echoed through the cave, waking everyone up. The bells that only ring whenever something special is about to happen. The bells that, when rung, chaos follows.
The children started to gather at the centre of the cave where most meetings were held. Tension filled the atmosphere as usual. And as for Woon-hyeok, he had been acting weird since morning. Not the normal kind of weird, but one that sends shivers down one's spine… the one that depicts fear.
His hands kept shaking continuously. Every time someone talked to him, he was startled as though someone was about to attack him. His eyes were all over the place; they couldn't stay still for even one second. And he kept flinching like somebody was whispering threats into his ear.
Hyeolmu was the first to notice the strange behaviour coming from Woon-hyeok — especially for someone who used to be the picture of pride and confidence, now becoming a shadow of himself. But not many could observe Woon-hyeok's sudden change that quickly, except for Hyeolmu, who always notices every little detail that goes by, even the things people try their hardest to hide.
"What happened to him so suddenly?" Hyeolmu muttered quietly, watching Woon-hyeok walk past them while sweating like someone chased him all night.
Mu-jin just narrowed his eyes and said, "He's probably just upset at you getting all the attention recently. You do know he kind of has some problem with you or something."
"But more worrying is his Qi," Mu-jin added. "His Qi is unstable… like that of a demonic arts practicer. Has he been practising demonic arts recently?"
Mia clicked her tongue. "Tch. Whatever it is, he better not bring nonsense near me. I'm already tired of all his troubles."
But even as she spoke, Hyeolmu kept watching Woon-hyeok from the corner of his eyes.
There was something off.
Too off.
Maybe because he himself was a demonic arts practitioner, but one thing was for sure — Woon-hyeok wasn't just shaken over some petty demonic arts or something.
And Mia noticed it too, though she didn't say anything. She just glanced at Woon-hyeok once, and her eyes tightened in a way that said she already knew something wasn't right.
But nobody spoke further — not until the Red Mask finally came.
---
"How are you kids?" he said sinisterly. His voice echoed through the cave, and the children were all confused as to why he was suddenly asking how they were.
The voice wasn't angry, but it carried a pressure that made everyone hurry automatically.
At the centre of the cave, every child was present — every top-ranked child, every group leader, every important figure stood waiting. The air was stiff, almost too serious for a normal meeting.
Even Hyeolmu felt a bit irritated.
"Why is this bastard suddenly asking about us today…?"
Mu-jin beside him crossed his arms.
"Mmm. They only make this kind of call before something big. Seems like there'll be lots of children dying soon. Too bad."
Then, one of the Red Masked stepped forward, looking over all of them with a sharp gaze.
"In three days, the first major event will begin."
A murmur spread across the children as well as tension…
"What does he mean by first major event? Does this mean more of us are going to die?"
Panic filled the air.
One of the guards standing next to the Red Mask raised his hand and the whole hall went silent instantly — not even the top-ranked dared speak.
"This event enables you to become one with your body. Your internal Qi will be sealed during the daytime continuously for the next three years, and during the night, you will only be able to use one-tenth of your usual inner Qi."
Gasps echoed everywhere.
"Sealed?!"
"What do you mean sealed?!"
Even Mia silently stiffened. She relied on Qi more than most people.
The guard continued:
"Your Qi circulation will be completely locked, especially during the daytime, and you will be moved to a different location where your training will fully begin. You have only been doing baby steps — now you are about to start the real training," he said, having a creepy smile that made the children fear. "This is to build your foundation and strengthen your ability to survive without internal Qi."
Hyeolmu blinked, his face indifferent.
"So basically… we're all crippled for the next three years. Not like I care anyway."
Mu-jin let out a small breath.
"Seems the ranking is about to change. Hopefully we don't suffer too much."
Mia didn't say anything, but her expression turned serious.
She was displeased with the guard's decision. Her position was about to be threatened.
In the corner of the hall, someone swallowed loudly with a creepy, excited face.
Woon-hyeok.
His hands were shaking again, even worse this time.
But this time, it wasn't out of fear — it was joy.
The almost impossible mission now became a lot easier.
Hyeolmu noticed it instantly.
"…Strange," he muttered to himself. "Why does he look so excited suddenly? But why do I feel so uncomfortable all of a sudden?"
"Now everyone sit in a lotus form and a guard will immediately seal off your martial arts," the Red Mask said.
"If you try to play smart and undo the seal, you will suffer a very exciting Qi deviation. Exciting for me, but not for you," he said, laughing vigorously.
"After your martial arts are sealed, you will be blindfolded and immediately knocked out. When you wake up next time, you will be in your next location. If you're lucky, you will survive what's coming… and if you're not… I guess you were just meant to die. At least later than never."
"Until next time, brats," the Red Mask concluded as all the children passed out simultaneously.
All except one…
The one who had gotten too comfortable with pain, darkness, and despair.
DAYS TILL NEXT EVENT — 2 DAYS
To be continued…