Chapter 8: Into the Iron Forest.
The morning mist clung to the edges of Iron Root Town, veiling the wilderness beyond in a curtain of soft gray. Outside the worn gates of the town, the Iron Forest loomed, dense, ancient, and filled with quiet menace.
Kong Tian adjusted the straps of the worn pack over his shoulder, glancing sideways at Kong Ming, who stood tall and unassisted. His gait was stiff but sure, a quiet testament to weeks of nightly suffering.
“Still not used to seeing you upright,” Kong Tian said with a grin, though worry still flickered in his eyes. “You sure about this?”
Kong Ming tightened the knot on his sash, eyes focused. “We don’t have time to waste. The herbs are deep in the forest, and the hunting trial is only 23 days away. If I can reach Body Tempering 3rd stage by then…”
He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.
Kong Tian nodded and tightened the bindings on his fists. “Alright. But we go at your pace.”
Gu Bi waved at the departing figures, like a wife sending her husbands to war.
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Inside the Iron Forest
The deeper they ventured, the thicker the foliage became. Shafts of light filtered through the canopy, dappling the forest floor in gold and shadow. Strange sounds echoed in the distance, calls of beasts, the rustling of brush, and occasionally, the faint roar of something far larger.
Kong Ming consulted the hand-drawn map he copied from the knowledge pavilion book. “According to this, the Mountain-Break Lotus and Blackroot Vine should be near the Crimson Hollow.”
“Crimson, what now?” Kong Tian raised a brow.
Kong Ming shrugged. “Named after the blood-red moss that grows on the stone walls. It’s near the base of that ridge.”
Just as they crossed a shallow stream, a rustle came from the treeline ahead. Kong Tian raised an arm instinctively, motioning his brother to step back.
From the underbrush, a creature emerged. It was a horned boar, its eyes glowing faintly yellow. A Mortal Beast at the 8th stage.
Kong Tian’s expression sharpened. “First real fight since I unlocked my thirty-sixth meridian. Let’s see how I do.”
The beast charged.
Kong Tian sidestepped and unleashed a heavy palm strike to its shoulder. The beast shrieked and spun, tusks slashing the air.
From behind a tree, Kong Ming shouted, “Hit the left hind leg! That breed has a joint weakness there!”
Following his brother’s advice, Kong Tian landed a precise kick behind the boar’s flank, followed by a strike to the head. The beast crashed to the ground, motionless.
He exhaled, sweat glistening. “I’m getting rusty.”
“You won in under ten moves,” Kong Ming said, breathless. “That’s not rusty.”
Kong Tian grinned. “You’ve really been studying up, huh?”
They pressed on.
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Meanwhile, Back at the Martial School
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Lady Bai Yuyin stood atop the martial platform, practicing a delicate sword form that wove ribbons of wind qi around her. Her movements were elegant, almost like a dance. She paused when she felt someone approaching.
“You’re distracted,” said Lady Chan-Chan, now wearing a bright lavender robe with golden embroidery.
“I’m thinking about the Kong brothers. They weren’t in class again,” Bai Yuyin replied.
Lady Chan-Chan huffed. “They probably ran off to do dirty things again. Like digging roots or wrestling chickens.”
“Or gathering herbs to save a life,” Bai Yuyin said sharply.
Lady Chan-Chan blinked, caught off guard.
Bai Yuyin smirked slightly. “Don’t underestimate them. Even the smallest roots can split stone over time.”
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Back in the Forest
By midday, Kong Ming finally spotted the cluster of blackroot vines growing near a large stone outcrop coated in crimson moss. He stumbled toward it, gasping.
“These should help cleanse meridian clots and promote qi flow…” he murmured, beginning to carefully harvest them with a small knife.
Kong Tian stayed alert, scanning the woods. “Grab what you need fast. This place feels… wrong.”
A low growl echoed from behind.
Turning sharply, they saw a second spirit beast emerge, sleek, feline, and with twin tails flicking like whips. A Shadow-Tailed Panther. Spirit Grade level 1.
Kong Ming’s heart skipped a beat. “We can’t fight that!”
Kong Tian’s eyes narrowed. “No… but I can stall it.”
He threw down his pack, stepping forward. “Get the herbs. Hide if you have to. I’ll lead it away.”
Before Kong Ming could object, Kong Tian roared and charged, drawing the beast’s attention. It lunged with terrifying speed.
Kong Tian twisted mid-dash, avoiding the claws by inches. His body was covered in small gashes already, but he kept moving, baiting it away.
The beast snarled and leapt after him, vanishing into the trees.
Kong Ming's eyes turned moist with concern.
“Why is that idiot obsessed with throwing himself in danger for others!” he shouted inwardly.
Kong Ming knelt behind a fallen log, clutching the herbs tightly, heart pounding.
“Please be okay…”
“I don’t need these stupid herbs, if it means I don’t have my brother.”
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An Hour Later
Kong Tian limped back, covered in cuts, bruises, and sweat. His clothes were torn, and his fists were bloodied.
Kong Ming ran to him, relief and anger breaking across his face. “You’re insane.”
“Still alive though,” Kong Tian grinned through swollen lips.
With herbs in hand, they made their slow way home beneath the dying light of day.
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That Night – Back at the Kong courtyard.
Kong Ming carefully prepared a tonic from the rare herbs, following the instructions word-for-word from the Ancient Medicinal Refinement Record.
Gu Bi focused on bandaging Kong Tian's injuries.
Kong Tian leaned back against the wooden wall, wincing. “You sure this won’t kill you?”
“Nope,” Kong Ming said, drinking it anyway.
Gu Bi sighed.
“Why does this seem familiar?”
His body shuddered. Sweat poured down his face.
Veins bulged as he fell to his knees, gritting his teeth.
After four long minutes, the pain became unbearable.
Then… it began to fade.
He took a deep breath and stood up, looking at his palms.
Kong Tian stared, wide-eyed. “You, ”
“I can feel it,” Kong Ming whispered. “My Physical Qi. It’s faint… but it’s there.”
He had stepped into the 2nd Stage of Body Tempering. But the pain in his meridians persisted.
Kong Tian laughed aloud, full and proud. “You did it, Ming!”
Kong Ming nodded in satisfaction.
“According to the book, it should have been able to unlock 9 of my
Meridians, but only 6 are open.”
“If 9 opened, I would be in the 3rd stage of body Refinement.”
The book recommended waiting at least 2 weeks of physical tempering before forcing another breakthrough on my body.
Kong Tian pondered.
“Your strength relative to your cultivation level is low…extremely low.”
“I think you should focus on building up your muscle strength and physical endurance before seeking further external support.”
Kong Ming sighed.
“Even though I unlocked my meridians, I am starting on a foundation of straw compared to others. “
“Just simply walking a few kilometers is enough to exhaust me.”
“Brother, can you pass me the profound fist training manual?”
Kong Tian reached for a shelf where there was a silver and black book, and he tossed it over to Kong Ming.
Kong Ming awkwardly caught the book and began to examine it.
The cover was black and had words in silver ink: “PROFOUND FIST ART.”
There were 4 levels, and each level had words and diagrams of movements for demonstration.
He was familiar with the first 2 levels from watching his brother, but he didn’t know about the physical training requirements needed before being able to use the technique.
Jump 4 meters.
Lift 200 Kg…
Achieve 100kg Punching force…
Movement speed must exceed 11 seconds per 100 meters.
"It seems I will be doing the basic strengthening routine for a while before I can begin any practical movements of the fist art."
Kong Ming sighed.
Then his eyes refocused with determination.
Kong Tian smiled
“Don’t forget you were barely able to walk a month ago. This is amazing progress, Ming’er… “
The brother went to bed, and the sounds of Gu Bi snoring filled the courtyard.
Outside, the stars shimmered in the quiet night sky.
But elsewhere, far beyond the town, a black-robed cultivator stood atop a cliff watching the town with narrowed eyes.
“So… he’s begun to awaken,” the figure muttered, before vanishing into the mist.
