Dawn again. Raon and Jin stood side-by-side in the main courtyard, wooden swords in hand.
"Your technique yesterday intrigued me," Jin said, calm as ever. "I'd like to spar with you."
Raon swallowed. "Sure, but don't say I didn't warn you when you start seeing double."
**You're really trying to Aura farm while facing the MC?**
They began. Jin moved gracefully, his Qi flow sharp and deliberate but inconsistent. Raon's new technique kept him stable, controlled, every swing deliberate.
**His Qi circulations uneven. Ask about his breathing technique.**
Breathing techniques are the foundation of every cultivator's training.
They control how Qi enters and moves through the body, refining energy with every inhale and exhale.
Raon frowned, whispering, "You breathe wrong."
Jin paused mid-swing. "Excuse me?"
"I mean, not wrong, just... inefficient!"
**I must say you have a bad way with words**
They continued. As the duel went on, Roan's movements grew more balanced, instinctively adjusting to Jin's rhythm.
Then, Jin's sword stopped an inch from Raon's chest. "Interesting. You've adapted fast."
Raon grinned, panting. "Guess extensive studying has perks."
Both of them laughed. The tension eased.
As they walked off the field, Jin said quietly, " Excellent work Guard Raon."
Raon blinked, caught off guard. "I... uh...sure."
**He likes you. Friendship route unlocked.**
"Shut up already" Raon shouted
Jin laughed, then his expression turned more serious. "You know, the sect hasn't produced an Awakened cultivator in twelve years."
Raon glanced at him. "That long?"
**That's right, the past history of the previous sect members was never introduced in the original story, seeing as it was mostly about your boyfriends progression**
"Boyfriend?!" Raon thought furiously.
"Our last breakthrough was Elder Jeong, she barely made it, and even she admits her foundation is shaky." Jin stopped walking, looking out over the training grounds. "Most disciples hit Martial Practitioner Peak Martial Expert Initian and... stop. Stuck. The elders say it's a lack of talent, but I think it's something else."
"The techniques," Raon said quietly.
Jin nodded. "The path from Martial Practitioner to Martial Master requires perfect understanding of Qi flow, not just circulation, but transformation. If the foundation is flawed..." He trailed off. "Anyway, that's why I think what you're doing matters. These corrections might be the difference between a sect that survives and one that actually thrives."
**Exposition delivered naturally. Well done.**
That night, as he stared at the moon from the training yard, the System chimed softly:
**New Objective: Strengthen the Sect.**
**Subtask: Elevate Ten Disciples to Martial Expert.**
**Bonus Objective: Help One Martial Partitioner Break Through to the Mid Realm.**
**Reward: Sect Advancement Mode.**
Raon sighed. "No pressure."
**On the bright side, failure means you'll die faster.**
"...You're awful."
But even as he groaned, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't hell anymore, just another messed up story waiting for him to rewrite it.
**You still seem way too calm for somone in a different world**
"Just let me have my moment here."