With the duel done, in such an early and somewhat uninteresting fashion, people began dispersing at once. Of course, those who knew Siu reached this step earlier than he should have, were thinking differently... but those were only a handful, including Lorean. For most of the disciples, this was nothing interesting or new; just another face among the thousands of other outer disciples, most of whom were focused on their own journey, trying to become more than just a cog in the machine.

  As for Siu, he didn’t feel triumphant or battered, more like… restless. He now realized how directionless he had been and that he needed to learn proper techniques because simply getting stronger meant nothing. If there is no form behind his punches, he will be chewed up by the more senior disciples. Especially if his senses were right and someone was already plotting against him. But that was okay... pressure is one of the best motivators.

  "Are you really okay?" Neya asked, for the tenth time already, making Siu stop and look at her with his hands on his hips.

  "Girl... Aren't you supposed to go and train before work?"

  "Well... I still have time!" She answered, blushing, as she received the signal to stop worrying. "But you are right... I should..."

  "Yes. You should." He added, sounding serious, "Get comfortable or always say there will be a next time to do something... and you will forever be an outer disciple. Don't fall into that trap."

  "Y-yes..." She nodded again, taking Siu's words to heart, "What will you do now?"

  "It is obvious." He smiled, "I need to learn to fight."

  And he knew exactly where to start.

  The collective martial training fields, designed to practice the sect's personal movement and fighting techniques, were situated farther east, closer to the edge of the cliffside of the mountain retreat. Here, the winds were stronger, almost as if trying to push the disciples off-balance, while trees or the peaks obstructed less of the sunlight, often causing the people trying to train to be blinded by it. It was a broad, open space divided into narrow stone lanes, each one marked with rows of dummies, flat sparring tiles, or weight poles for strength drills. At the far side, near a stone outcrop where training weapons were hanging on dozens of racks, currently stood a tall man with a black sash tied diagonally across his chest. It was the first time Siu had seen that variant, but it told him he was a genuine Elder of the sect, someone who had become part of its backbone, rising to the rank from an inner disciple position.

  Currently, his robes' sleeves were rolled up, and his movements were smooth but powerful, causing the air to ripple around his limbs every time he performed the basic form of the sect's own martial technique. It was as if... the winds blowing here were listening to him. At the moment, he was guiding a group of outer disciples through a well-practiced sequence, the dozen or so figures following his instructions.

  It was easy to tell at a glance that those present on the field were all people without any prior background in cultivation, without connections to the outside world, with no techniques brought from an experienced family's lineage. Otherwise, they would be practicing on their own, hidden from prying eyes, doing everything to avoid divulging their families' secrets.

  “Change your left stance, Umi! Sink your hips and center your weight. Do not sway. Laose, wrong! Do it again!” The man's voice was firm but not harsh; he wasn't scolding them, but rather warning them not to pick up bad habits and to correct their postures before moving on to more difficult parts of the technique.

  Studying the middle-aged man's face, Siu did his best to recall his name... He was listed in the Central Tower, up on the mission board... Then it clicked: Elder Thane Marrowell was hosting lessons for the Outer Disciples twice a week... as per the announcement. His lessons didn't require payment, and anyone could participate in them... Although a stipulation was added to the slip, stating that anyone who became an inner disciple later would have to owe him a favor. As for what kind of favor...? That wasn't described. Still, just by looking at him, watching how he personally knew everyone present, calling them by name, and correcting the most minor mistakes until they got it down perfectly... Siu had a good feeling about the man.

  Standing there, a few disciples noticed Siu approaching, and their steps became out of sync, causing the Elder's eyes to scan for the disturbance... and, of course, he caught sight of his figure quickly. When their eyes met, Siu knew that he was not angry, but definitely curious about what he was doing here.

  “You’re not on my register,” Elder Thane said without preamble, folding his hands behind his back, “Or I would know your name..." He looked him over, "What’s your name?”

  "My name is Siu,” he replied, bowing respectfully, stopping himself from adding 'just Siu,' avoiding another flat, humorless retort, “I am sorry for not signing up within the proper channels, but I had a sudden breakthrough and I didn't expect it to come so early. But now... I’d like to attend your lessons. I know it may seem early, but I believe I’m ready for the foundational training.”

  "Many of you think that, overestimating your bodies at the first sign of improvement..." Elder Thane raised an eyebrow, partially scolding him, but he still gestured to the side. “Walk with me. And you lot! Practice Form-1 to Form-5 until I return!”

  Watching them continue their training, matching the kicks and punches to their breathing, his eyes moved back onto Siu's body. They moved a few paces away from the group until the groans and shouts became muted in the background, allowing them to speak without trying to overcome the noise.

  “I know your name." Elder Thane nodded, finally recalling him, putting a face to the three letters, showing that he was paying close attention to the inner happenings of the sect, "You just joined us for not even enough time to have a proper breakthrough.” Although his tone was still neutral, the warning and slightly disapproving thoughts were audible behind his words, “Most new disciples spend at least a month working on their breathwork alone, you know... Your bones are not prepared... if you train prematurely, you risk breaking something you cannot fix.”

  “I understand the risk,” Siu said simply, feeling that his first guess of the Elder's personality was indeed correct.

  “Understanding risk and being ready are not the same,” the Elder said more strictly, then made a simple beckoning motion. “Roll back your sleeves and remove the outer robe. Let me see and let me prove it to you why you are not ready...”

  Siu didn’t hesitate at all, and he shrugged it off, folding it cleanly before setting it down at the edge of the path. As he exposed his arms and shoulders, the faint pinkness of his skin and the residual sheen of medicinal oils still made them glisten faintly, causing the Elder to finally furrow his brows. Could it be... No... That was too fast... But the more he looked, the more telling signs he noticed: the tiny discolorations and bruises beneath the skin... the evidence of recent, deep, systemic healing caused by a complete submersion in a medicinal bath... The subtle tension in his frame wasn’t from weakness, as he initially thought; it was from newly reforged bones, adjusting to their upgraded shape, the subconscious part of the mind still believing in the microfractures riddling his body.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The more he looked, the more Elder Thane narrowed his eyes. Then, in a single motion, he pressed a few fingers to Siu’s forearm, shoulder, and ribcage, looking as if he was punching him with his index and middle fingers. But he was more precise than that, the energy behind his movements being like little needles, going in and dispersing immediately before they would do any harm to Siu. Did it hurt? Of course it did. The first circle of cultivation, no matter where, no matter what... was all about pain. It was the forceful change of a mortal body... and it couldn't be done without suffering a little.

  “…You’re bones echo the right way,” he muttered. “Able to withstand it all...”

  “As I said, Elder. I had a breakthrough.”

  “No swelling… no warping… Your bones are holding... You aren't lying, boy...” He paused, then tilted Siu’s chin up gently, “Open your mouth and breathe with your technique.” Siu did as asked, making two full revolutions before Elder Thane inhaled slowly as well, then nodded once for him to stop. “You’ve passed your first marrow wash... Boy... You are some interesting find for the sect, aren't you?”

  “Will you let me train, Elder?” Siu asked, smiling, watching the Elder's face remain calm, collected, and indifferent... but his eyes were much more alive than before. Without ceremony, Elder Thane stepped aside and gestured toward the open lane nearest the cliffside after confirming he was indeed ready to join the others.

  “Head towards the second row and don’t lag behind. Also... don’t overreach. If you show off, I’ll throw you out! You may be a good boy, but overconfidence is what brings people to an early death.”

  "Of course," Siu bowed. “I will follow your instructions, Elder Thane.”

  As he took his place among the other disciples, some whispers were exchanged between the others, but most of the disciples kept their focus on their current tasks. Siu was the same, and he didn’t look at any of them. Finding his spot, he rolled his shoulders, set his feet as instructed, and mirrored the pose Elder Thane demonstrated at the front. For the next hour, evidently because of Siu's presence, they were doing nothing, just the basics... And seeing how Siu managed to keep up with the pace, deep down, Elder Thane smiled to himself.

  “Now,” the Elder began after a short pause, his voice rising over the assembled group, reaching everyone's ears, “We are ready to practice the first form. Its name is the Stone Root Stance. This one is a foundational building block, as it’s not about being strong. It’s about learning to stay still, even in the harshest of weathers. Even if you think it is useless, think again! There are countless martial techniques in our world. In the future, you may even develop your own... but every one of those needs building blocks. And this will be the first of yours. Now... Most of you will fail. That’s fine. Just don’t fall over the cliff's edge.”

  When the training began, Siu suddenly understood what Elder Thane meant by falling over... Every movement he demonstrated sent a shockwave through the air, like an airburst, hitting the disciples, manipulating the already strong winds to pursue it. Those whose bodies didn't follow the proper stance and lacked sufficient strength in their bones and muscles were knocked over, including Siu. However, it was part of the learning curve, because by the third time, he managed to stay up, able to utilize the newly found power in his lower half, withstanding the pushing wind against his body.

  And it was only the beginning...

  ...

  ....

  ......

  The quietness of Elder Yan’s valley was absolute, just as she liked it.

  The moonlight's silvery flow filtered through the skeletal branches of the white-flowered trees surrounding her pond, while Elder Yan herself sat cross-legged atop a tree trunk, meditating. The only movement around her was the slow rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, which was perfectly in sync with the natural rhythm of the night wind, causing her loose, long hair to sway behind her back.

  Then, the serenity was broken with the sudden arrival of fluttering wings. Her eyes opened at once, hearing the approaching beast, and from the shadows of the night, a massive, almost a meter tall raven descended before her, bowing her head with respect. Its feathers shimmered with an oily gleam as she looked down at it, a tinge of purple mixing into its blackness, while its eyes flickered with a second presence traveling along with it.

  “Mm,” Yan murmured, her lips curling a little, “There you are.”

  The raven cocked its head in answer, and a moment later, the flicker in its eyes deepened. It was followed by a silvery haze, flowing out from its eyes, surrounding the bird’s body, causing a young woman’s voice to emerge from its open beak, speaking respectfully.

  “Master, this is Kyrae. I’ve reached what I believe to be the origin point...”

  Listening, Elder Yan closed her eyes again, her mind gently linking to the raven’s spiritual tether. To ease the transfer, the image behind her eyelids shifted as she allowed Kyrae’s impressions to flow through the animal, sharing her experience with her master. Elder Yan could see what Kyrae saw while traveling. The long, winding road, multiple stops at small villages and towns... The scent of rain while cutting through a forest, the morning fog rolling through fields... Then, finally, she was in her current position. Kyrae was in a small settlement built below some rocky cliffs, haphazardly constructed, as evidenced by the irregular design of the buildings. Then, the image, directed by Kyrae, widened, showing an overview of the region from high above, dominated by three valleys and three towers bearing the emblems of backwater sects she didn’t recognize. They were... probably insignificant.

  “The boy’s path is confirmed,” Kyrae continued, while a mark appeared before Elder Yan's mind's eye, circling the town on the mental map, “I spoke to dozens along the trade routes, catching his figure traveling towards us. His appearance, age, and timing all match. I double checked it myself. He mostly passed through border towns, always alone, never with another... He was also never seen begging, either. I managed to confirm that he took on odd jobs to earn a living while on the road, but he never managed to cultivate a steady income. Which is logical if we believe he was purposefully traveling to us. I followed the clues, and the stories led me here... this is likely where he was born.”

  "What did you learn of the locals?" Yan asked with a thought.

  “Nothing much yet, Master. As for local powers... Three sects govern this region, though calling them sects is generous. Their structures are... laughable. Their disciples are barely above thugs, and their elders could be mistaken for drunk innkeepers. I think what they call an Elder is, at best, at the level of an inner disciple... worthless. I can crush their Sect Masters if need be. But... None are connected to us. I don't think they have any connection, really. This land has been sapped dry centuries ago, and they fight over scraps of land, while most of their talent wouldn't even find the starting point of our trials. They are at best good for keeping order in the region by killing bandits.”

  Elder Yan remained quiet for a long time, her lips pursed in thought. Following her disciple's mind, she knew she was about 2,000 kilometers away, in a forgotten corner of the continent. She had considered distant origins for the boy, but not this distant. And now, the scent of a mystery was becoming too rich to ignore...

  “Well done, Kyrae,” she murmured aloud, and the personal disciple of Elder Yan could feel the praise in her voice. Then she extended a hand, brushing two fingers gently over the raven’s head with a pulse of her spiritual energy surging through the bird, latching onto the still-active tether between them. “Do not press further until I arrive.” The bird cawed once, as if in acknowledgment, “Observe, remain hidden. I’ll depart by dawn and will be there shortly. Keep your presence minimal, and wait for my arrival.”

  With that, the link ended, and the bird's figure began blurring, slowly dissipating. Sitting for a moment, unblinking, Elder Yan exhaled slowly, her eyes glittering. She stood up, dusted off her robes, stretched, and smiled to herself.

  “So… you are not a rogue... Maybe a spy... Maybe not...? How... interesting. Just Siu, hmm?” Her voice held a trace of amusement, giggling, “Let’s see how much of that is true… and how much you’ve been hiding under the surface."