Legacy of the Forgotten Qi

The cave's entrance loomed before Jin Mu-Yeon like the gaping maw of a beast, exhaling a faint, chilling mist. The moonlight barely reached past the jagged stone walls, leaving the interior bathed in thick darkness. He took a deep breath, steadying himself as he stepped forward, the cold air wrapping around him like a shroud.

Unlike his first mission, which had been straightforward, this one felt different. There was an unnatural stillness, a lingering sense of something watching. His instincts screamed caution, but he pressed on, gripping his sword tightly.

"I've come too far to hesitate now."

The cave walls bore ancient carvings, worn but still discernible—figures locked in battle, their forms unnaturally elongated, their weapons shimmering in depictions of power. He traced the edge of one carving with his fingers.

"These don't belong to the Demonic Sect... then what is this place?"

A whisper.

Jin froze.

It wasn't the sound of wind or shifting stone. It was a voice, faint yet unmistakable, resonating in his mind.

"Turn back."

His grip on his sword tightened. "Illusions? No, something else..."

Summoning his Qi, he steadied his mind against any external influence. The whisper faded, but the weight in the air remained. Pushing forward, he followed the winding path deeper into the cave. The oppressive darkness gave way to an open chamber, where at its center lay an altar—a stone dais, cracked with age, upon which rested an ancient scroll.

It pulsed faintly with energy, as if alive.

Jin approached cautiously, his heartbeat steady but alert. He scanned the chamber, searching for any traps. His missions had taught him one thing—nothing of value was left unguarded.

A shift in the air. A presence.

Then—movement.

From the shadows, something rose. A towering figure clad in decayed armor, its eyes burning with cold, unnatural light. Its body crackled with residual Qi, remnants of whatever force had once animated it.

A guardian.

Jin instinctively fell into a combat stance, blade raised.

"A fight was inevitable."

The creature moved fast. Despite its heavy armor, it lunged with surprising agility, a clawed hand swinging down toward Jin's head. He barely dodged, rolling aside as the impact shattered the stone floor.

He retaliated instantly, his sword flashing forward with Piercing Fang, a precise thrust aimed at the guardian's exposed side. But the creature twisted, deflecting the attack with its armored forearm. The impact sent vibrations through Jin's arm, forcing him to retreat a few steps.

"Its defense is absurdly strong."

The guardian roared, the cavern trembling from its fury. It lashed out again, forcing Jin into a relentless back-and-forth exchange. Each strike of its claws sent sparks flying as Jin barely parried, feeling the sheer force behind each blow.

"I can't match its strength directly. I need to dismantle it piece by piece."

Summoning his Qi, he activated Phantom Step, his movements becoming fluid, a blur weaving through the creature's attacks. He aimed for the joints—where the armor was weakest. His blade found purchase, slicing into the cracks, drawing a hollow, echoing shriek from the guardian.

It retaliated instantly, forcing him to disengage.

Jin exhaled sharply. He couldn't afford to prolong this fight. If his strikes weren't enough to break the creature, then he needed something stronger.

Focusing his Qi, he shifted his stance, the energy within him condensing into his blade. Demon Fang Arc—a technique designed to cut through anything.

He dashed forward. The guardian swung its arm to intercept him, but Jin anticipated it, twisting mid-air to evade. In a single, fluid motion, he slashed—his sword carving through the guardian's waist.

A thunderous crack.

The creature froze. Then, slowly, its form splintered, breaking apart into a cloud of dust and fading energy.

Jin landed softly, his breathing steady but his body tense.

"That was... stronger than anything I've faced before."

His gaze returned to the altar. With cautious steps, he reached for the scroll. The moment his fingers brushed against it, a shockwave of Qi surged through him. His vision blurred.

Suddenly—

He was somewhere else.

The battlefield stretched endlessly before him, warriors clad in black robes wielding swords that shimmered with crimson energy. They moved with perfect precision, their strikes cutting through enemies like phantoms of death.

At the heart of the battlefield stood a lone figure—a man wreathed in black flames, his sword humming with a power unlike any Jin had ever seen.

A single strike.

The world split apart.

Then—darkness.

Jin gasped, staggering back to reality. The scroll lay in his hands, unchanged.

But he knew—this wasn't just any technique.

It was ancient. Dangerous.

And now, it was his.

Jin emerged from the cave under the night sky, his mind still racing. The scroll was hidden beneath his robe, its weight feeling far heavier than mere parchment.

As he made his way back to the sect, a familiar voice greeted him.

"You return unharmed again," drawled Hwan Geun, the inner disciple.

Jin's eyes flickered toward him. "You've been following me."

Hwan smirked. "Curiosity is a dangerous thing. But your survival rate is... impressive. The elders might start wondering how you manage to come back without a scratch."

Jin remained silent.

Hwan took a step closer, eyes gleaming. "Whatever you found in there... be careful who you show it to."

Without another word, he vanished into the shadows.

Jin watched him go, then exhaled. "This technique... I need to keep it hidden for now."

Back at the Demonic Sect, Jin stood before Elder Seong-Won, who regarded him with his usual piercing gaze.

"You completed your mission." It wasn't a question.

Jin bowed slightly. "Yes, Elder."

"You are the only one to return without injury," the elder observed. "Impressive."

Jin said nothing.

Seong-Won studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You are now an official outer disciple of the Demonic Sect. From now on, your training will be real combat. You will be assigned missions directly. Do not disappoint."

Jin bowed once more before leaving.

As he stepped into the outer sect's vast grounds, the realization hit him.

He was no longer just a trainee.

He was now part of the Demonic Sect.

And his journey was only beginning.