The discussion had already begun.

  Juwon sat cross-legged, arms resting on his knees, as Yuxian and Yunfei vented their frustration. Their voices echoed within the wooden hut, barely contained fury lacing each word.

  "Hei Long, the Heavenly Demon Cult... all of them should be wiped off the face of the earth," Yunfei spat, his fist tightening. "The people they’ve butchered, the lives they’ve ruined—it’s beyond redemption."

  "You saw that monster! A wyvern!" Yuxian added, rubbing his temples in frustration. "What the hell is going on in these mountains? For now, at least, the beast remains deep within the mountains... but for how long. This is like something out of a fairy tale." He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I knew Hei Long was involved in shady business, but this? This is beyond comprehension."

  Juwon, leaning back slightly, arched an eyebrow. "Really? Qi manipulation, flying swords, and energy projection are fine, but a giant flying lizard is where you draw the line?"

  Yuxian glared at him.

  Before Yuxian could fire back, the sound of soft footsteps entered the hut. Bai Xueling had arrived, her calm presence easing the tension in the room.

  Juwon turned to greet her, but before he could speak, her fingers gently wrapped around his wrist. The warmth of her touch startled him.

  The room fell into silence.

  Juwon felt his body tense slightly as an unfamiliar awkwardness settled over them. Bai Xueling, too, seemed to notice, her grip faltering for a split second before she composed herself.

  "You’re alright?" she asked softly.

  Juwon cleared his throat. "Yeah. Nothing serious."

  Yuxian, observing the exchange, smirked. "Oh? Since when did you start caring so much, Xueling?"

  Bai Xueling shot him a glare, but the slight pink tinge to her cheeks did not go unnoticed.

  "Shut up, Yuxian," she muttered.

  Yuxian chuckled, but before he could tease further, Yun Ji entered, his expression serious. "We need to talk about the third outpost. We don’t have much time."

  The discussion was still ongoing when the sound of whirring blades cut through the air. The entire village stirred, heads turning toward the sky. The rhythmic thump-thump-thump of helicopter rotors echoed across the valley.

  Juwon tensed, immediately recognizing the sound of military-grade helicopters.

  "Everyone, mix into the crowd," Juwon ordered under his breath.

  The villagers gathered as the two helicopters descended into the center of the village. A gust of wind kicked up dirt and leaves as the aircraft touched down, the rotating blades slowing. Armed soldiers disembarked swiftly, securing the area.

  From the lead helicopter, a figure stepped out. General Wei Zhennan.

  Juwon’s eyes narrowed as he observed the man. He was no ordinary soldier. He was a Core Formation practitioner. Late-stage, at that. His presence was imposing, his uniform crisp, and his piercing gaze scanned the crowd with calculated precision.

  Beside him, another figure followed, his demeanor more restrained but no less sharp. Colonel Han Xiqing, Early Core Formation. He moved with the grace of a seasoned fighter, his eyes locked onto the crowd as if searching for something—or someone.

  "We seek the chief of this village," General Wei declared, his voice firm yet lacking hostility.

  Yun Ji stepped forward. "I am Yun Ji, leader of this village. What brings the military to our home?"

  General Wei studied him carefully before speaking. "There have been reports of unusual phenomena in this region—strange creatures, anomalies in the forest, and... significant energy bursts. We are here to investigate."

  Yun Ji remained calm. "Strange creatures? We live in harmony with the land. The animals move as they always have."

  The general’s gaze didn’t waver. "And the forest fires? What caused them?"

  "We know nothing of it," Yun Ji replied smoothly.

  Juwon watched closely. The general wasn’t convinced. The conversation drifted into small talk about the Miao tribe’s customs, people and traditions but Juwon’s instincts told him this man was more observant than he let on.

  Then, General Wei’s eyes flickered to the crowd—and landed on Juwon.

  "That one. Bring him here."

  Colonel Han moved instantly, walking towards Juwon.

  Juwon cursed internally but remained composed. As the soldiers motioned for him to step forward, he subtly signaled the Wudang disciples to retreat and hide.

  "A Korean?" General Wei mused, looking him over. "What’s a foreigner doing in these remote mountains?"

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  Juwon gave an easy smile. "I’m a historian, hired for excavation activities."

  The general’s gaze sharpened. "Excavations? I don’t recall any authorized historical digs in the Xiangxi mountain ranges."

  Juwon shrugged. "I was hired by Hei Long for extensive research within their facilities."

  At the mention of Hei Long, the general’s expression changed. The suspicion in his tone faded slightly, replaced by intrigue.

  "Hei Long, you say?" The general paused before nodding. "Interesting. We’ll be setting up surveillance in this area. If you plan on staying here, report any anomalies to us."

  "Actually," Juwon interjected, "I won’t be staying long. I’ll be heading to the outpost soon for further research."

  General Wei studied him before nodding. "Very well." But as he turned back toward the helicopters, he murmured to Colonel Han, "Get me files on this Seo Juwon. I want to know who he really is."

  As the government envoys departed, the mountain mist embraced the Maio village, and silence settled like a sheath over a drawn blade.

  The night was still, the crisp mountain air carrying the faint crackling of torches from the Miao village. Juwon sat alone, legs crossed beneath him, his breathing steady but his mind turbulent. No matter how much he tried, he could not push past the barrier in his cultivation.

  He exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling under his skin. Why? Why couldn’t he break through? His Qi moved within him, circulating as he had done thousands of times before, but something was missing. Something wasn’t clicking.

  The soft sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

  Bai Xueling approached, her presence calm, her silver robes flowing gently in the evening breeze. Without a word, she sat beside him.

  "Still stuck?" she asked after a moment.

  Juwon smirked, though there was little humor in it. "I’m doing everything right, but it’s like trying to grab mist—it just slips through my fingers."

  Bai Xueling studied him before speaking. "That’s because you’re trying to force it. Cultivation isn’t about brute strength. It’s about understanding."

  Juwon exhaled. "Easy for you to say."

  She chuckled softly. "That’s because I learned a long time ago—Qi isn’t something to be commanded. It’s something to be guided. After all its a reflection of who we are"

  Juwon frowned, turning her words over in his mind. "Guided..."

  Bai Xueling nodded. "You keep trying to impose your will over Qi, but what if instead, you listen to what it’s trying to tell you? You’re seeking power, but have you thought about why you need it? What you truly fight for?"

  "What I fight for huh? Isn't that simple? It's because I can"

  "My life was always about taking action, I lost my mother, when I was young. And my father? Hah I don't even remember how he looks like. Apparently, he is in the US somewhere enjoying luxuries while I was running around looking for scraps to live by. I was abandoned. But if my life as an orphan has taught me one thing, it's that the world doesn't stop for anyone. It's the people who get left behind who are the ones at fault. World rewards taking action. And that's what I lived by till now"

  Xueling looked at Juwon staring at the moon, "I am sorry to hear that"

  "Well, so if my Qi reflects who I am, it won't stop here."

  Bai Xueling smiled "I heard the core that you form is different and unique for everyone. I wonder what yours would look like"

  Something inside Juwon shifted.

  His breath stilled. His mind expanded. He could feel it now—the natural flow of Qi, not something to be controlled, but something to be embraced. It was as if the missing piece had finally fallen into place.

  A pulse of energy surged through him.

  His sea of Qi roared to life.

  Bai Xueling’s eyes widened slightly as she felt the shift. "You’re... breaking through?"

  Juwon grinned, exhilaration flooding through him. "I think I finally get it."

  "Xueling, I will be back in the morning."

  Xueling nodded with a smile.

  As he closed his eyes, he let go of the restraint that had held him back. His Qi condensed, refining itself at an astonishing rate. Deep within his Dantian, a luminous white lotus began to bloom, each petal radiating a brilliance akin to the sun. Its glow intensified, pulsing in rhythm with his breath, as if resonating with the very essence of his being. His core burned with power, blazing a trail into the Core Formation realm, marking an unshakable step forward in his path of cultivation.

  For a moment, everything was silent.

  Then—

  A sudden boom erupted from within him as his Qi stabilized. Juwon exhaled, feeling the new strength coursing through his veins.

  He had finally stepped into Core Formation.

  The next morning, the so-called "conference hall"—a simple round table inside a small house—was filled with murmurs of discussion. The Wudang disciples, Yun Ji, and the Miao warriors were deep in talks about their next steps.

  Then, Juwon entered.

  His hair had grown out slightly, his physique more defined, lean yet powerful. He wore only loose pants, a towel draped over his shoulder, beads of water still clinging to his skin from his morning training.

  All conversation stopped.

  "Did I miss anything?"

  Eyes widened as everyone stared at him.

  "Mere weeks... and he’s already Core Formation?" Yunfei whispered in shock.

  It was unheard of. "A godlike talent."

  But Yunfei’s expression turned serious. "This kind of rapid advancement... be careful, Juwon. Some people push for strength too fast and lose sight of the Dao. It leads to stagnation."

  Juwon smirked. "Not me. My path is clear."

  Meanwhile, Luo Qing and Yuxian exchanged glances before turning to Bai Xueling—who had turned her head away slightly, her cheeks flushed at the sight of Juwon’s shirtless figure.

  "Oh?" Luo Qing teased. "Xueling, are you blushing?"

  Yuxian grinned. "Well, well, looks like someone is flustered."

  Bai Xueling glared at them. "Shut up."

  Juwon sighed, shaking his head. "Enough. Let’s focus. What’s the plan?"

  Yun Ji cleared his throat, drawing the room’s attention. "Young Master, you mentioned heading to Qinghai after your investigation. I believe you should reconsider. The situation has deteriorated beyond what we expected. The government will soon get involved. We Miao intend to leave this place before that happens."

  Juwon raised an eyebrow. "And what about the legacy?"

  Yun Ji chuckled, shaking his head. "Young Master jests! We have always been a migrating tribe. Legacy means little if it comes at the cost of lives."

  He leaned forward. "I propose we travel to Qinghai together. We have trusted contacts who transport goods across the mountains. Their trucks will take us there while you and your people travel separately in your SUVs."

  Juwon placed both hands firmly on the table, his expression unreadable. "No. We won’t be leaving for Qinghai just yet. I need to get to the bottom of this."

  Yun Ji frowned. "But Young Master—"

  Juwon cut him off, his tone final. "When I say ‘we,’ I mean myself and the Wudang disciples. You and the Miao should go to Qinghai as planned. Meet us in Qilian County six weeks from now."

  Luo Qing interjected, his voice laced with concern. "You're bringing them into this by introducing them to the Martial Alliance?"

  Juwon met his gaze evenly. "They are already a part of this. Unless, of course, they choose otherwise."

  He turned to Yun Ji, waiting for his response.

  Yun Ji inhaled deeply before nodding. "We would be honored if Young Master allowed us to accompany him."

  Juwon gave a slight nod. "Then tell me about the final outpost."

  "The final outpost lies deep within Wuling Mountain—a four-and-a-half-hour journey from here. That mountain is also where the Mountain Sage, a Spirit Venerable Shaman, lived centuries ago."

  Juwon frowned. "What’s the deal with the spirits?"

  Yun Ji exhaled. "You’ll find out soon enough."