Orchard of Growth

"You have witnessed how our enemies can just appear suddenly at our iron gates, how easily they can make threats and shape them. But again, this place is not one of fear. Redwood Estate is a place specialized for learning, of forging a tomorrow. This day, we are standing in this orchard because every single tree here was once a young sapling like each of you, vulnerable to storms and pests. However, they still each had found a way to grow tough and strong."

He paused after his speech, he was letting his metaphoric words be absorbed by the kids. Even Chul-woo, who usually had a say in everything, was listening quite intently.

Heuk Cheon continues to speak, "As all of you may have already figured out, you are like these trees, once saplings with an innate potential. Trouble may come, there could be raging storms, but with the proper care and cooperation, your roots will be invulnerable."

After his quick motivational speech, Heuk Cheon started a new way of training. Rather than a straightforward training session, he had set up a deviating path throughout the space of the orchard, within it he scattered hidden wooden training dummies, trap wires, and swinging sand bags that was tied from tree branches. The concept of this training session was to combine stealth, awareness, and to hone the fluidity of their combat movements in one, continuous session.

Han-ju was the first one to partake. Step by step, he managed to move through the path, his form was a bit tight but he was managing it well. When a sand bag was heading to crash towards him, he spun low, and he deflected it with a wooden practice sword. A camouflaged wooden training dummy appeared out from behind him, he swiftly dodged it, struck, and kept on moving. The entire space of the orchard felt like it was alive with a bunch of surprise obstacles.

Ae-rin also quickly followed behind him, her eyes was observing the orchard's environment. Although her nature was to be quiet, she was moving about with a surprising swiftness, her smaller build was an advantage in terms of slipping away from swinging obstacles. She stumbled once at a hard turn, but a wave of supportive chants from her peers was the key for her to keep pushing forward until she had managed to complete the course.

Chul-woo, who has determined to display that he wasn't just a character there for comedic relief, he exploded his way onto the orchard with leaps and flips that negated each trap. He started smiling widely, but it was highlighted by sincere determination. One near hit had gave him a little scratch on one of his arms, however, instead of crying it out, he kept it in and inhaled with a clenched teeth and continued to move forward. He beat the orchard with a triumphant whoop, as he was rolling to avoid the final trap.

First Person POV: Chul-woo

I might not be the calmest or the smartest among my friends, BUT I am confident I can dodge about anything if I just start to believe in my own speed. I just have to motivate myself. Each of this orchard's strap felt like a test, of course not just on my body, but of my heart.

End of Chul-woo's POV

One by one, each kid had taken the orchard's course. Although, mistakes were bound to happen, Dae-hyun had accidentally triggered a trap wire that sent a small group of pebbles falling down on him, while Woo-jin slipped on a patch of wet grass. However, each of their errors was met with constructive guidance from either Master Heuk Cheon or Lee Jin-Hp, and the kids once again took the course until they had managed to succeed.

As the final batch of kids were making their way through the orchard's course, an anxious silence fell on them. Seo Ryung gave a signal to Heuk Cheon saying that he had sensed stalkers. No direct attack came, however, it was clear that there are still a group of eyes tracking Redwood Estate's every single movement from beyond its walls. It is possible that it was the same intruders from the past day, or it could be an entirely new faction.

As usual, Heuk Cheon decided that it was best to not cause a scene of it. Instead, he made sure to quietly give orders for the new Murim Alliance guards to spread around beyond the estate in secret. If the stalkers was wanting to test Redwood Estate's newly fortified defenses, then they would not be able to find an easy opening.

Throughout the entire day, the Redwood Estate was maintaining its silent defensive form, a wave of anxious tension was seeping beneath the daily tasks they were routinely doing. However, there was still no hint of confrontation. By late afternoon, the watchers or stalkers, or maybe it was just an illusion, had faded way back into the gloomy forest, it left the Redwood Estate with a bunch of half answered questions.

Later that night, a subdued calmness took hold of the estate. The kids found themselves to be too tired because of the orchard's course to worry about anything else. In each of they friend groups, they were recalling their successes and near disasters. Han-ju was complimenting Ae-rin for her swiftness, while Chul-woo was bragging about every trap he managed to dodge with a hint of comedic flair. Even Su-yeon was sharing a soft laugh with everybody, temporarily setting aside the fears that she had of potential enemy attacks.

In the main chamber, Heuk Cheon gathered everyone of importance to have a quick strategy session. It was Seo Ryung, Lee Jin-Ho, and replacing the two escort guards, General Kang. Their meeting circled around potential renovations to the orchard course, even deeper patrolling schedules, and of course forging alliances with neutral factions in the region close to them.

Heuk Cheon ended their strategy session with a simple analyzation. "The shadows are continuously roaming around out there, but every single day, the brats are growing and so are we. We will let them watch, it is better if they see Redwood Estate standing tall rather than looking pitiful and scared."

First Person POV: General Kang

I left that strategy meeting with a new sense of admiration for Heuk Cheon. For all of his Demon Lord history, Heuk Cheon was displaying a level headedness that any respectable general would envy. It wasn't about trampling down any power, it was about nurturing it, shaping that power for the next generation to outgrow all the darkness that are continue haunting us all.

End of General Kang's POV

Even later that night, as the lanterns was flickering low, the kids was slowly walking towards their sleeping quarters. Warm whispers of anticipation was seeping through the quiet corridors, it was the excitement that was left over from the orchard course, there was also curiosity on future martial arts training lessons, and an unspoken determination to get stronger and guard their home from hiding shadows.

As usual, Heuk Cheon was doing is obligatory night patrol, but rather than talking to himself at the parapet, he instead, decided to check on the orchard. The silver moonlight was brightening the course's hidden traps. Amidst the silence, he could not stop himself from managing a rare smile. In these meticulously organized obstacles, he was able to see the reflection of the Redwood Estate's resilience.

He traced a path wherein Ae-rin had a moment of slippage, taking in how she had managed to recover. He walked towards the wire that had snared Dae-hyun. Each memory of the children's efforts was a showing of their innate potential. It was simple, for them, he would face and stand guard against any opponent. His words were not going to repeat, no same vow. Action would be his show of faith.

At the crack of dawn, a new day will surely bring forth new challenges along the horizon. But Redwood Estate was adapting to meet them all, they were starting to forge an identity beyond fear or anger. The stalkers or watchers will surely return, the past grudges may rise, but the estate had already found a rhythm of training, unitedness, and a silent resolve that needed to endless repetition to reaffirm its strength.

A crisp of dawn's light was seeping through the leaves of the orchard. It enveloped the dew soaked grass with lines of gold. The wooden practice dummies and hurling sand bags that served as a test to the orphans was still hanging among the tree's branches, silent obstacles that was waiting for fresh challenges. In the aftermath of the sneaky stalkers and the unsettling warnings from rival factions, Redwood Estate was stirring awake, but not in fear, but in anticipation of what the enemies might do next.

In the manor's courtyard, Heuk Cheon was standing with Seo Ryung, Lee Jin-Ho, and General Kang, and all of them was gathered around a rough hewn table that was serving as their temporary map stand. Their atmosphere was anxious but instilled with conviction. Each of their faces was bearing the weight of the recent near confrontations, and the unspoken question of when, or if, the stalkers or watchers would choose to attack them again.