they? If so, how can they improve so much in one night?'

Each step the disciples made exuded power onto the tip of their swords as they thrust them. They looked as if a martial master possessed their bodies.

-My fellow brothers decided to train our bodies while you were asleep, senior brother!

'Is it because of their training?'

'No, impossible. If they trained every morning, it would still take them months to reach this. However, it has only been a week... How can this be achieved in such a short time?!'

-You, child, what is your name

-It is Yeong-jeon, older brother.

'Since that newcomer joined, the air of the disciples changed. Is this caused by him?'

There were many questions but In-su could only smile. The disciples got stronger. That's all there is to it.

He turned his attention to the group, his gaze now focused on Ryu Yongsun, who seemed to lead the others in their movements. His swings were precise, his footwork flawless, as if he were no longer the inexperienced disciple he once was. And then there was Soo-yeon, whose strikes were filled with a new intensity, her determination apparent in every motion.

His eyes turned to Dong-rae.

'Even the newcomer's strike is flawless.'

"Everyone!"

"Your eyes burned with determination. And it satisfies me to see that you all improved!"

The disciples smiled brightly and chatter among them aroused. The disciples swung their swords freely as if they had only realized their improvement till now.

"And!"

In-su's shout caught the attention of everyone.

"It seemed as if you all understood the fundamentals! Tomorrow, I will skip the two techniques and head straight into the lightning's six senses!"

A wave of excitement rippled through the disciples as In-su made his announcement. Who wouldn't be excited? They've improved so much that they are skipping other techniques.

However, in the gathered smiles, one frowned. It was Yeong-jeon who was watching the disciples. This was the reason why he wanted to lead the disciples all by himself.

'This guy is just making rash decisions!'

Yeong-jeon's brow furrowed as he watched In-su proudly declare the new training regime. To anyone else, it was a moment of celebration. But for Yeong-jeon, it felt reckless. He clenched his fists, frustration welling up inside him.

'The lightning's six senses isn't something you can just throw at them without preparation.'

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'I have to do something about this.'

Skipping the fundamentals and learning an advanced technique right off the bat is like blowing a balloon without letting it adjust. It will only explode.

-The lightning's six senses are pretty complex for the third-class disciples. I'm thinking of swapping it with one of the second-class disciples' techniques.

-Yah! The newbies are struggling!

Yeong-jeon wanted to punch everyone in the gut. Teaching the lightning's six senses to these brats is like handing a child a complicated thesis book. To add more to the flame, In-su seemed like he wasn't even fit to teach it.

He scratched his head in frustration.

'This sect is going to die without me!'

'I have to prevent this!'

Wooong!

In the middle of the night, a dog was finding its lost bone. He laid his ear on the ground while his hand continued to expel large amounts of qi into the ground.

Wooong!

There was nothing, and his qi only spread in the soil.

"Damn it! Where the fuck is the library?!"

The sect leader has access to a library where they keep lower martial arts manuals and books of any kind. Well, because he was the son of a former sect leader, he knew where the library was.

The problem?

The only door to the library is in the sect leader's residence. Fortunately, Yeong-jeon has a plan.

Qi moves differently in different mediums. If one encountered a different material, it would react accordingly. Wood, stone, or metal—all have their unique resonances. So, Yeong-jeon was using his qi to detect where exactly the secret passage leading to the library might be.

Wooong!

Thud.

"..."

The sound was so faint that it was inaudible. To counteract the possibility of it being deep underground, Yeong-jeon would pour qi onto his ears.

"Any normal person would've not heard that."

He chuckled a little.

"Now that I've found it, it is time to dig."

A tremendous amount of qi was poured onto his hands. Unlike the sect, the mountains are in good shape, so, digging this soft soil will be no challenge.

Yeong-jeon crouched low, his fingers pressing into the earth as he channeled his qi through the soil. The ground trembled ever so slightly as his energy burrowed downward, guided by the faint resonance of the hidden passage. His hands moved with precision, displacing the dirt in a controlled, almost effortless manner. The softness of the soil worked in his favor, allowing him to move quickly.

"Seven Lightning Stances."

This technique embodies the Thunderous Sky Sect. It was created by the first sect leader, and it is required for every disciple to master it before learning anything advanced.

But the brats don't even know about it.

'The Seven Lightning Stances... the foundation of our sect's power. And they don’t even know about it! How can they hope to master something as advanced as the lightning's six senses without that foundation?'

His hands moved faster, his irritation fueling his efforts. The disciples, including Ryu Yongsun, Soo-yeon, and Dong-rae, had shown exceptional improvement, but that didn't mean they were ready for what was coming.

As the soil shifted beneath his hands, he felt the subtle vibrations of stone below. His eyes gleamed as he reached the hidden passage. Slowly, he cleared away the last bit of dirt, revealing the cold stone entrance to the library.

With a grin, Yeong-jeon whispered to himself, "Now that I've found this, it's time to make sure these fools don’t ruin everything."

He placed his hand on a stone brick and pushed it off using his qi. It slid off smoothly before dropping and shattering as it hit the ground.

"Now, let's take a peek."

Yeong-jeon closed his other eye and focused all his attention on the narrow gap beneath the stone slab.

Strangely, there was no light, only pitch darkness as if it hadn't been used for years. Yeong-jeon moved his head a little bit away from the gap, letting the moonlight shine through it.

"Cobwebs? Piles of dust?"

"This looks like the last person who used this library is already dead! Even a sect leader must clean, too, you know!"

Yeong-jeon grimaced as the realization hit him. The state of the hidden library only added to his frustration. It seemed as though it had been forgotten, neglected for who knows how long.

"No wonder no one knows the proper techniques anymore," he muttered under his breath. "The sect's legacy is rotting away."

Yeong-jeon put his hand on the gap and grabbed a stone brick, pulling it. After the brick came off and was thrashed on the surface, he kept on widening the hole.

Finally, with a final heave, the stone slab shifted, allowing him enough space to slip through. He crawled into the dimly lit library, his heart pounding with anticipation. The air was thick with dust and the scent of old parchment, a testament to the years of neglect. Yeong-jeon stood up, brushing off dirt from his robes as he surveyed the room.

Shelves lined with scrolls and books filled his view, some stacked haphazardly and others resting quietly in the shadows. It was like stepping into a forgotten world, a treasure trove waiting to be unearthed.

He raised his hand and illuminated the surrounding area with his qi. A long hallway was revealed. Everything was old, and there were no lights, but the faint glow from his qi cast eerie shadows on the walls. Yeong-jeon squinted, trying to make out the titles of the books that had gathered dust over the years.

"Seven Lightning Stances, The Swift-Wind Sword Technique, The Mountain River Technique..." he murmured, the names stirring a sense of nostalgia within him. These were the techniques he had learned as a child, the very foundation of his training.

He scrambled inside the library, trying to find the manual from the first sect leader.

While Yeong-jeon was scrambling, Dong-rae was in his room, trying to sleep.

"Sleep."

He closed his eyes shut. But no matter how many things he does, he still can't sleep.

"Every time I want to sleep, I can't sleep!"

Dong-rae stood up and headed out of his room.

"Why can't I just sleep?" he muttered, running a hand through his messy hair. His thoughts drifted to his fellow disciples, their recent transformations swirling in his mind.

When he reached the training grounds, he saw someone practicing their sword.

Ryu Yongsun swung his sword and followed it by thrusting his sword. His eyes were focused as if in a deep thought.

"Yongsun," Dong-rae called out, stepping closer, "it's late. Shouldn't you be resting?"

Ryu stopped mid-swing, turning to face him, his brow glistening with sweat.

"Resting won't help if we don't push ourselves, Dong-rae. Look at how far we've come. If we want to be ready for whatever comes next, we have to keep training."

"We will soon learn about the lightning's six senses. I must hone my body to handle it."

Dong-rae nodded and walked onto the cluster of wooden swords. There's something he cannot fully grasp about Ryu Yongsun. Maybe it was his eyes that had a fire that could not be distinguished.

Grab.

Clutching the sword in his hand, he pointed at Ryu Yongsun.

"Mind if I join you?"

Ryu Yongsun smiled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Of course! The more, the merrier. We can help each other refine our techniques."

They began with a series of basic strikes, their swords slicing through the air in unison. Dong-rae concentrated, trying to match Yongsun's rhythm.

"I feel like ever since Yeong-jeon joined, we've all changed."

"You think so? I can't say that you're not true..."

Dong-rae couldn't understand it but he somehow got stronger. Maybe it was the pill's effect? He wished to ask about it but halted.

'That madman trusted me to keep a secret... I can't tell it to anyone.'

The loud sound of clashing wood resonated as their wooden swords struck each other.

"About your grandfather... What happened to him, to ask you to join this sect?"

"He's a strong man."

"Tch."

Soo-yeon watched from the shadows, her eyes narrowed as she observed the two disciples practicing late into the night. She leaned against a tree, arms crossed, a mixture of admiration and concern swirling within her.

She stepped out from the shadows, her presence drawing the attention of both boys. The moonlight danced across her features, illuminating her beauty.

Ryu Yongsun stopped mid-swing and turned to Soo-yeon.

"You sided with Yeong-jeon the other day, right?"

"You must be here to get strong."

"No... I just can't sle—"

"Come on! Join us."

Soo-yeon grabbed a wooden sword and took her stance.

'I've made a promise to get stronger than all of them... I will get strong no matter what!'

There was fire in her eyes as she swung at the two. Ryu Yongsun smiled brightly and dashed in himself, followed by Dong-rae.

Slash!