Legacy of the Forgotten Qi

Jin Mu-Yeon stood among the surviving children, his face as impassive as stone. The faint cries of the injured and the sound of lifeless bodies being dragged away filled the cavern, yet no one flinched. To the Demonic Sect, these were the natural sounds of progress. Those who lived had proven their worth, but survival was only the beginning.

Elder Wraith stepped forward, his dark robes brushing the ground. His sharp, calculating eyes swept over the children, pausing momentarily on Jin before moving on. "You have survived the culling," he announced, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "But survival alone does not make you valuable. Your true worth must still be proven."

The remaining children stood in silence, their faces a mix of fear and determination. Jin remained expressionless, his gaze locked onto Elder Wraith.

"You," Elder Wraith continued, pointing to one of the masked instructors. "Distribute the cultivation scrolls."

The instructor nodded and began handing out scrolls, each marked with crimson runes. As the children received theirs, whispers broke out among them.

"What do you think this means?" a boy beside Jin asked, his voice trembling.

"Probably another way to kill us," Jin replied coldly, not sparing him a glance.

When Jin's turn came, the instructor handed him a scroll without a word. Jin's sharp eyes caught the faint smirk hidden behind the instructor's mask. He unrolled the scroll, reading the bold, angular script etched across it: **Crimson Vein Cultivation Technique.**

"Listen well," Elder Wraith said, his tone harsh and commanding. The room fell silent. "The technique you hold is your key to survival. Practice it. Master it. Your first test begins at dawn tomorrow, and failure means death."

One of the children raised their hand hesitantly. "What is the test, Elder?"

Elder Wraith's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You'll find out soon enough."

---

Later, in a quiet corner of the cavern, Jin sat cross-legged with his scroll. The others had spread out, murmuring quietly or staring blankly at their scrolls. Jin opened his and began reading carefully. The **Crimson Vein Cultivation Technique** detailed the process of channeling Qi through one's meridians to strengthen the body and mind. However, the warnings were clear: a single misstep in controlling the Qi flow could lead to internal damage—or death.

Jin's eyes narrowed. *They want to see how many of us die even before the test begins,* he thought grimly.

"Hey," a voice interrupted. Jin looked up to see the same boy who had spoken earlier, standing awkwardly a few steps away. "I'm Do Kyung. What's your name?"

"Jin Mu-Yeon," Jin replied curtly, returning his attention to the scroll.

Do Kyung shifted nervously. "Do you, uh, know how to do this? The cultivation, I mean?"

Jin's gaze flicked back to him. "Figure it out yourself."

The boy's shoulders slumped, and he walked away muttering. "Cold bastard..."

Ignoring him, Jin closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, recalling the scroll's instructions. Slowly, he drew Qi from the surrounding air, guiding it into his body. The sensation was searing, as if molten fire coursed through his veins. His teeth clenched, but he refused to cry out. Pain was weakness, and weakness was unacceptable.

---

The next morning, the children gathered in the cavern, some looking pale and unsteady. Elder Wraith stood at the center, flanked by several instructors. His cold gaze swept over them.

"Today's test is simple," he announced. "You will venture into the Abyssal Forest. Your task is to retrieve the fang of a Black Serpent. These creatures are venomous and deadly. Return with the fang, and you will pass. Fail, and you will die. The sect has no use for the weak."

Murmurs broke out among the children.

"Black Serpents? They're huge!" one whispered.

"Doesn't matter," another replied. "If we don't do it, we're dead anyway."

Elder Wraith raised his hand, silencing them. "The strongest among you will prevail. The weak will serve their purpose as a stepping stone. Go."

The instructors led the children to the forest's edge and gestured for them to enter. Jin glanced at the others before stepping into the shadows of the Abyssal Forest.

---

The forest was dense and oppressive, the air thick with the scent of decay. Jin moved silently, his senses heightened. Around him, he could hear the faint rustle of movement—children, predators, or both.

As he made his way deeper, a flicker of movement caught his eye. A Black Serpent coiled near a cluster of rocks, its yellow eyes glowing with menace. Jin crouched, recalling the combat forms he had practiced in the training cave.

He moved swiftly, circling the serpent as it struck. "Crimson Fang Strike," he whispered, driving his fist into its side. The serpent recoiled, hissing angrily. Jin pressed the attack, delivering a precise kick to its head. The creature slumped, lifeless.

Jin knelt and carefully extracted the fang. His hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the strain of his injuries. As he stood, he heard faint voices nearby.

"Give it back!"

"Why should I? You're too weak to stop me!"

Jin crept closer, peering through the foliage. Two boys were fighting over a serpent's fang, their faces contorted with desperation. One of them managed to wrest it away, only to stumble as another child attacked from behind.

Jin stepped into the clearing, his presence freezing them in place. "Leave," he said coldly.

The boy holding the fang glared at him. "Or what? You think you can take all of us?"

Jin didn't reply. He surged forward with a speed that caught them off guard, striking the boy in the wrist. The fang clattered to the ground, and before anyone could react, Jin knocked him unconscious with a swift blow to the temple.

The others hesitated, then backed away, their faces pale.

"Go," Jin said again, his tone icy.

They fled without another word. Jin picked up the fang and disappeared into the shadows.

---

By the time he returned to the cave, only a few children remained. Elder Wraith greeted each survivor with a nod, handing them a vial of Qi-enhancing elixir. When Jin presented his fang, the elder's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than the others.

"You've done well," Elder Wraith said, handing him the elixir. "But do not grow complacent. The true trials are yet to come."

Jin bowed slightly and stepped aside, his expression unreadable. As he drank the elixir, he felt a surge of energy course through him, but his thoughts were elsewhere. *The sect doesn't care how many of us die. They only want weapons. But if I survive, I'll be more than that. I'll be the one holding the blade.*

In the shadows, Elder Wraith watched Jin closely, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Interesting," he murmured. "That one may yet surprise us."