The bustling streets of the market began to quiet down as the vendors began packing up their goods. The city folk also hurried home before nightfall. But, beneath the crowds of city folk, guards and merchants, in the dim alleyways, down in the deep and hidden corners, there was a different kind of movement, one that most of the city’s inhabitants weren’t aware of
Joon-woo walked along a narrow street, he felt his mind was in overdrive. The aftereffects of the breakthrough were clear. The Qi Gathering stage left him feeling a new level of invigoration. Every sensation heightened to a new level. His mind was now more alert than ever.
He came into the city to buy some clothes. At this time of the day, it was the perfect moment to come to the market. At the closing hour, most merchants already sold most of their stuff, so they aren’t too picky about negotiations. He could find some third hand clothes at a very good deal of just some bronze. The only good clothes he had were clawed by the Madreds.
As he passed in the market district, he noticed the shops closing and the vendors quickly leaving their stalls. It was strange, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. It was an eerie feeling, a subtle sensation, right on the back of his neck. Joon-woo glanced around, but he didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. The street he was in was now empty, save for a couple of rats and cats playing tag.
He dismissively shook his head, nobody should be really targeting him. Even those gang members, after all of this time, they more than likely forgot his face. Ironwood City was filled with people who didn’t really give two rats about someone like him, especially now, with his rugged clothes, he looked like a bonafide beggar, and people don’t like beggars. But still, as he continued walking, that feeling still persisted.
Status Screen
Name
Kang Joon-woo Title Riverside Cultivator Age 16 Level 2 [ 10/200 EXP ] Cultivation Level Qi Gathering Stage ( Initial ) Qi 60 Units Strength 4 Agility 6 Stamina 5
Skills Iron Fist ( Basic ): A refined martial technique that enhances the strength and impact of physical strikes done with the fist
Joon-woo quickly checked his status window as he walked, to take his mind off this eerie moment, taking comfort in his new stats. After finishing the refinement of his Qi, he completed the Quest and received enough “EXP”, to level up. And it seems that he received +1 in all of his physical stats just because his level went from 1 to 2. He was slowly growing stronger, even though they were subtle, he already could see some difference in his physical body. His muscles were a little bit more toned and tight. His sense of balance and reflexes significantly improved, and his stamina, he didn’t get exhausted as much, even after walking long distances.
Meanwhile, in the dense forest that surrounded Ironwood City, a different gathering was taking place. Hidden deep within the forest, in the center of the shadows, where the trees grew so tall and thick, that the light of the moon barely penetrated. The Shadow Serpent Clan was on the move.
The Shadow Serpent Clan was known for their secret nature and mastery of subterfuge and stealth. They were led by an enigmatic figure, known as Elder Gwan Yu. They operated in the darkness, far from the prying eyes of the city folk. They were a force to be reckoned with, they wouldn’t bow down to any sect from the vicinity if it came down to it. They were feared by many, but known by few.
Elder Gwan Yu stood in the center of a small clearing, he narrowed his eyes as he scanned his surroundings. He had an imposing presence, even in the thick of the shadows. He was an old man, his hair was full of silver streaks, but he was moving more precisely and fluidly than many of his juniors.
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“Something is growing in Ironwood” Gwan Yu said, in a low tone
“I can feel it, a disturbance that should not be ignored anymore”
Around him, a group of clan members nodded in agreement. They were all trained in the ways of the Serpent, their senses were so keen and attuned, that they too could feel the slightest changes in the environment. They weren’t on the same level as Elder Gwan Yu, but they could still feel a very small and fain source if they concentrated hard at what Elder Gwan pointed.
“We have investigated, but we didn’t really find anything concrete” one of the clan members replied, he was a young man with sharp eyes, and a cool demeanor.
“There is no trace of any external force of any kind in the area, I couldn’t find the involvement of any sect in this”
Gwan Yu frowned, he turned his gaze towards the direction of the city
“Whoever it is or whatever it is, it’s noticeably growing stronger. It should only be a matter of time until it gains enough arrogance to reveal itself.”
Elder Gwan Yu lived long enough to recognize signs of a potential powerful force. The balance of power in the region was delicate, The Shadow Serpent Clan worked hard to regain the position they have in the present, any significant shift in the hierarchy could have consequences. The Shadow Serpent Clan always lived with the philosophy of living in the shadows, but they knew that sometimes, it was time to step into the light, and deal with it accordingly, before it has a chance to engulf the darkness.
“Continue your observations,” Gwan Yu ordered.
“Do not engage at all cost, we must know first what we are dealing with, before we make any moves”
The clan members nodded in agreement and dispersed into the darkness, their forms vanishing as if they were never there. Gwan Yu remained in the same spot as before, his mind full of thoughts. This energy was far too strange. He was in the realm of Spirit Cultivation, but wasn’t the full reason on why he was able to notice this strange Qi. Gwan Yu’s secret martial art allowed him to possess keen senses far above any of his peers, who shared his cultivation level.
The Shadow Serpent Clan kept close tabs on the city, as they regained their former strength and renown, they wanted to finally achieve their fifteen year old plan, and Elder Gwan Yu wouldn't let a random variable to stand and destroy it. He needed to get his hands on this source of Qi.
Back in the outskirts of the city, Joon-woo made his way towards his home. He managed to find a clothes merchant and bought himself a new set of clothes. They weren’t the most luxurious and they didn’t really fit him, as they were a little bit too large, but they were simple, and kind of sturdy for their price. So that sufficed.
As he made his way back towards his home, the feeling of being watched had lessened, but it wasn’t completely gone. He couldn’t shake it off, he still had a small sense that something, or someone was out there, watching him.
Joon-woo arrived at the cottage, and entered the “courtyard”, closing the gate behind him. It was quiet, only the current of the river could be heard, but there was something strange, the air around him was charged with tension. Especially now, as someone with the Cultivation Level of Qi Gathering, he could feel the difference.
He left his clothes near the cottage, and settled down into a meditative stance, closing his eyes, he began to focus on his breathing. He redirected his Qi towards the exterior of his body, he focused his mind on his surroundings, scanning for a possible being
He opened his eyes and looked around him. There was nothing, no movement, no sound, nothing really out of place. But in his mind, he felt it, there was a foreign sensation there, and now he felt it more clearly than before.
“Who’s there?” Joon-woo called out with a firm voice
Silence
He quickly stood up, with his hand taking out a knife that was at his belt. His eyes darted around the area, searching for any sign of an intruder. But there was nothing.
Just as he was about to dismiss it as just his imagination playing pranks on him, a faint of rustling reached his ears. It was a faint sound, barely audible, a soft whisper of movement, but for him, it was enough to confirm it. The sound set his nerves on edge and he quickly turned around towards it.
“Show yourself!” Joon-woo demanded, with an authoritative tone
Initially, there was no response, but then, from the far corner of a tree, a figure stepped into the dim light. It was a man, dressed in black, flowing robes that seemed to blend perfectly into the shadows. HIs face was obscured by a hood, and his eyes showed a glimpse of a natural predator.
Joon-woo’s heart pounded. He could feel the man’s presence, as someone in The Qi Gathering stage, he could now faintly feel the aura of beings, basically faintly sensing their Qi. But this person, the aura of danger that was oozing out of him was off the charts, it was not fain Qi, it was a full on shroud that covered all of his body. This was not someone ordinary. Qi made Joon-woo place his hand on his chest, as he felt suffocated by its very presence. That being was not someone he could challenge right now. Compared to him, he might as well have been an ant. But still, he couldn’t just give in.
“So you’re the one who’s been following me,” Joon-woo said, his voice tight with tension
The man didn’t speak but his gaze never left Joon-woo’s. There was something very unsettling about his eerie silence.
Joon-woo tightened his grip on the knife, he fought against his own instincts to just run away from there. He had no idea about this person, but he knew he couldn’t run away from him, it would be a futile effort.
“Who are you?”
“What do you want?”
The man tilted his head, as if he was thinking of a response. He finally started to speak, his voice was very calm, it was almost like he was amused.
“You stupid bastard, you've drawn attention to yourself, you fool!”
“I don’t know if you got a special artifact, or a special constitution, but it seems it was already noticed. I can barely sense it, but now that I’m close in your presence, I can feel it too. You have a strange Qi in your possession. This just makes me nervous about that bastard, Yu, how the hell did he manage to sense you from that far away”
Joon-woo was dumbfounded, how could this man know about the power Joon-woo gained, how did he sense the System? He didn’t know what to say, but was carefully listening, but he mustered the courage to ask him a question.
“What do you mean?”
The man took a small step forward, Joon-woo instinctively took a small step back, his hand still on his knife, ready to defend himself, but he soon realized it would be futile, this man’s presence was too overwhelming, his Qi was suffocating.
“You’ve touched something beyond your understanding,” the man said in a soft tone of voice, but with menace.
“There are people who will come for you because of it. Be careful, foolish boy. This is my warning for you. The shadows are watching”
“And they will move soon…”
Finishing the last sentence, the man melted back into the darkness, disappearing without a trace. Joon-woo stood there, his heart racing like a rabbit. His mind was reeling with what he had just heard
Joon-woo didn’t know who that person was, but knew one thing for certain, he had drawn the attention of forces he couldn’t yet comprehend, and worse, forces he couldn’t fight.
Joon-woo retreated into the cottage, with a mind full of questions
‘Who was that man? What exactly did he know about my power?’ ‘Who is Yu? Who are the “shadows” and most importantly, when will they act?’
He frantically settled down on his bed, but as he drifted off to sleep, the words still echoed in his mind
The shadows are watching