Haneul arrived at the village gates, where Xiao and a middle-aged man were waiting. Behind them stood a wooden carriage, hitched to a black horse.
As Haneul approached, Xiao noticed him and waved. He returned the gesture with a small smile.
"Is this our carriage?"
Haneul asked as he came closer.
"Yes, Young Master. Mr. Yang will guide us to the sect,"
Xiao replied, bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Young Master,"
Yang said, offering his own bow.
"Greetings, Mr. Yang,"
Haneul returned the gesture.
Xiao stepped aside and opened the wooden carriage door, revealing a small compartment inside about half the size of the carriage itself. Haneul entered.
"Thank you."
Inside was a simple wooden chair and a small table beside it.
"You're sitting there?"
Haneul asked.
"Yes, Young Master. Your protection is far more important than my own,"
Xiao replied softly.
"I see. Take care,"
Haneul said, before sitting down.
If he remembered correctly, Xiao had been sold by her family, only to be adopted by his mother who had long since passed away.
Haneul leaned back into the chair.
"System Bag."
A brown leather pouch appeared out of thin air. Haneul caught it, opened it, and pulled out the manual he had taken earlier from the Manual Pavilion.
He stood, sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, and began flipping through the manual. It contained no written words only strange drawings, lines tracing shapes that seemed to represent the human body's organs.
The Great Vein Shift Technique… In my previous life, I stumbled upon this manual. Of course, being young and naïve, I handed it over to my father. That was the last I saw of it.
In another lifetime, I barely learned its basics. There's no written explanation only this strange diagram of organs and meridians. By circulating Qi through these pathways, one can manipulate the position of their internal organs… even triggering automatic shifts when sensing danger.
Such a bizarre technique
forgotten by time.
But to master it, I must be able to fully focus my Qi.
Closing his eyes, Haneul began guiding his Qi. A faint ripple of energy surrounded him.
Time passed.
When his eyes opened, the Qi faded away. He placed his right hand over his dantian.
"I just need to avoid disrupting my Qi flow. If I fail… the backlash could be fatal."
A voice called from outside
it was Xiao.
"Young Master, we are nearing our destination."
"I see. I'll get ready, then,"
Haneul replied.
Already near… I should get some rest before we arrive at the sect.
He returned to the chair, resting quietly Though he remained fully conscious.
Time had passed.
"Young master, we're here," Xiao said as she stepped out of the carriage.
Haneul stood up and opened the carriage door, stepping down. Outside, Xiao was smiling, and Mr. Yang stood by the horse.
"Thank you, Mr. Yang!" Xiao said, bowing.
"Thank you, Mr. Yang," Haneul echoed, also bowing.
"Haha! You don't need to thank me, young master," Mr. Yang replied. His left hand was clenched in a fist over his chest, while the other held the horse's reins. "Just do your best!"
"I'll do my best. You can count on me," Haneul said with a smile, glancing around.
It's the same as before.
Around him were youths from all walks of life pampered heirs born with silver spoons in their mouths, and others who had never known peace. Their hanfu varied, each bearing the unique markings of their families.
Haneul's gaze rose to the massive gate of the sect. At the top, bold characters were carved:
Righteous Flowing Blade Sect.
"This is my first time coming here, young master," Xiao said, smiling as she looked around.
"I see. It's also my first time," Haneul replied aloud.
Of course, it isn't my first time… I've been here before
in my previous life.
Xiao tilted her head. "Really? Wasn't your father an elder here? I thought you'd visited before, young master."
"Not really. He only brought me here for trainingand the training grounds he took me to were probably far from here, just like our village."
"I see…" Xiao murmured.
"By the way," Haneul said casually, "you can just call me Haneul. I prefer it that way."
Xiao's eyes widened. "R-really? Are you sick, young master?"
What's with her reaction? …Although, now that I think about it, was I… an idiot in my past lives?
Haneul stepped toward her, raised his right hand, and flicked her forehead lightly.
"Ouch!" Xiao yelped, quickly pressing her hands against her forehead.
With his left hand, Haneul gently lifted her chin. "Look at me. Do I look sick?"
She met his eyes, her forehead still red and warm.
"U-uh… n-no," she stammered, her cheeks turning bright pink.
"Then call me by my name."
As she opened her mouth to speak, a voice interrupted.
"Haneul?"
Turning to his right, Haneul saw a plump young man with black hair tied up by a hairpin, wearing a green hanfu trimmed in white. On its hem were stitched the characters for "Body," "Muscles," and "Strength."
As Haneul studied him, his eyes widened.
"Oh! It really is you, Haneul. Long time no see!" the boy said cheerfully.
But Haneul's mind was already somewhere else
dragged back into the blood-soaked memories of his past life.
The scene was crimson with endless malice. Corpses of countless martial artists lay scattered across the battlefield. Rain poured endlessly, mourning the dead.
In the center stood a towering, vein-bulging man, holding a younger man by the neck. The younger man
bloodied, exhausted
struggled against the crushing grip.
Cough!
Cough!
"Why…"
"WHY?!" the muscular man roared. "Why did you choose this path!?"
The young man in his grasp gave a weak chuckle. "Heh… why?"
The man's teeth ground together. His eyes, hidden beneath his thick brow ridge, glistened with a single tear masked by the rain.
"WHY?!" he bellowed again, his left fist swelling with immense Qi. Taking a step back, still clutching the man's neck in his right hand, he struck Fist slamming into Haneul's bloodied face.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Finally, the man released him, letting Haneul collapse onto the ground, barely breathing.
"You should leave now," the man said, turning to walk away. But he glanced back, his gaze lingering.
"If we meet again… I won't let you go so easily, dear friend."