Even after the hellish physical conditioning, the training continued without respite.
The next session was far more crucial than mere stamina building: instruction in the martial philosophy and greater purpose upheld by Starpoint Sect.
Hyun-gang, the Pavilion Master of Azure Cloud Pavilion responsible for the Initiate Disciples and a First-Generation Disciple, stood before the assembled newcomers with a solemn expression and opened his mouth to speak.
"From ancient times, the Daoists have revered 'non-action in harmony with nature' as their paramount teaching, living in accordance with the natural flow.
Those who walk the Buddhist path emphasize compassion and dependent origination, teaching methods of non-killing and harmony. These are undoubtedly the most noble and upright doctrines...
But regrettably, the world does not turn on such principles alone."
Hyun-gang wore a bitter expression for a moment before continuing.
"Just as ten suns once wrought chaos upon the earth in ancient times, every era spawns villains that cannot be quelled by compassion or harmony alone.
These fiends wield powers beyond ordinary folk's endurance, swinging them recklessly in their villainy...
Though they are part of nature and the great flow of the world, we cannot simply stand by and let such disruptors throw the natural order into disarray under the guise of non-action!"
Hyun-gang clenched his fist and bellowed.
The Initiate Disciples, who had been exhausted from the prior conditioning, now listened to his words with sparkling eyes.
"The Daoist 'non-action' does not mean ignoring the world's pains; it means restoring balance with minimal intervention.
Starpoint Sect is that minimal restraining force safeguarding the world's equilibrium! Just as Hou Yi shot down the chaos-bringing suns, we judge the wicked to protect the balance of the world!"
However.
Hyun-gang emphasized those words particularly as he pressed on.
"Even unavoidable adjustments defy the natural order all the same. The ten suns did plunge the world into chaos, but without a single sun, the world would surely sink into darkness. Hou Yi, who judged the suns, paid the price for defying heaven's way.
Thus, our duty extends beyond merely judging villains. Each time we shoot down a sun, we must bear the karma of fulfilling its role in the world!"
Become an arrow that judges chaos and a new sun that watches over the common folk!
For that purpose! Starpoint Sect exists!!
-Waaaaah!!
As Hyun-gang's stirring speech concluded, applause and cheers erupted from the Initiate Disciples like thunder.
They gazed at their Senior Brothers and martial uncles with faces full of pride and admiration.
Boys at that impressionable age, enamored with all things cool.
To them, Hyun-gang's rousing oration was an inexpressible thrill, a spark igniting the romance dormant deep in their hearts.
Of course.
"Kuh~ Yeah, that's it! This is Starpoint, this is wuxia!!"
This held true even for the mentally mid-20s old soul among them.
Men, no matter their age, always harbored a hot ember of romance in their hearts.
Possessing a game had at least one upside, Baek Hyun thought quietly.
"We begin training! Second-Generation Disciples, oversee the children!"
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
Training commenced promptly thereafter, with the Initiate Disciples practicing the introductory fist technique of Starpoint Sect, Flowing Cloud Fist, under the Second-Generation Disciples' guidance.
Fueled by Hyun-gang's recent speech, most of the children trained with fervor.
"Ugh... Flowing Cloud Fist again?"
"We've drilled it to death already. When do we learn sword arts?"
Yet plenty grew weary of practicing a mere fist art for weeks on end, far from any swordplay.
Hyun-gang eyed the slackers disapprovingly and spoke in a firm, resolute voice.
"Starpoint Sect's sword arts fundamentally embody yang attributes. Suppressing the raging, explosive nature within the body to harness supreme speed through recoil—that is the foundation of Starpoint martial arts.
But to wield such techniques requires a tempered physique, profound inner energy, and superhuman merit accumulation.
Even if you learned the sect's pinnacle sword art, Shoot the Sun Sword Art, a single form would twist your muscles and tangle your meridians, leaving you a crippled wreck.
Worse, if you can't control the speed and crash into an obstacle, you'd end up as scattered flesh."
The grim warning snapped even the half-hearted trainees to attention.
Some children, imagining themselves as minced meat, squeezed their eyes shut in terror.
'What a brutal metaphor. "Scattered flesh" in front of kids... Not wrong, though.'
Baek Hyun pondered as he diligently practiced Flowing Cloud Fist.
Starpoint Sect's masters were like human rockets.
The principle behind the world's fastest speed involved compressing yang energy in the body and releasing it all at once for propulsion.
This granted superhuman velocities beyond human limits, but the pinnacle speed was a double-edged sword exacting a horrific toll on the user.
A slight mistake could snap limbs; a counter from an enemy meant instant death on the spot.
Even stumbling into an obstacle could reduce you to irretrievable gore.
No other sect or art matched this overwhelming difficulty and risk.
Thus, despite producing the PvP rankings' top player, Starpoint Sect remained a niche underdog, barely scraping the bottom rung of the Nine Great Righteous Sects.
Not disgraced anywhere, but lacking the prestige of Wudang or Shaolin.
Their speed was unmatched, but the arts' risks were too immense.
Starpoint martial artists constantly researched ways to mitigate these dangers, birthing their foundational arts:
Clear Mind Heart Method.
Flowing Cloud Fist.
Flowing Cloud Step.
The three basic techniques every initiate learned.
These fundamentals were the crystallized efforts of countless ancestors striving to tame the arts' perils.
'Only a fool fails to master the basics of renowned clans or sects.'
The calming Clear Mind Heart Method preserved composure at extreme speeds.
The fluid, free Flowing Cloud Step enabled smooth direction changes.
The swift, nimble Flowing Cloud Fist accelerated form execution, minimizing exposure to danger.
Every verse and stance formed the bedrock for higher towers.
Knowing this from the game's text, Baek Hyun trained Flowing Cloud Fist with unmatched zeal.
And soon after starting, he realized.
'My new body... is a genius.'
'Baek Hyun's' frame possessed astonishing talent.
Absurd motor nerves executed mental commands without error.
Having inhabited an average body before, he keenly felt the new one's superiority.
It felt like piloting a character with precision and freedom beyond any keyboard.
The first punch here confirmed it: this body could achieve movements more refined and perfect than his game character's.
'Actual fighting's still daunting...'
But... he kind of wanted to try it?
-Whoosh! Whooosh!!
Baek Hyun swung Flowing Cloud Fist freely, now second nature, lost in thought.
Flowing Cloud Fist, Flowing Cloud Step, Clear Mind Heart Method—all breathed effortlessly now.
Just basics, yet he sensed power in this body far surpassing ordinary kids.
How strong was he now?
"Baek Hyun, fine Flowing Cloud Fist. Keep refining it."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Well, he'd find out eventually.
This was the wuxia world, where fights found you even at rest.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After scheduled training ended, Initiate Disciples got a brief free practice period.
So-called "free," but as the only time Third-Generation Disciples could relax, few actually trained.
"Sigh... Haaaa..."
Baek Hyun was one of the few.
Whenever free time came, he sat under a quiet tree shade, circulating Starpoint Sect's basic heart method, Clear Mind Heart Method.
As a foundational technique, inner energy gains were minimal even with diligent circulation, but its calming effect on the mind proved invaluable.
Without it, Baek Hyun might still be lost in denial and chaos.
Of course, his diligent practice wasn't solely for mental composure.
'Gotta master it quick and switch to advanced heart methods.'
As a game veteran, Baek Hyun had memorized countless peerless arts' verses.
In-game, verses were skippable details, but for endgame obsessives, they were conquests.
Testing here, even in the remake, verses matched the originals.
He could learn famed arts now, but basics couldn't be neglected, no matter the urgency.
Baek Hyun planned to master all foundations solidly, then build his custom arsenal step by step.
As he circulated the heart method with rare patience for his age—
"Hey, you! You're that Baek Hyun, right!?"
A shrill child's voice rippled his serene mind.
Baek Hyun cracked one eye open, spotting a group of scowling boys.
These kids planning to throw their weight around?
No intent to scrap with unbloodied brats; he'd brush it off...
"Parents dead, huh? And you show off in training? Think you're hot stuff just 'cause you've got stamina?"
...This little shit?
"I know your type. Cocky punks like you need a good stomping to learn your place..."
"Whoa, whoa, stop there. I get what you're saying, so shut it."
"W-what!? You little—!!"
Baek Hyun unfolded his legs and stood, thinking.
Why were overreaching kids a universal plague?
No juvenile delinquency laws here... Probably never scorched for their antics.
So young, so naive.
"So, bottom line: you wanna throw down?"
"Hah, you get it. Assume stance then. This is official sparring—no whining to Senior Brothers if you get smacked."
"Sigh... Fine by me, but let's set terms."
Baek Hyun sighed deeply and continued.
"First: no grudges over the outcome, whatever happens."
"Heh, obvious. Holding spite after a fair duel? Nothing uglier. That's my condition too. Anything else?"
"One more—the big one."
The loser becomes the winner's dog.
Baek Hyun's eyes chilled coldly, piercing the instigator, Jang So-ya.
A shocking term beyond the boy's childish imagination.
Jang So-ya froze, forgetting to think, and stammered.
"W-what...?"
"Didn't get it? Loser plays dog for the winner. Bark on command, roll over—that kinda dog."
He's serious.
Instinct told Jang So-ya he couldn't smirk anymore.